Using Marriage as Bait : Extra 1
Extra 01
After the wedding over the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin Xiyu invited a photographer to their home for a family photo shoot, planning to take some family portraits. She let their child, Little Baby, choose his outfit, and he picked out a dinosaur costume. So, Lin Xiyu ordered three of them in family sizes.
When Little Baby received his costume, he loved it and insisted on putting it on immediately. But Mr. Lu looked at the silly outfit with obvious reluctance.
Lu Junting, a man who valued his image no matter the occasion, had grown accustomed to elegance. This costume, however, was anything but elegant.
He didn’t want to wear it.
Noticing her husband’s reluctance, Lin Xiyu coaxed him, “This is what Little Baby chose, and he loves it. Let’s just join him; I think it’s cute! Look, it even has a little tail.”
Once Little Baby put on his costume, he was delighted, running around the house with his little dinosaur tail swishing behind him.
It was cute on a child, but for a grown man like him, wearing such a thing felt entirely ridiculous.
Lin Xiyu had already put on her costume and, seeing Mr. Lu standing there with his arms crossed, urged him, “Come on, put it on. The photographer’s almost here.”
Little Baby ran over, hugging his father’s leg, and pleaded, “Daddy, put it on! I want to wear dinosaur costumes with you.”
Lin Xiyu added, “See how much he loves it? Just wear it; it’s just a costume, no big deal.”
Glancing at his excited wife and son, Lu Junting realized that if he didn’t go along with it, he’d disappoint them. For the sake of family harmony, he reluctantly agreed, hoping they’d remember his sacrifice and treat him better afterward.
He took off his suit jacket and donned the dinosaur costume.
To be honest, the dinosaur outfit clashed entirely with his dignified demeanor. Zipping it up, his cold, reluctant expression made the sight all the more amusing.
Lin Xiyu stifled her laughter and praised, “I think it looks nice!”
Lu Junting suppressed a sneer, thinking she must be kidding; her face was practically twitching from holding back laughter. His expression darkened.
“Why isn’t the photographer here yet?” he asked in a heavy tone.
“He’ll be here soon,” Lin Xiyu reassured.
Lu Junting didn’t want to see what the hell this outfit looked like. All he wanted now was to get this photo shoot over with quickly.
They took several shots. When the photographer noticed Mr. Lu’s stern expression, he cautiously suggested, “Mr. Lu, maybe try smiling a bit?”
Lin Xiyu and Little Baby turned to look at him, with Little Baby curiously asking, “Daddy, why aren’t you smiling?”
Thinking that if he was going to sacrifice himself, he might as well go all in, Lu Junting forced a smile. The photographer shuddered, then quickly added, “Actually, never mind; you don’t need to smile, Mr. Lu.”
After the indoor shots, they moved outside, taking photos until midday. The moment they finished, Lu Junting hurried to take off the costume.
This outfit was far too damaging to his dignified image as a boss. Thankfully, they were at home; if they’d been outside and he’d run into someone he knew, he’d probably want to dig a hole and disappear.
Unfortunately, just as the family stepped out from the backyard, they ran into visitors Xiao Zi’an and Lu Yuan.
The two groups stopped dead in their tracks, the air growing oddly quiet. Xiao Zi’an and Lu Yuan stared at Lu Junting in his dinosaur costume as if they’d just seen an alien.
A fleeting thought crossed Lu Junting’s mind: how could he make them unsee this?
Lu Yuan’s mouth fell open in shock. She felt that this would damage her image as a fair lady, so she quickly shut her mouth and said, “Oh my, I feel like my eyes are going blind.”
Xiao Zi’an, quickly regaining his composure, looked Lu Junting up and down before chuckling. “I have to say, this battle outfit suits you well.”
Lu Junting maintained a calm expression, concealing his inner turmoil. “Why are you here?”
Xiao Zi’an held up a gift. “Bringing a gift for my nephew.”
Little Lu Chengmao saw the gift and immediately ran over to call out, “Uncle!”
Lu Junting then turned his gaze to Lu Yuan, whose nervous gulp was audible. She quickly explained, “I’m here to see Xiyu. I ran into Brother Zi’an at the door, so we came in together.”
“Make yourselves at home. I’ll go change.” Lu Junting said calmly.
