Chapter 14: The Secret Glance
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Jiang Ying rarely failed to reply unless something completely captured her attention. Yet this afternoon, right after stepping out, her response speed noticeably slowed, and her messages became briefer than usual, lacking even the usual emojis.
Lu Zhixi stared at the phone screen on the table; the question he had sent remained unanswered. The green chat bubbles seemed like swarming insects crawling densely over his nerves.
Meanwhile, another group chat on WeChat kept receiving new messages.
Qi Wen sent five consecutive emojis complaining about a streak of bad luck; that evening, he had dinner and unexpectedly ran into his grandfather’s old adversary—his ex-girlfriend. Qi Zhou mentioned that the drink menu at the tavern near the university’s east gate had been updated with new cocktail names. Lily insisted they take her there sometime. As they chatted, Qi Zhou remarked that he had seen Lu Zhixi’s girlfriend there.
He casually snapped a photo, but the image was blurry. Only a corner revealed a girl with long, jet-black hair and fair skin, sitting beside a young man dressed in a shirt and black trousers.
Lu Zhixi tapped the photo to enlarge it, then zoomed in again.
“Alex, are you even listening to me?”
On the computer screen, a video call was ongoing. The woman with black hair on the other side stared coldly, speaking fluent French with a tone as elegant and icy as velvet dipped in ice water.
Lu Zhixi lifted his eyes to her and replied calmly, “Mother, I am listening.”
He spoke in Chinese, causing Lu Xiu to knit her brows.
Born and raised in France, Lu Xiu’s Chinese was poor. She usually spoke French with Lu Zhixi, only using English when her husband Anthony was present.
Language choice was a matter of rules, etiquette, and upbringing.
Her tone grew colder. “You’ve been in China for a year and have already forgotten the basic expectations of this family. You’ve only ever brought me shame since you were a child.”
Lu Zhixi switched to French, “Sorry.”
“I heard from the butler that you brought a girl to stay overnight at the Qingshui Court villa a few days ago.”
“Yes.”
Lu Xiu sneered, “Are you planning to marry her?”
“Why would you misunderstand that?”
“Then why bring her into your parents’ property? Isn’t your own apartment enough for your debauchery?”
At this, Lu Zhixi fell silent.
His mother’s questions were not truly seeking answers; they were just outlets for her dissatisfaction, as usual.
“You even ran into Danny Lawen there, right? How amusing—father, son, and brother are all the same. You truly are family. Look at your expression now—no shame. It disgusts me.”
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Lu Xiu’s tone remained gentle, but every word was a sharp sting of sarcasm.
Suddenly, Lu Zhixi smiled, asking, “Is that really what you think?”
He looked at his mother on the screen, his smile faint, seemingly indifferent to her biting mockery.
This time, Lu Xiu fell silent.
Her son’s smiling demeanor pricked her like a thorn. It was like a bucket of ice water poured over her head, instantly extinguishing her unvented anger and replacing it with caution and wariness.
Her son was no ordinary child—not one subdued by scolding or control.
Lu Zhixi’s gaze pierced through the lens, locking eyes with him.
Lu Zhixi’s look meant she was once again inwardly resentful, regretting his birth. On this point, mother and son shared the same view—that it was the youthful, naïve Lu Xiu’s greatest mistake and life’s harshest lesson. She had tried to believe in love and was forced into becoming a woman no one would love.
“You needn’t get angry over such a trivial matter; it’s bad for your health.”
Those words offered an olive branch. Lu Xiu’s expression softened, her autumn-like eyes turning gentle.
“Alex, what I said earlier was because I was too anxious and worried. I’ve told you before, I have little ability and can’t support you. When you take over your father’s corporation, you must marry a wife with the right qualifications to assist you.
“If your wife isn’t your ally, she will become your greatest enemy. So be cautious. Don’t let trivial matters in China affect your future life.”
Lu Zhixi listened quietly, neither refuting nor agreeing. He disliked dwelling on this topic, though Lu Xiu never ceased to press it. He might marry, or he might not. Only the powerless need allies. He just said, “I know how to handle my affairs.”
Lu Xiu sighed with relief.
Before ending the call, she smiled, “Mother misses you very much, Alex. Come back to New York soon; everyone is preparing for your return. Your father will be back then, too.”
Lu Zhixi saw no trace of longing in her expression but smiled nonetheless. “I understand. I will return as planned.”
The screen went black shortly after the call ended, reflecting Lu Zhixi’s face.
His expression instantly hardened, annoyance etched deeply between his brows.
A knock came at the study door. Ling Jing cautiously opened it, asking if they should wait for Miss Jiang to return for dinner.
