Chapter 52: Engagement.

After breakfast, in the garden pavilion.

Lu Zhao looked at Yu Baiwei, who seemed dazed and questioning life itself, hesitating to speak several times.

He truly didn’t know how to comfort her.
How do you even address something like this?

It was explosive no matter how you looked at it.
Even he was shocked speechless, let alone Yu Baiwei, the one directly involved.

A breeze brushed past them, but it couldn’t dispel the melancholy in their hearts.

“Lu Zhao,” Yu Baiwei suddenly spoke.

“Hm?”

“Do you think… if you weren’t Qingxin’s boyfriend, would my mom force you to… you know, like my dad…?”

Her voice trailed off as she bent over, covering her mouth.

The mental turmoil triggered a stomach spasm—she felt like throwing up.

Lu Zhao gently patted her back.
“Sigh… Honestly? Probably.”

Defiant to death? Few could actually pull that off when push came to shove.

Yu Baiwei turned, eyes red, slowly leaning toward his shoulder.

“Let me lean on you for a bit…” Her choked, fragile voice reached his ears.

Lu Zhao didn’t move, just patted her back lightly, glancing at the mansion.

Your mood really does shape what you see.
Yesterday, he’d felt awe and curiosity toward the building.
Today… it was tinged with disgust and anger.

Click, click, click. Footsteps approached from behind.

Turning, they saw Liu Yu, dressed in an elegant maid outfit, her demeanor unaffected by the morning’s conversation, her face calm.

They stood, Yu Baiwei instinctively wanting to bolt, but Lu Zhao held her back, shaking his head to signal they should hear her out.

Coming closer, Liu Yu nodded slightly.
“Miss, Young Master Lu.”

Yu Baiwei avoided her eyes, shrinking behind Lu Zhao.

“Aunt Liu, may I ask who sent you?” Lu Zhao asked.

Liu Yu smiled warmly.
“My own decision.”

She gestured invitingly.
“Please, sit. Let’s talk.”

Lu Zhao pulled Yu Baiwei to sit across from her.

Liu Yu let out a long breath, saying wistfully, “Where to begin? Hm… probably before Miss was born.”

Yu Baiwei’s eyes shrank back, but Liu Yu’s gaze remained gentle, free of resentment or blame.

“Brother Ming… that’s Miss’s father. We met in college—got to know each other, fell in love.”

“But… I had an accident. A car crash.”

Lu Zhao felt Yu Baiwei’s grip on his hand tighten—she clearly cared deeply for this aunt who’d raised her.

“Brother Ming, to cover my medical bills, got involved with Madam.”

A bitter smile crossed her face.
“Then, the head of the Yu family forced Madam to marry him, despite both of them refusing.”

Lu Zhao’s mouth twitched.
That domineering streak really ran in the family.

“Madam felt guilty toward me, so she never minded my relationship with Brother Ming.”

Liu Yu’s gaze shifted to Yu Baiwei.
“Until… Madam got pregnant.”

“My accident left me unable to have children. I’ll never have one.”

Yu Baiwei’s eyes reddened again at this.

“Aunt Liu…”

“Brother Ming was torn—me on one side, Madam’s child on the other. He didn’t know what to do, even thought about ending it all. Thankfully, Madam stopped him in time.”

Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow.
That uncle was hardcore—anyone willing to go that far was no joke.

“Madam had fallen for him by then. To keep him, she proposed hiding my identity, letting me join the Yu household as the housekeeper.”

Yu Baiwei’s tears spilled over.
She stood, moving to Liu Yu’s side.

Liu Yu rose, stroking her head with maternal affection.

“When Miss was born, I was so happy. I couldn’t have children, so you… you’re my child.”

“Aunt Liu!” Yu Baiwei hugged the woman who’d treated her like her own, sobbing loudly.

It was a touching scene, but Lu Zhao’s brain short-circuited.

Wait, so who’s wearing the hat here?

Yu Baiwei’s tears, Liu Yu’s smile.

Watching them embrace, pouring out their emotions, Lu Zhao started to get it.

Maybe… this world wasn’t just a crude gender swap.

This outcome—wasn’t it kind of nice?

Liu Yu left, her steps less refined and steady, more light and free.

That conversation must’ve been a boulder lifted from her heart.

Yu Baiwei, her heart unburdened, wore a relaxed smile.

“Lu Zhao, let’s go tell my mom you’re Qingxin’s boyfriend.”

He glanced at her, teasing, “What? You want to come with me to Qingxin’s place? Or have Qingxin come here?”

Her smile froze, and she gave him a weird look.

Realizing his words, Lu Zhao coughed.
“You’ve all rubbed off on me. I mean, if you spill, your mom might push you to marry that Mu Liang guy.”

Yu Baiwei’s gaze hardened, her tone firm.
“No way I’m marrying him. Worst case, I run away to somewhere no one can find me.”

Lu Zhao was skeptical about her second plan—probably not doable.

But the first? From last night’s talk with Yu Mulian, she didn’t seem keen on Mu Liang either, leaving some wiggle room.

“My advice? Don’t say anything yet. Qingxin’s on board, so she won’t misunderstand. Let’s drag it out as long as we can.”

Yu Baiwei thought it over.
“Fine… we’ll go with that for now.”

But plans never keep up with changes.

“Mom, what? Engagement? This… this…” Yu Baiwei stammered.

At lunch, Yu’s mother dropped a bombshell.

Lu Zhao was numb, and Yu Baiwei was speechless.

Yu’s mother calmly cut her steak.
“Since you’re so against marrying the Mu boy, we need to give them an explanation, right?”

Yu Baiwei glanced at her father, who shrugged, signaling he had no say.

“But Mom, Lu Zhao has a girlfriend. You know that.”

“So it’s an engagement, not a marriage. Just get engaged—future’s uncertain.”

Wiping her mouth, she continued, “Besides, you only took a few days off. Your classes don’t matter much, but Xiao Lu’s still in school. Studies come first.”

Lu Zhao nodded awkwardly, smiling.
Hadn’t expected this aunt to care about his education.

Yu Baiwei wanted to argue, but Lu Zhao tugged her sleeve, signaling her to drop it.

After lunch, they returned to the room.

“Why’d you stop me? Do you know what engagement means?” Yu Baiwei was frantic.

“I know, but Aunt Yu’s right—future’s uncertain.

I’m only a sophomore. That gives you years to find someone you like, right?” Lu Zhao said calmly, meaning it.

Yu Baiwei stared, dazed.
“That’s how you see it?”

“Yeah, what else?”

“…Alright then.”

*

That evening, luxury cars rolled into the Yu estate.

Yu Mulian had invited only a few close allies—this was a sham, no need for fanfare.
Just enough to let people know it happened.

The small scale also signaled to the Mu family: we’re breaking the promise again, so we’re keeping it low-key.

Among the guests was someone both Lu Zhao and Yu Baiwei had overlooked.