Chapter 18

Lu Chongjin pulled her tighter into his arms, tucking the quilt securely around her back.

Tang Yajun rested her hand on his chest, feeling the strong, steady beat beneath her palm. Leaning her head against his broad chest, she inexplicably felt calmer.

No matter what she was about to face this time, she would not let it shake her determination in the slightest.

When she woke in the morning, Lu Chongjin had already left.

Tang Yajun went next door and told Lu Zhengang the news that Lu Chongjin had gone on a trip.

She added that he left in a hurry, as if he had something important to do.

Hearing this, Lu Zhengang’s expression darkened, and he immediately went to send people out to gather information.

Tang Yajun didn’t linger. She turned and went back to her courtyard.

Sitting on the lounge chair, listening to the bustle of footsteps in and out of the neighboring courtyard, she curled her lips into a smile. The fish had taken the bait.

Only after she confirmed that Lu Zhengang had also left with his men did she return to her house to catch up on sleep.

By dusk, she woke, ate her fill, and when no one was paying attention, slipped into the neighboring courtyard, heading straight for Lu Zhengang’s room.

Since he lived there alone, it gave her the perfect chance.

She first hid in his study, waiting until deep into the night before opening the secret room door.

Draining a vial of stamina potion, she lit her flashlight and opened her space portal.

Then, like an ant moving grain, she transferred jars full of gold, silver, jade, antiques, and paintings—anything she could carry—into the yard of her research institute inside the space.

The antiques and paintings she sent straight into the house for safekeeping, while the rest she simply dumped on the ground, planning to sort them later.

She worked until nearly dawn, finally finishing with the valuables. She even spent some time restoring the room’s arrangement so it looked as if nothing had been touched.

Only then, with the first light of morning, did she sneak back to her small courtyard.

After a quick meal and wash, she collapsed into bed.

Just imagining Lu Zhengang’s fury when he discovered the secret vault had been emptied made her laugh until she rolled across the bed.

Served him right—he had tried to calculate against her, but now he was reaping what he sowed.

Those treasures were hers by right.

Tang Yajun slept until the afternoon before waking. After eating, she strolled next door to check things over—no flaws left behind.

That night, however, she jolted awake from a nightmare and couldn’t fall back asleep no matter how she tossed and turned.

Hearing the commotion outside, she dressed and went out to the courtyard, only to see the neighboring yard lit up brightly.

A knock soon came—Cui Shan stood there, saying Lu Chongjin had been in an accident.

The entire Lu family had been alarmed, and doctors from the military hospital were called.

When the car had crashed, Lu Chongjin had reacted quickly, shifting to the other side of the seat and avoiding a direct hit.

Even so, he had multiple abrasions from the vehicle rolling.

By the time Tang Yajun saw him, his wounds had already been bandaged.

He had been holding out, waiting for her. Once he saw her, he finally relaxed, insisting on returning to the small courtyard to recuperate.

Understanding his concerns—since the cause of the accident was still unknown and the Lu family compound was filled with people—she draped a blanket over him, pushed him back to the courtyard, and sent Cui Shan off to rest as well.

With the gate closed, refusing all visitors except Doctor Hu, she left no cracks for outsiders.

Seeing her arrangements, Lu Chongjin set his mind at ease and drifted into sleep.

Tang Yajun then slipped some potion from her space, mixing half a vial into his water daily.

She didn’t dare use too much, afraid his wounds would heal too unnaturally fast and arouse suspicion.

Lu Chongjin never spoke about the accident, and Tang Yajun didn’t press him.

She focused solely on nursing him back to health, shutting out everything else.

Outwardly, she told people only that his injuries were serious and required long-term rest—nothing more.

After several days of careful tending, aided by her secret medicine, his body recovered swiftly.

Meanwhile, having received a telegram earlier, Tang Yajun counted the days, waiting for her brother Tang Yashan to return.

Finally, the day he had mentioned in his telegram arrived.

Together with Lu Chongjin’s second sister, Lu Zhongyun, she went to meet him at the station.

Scanning the crowd with the help of the original owner’s memories, Tang Yajun searched for that familiar face.

It was Lu Zhongyun who spotted Tang Yashan first, waving excitedly.

When Tang Yajun went forward to greet him, she could see the confusion and shock in his eyes.

She quickly gave him a subtle look, hinting that now wasn’t the time to talk.

Once the siblings had greeted each other, Lu Zhongyun stepped forward, her voice choked with emotion.
“Yashan, welcome home!”

Tang Yashan glanced at the agitated woman, then looked questioningly at Tang Yajun.

“This is Chongjin’s second sister. You’ve met her before,” Tang Yajun introduced smoothly.

Recognition dawned on his face, and he reached out to shake hands.
“Thank you, comrade.”

Tang Yajun pressed her fingers to her forehead, quickly changing the subject.
“The family prepared a welcome feast for you. Let’s head home first.”

With reddened eyes, Lu Zhongyun nodded.

Cui Shan took the luggage from Tang Yashan and led the way.

Tang Yajun looped an arm around Lu Zhongyun’s, murmuring reassurance.
“Second sister, don’t be upset. My brother was poisoned by a snake before, and maybe he hasn’t fully recovered here yet.”

She tapped her temple meaningfully.

Relieved, Lu Zhongyun’s expression softened, and she followed along.

In the car, Cui Shan drove, while Tang Yajun deliberately sat in the passenger seat.

Lu Zhongyun and Tang Yashan sat in the back, the car heading home.

The whole way, Tang Yajun couldn’t stop worrying, afraid her brother would say something strange.

Luckily, he was too busy staring out at the streetscape, making no trouble.

Back at the house, everyone gathered around the feast. Tang Yashan, starved from his hardships in that barren place, devoured the dishes like a mouse fallen into a rice jar.

Tang Yajun could only cover her face, unable to watch.

But Lu Zhongyun wasn’t the least bit put off—she just kept serving him food, filling his bowl again and again, barely eating herself.

Not until Tang Yashan finally leaned back with a satisfied burp did she set down her chopsticks.

After the meal, Tang Yajun left the two of them to tea and carried food over to Lu Chongjin.

When he heard she had left the pair alone, a faintly odd expression crossed his face.

Tang Yajun, puzzled, was about to ask when footsteps sounded behind her, and the siblings entered together.

“I came to visit my brother-in-law!” Tang Yashan said.

Leaning against the bed, Lu Chongjin spoke with him, but couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.

The Tang Yashan he’d met before was a closed gourd—if you didn’t speak to him first, you’d never hear a word.

But this Tang Yashan was a chatterbox, one topic tumbling after another.

Seeing that Lu Chongjin was growing tired, Tang Yajun cut her brother off, suggesting he take a walk in the courtyard.

Lu Zhongyun, who had been silently sitting nearby with adoring eyes, quickly followed.

Left alone, Lu Chongjin shook his head and chuckled softly.

“What is it?” Tang Yajun asked.

“Don’t you think your brother seems like a completely different person?”