His gaze lifted to the door, now firmly shut. He hesitated, a touch of apology in his eyes. "I heard about your father," he said. "I just came to see how you were doing." I bent down, gathering the clothes from the floor. My voice came out a hoarse whisper. "He's dead. Cremated. There's nothing left but ash." I couldn't fathom why he was here, but I was in no state to dwell on it. I dragged my exhausted body out of the neighborhood. The familiar surroundings offered no comfort; instead, a profound chill enveloped me. What was I supposed to do now? Where could I possibly go? Footsteps sounded behind me, and Lu Yi's voice followed. "Ms. Tang, do you need any help?" "What is it you want, Mr. Lu?" I never believed in pure altruism—especially not from a man in his position. He didn't have the time to concern himself with a stranger's grief, and I certainly wasn't charming enough to be worth his attention. He arched a brow. "Get in the car. You can't just keep walking aimlessly." I didn't move, my eyes fixed on him. "You can be direct about your intentions, Mr. Lu." His brow furrowed, his voice dropping, low and serious. "Get in. It's about to rain." It was as if his words had summoned the weather. The moment he finished speaking, raindrops began to fall. I realized then that I’d wandered out of the main city area, and there was nowhere to take shelter. The man in the car watched me, a faint, self-satisfied smile playing on his lips. He was clearly pleased with his own prediction. At this point, stubbornness would just be childish. I pulled open the door and slid inside. The car was warm; he had the heater running. "Fasten your seatbelt," he said, his voice soft. Then he started the engine. We drove in silence. Half an hour later, he pulled up in front of a row of villas. He glanced over at me. "It’s late. You can stay here for the night," he said. "We can sort everything else out tomorrow, alright?" He had helped me, after all. I looked at him and nodded, hesitating for a beat before saying, "Thank you." He smiled, his voice gentle. "Let's go. I'll show you in." The villa wasn’t huge—two stories with a small yard. It clearly wasn’t the main Lu family estate. Lu Yi unlocked the door and, after a few brief words of introduction, said, "I bought this place a few years ago. I only use it occasionally. It’s late; you should get some rest." With that, he took his car keys and turned to leave. Watching his retreating back, I couldn't help but call out, "Mr. Lu!" He turned at the sound of my voice. "Yes?" "Why are you helping me?" He answered my question with a small smile. "Just being a good Samaritan." I was left speechless. Before I could ask anything else, he was back in his car, starting the engine and driving away. It was a sleepless night. The doorbell rang early the next morning, pulling me from a daze. The clock on the wall showed it was just eight. *Could Lu Yi be back already?* I got out of bed to answer it. Standing on the doorstep was an elegant woman, impeccably dressed, with a kind and gentle face. She looked familiar, though I couldn't immediately place her. I decided to speak first. "Hello." The woman looked at me with a warm smile. "You must be Tang Li. I'm Lu Yi's mother, Lin Wan. I just came to pick something up. I hope I'm not disturbing you?" I quickly ushered her inside. "Not at all, of course not!" I said, shaking my head. We exchanged a few polite words before she headed upstairs to the study. I returned to the bedroom I had used, intending to gather my things. I’d find a hotel and stay there for a while. Lu Yi’s offer of a single night's shelter was more than generous; I couldn't possibly overstay my welcome. "Ah!" A cry from the study next door shattered my thoughts. Acting on instinct, I rushed over. The door was ajar, and as I reached it, I saw Lin Wan on the floor amidst the shattered remains of a decorative piece that had fallen from a bookshelf. "Are you alright?" I asked, rushing to help her up. She shook her head, sighing softly. "I’m getting older, not as steady on my feet as I used to be. But thank goodness this didn't break." With a look of relief, she pulled out a picture frame she’d been clutching to her chest, wiping it gently as if it were a priceless treasure. Curiosity got the better of me, and I glanced at the photo. It was a family of four, and judging by the style, it was quite old. "Ma'am," I couldn't help but ask, "is this your family?"