CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 95; FINISH YOUR BREAKFAST SWEETHEART

"Good morning, my dear Daddy!" she greeted him cheerfully. "The cook said I should eat slowly, but I’m so hungry. Six months of not eating is a long time, Daddy... What do you think?"

"Take your time, sweetheart," Lu Yuze said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Your stomach needs to readjust. We don’t want you getting sick."

"I know, I know." She took another bite, then looked around. "Where’s Shuyin? Is she still sleeping?"

"She’s... getting dressed. She’ll be down soon."

"Did you see the news?" Yuyan’s young face was solemn. "About that man who came here last night? His whole family died. All of them. Isn’t that sad?"

"Very sad, indeed..." Lu Yuze agreed, sitting down across from her. A maid immediately appeared to pour him coffee, strong, black, exactly as he liked it. "But these things happen sometimes. The stress of losing a family member can cause serious health problems."

"I guess." Yuyan didn’t look entirely convinced. "But all of them at once? That’s really weird, right?"

"Unusual," Lu Yuze corrected gently. "Not unheard of, but unusual. Try not to dwell on it, Yuyan. It’s a tragedy, but it has nothing to do with us."

"Okay." She returned her attention to her breakfast, then brightened. "Oh! Can I go back to school soon? I’ve missed so much, and I need to catch up on...."

"Absolutely not," Lu Yuze cut her off firmly. "You’ve been in a coma for six months. You need time to recover, to rebuild your strength. School can always wait."

"But Daddy...."

"No arguments. You’re staying home for at least a month. We’ll hire tutors if you’re worried about falling behind, but you’re not going back to that school until I’m certain you’re completely healthy."

And until I’m certain whoever poisoned you can’t try again, he thought, but didn’t say it out loud. And what if she had been poisoned at school?

Yuyan pouted but didn’t argue further. She knew that tone, it was her father’s "the decision is final" voice, and there was no point in fighting it.

Footsteps in the corridor announced Shuyin’s arrival. She entered the dining room looking completely composed, dressed in a simple but elegant navy dress that Ah Ling provided. Her hair was still slightly damp from her shower, hanging loose around her shoulders.

"Good morning," she greeted them, her jade eye sweeping over the room before settling on Yuyan. "You look better."

"I feel better!" Yuyan confirmed. "Thank you again for... You know. Saving me."

"Mmm." Shuyin took a seat at the table, and a maid immediately appeared to serve her breakfast. "You’re welcome. Try not to die again. It’s inconvenient for everyone."

Yuyan giggled despite being amused. "I’ll try my best."

Lu Yuze watched Shuyin as she began eating, doing so efficiently and methodically, showing neither particular enjoyment nor distaste for the food. She looked completely normal. Perfectly calm.

As if she hadn’t just killed four people in their sleep hours earlier.

As if she hadn’t spent the night floating in a pool in her... whatever her true form was.

As if this were just another ordinary morning.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked carefully.

"Very well," she replied without looking up from her congee. "The water was quite restorative. I feel much better today."

"That’s... good." He sipped his coffee. "The news this morning is quite dramatic. The Chen family....."

"I have just heard about it," she interrupted, still focused on her food. "Very tragic. Stress can be deadly, apparently."

Her tone was completely neutral. Perfectly innocent.

But her jade eyes flickered briefly toward him, and in that moment, Lu Yuze saw the truth.

She knew he knew.

He knew she knew he knew.

And they were both going to pretend this was a normal conversation about tragic coincidences that happen all the time.

"Yes," he said slowly. "Very tragic indeed."

"Shame about the timing," Shuyin continued, taking a delicate bite of steamed bun. "Just when they were planning to cause problems for you. Now those problems have... resolved themselves."

"Very convenient, indeed.." Lu Yuze agreed.

"Very."

They held each other’s gaze for a moment. An entire conversation is happening in the silence between words.

(Did you do this?)

(Would it matter if I did?)

(They were going to destroy us.)

(Now they can’t.)

(Should I be grateful or horrified?)

(You’re alive. Your daughter is alive. That’s all that matters.)

Yuyan, oblivious to the undercurrents, continued eating her breakfast with a cheerful demeanor. "Can we do something fun today? Since I’m not allowed to go to school, can we at least go somewhere? I’ve been stuck in a hospital for months now. I want to see the outside world!"

"Maybe tomorrow," Lu Yuze said, his eyes still on Shuyin. "Today, I think we should stay at home. Quiet family day. Let you recover more."

"And I need to handle some business matters," Shuyin added unexpectedly. "Chen Wan needs to deliver the end of her promise... The paperwork for the company transfer. And I need to collect what I’m owed."

"The child," Lu Yuze said quietly.

"Yes. The child." Shuyin’s expression didn’t change. "A deal is a deal."

Yuyan’s head snapped up. "Wait, what? What child? What deal?"

"Adult matters, my dear" Lu Yuze said quickly. "Nothing for you to worry about."

"But you said...."

"Yuyan." His tone was gentle but firm. "Not now. Have your breakfast."

She looked between them, clearly confused and curious, but finally nodded. "Okay. But you’re both being really weird this morning. Just so you know."

"We’re aware," Shuyin said dryly.

The maid appeared again, this time carrying a phone. "Master Lu, I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s a Detective Zhou on the line. He says it’s urgent regarding the Chen family matter."

Lu Yuze’s expression didn’t change, but internally, he felt a spike of adrenaline. "Thank you. I’ll take it to my study."

He stood up, squeezing Yuyan’s shoulder gently as he passed. "Finish your breakfast, sweetheart. I’ll be back soon."

As he left .....