"Back when you two were together in college, I thought you were a perfect match. Now that you're married, you're still so in love!"
"Unlike that playboy in our department. He's getting on in years and still can't find a girlfriend."
"I heard that Miaomiao is into fashion design recently. Sure enough, a talented girl is always a talented girl!"
"I heard that Boss Lu's business is booming. We'll have to rely on him in the future!"
"..."
Basked in the flattery of a group of old acquaintances, Ning Anmiao's face was stiff from smiling.
Her college classmates were all kind and enthusiastic, and she didn't mind chatting with them. But as the conversation went on, her mind would often wander.
Lu Yan sat beside her. From time to time, his college buddies would come over to toast him.
Most of the men's conversations were either grand discussions or mutual boasting. He was used to it and responded with a smile.
After a while, a few men were about to go out for a smoke.
Ning Anmiao gave Lu Yan a look to stop him. He patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Just one."
Ning Anmiao: "..."
She didn't look happy. Lu Yan gently smoothed her hair and said calmly, "I'll kneel on the washboard when I get home."
His voice was just loud enough for the women sitting next to Ning Anmiao to hear.
One of the women covered her mouth. She waited until all the men had left before exclaiming in surprise.
"Lu Yan is so considerate! I just heard him say he'll kneel on the washboard when he gets home!" she couldn't help but exclaim.
Ning Anmiao didn't know how to react. She could only smile awkwardly.
"Really? Lu Yan is so obedient! Miaomiao, now that the men are gone, tell us your secret to taming your husband!" a married classmate asked with a smile.
Ning Anmiao was stunned for a moment, then she couldn't help but laugh and cry.
There was no such thing as a secret to taming a husband. Those who cared didn't need to be taught, while those who didn't care wouldn't learn even if they were taught.
...
In the corridor outside the private room, the men took out their cigarettes from their pockets. Lu Yan just leaned against the wall with his tall and straight figure, not moving.
"What, does the Ning family have such strict rules that they don't allow you to bring cigarettes?" The married man seemed to understand and immediately took out a cigarette from his pack. "Here, brother, have one."
Lu Yan smiled and shook his head, pushing the cigarette away. "We're trying to conceive recently. I have to be more careful."
He was just teasing Ning Anmiao. He didn't really plan to smoke.
The man waved his hand indifferently. "It's just trying to conceive. It's not us men who are getting pregnant. Having a cigarette won't hurt."
"Sometimes don't listen to those women's crazy theories. Giving birth is giving birth. How does it matter? There's no need to be so careful."
"Yeah, when my wife and I were trying to conceive, I never stopped smoking or drinking. And our child was born just fine," the man said nonchalantly, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Lu Yan paused for a moment and couldn't help but frown. "Was the delivery smooth?"
"Not really."
The man took a deep puff of his cigarette and half - closed his eyes as he recalled. "The baby was premature. My wife had a difficult labor and couldn't give birth for a long time. In the end, she had a C - section."
There was still a scar on his wife's stomach. It was really scary.
"If both the woman and the man don't pay attention to their diet and lifestyle during the pre - pregnancy period, it may lead to problems such as a large fetus, deformity, or low intelligence."
Lu Yan's eyes were calm. "Your wife must have suffered a lot during the delivery. You can really sleep at night."
His words were too sharp. The man immediately felt embarrassed and a bit angry. "It's just giving birth. Which woman doesn't give birth? What's the big deal about a little suffering? So delicate!"
What's the big deal about a little suffering?
Lu Yan's eyes darkened. He was silent for a few seconds and didn't say a word.
There was no point in talking to someone who didn't know how to cherish his wife and respect motherhood.
A man's pride was always strong. Being lightly mocked by Lu Yan, he felt embarrassed in front of the others.
He stared at Lu Yan for a while and suddenly noticed what Lu Yan was wearing.
It was very warm in the room. When they entered, Lu Yan had taken off his coat and put it on the back of the chair. Now he was only wearing a sweater.
Judging from its quality, it wasn't a high - end item.
"Boss Lu has made it big, but he still dresses so simply." The man sneered mercilessly. "Or do big bosses these days know how to save money and are reluctant to spend?"
Lu Yan rubbed his temples.
"Judging from the craftsmanship, it's probably a cheap item bought from a street stall, right?"
They were all classmates. Lu Yan didn't want to pay attention at first. But the man kept stepping on his nerves. His eyes darkened, and he walked towards the man step by step.
His steps were slow, but somehow very intimidating.
The man immediately felt uncomfortable. He took two steps back and his eyes darted around. "Am I wrong? Clothes of this level..."
"My wife knitted it for me. Can you say the same?" He curled his lips and raised his eyebrows, looking a bit smug.
The man's neck stiffened, and he was speechless.
Everyone knew who Lu Yan's wife was. Just the fact that he had married Ning Anmiao, the most gentle and elegant girl on campus, was enough to make most of their alumni envious.
Now they heard that Ning Anmiao had knitted a sweater for Lu Yan. They were all stunned.
"My wife can knit, but she's never knitted one for me..." a man beside them murmured, feeling a bit sad.
After being married for so many years, he had only seen his wife knit for their child.
Lu Yan smiled slightly and patted the man on the shoulder. "Treat your wife better. She'll definitely knit one for you in the future."
He sounded like a seasoned veteran.
The man who had said that giving birth was nothing for women was speechless for a long time. He couldn't think of a single retort.
"A man only has one wife. If you don't cherish her well, she might run away with someone else," Lu Yan said meaningfully. Then he walked back into the private room without looking back.
He had been out for too long, longer than it would take to smoke a cigarette.
If he didn't go back soon, Miaomiao would be angry, he thought.
...
Next door.
Yin Yiyan was sitting in the middle of the private room with a beaming smile. Looking at all the bosses who had gathered, especially the investor, she smiled even more coquettishly.
"Boss Shi, I'd like to toast you," Yin Yiyan stood up. She placed one hand on her chest gently and held a wine glass in the other. "It's really an honor to have dinner with you. It's a great blessing for me."
Boss Shi had been in Guangcheng for many years. Even in Shanghai, a place he wasn't familiar with, he wasn't polite. He downed a glass of wine and stared at Yin Yiyan with a lustful look.
"Boss Shi has a good capacity for alcohol," Yin Yiyan didn't hold back either. She tilted her head and drank a glass in one go.
The investment connection was arranged by Lu Yan.
Boss Shi had originally thought that Lu Yan would show up too. But this woman had come alone, dressed very sexily. She looked like a charming vixen.
Her waist was so slender that it looked like a deadly weapon.