Chapter 16: Suspecting She’s Following Them

After dinner, Su Luoluo wanted to check on her mother-in-law, Fang Shuling.

As she approached the door, Zhu Yanhua blocked her path, her gaze wary. “What are you doing here?”

Zhu Yanhua’s suspicion wasn’t unwarranted. A month ago, the original Su Luoluo, to lessen her burden, had persuaded Zhu Yanhua to poison her mother-in-law, hoping for her swift death.

“Nothing, just passing by,” Su Luoluo said with a nervous laugh.

Zhu Yanhua remained vigilant, standing at the doorway, watching Su Luoluo intently.

Su Luoluo could only leave and return to her own room.

Niuniu’s knee was injured and she couldn’t bathe, so Su Luoluo brought a basin of warm water to wash her face and body.

While changing the baby’s medicine, Niuniu patted her little chest, making thumping sounds. “Niuniu, not afraid, not afraid, it doesn’t hurt.”

Seeing Niuniu’s bravery despite her fear, Su Luoluo felt a pang of sympathy. She had a soft spot for children, stemming from her own childhood experiences.

Born into a black-market tycoon family, her biological father was far from kind, a womanizer who dated until his old age, fathering numerous children. They say even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, but her father was worse than a tiger, completely neglecting his children, leaving them to fight tooth and nail for the family’s resources.

Survival of the fittest.

She struggled to survive in that family, nearly dying several times. If not for a ghost doctor who recognized her talent for medicine and took her in at the age of six, she might not have survived.

This sympathy was why Su Luoluo hadn’t abandoned the Yang family’s mess and left to live a carefree life. With her excellent medical skills, she could thrive anywhere.

“Niuniu is so brave,” Su Luoluo praised, stroking Niuniu’s head.

Niuniu grinned, revealing her adorable baby teeth.

Xiao Lei watched from the doorway, his brow furrowed. Why was this bad woman suddenly so nice to them? Remembering something he’d overheard, his eyes flashed with malice.

The next day, Su Luoluo didn’t return to the Su family. She ignored Su Zhenhai’s words.

Waiting until Zhu Yanhua went to work in the fields, Su Luoluo took a basket and sickle into the mountains.

It wasn’t that she was trying to be sneaky. If her sister-in-law knew she was going into the mountains, she would worry.

Hoping for good luck, she sought valuable medicinal herbs.

Deep in the mountains, she noticed many footprints in the muddy grass. The howl of a wild animal echoed nearby. Su Luoluo glanced at the footprints and continued on, prioritizing her search for herbs.

Suddenly, she smelled a unique fragrance. Her face lit up, and she quickly ran towards the scent. Pushing aside the grass, she found a Ganoderma lucidum mushroom on a dead tree, at least fifteen years old.

A fifteen-year-old wild Ganoderma lucidum—such a valuable herb! It would fetch a good price.

Carefully, she harvested the mushroom, wrapping it in large taro leaves and placing it in her basket.

She heard voices. Someone was there! Villagers rarely dared to enter the mountains. Who would be reckless enough to venture into the wild animal territory?

Su Luoluo slowed her steps and cautiously moved forward. She was on a small slope overlooking a marshy area.

In the middle of the usually deserted area, a large pot was set up, with a simple wooden cart beside it, covered with a black cloth. Several hunting rifles lay near the cart’s wheels.

Steam rose from the pot, and a bloody sheepskin lay on the ground.

Twenty or so menacing men guarded the area, discussing something while constantly scanning their surroundings. They exuded a chilling ruthlessness, their eyes filled with malice. They weren’t ordinary thugs; Su Luoluo had only seen such chilling ruthlessness in desperate criminals.

These men were dangerous. What were they doing deep in the mountains?

As Su Luoluo pondered, she made eye contact with three men hiding in the bushes nearby—the three handsome men.

Handsome face after handsome face.

“Old Fu, look, that ugly woman, what’s she doing here? Is she following us?”

Lu Xunye was the first to see Su Luoluo. He looked as if he’d stepped in dog dung, nudging Fu Yichen. He feared the ugly woman might be attracted to his handsome face. A few days ago, she’d thrown him a seductive glance, giving him nightmares.

Fu Bojing, faster than Fu Yichen, looked over. He frowned, staring at Su Luoluo.

Fu Yichen followed Lu Xunye’s gaze, seeing Su Luoluo with her basket, a dogtail grass in her mouth, looking relaxed and carefree, as if on a leisurely outing.

An outing in a mountain teeming with wild animals? Fu Yichen quickly dismissed the absurd thought.

“Damn, Old Fu, you’re staring at that ugly woman, eyes wide! You actually like her?”

Seeing Fu Yichen’s pensive gaze, Lu Xunye looked shocked, leaning closer and whispering.

“Old Lu, I’ve told you, don’t call a woman that. It’s impolite.”

Fu Yichen pushed the face away.

“Tsk… you’re so protective. You wouldn’t have fallen for her, would you?”

Lu Xunye’s suspicious gaze fell on Fu Yichen’s handsome face. When did Old Fu, who only focused on missions and training, become interested in a woman?

If it were anyone else, Lu Xunye would be happy for his friend. But…

Thinking of Su Luoluo’s face, Lu Xunye shuddered. Too ugly! Goosebumps rose on his arms.

“Old Fu, even if you don’t care about my eyes, think about your children! A whole brood of ugly kids wouldn’t be good. Find someone else!” Lu Xunye sincerely advised.

“Nonsense,” Fu Yichen said, glancing at Lu Xunye.

“Bojing, tell me, am I right? Ugly genes have a high chance of being passed on,” Lu Xunye turned to the silent Fu Bojing.

“I don’t know,” Fu Bojing replied calmly, hiding the complexity in his eyes.

Su Luoluo stared at the three handsome men, speechless. What a feast for the eyes! Just looking at them improved her mood.

“She wouldn’t have discovered our…” Fu Bojing whispered to Fu Yichen.

Fu Yichen shook his head slightly. Perhaps she just happened to walk by.

“I think she’s incredibly brazen, coming here. She doesn’t value her life,” Lu Xunye muttered, still believing Su Luoluo was following them.