Chapter 5

Lu Chongjin was already sitting in his wheelchair. After spitting out that last sentence, he pushed himself out.

Tang Yajun was startled and uneasy. She wanted to press him on just how much he really knew, yet she feared that asking too much might expose her flaws.

Had he already figured out that she was merely a substitute?

She quickened her steps to follow, only to see Cui Shan take over and push Lu Chongjin’s wheelchair out of the courtyard.

Well, things had come to this point—whether she admitted or denied it, the outcome would be the same. If she flatly refused to confess, what could Lu Chongjin actually do to her?

At worst, the two of them would divorce. Her only regret would be losing his support; then she would have to come up with another plan to save her older brother.

The next morning, she still didn’t see Lu Chongjin. After filling her stomach, she wandered over to the Lu family’s main courtyard.

Since she couldn’t leave for the time being, she might as well get familiar with the surroundings.

Just as she stepped into the front yard, she ran into someone—an austere-looking man in his fifties with a thin mustache, radiating an old-fashioned, pedantic air.

“Second Uncle,” Tang Yajun greeted him warmly, matching him to the right identity from the original owner’s memories.

“Niece-in-law, may I have a word?” Lu Zhengang said with a smile.

Tang Yajun didn’t know what medicine he was selling in his gourd, but since she wasn’t busy anyway, and the more she interacted with people, the more she could understand them, she agreed.

With that thought in mind, she followed him into the flower hall in the front courtyard.

The Lu family was indeed wealthy. Even the front hall was decorated in understated luxury.

They sat down, and Lu Zhengang personally brewed a cup of tea for her.

Tang Yajun took a sip and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Good tea!”

“Oh? I didn’t expect you to know tea.”

In truth, she didn’t know the first thing about tea. Back in her university days, whenever her advisor gave her high-quality leaves, she often used them to make tea eggs.

The advisor had scolded her for being a “barbarian who boils a zither to cook a crane.”

But since she was the lab’s most productive researcher, whenever the advisor got good tea later, he still hurried to gift it to her.

The only “tea” she really loved was taro bubble tea—with extra taro, no boba, and thirty percent sugar. If that counted as tea at all.

She reined in her drifting thoughts and said with a polite smile, “I only know a little, but I imagine Second Uncle’s tea must naturally be excellent.”

A little flattery never hurt.

Sure enough, Lu Zhengang looked pleased.

“I heard your courtyard had a thief last night?”

Tang Yajun calmly lowered her eyes to sip her tea. How did he know that already? And instead of asking Lu Chongjin, why come to her? What was he getting at?

“I slept very soundly last night, so I didn’t hear much. Perhaps. But Second Uncle should ask Chongjin—he knows more clearly.”

Lu Zhengang chuckled. “Slept soundly, did you? That must mean my nephew is quite vigorous.”

Tang Yajun’s smile instantly froze. Rumor had it that Lu Chongjin had been injured in a vital area. Last night, he had her cooperate in putting on an act, clearly to mislead others.

Now his second uncle was already here probing into this matter—he must be deeply invested in the truth.

Tang Yajun cursed him inwardly. Not only was this old man shameless enough to pry into his nephew’s bedroom affairs, he even dared to joke about it.

“Yes, Chongjin’s stamina is impressive. I was just thinking today about having someone replace our bed with a sturdier one—it’s about to collapse from all the shaking.”

She said it lightly.

The mouthful of tea Lu Zhengang had just swallowed sprayed out at once—clearly, he hadn’t expected her to answer so boldly.

“What’s the matter, Second Uncle? If you really want to know about our married life, I can call Chongjin over. The two of us can tell you together, how about that?”

Her smile was sweet, her tone innocent, but her words were merciless.

Lu Zhengang’s face darkened in embarrassment. He lowered his voice and threatened: “Don’t forget what you promised me!”

Tang Yajun blinked in confusion, just about to press him—

When a cold voice cut in, “So Second Uncle is here. I’ve been looking for you.”

Cui Shan wheeled Lu Chongjin into the hall.

Lu Chongjin’s sharp eyes swept over Tang Yajun, confirming she was unharmed, then turned away.

Lu Zhengang forced a laugh. “Just a small matter—why trouble you? How’s your injury?”

“Thank you for your concern, Second Uncle. I’ve recovered. There will be no problem continuing the Lu family line.”

As he spoke, his gaze flicked toward Tang Yajun.

She caught on immediately, jumped up and ran lightly to his side, crouching beside him with a coquettish air. “Chongjin, where did you go so early? I looked everywhere for you.”

His eyes, unreadable as ever, softened slightly. He reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, fingers grazing her earlobe.

Gently, he said, “Didn’t I tell you to sleep in? Why get up so early?”

Hearing his hint, she flushed theatrically and whispered into his ear, “It’s all your fault. You don’t know when to stop—you almost kept me from getting out of bed.”

Standing behind them, Cui Shan stiffened like a stone pine, wishing desperately to turn invisible.

Lu Zhengang, now completely sidelined, coughed twice and forced a smile. “Since you two are busy, I’ll take my leave. I have other matters.”

He hurried out.

Meanwhile, Lu Chongjin seemed to forget decorum entirely, still playing with the hand in his grasp, gazing at Tang Yajun with undisguised tenderness.

She called after the retreating figure, “Take care, Second Uncle,” then made a show of nearly tripping when she stood, grumbling, “It’s all your fault. We can’t use that position again next time.”

This time even Cui Shan, normally composed, had to retreat two steps to keep from bursting out.

Even Lu Chongjin, usually unflappable, nearly choked at her words. He raised his eyes toward her, the tenderness in them not yet faded.

But Tang Yajun, meeting his gaze, shivered as goosebumps prickled her skin. Only once Lu Zhengang was far enough away did she return to her normal tone. “He was asking me if there really was a thief in the courtyard last night.”

Lu Chongjin drew back his gaze and instructed her, “From now on, avoid him. Whatever he says to you, you tell me first.”

As she pushed his wheelchair out, she hesitated. “Why? Isn’t he your second uncle?”

Lu Chongjin didn’t answer. He only told her again to do as he said.

Tang Yajun nodded. For now, he was the only one she could consider an ally in the Lu family.

Until her task was complete, she absolutely couldn’t fall out with him.

Noticing her thoughtful expression, Lu Chongjin pressed, “What else did he say to you just now?”

She racked her brain, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall what promise she had supposedly made to Lu Zhengang.

Maybe it was because of the knock on her head yesterday—some memories seemed to have slipped away. But of course, she couldn’t tell Lu Chongjin that.