Chapter 5: Save My Sister

A soft click broke the stillness, sharp in the quiet air, and Ning Lu’s heart lurched.

After a brief hesitation, she slowly reached out and picked up the file that had been carelessly tossed onto the table.

She opened the clasp. With a faint metallic scrape, several photographs slipped out.

The instant Ning Lu saw the man and woman in the pictures, her pupils contracted. They were her and Lu Hongyu.

There were seven or eight photos in all, scattered in sequence: one of him leading her toward the restaurant, one of her going to his room, one of him serving her food...

Cold sweat slid down Ning Lu’s forehead. She forced herself to stay calm, took a deep breath, and tried to steady the panic surging inside her.

She looked at Ivy, the younger mistress of the Lu family. A faint smile rested on Ivy’s face, but beneath it lay a subtle, unreadable meaning.

“Madam, what exactly do you intend to do with these photos?”

Though Ning Lu’s voice was calm, tension and wariness still lingered in it.

Ivy gave a light laugh, as though she had long anticipated Ning Lu’s reaction.

“Miss Ning may not know this, but the old master despises betrayal above all else, especially when it concerns his woman and his son. Once these photos fall into his hands and he begins to suspect you, the consequences will be unimaginable. You could be thrown out at once.”

There was a hint of threat in Ivy’s words, but also a faint note of compromise.

“Still, I have no wish to make an enemy of Miss Ning. As long as you are willing to let A Sui go, I can give you these photos, negatives included.”

Hearing this, Ning Lu’s lips curved into a cold smile, disdain showing in her eyes.

“Madam, my younger sister Ning Xiang is still in your husband’s hands, isn’t she? Do you think this is enough to threaten me?”

Ivy’s brows drew together slightly, as if surprised by Ning Lu’s words.

“You mean that girl from today? After the eldest young master rescued her, she was sent back already.”

“Sent back?”

Ning Lu’s heart tightened. She immediately realized her sister might have been sent to Aunt Yue.

She knew all too well that if her sister fell into Aunt Yue’s hands, rescuing her would be no easy matter.

Grinding her teeth in silence, she fixed Ivy with a piercing gaze.

“Even if I can persuade Lu Yanfeng this time, you know better than anyone what sort of temperament the second young master has. How can you guarantee he won’t cause trouble again?”

At this, Ivy fell silent for a while, as though weighing the pros and cons.

Taking the opportunity, Ning Lu rose and headed toward the attic, intending to avoid this thorny situation for the moment.

But just as she was about to step inside, Ivy’s voice rose again and stopped her.

“Miss Ning, you’re still so young. When you truly fall in love with someone, you’ll understand why I was willing to risk offending the eldest young master just to take these photos.”

Ivy’s tone held sincerity and helplessness, as though she were pouring out the grievances buried deepest in her heart.

Ning Lu did not stop. She slammed the attic door shut with a bang, cutting off Ivy’s voice and everything else outside.

Leaning against the door, she slid slowly down the wall and sat on the floor, clutching her knees tightly, her gaze vacant as she stared ahead.

If these photos fell into Lu Yanfeng’s hands, or into the old master’s, the consequences would be disastrous.

The dim attic light cast Ning Lu’s face in a pallid hue.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, nearly drawing blood.

Fear surged over her like a tide and swallowed her whole.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sudden rapping at the door shattered the attic’s silence.

Ning Lu’s heart gave a violent thud. She drew a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound steady.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.” A familiar, deep male voice answered.

It was Lu Hongyu.

Ning Lu hesitated, but in the end she still opened the door.

Even if she did not, the man had ten thousand ways to get in.

Lu Hongyu stood at the doorway, his tall figure nearly blocking out all the light.

He looked at Ning Lu, a trace of scrutiny in his eyes. “Ivy came to see you?”

Ning Lu’s heart sank. She had not expected Lu Hongyu to learn of this so quickly.

Lowering her head, she avoided his gaze. “No.”

The lie came out at once, yet it sounded weak and hollow.

A cold smile touched Lu Hongyu’s lips, making it clear he did not believe her.

“Ning Lu, you’d better tell the truth.” His tone carried a warning.

Ning Lu bit her lip and remained silent.

Lu Hongyu studied her, his eyes gradually darkening.

“Not going to speak?” He took a step forward, closing in on her. “I can find out myself.”

The pressure radiating from him made Ning Lu almost unable to breathe.

She knew Lu Hongyu meant every word.

At last she drew a long breath and yielded.

“She... she showed me a few photos.” Her voice trembled so badly it was almost inaudible.

Lu Hongyu’s brows knit slightly. “What photos?”

Ning Lu lifted her head and looked at him, despair flooding her eyes.

“Photos of you and me.”

Lu Hongyu’s face turned dark in an instant.

He seized Ning Lu’s wrist, his grip so fierce it seemed ready to crush her bones.

“I understand.”

Looking at Ning Lu, something complex flickered through Lu Hongyu’s eyes.

He released her and softened his tone somewhat. “What else did she say?”

Ning Lu hesitated, then finally told Lu Hongyu everything Ivy had said, word for word.

When he finished listening, Lu Hongyu’s expression grew even darker. He turned and went to the window, his back to Ning Lu, and fell silent.

The room was utterly still, broken only by the sound of their breathing.

After a long while, Ning Lu said softly, “Thank you.”

Lu Hongyu froze, clearly not expecting gratitude from her.

“For saving my sister...” Ning Lu’s voice broke, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s just that she’s been sent back to Aunt Yue’s hands again.”

Lu Hongyu looked at her, his eyes impossible to read.

The next morning, sunlight poured through the window into the room.

Ning Lu had changed into a pale blue gown, making her look especially delicate and refined.

Lu Yanfeng stood at the door, watching her, a trace of admiration flickering in his eyes. “Let’s go. It’s about time.”

His tone was gentle, yet it carried unquestionable authority.

Ning Lu nodded and followed Lu Yanfeng out of the room.

The charity banquet was about to begin.

And Ning Lu knew that for her, this would be yet another trial.

Lu Hongyu stood at the end of the corridor, watching the departing figures of Ning Lu and Lu Yanfeng, his gaze deep and complicated.

“Eldest young master, the car is ready,” A Jiu said respectfully.

A wicked smile rose at the corner of Lu Hongyu’s mouth. “Then let’s go too.”