Chapter 84

At noon, Lu Jianbo arrived at Xu Xiangyi’s house, followed by a small delivery truck.

He had called ahead, so security opened the gates without delay.

On the lawn, Xu Zhiyi was chasing after colorful bubbles. Dressed in a squirrel onesie, she had to hold onto her tail as she ran, which made her look like a clumsy little bundle.

“Brother…” she started to say, but then her eyes landed on the two approaching cars, and she stopped abruptly.

Grabbing her tail, she stood still, staring at the delivery truck. Was this the truck bringing her winter supplies?

“Brother?” she called again.

Jiang Sixun, who was holding a bubble wand, twisted it shut and came over to take her hand.

He hadn’t recognized the license plate of the car in front, which was their father’s. Together, they watched as both vehicles pulled to a stop.

Lu Jianbo stepped out of the front car and told the driver of the truck, “Unload it in the courtyard.”

Xu Zhiyi didn’t know who Lu Jianbo was and thought he might be the owner of a bakery. Her eyes lit up as she looked up at Jiang Sixun. “Brother, my food is here!”

“Yes,” Jiang Sixun replied, though he was curious about what their father had bought this time. Hopefully, it wasn’t another toy car for kids. Otherwise, the one he and Xu Heng had gifted her would pale in comparison.

The truck doors opened, and a group of men carefully unloaded a bright red children’s race car.

Xu Xiangyi came out of the house just in time to see the car. He had also ordered a toy car for his daughter, but it wouldn’t be ready for another three months. Lu Jianbo had beaten him to it.

He immediately recognized the model and asked, “Is this one of your collector’s cars?”

“You can’t find it on the market,” Lu Jianbo responded. “It’s a display model.”

The car brand had built the toy car based on a real one, complete with genuine leather seats and interior that matched the full-size version exactly. Lu Jianbo, being a shareholder in the racing team, had pulled some strings to get this electric toy car for children.

On the side, Xu Heng stood in stunned silence for a few seconds. He walked over and touched the emblem, the tires, and the dashboard. It was as exquisitely detailed as the limited-edition model cars in his collection—an exact miniature of a real race car.

As he glanced at the 499-yuan, self-assembled toy car he and Jiang Sixun had bought for their sister, he felt utterly defeated.

“Zhiyi, come here,” Xu Xiangyi said, crouching down and opening his arms wide.

Xu Zhiyi let go of her brother’s hand, adjusted her tail, and ran toward him. “Daddy!” She dove into her father’s arms, wrapping her little arms around his neck, stealing a quick glance at Lu Jianbo as she did.

Xu Xiangyi hugged his daughter tightly and gently removed the squirrel tail from her onesie so she could sit comfortably in her new car.

Lu Jianbo watched the little girl carefully, finding her charming and lively. She was the kind of child who instantly warmed people’s hearts.

Xu Xiangyi couldn’t help but wonder why his son didn’t want to spend winter break at his place, insisting instead on coming over to take care of his little sister.

He crouched down with a smile and asked, “Whose little baby are you?”

In her soft, sweet voice, Xu Zhiyi replied, “I’m Xu Xiangyi’s baby. My name is Xu Zhiyi.”

“Nice to meet you, Zhiyi. I’m Lu Jianbo. You can call me Uncle Lu from now on.”

“Hello, Uncle Lu.”

Lu Jianbo, surprised at his own patience in talking with a child, asked, “Why are you dressed as a little squirrel?”

Grinning, Xu Zhiyi replied, “Because I’m a squirrel baby!”

She reached behind her, trying to show off her squirrel tail. “Uncle Lu, look, I—” But her little hands couldn’t find it. Her expression suddenly turned anxious as she spun around, searching for her tail.

Xu Xiangyi laughed and handed her the tail he had taken off earlier. “It’s right here, sweetheart. You didn’t lose it.” He kissed his daughter gently, “Daddy’s holding it for you.”

Relieved, Xu Zhiyi sighed, “Daddy, help me put the tail back on!”

Xu Xiangyi pointed to the shiny red race car. “Uncle Lu gave you this car as a gift to celebrate your new name. You won’t be able to sit in it with the tail on. How about we try out your new ride first?”

“Okay!” she chirped, then turned to Lu Jianbo and said, “Thank you, Uncle Lu.”