Lu Zhixi closed his laptop, picked up his phone, and said, “Wait.”
He paused, then asked Ling Jing, “Didn’t I tell you if you report anything about Madam Lu to her, I will make sure you and your siblings can never find work again in the Upper East Side?”
*
Xu Chengming was two years ahead of Jiang Ying and Zhou Anning. When they enrolled, he was a junior and student council president of the Psychology Department. He later secured a recommendation to continue graduate studies in cognitive neuroscience within the same department. Graduate and undergraduate classes were scheduled differently, with separate classrooms and buildings, so they hadn’t seen much of him lately.
“It’s just after finals. I’m here catching up with some classmates over dinner.”
Xu Chengming pointed to a nearby table by the wall, where two men and three women were eating skewers and chatting. Jiang Ying and Zhou Anning recognized none, likely graduate seniors.
Zhou Anning, who worked in the student council of the department and was familiar with Xu Chengming, greeted him cheerfully, “Chengming, come sit and chat with us.”
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“Sure.”
This tavern was a hub for the university’s students, rarely visited by outsiders. Once seated, one often encountered acquaintances, and it was customary to chat and snack into the late night.
The table near the wall was a bit cramped. Zhou Anning sat inside, Jiang Ying outside. Xu Chengming, tall, couldn’t squeeze in, so he pulled up the chair beside Jiang Ying.
Jiang Ying smiled, “Chengming, you’ve gotten handsome. I almost didn’t recognize you earlier. How have you been? Your girlfriend’s not here?”
Xu Chengming smiled wryly. “Don’t mention it—we just broke up.”
They had heard about his relationship last year. The girl was a cheerful senior from another university who had been admitted to their sociology graduate program. Zhou Anning and Jiang Ying were WeChat friends with her, often seeing her posts about campus events and affectionate photos.
Both were surprised by the breakup but understood that student relationships often came and went. They didn’t pry and clinked glasses with him.
Zhou Anning said, “No words needed; everything’s in the drink.”
Jiang Ying added, “No words needed; everything’s in the cola.”
Xu Chengming laughed and waved it off, “I’m fine. It’ll pass. How about you two? Still studying or looking for internships?”
Hearing that Zhou Anning planned to study abroad and Jiang Ying aimed to apply for a direct PhD program jointly run by Chinese and American universities, Xu Chengming nodded approvingly.
“That’s good. The economy’s tough now, so many want to stay in school a bit longer. If you need help, just ask. Anning, I’ll connect you with some classmates who did well with their study abroad applications. You can consult them if needed. As for the program Ying wants to apply for… competition is fierce, but I know a senior who got accepted. I can share her contact info.”
Xu Chengming was well-regarded in the department—steady, reliable, and caring toward juniors. His words moved them, eyes brimming with tears as they called him family.
“No big deal. You two were assigned to me as freshmen; I’m glad you’re doing well here.”
He looked at Jiang Ying with concern. “By the way, how have you been lately? Has your mood improved since you got into a relationship?”
Xu Chengming and Zhou Anning knew Jiang Ying’s situation as a freshman. Sitting together, this topic wasn’t taboo.
Jiang Ying had come alone from a small town to Beijing, deeply affected by her father’s repeated alcoholism. This impacted her school performance, placing her on the department’s list of students needing special attention during psychological assessments.
As student council president that year, Xu Chengming had access to that list. Zhou Anning, close to Jiang Ying, was urged by faculty to watch over her. Xu Chengming often invited both out for meals to chat casually, avoiding heavy topics, sharing gossip, complaining about courses, and telling amusing stories to lighten their moods.
Strictly speaking, Xu Chengming’s care was part of his duty, but he offered Jiang Ying many useful suggestions, like keeping a mood journal and finding a compatible partner.
Jiang Ying smiled, “Very well. I’m following your advice and am happy now.”
“That’s great. You look much better since finding someone. Although we study psychology, we all have troubles. At least we can view our problems more rationally and find ways to improve our lives.”
After a long time apart, the three chatted warmly, oblivious to the new customer entering the tavern. Tall and long-legged, a baseball cap pulled low revealed only part of a pale face. His arrival caught the attention of several tables by the door.
Qi Wen and Qi Zhou, chatting with friends, noticed the commotion and waved him over.
Lu Zhixi nodded slightly in greeting, scanned the room, and headed directly to the corner table.
Jiang Ying, listening to Zhou Anning and Xu Chengming gossiping about department romances, was startled when someone suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder from behind. Zhou Anning, who had been chattering non-stop, fell silent for two seconds before saying, “Lu Zhixi?”