She was probably the most submissive she had ever been ever since they got married. She so obediently sat next to him that Lu Xingzhi looked shocked and surprised.
"Mom is cutting the fruits in the kitchen. Drink some water to moisten your throat." Lu Xingzhi reached over to pour a glass of water for Jiang Yao, only to find that the water was cold. He got up and went to the kitchen to reheat the tea.
When Mrs. Lu came out from the kitchen with a plate of cut-up watermelon and grapes, she witnessed their interaction and her son's response. No mother in the world would be happy to see their sons, whom they pampered and coddled, bowing down to other women with tameness like a dog pleasing its owner.
Therefore, Mrs. Lu snorted before walking over to the living room. She glared at Jiang Yao and felt rather anguished and agitated. As a mother, she knew how much her son adored his wife, but Jiang Yao didn't seem to warm up to her son at all. Mrs. Lu was very upset and dismayed whenever she thought about this.
"It's so hot and humid, why do you want to drink hot water?" Mrs. Lu chided gently. After placing the plate of fruits on the table, Mrs. Lu turned back to the kitchen, snatched the glass from Lu Xingzhi's hand, and huffed.
"And you! Jiang Yao is a grown-up, why are you treating her like a three-year-old kid? Do you need to handle everything for her? Do you need to feed her or dress her too? You haven't drunk a sip of water since you came home, have you? Look at you, sweating like a dog. Others don't feel bad for you but your mother does! Go and wait outside, I'll serve your wife for you!"
"Mom, she's sick," Lu Xingzhi explained in a resigned tone. He patted his mom's shoulder to express gratitude before leaving the kitchen, knowing that his mom would not let him do anything if he stayed here.
Mrs. Lu's underlying argument was obvious. She was blaming Jiang Yao for her son's own efforts. Thankfully, she did not say it too harshly. She peeked at the jumbo clock in the living room, mumbling about her daughter and son-in-law's late arrival.
Truth be told, nagging flowed in all mothers' blood. After her rambling, she heard some noises outside the door. She looked towards the living room and shouted at Lu Xingzhi, "Your sister and brother-in-law are home, go and welcome them!"
Lu Xingzhi didn't move at her order. Instead, Mr. Lu uttered, "They're not outsiders, it's our daughter and son-in-law. Do you think this is a hotel? They know their way in."
Jiang Yao, on the other hand, felt a little awkward to continue sitting. However, just when she was about to get up, Lu Xingzhi stretched his arm and pulled her back onto the sofa. "You're unwell. Sit down and don't move around."
After he finished speaking, Lu Yuqing and her husband Zhao Zhuangzong opened the door and entered the house.
Lu Yuqing had a downcast expression on her face when she entered, though.
Mrs. Lu's motherly instinct kicked in as she rushed toward her daughter after seeing her expression and asked in a concerned tone, "Yuqing, what's the matter? Why are you upset?"
"Mom, don't ask me. Ask your precious daughter-in-law!" Getting around her mother, Lu Yuqing walked straight into the house. She scanned the living room and saw the three people sitting on the sofa. She strode toward Jiang Yao, raised her hand, and threw an item mercilessly at Jiang Yao's face.
Her motion was so sudden that Lu Xingzhi was taken by surprise and could not stop it in time. He saw a letter flying toward Jiang Yao's face and then falling onto her knee, the sharp edges of the letter leaving a blood-red mark across Jiang Yao's tender and fair skin. He berated, "Lu Yuqing, what are you doing!"
He called her out by her full name, indicating his burning rage of fury.
"You idiot!" Lu Yuqing was so angry when she saw that Lu Xingzhi was about to tear her apart. "Why don't you ask your dear wife what has she done?"