11: Chapter 11 You Are My Moonlight: The Substitute Male Supporting Character 10

"How did you do that?"

In the car on the way home, sitting together in the back seat, Su Qingxue finally couldn't help but ask.

"What do you mean?"

Meng Zhu was in a good mood, but after smiling for so long, he was a bit tired. His gaze drifted to the night scenery outside the window, looking somewhat dazed.

Su Qingxue stared at his profile.

"I mean, how you managed to chat with everyone?"

"Then you've misjudged!"

"What?"

Su Qingxue was stunned, a bit confused.

Meng Zhu turned his head and looked at Su Qingxue earnestly.

"I said you misjudged. I don't really get along with them."

Su Qingxue understood. He meant that those people weren't real friends at all, and the conversations were just for show.

Then what about carrying her shoes?

Was that just for show too?

For some reason, Su Qingxue suddenly felt a bit panicked, subconsciously clenching her fingers.

Only when she looked down did she realize she was still wearing slippers, and her high heels were still in Meng Zhu's hands.

It was as if the rain had cleared.

She instantly relaxed her fingers.

"Then do you have any friends you actually get along with?"

"Of course."

Meng Zhu responded with a light chuckle.

Su Qingxue didn't press further. She actually really wanted to hear Meng Zhu say he would introduce his friends to her another day.

But unfortunately, he didn't.

So, did she count as his friend?

Probably, yes.

After a long while, as if remembering something, Su Qingxue spoke with a hesitant tone.

"Meng Zhu, since we appeared in public today, it probably won't be long before Grandfather asks us to return to The Old Mansion."

Hearing this, Meng Zhu withdrew his gaze from the window.

He turned back and looked at her steadily, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination.

"Su Qingxue, don't be afraid. It will be alright."

The intense gaze made Su Qingxue uncomfortable; she wanted to look away.

But for some reason, her fingers clenched her skirt, and her eyes subconsciously met his.

She couldn't look away for a long time.

Perhaps she was infected by Meng Zhu's determination.

She thought to herself.

She even forgot when she had nodded and said yes.

When they returned home, it was already past ten o'clock at night.

"Sit on the sofa for a while and wait for me."

After entering the door, Meng Zhu said this without looking back.

Su Qingxue didn't know what he was going to do, and even wondered if he had some plan to discuss with her regarding returning to The Old Mansion.

However, what she got was a cup of hot tea, just like always.

"Ripe Pu'er. It calms the mind, helps with the alcohol, and is good for the stomach."

"Thank you!"

She couldn't remember when she had gotten used to all kinds of tea.

Just as she took a sip, Meng Zhu returned with a medical kit in hand.

"Let's treat your feet."

She obediently lay on her side, and Meng Zhu took out some iodine and gently wiped her heels with a cotton swab.

"Tell me if it hurts. I'll be gentle."

"No, it doesn't hurt."

Su Qingxue felt a bit flustered because just a moment ago, Meng Zhu was focused on looking at her feet.

And she was looking straight at Meng Zhu.

After applying the medicine, he put two large Band-Aids on her, and that was it.

Before he looked up, Su Qingxue quickly averted her gaze, acting as if nothing had happened.

"You're so tired today, don't go to the study to work. Get some rest early."

"Okay, then I'll go rest."

It wasn't until she walked up to the second floor that Su Qingxue turned back to look at Meng Zhu.

At this moment, Meng Zhu was tidying up her teacup.

For some reason, all day today, Su Qingxue had been in a state of contradiction: wanting to look at Meng Zhu but being afraid of being caught.

She didn't know that, thanks to the bullet comments, Meng Zhu knew every time Su Qingxue looked at him today.

Until he lay on the bed, Meng Zhu also began to face this issue squarely.

He wouldn't rashly guess that Su Qingxue had fallen for him.

But thinking about it, she should have developed some interest.

This was a good start.

A few days later.

On the way to The Old Mansion, Su Qingxue seemed heavy-hearted in the car. She kept wanting to say something but held back.

Meng Zhu didn't comfort her immediately; he appeared very calm.

It seemed that this calmness allowed Su Qingxue to slowly calm down.

Until they got out of the car.

Meng Zhu naturally took her hand and revealed a reassuring smile.

