Chapter 9

No wonder he didn’t dare chase after her—he was afraid others would see his filthy little secret. Now, just from seeing her once he was already reacting, which meant he was fully recovered.

“You being able to stand tall again—well, I deserve part of the credit,” Tang Yajun said.

Even if his reaction was because of his little childhood sweetheart, if she hadn’t tested him with her own hands, how would he have known so soon that he’d recovered?

Tang Yajun couldn’t help rubbing her palms together, as though that sticky feeling from last night still clung to them.

Lu Chongjin lifted his head to look at her, the blazing sun a bit blinding.

Tang Yajun lowered her eyes to meet his gaze.

In the dappled shade of the trees, the man’s handsome brows narrowed slightly. His long, curling lashes cast a shadow, concealing some emotion hidden in his eyes.

His lips moved, as if he were saying something.

He waved a hand before her eyes. When he saw her snap back to attention, he repeated, “What did you want to say?”

Tang Yajun cursed inwardly—beauty really was a distraction.

Then she said seriously, “Can you do me a favor?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t even said what it is yet, and you dare agree? Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you off?”

“Not afraid.” Lu Chongjin smiled. “Go on.”

His smile made her lose her focus again. Collecting herself, she told him about her eldest brother, hoping he would help find out where he was currently working.

“Alright. I’ll make arrangements. Once I hear something, I’ll tell you.”

As long as she could learn her brother’s whereabouts, she could figure out how to get the antidote for snake venom to him in advance, and maybe the tragedy wouldn’t repeat itself.

She felt at ease, waiting for his news.

That afternoon, Fu Peirong came to see her.

Tang Yajun had just finished eating and was lounging in a chair to digest and enjoy the breeze. Seeing her come, she didn’t get up, only pointed at the stone stool beside her for her to sit.

“You do realize that the only reason Jin-gege could marry you is because of your parents’ arrangement, right?”

This woman—just because her family had done the Lus some tiny favor, she thought she could use that to demand marriage.

What baffled Fu Peirong most was that Jin-gege hadn’t refused outright. This was the perfect chance to persuade Tang Yajun to leave, so her dream could finally come true.

Tang Yajun lazily nodded without a word.

“You know a melon forced off the vine won’t be sweet.”

Tang Yajun narrowed her eyes at her.

Seeing no response, Fu Peirong took it as silent agreement. “Then why won’t you let him go?”

Tang Yajun sat up, smiling faintly. “The marriage is already done, the melon already eaten. You think I’ll divorce him just because you say so?”

“Then what will it take for you to leave him?” she demanded angrily.

“Depends what you can offer.” Tang Yajun’s voice was languid, her eyes roaming up and down Fu Peirong.

“How about ten thousand yuan? Honestly, I’m a bit strapped for cash right now. You give me the money, and I’ll hand him right over.”

Fu Peirong’s face flushed with fury. “You… how could you treat Jin-gege like he’s for sale?”

And at such a high price! If it were a thousand yuan, maybe she could somehow scrape it together.

“What? Even your entire fortune can’t add up to that, can it? If you can’t pay, then forget it! My Chongjin is priceless—worth more than gold!” Tang Yajun’s bright, radiant smile made it clear she knew Fu Peirong couldn’t produce that kind of money.

Fu Peirong shook with rage, teeth clenched, before running off.

She went straight to Lu Chongjin, full of grievance, and repeated the entire conversation.

“Gege, she doesn’t care about you at all.”

Lu Chongjin had been about to leave, but after hearing this, he simply smiled and asked, “Did you pay her?”

Frustrated, Fu Peirong snapped, “Of course I don’t have that kind of money! And besides, how do I know if she even meant it? You’re a living person, not some commodity.”

Lu Chongjin scolded her gently for being ridiculous, then soothed her until she smiled again before leaving.

Sitting quietly in his wheelchair afterward, he replayed Tang Yajun’s words over and over.

She said he was priceless—worth more than gold.

He chuckled softly to himself, then wheeled away.

That night, Tang Yajun brought it up again, her tone tinged with jealousy.

Lu Chongjin coaxed her gently: “Rongrong is still childish. Why bother lowering yourself to her level?”

Tang Yajun cursed inwardly. He was so infatuated, always protecting his little childhood sweetheart, never once considering her position.

They weren’t even divorced yet, and he was letting another woman cling to him. Where did that leave her, his legal wife?

After thinking it through, she decided she needed to be clear with him.

“Even if we’re going to divorce, until the paperwork is done, you can’t have anything to do with other women.”

Lu Chongjin agreed readily.

He thought of the day at Doctor Hu’s when she had cried so bitterly—her heart clearly held feelings for him. That must mean what she’d said about wanting to bear his child was true.

The thought filled him with warmth, and even her frowning face looked endearing.

A knock sounded at the door.

It was Cui Shan, delivering a newly arrived telegram to Lu Chongjin.

Tang Yajun leaned in to read. On it was a name and an address.

It was her elder brother Tang Yashan’s work location.

Lu Chongjin handed the telegram to her.

Her heart tightened. Just from the place name, she could tell it was more remote than she had imagined.

“My brother’s in a deep mountain valley. My men had to ask around again and again before finding the exact place,” Lu Chongjin explained.

“If I wanted to bring him back, would that even be possible?” Tang Yajun asked, eyes full of hope.

Lu Chongjin shook his head gently.

She knew too—every job at this stage was one-in, one-out. And her brother was working in an especially harsh environment.

“Then what if I just send something to him?”

She had thought before that once she had the address, she could send a parcel. But she’d already asked and learned that deliveries to that area took nearly a month at best. By the time Tang Yashan received anything, it might already be too late.

If only there were special channels to send things directly by hand—it would be much faster.

Lu Chongjin thought for a moment, then nodded. “That should be possible. Give me what you want to send.”

“Alright. I’ll prepare everything tomorrow and hand it to you.”

Tang Yajun agreed, already planning what to pack for her brother.

The two spoke no more that night. Early the next morning, Lu Chongjin went out.

Tang Yajun locked the door behind him and entered the research institute inside her space.

From the fridge, she took out three vials each of the stamina-restoring and detoxifying serums, labeled them, and handwrote detailed instructions for use.

The serums would last longer under constant temperature, but would still work at room temperature—just with slightly reduced effect.

After some thought, she signed her name at the bottom.

Then she grabbed two packs of instant biscuits, tore off the outer packaging, and kept only the foil liners.

She wrapped everything in a plain cotton shirt.

What her brother needed most, of course, was money and ration tickets—she had to send as much as she could.

As for the wooden box Lu Chongjin had given her earlier, she wasn’t planning to touch it—that she intended to return to him intact.

Still racking her brain for ways to get money, she glanced outside at the experimental fields. Inspiration suddenly struck.