Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Preparations

When Ares woke up, Lu Xiao had already returned from Buck’s study, but she didn’t mention her meeting with him.

It wasn’t that she was intentionally hiding it. There were just some things she found hard to say in front of Ares.

However, Ares later heard from Buck that Lu Xiao had gone to see him while he was asleep.

Ares hadn’t expected Lu Xiao to do something like this. When he heard she had even invited Buck to their wedding, the tenderness in his eyes nearly overflowed.

Buck smiled at him. “Ares, I’m so glad to see you this happy.”

“But will it be convenient for you to travel to the Emperor Star?” Ares had known since childhood that Buck never went to the Emperor Star, though he never knew why. Whenever he asked, the only answer he got was that Buck didn’t like it there.

Now that Buck was going for the sake of his wedding, Ares couldn’t help but feel a little worried.

“Even if I despise the Emperor Star, I absolutely must attend your wedding. Not everyone gets to have a wedding, Ares. And Xiao Xiao… she’s truly willing to do anything for you. I want to witness your happiness with my own eyes. That would honestly make me happier than finding my own happiness.” It also proved to him that true love existed in the world; he just hadn’t been lucky enough to find it.

Hearing this, Ares reached out and hugged Buck. “Thank you, Father.”

Seeing Ares express his emotions so openly, Buck was genuinely touched. He patted Ares’s shoulder gently. “You’ve really changed. You were never like this before. It seems Xiao Xiao has changed you a great deal.”

Ares nodded, making no attempt to hide it. He smiled and said, “She really has taught me so much. I understand now how to love someone without worrying about getting hurt. I’m very lucky, Father.”

’His luck was in meeting Lu Xiao.’

’It was because of Lu Xiao that he was the man he was today.’

*

The week Lu Xiao and Ares spent at Buck’s place flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for them to leave.

As a parting gift, Buck gave them a spaceship, explaining with a flourish, “We have our own, so why squeeze in with everyone else?”

Lu Xiao couldn’t help but think, ’Is this what it feels like to have a loaded dad? It’s so over-the-top!’

On their last day, Lu Xiao and Ares bought a lot of local specialties from Maya Star as gifts for everyone back home.

Before they left, Lu Xiao promised Buck that she would let him know the wedding date the moment it was decided.

Buck told them that if they needed anything, they absolutely had to tell him and not to stand on ceremony. He might not have anything else, but he had plenty of money.

Lu Xiao had been very happy to see Buck, and on the journey home, she couldn’t help but remark, “I’m starting to think our house is a little small.”

Surprised, Ares looked over at her. “Thinking of moving?”

“Mhm. I think we could move into the Earl’s Mansion. See, we’ll definitely need to save two rooms for our fathers. We’ll also need guest rooms for Lu Huan and Lu Yu, and we have to prepare a room for my grandmother for when she occasionally visits. By that count, besides the master bedroom, we need at least five other rooms. Our current place is a bit small.”

Ares was surprised. His father, Buck, hadn’t even decided if he would be staying on the Emperor Star long-term, yet Lu Xiao was already planning to set aside a room for him.

’It would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved. The way Lu Xiao so readily and sincerely accepted his family meant a great deal to him.’

’But he also knew she wasn’t doing all this just to hear him say thank you. She did it because she truly saw him as her family, her partner.’

“So, when we get back, we’ll move?”

Lu Xiao nodded. “Mhm, we’ll move. And we’ll have to invite everyone over for a housewarming dinner.”

Previously, she’d felt their little home didn’t need so many rooms. What mattered most was that it was cozy.

But now, with more people she cared about in her life, she was willing to change.

Just listening to Lu Xiao talk, Ares could already picture the lively scene.

’Being with Lu Xiao felt like being perpetually surrounded by happiness.’

Buck’s spaceship came staffed with not only a captain, but also a chef.

On their journey back, they were able to truly enjoy a private world for two, completely undisturbed.

Cecilia knew what day they were returning, so she specially asked Selena to pick them up and bring them home for dinner.

When they met Selena, Lu Xiao’s aunt was wearing a long red dress with her hair styled in big waves. She looked both beautiful and chic. Upon seeing Lu Xiao and Ares, she strode forward with a smile and gave Lu Xiao a big hug. “Darling, we received the things you mailed back! They were delicious, thank you.”

“I’m just glad you liked them.”

“Let’s go. Your grandmother was nagging me all morning, telling me I’d better not be late and to make sure I was the first thing you saw when you got off the ship.”

“Thanks for going to the trouble, Auntie.”

“It’s no trouble at all! I was just excited to be the first to see our dear Xiao Xiao. Lu Huan and Lu Yu are coming home today too, as well as your second uncle. The house should be pretty lively by now.”

In fact, ever since Lu Xiao had come to the Duke Gallodro Mansion, the family had started gathering for meals more often. It seemed their bonds had grown much closer with each get-together.

It was as if the entire family had become more tightly-knit because of her.

Back at the mansion, Cecilia took Lu Xiao’s hand and asked about Ares’s Father. Lu Xiao told her a few things.

Cecilia smiled. “Next time, you should invite him for a short stay.”

“Grandmother, I have an announcement to make during dinner.”

Cecilia’s curiosity was piqued. “What is it?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, Grandmother. Let me keep it a secret for now.” Lu Xiao winked playfully at Cecilia, making the older woman laugh. “Alright, alright. You can have your little secret. In that case, let’s hurry up and eat!”

She was clearly dying to know.

After freshening up in their room, Lu Xiao and Ares came down to the dining room to find that everyone had already arrived.

Once everyone was seated, Lu Xiao raised her glass with a smile. “Before we eat, I have an announcement to make. We went to see Ares’s Father on our trip, and we’ve decided that now that we’re back, Ares and I are going to start preparing for our wedding. We’d like to invite all of you to be there.”

The news was certainly a surprise to everyone at the table. Selena was the first to react. “WOOHOO! I’ll definitely be there!”

Cecilia laughed. “Wonderful, wonderful! Of course, we’ll all be there. If you need anything for the wedding, Xiao Xiao, Ares, just speak up. There’s no need to be shy with family.”

“Sister, Brother-in-law, congratulations! If you need me or Lu Yu for anything, just put us to work!”

“Yeah, what my sister said goes for me too!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty for you to do,” Lu Xiao said with a laugh. She then turned to Kelan. “Father, could you please help Ares with the guest list from the military district?”

Kelan understood what she meant and smiled. “Don’t worry.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep