Chapter 38 Putting on a Show for Grandpa

Jiang Ning was stunned.

She never expected that Lu Junyan would talk to her about personal matters at the company.

"Lu Junyan, we have already..."

"We're not divorced yet, and you can't possibly forget what day Saturday is!"

Lu Junyan didn't even look up.

Jiang Ning certainly remembered what Saturday was—

Saturday is Grandpa's 70th birthday.

She understood what Lu Junyan meant without him having to explain.

Every time Lu Lifeng celebrates his birthday, his old comrades and friends come over, and what they praise most is Jiang Ning's cooking skills.

"Okay, I understand."

Knowing that Jiang Ning would not refuse his grandfather's birthday celebration, Lu Junyan smiled slightly.

"If there's nothing else, you can leave now!"

Jiang Ning left Lu Junyan's office.

When she returned to her workstation, her feelings were still complicated.

Even though she had already decided to divorce Lu Junyan, she still couldn't escape him or the Lu family.

After getting off work on Friday evening, Jiang Ning prepared to return to the Lu family's old residence.

After all, it was Lu Lifeng's 70th birthday, and the Lu family attached great importance to it, as did she.

Jiang Ning used her lunch break to make a menu. For some ingredients that didn't need to be bought at the morning market the next day, she went directly to the supermarket after get off work to buy them.

Carrying two large bags of groceries in each hand, Jiang Ning stood by the roadside hailing a taxi.

A black Maybach pulled up in front of her.

The car window rolled down, and as Jiang Ning had expected, it was Lu Junyan.

"I'll go back too, let's go together!"

Lu Junyan knew that Jiang Ning was going to the Lu family manor.

Every year on his grandfather's birthday, Jiang Ning makes preparations in advance.

Jiang Ning stood there for a while before deciding to get on the bus.

If Lu Junyan also goes back to the old house, the separation between the two of them will only make Grandpa worry more.

At least on the occasion of Lu Lifeng's birthday, Jiang Ning did not want to upset Lu Lifeng.

After putting the groceries in the trunk, Jiang Ning habitually walked to the passenger seat, but after opening the door, she didn't get in.

She recalled that she had also taken it for granted to open the passenger door before, only to find Chu Qingxue sitting inside.

Even though there was no one in the passenger seat this time, she still closed the door and obediently sat in the back seat.

She thought that Lu Junyan's current passenger seat must be Chu Qingxue's reserved seat.

Whether it was true or not, Jiang Ning inexplicably didn't want to sit down.

Lu Junyan watched Jiang Ning open the car door, close it, and finally sit in the back without saying a word, only curving his lips slightly.

The car started, heading towards the Lu Family Manor.

Jiang Ning remained silent as always, because Xiao Zhang had told her before that Lu Junyan didn't like to be distracted while driving.

Chu Qingxue can chat with Lu Junyan; that's Chu Qingxue's privilege.

She didn't.

It's a long drive from the city center to Lujia Manor.

The low atmosphere in the car made Jiang Ning feel uncomfortable and bored; he couldn't even concentrate on his phone.

Every now and then, her gaze would drift toward Lu Junyan, who was driving.

As expected, Lu Junyan remained silent the entire way, as if he wasn't the one who had chatted and laughed with Chu Qingxue in the car last time.

Jiang Ning dozed off for a while, and when she woke up, the car had already come to a stop.

She discovered that a blanket had somehow appeared on her.

The blanket is grayish-black, made of thin wool, and has a soft feel.

Jiang Ning found this blanket very familiar.

She used to take a nap at her workstation, and when she woke up, the blanket she was wearing was exactly the same as this one.

So this is Lu Junyan's blanket?

Jiang Ning's heart began to race.

However, she then felt that she had been presumptuous.

It's also possible that the company distributed these blankets before, with each employee receiving one.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ning stopped himself from overthinking and got out of the car.

Lu Junyan had already taken all the groceries she bought out of the trunk.