Instead of rushing to the car, she reached into her big pocket and pulled out two pieces of candy and a chocolate bar. She took small, careful steps over to Lu Jianbo and placed them in his hand. It was part of her stash for winter, and she was sharing it with Uncle Lu.

Lu Jianbo chuckled. “Thank you, Zhiyi.”

For a moment, he wished he had a daughter like her. At least a child like this wouldn’t make his heart race with worry in the middle of the night.

He accepted the candy, then scooped her up in one arm. “Come on, Uncle Lu will help you drive your new car!”

Meanwhile, Xu Heng lay flat on the grass, hands folded behind his head, staring up at the sky with a deep sigh.

Jiang Sixun sat cross-legged beside him, his gaze fixed on the red car, lost in thought.

Both boys felt defeated. They had to beg for weeks just to scrape together 400 yuan for their sister’s gift. Then they had to ask again to borrow another 600, which felt like a blow to their pride.

Xu Xiangyi  and He Yi’an joined their daughter, helping her drive the new car, while Lu Jianbo walked over to the two boys lying on the grass. He gave each of them a playful nudge with his foot. “Get up. Aren’t you cold?”

Both boys found him annoying. Lu Jianbo was always using money to win people over. Now, with their sister’s affection secured by that flashy car and an extra piece of chocolate, he had definitely scored big.

Xu Heng squinted, pretending to sleep, ignoring him.

Jiang Sixun, not in the mood for conversation either, pointed to his head and said, “I have a headache.”

Lu Jianbo raised a brow. “What’s a kid like you doing with a headache?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “You gave it to me.”

Lu Jianbo was speechless.

For a brief moment, he seriously considered kicking the boy right out the door.

He pulled his son to his feet, then yanked Xu Heng up from the ground. “I got you both a special edition model—limited edition. Want it?”

As soon as they heard “limited edition,” all their grumbling evaporated.

Lu Jianbo ruffled his son’s hair, gently pushing him forward. It had been half a year since they’d last seen each other, and his son had grown taller.

Guilt gnawed at him. He barely had time to spend with his son, seeing him only a few times a year. “This year, I’ll spend Spring Festival with you,” he said softly.

Jiang Sixun glanced at his father, hesitating. “Mom said she’s coming to Haicheng to spend the New Year with me.”

He looked away, feeling conflicted. Every year, whether it was Mid-Autumn Festival or New Year’s Eve, he never spent those family holidays together with his parents. He was always at someone else’s house, and by now, he had gotten used to it.

Lu Jianbo was silent for a moment, then gave his son’s head a firm squeeze.

The gifts he had brought were in the trunk, and he let the boys retrieve them themselves.

Once they had their presents, Xu Xiangyi reminded them to pack their luggage. They had to leave for the airport after lunch.

Lu Jianbo didn’t enter the house. Instead, he leaned against his car and lit a cigar. The wind was biting, sneaking through the open collar of his shirt.

One hand held the cigar while the other toyed with a lighter. His black coat hung open, but he couldn’t be bothered to button it up. He was debating whether or not to go to Haicheng. Jiang Yueru had no desire to see him, which made the decision harder.

After finishing the cigar, he called his secretary, Cai, to go over some work-related matters. “I’ll be staying in Haicheng for a few days,” he added.

“Understood, Mr. Lu,” Cai replied.

Just as Lu Jianbo was about to hang up, a sharp scream pierced through the phone. “Lu Jianbo, you’re not a real man!”

The voice was shrill, cutting through like glass.

It was a voice he knew too well—Shen Qingfeng, yelling in fury.

Cai’s security detail was interrogating Shen Qingfeng, trying to force her to confess the details of the child-swapping incident. She had been deflecting their questions, avoiding the truth. When Lu Jianbo’s call came in, the bodyguard had been gripping Shen Qingfeng’s throat, loosening his hold only when she was close to suffocation to allow her a gasp of air.

Shen Qingfeng was panting, drenched in sweat, her back soaked from the ordeal. It felt like she had just crawled back from the gates of hell. Her chest was tight with pain from the lack of oxygen, as if her heart might give out.

She knew Xu Xiangyi had found out about the child swap, and she accepted the punishment she deserved from him. But Lu Jianbo—how could he treat her like this?

She loved him so much.

Once, he had loved her too.

“Lu Jianbo, are you even a man?” she screamed again, voice trembling with anguish.

Lu Jianbo signaled Cai to hand the phone to Shen Qingfeng. He had questions of his own.

