Chapter 51: Even Arsenic and Cyanide Pale Beside Your Cooking

Gu Pianran pressed his fingers to his brow. “Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly. Your father definitely has ways to drive you mad enough to want to stab him a thousand times.”

Bai Lu replied, “…Uncle Gu, is that from personal experience?”

“The kind written in blood,” Gu Pianran answered, smiling at her with a gentle kindness.

But Bai Lu could sense it—a subtle aura of menace.

Gu Pianran continued, “Your father has a bad temper. He curses at people at the drop of a hat, loses his cool if things don’t go his way, and it’s common for him to break things or slam doors. He’s also childish—if he wants shredded potatoes in vinegar but the housekeeper serves him sliced potatoes instead, he’ll flip the table and sulk for days without eating.”

“But.” Gu Pianran gently patted her head. “Your father is loyal, values relationships deeply, and is fiercely protective. He has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He only loses his temper with those closest to him—the slamming and shouting is for family. To outsiders, your father is the elegant and flawless Movie King Lu, a paragon of virtue. So when he shows you his most childish side, it’s because you’re family. Xiao Lu, don’t hate your father, all right?”

Bai Lu’s nose tingled. “Okay!”

How could she possibly hate her father?

The more she came to understand his true nature, the more her heart ached for him.

If he really were that flawless Movie King Lu, taking the blame for his daughter could perhaps be explained by the duties and bonds of a father.

But this bad-tempered, foul-mouthed, immature Lu Yiting—if he took the blame for his daughter and ended up killed in detention…

That could only be love—he loved his daughter too much to let her suffer.

There’s no way she could hate her father.

Hmph!

Even if he came at her with a broom, there was no way she would leave him!

Gu Pianran ruffled her hair before letting go. “Your father… he might not be able to accept you right away. Xiao Lu, this is absolutely not your fault, understand? Remember, if your father can’t accept you, it’s because of his own issues.”

Bai Lu met his piercing gaze behind the lenses. “Uncle Gu, why don’t you just spell it out?”

Gu Pianran shook his head. “That’s your father’s private matter. It’s not my place to tell you. But I do have a favor to ask—”

“I promise!” Bai Lu smiled sweetly. “I absolutely won’t mention a single word about my mother in front of my father!”

Gu Pianran tapped her nose. “You really are a little fox spirit.”

Bai Lu waggled her head with pride. “Uncle Gu, then can you do something for me too?”

Gu Pianran replied, “I know, I’ll help persuade your father not to interfere with your career or your decisions.”

Bai Lu stuck out her tongue. “Wow, old fox!”

That night, Lu Yiting didn’t come back to Yipinlan.

Bai Lu was worried and wanted to go out and look for him, but Gu Pianran stopped her.

“Leave him be. He’ll come back tomorrow. Besides my place, he’s got nowhere else to go.”

Bai Lu trusted the old fox’s judgment completely and went back to her room to sleep in peace.

The bedroom had been arranged for her by Uncle Gu himself!

Having an uncle to spoil her was truly amazing!

The next day at noon, Bai Lu was woken by a table full of delicious food prepared by Uncle Gu.

“Wow, Uncle Gu, if my dad annoys me again, I’ll just marry you and make him call me sister-in-law!”

Gu Pianran gently served her favorite dish. “You’re an actress, you need to watch your figure. This one’s too greasy, you can’t eat it. I made it especially for you, just so you could smell the aroma. Does it smell good?”

Bai Lu: “……”

Rule number one in the Lu family: Never provoke the smiling, scheming tiger!

After lunch, Gu Pianran told her to lie down and watch TV in the living room while he washed the dishes. Afterward, he brought her a plate of fruit.

Bai Lu: “……”

She could already imagine how, for over thirty years, Uncle Gu had been her father’s housekeeper.

“Uncle Gu, don’t you have to work?” Bai Lu lounged with crossed legs, watching her father’s movies.

