Chapter 8: I'm Not Leaving Tonight
822 Words
In no time, the sound of water came from the kitchen.
"Grandpa, I'll go check." Tong Hua, worried, smiled and held the old man's hand. "He definitely hasn't washed before, I have to teach him."
With that, she got up and went to the kitchen.
Lu Yuchuan stood in front of the sink, squeezing dish soap.
"Are you okay? Do you need help?" Tong Hua knew well that she couldn't afford to offend him while living under his roof.
"With Grandpa here, how could I dare to trouble Mrs. Lu?"
His sarcastic remark made Tong Hua feel a bit embarrassed. She stood by him for a while, pursed her lips, then turned away tactfully.
Lu Yuchuan couldn't understand, who exactly was this old man's grandfather?
Soon, the sound of Grandpa's cheerful voice came from outside—
"Tong Hua, Grandpa isn't leaving tonight! I'll stay and watch over you on your wedding night!"
The man, who was washing his hands, almost dropped the bowl when he heard this. Lu Yuchuan's eyes deepened, he was almost shocked to the point of internal bleeding.
Tong Hua didn't think too deeply about Grandpa staying tonight; she thought the house was big enough to accommodate him.
"Tong Hua," suddenly, Grandpa's expression turned serious as he said to her, "Find a suitable time to arrange a meeting between both families' elders. Although you and Yuchuan have obtained your marriage certificate, there are still traditional customs to follow, such as dowry and wedding ceremonies."
This was the issue that Tong Hua had been worried about, and Grandpa brought it up.
"Grandpa, I don't need a dowry, and I don't need a wedding ceremony." Tong Hua confessed truthfully, "My family situation is a bit messy; my foster father is a gambler and has racked up a lot of debts. My foster mother is busy helping my younger brother prepare for the college entrance exam and doesn't have time to take care of me. I got married... just for companionship in my old age, to have a place to live. Thank you for your appreciation, Grandpa."
Upon hearing this description, Grandpa Lu was neither surprised nor looked down on her; instead, he found her honesty admirable.
Actually, he had already investigated her family situation.
"Tong Hua, regardless, we, as the elders on the groom's side, need to fulfill our obligations in terms of etiquette. We can't avoid meeting each other forever, can we?" Grandpa also understood her situation.
"..." Tong Hua felt a bit embarrassed.
Grandpa didn't rush her. With a kind smile, he said, "Grandpa won't force you. Just promise me that you'll think about it carefully, okay?"
"Okay." The girl could only nod.
Soon, Lu Yuchuan came out of the kitchen after finishing washing the dishes. "I'm going to reply to an email," he said and went into the study.
In the living room, Grandpa held Tong Hua's hand and talked to her about many things from Yuchuan's childhood. But she found that she still didn't know this man very well.
She only knew that he was smarter, more hardworking, and more ambitious than ordinary children.
Around nine o'clock in the evening, Grandpa personally brewed some milk in the kitchen, saying it would help with sleep, and brought a cup to Tong Hua. "Drink it while it's hot, and you'll have a good night's sleep."
"Thank you, Grandpa." The girl smiled sweetly. She didn't know how this man she married was, but at least Grandpa had made the right choice.
As Grandpa was about to knock on the study door with another cup, the door opened, and his beloved grandson appeared.
"Yuchuan, don't be too busy with work. Do you have any concept of your wedding night?" Grandpa handed him the cup of milk, "Drink it while it's hot and have a peaceful sleep."
"Thank you, Grandpa." He took it without much thought.
After the two young people drank the milk without any suspicion, Grandpa sat down on the sofa and waved to them, "You two go to sleep, don't mind me. I'll sleep on the sofa tonight."
"Grandpa, there's a guest room." Tong Hua was afraid he would catch a cold.
"No, I like sleeping on the sofa." As soon as he finished speaking, Grandpa put down his cane, lay down on the sofa, and stared straight at the door of the master bedroom. "You two go in."
"..."
Lu Yuchuan was truly at a loss. Grandpa was clearly forcing him to share a room with his impromptu wife!
Tong Hua seemed to understand this implicit meaning and suddenly felt quite embarrassed.
There was silence for a few seconds.
Lu Yuchuan turned and walked into the master bedroom, leaving the door open.
Grandpa frowned and said to Tong Hua, "Tong Hua, what are you still standing there for? Go to rest early! Go in quickly, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold; don't waste it!"
- Writer
