Nathaniel Fu, "..."
"Master, Madam doesn't want to see you. Have you had dinner yet?"
He really hadn't.Nathaniel shook his head. "No."
"What would you like to eat? Mrs. Zhou can make something for you."
"Dumplings."
"Dumplings?" Mrs. Zhou looked startled. "We don't have any here. Madam hasn't made dumplings since returning to the capital. Back when the Young Mistress was still around, Madam and she would always make them together..."Realizing she had said too much, Mrs. Zhou quickly stopped talking.
Nathaniel pressed his lips into a thin line. "Then make some noodles."
"Alright."
After finishing his noodles, Nathaniel went back to the master bedroom and took a cold shower. Later, standing tall and composed on the balcony, he lit a cigarette.
He had been too busy since returning to the capital—so busy that he hadn't even allowed himself time to think about her.
But today, after so many conversations, so many mentions of the past, he finally remembered... Celia.
Zane Song had once teased him, asking what difference there was between the two women in his arms. The difference was obvious. Yara Lu felt heavy when she sat on his lap.
In truth, Yara had a striking figure—curves in all the right places, barely ninety pounds, the kind of woman he would have once appreciated.
But he had already held someone else. Someone lighter, softer, a body that felt almost weightless in his arms. Her delicate frame carried a supple warmth, her curves subtle yet mesmerizing, her beauty tinged with a softness like polished jade. Compared to her, Yara felt almost rigid.
Nathaniel finally understood—women could be so very different.
Tonight, what he really craved wasn't Yara, but dumplings. He remembered walking into the house before, seeing Celia and Madam Fu together in the kitchen, making them by hand. Mrs. Zhou would always serve a steaming bowl straight from the pot, and no delicacy outside could compare.
Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a sting at his fingertips—the flame of his cigarette had burned down too far. He hadn't smoked in so long, he'd forgotten to pay attention.
Maybe he was overthinking tonight. Maybe it had all ended too quickly, too abruptly, leaving only restless memories that pulled him back to her.
Nathaniel gave a low, self-mocking laugh, flicked the cigarette into the ashtray, and picked up his phone.
A WeChat message blinked on the screen—it was from Yara: "Nancheng, let's have dinner tomorrow."
He typed one word back: "Okay."
Setting the phone aside, he lay down and quickly fell asleep.
The next day.
Nathaniel had agreed to meet Yara in Zhouzhuang, but when she arrived, his call came first—he had an urgent meeting and couldn't make it.
Disappointment clouded her face, but soon her best friend, Ning Xiner, appeared, looking upset."Yaoyao..."
"What's wrong, Xiner? Did you fight with Young Master Fan again?"
"Yaoyao, do you know that Old Madam Shen has returned to the capital—and she brought back an adopted daughter? Now Fan Jun is being forced to marry her!"
"Old Madam Shen?"
The Shen family was one of the wealthiest and most powerful in the capital, and Old Madam Shen had a reputation for being as sharp as a blade. Few dared to cross her.
In the old days, families like theirs often arranged marriages for their children while they were still young. But the Shen family had many grandsons and no granddaughters, so the matter had always been left aside.
Who would have thought that after all these years, Old Madam Shen would suddenly bring home a granddaughter?
"The Shen family has an adopted granddaughter now?" Yara asked in surprise. "Then which family is supposed to fulfill the marriage arrangement?"
She couldn't help thinking of Nathaniel. Both the Lu and Fu families had been present back then, and since the Lu family had no sons, it was fortunate that her engagement to Nathaniel had already been secured. Otherwise, the Shen marriage might have fallen on him.
Ning Xiner sighed. "Yaoyao, this isn't the Fu family's doing. It's the Fan family. Fan Jun is being forced by his parents to go to the airport and personally pick up this so-called adopted daughter."