Chapter 184 Don’t Wait for Me, Sleep Early

The black sedan slowly came to a stop in front of the Lu family’s old residence.

Song Jingmo turned off the engine, then tilted his head to look at the silent figure in the passenger seat. “We’re here.”

Lu Er absentmindedly rubbed the fiery red ring on his ring finger and gave a soft response, but didn’t move.

Song Jingmo reached over and covered Lu Er’s hand resting on his knee. “Don’t argue with your mom.”

Lu Er gave a bitter smile. “If I don’t argue, will she agree?”

Song Jingmo’s thumb gently brushed the back of his hand. “She’s a patient. I don’t want you fighting with your family because of me.”

Lu Er asked, “Where are you going?”

“To my uncle’s place.”

Song Jingmo pulled him closer and gave him a kiss. “Call me anytime—no matter how late.”

Lu Er’s nose stung. “Got it.”

The old residence in front of him had been renovated a few years ago, but its inherent solemnity and oppressive atmosphere had never changed.

The moment Lu Er got out of the car, Aunt Wu came up to greet him. “Come in quickly, madam is waiting for you in the living room.”

The heating inside was strong, and a faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.

Leng Qinghua sat in the center of a redwood sofa, dressed in a dark green velvet qipao, her hair neatly coiled behind her head without a strand out of place.

On the rosewood tea table in front of her, besides the white porcelain tea set, there was also a large red, gold-embossed envelope.

“Mom.”

Lu Er walked over and sat on the sofa opposite her.

Leng Qinghua glanced at him, then used tongs to pick up a small pinch of tea leaves and place them into the teapot.

Hot water was poured in, and steam rose.

Unhurriedly, she rinsed the tea, brewed it, and poured it into cups.

Finally, she pushed a cup of amber-colored tea toward Lu Er.

“Try it. Old Ban Zhang—over a decade aged. Your Uncle Lu sent it.”

Lu Er’s gaze fell on the red envelope, a bad premonition already forming in his heart.

Leng Qinghua set down her teacup and casually pushed the red, gold-embossed invitation toward him.

The invitation was exquisitely designed, with embossed dragon and phoenix patterns on the cover.

Lu Er didn’t open it, but he already knew what was inside.

“The Lu family has already discussed everything.”

Leng Qinghua’s voice carried unquestionable authority. “March 29th—an auspicious day. There’s over a month left, enough for both sides to prepare.”

“Wedding photos, attire, guest list, banquet arrangements… I’ll handle everything. You just need to show up.”

Lu Er looked at her. “What if I say no?”

Leng Qinghua’s gaze turned cold. “Then you’ll leave this house with nothing. Get out of the Lu family.”

Lu Er laughed. “Mom, do you think I care about the Lu family’s money?”

“Whether you care or not is irrelevant to me.”

She leaned forward slightly. “But think carefully—without the Lu family, what are you? A top celebrity?”

“In this industry, today you’re at the top, tomorrow you might disappear completely. Without a family backing you, how far do you think you can go?”

“I got where I am today not because of the Lu family.”

Lu Er’s voice trembled. “It’s from the roles I’ve acted in, scene by scene, the work I’ve put in.”

“How naive.”

Leng Qinghua scoffed. “Without Lu Corporation’s resources, without your brother smoothing things out behind the scenes, why do you think those good scripts and big productions came to you?”

“Because you’re talented? There are plenty of talented actors. Why are you the one who made it big?”

Lu Er opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute her.

This industry had never been about talent alone.

“So,” Lu Er’s voice lowered, “you’re going to use this to force me?”

“I’m not forcing you. I’m saving you.”

Leng Qinghua returned to her composed elegance. “Lu Yanyan has a good family background, good upbringing, and she’s beautiful. Marrying her won’t harm your career.”

“As for Song Jingmo…” she paused slightly, “a doctor’s job is too busy—unsuitable for building a family.”

“But I can’t live without him!”

Lu Er’s voice was firm beyond doubt. “In this lifetime, I will never marry anyone except Song Jingmo.”

Leng Qinghua’s expression completely changed.

“‘Can’t live without him’? Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“Are you going to follow your irresponsible father’s example—abandon your wife and children for a man and give up this family?”

“I’m not!”

Tears streamed uncontrollably down Lu Er’s face. “I never said I’d abandon you or my brother.”

“You’re the one forcing me to choose. I just want to be with the person I love. What’s wrong with that?”

“The person you love?”

Leng Qinghua’s voice was laced with deep resentment. “Back then, your father also said he found true love—then abandoned the three of us.”

“Do you know how many cold looks we endured? How much we suffered while I raised you brothers alone?”

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. “Being with him won’t lead to anything.”

“Song Jingmo isn’t that kind of person.”

Lu Er tried to argue further, but at that moment, Leng Qinghua suddenly seemed to lose all her strength and collapsed weakly onto the carpet.

“Go… leave…”

“Just like your father—abandoning your family for a man. All the men in your Lu family are the same…”

Lu Er panicked and quickly crouched down to help her. “Mom, don’t be like this…”

“Don’t touch me!”

Leng Qinghua suddenly slapped his hand away and lifted her tear-streaked face.

Her well-maintained features were now filled with pain and despair.

Her voice trembled uncontrollably. “I developed breast cancer because of long-term emotional suppression.”

“It was all because of your father. This illness—he caused it.”

Lu Er felt as if struck by lightning, frozen in place.

“And now, you’re going to force me too?”

She looked at him, tears falling in large drops. “Are you trying to push me to death to be satisfied?”

“I’m not…”

Lu Er shook his head, sobbing uncontrollably.

He wanted to explain, to argue—but seeing his mother’s breakdown, all his words were stuck in his throat, dissolving into broken sobs.

His mother’s emotional coercion was like an airtight net, trapping him completely.

On one side was the hand of the person he loved.

On the other, his mother’s tears and illness.

Whichever side he chose meant a cruel betrayal of the other.

“Mom…”

Kneeling in front of her, Lu Er’s voice choked so badly he could barely form a sentence. “Why?”

“Why are you being so cruel to me? I just… I just want to be happy. Is that not allowed?”

Leng Qinghua looked at her son’s reddened eyes, reached out, and gently touched his face with trembling fingers.

“Cruel?”

She murmured, tears flowing. “Good child, I’m not being cruel to you. I’m helping you—helping you see reality.”

Her voice softened, carrying a near-desperate tenderness. “Being with a man has no future. In the end, it only harms both of you.”

“Just like your father… changing partners one after another all these years, now alone and lonely…”

“You’re young now—you think love is everything. But in ten or twenty years, when you see your friends with wives and children, with complete families…”

“When you turn back and realize there’s no one to call you ‘Dad,’ you’ll hate him—and you’ll hate this stubborn version of yourself today.”

“Xiao Er, I don’t want you to take the wrong path. You can resent me for being harsh, but one day, you’ll understand—I’m right.”

Lu Er closed his eyes, more tears slipping down.

He took out his phone and sent Song Jingmo a message:

[I’ll stay at the old house tonight. Don’t wait for me—go to sleep early.]