Chapter 12: The Toad on the Foot — Doesn’t Bite, Just Makes You Sick!

The Wang family of three, with their arms around each other, supported Lu Zhao as they headed to the clinic.

There was a medical station in the compound, specifically set up by the organization for the military personnel and their families who lived there.

The clinic was not far from the Lu family home; it was just a ten-minute walk.

Once the family of four left, the house immediately became quiet.

Lu Sinian smiled faintly. This birthday was truly unforgettable, wasn’t it?

Whether it was unforgettable for others, he couldn’t guarantee, but the old guy would definitely remember it!

Unfortunately, the old guy’s tolerance was so low that before he could deal with the remaining three people, they had already run off!

How boring!

So disappointing!

Lu Sinian wasn’t at all concerned about Lu Zhao’s situation.

They say disasters last for a thousand years, and Lu Zhao, this disaster, certainly wouldn’t die so early.

Ha, the old guy had so many things weighing on his mind—there was no way he’d willingly die early.

With the eyesore gone, Lu Sinian felt the air around him had become much fresher.

He leisurely walked into the kitchen and took the food that Wang Xiaoyun and her daughter had heated up but hadn’t yet put on the table, bringing it out to the dining table to enjoy it alone. This feast had been specially prepared for the old guy.

He knew exactly what day it was.

It was the old guy’s birthday.

Every year, on the old guy’s birthday, he insisted on having the family gather for a meal.

This annoying tradition seemed to have started when the wicked woman, Wang Xiaoyun, entered the family.

What’s ridiculous is that this broken tradition had lasted for more than a decade.

Sometimes he thought about doing something righteous and reporting the old guy for engaging in capitalist behavior at home.

These days, personal conduct was tightly regulated, and such frivolous things weren’t allowed.

Unfortunately, the old guy’s body and mind had already been corrupted by the three despicable people—big, middle, and small.

He thought this day was particularly important for him.

Every year, he would smugly look forward to its arrival.

For the old man’s sake, he never took the step of reporting him.

If the family had a son who engaged in capitalist behavior, it would undoubtedly affect the old guy’s career.

But he couldn’t stand seeing the old guy happy.

So every year on this day, he would cause some trouble.

But even though he made a fuss every year, they still stuck to their own ways.

Like an indestructible cockroach.

A toad on the foot—doesn’t bite, just makes you sick!

Hopefully, this time, the old guy would learn something.

Otherwise…

Lu Sinian finished his meal, didn’t clean the table, and left the house with a pat on his rear.

To the outside world, he was just a good-for-nothing playboy.

Having the reputation of a playboy made it easier for him to do certain things.

This was also why, over the years, the three despicable people—big, middle, and small—deliberately tarnished his name in front of others, but he never retaliated.

Lu Sinian went straight to the Wei family. He was familiar with the path and walked to the back of the Wei family’s yard, then whistled loudly towards the farthest right of the second floor.

Five minutes later, Wei Ping’an ran out of the house, amid the angry yelling of his father.

Lu Sinian had already moved from the backyard to the front yard.

He didn’t hide or dodge; he boldly approached Wei Ping’an with a lively step.

“Your old stubborn man scolded you again?” He smiled, his mischievous expression obvious.

Wei Ping’an had long been used to Lu Sinian’s nasty sense of humor.

They were both famous playboys in the compound and equally disliked by their biological fathers. Yet, Lu Sinian still had the nerve to mock him?

Wei Ping’an shrugged and grinned indifferently. “If he didn’t scold me that day, I’d feel strange.”

Lu Sinian suddenly stopped, his gaze locking onto Wei Ping’an for a few seconds, making Wei Ping’an feel a little embarrassed.

Lu Sinian, as despicable and calculating as he was, had a harmless, pleasant appearance.

Being stared at like that, even a grown man like Wei Ping’an was starting to feel uncomfortable.

But Wei Ping’an knew Lu Sinian’s true nature. After a moment of awkwardness, he looked at him warily. “What do you want?”

