"Shengsheng, mine needs replacing too," Lu Shiyan said, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "We'll get the same one." Ye Shengsheng opened her mouth to protest, but the unwavering look in Lu Shiyan's eyes silenced her. "Here, Shengsheng. The phone is ready," Lu Shiyan said, his voice deliberately gentle, afraid of startling her. "You just need to put your SIM card in." He then had her data plan upgraded, ensuring she wouldn't have to worry about running out. Leaving the phone store, Lu Shiyan took her small hand in his and led her to buy a tablet and a laptop for her studies. Watching her son’s actions from behind, Mrs. Lu's face broke into a fond, knowing smile. Her son, she mused, was finally coming to his senses. The moment they stepped out of the mall, Ye Shengsheng finally let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Once they were in the car, Ye Shengsheng was lost in her own thoughts. She knew she had to thank Mrs. Lu. They had spent tens of thousands of dollars on her in a single afternoon. "Mrs. Lu, thank you. You've spent far too much on me today." Mrs. Lu looked at her with a tender, almost pained expression. "Shengsheng, we're family. There's no need for thanks. From now on, if you need anything, just tell Shiyan directly." "Besides," she added, "Shiyan paid for everything today. If you're going to thank anyone, thank him." She truly wanted Shengsheng for a daughter-in-law, convinced that bringing them together was the best course of action. For years, her son hadn't had a single woman in his life. Now, he suddenly had a child on the way, and after seeing how considerate he was today, she felt hopeful. She could tell Shengsheng was a good kid, infinitely better than those with calculating minds. Their Lu family had no need for a strategic marriage alliance anyway. Encouraged by Mrs. Lu, Ye Shengsheng’s gaze shifted to the stoic man beside her. "Thank you... Mr. Lu," she murmured. Mrs. Lu’s eyes crinkled with a smile. "'Mr. Lu' is what outsiders call him. Family calls him Shiyan." Ye Shengsheng offered Mrs. Lu a small smile in return. The man acknowledged her with a low hum, which served as his reply. Mrs. Lu shot a look at her son, a flash of exasperation in her eyes. As soon as they arrived home, Li Ma saw them and immediately instructed the staff to bring out the food. "Madam Lu, Young Master, Young Madam, dinner is ready." Mrs. Lu had sent her husband on an errand, so he wasn't there to meet Ye Shengsheng. They sat at the dining table. In front of Ye Shengsheng was a specially prepared meal for expectant mothers, designed by a nutritionist they had hired. She was far too thin. If she didn't start eating more nutritiously, she would suffer once the two babies inside her grew larger. Ye Shengsheng stared at the large portion of food before her and looked up at Li Ma. Li Ma smiled warmly. "Young Madam, this is the nutritional meal the specialist designed for you. Your body needs the extra nutrients." Ye Shengsheng nodded and thanked her. Mrs. Lu sat down next to Ye Shengsheng, while Lu Shiyan took the seat opposite her. "Shengsheng, you're too thin. Eat up." Ye Shengsheng nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Lu." She tasted the meal; it was surprisingly delicious, and she quite liked it. But... The portion was simply too large. She only managed to eat a small part of it before she was full, and she watched with a pang of regret as the servant cleared the rest away. Lu Shiyan noticed. "Shengsheng, it's enough to eat until you're full. Anything more will upset your stomach." Ye Shengsheng considered this and realized he was right. After dinner, Lu Shiyan took out a bank card and placed it in front of her. "Shengsheng, take this. The PIN is your birthday." Ye Shengsheng stared at the card on the table, completely bewildered. Why was he suddenly giving her money? She had already cost him so much today; she couldn't take any more. Mrs. Lu sighed softly, picked up the card, and pressed it into Ye Shengsheng's hand. "Shiyan is giving it to you, so just take it. Don't overthink things. It's what he should do for you." But it wasn't a matter of what he should or shouldn't do. "Mrs. Lu, I can't accept this. I'm doing fine here, and there's nothing I need to buy. I don't spend any money." She quickly placed the card back on the table. Mrs. Lu glanced at her son. Lu Shiyan's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Shengsheng, just hold onto it for now. Buy whatever you want. You don't