Shen Qingfeng wiped the sweat from her brow, steadying herself as she took the phone.

Shen Qingfeng steadied herself on the edge of the sink, her legs still weak from the bodyguard’s grip around her throat. For a moment, she had truly believed she wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.

When she pressed the phone to her ear, tears suddenly spilled down her cheeks, uncontrollable and heavy. Her voice was shaky with bitterness. “Lu Jianbo, was there never any real feeling between us?”

How could he be so ruthless?

Lu Jianbo’s voice was cold. “If I told you I couldn’t live without you, would you believe me?”

Shen Qingfeng let out a bitter laugh, but the tears kept coming. She had always been after money, moving from one man to the next for it. Except with him. For him, she had given her whole heart.

He had been cruel from the start, completely heartless in the end. Years had passed, and she still didn’t understand why she couldn’t let him go—what it was about him that she still loved.

“We’ve come this far. I suppose you won’t let me go either,” she said, her voice trembling.

“It’s not ‘suppose,’” Lu Jianbo replied. “I won’t.”

Her heart froze. Any last shred of hope vanished.

Desperation in her voice, she asked the question that haunted her, “Lu Jianbo, did you ever love me at all?” Even if she was about to lose her freedom, she still needed to know.

She knew it was madness to ask, but she couldn’t stop herself.

To Lu Jianbo, the question was meaningless. A fleeting attraction, based on looks—did that count as love? She had never touched his heart. How could that be called love?

Jiang Yueru had once said, “He only loves himself.”

Was that true?

Maybe.

But hadn’t he loved Jiang Yueru too? If he hadn’t, why would he have proposed to her at the age of twenty-three and dragged her to the registry office the very next day?

If he hadn’t loved her, how could he have built a life with her in those years when he could’ve lived recklessly, and even had a child with her—Jiang Sixun?

Their son wasn’t the result of an accident. They had been so in love that they had wanted a child together.

If they had only gotten married because of an unplanned pregnancy, then maybe he could accept people saying he didn’t love her.

But that wasn’t the case.

Yet Jiang Yueru had been so certain, so adamant, that he had never truly loved her.

He had tried to tell her not to let his later mistakes erase what they had once shared. But she wouldn’t listen. The last thing she ever said to him, in a calm and final tone, was, “Lu Jianbo, for the sake of the six years I loved you, I beg you—never appear in front of me again.”

They had met when they were twenty, and by the time they were twenty-six, it was over.

Their love had once burned so fiercely, as if no one else in the world existed. Even their families couldn’t keep them apart. He had believed he could stay with her for the rest of his life.

Even though their feelings had cooled after marriage, they had once promised each other to grow old together, never parting.

Yet, it had been seven years since they separated—far longer than they had been in love.

Looking back, Lu Jianbo was grateful that they had a son. Even if they didn’t see each other, there was still that lifelong connection. They would never be complete strangers.

On the other end of the phone, Shen Qingfeng waited in silence, thinking that perhaps he was lost in the same bittersweet memories. After a long pause, she spoke again, “Lu Jianbo, after all we’ve been through, you’re about to send me away. Can’t you at least satisfy my curiosity?”

Pulled from his thoughts, Lu Jianbo’s response was cold, “Sometimes, curiosity is not a good thing. There’s no need.”

To her, knowing his feelings had become an obsession, unrelated to whether or not it was necessary.

Shen Qingfeng pressed on, “Answer me, and I’ll answer any question you have about the switched babies.”

Lu Jianbo didn’t trust her. “Then let me ask first. Where are the newborn footprints of Zhiyi? They’re missing from the records.”

“I don’t know either,” Shen Qingfeng admitted, genuinely at a loss. “Maybe ask your brother. He might know.” If she was going down, she’d take Lu Jianliang with her.

“Alright, now it’s your turn to answer,” she said, her voice tense. All she wanted to know was if he had ever truly loved her.

Lu Jianbo’s response came like a knife to the heart. “I’ve only ever loved Jiang Yueru. And I still do.”

It was a direct stab. Shen Qingfeng screamed, “Lu Jianbo, you’re not even human!” and hurled the phone against the wall.

The sound of the phone smashing echoed in the room as the screen shattered like a spider’s web.

Cai, his secretary, stood frozen, speechless.

It wasn’t until after hanging up that Lu Jianbo realized Shen Qingfeng had destroyed Cai’s phone. He sent Cai a quick email: “I’ll reimburse you for your phone.”

