Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

The coolness of the coffee cup lingered on Yin Mingzhu's fingertips, and the silent declaration of war still lingered in her heart.

Looking out at the dazzling urban jungle, the coldness in her eyes gradually settled into a deeper, more elusive weariness.

The gentle shake of her head as her sister left was like a tiny needle piercing the thin film that maintained the surface calm, allowing her to see clearly some things she thought she had already seen through.

She gave a self-deprecating smile, pushed the empty glass away, stood up, picked up her elegant handbag, and walked silently down the soft carpet in her high heels toward the rest of the hotel. Her figure blended into the depths of the light and shadow-filled corridor, as if she had never been there at all.

Meanwhile, a celebratory banquet was being held, brightly lit.

The celebratory atmosphere continued to build amidst the champagne tower and boisterous laughter.

Lu Yang was chatting and laughing with several familiar business partners when, out of the corner of his eye, he habitually searched for that gentle figure in the crowd.

One glance, two glances... and the barely perceptible unease in his heart began to grow quietly.

Where is your wife?
Where did they go? What about the two children?
He frowned slightly, then looked around carefully, confirming that the figure holding two children's hands, standing quietly in the corner or chatting and smiling with someone had indeed disappeared.

Along with them disappeared, so did the lively little figures of Lu Xin'er and Lu Fan.

A hint of doubt gripped him instantly. Just a short while ago, he seemed to have caught a glimpse of a very familiar yet deliberately avoided figure flashing past the entrance of the banquet hall.

Yin Mingzhu!
It must be that woman again.

This thought made his heart sink.

He subtly suppressed the smile on his face, raised his hand, and gestured for his young secretary, Lu Nini, who was weaving through the crowd not far away, to come over.

Lu Nini was busy coordinating services when she saw the boss calling her. She immediately ran over with a sweet smile on her face: "Brother Lu Yang, what can I do for you?" Her voice was clear and crisp.

"Where is your sister-in-law?" Lu Yang's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone.

"Sister-in-law?" Lu Nini was taken aback, and subconsciously stood on tiptoe, her eyes quickly searching the crowded banquet hall.

A few seconds later, a look of obvious confusion and panic appeared on her face. "Huh? Xin'er and Xiao Fan were just over there... but they're gone too? I... I'll go look for them right away! Maybe my sister-in-law took them outside for some fresh air?"

Lu Yang stared at her, his eyes sharp, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

He lowered his voice, his tone carrying a barely perceptible reprimand: "How many times have I told you? In the workplace, use titles! 'President Lu'! Nini, you need to let everyone see your abilities, not just sit here because of your brother and my connections! Go find your sister-in-law right now! Confirm her location!"

Lu Yang's tone wasn't stern, but the seriousness and urgency in it instantly made Lu Nini tense up.

She nodded quickly, lowering her voice, "Yes, Mr. Lu! I'll go right away!"

After saying that, she almost turned and ran, her slender figure quickly passing through the crowd and walking briskly towards the entrance of the banquet hall, the sound of her high heels hitting the ground conveying urgency.

Lu Yang stood there, his brows furrowed even more, his gaze fixed on the direction Lu Nini had left in, his mind racing.

Yin Mingzhu's appearance was by no means accidental. What did she want with Mingyue?
Those old grudges... he could almost imagine the harsh words that woman would use to "remind" his wife.

He clenched his fists instinctively, his knuckles turning slightly white.

However, just as Lu Nini's hand was about to touch the heavy doorknob of the banquet hall, a small figure nimbly slipped through the crack in the door, followed by another.

"Daddy, Daddy!" The clear, childlike voice rang out; it was Lu Fan.

He skipped and hopped over like a deer, followed closely by Lu Xin'er, who was more composed and holding his hand.

Lu Yang's tense nerves relaxed slightly. He strode forward and waved to Lu Nini, who had stopped and looked somewhat bewildered: "No need to look anymore, go back and get back to your work."

