When Little Jia heard that he was going to pick her mother up, she wanted to go too. "Daddy, can I go too?"

"No." His answer was short and stern, allowing no room for negotiation.

"Oh." She looked down pitifully, complain written all over her face.

Lu Aotian had the urge to laugh and tease her. "Be good. Daddy will bring back chocolates."

After pacifying the little one, he went to pick up the wife. Fine, he had to pick up the sister-in-law as well. Never mind. He would deal with her once they got home.

The three of them had taken the same flight.

As soon as Wan Jia saw Lu Aotian, she jumped onto him cheerfully and gave her girlfriends a smug look.

"What's going on?" Lu Aotian asked the little thing that had suddenly thrown itself into his arms.

"I missed you. Can't I hug you?"

"…" fine.

Not many seconds later, Xu Liaowen called his wife. "Where are you? I just reached the airport; I hope you didn't wait too long."

Kara waved her phone in front of Su Ling and gave her a funny look before responding to Xu Liaowen. "We just landed. Where are you? I'll find you."

Su Ling sighed. "Shaoting isn't here yet. I guess it's my treat." It's not going to be that expensive anyway. They were playing a silly game. Whoeve's man was latest to pick her up would treat the others to a drink. What she was disappointed about was not seeing Lu Shaoting who she had looked forward to seeing since they left Country A.

Lu Aotian ignored the strange way the three of them were acting. "Shaoting has something else to do. I'll drop you off." He said to Su Ling.

"Then thanks for the trouble." She didn't kick up a fuss over such a small thing.

As they went, she realized that the road was more and more unfamiliar. At first she thought Lu Aotian had something to do first but then they stopped in a high end property.

She didn't dare to ask Lu Aotian so she asked Wan Jia, "Bo...sister-in-law, where is this place?"

"The Lu residence."

Su Ling suddenly felt her blood run cold. She was scared of this place! "Why are we here?"

Lu Aotian was the one to reply this time. "You'll be staying here temporarily. Shaoting didn't tell you?" He had actually forgotten such a vital thing?

"He didn't." She looked alarmed.

Wan Jia didn't know what was happening either but she held Su Ling's hand. "Don't be scared. Father-in-law is actually quite friendly."

Since they were here, Wan Jia thought that she may as well say hi to her father-in-law. Su Ling tagged along nervously. Lu Shaoting had gone to drop off Tangtang and hadn't arrived yet. Little Jia had insisted on tagging along. If Lu Aotian knew that Kara was arriving on the same day as his wife and sister-in-law, he would have gone to the airport with Tangtang.

Lu Tongyan didn't feel awkward around Su Ling. You would think he wasn't the one who went on incessantly about not acknowledging her.

Lu Shaoting returned with Little Jia in his arms. The little girl was asleep.

Just as Lu Shaoting went past them towards the stairs, Lu Tongyan spoke. "I suddenly want to have coffee. Su Ling, can you brew me some?"

Lu Shaoting shot him an unsatisfied look. Did you have to make her run errands as soon as you see me? Besides, I don't let her cook unless she's only learning. What's the meaning of this?

Contrary to Lu Tongyan's expectations, she didn't look to Lu Shaoting for help. She in fact looked happy to do it. "Right away, Master Lu."

She asked a servant at the side to show her to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she came back with a cup of coffee on a tray. 'Luckily I've been learning to cook' she thought.

"Master Lu, your coffee."

Lu Tongyan didn't look at it a second time. "It looks horrible."

Su Ling felt her heart shatter into pieces. Horrible? She still composed herself. "Master Lu, you haven't had a…"

She didn't complete her statement before she was sent off to brew another cup.

When Su Ling left, he took the cup and had a small sip. His face showed a look of approval but he frowned really quickly. "As expected, it tastes unpalatable."

Wan Jia who was watching from the sidelines coughed. Does it taste so terrible that you want to sneak a sip when you think no one's looking at you?

She couldn't watch anymore. When will her baby wake up?

As though reading her mind, Lu Aotian pulled her little hand in his. "Why don't we spend the night here? It's been long since we accompanied father."

Lu Tongyan seconded his eldest son. "You should stay and keep Su Ling company. Shaoting might be very busy and she might get scared in the new environment."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to bite off his tongue. Why was he showing concern for that girl? She hadn't passed the test yet. Though he had to reluctantly admit, she probably wasn't a gold digger or a spy as he initially thought.

Su Ling was coming in with the second cup of coffee and overheard the conversation. She smiled slightly. So he isn't as uncaring and unfriendly as I imagined.

Unluckily, she was lost in thought and didn't see the maid that was rushing to the kitchen. It was too late when the maid saw her too. They bumped into each other.

Crash!

The cup shattered across the floor with the black coffee staining the shards. Su Ling's shattered expression was comparable to the remains of that cup.