YA Ch88: Mother

Dinner was served, and Ming Yan ate with a heavy heart.

Lu Yu, on the other hand, was particularly happy, introducing each dish he had participated in making with great enthusiasm. He served Ming Yan a small fried cake and proudly said: “This one I fried myself, look, it’s in the shape of a little fish.”

Ming Yan glanced at the oddly shaped fried cake, which looked more like an exclamation mark than a fish, and twitched his lips.

Mother Ming said with a grin: “Start with the tail, or the little fish’s tail will end up pointing to the sky.”

Lu Yu laughed and eagerly waited for Ming Yan’s feedback.

Ming Yan took a bite. The exterior was crispy while the inside was soft, with a fragrant hint of green onions, and he nodded in approval: “Delicious.”

The delicious food helped him momentarily set aside his worries, and Ming Yan began to eat seriously. After sipping some chicken soup, he took another piece of fragrant beef.

Lu Yu was just about to stop him but was already too late.

Ming Yan took a bite and immediately furrowed his brows. The beef, which looked like it had just been coated in breadcrumbs and fried, was actually filled with spicy oil underneath, making it incredibly hot and burning his tongue.

“If you can’t eat it, give it to me,” Lu Yu said quietly, “Don’t eat spicy things.”

Ming Yan naturally handed over the bowl.

Lu Yu took the remaining half of the beef and ate it, only to realize that his father-in-law was frowning and glaring at them both, causing him to stiffen up.

“Why are you giving Lu Yu your leftovers? If you can’t finish it, just throw it away,” Mother Ming chided Ming Yan, but her face showed amusement.

Lu Yu, feeling relieved, smiled: “It’s fine, I usually eat whatever Yan-ge doesn’t finish at home.”

Ming Yan kicked him under the table. Lu Yu, though kicked, didn’t dare to say anything, grinning as he also took the half-eaten fried cake from Ming Yan and stuffed it into his mouth.

Mother Ming gave her son a pat: “Oh, don’t bully Lu Yu.”

Father Ming, watching their interactions, didn’t say anything but shook his head and continued eating.

After they were full, they took a large bag of fried cakes and returned home, feeling content.

Lu Yu was warm inside and out, humming a tune as he drove back, feeling that every moment of this weekend was joyful and perfect.

Ming Yan was thinking about how to tell Lu Yu about his biological mother. Seeing him so happy, he decided not to bring it up, thinking it might be better to wait until tomorrow.

However, the pleasant atmosphere was soon to be disrupted.

“Dad, let me remind you, there are still people outside our home. Are you sure you want to go back?” Just as they were nearing their residential area, Lu Dongdong suddenly spoke up and displayed the front door’s surveillance footage.

They lived in an apartment with one unit per floor, and the elevator lobby was within their private area. The footage showed two people setting up a tent in the elevator lobby, idly sitting on the ground—Lu Yu’s foster parents!

On Saturday, in order to enjoy the meat without distractions, Lu Yu had turned off his smart device and didn’t answer any calls. Fearing Father Ming and mother would worry if they couldn’t reach him, he had turned it back on this morning. As a result, he received a dozen messages from the apartment manager saying that Lu Yu’s family had been staying at his doorstep overnight and couldn’t be persuaded to leave.

Lu Yu had called and scolded the manager, questioning why such a high-end luxury apartment would allow strangers to stay at his doorstep: “What’s the difference between this and a bridge overpass outside?”

The manager apologized profusely, explaining that since they had evidence that they were Lu Yu’s parents, and Lu Yu and Ming Yan were unreachable, the property management couldn’t handle it unilaterally.

Later, Ming Yan had comforted Lu Yu, and they had gotten caught up in other things, forgetting about the issue.

Now, with Lu Dongdong bringing it up, they remembered the two obstacles outside their door.

Ming Yan checked the time and suggested: “How about we stay at a hotel instead?”

Lu Yu decisively said: “No need, this is our home. Why should we let them bully us? You stay in the car; I’ll deal with them and come down to pick you up.” Having safely enjoyed his carrot, he was not afraid to face his biological family.

Ming Yan shook his head: “I’ll go with you.”

The manager, along with two security guards, was waiting for them in the garage and immediately started with an apology upon meeting them.

Lu Yu glanced at the two strong security guards, and with a stern face said: “If today’s issue is resolved, I won’t pursue your negligence from yesterday. But if anything like this happens again, where strangers are allowed in to threaten my safety and my husband’s, we’ll see each other in court. If it’s not resolved properly, don’t expect any positive reputation for your apartment brand. Our company will be live-streaming tomorrow, and you’ll be famous nationwide.”

In today’s real estate business, service enhancement is crucial, and reputation is extremely important.

The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Rest assured, we will resolve it.”

Lu Yu looked at his reflection in the elevator mirror—at twenty-eight, mature, handsome, with a stern expression. He was the master of this home and needed to protect his home and loved ones.

The elevator doors opened, and father and mother Lu, who were sitting in the tent, immediately stood up, their eyes fixed on the people coming out. They wore understated casual clothes, and having stayed overnight in the tent, they looked unkempt and pitiful.

Mother Lu saw Lu Yu and tearfully approached, saying awkwardly: “Yu’er, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I missed you so much that I came here.”

Father Lu sighed: “The things your second uncle said were nonsense, and I’ve dealt with him. Dad hopes you’ll reconsider and not make our relationship so strained. We are still the closest people to each other. If you have any grievances, let’s discuss them properly. Your mother has been crying every day…”

Their emotional performance was so moving that even the manager and security guards felt uncomfortable, exchanging glances unsure whether to intervene.

“Ha.” Lu Yu felt no emotional impact and only found it laughable. Such fake acting was less convincing than the minor roles in dramas.

Ming Yan stepped forward and squeezed Lu Yu’s hand.

Lu Yu took Ming Yan’s hand back, turning his head to signal that he was okay.

When Mother Lu saw Ming Yan, her expression changed instantly. With an angry and aggrieved look, she pointed at him and said, “It’s all because of you, you little wretch. Ever since you seduced Yu’er in college, he has distanced himself from us and insisted on severing ties. Give me back my son!”

Saying this, she rushed forward to push Ming Yan. A few steps away, Father Lu was quietly recording with his smart device.

Lu Yu raised his hand, accurately blocking Mother Lu’s long nails and pushing her away, firmly protecting Ming Yan behind him.

Caught off guard by such a forceful push, Mother Lu stumbled and nearly fell. She was grabbed by the two security guards and securely held up.

“Enough!” Lu Yu shouted loudly, his voice filled with hostility echoing in the narrow space, creating a brief silence in the lobby.

Mother Lu, held by the security guards, called out hesitantly, “Yu’er…”

“I used to be very attached to you. Occasionally hitting me or scolding me didn’t matter because you were my mother. I wouldn’t leave you,” Lu Yu clenched his fists, his eyes red as he stared at Mother Lu, “But when Lu Tingze injured me with fireworks just before my middle school entrance exam and you only cared about whether he was frightened by me, you were no longer my mother.”

Mother Lu stared in shock, her mouth half-open.

Lu Yu took a deep breath: “I have a mother now. Don’t come to find me anymore. It’s embarrassing for both of us, Aunt Wang.”

Mother Lu trembled, incredulously asking, “What did you call me? Aunt Wang?”

In contrast to Mother Lu’s dazed and stunned reaction was Father Lu’s terror: “What do you mean ‘mother’? Didn’t I tell you not to look for your real mother? Your real mother is…”

“Mr. Lu!” Ming Yan sternly interrupted, not allowing Father Lu to continue, and warned meaningfully, “Think carefully about the consequences before you speak.”

Father Lu choked, shivering as he met Ming Yan’s seemingly knowing gaze. Seeing Lu Yu’s resolute expression, he gritted his teeth and dragged Mother Lu away, leaving in disgrace.

Mother Lu seemed disoriented, murmuring, “Aunt Wang…”

Lu Yu watched the elevator doors gradually close, sneering. Perhaps his foster mother always firmly believed that he needed maternal love, which is why she repeatedly harmed him recklessly, thinking he would eventually forgive her.

But she didn’t realize that it wasn’t Lu Yu who couldn’t forgive his mother; it was that she had directly lost the status of “mother” and had become just “Aunt Wang” from the neighbor.

The manager took the tent and miscellaneous items, followed by the security guards, and left with the two, assuring Lu Yu that they would be completely escorted out and never allowed back in.

Once everyone had left, Ming Yan worriedly touched his face: “Are you okay?”

Lu Yu held that hand and kissed it: “I’m fine. I’m no longer an eighteen-year-old boy. I’m not afraid of them. From now on, I’ll protect this home.”

“Not the eighteen-year-old Lu Xiaoyu anymore?” Ming Yan was startled, closely observing Lu Yu’s expression to try to determine if there were any signs of the older Lu Dayu.

Lu Yu nodded seriously: “Yes, I’ve been through a lot and am now a solid man!”

The eighteen-year-old Lu · Adult Male · YU.

Ming Yan: “…”

Alright then.