上海安全生产监督局

Chapter 16

"You\'re back," Li Mingshi revealed a smile upon seeing her son. "Have breakfast at home."

"Okay."

Lu Lingchuan was busy with work, and although Lu Lingchen was still in school, he had started an internship and was also very busy. It had been a long time since the family of four had sat down to have a nice meal together.

Li Mingshi took out tableware for five people. In addition to the family of four, she also put out a set of tableware at Lu Lingrui’s usual spot.

"Auntie recently learned how to make xiaolongbao dumplings. Mom thinks they turned out pretty good, try some," she said.

After speaking, Li Mingshi picked up a dumpling with chopsticks and put it in Lu Lingchuan\'s bowl, then did the same for Lu Lingchen, and then placed one in the empty bowl, as if Lu Lingrui was still there with them.

The father and two sons knew in their hearts, but didn’t say anything.

"Lingchuan, how are things going with Miss Jinghe? Mom really likes her. She\'s a nice girl, pretty, good family background, and graduated from a famous university."

Lu Lingchuan didn\'t speak, but Lu Lingchen next to him couldn\'t help but retort.

"Mom, my brother isn\'t unable to find a wife. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"You\'re only twenty, of course you\'re not anxious. It\'s different for your brother. He\'s already twenty-five. Your uncles and cousins around the same age already have kids." Li Mingshi glanced at her younger son, then shifted her gaze to her older son.

"Mom knows you\'re busy with work, but there\'s sense in settling down before focusing on your career."

Thinking of something, Li Mingshi\'s expression darkened. "Mom...won\'t get to see your sister marry someone. Now I just hope you and Lingchen are well."

In recent years, Lu Lingrui had been a taboo topic in the family. The atmosphere at the dining table grew heavy.

Lu Yanhua put down his bowl and chopsticks and walked outside, taking out a cigarette case from his pocket.

Li Mingshi also lost her appetite, heavily putting down her chopsticks on the table.

"You\'re still thinking about Shen Nian, aren\'t you?" Li Mingshi suddenly looked up at Lu Lingchuan, her emotions somewhat agitated. "Lu Lingchuan, don\'t forget who your sister was with when the accident happened. I said it four years ago, Shen Nian can never step through our family\'s door!"

As she spoke, her breathing gradually became difficult, her face deathly pale.

"Mom!" Lu Lingchen quickly went up to help her calm down. "Don\'t get angry. Shen Nian is also an innocent victim."

Li Mingshi\'s chest heaved violently, her eyes bloodshot.

"She\'s innocent, but my daughter is even more innocent. My Lingrui was only 18 years old. She still had a wonderful life ahead of her, but now it\'s all gone, all gone!"

Li Mingshi broke down into loud sobs.

How desperate must her precious Lingrui have felt to resolutely abandon her parents, brothers and the imperfect world.

"I know," the silent Lu Lingchuan finally spoke. "She and I...have long been impossible."

He looked at his mother, pulling out a tissue from the box on the table and handing it to her. "Today I will meet with Miss Liang. As long as you like her, I will marry her."

After Li Mingshi took some medicine, her emotions gradually calmed down. Lu Lingchen escorted her upstairs to rest, but Lu Lingchuan didn\'t leave. Instead he went to the backyard garden.

In the garden, Lu Yanhua sat on a bench smoking.

Lu Lingrui\'s death had cast a layer of gloom over the entire family.

Hearing movement, Lu Yanhua turned his head to see it was his eldest son. "Lingchuan," he said.

"Dad."

Lu Lingchuan walked over and pulled out the chair across from him to sit down. He didn\'t speak, only took a cigarette from the table, placed it between his lips and lit it with a lighter.

He took a puff and blew out a smoke ring, the action practiced.

Lu Lingchuan didn\'t know when he had picked up the smoking habit, probably many years ago.

It was probably after Lingrui\'s accident, or the day she had committed suicide.

It should have been the day she committed suicide.

Because that day not only did he lose his only sister, but also his first child.

"Your mother\'s condition has been worse lately since it\'s coming up on your sister\'s birthday and death anniversary," said Lu Yanhua, looking at his son.

It was nearly the end of May, almost June. Lu Lingrui\'s birthday was in mid June, her death anniversary in mid July.

Time flowed like water. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed since she left them, and Lu Lingrui would have been 23 years old.

"Mm," Lu Lingchuan grunted in acknowledgement. "I\'ll take that day off."

Lu Yanhua also took a puff of his cigarette, and seemed to think of something. He turned his head to look at his son, "Is that Shen Nian girl still at your company?"

Lu Lingchuan was silent.

"Let her go. She\'s also an unlucky child. Don\'t let her keep suffering with us."

Lu Lingchuan still didn\'t speak. After a long while he finally responded, "Dad, this is between her and me. Don\'t think too much about it."

Lu Yanhua looked at him. "Can\'t bear to part with her?"

"......"

"Son, you\'ve always been very clear in your heart. Your mother will absolutely never accept her again."

"......"

"Although she was also a victim in that incident, as long as we see her, it\'s not just your mother, our whole family will be reminded of Lingrui."

If Shen Nian married into their family, every time they saw her it would be like seeing Lu Lingrui again. That kind of feeling would be too painful.

As long as they saw Shen Nian for a day, the Lu family would not be able to get over Lu Lingrui\'s death for a day.

Lu Lingchuan still didn\'t speak, only quietly smoked his cigarette. After a very long time he finally responded, "I know what\'s what."

Having finished his cigarette, he flicked the butt to the ground and crushed it beneath his shoe. Then he got up and left.

.................................

After her birthday, Shen Nian returned to her usual life, calm as still water.

Every day she went to work in the morning and got off work at night. After returning home she had nothing to do, reading some books or spacing out.

Lu Lingchuan came back to stay the night at the apartment every other day or so. Although the two were in the same space, they were more estranged than strangers. Only during their intimate acts at night was there some communication between them.

Until this day, while Shen Nian was working as usual, she heard an unfamiliar female voice.

"Hello everyone!"

Hearing the unfamiliar feminine voice, Shen Nian looked up to see a young woman greeting everyone.

She was very beautiful. The white dress she wore set off her fair complexion. In her hand she held an expensive brand name handbag. She smiled and waved at everyone.

Seeing the unfamiliar face, the employees who were working looked at each other in confusion, not understanding what was happening.

The young woman smiled at everyone and explained, "You probably don\'t recognize me. I\'m your President Lu\'s friend. I happened to be passing by his company today, so I came to see him."

"Oh, that\'s right, I bought drinks for everyone, please take one." She seemed to recall something and added that.