need to be frugal." Ye Shengsheng hesitated. "Then... I'll just hold onto it." She could just take it, she reasoned. It didn't mean she had to use it. A smile blossomed on Mrs. Lu's face. "There, that's better. Shengsheng, take your time getting used to life here. Things will only get better from now on." Then, her eyes fixed on Lu Shiyan, though her words were for Ye Shengsheng. "If anyone dares to treat you poorly in the future, you tell me. Mistreating you is the same as mistreating me, and I will protect you." Ye Shengsheng knew Mrs. Lu was serious—she was a woman who kept her word. In the future, she would work hard to build a world and a life of her own. "Thank you, Mrs. Lu," she said with sincerity. Mrs. Lu stayed a while longer, chatting with Ye Shengsheng, before heading back to the main Lu residence, leaving the two of them to cultivate their relationship. The moment Mrs. Lu left, Ye Shengsheng fled back to her room. Lu Shiyan watched her retreating figure, a sense of frustration washing over him. Was he really that frightening? With a resigned sigh, he stood up and went to the study to handle some work. Ye Shengsheng was in her room, reading and doing her homework. Suddenly, she remembered the air conditioner from the afternoon and decided to find Li Ma to ask about it. She stood up, stretched her limbs, and cautiously peered downstairs from her doorway. Seeing that Lu Shiyan wasn't around, she boldly made her way down. When she reached the ground floor, however, she couldn't find Li Ma anywhere. After asking a maid, she learned that Li Ma was in the garden. The maid offered to go and fetch her. Ye Shengsheng thanked her and sat on the sofa to wait. A few moments later, Li Ma hurried in from outside, bowing respectfully. "Young Madam, you were looking for me?" Ye Shengsheng was taken aback by her haste. "There's no rush. It's nothing important." Li Ma smiled. "Alright, I won't run next time. Young Madam, please feel free to ask for anything you need." Ye Shengsheng stood up. "Li Ma, this afternoon while I was sleeping... did someone come into my room?" "Young Madam, please sit," Li Ma said, guiding her back to the sofa. "This afternoon, Mrs. Lu, the Young Master, and I all went in." Ye Shengsheng hadn't realized Lu Shiyan and his mother had been there too. "So, it was Mrs. Lu who turned on my air conditioner?" she asked quickly. After hearing the full story, Ye Shengsheng told Li Ma she could go rest. She sat there in a daze. Mrs. Lu and Lu Shiyan had been in her room, and she hadn't heard a thing? How could she have slept so soundly? Ye Shengsheng sighed. It seemed she would have to start using the air conditioner. This house was so large, she reasoned, it must already use a huge amount of electricity. Her small portion wouldn't make much of a difference. With that thought, she made up her mind. Ye Shengsheng returned to her room and switched on the air conditioner. After a while, a cool breeze drifted out, dispelling the sweltering heat. Now that she was living here, Lu Shiyan drove her to and from school every day. She had no real expenses, but she still wanted to earn her own money. She felt it was important to have something of her own. The part-time job was something she had to continue. The money Lu Shiyan gave her was his, not hers. She yawned, feeling drowsy again lately. *Whatever*, she thought. *I'll figure something out. Time for sleep.* With the air conditioner running, there were no mosquitoes to bother her and no stifling heat. She slept soundly. At seven in the morning, she woke up, washed, and went downstairs. When she entered the dining room, she saw Lu Shiyan was already eating breakfast. The moment Li Ma saw her, she came over. "Young Madam, you're up. Please, have a seat. I'll get your breakfast." "Okay, thank you!" Ye Shengsheng chose a seat at a slight distance from Lu Shiyan. She looked at him. "Mr. Lu, good morning." A flicker of exasperation crossed Lu Shiyan's face. "Shengsheng, try another form of address." Ye Shengsheng remembered what Mrs. Lu had said yesterday, that 'Mr. Lu' was for outsiders. He was asking her to change it, but she couldn't possibly just call him by his name... maybe she could call him... "Uncle, good morning!" Lu Shiyan was speechless. *Fine*, he thought, *we'll take it slow.* He just nodded in response, his eyes on her. "It's the weekend, so you're off. Would you prefer to stay home or go out for a bit? We have drivers; they can take you wherever you want. I'm heading to work."