Chapter 103: Chapter 103: A Guilty Conscience

The moment Lu Yu and the butler stepped into the main hall, she heard Lu Ge Wei’s voice. “Get out and kneel!”

In Count Ge Wei’s Mansion, the punishment of kneeling wasn’t just for Lu Ge Wei’s husbands and side husbands; it was also inflicted upon her female children.

It was just that Lu Xiao and Lu Huan were all grown up now and had moved out to live on their own.

Now, she was the only one left to be punished.

Lu Yu might dare to put up some resistance against Lu Xiao, but she wouldn’t dare defy Lu Ge Wei in the slightest.

Perhaps because she had been suppressed her whole life, she knew Lu Ge Wei’s methods all too well.

Lu Yu turned, went outside, and knelt. She held no hope that anyone would plead for her. Even though her Father was home, Admiral Clan had never paid much attention to his female children, whether he was present or not. He was waiting specifically for her this time, which probably meant he would want to see her after her punishment was over. The mere thought sent a wave of gloom over Lu Yu.

’Thank goodness I ate at Lu Xiao’s place,’ Lu Yu thought. ’If I hadn’t, Lu Ge Wei wouldn’t have cared at all if I was hungry when I got back. She never pays attention to things like that.’

Thinking about it, she felt that Lu Xiao was actually not that bad. ’Even though she has a sharp tongue, at least she made sure I was fed.’

’Comparisons are truly cruel. She was starting to understand why Lu Huan felt the way she did about Lu Xiao.’

Even though Lu Xiao hadn’t helped her this time, she had, for some reason, felt a glimmer of warmth from her.

After Lu Yu was picked up, Lu Xiao returned to her room.

She left the arrangements for Admiral Fred’s accommodations to Ares, so she didn’t need to worry about it.

When Ares returned, he saw Lu Xiao lying on her stomach, scrolling through the day’s news.

“Are there any reports about it yet?”

Lu Xiao shook her head. “They only said it requires further investigation. But thankfully, they only reported injuries, no deaths. Some people here are speculating it was caused by aging pipes.”

’But that sounds like the official story,’ Lu Xiao thought. ’The truth is probably something else.’

“Where is the black market?” Lu Xiao looked up at Ares, her eyes full of curiosity.

As an Imperial Major General, Lu Xiao was certain Ares would know.

Ares wasn’t surprised by her question. He knew very well that Lu Xiao was not only incredibly smart but also exceptionally perceptive.

It was only natural that she’d pinpoint the heart of the matter.

“The Central Propaganda Street Underground City.”

Hearing that, Lu Xiao understood everything. The explosion had to be connected to Admiral Fred somehow.

’Otherwise, how would Fred have gotten injured?’

But Lu Xiao didn’t press the matter further. Sometimes, it was better not to know too much.

For one, she didn’t want to get involved in any trouble. And for two, she had no desire to solve it.

Turning off the light screen, Lu Xiao threw back the covers and rolled into bed. “Time for sleep!”

Ares had been worried Lu Xiao’s curiosity would get the better of her, but she unexpectedly knew just when to stop. A smile touched his eyes.

Early the next morning, Admiral Fred’s injuries were almost completely healed. When he came downstairs, Ares was already preparing breakfast. Seeing him, Ares greeted him naturally, “Are you feeling better, Admiral Fred?”

“Thank you for taking care of me. I’m fine now. You… are you like this every day?”

As if he knew what Fred was asking, Ares gave a small smile. “Sometimes Lu Xiao helps, too. She enjoys doing these things.”

A glint appeared in Fred’s eyes. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a door open upstairs, and then he saw Lu Xiao coming down. “Good morning, Admiral Fred. Did you sleep well last night?”

“Thanks to you, I slept very well.”

“That’s good,” Lu Xiao replied, walking over to Ares’s side. “Let me help you.”

Fred sat to one side, watching the two of them bustling in the kitchen. Although he was there with them, he found it difficult to fit in.

Breakfast was simple yet plentiful, and Ares’s cooking was excellent. When Fred had free time, he also studied cooking, as it was practically a required course for every male.

But it seemed he had no talent for it. No matter how seriously he tried to learn, he could never do it well, let alone cook something as delicious as what Ares made.

“You’re a really good cook.”

Hearing this, Ares looked at Lu Xiao. “It’s because I had a good teacher.”

Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow, then exchanged a smile with Ares.

When Fred saw this, his expression darkened. “Thank you for yesterday. I’d like to treat you to a meal sometime to show my gratitude.”

“Admiral Fred, you don’t have to be so formal. After all, Lu Yu is my sister. By saving her, you helped us as well.”

Lu Xiao had found the perfect excuse, one Fred couldn’t refute. He also understood perfectly well that she was trying to distance herself from him.

It was obvious that Lu Xiao had been drawing a clear line between them from the very beginning.

He felt a pang of frustration but couldn’t say she was wrong for doing so.

After all, Lu Xiao had been perfectly frank with him from the beginning, and he had known her intentions all along. He was the one who couldn’t control his own feelings and had overstepped his bounds.

“Then perhaps some other time.” Hearing the gentle refusal in her voice, Fred didn’t press the issue. He stood up and said, “I have to get back and report in, so I won’t disturb you two any longer. I’ll take my leave.”

“Admiral Fred, I’ll see you out.” Ares stood up and escorted Fred to the door.

Lu Xiao didn’t go out. By the time Ares came back, she had already finished her breakfast.

Afterward, neither of them brought up the matter of Admiral Fred again.

He was just a transient guest who had happened to appear in their home. They had treated him as a guest upon his arrival and saw him off politely upon his departure. The proper courtesies had been paid; there was no need to dwell on it.

What Lu Xiao didn’t expect, however, was that she would receive a call from Earl Hua An just as she left the house and boarded her hover car.

Seeing the caller ID, Lu Xiao didn’t want to admit it, but she felt a pang of nervousness. ’Could this be about Noah again?’

’Thinking of Noah’s past actions… even though I rejected him outright, I can’t help but worry that Li Hua’an found out. He isn’t going to come demand I take responsibility again, is he?’

After all, there was a precedent for this.

Seeing Lu Xiao staring at her terminal for a long time without answering, Ares was a bit surprised. “What’s wrong?”

“Li Hua’an is sending me a voice call!” Lu Xiao looked at Ares, and for the first time, he saw a look of guilt on her face.

As if understanding what she was feeling guilty about, Ares thought his little female was just too adorable.

’Feeling so guilty about rejecting Noah’s confession that she’s scared to answer Li Hua’an’s call…’ He couldn’t help the corners of his lips from turning up. ’How could there be such a soft, well-behaved little female? And she’s mine!’

Ares’s heart swelled with pride and satisfaction. Every time he thought he was as fond of Lu Xiao as he could be, he discovered he could become even fonder.

Noticing the smile on Ares’s lips, Lu Xiao’s eyes widened. “What are you smiling at, Ares!”

Ares raised a hand to cover his lips, coughed lightly, and said, feigning nonchalance, “Answer it. It’s probably not about Noah.”

“Really?” Lu Xiao gave Ares a suspicious look, one that practically screamed, ’I’m taking your word for it. This had better not be about him!’

Ares smiled at her, reached out, and gently patted Lu Xiao’s head. “Trust me!”

Those two confident words put Lu Xiao at ease.

The corners of her lips curled up unconsciously. She lightly batted his hand away, feeling for a moment like Ares was placating a small child.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep