Su Ci looked at the man with peach-blossom eyes standing outside the door and was startled to find that his brows and features looked somewhat similar to Lu Zhe?

With an outsider present, she didn’t continue clinging to Lu Zhe. Instead, she asked him, “Who is he?”

“Don’t know him.” Lu Zhe brought the girl inside.

“How could you not know me? I just said, I might be your father.” Lu Chen inexplicably felt a sense of being disliked. He stepped forward, wanting to say something, but the next second, the door was shut in front of him with a sharp “bang.”

Lu Chen froze.

“Old Cao.” Lu Chen spoke to the driver waiting not far away: “I remember all these years, plenty of people with bad intentions tried to pretend to be my son, or wanted to be adopted by me. How come now there’s someone who doesn’t want to become a child of the Lu family?”

Old Cao said with a smile, “Young Master doesn’t covet wealth and status, and his character is pure. Other people just can’t compare to Young Master.”

Lu Chen tugged at the corner of his lips, and there was finally quite a bit of delight in his peach-blossom eyes.

“Sir, Young Master doesn’t want to do a paternity test. What should we do next?” Old Cao felt that the young man inside was indeed the young master their Lu family had lost.

At this time, Boss Fang, who had already returned to his residence across the way, came out carrying a bag of trash, ready to throw it away. He didn’t expect that the head of the Lu family was still standing outside Lu Zhe’s door.

He nodded slightly as a greeting.

“Wait a moment.” Lu Chen called out to him. He had just seen this man walking together with Lu Zhe; the two seemed very familiar with each other.

“Mr. Lu, is there something you need?” Boss Fang thought that perhaps this head of the Lu family really was Lu Zhe’s father.

Lu Chen asked him, “You’re close with Lu Zhe?”

“We’ve known each other for almost two years. I used to be his boss, and he worked part-time in my shop.” If this man really was Lu Zhe’s father, Boss Fang quite wanted him to feel distressed for this child.

Lu Chen frowned. “Part-time?”

Yesterday he had someone look into whether Lu Zhe truly came from an orphanage. For now, he only had partial information; the rest hadn’t been investigated yet.

“He has no father or mother, so he can only rely on part-time jobs to support himself.”

The smile in Lu Chen’s peach-blossom eyes vanished. “I want to know about Lu Zhe’s situation.”

Boss Fang looked troubled. “These are Lu Zhe’s private matters. It’s not convenient for me to tell you.”

Lu Chen said, “Even if you don’t tell me, it’s only a matter of time before I have people investigate. Rather than waste time, it would be better for someone like you, who knows him well, to tell me.”

Inside the living room, after Lu Zhe brought her in, Su Ci asked him in surprise, “Who was that person? He actually recognized me.”

No, it should be said he recognized Su Father.

“Lu Zhe, didn’t you notice? He looks a lot like you.” Su Ci was full of curiosity.

“Did you eat breakfast?” Lu Zhe touched the head where she wore her hat.

He rang the doorbell to remind the girl, she was indeed smart and knew to put on her hat before opening the door.

“I already ate.” Su Ci looked at him unhappily. “Lu Zhe, you’re avoiding my question.”

Lu Zhe asked her again, “Is your cold any better?”

Su Ci felt her nasal voice wasn’t as heavy. “A little better. But you still haven’t answered my question. I heard that man say he might be your father. What’s going on?”

Lu Zhe reached out and took the hat off the girl’s head. Two soft, pink-and-white, fluffy rabbit ears stood upright. He touched her head. “Did you take your medicine?”

“I did. Hurry and answer my question.” Su Ci was dying of curiosity, yet the boy still hadn’t answered her.

Lu Zhe looked at the girl’s rabbit ears and told her, “I don’t know him. He wants to take me for a paternity test.”

“Did you agree? Maybe he really is your father.” Otherwise, why would their features look somewhat similar?

“No.” Lu Zhe gently stroked the girl’s hair. “I don’t intend to look for my family.”

Su Ci blinked. “Why?”

The hand caressing her hair paused. Lu Zhe’s fingertips brushed against the girl’s fluffy ears, and he couldn’t help pinching the soft pink-and-white ear tip.

“Lu Zhe.” Su Ci’s legs instantly went weak. She collapsed helplessly into Lu Zhe’s arms.

Lu Zhe could feel the girl’s ears trembling faintly under his palm, pitiful to the extreme.

He lowered his head, kissed her ear tip, and said in a soft voice, “My time is running out. Isn’t it good enough that I only spend it with you?”

Su Ci lay against his chest, her whole body soft. Her rabbit ears were unbearably itchy. When she heard Lu Zhe’s words, her eyes lit up — happy, yet tinged with something aching. “Okay.”

Su Ci was very smart; she saw straight through Lu Zhe’s thoughts. “Lu Zhe, don’t think too much. You won’t die. You deserve to be loved by your family. And setting aside life and death for a moment, do you really not want to find your family?”

That man earlier recognized Su Father, his status was clearly not low. If recognizing his family would be good for Lu Zhe, Su Ci actually hoped he would find them.

At his young age, she wanted her boy to live freely and joyfully, not struggle and exhaust himself just to earn money.

Of course, if Lu Zhe didn’t want to acknowledge his family, that was fine too. She could support him in the future.

Lu Zhe lowered his eyes, his fingertips playing with the rabbit ear in his palm. His voice was low. “I don’t want to.”

Nor did he dare to.

Su Ci was stunned. She blinked, her heart sore and a little frustrated. She lightly bit the boy’s firm shoulder. “I already told you, don’t pinch my ears!”

She could barely stand anymore.