Gu Pianran shelled sunflower seeds for her. “I just found you yesterday, I want to spend some real time with you. Work is endless, but I’ve already missed eighteen years with you.”

Bai Lu wished she could grab her father and make him listen and learn!

Gu Pianran asked what she wanted to do—whatever it was, he’d gladly keep his precious niece company.

Bai Lu replied, “I just want to sit here and binge-watch all of my dad’s movies and TV shows.”

So Gu Pianran really did sit with her all afternoon, feeding her snacks as they watched.

Around ten that night, her father finally came home.

He looked utterly disheveled, his face covered in cuts and bruises, like a wounded stray dog.

Gu Pianran seemed completely used to it, calmly fetching the first-aid kit and tending to his wounds.

Bai Lu glanced over and saw that her father’s injuries were all superficial. At first glance they looked scary, but really, there was nothing to worry about—not even a tetanus shot was needed—so she turned to the kitchen to heat up some food for her father.

“Dad, come eat.”

Lu Yiting’s mouth twitched when she called him dad.

But he didn’t argue, nor did he curse; he simply sat down at the table in silence.

“All the good food was made by Uncle Gu. The ugly, awful-looking dish was made by me.”

His first chopsticks reached for her dish, but as soon as he put it in his mouth, he spat it right back out. “Bai Xiaolu, are you trying to murder your own father? You call this food? Even arsenic isn’t as toxic as your cooking!”

Bai Lu bit her tongue, holding back a retort. “My name is Lu Xiaolu.”

Her father paused for a second, then reached for another bite of her ‘arsenic.’ This time, he didn’t spit it out; he forced himself to swallow.

He swallowed it down!

Even the old fox Gu Pianran couldn’t get that down, but her father did.

His handsome face twisted in disgust.

“All right, tomorrow I’ll take you to change your name. Once it’s done, I’ll bring you back to the Lu family to acknowledge your heritage. Even though I have no desire to bear the Lu surname or return to that family, you deserve your rightful place.”

Bai Lu’s nose tingled; she looked at Gu Pianran.

Gu Pianran shrugged helplessly.

Didn’t he say it? Lu Yiting’s bark was worse than his bite.

Bai Lu sniffled. “Uncle Gu, I’m going to my room.”

Gu Pianran nodded. “Go ahead.”

Her father grumbled, “If you get hungry, knock on the door and have Uncle Gu make you a midnight snack! Don’t be shy—your gluttony is legendary! Sneaking out in the middle of the night to raid Director Zhang’s room for snacks, do you have no shame?”

“I won’t eat! I’m an actress, after all—I do have some self-control!” Bai Lu slammed the door and flopped onto the bed, burying her face in the covers, unable to hold back her tears.

So this is what it feels like to have a father.

It’s truly, indescribably wonderful.

Crying, she drifted off to sleep.

In a daze, she thought she saw her father.

He wore a sour expression, cigarette dangling from his lips, looking down at her as if ready to drag her out of bed for a scolding—

Startled, Bai Lu woke and wrapped herself up in her blanket. “Dad! I’m a girl! I’m eighteen! It’s not appropriate for you to show up in your adult daughter’s bedroom like this!”

Lu Yiting replied, “Cut the crap, I’m starving. Get up and cook.”

“Where’s Uncle Gu?”

“I woke up and asked Gu Pianran to cook, but his room was already empty.” Her father raised an eyebrow. “He spent all day with you yesterday?”

Bai Lu nodded. “Yes, yes. We watched your movies all day.”

Her father said, “Makes sense. Gu Pianran’s assistant must’ve dragged him back to work overtime.”

“…Dad, why don’t I feel the least bit sorry for Uncle Gu? I might even feel a tiny bit pleased with myself.”

“Smart girl. You’ve figured out his true nature—the smiling tiger.” Lu Yiting urged her, “Hurry up, I’m starving here.”

“…Dad, are you sure you want me to cook? I don’t mind, as long as you’re not afraid to die—I’d be happy to ‘honor’ you.”

Lu Yiting: “……”