Xia Xianning’s headache mysteriously disappeared. He lowered his voice and continued the story: “But after searching the person’s entire body, the monk found nothing and apologized, letting him go. The truth was, he had hidden the fruit in a roadside bush. But when he returned to find it, the fruit had rotted. His mother had long passed away, and he had become an old man.”
The story continued with philosophical reflections about life, fate, and personal growth.
Gou Songze hurriedly said: “Not at all, not at all.”
Xia Xianning looked at him coolly, wiped his face dry with a towel, and walked to the bed to fold the blanket.
Gou Songze saw his virtuous appearance and suddenly recalled the painful top-bottom issue, an uncomfortable feeling arising from the bottom of his heart.
With half the blanket pressed under Luo Yingbai, Xia Xianning pulled it out. Luo Yingbai scooted forward and sat on the edge of the bed, looking up to ask Gou Songze: “What’s happening outside? Who’s making noise?”
Gou Songze came back to his senses and hurriedly said: “It’s Feng Zhengyang. He took a flight here overnight and just arrived this morning. He definitely wants to see Wen Qianqian, and I’ve come to ask if that’s okay.”
Luo Yingbai said curiously: “Feng Zhengyang? He cares so much about Wen Qianqian?”
Though Feng Zhengyang and Wen Qianqian were considered a model couple in the entertainment industry, Feng Zhengyang was unscrupulous and cunning. Luo Yingbai had originally thought their affectionate rumors were just for show, but hearing Gou Songze, it seemed Feng Zhengyang genuinely cared about Wen Qianqian.
Luo Yingbai said: “The matters in Changxiang Village cannot be leaked.”
I heard Wen Qianqian could already speak yesterday, but I don’t know if she has forgotten everything that needs to be forgotten.”
Xia Xianning said: “I’ll go take a look. What do you want for breakfast?”
Luo Yingbai selected his breakfast, and Xia Xianning left. Gou Songze, feeling stuck, couldn’t help but sigh: “No matter how I look at it, I can’t imagine Brother Xianning would be the bottom.”
Luo Yingbai’s expression stiffened – if Gou Songze hadn’t mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten the boasts he’d made.
Luo Yingbai said seriously: “Is this something you can bring up repeatedly? Shut up. If Xianning heard this, he’s such a face-conscious person, he’d beat you to death.”
After scaring away Gou Songze, Luo Yingbai leaned out the window, able to see into Wen Qianqian’s room. The curtains were open, and Feng Zhengyang had been let in, embracing Wen Qianqian.
Luo Yingbai withdrew his gaze. The door behind him opened, and Xia Xianning entered with a tray.
Luo Yingbai pointed to someone in the yard: “Who’s that?”
Besides the couple, a strange young man stood outside the farmhouse courtyard, backlit, his face barely visible except for a gentle smile, seemingly chatting with an older man.
Xia Xianning said: “Wen Qianqian’s brother-in-law, seems to be called Feng Zhengdong. He came with Feng Zhengyang – is there a problem?
“Let’s focus on the matter at hand.”
Luo Yingbai felt the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. He needed to figure out how to help Lu Lu fully understand her situation and face her past. Time was running out for her borrowed life, and it pained him to see her caught in this situation.
The tension in the room escalated. Lu Lu’s parents were merely expressing their protective instinct, while Luo Yingbai knew he had a delicate path to navigate. Communication was key, but he also needed to ensure that Lu Lu felt supported and understood the gravity of her circumstances.
“Lu Lu,” he began, trying to find the right words. “There are some things we need to discuss about your past and what you’ve been through. It’s important for your peace of mind.”
Lu Lu looked confused but nodded her head slightly, signaling that she was ready to listen.
“
Lu Lu sneered: “What concern? They’re just here to ask me for money. You should leave quickly, or they might even ask you for bride price.”
Luo Yingbai was at a loss for words, and Lu Lu’s mother was already angry: “We raised you, paid for your education. What’s wrong with asking for money? Don’t you owe us money? We told you to change jobs, but you won’t, earning little and making us lose face. How dare you!”
Lu Lu said calmly: “When I had a good job with high income, you were proud and cared for me. But after I got sick and had sequelae, forcing me to work in a mall, you felt ashamed, didn’t you?”
She turned to look out the window, her tone not particularly intense: “On one side, you look down on my job and dream of me returning to my previous position, and on the other side, you constantly demand money from my work. Sometimes I really don’t understand your mentality.”
Lu Lu’s mother said: “It’s only natural that I ask you for money. Do you want to see your parents starve? You’ve grown up and don’t even know to provide living expenses. You ungrateful child!”
Lu Lu was also aggrieved, almost crying: “Who says I haven’t given anything? My monthly salary is 3,000 yuan. I pay rent, utilities, and living expenses myself. To give my father 3,000 yuan each month, I work odd jobs day and night. What more do you want?”
He still hadn’t figured out this matter when a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Lü’s father’s hair, immediately followed by his face being scratched by his wife. Lü Lu’s mother screamed, “You actually dare to find someone outside behind my back?!”
Lü’s mother became even more convinced that Luo Yingbai was involved with Lü Lu. After hitting her husband, she yelled at her daughter, “Why are you secretly giving money to your dad? Look at what kind of person he is! You wasteful thing, since you knew your dad was keeping a mistress, why didn’t you tell me earlier! I’ve raised you for nothing!”
Luo Yingbai said to Lü’s mother, “You believe in those beauty products sold outside and have even spent the family’s 100,000 yuan in savings. Giving you the money wouldn’t have made much difference. You’ve always said it was for your daughter’s medical expenses, but when Lü Lu was being treated, the reimbursed expenses were less than a tenth of what you spent.”
With one sentence, he completely shut her down. Lü Lu’s mother was stunned, her hand hitting her husband frozen mid-air, her blood almost reversing.
Lü’s father, in shock and anger, stood up and slapped her: “You bitch, is this true?!”
“
Lü’s mother’s attention immediately shifted, screaming, “You’re keeping a woman outside and still dare to hit me? What face do you have! Am I saving money for some other cheap woman to spend?”
They immediately started fighting. Watching this scene, Lü Lu felt an incredibly ridiculous sensation rising from her heart.
She suddenly burst out laughing.
The couple stopped fighting and stared blankly at their daughter.
Lü Lu laughed and said, “Good. I truly admire you. For over a year, since you knew I couldn’t return to my original position, you’ve never given me a good look. I always thought I owed you something. Now I see that I’ve long paid back my debt. There’s not much family sentiment left between us. I don’t owe you anything!”
As she spoke, she felt the dizziness from her father’s earlier words growing stronger. Suddenly, her vision went black, and she collapsed onto the sofa.
Luo Yingbai supported her to prevent her from hitting her head, silently apologizing in his heart.
He didn’t want to say these things in front of Lü Lu, but from the conversation between parents and child, he could see that although Lü Lu was dissatisfied with this couple’s attitude, she still felt that her past incident had burdened her parents and led to the current family situation. That’s why she was desperately working to make up for it.