"I'll do it!"

Jiang Ning came to Lu Junyan's side and extended her hand.

For three years of marriage, she has always bought the groceries by herself, and no matter how much she buys, she carries it all by herself.

Lu Junyan glanced at her but ignored her.

The two walked into the manor side by side, where Lu Lifeng was watering the vegetables he had planted in his yard.

Seeing that Lu Junyan and Jiang Ning had arrived together, and that Lu Junyan was even helping Jiang Ning carry the groceries, a relieved smile appeared on his face.

Jiang Ning took the initiative to greet Lu Lifeng, and seeing Lu Lifeng's smile, she understood why Lu Junyan had suddenly become so considerate of her.

It was all an act for Grandpa's benefit.

Jiang Ning and Lu Junyan chatted with Lu Lifeng for a while, and then Jiang Ning went to the kitchen to get busy.

Although there are many dishes to prepare for the birthday banquet, and the variety is also rich, there are chefs and servants at the old house who can help her, so it is actually easier for her to do it than when she is at home.

Of course, that home is no longer her home.

While Jiang Ning was busy in the kitchen, Lu Junyan was playing chess with Lu Lifeng.

"That's right. Treat Xiao Ning well. It's not easy to find a girl as good as her these days."

While secretly letting his grandfather have a move, Lu Junyan casually replied, "Hmm."

Jiang Ning was busy until 10 p.m. before he finally finished preparing everything needed for the birthday banquet the next day.

When she came out of the kitchen, she found that Lu Lifeng was still awake and playing chess with Lu Junyan.

"Grandpa, have you taken all your medicine?" Jiang Ning reminded him.

The caregiver standing nearby looked grim.

Jiang Ning could tell from the caregiver's expression that her grandfather was refusing to take his medicine again.

Besides his heart condition, Lu Lifeng also suffers from other age-related illnesses, and he has to take a lot of medication every day as instructed by his doctor.

But as people get older, their mindset changes. Lu Lifeng always felt that if he took too much medicine, he wouldn't live long, so sometimes he would get angry and refuse to take his medicine.

No matter how the other members of the Lu family tried to coax or persuade them, it was no use.

But the old man listened to Jiang Ning very much.

"Let me play a game of chess with Grandpa!"

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Lu Lifeng immediately waved his hand to shoo Lu Junyan away.

"Quickly, quickly, bring Xiao Ning over. Junyan is no good at chess."

Jiang Ning gave a wry smile.

She knew that Lu Junyan always deliberately gave in to his grandfather.

"Grandpa, I'll play chess with you, but if you lose, you have to promise me one thing."

"No problem, Grandpa will agree to whatever Xiaoning says."

Lu Lifeng agreed readily, and he lost just as readily.

Jiang Ning never holds back when playing chess with Lu Lifeng.

Although Lu Lifeng is not as good as Lu Junyan, his chess skills are not bad either.

Lu Junyan was somewhat surprised that Jiang Ning not only knew how to play chess, but was actually quite good at it.

"I lost, Xiao Ning, you didn't even know to let Grandpa win."

Lu Lifeng said this, but he was secretly very happy.

Jiang Ning also understood that Lu Lifeng didn't like being given way by others.

As agreed, Lu Lifeng obediently took his medicine and went to sleep.

Jiang Ning wore a relieved smile.

If there's anywhere in the Lu family where she can feel relaxed and at ease, it's only when she's with Lu Lifeng.

The clock was ticking past midnight, and Jiang Ning knew she had to go to sleep, otherwise she was afraid she wouldn't be able to get up tomorrow.

She used to spend the night alone at the old house.

However, tonight, there is an extra Lu Junyan.

Lu Junyan and she naturally slept in the same bedroom.

The bedroom includes a walk-in closet and a bathroom.

"Go wash up first!"

Lu Junyan, who was working on his laptop, said this to Jiang Ning.