His tone returned to its usual calm and steady manner.

Lu Nini felt as if she had been granted a pardon, nodded quickly, and disappeared into the crowd.

Lu Yang squatted down, taking his son and daughter in his arms, and first stroked his son's fluffy little head, then took his daughter's hand and asked gently, "My darlings, where's your mother? Why are only the two of you back?"

Lu Fan looked up with his little face, his expression straightforward like a child's: "Mommy was taken away by a pretty auntie!" He even gestured with his little hand.

Lu Xin'er immediately corrected her younger brother, saying clearly, "Dad, it's not a pretty auntie, it's an older auntie! Mom told us to come in first, she said she had something to say to the older auntie, and told us to find Dad."

Sure enough it was her!

Lu Yang confirmed the identity of the uninvited guest once again in his mind.

His worries resurfaced, but looking at his sensible daughter, he smiled gently and squeezed Lu Xin'er's little hand: "Xin'er is so good. She can take care of her little brother. She's doing a great job."

Lu Xin'er smiled happily after receiving her father's praise, revealing her sweet dimples.

Lu Yang straightened up and looked at the heavy door at the entrance of the banquet hall.

Should we go out and take a look?
He worried that his gentle wife would be bullied by her sharp-tongued and resentful sister-in-law.

The two sisters hadn't seen each other for almost two years. This unexpected encounter was probably not a heartwarming reunion, but rather a battlefield filled with old wounds and sharp questions.

Those questions about Ma Xiulan's choices, about... about the taboo topics that couldn't be touched between them...

He hesitated.

Reason told him that he should give them some private space.

No matter how difficult the conversation may be, blood is thicker than water, and some knots can only be untied by them themselves. His sudden appearance would only make the situation more awkward and embarrassing.

Just as he was struggling internally and hesitating, a hearty laugh came from behind him.

"Haha, Mr. Lu! Congratulations! Tonight's celebration banquet was a great success!"

Lu Yang quickly suppressed all his outward emotions, instantly putting on a polite businessman's smile before turning away.

Ma Yun and Cai Chongxin were seen walking over with several distinguished-looking middle-aged men, one of whom was a high-ranking leader from Zhejiang TV.

"President Lu, come, come, let me introduce you. This is Director Zhao from Lantai!" Ma Yun introduced enthusiastically.

The leader, referred to as Director Zhao, extended his hand with a broad smile: "President Lu, I've long admired your name! Meeting you today, I can see you are indeed a young hero, so promising!"

Lu Yang immediately extended both hands to shake hands with him, his smile humble and sincere: "You flatter me, you're too kind!"

"Haha, Mr. Lu is too modest!" Director Zhao laughed, his gaze sweeping over the handsome young couple beside Lu Yang. "Oh, these must be Mr. Lu's son and daughter, right? So adorable!"

"This is my daughter Xin'er, and my son Lu Fan," Lu Yang introduced with a smile.

During the exchange of pleasantries, Lu Yang kept glancing towards the door out of the corner of his eye.

He had not completely let go of his worries about his wife.

He maintained an impeccable smile as he chatted with Director Zhao, Ma Yun, Cai Chongxin, and others, but his mind was torn between two things.

Time passed second by second, and just as the smile on Lu Yang's face began to reveal a hint of perfunctoriness and an undisguised impatience.

The light and shadow at the entrance of the banquet hall flickered.

Yin Mingyue finally appeared.

Her steps were slightly hurried, and her breathing seemed a little rapid; the hem of her off-white skirt swayed gently with her steps.

As soon as she entered the room, her eyes eagerly searched through the crowd, instantly locking onto her husband, who was surrounded by people.

Their eyes met in the air.

Lu Yang saw a trace of complex emotions remaining in his wife's eyes: exhaustion, disappointment, and even a hint of lingering fear, but more than anything, a calm she was trying to maintain and a dependence on him.

