Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Worrying

The next morning, when Lu Xiao woke up, she dazedly recalled drinking with Admiral Clan the night before. She’d had too much, said a lot while crying and laughing—it was utterly mortifying.

Rubbing her slightly throbbing forehead, Lu Xiao left her room to get some water downstairs. Then she saw a tall, apron-clad man in the kitchen. Her heart skipped a beat. She was just about to call out for Ares when she remembered with a jolt—Ares was on the front lines. There was no way he could be home right now.

That left only one possibility: the man in the kitchen was Admiral Clan.

This realization surprised her as well. She walked over and knocked gently on the kitchen door. “Father, what are you doing?”

Hearing her voice, Admiral Clan turned to look at her, a bit embarrassed. “I wanted to make you some soup for your hangover, but I haven’t done my homework, so to speak. I’m just following a video tutorial, so I have no idea how it tastes.”

It was, in fact, Admiral Clan’s first time ever cooking.

He wasn’t picky about food; as long as he wasn’t the one cooking, he’d eat anything.

A warmth spread through Lu Xiao’s heart. She walked over and hugged the slightly stiff Admiral Clan. “Thank you, Father.”

When she hugged him, Admiral Clan’s body suddenly stiffened, but then he smiled. “Don’t mention it. It’s what I should do. Alright, alright, you go wait outside. I’ll dish it up and bring it out to you.”

Lu Xiao nodded. “Okay, I’ll be waiting outside then!”

“Go on,” Admiral Clan said with a smile as he brought out the soup, placing it carefully in front of Lu Xiao. “Don’t go to work today. Just stay home and get some rest.”

That was what Lu Xiao had been thinking, too. She hadn’t been feeling her best the last couple of days and couldn’t muster the energy for work. It would be better to rest at home.

“Father, don’t you have to go to the military headquarters?” It was getting late, but Admiral Clan still hadn’t left. Lu Xiao was worried about holding him up.

“I’m taking the day off too. It’s a rare opportunity.”

Lu Xiao was deeply touched, knowing Admiral Clan was worried about her and had stayed home specifically to keep her company.

“Is it any good?” Admiral Clan asked, still a bit nervous as he watched Lu Xiao drink the soup he had made.

Lu Xiao nodded. “It’s not bad at all.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Admiral Clan couldn’t help but feel happy himself, seeing that Lu Xiao didn’t mind it.

After finishing the bowl of soup, Lu Xiao felt the throbbing in her hungover head ease considerably.

By the time they finished breakfast, Lu Xiao felt completely rejuvenated.

Just then, a message came in from Ares: “Arrived safely. Don’t worry.”

Lu Xiao smiled when she received it and replied, “Got it. Take good care of yourself over there. You don’t need to worry about me. Father came over to keep me company and even cooked me some soup ^_^”

’She decided not to mention what kind of soup it was, lest Ares think she’d turned into a drunkard the moment he was away.’

Far away on the front lines, Ares read the message from Lu Xiao, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes. Though they were far apart, he didn’t feel separated from her at all.

He still felt they were together, because their hearts were so close.

Lu Xiao didn’t say much more to Ares. She knew that a man on the front lines wouldn’t have much free time. A few words exchanged now and then, just to know they were both okay, was enough.

They both had their own responsibilities.

Besides, Lu Xiao wasn’t the clingy type.

She was sad about Ares’s sudden departure, of course, but she would quickly come to terms with it.

So, the following day, Lu Xiao returned to her normal work schedule, and Admiral Clan went back to the First Military Region.

What Lu Xiao didn’t expect was to receive a voice call from Lu Ge Wei after work that evening. As soon as she answered, she heard her mother’s voice. “Come home tonight. I need to talk to you about something.”

Lu Xiao was perplexed. “What is it? Can’t you tell me now, Mother?”

“It’s not convenient. Just come home. I’m your mother, would I ever harm you? That’s all!” And with that, as if worried that saying any more would give Lu Xiao a chance to refuse, she abruptly ended the call.

Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow. She had no idea what Lu Ge Wei was plotting this time. In any case, with Ares away, she figured there was no harm in going to see what her mother wanted.

So, Lu Xiao drove directly to the Earl Lu Ge Wei Mansion.

When the old family butler saw her arrive, his expression was somewhat unusual, a subtle shift in emotion that Lu Xiao didn’t miss.

“Mother seemed to be in a hurry when she called. Has something happened?”

The old butler hesitated for a moment before speaking. “The Madam has invited several other Madams to the house as guests. I believe she intends to… pave the way for you.”

That single sentence revealed a great deal. Lu Xiao knew there were things the old butler couldn’t say directly, but what he’d said was more than enough.

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Seeing that she understood his hint, the old butler smiled. “There’s no need for thanks, milady.”

As she approached the main hall, Lu Xiao could hear laughter coming from within. The moment she stepped inside, the noise stopped abruptly. At the same time, her eyes fell upon several females, with Lu Ge Wei at their center.

They were all around the same age as Lu Ge Wei.

Startled by her sudden appearance, all eyes turned to her, filled with a mixture of curiosity and appraisal.

“You’re back, Lu Xiao! Come, come, meet your aunts. These are all Mother’s good friends. They’re here for dinner today, so I called you back specifically so you could meet them.” Lu Ge Wei beckoned to Lu Xiao with great enthusiasm, acting as if they were the closest of mothers and daughters.

Lu Xiao’s expression remained impassive. She had no desire to play along with Lu Ge Wei’s charade of the loving mother and filial daughter. “Mother, why exactly did you call me back?”

At these words, the perfectly maintained smile on Lu Ge Wei’s face cracked slightly. ’I knew it,’ she thought. ’This damn brat will never cooperate.’

But before she could speak, one of the women sitting to her right spoke up. “Your mother invited us here specially for your sake. You mustn’t disappoint her kindness.”

“For my sake? What about me?” Lu Xiao said, taking a seat in a nearby chair. “I wasn’t aware I had any affairs that required my mother’s concern.”

“Well, isn’t it because you only have one main husband at home right now? And we hear he’s not even around. You can’t just be staying in an empty house all by yourself, can you? Your mother asked us to help you find some suitable candidates!”

Lu Xiao’s expression turned cold at those words. She looked to Lu Ge Wei, asking for confirmation. “Mother, is this why you called me back?”

Lu Ge Wei nodded. “Yes. Don’t be so willful. Now that Ares is your main husband, and he’s not even here, do you plan to live all by yourself? To be blunt, what if he dies on the battlefield? Are you going to spend the rest of your life like this? You’re a female. What female exclusively dotes on a single man?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep