Chapter 85 Assistance

"That's good, then. This place is a bit far from the Culinary Pavilion. Why don't you take a rest first? You seem a little tired," he said.

Qin Miaoyu silently complained to herself—if he knew it was so far from the Culinary Pavilion, why choose this place in the first place? Still, she was indeed a bit drowsy. The abrupt change to a new environment had left her with little sleep the night before.

She closed her eyes, and before long, truly drifted off. When she woke, she was still a bit groggy, her mind caught in the remnants of her dream, not fully awake as she murmured, "Qi An, why did Cousin choose the Culinary Pavilion? It's quite expensive."

It was only after speaking that she woke fully, sat up straight, and avoided looking at Lu Qi'an.

But her words brought a rare delight to Lu Qi'an, who was about to respond when Qin Miaoyu continued, "Come to think of it, I was a little foolish at the time. Someone like Master Wu isn't someone you can invite easily. I suppose you and Sister Anxin must have put in quite some effort to invite her, right?"

Although Chen Anxin had some history with Master Wu, the latter’s schedule was packed, and at her level, money was no longer an incentive. For someone of little renown such as herself to get a private audience with Master Wu was not something achieved by mere words.

Lu Qi'an's intended words caught in his throat.

He hadn’t expected Miaoyu to suddenly bring up this matter.

Then he heard her say, "Still, I must thank you and Sister Anxin. Otherwise, I might never have known when I'd get to meet Master Wu."

Lu Qi'an's smile was tinged with bitterness. "No, even without me and my cousin, you would have met Master Wu eventually."

If not for the incident caused by Liang Sixuan those years ago, Miaoyu should have met Master Wu long ago.

Qin Miaoyu made no response, glancing out the window to see they had arrived at the entrance of the Culinary Pavilion. Checking her phone, she realized they had been here for at least half an hour.

"Sorry, you could have woken me up earlier. No need to waste time."

"It's not a waste," he replied.

Rather, being able to quietly watch her sleeping face made him wish that time could stretch on just a little longer.

After they entered a private dining room at the Culinary Pavilion, their dishes were served at once. They ate quietly, and it was Qin Miaoyu who broke the silence first.

"Well, go on. What did you want to talk to me about?"

Lu Qi'an adopted a more formal tone. "We agreed, in the contract, that you’d help me deal with my family, right?"

Qin Miaoyu was surprised. "Wasn't that just your excuse?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. My family truly has been pressing me about it. That’s why, when you mentioned marriage, I hardly hesitated before agreeing. On one hand, it was something I've long wished for; on the other, my family’s pressure was intense."

Qin Miaoyu chose to ignore the first reason and asked, "The family pressure is real?"

"Absolutely. They’ve introduced several candidates to me, but I’ve turned them all down. My grandfather’s worried I’ll end up a lifelong bachelor, so every few weeks he tries to introduce a new girl. Every time I go home, the topic comes up."

"So how does that relate to our agreement?" she asked. She’d been absent for a year; why did he suddenly need her help now?

"Year before last, when I couldn’t persuade you to come home, my grandfather was already displeased. Last New Year’s was the same. Recently, he’s grown more skeptical about my marriage, looks set to start arranging more introductions again, and now that you’re back…"

"So, because the agreement says I should help you deal with your family, you’ve come to ask for my help?" she finished for him.

Lu Qi'an nodded. "Exactly. I’ve never told my family about the real nature of our relationship. Last New Year’s, I just said you were away traveling and hadn’t come home yet, but that excuse clearly won’t work anymore."

Qin Miaoyu didn’t immediately agree.

Lu Qi'an continued, "Putting everything else aside, our marriage was mutually beneficial. You’ve already gotten what you wanted—don’t burn the bridge behind you and leave me to be marched off to blind dates by my grandfather, will you?"

Qin Miaoyu shot him a glare—burn the bridge behind her, indeed! But the agreement did say she’d help him with his family. For these last few months, she would see it through.

Once they quietly took care of the divorce certificate, Lu Qi'an could probably continue the charade for another year or so.

"All right. So, how do we do this?"

Lu Qi'an immediately replied, "It’s not difficult. My grandfather has already met you. He’ll probably just want us to have a meal together. Once he sees you, that should be enough."

Just one meeting would resolve it? Qin Miaoyu was pleased.

"Fine. Discuss with your grandfather when and where, and let me know."

Recalling something she’d overheard from that young Mr. Yang, she asked, "Your grandfather isn’t difficult to get along with, is he?"

"Don’t worry, he’s very easy to get along with. There’s nothing to be concerned about."

Qin Miaoyu wasn’t worried. She just wanted this matter dealt with smoothly, so she wouldn’t have anything extra to handle.

When Qin Miaoyu returned to the office and saw Pei Yixue, she suddenly thought to ask if Lu Qi'an really had been under such pressure from his family.

But before she got close, Assistant Xiao Chen appeared. No, she couldn’t call him an assistant anymore—he’d just been transferred to the administrative department today, at his own request.

She watched as the two chatted, their atmosphere growing ever more intimate. When it looked like Chen Xuanyu’s hand was about to become inappropriate, Qin Miaoyu interrupted.

"Yixue, I need to ask you something."

At the sound of Qin Miaoyu’s voice, Pei Yixue abandoned her conversation with Chen Xuanyu and came over at once. "Miaoyu, what do you want to know?"

Catching Chen Xuanyu’s curious gaze, Qin Miaoyu decided not to ask here. "Let’s talk in my office."

Once inside, she voiced her question.

"It’s true," Pei Yixue confirmed. "All the families we’re close with know about it. Old Master Lu was eager to find someone suitable for Lu Qi'an. I heard he’d introduce him to anyone he thought matched."

"But apparently, Lu Qi'an only humored Old Master Lu. Sometimes he couldn’t get out of a meeting, but he’d always make his intentions clear right away."

Pei Yixue had heard this herself from a close friend, who had been one of the candidates selected by Old Master Lu and had met Lu Qi'an in person.

After the meeting, her friend said there was no chance.

Relieved to know Lu Qi'an hadn’t lied, Qin Miaoyu felt more at ease. Since the family’s pressure was real, she would help him deal with it properly.

"Did Lu Qi'an say anything to you today? Xiao Qi said you went out to eat with him."

"Nothing much, just that he needs help dealing with his family again—they’re pressuring him."

Pei Yixue suddenly understood. "No wonder I’ve heard there’ve been young ladies visiting the Lu household again. So they’re trying to set Lu Qi'an up once more…"