The air in the grand dining room was thick with tension, suffocating in its heaviness. Su Nian could feel the weight of every gaze on her—especially from Lu Cheng's grandfather, whose piercing stare was a silent challenge. The rest of his family watched silently, some with disapproval, others with curiosity, but all of them were united in one unspoken message: Su Nian did not belong here. She was an outsider, a threat to the carefully constructed empire they had spent generations building.
But Su Nian wasn't intimidated. Not anymore. She had made her decision when she chose Lu Cheng, and nothing—not even the grandeur of his family's estate—could make her change her mind.
She squeezed Lu Cheng's hand beneath the table, feeling the warmth of his touch anchoring her as the silence stretched on. His eyes met hers, a silent promise passing between them. They were in this together.
His grandfather's voice broke the silence, cold and deliberate. "Lu Cheng, you know the rules of this family. Our legacy cannot be tainted by—" He looked at Su Nian with a sharpness that felt like a blade. "—someone with no connections, no standing."
Lu Cheng's grip tightened on her hand, but his voice remained calm, resolute. "Grandfather, I've made my decision. Su Nian is the one I want. No matter what you say, I'm not turning back."
A murmur passed through the room, the tension escalating. Su Nian could feel the weight of their judgment, but she held her ground, not letting her fear show.
"Do you realize the consequences of your actions?" his grandfather continued, his voice growing more forceful. "You are risking everything for a girl who has no place in our world. You are putting the family business, the future of this company, at risk. Is she really worth all that?"
Su Nian's heart raced as she fought to keep her emotions in check. She could feel Lu Cheng's pain through his touch, the way his fingers trembled as they gripped hers. He had always been the powerful, confident CEO in her eyes, but here—surrounded by his family's judgment and pressure—she saw a vulnerability in him that she had never noticed before.
But she wasn't going to let his grandfather dictate their future. Not now.
Her voice was steady but unwavering as she looked at his grandfather. "I know I don't have the same connections or status that you all do. But that doesn't mean I'm not worthy of being with Lu Cheng. I love him, and he loves me. Isn't that what really matters?"
His grandfather's eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a thin, dismissive smile. "Love?" he sneered. "Love won't build an empire. Love won't ensure the future of this family. If you were smart, you'd walk away now before this ends badly for you."
Su Nian's heart ached at his words, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she turned to look at Lu Cheng, her expression softening. "We may not be able to control your family's expectations, but we can control our own future. If we want to be together, we'll fight for it."
Lu Cheng's eyes softened, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His voice was firm as he spoke, directed at his grandfather and his family. "I don't care about the legacy you're trying to preserve. This is my life, and I'm not going to let you dictate it. NianNian and I are going to make our own path."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Su Nian could feel the eyes of everyone on her, but she refused to back down. She had made her choice, and no matter how much pressure they put on her, she wasn't going to let go of Lu Cheng.
But just as the atmosphere seemed to be growing increasingly hostile, there was an unexpected voice from across the room.
"Enough."
It was Lu Cheng's younger brother, Lu Wei. He had always been the quiet one, the least involved in the power struggles of the family. Su Nian hadn't expected him to speak up, but now, his words carried weight.
His gaze moved between his grandfather and Lu Cheng, a mix of defiance and reason in his eyes. "Grandfather, I don't think this is the way to handle things. Lu Cheng is an adult. He can make his own decisions. If he wants to be with Su Nian, then that's his choice."
There was a moment of stunned silence, as the rest of the family processed his words. Su Nian's heart skipped a beat. Was he actually on their side? She had never imagined that one of Lu Cheng's brothers would speak up, especially in such a critical moment.
Lu Wei stood up, his posture more confident now. "We can't control who Lu Cheng loves. And frankly, I think it's time we stopped trying to control everything. The family business will be fine. It's always been about more than just keeping appearances. If Lu Cheng wants to lead it with Su Nian by his side, then so be it."
His grandfather looked furious, but before he could respond, Lu Cheng stepped forward, standing tall and unwavering. "Thank you, Wei," he said quietly, his voice filled with gratitude. "I know this isn't easy for any of us, but this is the life I want. With NianNian."
There was a brief silence, and then Lu Cheng's mother, who had been watching quietly, spoke up as well. Her voice was soft, but firm. "Perhaps it's time we considered what's truly important. If Lu Cheng has found someone he wants to be with, then we should respect that. After all, he's the one who will carry the Lu name forward, not us."
The tension in the room shifted. Lu Cheng's mother had always been a voice of reason, and with her support, the atmosphere felt less oppressive. Even his grandfather seemed to pause, his expression less certain.
Su Nian felt a weight lift off her chest, though she knew this battle wasn't over yet. But for the first time since she entered the room, she felt a glimmer of hope.
That night, after the confrontation, Su Nian and Lu Cheng walked together in the garden of his family's estate. The air was cooler now, the setting sun casting long shadows across the manicured lawns.
Lu Cheng's hand found hers, and he squeezed it gently. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I know this is difficult, and I don't expect you to face all of this alone. But you stood by me today. I'll never forget that."
Su Nian looked up at him, her heart swelling with affection. "I'm not going anywhere," she said softly. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm here, Cheng."
His gaze softened as he leaned in, his lips brushing against her forehead in a tender kiss. "I promise I'll make it worth it," he murmured.
But as they stood there, the reality of their situation weighed heavily on both of them. The battle for their love was far from over. Lu Cheng's family would not give up easily. The price of their love would be high.
But together, they would face it. And no matter what the future held, Su Nian knew that as long as she had Lu Cheng by her side, she could face anything.