Chapter 81: Oh, What Should I Do When My Father Is So Tsundere?

In front of Song Jinse, Lu Yiting was never reckless—not out of fear, but out of respect.

He had restrained himself a great deal, but still could not fully conceal the wild arrogance and unruliness in his bones. "Mom, my daughter should always side with me. Unless you recover miraculously right now, I will never forgive Lu Cheng as long as I live. And naturally, neither will my daughter."

Both pain and sorrow flickered across Song Jinse’s face and within her heart.

This knot had stretched between father and son for over twenty years.

Among her sons, Ting’er looked the least like his father, but his temper and nature were the most similar.

They were both stubborn as oxen.

She could persuade neither of them. Over twenty years, all she could do was try her best to maintain some semblance of peace between them.

It was only due to her efforts that father and son still barely acknowledged each other, that their bond had not been altogether severed.

But if she were to pass away, what would become of them?

A fit of urgency triggered a bout of coughing. Song Jinse’s frail body was wracked by the spasms, alarming both Lu Yiting and Lu Cheng. One rushed to pat her back, helping her catch her breath, while the other fetched her water in a panic.

It was a long while before the coughing subsided.

Knowing her son’s stubbornness, Song Jinse took Bai Lu's hand and, with a hint of coquettishness, pleaded, "Sweetheart, never mind your father. Just for your grandmother’s sake—would you call him grandpa, just this once? Would you, to make me happy?"

Bai Lu gritted her teeth, not daring to meet Song Jinse’s pleading gaze, and shook her head with resolve. "I can’t do that. On this matter, there’s no room for discussion. I know my father has a terrible temper and an awful personality. But he respects and loves you, and he’d do anything to make you happy. If he refuses to recognize him, he must have a reason. The fault must lie with Chairman Lu."

Song Jinse stroked her little face. "Sweetheart…"

Just like her father, she was a bright and perceptive child.

Bai Lu gently hugged her grandmother. "Grandma, even if my father is at fault, I’ll support him unconditionally. If he chooses to stand against the whole world, I’ll stand beside him."

Song Jinse hugged her granddaughter’s little head, thinking of all the hardships and grievances her son had endured over the years. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Lu Cheng stood tall with the help of his cane, his authority and imperiousness undiminished. The refusal of his son and granddaughter to acknowledge him seemed not to move him in the least.

Lu Yiting kept his face cold, but his words remained respectful. "Mom, you’ve met your granddaughter. Whether the Lu family acknowledges her or not, she’s still my daughter. If the Lu family accepts her, she’ll bear the Lu name. If not, so much the better. The two of us will change our surname to Song, right along with you."

"Don’t be ridiculous." Even when Song Jinse scolded, her voice was gentle, almost playful. "Ting’er, don’t make trouble for me. Who said we wouldn’t want such a lovely child as Bai Lu? She’s the young lady of the Lu family—her surname must be Lu. If you want to be a Song, I won’t have you!"

At last, Bai Lu understood where her own knack for coaxing and wheedling had come from.

It was, after all, inherited from her grandmother!

"Fine." Lu Yiting nodded. "Since the Lu family recognizes her, she’s the little miss of the family. You’ve met her, so we’ll take our leave for today. If you want to see your granddaughter, just come to the house."

"Bai Lu, say goodbye to your grandmother."

Bai Lu was always quick to follow her father’s lead. She stood up at once. "Goodbye, Grandma! I’ll be waiting for you at home with Dad, and Uncle Gu will make something delicious for you."

"Come back here," Song Jinse called. "If you’re going to acknowledge your ancestry, you must do it properly. You may have no shame, but your sweet cousin does!"

Ever clever, Bai Lu shouldered the blame herself. "Grandma, I’m the one who finds it inconvenient. I begged Dad to keep our relationship secret for now. He wanted to bring me home much earlier, but I had my difficulties. Please understand me, Grandma!"

Song Jinse frowned but said no more. "Sweetheart, how long will it take?"

"No more than a year," Lu Yiting interjected impatiently. "Mom, you can save your endless questions for when you come home. We’re leaving now—every second longer here feels unlucky."

"Bai Lu, let’s go."

Bai Lu reluctantly kissed her grandmother’s cheek. "Grandma, I’ll be waiting for you at home."

Watching the father and daughter walk away, Song Jinse tugged at her husband’s sleeve. "A’Cheng, can’t you just give in a little, for my sake?"

Lu Cheng turned away, his face clouded.

This was the one thing he could not grant his wife.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to compromise—he had. But Lu Yiting’s attitude was always the same: unyielding.

"Unless my mother makes a miraculous recovery, there’s nothing to discuss. As long as she’s alive, I’ll call you father. The moment she’s gone, we have no further ties. You can be your Chairman Lu—I don’t care about your fortune."

Tears shimmered in Song Jinse’s eyes. "A’Cheng, you and Ting’er both love me. Why can’t the two of you make peace?"

Lu Cheng, hard-hearted all his life, could only soften before this woman. He bent down and embraced her. "It’s because we both love you that reconciliation is impossible."

Ting’er could not forgive him, nor could he forgive himself.

He could not forgive himself, not in the least.

Bai Lu knew her father was furious.

But it wasn’t the old, roaring kind of fury.

This was a cold, silent anger—the kind that didn’t even bother with words.

For the former, she could coax him out of his mood with a little playfulness.

But with the latter, she dared not joke or even speak.

Her father’s eyes were so dark they seemed to bleed.

Bai Lu knew it was related to her grandmother’s illness.

But she asked nothing, struggling to keep up with her father’s long strides on her short legs.

Following obediently behind, she truly was her father’s little shadow.

In the parking lot, Lu Yiting suddenly stopped, leaned against a pillar, and lit a cigarette.

Through the curling blue smoke, his face seemed almost ethereal, insubstantial.

After a long while, he stubbed out the cigarette. "Bai Lu."

"Dad," she immediately sidled up to him.

Lu Yiting gave her a light tap on the crown of her head. "At least I didn’t raise you for nothing."

"Um… Dad, you never really did raise me. After we reunited, you only ever came over when you wanted to freeload a meal, or Uncle Gu would cook for me."

"…Looking for a taste of the belt, are you?"

"Dad is always right. Dad is right forever."

Lu Yiting’s eyes dimmed, losing their shine. "Aren’t you curious?"

Bai Lu slipped her hand into his large palm. "If you want to tell me, I’ll listen. If you don’t, I’ll wait until you’re ready. No matter what, I’ll stand with you, come what may."

Lu Yiting gave a short, derisive laugh. "Am I crazy? Why on earth would I want to stand against the world? Do I need you by my side?"

Bai Lu ground her teeth. "If you can’t say anything nice, just keep your mouth shut. Don’t make me commit parricide with my own hands!"

Lu Yiting: "……"

After a moment’s thought, Bai Lu opened her arms. "Dad, I want a hug."

"Disgusting—aren’t you a little old to be wanting hugs from your father?" Lu Yiting scolded, but still pulled her into his arms.

Bai Lu sighed inwardly: Oh, what can I do with such a tsundere dad?

"Bai Lu, your grandmother’s illness… was caused by someone."