Chapter 20: Don’t Let Her Be Held Back

Xie Yunshu’s bundles were thrown to the ground just like that—one even came open, clothes spilling everywhere.

Surprisingly, Lu Xueting wasn’t in a hurry anymore. She looked down at the scattered clothes with a disdainful glance, then curled her lips in disgust.
“Xie Yunshu, aren’t you ashamed? You’re a grown woman still wearing underwear like that! No wonder you and my brother have been married this long without a child—he probably doesn’t even want to touch you!”

These were Xie Yunshu’s summer clothes. Since she had already decided to divorce, she didn’t plan to return to this place. One small vest, already yellowed from many washes, lay on the ground, instantly soiled by the mud—cheap and ridiculous in appearance.

That vest had been bought by her mother after washing laundry for three days straight. It was pure cotton and very comfortable. Xie Yunshu had worn it for years and couldn’t bring herself to throw it away.

She had started developing earlier than most girls—though her waist was slim, her chest had filled out like an inflated balloon.

Back then, she had felt embarrassed and always walked hunched over. Li Fenlan had noticed but said nothing. One night, she quietly handed Xie Yunshu a small vest and smiled warmly:
“My sweet girl is a young lady now. From now on, you should wear this! Go change and hold your head high when you walk! My daughter is the prettiest of them all!”

Even after getting married, she had kept the habit of wearing these cotton vests. She knew that some wealthy city girls wore bras with underwires and rows of hooks that made them look upright and elegant.

But such underwear was too expensive—she just couldn’t justify buying any.

Xie Yunshu didn’t respond. She silently squatted down and began repacking her clothes one by one, then tied the bundle tightly and placed it back on the rack behind her bicycle.

She was grateful that she hadn’t been swayed by the tiny bit of warmth from Lu Zhixing just moments ago—otherwise, this bundle on the ground would’ve felt like a slap to her face!

If Lu Zhixing had even looked back once, he might have seen her intentions from these clothes alone. But he hadn’t. He didn’t even remember what he’d said earlier—about how dangerous it was for a girl to be out at night.

Lu Xueting thought Xie Yunshu’s silence meant she was right, and she grew more smug.
“What? Am I right? If I were you, I’d transfer Xiaowei’s household registration over immediately and be grateful to Sister Xinyue! If she hadn’t left and gone through all that, how could someone like you ever have married my brother?”

Xie Yunshu let out a light laugh.
“Then who’s to blame for that? Sounds like Zhou Xinyue just had bad luck. What’s that got to do with me?”

Zhou Xinyue’s misfortune was so extreme that Lu Xueting pitied her even more deeply. Compared to her beloved “Xinyue jie” who’d grown up with her, she looked down on the “social climber” Xie Yunshu. Furious at Xie’s words, she raised her hand:
“I won’t let you talk about Sister Xinyue like that!”

Xie Yunshu grabbed her wrist and shoved her to the side, hard.
“What? Want to fight me? Don’t say I didn’t warn you—I love slapping people during fights!”

Even someone as fierce as Lin Cuiping had been no match for her, let alone the pampered Lu Xueting?

Lu Xueting gritted her teeth but didn’t dare retaliate.
“Xiaowei’s only six—you’re seriously picking on a little kid? How shameless can you get?”

Zhou Xinyue and Lu Zhixing were about the same age—both thirty-six this year. When she was eighteen, Zhou had been kidnapped and sold into a mountain village. When she was finally rescued, she didn’t have a child with her.

Later, as her mind cleared, she grabbed Lu Zhixing’s hand and tearfully begged him to find her child.

The once-vibrant girl they grew up with had become a broken rose, showing up with a frail, timid child. Both mother and son were covered in scars. Lu Zhixing couldn’t stay unmoved.

So he did everything he could to erase Zhou Xinyue’s past, to give her and her child shelter in his marital home—and even handed over the property deed to her.

Seeing her former “Sister Xinyue” again, Lu Xueting had cried until her eyes were swollen and swore she’d treat her like real family from then on.

Compared to that, Xie Yunshu had gotten off easy. She married Lu Zhixing effortlessly and lived a good life. And now, she still had the nerve to compete with Sister Xinyue over a bit of property—and with a pitiful six-year-old child? Shameless!

Xie Yunshu let out a click of the tongue.
“A six-year-old who’s sick every other day—can’t tell if it’s bad luck or too tough a fate!”

If it wasn’t a fall, it was a fever. And today, he’d been burned. Anyone with half a brain could tell something wasn’t right. But the Lu siblings just kept pitying him!

Lu Xueting was stunned by her cruelty.
“You’re actually cursing a little child? Xie Yunshu, I’m going to tell my brother right now and make sure he divorces you immediately. Just you wait!”

Xie Yunshu had already mounted her bike. She scoffed.
“Thanks in advance!”

“What did you say?” Lu Xueting could hardly believe her ears. Was Xie Yunshu actually insane? Wasn’t she afraid Lu Zhixing might really divorce her?

But Xie Yunshu was already riding away. She finally understood—this whole family were Zhou Xinyue’s loyal lapdogs. She was done with them. If they wanted to be heroes rescuing a mother and child in distress, fine—just don’t drag her down with them!

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Haicheng First People’s Hospital.

Xiaowei’s little face was scrunched in pain. His skinny arms and legs were covered in blisters—a terrifying sight.

Lu Zhixing’s brows were deeply furrowed.
“How did he get burned so suddenly?”

Zhou Xinyue was sobbing uncontrollably like a guilt-ridden mother, covering her face and shaking her head.
“It’s my fault, all my fault! Xiaowei said he hadn’t had chicken in so long. I just wanted to fry him a chicken leg, and somehow he ended up under the pot of hot oil…”

Madam Lin Yuxiang’s expression wasn’t much better.
“Your father was upset today and went upstairs without dinner. I went to pour water and get his medicine. Who knew in just that short moment…”

“It’s all my fault! I didn’t keep an eye on him!” Zhou Xinyue slapped herself across the face and collapsed at Xiaowei’s bedside.
“Punish mommy—it’s all mommy’s fault!”

Xiaowei, pale and sweating, looked at Zhou Xinyue with deep fear in his eyes, but still shook his head.
“Mama, I was the one who didn’t listen…”

“If anything happens to Xiaowei, what’s the point of me living?” Zhou Xinyue sobbed without stopping, gripping his little hand until she had no strength left.

Lu Zhixing sighed and pulled her up, gently patting her on the shoulder.
“It’s just a burn. I’ll have a colleague monitor him carefully. He’ll be fine.”

Zhou Xinyue immediately leaned into his shoulder and wept even harder.
“Zhixing ge, thank goodness you’re here.”