Lu Zhe let out a low laugh. The shallow dimple on the left side of his face appeared. The rigid coldness between his brows eased, finally revealing a genuine youthful softness. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

Su Ci felt she had no self-control at all. The moment Lu Zhe smiled, she went even weaker.

Meanwhile, on Boss Fang’s side, Lu Chen listened as he explained Lu Zhe’s situation.

When he heard that Lu Zhe had ALS, the devilishly handsome face instantly lost all trace of a smile. His eyes grew sharp as he looked at Boss Fang. “He has ALS?”

Even Old Cao standing beside him felt his heart drop with a heavy thud.

“Mr. Lu, do you think Xiao Zhe refused the paternity test and refused to look for his family for no reason?” Boss Fang felt miserable on Lu Zhe’s behalf. “It’s because he knows he doesn’t have much time left. He doesn’t want to find his family only to make them lose him shortly after.”

Who could bear that?

Old Cao’s eyes grew damp. Just how much suffering had their young master endured?

Other rich young masters lived recklessly, demanding the stars and the moon — what didn’t they have? Yet their young master had grown up enduring hardship, and now he was even suffering from a terminal illness.

Was this cutting off the Lu family’s future?

Lu Chen’s eyes were dark and heavy, the casual laziness on him long gone. His voice, rarely this solemn, sank low. “How much time does he have left?”

“Xiao Zhe has already been ill for nearly a year.” Boss Fang spoke of Lu Zhe’s condition, bitterness rising in his mouth. “For ALS patients, after onset, the average lifespan is about three years. A few may have five.”

Boss Fang looked at Lu Chen’s increasingly dark expression. “Mr. Lu, when you said today that Xiao Zhe might be your son, I was truly happy for him. This child has a cold personality, but his heart is warm. If you are indeed Xiao Zhe’s father and you intend to acknowledge him, you must treat him well.”

At the side, Old Cao finally couldn’t hold it in. He wiped away his tears. “Sir, let’s bring Young Master home quickly.”

Lu Chen stood up immediately. Without responding, he strode out.

On the way back, Old Cao glanced at Lu Chen seated in the back through the rearview mirror, wanting to speak but hesitating.

At that moment, Lu Chen spoke. “Old Cao, what happened today cannot be revealed.”

Old Cao was shocked. “Sir, you don’t plan to tell Madam and Old Master that you may have found Young Master?”

Madam had always worried about the boy, and Old Master was getting old — he longed to see his grandson even once.

Lu Chen pinched the bridge of his nose. “It isn’t confirmed yet whether he is my son. I will find a chance to tell them.”

Old Cao opened his mouth, but could only agree in the end.

The Lu family rose to prominence many years earlier than the Su family. Their old residence, located in the city center, remained tranquil and secluded. The layout of the rock garden, flowing water, flowers, and plants was meticulously designed — every scene perfectly balanced, with excellent feng shui meaning.

Lu Chen walked inside. The butler came forward to take his coat.

“Where’s Madam? Did she go out?” Lu Chen asked.

The butler reported respectfully, “Sir, Madam is upstairs. She didn’t go out today.”

Lu Chen unfastened the two buttons at his collar with one hand and headed upstairs.

He pushed open the bedroom door but did not see his wife. Not in the bathroom, not in the walk-in closet.

Lu Chen stepped back out and unexpectedly found the door to his study open. Thinking of the documents he had read last night but had not yet put away, his heart gave a violent jolt. He hurriedly pushed open the study door.

Seeing the slender figure standing inside, Lu Chen felt his heart almost leap into his throat.

“Yaya.” Lu Chen called out to his wife.

Wen Ya turned around. She held a stack of documents in her hand, then flung them onto the desk. Her eyes were red as she glared angrily at Lu Chen.

Just one second before she spoke, Lu Chen dropped to his knees with a practiced “thud,” kneeling in front of her. “Yaya, I was wrong.”

No need to say anything else — if his wife was upset, then it was his fault.

The anger on Wen Ya’s bright, beautiful face did not lessen at all. “When did you find my son?”

Lu Chen stood up at once and hurried to her side. “Just yesterday. I only got these documents last night. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you, I just haven’t confirmed yet whether he is our son. I was afraid to give you hope only to disappoint you.”

Hearing her husband’s explanation, Wen Ya’s anger finally eased a little, though her eyes were still red. “And now? Are you sure?”

“He doesn’t want to do a paternity test.” Lu Chen’s voice sank. The color in his peach-blossom eyes dimmed.

He had originally planned to hide this for the time being — he hadn’t expected his wife to discover it.

“Why?” Wen Ya was stunned.

Lu Chen’s jaw tightened, the taste of blood rising in his mouth. He looked at his wife, the color in his eyes carrying a heavy, indescribable gloom, and said each word clearly, “He has a terminal illness. He doesn’t want to acknowledge his family.”

Wen Ya’s mind buzzed violently, a wave of dizziness hitting her.

She was completely dazed.

“Yaya…” Lu Chen supported his wife. “He isn’t necessarily our—”

Wen Ya’s beautiful eyes were blurred with tears. “Where is he? I want to see him.”

“I’ve already seen him. He doesn’t want to acknowledge me.” Lu Chen gently wiped her tears, heart aching. “Calm down first. I’ll take you to see him tomorrow.”

He was genuinely worried she would faint from grief.

Wen Ya took a deep breath and straightened her posture. “No. I want to see him right now.”

Lu Chen had always obeyed his wife. He pulled a tissue from the box and continued wiping her tears before saying, “Alright, I’ll take you to him. If he won’t do the test, I’ll have people force him to go.”

“If you dare bully my son, you’ll sleep in the study for a month.” Wen Ya cursed him as she cried, wiping her tears.

Lu Chen muttered quietly, “Maybe he’s not even our son…”