He lured her deep into his trap, using both overt and covert methods to seduce her.

Song Zhi couldn't hear what the other person was saying, but she noticed that after listening, Fu Lu simply nodded and replied, "Yes, that's fine."

After hanging up the phone, Fu Lu turned his gaze back to Song Zhi on the screen, who was filled with curiosity and doubt.

She blinked her big, bright eyes and asked cautiously, "Ninth Brother, if you're very busy, how about we video chat later?"

Before Fu Lu could answer, a sharp "whoosh" suddenly pierced the night sky, breaking the tranquility of the night.

Immediately afterwards, a dazzling array of fireworks exploded in the night sky like a blooming flower, instantly illuminating the entire night.

Standing beneath the dazzling fireworks, Song Zhi's eyes widened, and she instinctively exclaimed, "Ninth Brother, the fireworks have started!"

Her surprised voice was transmitted to the other side through the video.

In the video, Fu Lu leaned back lazily on the sofa, a slight smile playing on his lips, and asked softly, "I saw it. Do you like it?"

His gaze was gentle and tender, as if it could see directly through the screen and fall on Song Zhi.

Song Zhi nodded hurriedly, her excitement evident in her words.

She held her phone up higher and shouted at the screen, "I love it! It's so beautiful! I want to take a picture to remember it. I'll hang up now." As she spoke, she prepared to press the hang-up button.

At this moment, Fu Lu deliberately dragged out his words, with a hint of teasing, "What, in such a hurry to hang up? Don't you want to chat with your brother a little longer?"

Although his tone was lazy, there was a smile on his lips as he said this.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhi panicked and hurriedly shook her head vigorously in denial.

She was afraid that Fu Lu would misunderstand and get angry because she really didn't want to talk to him.

Seeing Song Zhi's adorable yet flustered appearance, Fu Lu's smile deepened.

He chuckled softly, then said gently, "Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. Enjoy the fireworks, and remember to call me when you're done."

Song Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, grinned, and obediently replied, "I know."

He then decisively hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, just as Fu Lu put down his phone, a teasing voice came through his ear: "Hey, Lao Jiu, you're all smiles, are you video chatting with your girlfriend?"

Wei Min walked over, teasing him with a face full of curiosity.

Fu Lu calmly put his phone back in his pocket, glanced at Wei Min indifferently, and replied unhurriedly, "Brother-in-law, aren't you going to play mahjong? You're just worrying about nothing here."

"I heard you're in a relationship, so I wanted to talk to you about it."

Fu Lu shook his head dismissively and snorted, "What could two grown men possibly have to talk about?"

Wei smiled and said, "I heard from your sister that your girlfriend's father doesn't seem to approve of you two being together."

Fu Lu cursed under his breath, somewhat disgusted: "Why does my sister tell you everything?"

"Why can't she tell me? We're husband and wife, of course she'll tell me."

Fu Lu gave a dismissive "oh".

Wei Min continued, "Dad doesn't like it, what are you going to do?"

Fu Lu replied indifferently, "What do you mean, 'what to do'? As long as I like it, that's all that matters. It's about living with me, not with him."

Seeing this, Wei Min continued to probe, "Do you really like her?"

Fu Lu nodded without hesitation and answered crisply, "Yes."

Upon hearing this answer, Wei Min frowned slightly and earnestly advised, "But the Zhou family is also interested in a marriage alliance with our family. If we reject them directly, it may create some rift between the Fu family and the Zhou family, which will not be good for future cooperation."

Upon hearing this, Fu Lu's face immediately showed displeasure, his two sword-like eyebrows furrowed tightly, and he retorted irritably, "What kind of barrier could there be? I don't like his daughter at all. Do you expect me to force her to marry you? That's just nonsense!"

Seeing Fu Lu's resolute attitude, Wei Min sighed helplessly and muttered to herself, "Alas, this has always been the case in marriages between wealthy families."

But Fu Lu clearly disagreed with this statement. He immediately retorted sharply, "I'm not like you. The person I want to marry must be someone I truly love. No other factors can influence my decision!"

After saying that, he ignored Wei Min and strode away, leaving Wei Min standing alone, her lips pursed in a forlorn expression, silent for a long time.

Fu Lu suddenly remembered something and turned to Wei Min: "Brother-in-law, tell my dad I'm going back first."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the old man's stern and sharp voice suddenly rang out from the stairwell: "Stop right there!"

Fu Lu couldn't help but secretly lament his predicament, feeling utterly helpless.

He had originally thought that since the old man had already gone back to his room to rest, he would take the opportunity to sneak away.

Hearing the old man's reprimand, he could only slowly turn his head and meet the old man's gaze as he descended the stairs, and replied in a low voice, "Dad, I've already eaten, I'd better go home first."

Upon hearing this, the old man's face darkened, his eyes widened, and he sternly rebuked, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave during the New Year?"

Faced with the old man's questioning, Fu Lu pursed his lips tightly and remained silent.

At this moment, Wei Min, who was standing to the side, quickly chimed in, saying, "Ninth Brother, this is the New Year, a time for the whole family to be together. It would be really inappropriate for you to leave now."

After hearing this, the old man snorted heavily and said irritably, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You can go see that woman if you want, but if you want her to step into the Fu family's door, you'd better stay up all night tonight!"

Fu Lu was initially taken aback, clearly not expecting the old man to suddenly say such a thing.

But then, his deep eyes lit up with surprise, and he became excited.

Unable to contain his joy, he raised his voice and asked eagerly, "Dad, do you mean you've agreed to what we did?"

After giving a cold snort with a gloomy expression, the old man kept his lips tightly shut and said nothing more. Then he turned around and slowly walked towards the study.

Fu Lu stood there, stunned, seemingly not quite believing what the old man had said.

He looked at Wei Min: "Brother-in-law, does Dad agree?"

Wei smiled and said, "Otherwise what?"

Fu Lu's smile deepened; he was now eager to contact Song Zhi and tell her the good news.

However, as he reached out to pick up his phone, a moment of hesitation suddenly crossed his mind.

I thought it would be a real surprise to tell her when I met her in person.

So, Fu Lu suppressed his inner impulse and put down the phone he had already picked up halfway.

He looked up at the window, his gaze passing through the glass as he stared at the dazzling fireworks blooming in the distant night sky.

After watching quietly for a while, Fu Lu walked into the courtyard on his own.