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Zhang Xiaohong glanced at the thick envelope Lu Chen had pulled out and tugged at Su Xinyun’s sleeve. With that much weight, there had to be a good amount of money inside.
Su Xinyun shot her a look, signaling not to act rashly.
Su Peipei accepted the envelope, her eyes turning red.
“My dad hasn’t called or sent money for half a year. Everyone said maybe he found a new wife outside and didn’t want me anymore… thank you.”
Lu Chen moved his lips but didn’t say the things that weren’t appropriate yet.
“Your father hasn’t abandoned you. He’s on a mission and can’t contact home for the time being. Take this money and keep it safe yourself.”
“Big Brother Lu, thank you. If you hadn’t come in time, I might not have been able to continue my studies.” Su Peipei clutched the envelope nervously.
Hearing this, Lu Chen cast a cold glance at Su Xinyun and his wife.
“With me here, let’s see who dares stop you from going to school. Just focus on your studies. I’ll leave you a number—if you run into trouble, call me anytime. I’ll be in the area for the next six months.”
He scribbled a landline number on a piece of paper and handed it to her.
Su Peipei’s eyes burned hot. “Alright.”
“Comrade Lu, please tell my elder brother not to worry. We’ll take good care of Peipei.”
“Yes, though we have three children ourselves, since big brother entrusted Peipei to us, we’ve always treated her as our own. He can focus on his work, we’ll handle things at home.” Zhang Xiaohong chimed in quickly.
She had thought her brother had abandoned Peipei and started a new family elsewhere, which was why she had been pushing for Peipei to marry or work. Now that she knew he was only on a mission, she regretted rushing things.
Lu Chen nodded.
“That’s good. Even if Uncle Lu is too busy to come home, I’ll be in the county for work these six months. I’ll check in on Peipei. If I find she’s being mistreated, I’ll report it truthfully to Uncle Su.”
“Don’t worry about that. Comrade Lu, why don’t you stay for lunch?” Su Xinyun asked with a smile.
“No, I still have things to do. If Peipei is going to town for school, I’ll come back to take her later.”
Su Peipei nodded happily. “Thank you, Big Brother Lu.”
Leaving the Su household, Lu Chen decided to walk around nearby.
The place where he had been injured last time was close. After Cheng Yuanyue had saved him, she had hidden him away in a cave. He planned to revisit that cave, maybe find clues about who had ambushed him.
“Big Brother Lu, are you going somewhere nearby?” Su Peipei caught up to him. “I know this area well, I can guide you.”
Lu Chen checked the time. “No need. Head back first—I’ll come find you later.”
Seeing his refusal, she didn’t insist, though she wondered what business he had around here.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yuanyue hadn’t gone home with Shen Xiuying’s family. She was pacing a small path, fretting.
Now that the male and female leads had officially met, would the story follow the original plot, with Lu Chen taking Su Peipei away and protecting her from all harm?
She squatted and counted ants on the ground.
“What’s it to you if he takes her away? At worst, you’ll only live another three months. Big deal.”
From a distance, Lu Chen spotted a girl crouched, muttering to a group of ants. Recognizing her as Cheng Yuanyue, he quietly moved closer, curious to hear what she was saying.
“It’s just a man. It’s not like you haven’t slept with him already. Sure, it was good, but he’s not yours.” She pinched up an ant between her fingers, rubbing it as if it were Lu Chen himself.
When she stood and suddenly noticed someone behind her, she stumbled back. He caught her before she fell.
Their eyes met—
Hers wide with shock.
His glinting with amusement.
Realizing it was Lu Chen, Cheng Yuanyue shoved him away.
“You?! What are you doing here?”
“What about you? Talking to yourself out here. What’s wrong—jealous seeing me with another girl?”
“You’re so full of yourself. Why would I be jealous? What are we to each other anyway?” Her tone was sharp, though a flicker of jealousy had indeed stung her earlier.
“I told you to wait for me last time, and you snuck away. Haven’t even settled that debt yet.” Lu Chen narrowed his eyes. “Those people just now—they’re your family?”
“Yes, why?”
“Because of that useless brother of yours, you were going to marry an old man.”
Cheng Yuanyue said nothing. It was true—her brother was nothing but dead weight.
“I really regret not hitting him harder just now.” Lu Chen seized her wrist and started dragging her forward. “Come. To the cave from last time—I have something to say to you.”
“What are you doing? If you try anything, I’ll scream!”
“Go ahead. Shout as loud as you like. Better yet, let the whole village know you slept with me just to avoid marrying an old man. I’m here today to settle that account with you.”
“You’re a man. You didn’t lose anything. What account do you want to settle?” She was stunned at his shamelessness.
“Whether I lost out isn’t for you to decide. If you won’t come, I’ll just kiss you here.” His gaze lingered on her lips, suddenly parched with desire.
His famed self-control seemed to crumble in front of her.
Cheng Yuanyue was speechless.
In the novel, the male lead was supposed to be disciplined, gentlemanly.
Why did he turn into a rogue with her?
“Don’t mess around. This is the village. You may not care about face, but I do. Fine, we’ll go—just over the hill.” She didn’t want her family to know she had slept with him; otherwise, Shen Xiuying and Wen Suying would surely force her to marry Lu Chen.
“Fiery in bed, but back in the village you’re suddenly a well-behaved girl.” He chuckled.
“Mind your own business.”
Still holding her hand, he asked quietly,
“Why didn’t you wait for me yesterday?”
“We’re nothing to each other. Why should I wait? What, do you want to marry me or something?”
“What do you take me for?” He glanced at her lightly. “Whatever your reasons were for seeking me out, the fact remains—we slept together. I have to take responsibility. I don’t want to be a scoundrel. Or do you plan to be the shameless one—sleep with me and then walk away?”
Her brain short-circuited.
This wasn’t right.
He wasn’t supposed to want her.
The one he was meant to marry was the heroine, Su Peipei.
So why was he suddenly set on her instead?