Lu Sinian withdrew his gaze, his tone serious as he said, “Wei Ping’an, you’re really despicable!”

It wasn’t right for him to go a whole day without being scolded!

Damn it, he was almost as bad as those three despicable people.

Despicable, truly despicable!

Being friends with him had started to bring bad luck.

Wei Ping’an, feeling unlucky: “…” He knew this bastard wouldn’t have anything good to say!

Not willing to back down, Wei Ping’an shot back, “Big brother, don’t talk about second brother. You’re not any better than me.”

“I remember today is your old man’s birthday, right?”

“So what? Did you get kicked out after being humiliated by those three despicable people?”

As expected of two troublemakers who could play together, each jab was harsher than the last.

Lu Sinian raised an eyebrow smugly. “Sorry, your wishful thinking is going to fall short. Those three despicable people have no time to bother me!”

Wei Ping’an paused for a moment, then grinned. He nudged Lu Sinian’s arm, full of gossip. “What did you do to them? Spill the beans!”

Lu Sinian chuckled lightly, showing a look of innocence as if to say, “I’m a good person, don’t accuse me,” and sternly replied, “I haven’t done anything this time, don’t put any hats on me.”

Wei Ping’an smirked, clearly not buying it.

Lu Sinian lifted his foot and kicked Wei Ping’an in the thigh. “I’m always upright, I say I haven’t done anything, and I haven’t.”

Wei Ping’an had already sidestepped as soon as Lu Sinian raised his foot. He rubbed his nose. “Alright, alright, you haven’t done anything, no need to get so worked up.”

“But, you’re not at home celebrating your old man’s birthday, why are you here looking for me?” He emphasized the words “celebrating your old man’s birthday.”

As Lu Sinian’s “good-for-nothing” friend, Wei Ping’an knew all about the troubles at the Lu family.

Likewise, Lu Sinian was fully aware of the mess in Wei Ping’an’s family.

Every year on this day, Lu Sinian would go wild and ruin Lu Zhao’s birthday dinner.

This year, though, everything was so quiet—it felt a little strange!

Lu Sinian seemed to remember something amusing. He suddenly laughed lightly and glanced at Wei Ping’an with a playful look in his eyes. “The old guy isn’t even home, how could I celebrate his birthday?”

Wei Ping’an looked at him suspiciously. “Your old guy isn’t at home?” Then, he immediately dismissed the idea. “That can’t be right, isn’t he really particular about today?”

Lu Sinian slid his hands into his pockets, smiling faintly. “If nothing unexpected happened, he should be at the clinic.”

Wei Ping’an paused, then nodded in understanding. “At the hospital? Did you upset him again?”

Lu Sinian smiled but didn’t answer.

Wei Ping’an muttered to himself, “…Still, you’re impressive, Lu Sinian!”

Though both of them were sons who weren’t favored by their fathers, Wei Ping’an had never been able to make his own stubborn father end up in the hospital!

“Your old man isn’t home, and you’re not worried that those three despicable people will take advantage of your old man being at the clinic to scheme against you?” Wei Ping’an, who knew Wang Xiaoyun and her daughter’s true colors, was a little worried for Lu Sinian.

Lu Sinian laughed lightly, dismissing it. “They’ve schemed against me for years. This is nothing new.”

Wei Ping’an felt uneasy, sensing that this time the scheme might be different from the past.

With Lu Zhao not at home, the three despicable people would have fewer hesitations, and even if they had ill intentions, they wouldn’t hold back as much.

This time, with the old man not around…

“You should be careful. Without your old man at home, they have one less person to worry about. Plus, you don’t have much of a place in your old man’s heart, and now you’ve upset him so much that he’s in the hospital. I’m afraid they might pull something big to deal with you,” Wei Ping’an advised, still not entirely at ease.

Despite all the misfortune they’d faced growing up, he was the one who didn’t want anything bad happening to Lu Sinian.

Lu Sinian thought for a moment and nodded. “Got it. I’ll keep an eye on things.”

Seeing that Lu Sinian was taking it seriously, Wei Ping’an didn’t say anything more.