Then, exiting his inbox, he called another secretary, instructing them to fly to Hong Kong Island immediately to retrieve Zhiyi’s missing newborn footprints, no matter if Lu Jianliang had them or not. It was his responsibility now to get them back.

“Oh, and tell my brother,” Lu Jianbo added, “that I’m interested in the family head position again.”

As soon as he ended the call, a cheerful noise interrupted the heavy mood—

“Beep beep—beep beep—”

The sound came from little Xu Zhiyi, mimicking a car horn.

Lu Jianbo’s somber expression melted away, and he smiled at the tiny figure. “Careful, there are pedestrians ahead—no honking allowed.”

Xu Zhiyi tilted her head back, giggling. “I didn’t press the horn, Uncle Lu! I was just reminding myself.” Then, with a curious twinkle in her eyes, she asked, “Uncle Lu, do you—”

“Do you need a ride? I can take you home,” Xu Zhiyi asked with an innocent smile.

Lu Jianbo chuckled, “But your car doesn’t have space for me. How would I fit?”

Xu Zhiyi patted the back of her tiny toy car. “You can pretend to sit.”

Lu Jianbo teased, “Then can I pretend to pay the fare too?”

She blinked, thinking for a moment before breaking into a grin. “The fare has to be real! One dollar, please.”

Laughing, Lu Jianbo opened the door of his real car and pulled out an envelope filled with four thousand yuan meant for his son. He took out a bill.

Xu Zhiyi’s eyes widened. “That’s a hundred yuan!”

“That’s right, one hundred,” he said, handing her the bill. “So, how much change should you give me?”

The concept of giving change was lost on her. She rolled up the bill, stuffed it into her pocket, and gripped the steering wheel. With a playful push on the imaginary gas pedal, her toy car zoomed off.

“You didn’t even let me get in!” Lu Jianbo called after her, laughing.

She turned her head, once again explaining with all seriousness, “You’re supposed to pretend to sit, remember!”

Lu Jianbo laughed even harder, adding a playful tone to his words, “Well, you can’t pretend that much.”

Her giggles filled the air as she “sped” ahead, pressing her imaginary pedal to the floor.

Xu Xiangyi, her father, hurried behind, warning, “Sweetheart, slow down.”

After a few laps around the yard, Xu Zhiyi became more confident in her driving and headed straight for the villa, only to stop at the entrance—blocked by stairs that the car couldn’t climb.

Lu Jianbo caught up, pretending to chase her. “I’m going to catch you!”

Worried that Uncle Lu might actually catch her, Xu Zhiyi immediately turned to her dad for help. “Daddy!”

With a protective swoop, Xu Xiangyi scooped her up, wrapping her in his coat. “Don’t worry, Daddy’s got you.”

Snuggling her face into her father’s neck, she whispered, “Daddy, can you take me to the stairs? I want to go find brother.”

“Of course.” Xu Xiangyi smiled, indulging her. “I’ll hold off Uncle Lu for you.”

Xu Zhiyi kissed her dad’s cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Xu Xiangyi held her tighter, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart as his daughter clung to him. She was finally starting to stick close to him, and it was a joy he couldn’t quite put into words.

Once inside, he set her down on the first step of the spiral staircase. Standing with his back to the stairs, he spread his arms dramatically across the banisters, pretending to block the way.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhiyi clasped the money in her pocket and scampered up the stairs. “Brother!”

Jiang Sixun appeared at the top, hearing her call.

“What’s going on?”

Though she had been tired a moment ago, seeing Jiang Sixun energized her, and she sprinted toward him with all her might.

Jiang Sixun bent down and caught her securely in his arms.

“Brother, Uncle Lu is trying to catch me!” Xu Zhiyi exclaimed, giggling as she nestled into his embrace.

At his age, Jiang Sixun couldn’t quite manage to carry a three-year-old for long, so he held her hand and led her into his room. He knew his father was only playing around and wouldn’t really chase after them, but just to be safe, he locked the door.

Xu Zhiyi pulled out the red hundred-yuan bill from her pocket. “Here, brother. Buy some cookies. Then you won’t miss mom and dad so much.”

Jiang Sixun tugged on one of her squirrel-ear headbands with a smile. “Thanks.”

Xu Zhiyi tugged on her other ear and grinned, “No need to thank me.”

