Chapter 223 What’s the Difference Between This and Ending the Family Line?

At the end of December, City A was so cold that one’s breath seemed to freeze in the air.

Lu Er curled up on the sofa, reading a script.

After Director Guan’s last drama aired and received widespread praise, several other directors had extended invitations one after another.

Just last week, Director Zhao mentioned an art film and wanted him to play the male lead.

The film told the story of a pair of idealistic young people going to the countryside to contribute to national development—a touching story, full of warmth and depth.

Outside the window, fine snowflakes drifted down, while inside, the heating was on full blast.

“Brother?”

Lu Er answered the phone lazily.

“Xiao Er, the day after tomorrow is Mom’s birthday. Bring Jingmo home.”

Lu Er hesitated. “If I bring Jingmo back… will Mom get upset? I’m afraid she…”

After all, it was her birthday. He was worried that bringing Song Jingmo along might only make Leng Qinghua uncomfortable.

It had been several months since the last time he brought Song Jingmo home for dinner, and Leng Qinghua hadn’t called to ask them to come back again.

On the other end, Lu Chen’s voice was gentle. “I already asked Mom. She said it’s up to you whether you come or not.”

The words were tactful, but Lu Er understood: Leng Qinghua had agreed.

This opportunity had been secured for them by Lu Chen.

“Brother, thank you.”

“Why are you being polite with your own brother? Has being in love made you stupid?”

Lu Chen glanced at the calendar on his desk. “The company’s annual party is tomorrow at the Shangli Hotel. Bring Jingmo along. After the party, we’ll go home together to celebrate Mom’s birthday.”

“Okay. What time?”

“It starts at 3 p.m. You can come around 4. No need to be too early—you’ll just be bored.”

After hanging up, Lu Er stared out the window in a daze.

Song Jingmo came out of the study, holding a medical journal.

He sat beside Lu Er and naturally pulled him into his arms. “What are you thinking about?”

“The day after tomorrow is my mom’s birthday.”

Lu Er looked up. “My brother asked us to attend the company’s annual party, then go home together to celebrate.”

Song Jingmo set down the journal. “What does your mother like? Let’s go buy a gift tomorrow morning.”

“My brother already called—he must have prepared something. We just need to show up.”

Song Jingmo held his hand. “What your brother prepares is his thoughtfulness. I should prepare something myself—I can’t be perfunctory.”

“I can’t miss any chance to earn goodwill in front of your mother. Even if she doesn’t like me, I still have to respect her.”

If he held a grudge because of Leng Qinghua’s attitude, it would only put Lu Er in a difficult position.

“Doctor Song, you remind me of a line from a book.”

“What line?”

“‘When I think of a gentleman, he is as warm and gentle as jade.’”

Lu Er played with Song Jingmo’s fingers. “No wonder when my mom first saw you as a child, she said you were a true young nobleman.”

“She told me to learn from you—not asking me to be as elegant and proper, just not to act like a little hooligan who only knows how to fight all day.”

Song Jingmo pinched his ear lightly. “Didn’t expect your mom to think so highly of me.”

If he hadn’t ended up with Lu Er, Leng Qinghua would truly have been a very good aunt.

She had bought them a house near school, carefully chosen a reliable housekeeper to take care of their daily lives.

Whenever the seasons changed, no matter how busy she was, she would take time to buy them new clothes.

During holidays, she would personally visit their teachers with gifts, worried they might be bullied at school.

Compared to his own parents and uncle, Leng Qinghua had actually taken better care of him in daily life.

In high school, their homeroom teacher had even mistaken her for his mother, causing quite a few amusing misunderstandings.

He felt he owed her.

At 3:30 the next afternoon, in the hotel’s top-floor banquet hall—

The entire venue had been reserved, decorated in a luxurious yet tasteful style.

Crystal chandeliers sparkled brilliantly. Long tables were filled with exquisite desserts and drinks, while a band played soft jazz music.

By the time Lu Er and Song Jingmo arrived, the hall was already buzzing with conversation.

Business elites, partners, and company executives filled the room, glittering with wealth and status.

Lu Er wore a deep blue tailored suit that accentuated his slim waist and long legs.

Song Jingmo wore a classic black suit with a white shirt—elegant and composed.

As soon as they appeared, they attracted plenty of attention.

“Second Young Master Lu is here…”

“The one next to him—is that Doctor Song?”

“Not bad—they actually look quite good together.”

“What a pity, with such good conditions, yet…”

Lu Er remained expressionless as he led Song Jingmo inside. “Where there are many people, there are bound to be rumors. Don’t mind them.”

Song Jingmo murmured, “It’s fine. I don’t care.”

Lu Chen was chatting with several partners and nodded at them in acknowledgment.

Luo Bingbing walked over with a glass of wine, smiling. “Xiao Er, Jingmo, you’re here.”

“Sister-in-law,” Lu Er nodded. “Where’s Mom?”

“On the way. She should be here soon.”

Seeing several elegant ladies approaching Luo Bingbing, Lu Er said, “Sister-in-law, go ahead. Jingmo and I will grab something to eat.”

He pulled Song Jingmo toward a quieter corner and found a relatively secluded spot to sit.

On the other side of the hall, a group of wealthy ladies sat together.

Dressed in jewels and finery, they held delicate bone china teacups, chatting about the latest luxury handbags and their children.

“My Shushu just came back from France. She studied art and now works at the National Art Museum.”

Madam Wang’s tone was full of pride. “She loves these refined things. No matter how much I try, she refuses to take over the family business.”

“Art is good,” Madam Li chimed in. “My child is the opposite—insists on studying computers. Staring at screens all day, becoming dull.”

“Speaking of children,” Madam Su set down her teacup, glancing toward Lu Chen in the distance, “President Lu is truly young and capable—managing such a company in his early thirties.”

“And he’s quite handsome too. If only back then I had let my daughter…”

She didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.

Madam Wang scoffed. “Back when that incident happened to the Lu family, weren’t you all avoiding them like the plague? Afraid your daughters would fall into a pit of fire?”

The atmosphere stiffened slightly.

The scandal of Lu’s father abandoning his wife to run off with a man had been the biggest joke in their circle. No one had wanted to marry into the Lu family because of it.

“But things are better now,” Madam Li smoothed things over. “President Lu married Luo Bingbing, they even have a child. Things have settled down.”

“Settled?” Madam Su raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice. “Do you really think Luo Bingbing is living well?”

“The second young master of the Lu family is with a man. Like father, like son. Who knows—Luo Bingbing might as well be a widow in all but name. Whether she’s happy or not, outsiders wouldn’t know.”

The ladies exchanged knowing looks.

“And,” Madam Wang leaned in, “I heard both of Qinghua’s children were test-tube babies. That child of Lu Chen and Luo Bingbing might be too…”

“No way?” Madam Li covered her mouth in surprise. “The Lu family hid it that well?”

“Who knows.”

“If it’s a pity,” Madam Wang shook her head, “it’s Lu Er. With such a handsome face—if he married and had children, they’d surely be beautiful.”

“I don’t understand what’s wrong with the Lu family—why they all like men. What’s so good about men anyway?”

“Exactly,” Madam Li agreed. “Qinghua worked hard her whole life to build such a large family business, yet in the end, there isn’t even an heir.”

“In my opinion, a woman should focus on supporting her husband and raising children. What’s the point of a successful career? In the end, her son runs off with a man.”

“What’s the difference between that and ending the family line? It just makes people laugh.”