Chapter 102: “If I Had Known”

Deputy Director Lu Jianshe was sitting in the car, with little Wei silently beside him. The secretary in the front passenger seat hesitated before speaking: “Deputy Director Lu, why don’t we have the driver take you and the child back first? I still need to report the matter to the Director.”

Lu Jianshe’s heart tightened, his tone carrying a hint of plea: “Secretary Yue, what do you think of today’s events?”

The secretary avoided his gaze and pursed his lips: “Deputy Director Lu, it’s all work-related. Please try to understand.”

Although this was Lu Jianshe’s family affair, if the Director asked, he could only tell the truth. Before Director Zheng and Captain Shen came out, he might have been able to be vague and downplay the issue, but now he dared not.

What happened today couldn’t be hidden. Even if he kept quiet, the news would reach the Director’s ears — especially with Captain Shen present.

Shen Subai from Jingbei, a secretary, had heard about this man before. Last year, he was sent to Haicheng for security inspection work. Although unrelated to their unit, his older brother was from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, his second brother was a regiment commander, from a three-generation military family…

Thinking of this, the secretary shut his eyes tightly: “Deputy Director Lu, you take the child home first. He looks pitiful. Our Director often says if you can’t handle your family affairs well, your work won’t be effective.”

Lu Jianshe felt a choke in his throat, his aged face trembling with anger, but he couldn’t find any words to retort. He knew everything was ruined — all because of that lunatic Zhou Xinyue! If only he had known…

But there’s no medicine for regret in this world. When he looked down on Xie Yunshu and tacitly allowed the family to mistreat this daughter-in-law, he never expected that the second daughter-in-law wouldn’t be his political asset but instead would, within days, drag the Lu family’s reputation into the mud.

When they arrived at the Lu family home, Cheng Yuxiang was fitting clothes on Lu Xueting: “This one looks good. When your father officially becomes Director, it’s time for you to find a boyfriend. Wearing this to a blind date, which boy wouldn’t be tempted?”

Lu Xueting blushed: “Mom, I’m just graduating from college next year. Why rush to find a boyfriend?”

Cheng Yuxiang smiled and patted her: “Silly girl, you should start early. Your dad is Director now, and your brother will be Vice Dean after the New Year. You just enjoy life! There’s a new college graduate at your dad’s office, though from a lower class, but honest and capable. With your father and brother backing you, he won’t dare to bully you.”

Cheng Yuxiang genuinely cared for her daughter. Even in matchmaking, she prioritized Lu Xueting’s happiness. Thinking about the upcoming meeting to confirm Lu Jianshe’s promotion, she was less bothered by Zhou Xinyue’s drama.

Once Lu Jianshe and little Wei entered, his face dark as coal: “Little Wei will stay here for now. Go prepare a room for him.”

Previously, Cheng Yuxiang would smile kindly when she saw little Wei. But since Zhou Xinyue became her daughter-in-law, she was annoyed by both of them. Hearing this, her brows furrowed: “Old Lu, what are you doing? This kid isn’t even our biological grandson. Why should he stay here?”

He wasn’t their real grandson, yet because of this child, Lu Jianshe lost his chance at promotion!

Lu Jianshe slammed down on the sofa, increasingly angry. In a fit of frustration, he smashed a teacup onto the floor: “It’s all your son’s fault! Does he have no brain? Zhou Xinyue abused the child for so long, and he didn’t know at all!”

Cheng Yuxiang was startled: “What happened exactly?”

“What happened? My position as Director is gone!” Having been an official all his life, Lu Jianshe rarely lost his temper, but this past month had pushed him to breaking point several times.

He recounted the incident at the police station in anger, then pushed little Wei forward: “So many eyes are on this kid now. Watch him closely; don’t let him wander off. Just feed him. Wait for Zhou Xinyue to come out; we must find a way to make her divorce Zhixing!”

“What did you say?”

Cheng Yuxiang sat down hard, muttering in disbelief: “Zhou Xinyue abused the child? That’s impossible… it can’t be…”

Lu Xueting sat with the new clothes in her arms, frowning: “Dad, are you mistaken? New Moon (Xinyue) wouldn’t even hurt an ant, how could she abuse her own son? I think Xie Yunshu is deliberately framing her. My brother and New Moon clearly belong together. Why do you always want to break them up?”

“Shut up!” Lu Jianshe was so angry it hurt his chest: “What kind of spell did Zhou Xinyue put on you? Do you know how powerful Xie Yunshu is? How could she possibly frame Zhou Xinyue? Now Director Zheng, Captain Shen, and the Director all know about this. The afternoon meeting isn’t even over yet. Do you know how much this affects our family?”

Startled, Lu Xueting was silent, but her heart still refused to believe Zhou Xinyue could do such a thing. To her, this just didn’t make sense. Why would New Moon hit little Wei? What harm could he have done? Besides, she had never seen a mother willing to hurt her child!

Little Wei stood trembling at the door, wanting to run away back to the tube-shaped building, but he had nowhere to go. That wasn’t his home either. No one liked him; everyone seemed to hate him. He was worse off than a stray dog on the street — at least dogs wag their tails to get some food.

In his shallow memories, he had a home once, but how it disappeared, he did not know…

Lu Jianshe took a heavy breath, then left little Wei there like garbage. Before leaving, he grumbled: “I have to rush to the bureau. The Director still has unknown opinions. The child stays here for now. Treat him like a cat or dog — just don’t starve him! And don’t hit him. In front of outsiders, behave well. If this matter gets caught again, even my deputy director position will be in danger!”

He slammed the door and left. Little Wei shivered again by the door, but no one cared to comfort him. Even Lu Xueting, who had been somewhat kind before, ignored him and instead stared wide-eyed at Cheng Yuxiang: “Mom, Dad can’t really mean that, right?”