Jiang Sixun found a notebook and pencil for her. “Here, you can doodle while I pack.” He then turned to his luggage, swapping out the warm clothes in his suitcase for summer outfits.

He often stayed at Uncle Lu’s house, so this was his designated room. The wardrobe had some t-shirts from summer—some too small, others a bit big, but they’d have to do.

Xu Zhiyi knelt on the sofa, drawing little squirrels. Every now and then, she glanced down at her own clothes, inspired to give the squirrel in her drawing a big pocket just like hers.

Once Jiang Sixun finished packing, he clicked his suitcase shut and went over to see what she was drawing. He stared for a while, trying to make sense of the dark scribbles.

“What are you drawing?” he asked.

“Me, of course! A baby squirrel!” Xu Zhiyi looked up, eyes twinkling. “Brother, does it look good?”

“It looks great,” Jiang Sixun said.

He thought for a moment, then added with a smile, “You’re quite the abstract artist.”

Delighted by the compliment, Xu Zhiyi focused even harder on her drawing. “Thanks, brother! After I finish this squirrel, I’ll draw one for you too.”

Jiang Sixun laughed. “I’ll be waiting for my portrait.”

As they chatted, there was a knock on the door.

Jiang Sixun went to open it and found his father standing in the hallway. Worried his sister might get startled, he stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.

Lu Jianbo handed him the envelope. “Three thousand nine. The other hundred is with Zhiyi.”

Jiang Sixun sighed in understanding. No wonder his sister was worried about being “caught” by Uncle Lu.

Lu Jianbo patted his son on the shoulder. “I’m heading to the airport.”

Jiang Sixun was taken aback. “So soon?”

They had barely exchanged a few words. Wasn’t his father supposed to stay for lunch and check his homework?

He had already finished all his homework and neatly placed it on the desk, ready for inspection.

Lu Jianbo explained, “If I don’t leave now, I’ll miss the flight.”

His secretary had booked him a 1 PM flight.

The flight to Haicheng was booked, and apart from his secretary, Cai, Lu Jianbo hadn’t shared his plans with anyone—not even his close friend Xu Xiangyi.

He also didn’t want to tell his son in advance, fearing that if Jiang Yueru found out, she might cancel her trip to Haicheng, leaving their son disappointed.

Jiang Sixun wondered when he would see his father again, but his stubbornness kept him from asking aloud. He watched as his father’s tall figure disappeared down the hallway, turning at the stairs, still not ready to take his eyes off him.

As he grew older, Jiang Sixun had begun to realize that one day, his parents might each have new families. Just like his cousin had said, he might even end up with new siblings.

Will I have new siblings?

On the way to the airport, Lu Jianbo received a text from his son.

Assuming his son wanted a little sister like Xu Zhiyi, he replied quickly to squash the idea: Don’t compare yourself to Xu Heng. You’ll never win.

Jiang Sixun texted back: When you get married again, will you have new siblings for me?

Lu Jianbo realized he had misunderstood. His son wasn’t comparing himself to anyone—he was worried about the possibility of a new family. Lu Jianbo reassured him: I’m not remarrying, and you’ll be my only child. I’m busy making money worldwide, not building new families everywhere.

That evening, Lu Jianbo arrived at the hotel in Haicheng, which had a private beach. Xu Xiangyi had chosen the hotel for the kids, and Lu Jianbo had booked a sea-view suite there as well.

The moment he stepped into the lobby, he froze after just a few steps. There, at the front desk, was a familiar slender figure in a white dress, her short hair styled just as elegantly as it had always been.

Jiang Yueru had arrived only three minutes earlier and was waiting for her room key.

A front desk clerk smiled and asked, “Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?”

A magnetic voice responded next to her, “Yes, I do.”

Jiang Yueru’s heart skipped a beat. There were many voices that could sound similar, but this one… She turned slightly and caught sight of a long, well-manicured hand handing over some identification. The man’s shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing a wristwatch with a deep blue face. A watch she knew all too well—there were only a handful of them in the entire world.

A familiar voice, a familiar watch.

How many coincidences could there be?

At that moment, the receptionist handed her the room key. “Ma’am, your key.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Yueru accepted it without glancing at the man beside her, pushing her suitcase forward as she walked away.

Lu Jianbo watched her go, now certain it was her.

She had just seen herself.

“Yueru.”

Still young and unable to remain distant, he didn’t think twice before grabbing her wrist tightly.

