Chapter 276 Go Back Quickly, the Child Comes First

The period costume idol drama invested in by Mo Er Entertainment became an instant hit upon airing, with ratings and online popularity skyrocketing, turning it into a phenomenon of the year.

As one of the main investors, Lu Er hosted a dinner that evening at an upscale private restaurant, inviting the director, the screenwriter, and key actors like Gu Jinzhou and Ye Qingge to celebrate.

The private room was lively, glasses clinking, laughter and chatter filling the air.

Gu Jinzhou was being watched closely by Yan Huaijin, with only juice and warm water in front of him—he wasn’t allowed a drop of alcohol. His expression was as plaintive as a young bride.

Lu Er, as the host and the one who should be in the best mood, seemed somewhat distracted.

When others toasted him, he never refused, downing glass after glass with a decisiveness that outmatched everyone else.

Soon, a faint blush appeared on his fair face, and his eyes glistened slightly.

“Mr. Lu, today you…”

Ye Qingge, sitting beside him, handed over a glass of warm water and asked with concern, “Are you okay? Did you have a disagreement with Dr. Song?”

Sharp-eyed as she was, Ye Qingge had long noticed that Lu Er’s mood tonight was off.

Though he smiled and socialized, there was always a lingering annoyance between his brows, and his gaze occasionally drifted to the phone on the table.

Lu Er took a sip of the warm water and tugged at the corner of his mouth. “No, I’m fine. Just happy, so I had a couple more drinks.”

As he spoke, he instinctively lit up his phone screen.

The pinned chat on WeChat still showed the last message he sent that afternoon, saying there would be a celebration dinner in the evening.

Song Jingmo had only replied, “Okay, don’t drink too much,” and then nothing else.

He had just posted a Moments update with a nine-grid collage—photos of food, drinks, and lively crowds, all clearly geotagged.

By past habits, no matter how busy Song Jingmo was, if he knew Lu Er had been drinking, he would have come directly to pick him up.

But tonight, the phone was completely silent—no new messages, no missed calls.

Lu Er felt a vague but heavy frustration and sense of loss.

Strictly speaking, he and Song Jingmo hadn’t even argued.

No heated disputes, no slamming doors, not even raising their voices.

At night, Song Jingmo stayed in the study working on papers or handling hospital matters, while Lu Er scrolled through his phone or played with his little nephew.

Lu Er didn’t even know where the problem lay.

The days of curling up together on the sofa after meals, watching movies, and being affectionate had indeed become rare.

He felt a little blocked inside and wondered if he was being too sensitive.

Two grown men—did they really have to be all lovey-dovey, whispering sweet nothings every day?

Song Jingmo was naturally quiet, and being busy with work was normal.

But this inexplicable coldness and sense of distance were genuinely painful.

Just as he was lost in these thoughts, his phone suddenly vibrated.

“Uncle~”

The anxious voice of the nanny came through, along with the loud cries of a child. “Little Master has been crying nonstop, insisting on finding you. No matter what we do, we can’t calm him down…”

Lu Ming was the son of Lu Chen and Luo Bingbing, just three years old—a clingy and shy age.

Lu Er was very fond of his little nephew and often brought him along to play.

These past few days, Luo Bingbing had gone out of town with Lu Chen for an important industry summit, so naturally, Lu Er took care of his nephew.

For the little guy, he had even converted a guest room in the villa into a playful children’s room.

Hearing his nephew cry so desperately, all of Lu Er’s attempts to drown his sorrows in alcohol vanished instantly, replaced with concern and urgency.

“What’s wrong?”

Ye Qingge asked.

“Something at home. My nephew’s crying badly. I need to go back,” Lu Er explained briefly, putting on his coat. “You guys continue. The bill’s already settled. Have fun.”

Yan Huaijin nodded at Lu Er: “Go back quickly, the child comes first.”

Lu Er didn’t bother explaining further to the others and hurriedly left the private room.

For the little nephew, both Lu Er and Song Jingmo had moved to the villa in the nearby suburbs.

Lu Er drove home as fast as possible, and as soon as he opened the villa door, he heard his nephew’s sniffly cries from upstairs.

He didn’t even have time to change his shoes, rushing up the stairs in three quick steps.

In the children’s room, the nanny was flustered, holding Lu Ming, who was crying like a little calico cat.

The little boy’s eyes and nose were red. Seeing Lu Er, he immediately stretched out his chubby hands and cried, “Uncle, hold me, boohoo…”

Lu Er’s heart melted instantly. He took the little nephew, gently patting his back, soothing him in a soft voice: “Oh, Mingming, did you miss Uncle? It’s okay, don’t cry…”

Perhaps sensing a familiar presence, Lu Ming’s cries gradually softened into pitiful sobs.

His small head leaned on Lu Er’s shoulder, and his chubby little hands clutched tightly at his uncle’s clothes.

Lu Er walked slowly around the children’s room holding the child, softly humming a clumsy lullaby, telling stories from picture books.

After almost an hour, the little guy finally calmed down, played with some toys for a while, then rubbed his eyes and showed signs of sleepiness.

Lu Er handed him back to the nanny and quickly returned to the master bedroom to shower.

The warm water washed over his body, momentarily washing away the frustration in his heart.

After showering and changing into clean home clothes, his hair still damp, he heard the sound of the front door opening and shoes being changed downstairs.

He paused while drying his hair, a flicker of anticipation returning to his heart.

He quietly stepped out of the bedroom and looked down from the second-floor stairwell.

Song Jingmo set his briefcase on the entryway cabinet, took off his coat, and changed his shoes.

Looking up, he met Lu Er’s gaze on the stairs for a brief moment.

At that instant, the children’s room burst into cries again.

Lu Er didn’t pay attention to Song Jingmo, rushing down to check on his nephew.

The nanny had just put the freshly bathed, fragrant Lu Ming on the little bed.

The little guy hugged his favorite rabbit plushie, eyelids drooping, but still insisted on crying for Lu Er.

Lu Er sat by the bed, took the picture book the nanny handed him, and began telling his nephew a bedtime story.

When Lu Ming finally fell asleep, his breathing steady and soft, Lu Er quietly got up, turned off the night light, and left the children’s room.

Back in the master bedroom, only a dim bedside lamp was on.

Song Jingmo was already lying on the bed, back facing Lu Er, blanket pulled up to his shoulders, seemingly asleep.

Lu Er stood still, looking at Song Jingmo’s unusually cold back, the frustration he had held in all evening swelling inside him like rising dough.

He went to his side, pulled back the covers, and lay down.

The mattress sank slightly, but there was no response from Song Jingmo.

The room was so quiet that their breathing could be heard.

Lu Er stared at the blurry patterns of light on the ceiling, wide awake.

He could feel that Song Jingmo probably wasn’t asleep either.

More than half an hour passed, and the man beside him maintained the same back-facing position, motionless.

This icy silence was more unbearable than any argument.