“No need to change! You look great!”
Xiao Zi’ang teased, but Lu Junting’s cold stare quickly made him mime zipping his lips.
“Come with me,” he said to Lin Xiyu.
Lu Junting dropped a sentence and went upstairs.
Knowing her husband was upset, she followed him upstairs, mentally preparing to soothe him. She knew he must feel embarrassed about wearing the costume, so she was already thinking about how to make it up to him.
After getting into their room, Lu Junting took off the costume and sat on the bed, silently fixing her with a deep, intimidating gaze.
Anticipating this, Lin Xiyu cheerfully said, “It’s no big deal; so what if they saw? I think the costume’s cute.” She twirled and swished the tail to demonstrate. “See? The tail even wags. Isn’t it cute?”
Leaning back with a relaxed posture, Lu Junting continued staring without a word.
Feigning innocence, Lin Xiyu teased, “See, only my face shows. Isn’t it cute?”
His gaze shifted from unreadable to slightly mischievous, growing warm, even a bit wicked.
Feeling flustered by his look, she asked, “What? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
With a smirk, he replied, “Mrs. Lu, are you trying to tell me you want a second child?”
Lin Xiyu: “......”
Lin Xiyu blinked in surprise. A second child? What was he even talking about?
Realizing his mind had clearly gone to some mischievous place, Lin Xiyu’s cheeks flushed, and she shot him a glare. “What nonsense! When did I say anything about a second child?”
“Well then, why were you wiggling your tail at me?”
Her face turned even redder. How could this well-mannered man act like a rogue at home?
“I wasn’t! Stop making stuff up!”
Noticing her frustration, Lu Junting decided to stop teasing her. Standing up, he said, “Come on, let’s go greet our guests.”
Downstairs, Lu Junting joined Xiao Zi’an for a game of chess. After a few rounds, Xiao Zi’an, frustrated by his continuous losses, finally blurted, “Lu Junting, would it kill you to let me win a piece?”
“Chess is a game of skill. If you’re bad, you lose.”
“......”
Xiao Zi’an was so stunned by him that he almost couldn’t lift his breath.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiyu was enjoying tea in the backyard with Lu Yuan, who kept staring at her. Lin Xiyu asked, “Is there something on my face?”
Lu Yuan sighed, “Women in love just glow. Even your skin looks radiant.”
Lin Xiyu glanced at her. “Why don’t you try dating too?”
“Date who? A ghost?” Lu Yuan curled her lips.
Remembering something, Lin Xiyu asked, “Didn’t you get close to Mr. Qin recently?”
“I’m just messing with him. Besides, he has a childhood sweetheart who drops by his office all the time.”
“Sounds like jealousy to me.”
“No way, don’t even say that.”
After Xiao Zi’an and Lu Yuan left and Little Baby went for a nap, Lin Xiyu and Lu Junting found time to relax in the backyard. She made him a special pot of tea.
The sun warmed them, the fragrance of flowers filled the air, and the couple enjoyed their leisurely afternoon.
“When did you learn to brew tea?” he asked.
“The club offers tea classes. I join when I can.” Lin Xiyu said/
Lin Xiyu brewed tea with a gentle, practiced touch, each movement exuding warmth.
As she placed his cup in front of him, Lu Junting stretched his long legs, settling into a comfortable position, and took a sip. The late afternoon sunlight cast a gentle glow on his face.
Lin Xiyu took a sip of tea, then looked up and met his gaze. It was afternoon, and the sun was setting in the west, unlike the bright, intense light at noon. The sunlight seemed tinted, with a soft golden hue that cast a warm glow over his face.
Admiring her grace, Lu Junting found himself captivated, his gaze lingering on her.
Anyway, he was looking at his wife, so Lu Junting didn’t even look away.
When their eyes met, Lin Xiyu felt her cheeks warm. Remembering the look he had given her earlier, she suspected he was probably thinking about something inappropriate again.
Feeling her cheeks flush, she covered her face. “Enough with that look! Are you going to start again?”
Lu Junting didn’t understand. What is he started again?
Lin Xiyu glared at him with an angry look and said, “Lu Junting, are you seriously thinking about having another child?”
Lu Junting: “......”
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