Chapter 21

“Not long ago, I saw you chatting with someone while holding a fork, pointing it at them as if you were about to stab them,” Xu Xiangdong remarked.

“Did I?” Gu Yu frowned.

Lu Lanlan also recalled the situation from the day before. Realizing that Xu Xiangdong’s words might be true, she looked a bit embarrassed.

“From now on, don’t point dangerous objects at people.”

“Got it,” Gu Yu nodded.

Fu Chunian noticed Lu Lanlan’s expression and immediately understood what was going on. He walked over and said, “Let’s go back.”

“Mm.”

At that moment, Auntie Xu San saw them and quickly approached.

“Lanlan, why are you discharged so soon? Shouldn’t you stay in the hospital for a couple more days for observation?”

“Auntie, I’m fine. The doctor said I could be discharged,” Lu Lanlan replied with a smile.

“Alright, I made chicken soup for you. You can take it home with you,” Auntie Xu San said.

Hearing this, Lu Lanlan instinctively wanted to refuse, but before she could, Fu Chunian said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

“It’s no trouble at all! Lanlan and I get along well. It’s only right to help her out,” Auntie Xu San said warmly, taking Lu Lanlan’s hand and leading her inside.

She had once hoped Lanlan would become her daughter-in-law, but now she belonged to someone else. What a shame!

Auntie Xu San had made a big pot of chicken soup with some vegetables. “You can drink it as is, or add some noodles.”

“Sounds great.”

She then brought over a large bowl, but Fu Chunian stopped her from filling it to the brim. “Auntie, if it’s too full, it’ll be hard to carry.”

“In that case, I’ll get another bowl and have Xiangdong bring it to you later,” she suggested.

“No need, Auntie. This is more than enough for Lanlan and me for several days. Keep the rest for the kids,” Fu Chunian said.

“That won’t do,” Auntie Xu San was about to insist, but Xu Xiangdong stopped her. “Alright then, thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you. You went through the trouble of buying the chicken,” Fu Chunian said with a smile.

Lu Lanlan finally understood—the chicken had been bought by Fu Chunian, and Auntie Xu San had only helped cook it.

After they left, Auntie Xu San turned to Xu Xiangdong. “What’s the matter with you? This is a critical moment, and you’re just letting it go?”

“The chives in the garden are growing well. When my little sister gets back, she can use them to make dumplings, and we can send some over to them,” Xu Xiangdong said while patting his mother’s hand. “Mom, you don’t have to be so cautious all the time.”

Auntie Xu San sighed. “Do as you wish.”

—

Back at the educated youth compound, after finishing their meal, Lu Lanlan returned to her room.

Gu Yu came over with a bag of candy.

“Even though I wasn’t the one who stepped on your vegetables, it happened because of me. That psycho trampled them because of me. Consider this my apology.”

Lu Lanlan looked at the candy and then at Gu Yu. “There’s no need. I also misunderstood you. Let’s call it even.”

“Fine, but you still have to take the candy. I bought it for you yesterday morning, but before I could give it to you, the whole trampling incident happened,” Gu Yu said, placing the candy in front of her.

Hearing this, Lu Lanlan opened the package, took one piece, and handed the rest back. “I don’t like eating too many sweets. One is enough.”

Seeing that she took one, Gu Yu smiled. “Alright.”

“By the way, what happened to that psycho?” Lu Lanlan asked.

“I heard she claimed it was an accident. The police and the village just gave her a warning,” Gu Yu sighed. “Leaving someone like that around is dangerous. But unless people experience it firsthand, who would believe it?”

“Is she still bothering you?” Lu Lanlan asked.

“No. Ever since her roommate returned, she stopped harassing me. Oh, by the way, I saw something crazy when I was washing up just now!” Gu Yu said.

“What?”

“She took a bath!”

Lu Lanlan looked at Gu Yu in shock. “You mean…?”

“No way, right?” Gu Yu looked utterly disgusted.

Lu Lanlan looked away. Whatever that person did had nothing to do with her.

“Honestly, she’s quite pitiful,” Gu Yu remarked.

Noticing Lu Lanlan’s sharp gaze, she quickly added, “Of course, being pitiful doesn’t justify trying to seduce Fu Chunian or ruining your reputation.”

Speaking of that, Gu Yu suddenly recalled how she had judged Lu Lanlan at first. Feeling a little guilty, she asked, “Back when I said all those things about you… how did you hold back from hitting me?”

“I didn’t hold back. You just got lucky and ran before I could,” Lu Lanlan said honestly.

“Uh…”

So she had really dodged a beating purely by chance? With Lu Lanlan’s strength, she would’ve definitely been bruised up!

The two chatted for a while longer before going to bed.

—-

The next day, Lu Lanlan rested at the compound while Fu Chunian told her not to cook lunch—he would handle it.

At noon, he returned early, afraid she might still try to cook.

Two days later, he accompanied Lu Lanlan to the clinic for a bandage change.

“The wound is healing well. It’s starting to scab over,” the doctor said.

“Really? Do you have a mirror? I want to see,” Lu Lanlan said.

The doctor was about to say yes, but Fu Chunian quickly interjected, “It’s covered in medicine. You won’t see much. You can check next time we change the dressing.”

As he spoke, he shot the doctor a look. The doctor didn’t understand why, but still went along with it.

“Next time, then.”

“Alright.”

After the wound was re-bandaged, they returned to the compound.

Taking a deep breath, Fu Chunian sat across from Lu Lanlan and said, “Lanlan, there’s something I’ve been afraid to tell you.”

“What is it? Are you out of money and can’t afford to support me anymore?” Lu Lanlan joked.

Fu Chunian shook his head. “No, it’s about your injury.”

“My injury?” Lu Lanlan touched the bandage. “What’s wrong? It’s healing well, right? Don’t tell me there are aftereffects?”

She immediately grew nervous.

“No,” Fu Chunian reassured her, not wanting her to overthink. “It’s just… that small patch where you got hurt might not grow hair anymore.”

Lu Lanlan froze.

Fu Chunian quickly comforted her. “The doctor said if you keep your hair long, no one will notice. It’ll be covered.”

Lu Lanlan slowly looked at him. “How big is it?”

“About the size of a fingernail,” he said, holding up his thumb.

Lu Lanlan stared at his thumb, then touched her wound, mentally mapping out ways to style her hair to hide it.

Seeing her silent for so long, Fu Chunian feared she couldn’t accept it. After all, she was beautiful, and now she had a scar with missing hair—it was hard to take in.