He immediately understood the message conveyed in that look: It's alright, I'm back.

Without a word, Lu Yang nodded almost imperceptibly, his eyes conveying inquiry and reassurance.

Yin Mingyue nodded almost imperceptibly, giving him a reassuring look. The weight that had been hanging over Lu Yang's heart finally lifted completely, and the smile on his face instantly became genuine and bright, his entire aura lightening.

He naturally reached out and gently put his arm around Yin Mingyue's waist as she walked to his side, bringing her to the front of the crowd. His voice carried a sense of composure and joy as he regained control of the situation: "Director Zhao, President Ma, President Cai, let me formally introduce you. This is my wife, Yin Mingyue."

With a gentle and polite smile on her face, Yin Mingyue nodded slightly to the several bigwigs: "Hello Director Zhao, hello President Ma, hello President Cai. Thank you all for your support of my husband's career."

Looking at the perfect couple before him, especially Yin Mingyue's face which was almost identical to Yin Mingzhu's, Director Zhao's heart was already in turmoil.

His smile remained warm: "Oh my, Mrs. Lu is so gentle and generous, and you and Mr. Lu are a perfect match, a truly beautiful couple! And your two children are so cute and well-behaved, Mr. Lu is so blessed!"

He was rapidly processing this astonishing information: sisters! Definitely biological sisters! And their relationship was clearly...quite delicate!
No wonder Mr. Yin's behavior just now seemed strange.

He went to the restroom and never came back.

He glanced discreetly at his deputy, who had just quietly returned to his side and was whispering in his ear. The deputy nodded slightly, his eyes conveying confirmation.

Director Zhao understood, and his smile deepened, but with an added layer of meaning.

"Not at all, Director Zhao, you flatter me." Lu Yang replied with a smile. At this moment, he felt relaxed and could finally truly immerse himself in this celebratory feast that belonged to him.

He raised the glass that the waiter had just handed him and said loudly, "Come, come, thank you for your presence, everyone. Let us raise our glasses together to celebrate the successful launch of Alibaba.com and the great success of the commercialization of Xiaolingtong. We also wish for even closer cooperation in the future and even greater achievements!"

"cheers!"

Congratulations, Mr. Lu!

"cheers!"

The celebratory atmosphere reached another climax, with toasts being exchanged and laughter filling the air.

Lu Yang chatted and laughed, while Yin Mingyue accompanied him, gentle and poised, as if the thrilling interrogation and heavy family secrets they had just experienced in the corner of the coffee shop had never happened.

However, in a fleeting moment, when Yin Mingyue lowered her eyes slightly, or when Lu Yang's gaze swept across the corridor door leading to the coffee shop, an indescribable gloom still quietly passed through their eyes.

That conversation between the sisters, especially that shocking question at the end, was like a boulder thrown into the center of a lake. Although the ripples gradually subsided amidst the surface excitement, the undercurrents in the depths had quietly changed many things.

The banquet finally came to a close amidst the hustle and bustle.

The black luxury sedan drove smoothly through the night on its way back.

The city lights shone through the car window, casting flickering shadows on Lu Yang and Yin Mingyue's faces.

Soft music played inside the car, isolating it from the noise of the outside world.

Lu Yang leaned back in his comfortable chair, the high spirits he had displayed during the social gathering gone, replaced by a hint of weariness in his eyes.

He turned his head to look at his silent wife beside him, and gently placed his hand on the back of her hand, which was resting on her knee.

"She...didn't give you any trouble?"

He asked in a low voice, his voice particularly clear in the quiet carriage.

Yin Mingyue's hand twitched slightly, but she did not pull it away.

She looked up at her husband, her eyes slightly blurred in the neon lights flashing past the window.

“No.” She shook her head gently, her voice calm, as if stating a fact. “My sister… just happened to be here today having a business negotiation with the leaders of Lantai.”

Lu Yang raised an eyebrow, not surprised by the answer.