Jiang Yueru struggled to break free but couldn’t. Instead, she swung her right hand around.

Slap!

The sharp sound of her palm connecting with his left cheek echoed, leaving Lu Jianbo momentarily stunned, while the front desk staff stared in shock.

Seeing the commotion at the entrance, a security guard rushed over to intervene, only to be stopped midway by Lu Jianbo’s bodyguard. “It’s fine. Just a family matter,” he said, giving a quick explanation.

Lu Jianbo held onto her wrist firmly, unflinching despite being slapped in front of everyone. He looked directly into her eyes, where anger—and perhaps hate—swirled within.

He gestured to his left cheek. “If you haven’t vented your anger, feel free to slap me again.”

Jiang Yueru shot back coldly, “Let go of me!”

Lu Jianbo replied, “We should spend the New Year with our son. He’s been celebrating at other people’s homes every year.”

When the staff heard that the two had children, they discreetly stepped back, pretending to busy themselves but stealing glances at the striking couple. Their child must be incredibly good-looking.

Lu Jianbo’s room key was ready, and his bodyguard took it, first bringing their luggage upstairs.

He turned to Jiang Yueru. “Let’s find a place to talk, just about our son. He’s worried that if we remarry and form a new family, he’ll lose his home.”

Calmly, Jiang Yueru said, “You need to let go of me.” Her voice held no warmth.

After a moment of pressure, he finally released her. He pointed to a nearby tea area. “I’ll be waiting for you over there.”

He ordered two cups of coffee and took a seat at a window table.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Yueru descended the stairs.

She had promised their son she would spend the Spring Festival with him; if she left abruptly, it would hurt him. What really struck her was Lu Jianbo’s comment about their son celebrating New Year’s with others every year.

Did Sixun want them to celebrate together?

She had never asked.

Never dared to.

With her son seeming carefree, she often overlooked what was truly on his mind.

Lu Jianbo placed a cup of coffee in front of her. “I know you don’t want to see me. No matter what’s between us, let’s try not to affect our child, alright?”

“Xu Heng has his parents with him,” he added, guilt flooding his voice. “I want Sixun to have his parents with him during this holiday too. There are still a few days until New Year’s Eve; think about it. If you don’t want to, I’ll leave in a couple of days.”

His coffee was finished before she arrived downstairs, and he sat quietly for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle between them.

Zhong stood up. “Take your time drinking; our son will be here soon. I’ll head upstairs to change and take them to the beach.”

Xu Xiangyi’s flight arrived an hour later than Lu Jianbo’s, and as the sun began to set, they arrived at the hotel.

Jiang Yueru didn’t return to her room; instead, she waited for them in the lounge area on the first floor.

“Mom!” Jiang Sixun rushed over.

“Your dad is here too,” Jiang Yueru told him. “I don’t know what room he’s in. You can ask him yourself later.”

Jiang Sixun looked momentarily bewildered. “I thought he went back to London?”

“No,” Jiang Yueru replied. “He came to spend the holiday with you.”

The surprise left him speechless for a moment, but he quickly buried his joy, knowing his mother preferred not to mention his father.

Jiang Yueru gently ruffled his hair, feeling a mix of heartache and guilt. “Your dad wants to take you to the beach. I’ll go shopping with your Aunt Xu.”

Outside the hotel, Xu Xiangyi was helping his daughter drive; he had brought the sports car along with the plane.

Xu Zhiyi was practicing her reversing skills, struggling a bit with the rearview mirror. To see better, she twisted around to look back while she drove in reverse.

Lu Jianbo had changed into a T-shirt and put on sunglasses.

Suddenly, she didn’t recognize him at first. Fearing she might bump into someone, she started sounding her horn from a distance—

Beep beep—

Beep beep—

Lu Jianbo took off his sunglasses and spoke to Xu Xiangyi.

Xu Zhiyi froze for a second, realizing it was Uncle Lu. She quickly turned around and fished her own small sunglasses from her bag, pushing them up on her nose.

She hadn’t recognized Uncle Lu when he wore his sunglasses, so with hers on, he probably wouldn’t recognize her either.

She continued to reverse—

Beep beep—

Beep beep—

Lu Jianbo chuckled and strolled over, effortlessly lifting her off the ground.

Xu Zhiyi feigned calmness. “You’ve got the wrong person.”

Lu Jianbo couldn’t help but burst into laughter.