"Su Qingxue, it will be alright. Trust me!"

Trust you?

Su Qingxue was a bit bewildered.

In her view, the one who would lose face today was Meng Zhu, and the one who would be looked down upon was also Meng Zhu.

But in reality, all the pressure would be on Su Qingxue.

Because everyone knew that she was the one leading this marriage, and Meng Zhu was just someone dragged into it.

Without Meng Zhu, there would be Li Zhu or Wang Zhu.

She didn't respond, pulling Meng Zhu into The Old Mansion.

The high, winding gray walls, the mottled dark green roof tiles, and the vigorous, ancient cypress trees with gnarled branches.

The vermilion lacquered gate was thick and heavy, the copper ring beast heads were imposing, and two stone lions stood silently in front of the gate.

The entire residence was hidden in the dense shade, with eaves and corners rising and falling. This The Old Mansion had at least a century of glory.

Just after entering the gate, they saw Mr. Su and Mrs. Su standing at the living room entrance from afar. Meng Zhu smiled and went to greet them.

"Dad, Mom, we're late. Why didn't you wait inside?"

"Good child, you're not late. Don't worry too much; Dad and Mom will help you."

His mother-in-law held his arm and comforted him softly.

Meng Zhu smiled brightly.

"Okay, thank you, Dad and Mom. Let's go in!"

Su Qingxue had a face full of question marks.

"When did you get so close to Dad and Mom?"

"Maybe I'm just naturally likable."

Meng Zhu turned back and smiled at her, but Su Qingxue couldn't see this smile clearly.

In a daze, Su Qingxue suddenly remembered that it seemed she had never understood Meng Zhu as well as she thought.

Then, the group walked into the hall, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

At the head of the main hall, the Old Master sat upright in the acid branch wood grandmaster chair, wearing a dark-patterned Tang suit, his face as cold as a deep pool.

His brows were tight, without a hint of a smile, and his whole body exuded an oppressive sense of dignity without anger. His gaze was fixed heavily on the people entering.

The butler, standing with his hands at his sides, looked respectful, eyes focused on his nose and heart, not daring to breathe loudly.

In the lower guest seat, Su Qingxue's Second Uncle had a cold and hard expression, his lips pursed into a straight line, clearly ready to interrogate them.

Second Aunt was holding a teacup, a hypocritical politeness on her face, but contempt hidden in her eyes. She glanced at the two of them from time to time, her expression subtle.

Her father and mother-in-law had little say in the family, otherwise, the Old Master wouldn't have kept Su Qingxue by his side to teach her personally.

At this moment, both of them had worry in their eyes, and being intimidated by the Old Master's pressure, they could only suppress their emotions, their expressions complex.

"Grandfather, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, this is my husband, Meng Zhu."

Su Qingxue was a strong woman after all. By now, she had calmed down, took a deep breath, and was ready to accept the storm.

But the questioning she imagined didn't come. Second Uncle and Second Aunt's gazes seemed capable of killing, but they were looking at Meng Zhu.

Grandfather narrowed his eyes and didn't speak for a long time.

"Old Master, I hope you are well!"

Meng Zhu suddenly spoke with a smile, and the strange atmosphere seemed to be dispersed by something.

Hearing this, the Old Master leaned on his cane with both hands, ignored Su Qingxue, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Young man, have you thought it through?"

"Of course, please!"

Meng Zhu smiled politely and gestured with one hand.

"Good."

The Old Master nodded and stood up, walking towards the second floor.

"Meng Zhu? What's going on?"

Su Qingxue was dumbfounded, a strong feeling making her very uneasy.

Meng Zhu held her hand.

"It's fine, Su Qingxue, trust me."

Hearing this sentence again, Su Qingxue's heart inexplicably calmed down.

His words seemed to have some kind of magic.

Noticing the grip on her hand loosening, she looked up abruptly.

"You... where are you going?"

"Don't worry, I'm going to the study to talk to the Old Master. I'll be back soon."

He let go of her hand and gently patted her head to comfort her.

It wasn't until Meng Zhu's figure disappeared on the second floor that Su Qingxue gradually came back to her senses.

She sat on the sofa, looking at her parents with expectant eyes.

"Mom, Grandfather has looked for Meng Zhu, right?"