Although he never paid special attention to Yin Mingzhu's movements, news of her founding "Mingzhu Media" and stirring up trouble in the entertainment industry over the past two years would always reach his ears through various channels.

Did she arrange a meeting with the leaders of Zhejiang TV to discuss cooperation?

It seems they're eyeing Zhejiang TV's large platform resources.

"Hmm." Lu Yang responded lightly, his slender fingers unconsciously stroking his wife's smooth hand. "She certainly knows how to pick her timing and place."

There was no emotion in his tone; it was neither sarcasm nor anger, but rather a sense of understanding.

He paused, then said calmly, "As long as she focuses on her career and doesn't deliberately antagonize us, let bygones be bygones."

This is his current attitude, and also the maximum "tolerance" he can offer.

Yin Mingyue sensed the deliberate distance and boundaries he maintained in his words, and her sense of loss deepened.

She was silent for a few seconds before speaking again, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible sob:

"Mom... she still doesn't want to come back."

Lu Yang turned his head and saw more clearly the sadness and expectation in his wife's eyes.

He sighed, pulled her closer to him, and let her lean on his shoulder.

“Mom has her own ideas, Mingyue.”

His voice softened. "She's doing quite well with your sister now, isn't she? As far as I know, at your sister's Pearl Media, the old lady is practically a big boss, leading a group of young artists, wielding influence and full of energy. If you ask her to give up that feeling of 'giving orders' and come back to be a little old lady taking care of her grandchildren, of course she'll find it boring and won't want to come back."

He spoke frankly and with a degree of understanding.

"But..." Yin Mingyue nuzzled against his shoulder like a little animal seeking comfort, "Xin'er and Xiao Fan really miss Grandma. They ask every day, 'When is Grandma coming back...'"

"Nothing to worry about."

Lu Yang interrupted her, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable sense of authority, "I know the children miss their grandmother, and you miss your mother too, how about this?"

He thought for a moment, "Isn't summer vacation already over? I'll have Xiao Jiu drive you to Shanghai, and take Xin'er and Xiao Fan to visit your grandmother for a few days."

He felt his wife in his arms stiffen slightly, then relax.

"You can also go see your mother. You and your mother can talk things out face to face. If you want to play, play for a few more days. There's no need to rush back. Just don't delay Xin'er's start of school in September," he added, his tone relaxed.

"Really?" Yin Mingyue suddenly raised her head, her eyes instantly sparkling with surprise, all her gloom vanishing.

Lu Yang looked at her bright eyes and couldn't help but smile, pinching her cheek: "When have I ever lied to you?"

"Thank you, husband!" Overwhelmed with joy, Yin Mingyue was instantly overwhelmed.

Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she leaned forward and kissed Lu Yang's lips with gratitude almost as soon as she finished speaking.

The kiss was brief, yet it contained a thousand unspoken words.

Lu Yang was slightly taken aback, then deepened the kiss and held her even tighter.

He could sense his wife's excitement and understood that behind it was the fact that he had taken the initiative to suggest that she meet his mother without mentioning that they were traveling together. This meant that he had tacitly approved of her contacting Yin Mingzhu, whom he did not want to see.

Yin Mingyue knew perfectly well what was going on.

She nestled in her husband's arms, feeling the warmth brought by his thoughtfulness and understanding.

Outside the car window, the city lights rushed past, reflecting the glistening tears in her eyes and her anticipation for the upcoming trip to visit relatives.

However, deep within that expectation, there was the icy gaze of her elder sister, Yin Mingzhu, and that final, soul-searching question.

"Are you even aware that he has another woman on the side?"

Like a cold brand, it occasionally stung the calm surface of her heart.

It reminded her that the rift between the sisters, seemingly temporarily concealed by the night, had never truly disappeared. The car, heading home, would also carry the more complex undercurrents within this family into the unknown tomorrow. (End of Chapter)