Chapter 6: Suffocating Tug-of-War

Su Zhiyi was surprised because, after her death, she had followed Lu Hanchuan in soul form for decades.

So she knew that Lu Hanchuan had a cleanliness obsession.

Just as the others were still processing Mother Lu’s words and hadn’t reacted yet, Lu Hanchuan was actually secretly pressing and rubbing his fingers under the table, forcefully restraining his actions.

At that moment, the housekeeper walked over to the dining table and said: “Old Master, Miss Jiang Keke is here.”

The members of the Lu family were all stunned when they heard this—everyone except Lu Hanchuan, who maintained an indifferent attitude, as if it had nothing to do with him.

But in truth, he was nervous inside. He was afraid Su Zhiyi would misunderstand, yet he was also afraid she would choose to stay. Two emotions were pulling at him in a constant, painful tug-of-war.

Seeing everyone’s expressions, Su Zhiyi asked curiously: “Aunt Lu, what’s wrong?”

Mother Lu snapped back to her senses upon hearing this and forced a smile. “It’s nothing.”

Grandma Lu also spoke up at this time. “Little Sun, go tell her to head back for now.”

Looking at the faint displeasure on Grandma Lu’s face, Su Zhiyi began to speculate.

Could it be that this Jiang Keke was the same one from her previous life? The one who clung to Lu Hanchuan obsessively?

Back then, after learning that Lu Hanchuan had been injured and might become a cripple and retire, she had never shown up again. In fact, not even a month later, she had married a second-generation rich man.

Why had things changed in this life? Could her rebirth have caused a butterfly effect?

The Lu family all looked at Su Zhiyi, who remained silent, and couldn’t help but grow concerned.

They turned their gazes toward Lu Hanchuan, signaling for him to quickly explain everything to Su Zhiyi—that there was absolutely nothing between him and Jiang Keke.

Jiang Keke had only visited during Lu Hanchuan’s leaves, always under the excuse of coming to see his little sister.

Just as Grandma Lu was about to speak up and explain for Lu Hanchuan—

A sweet and saccharine voice suddenly rang out nearby: “Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Big Brother, I’m back!”

Then came the sound of footsteps—two sets of footsteps, in fact.

Lu Hanchuan’s brows instantly furrowed, and although his face remained expressionless, Su Zhiyi knew that at this moment, he was already slightly angry.

“The school suddenly gave us a day off tomorrow. I had just reached the front gate when I saw Keke standing there crying, so I brought her in.” Lu Qingyu said as she entered, having just changed her shoes.

The moment she lifted her head and saw Su Zhiyi sitting beside Lu Hanchuan, the smile on her face instantly disappeared, and her expression turned very displeased.

Grandfather Lu noticed this and snorted coldly without holding back. “Why was she standing at the gate crying? She knows very well herself. Xiaoyu, don’t let yourself be used as someone’s pawn without even realizing it!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyu immediately retorted: “Grandpa, it’s you who’ve been deceived! Keke is such a wonderful person! Why should my brother marry some wild girl from the countryside!”

“Lu Qingyu.” The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a chilling coldness that made people’s hair stand on end.

“Apologize.” Lu Hanchuan said coldly, his icy eyes fixed on Lu Qingyu, who was already too frightened to even breathe loudly.

She had forgotten—once her elder brother lost his temper, it was far scarier than the coldness of either Grandpa or Dad.

Just then, Jiang Keke, who had been standing to the side, lifted her head. “Brother Hanchuan, don’t blame Xiaoyu. I came today because my grandfather asked me to bring some tea over for Grandpa Lu.”

As she spoke, she wore a pitiful expression, her eyes brimming with tears, as if she had just been terribly wronged.

She lifted her hand and showed them the box she had been holding.

Then she continued: “Brother Hanchuan, I didn’t avoid seeing you on purpose. It was my father who stopped me and wouldn’t let me come.

Today, my grandfather waited until my father wasn’t home and secretly let me out. Brother Hanchuan, I…”

Sigh\~

At that moment, a soft sigh sounded.

Grandpa Lu, Grandma Lu, Father Lu, and Mother Lu all turned to look at Su Zhiyi, their eyes filled with concern.

That soft sigh made Lu Hanchuan’s scalp prickle with anxiety. It felt as if a large wad of cotton had been stuffed into his throat.

The words he wanted to say were instantly choked off and stuck deep in his throat. He couldn’t say a single word.

At this moment, Su Zhiyi wore a faint smile on her face. “Miss Jiang, don’t think of yourself as so important. Has Lu Hanchuan ever said he wanted to be with you?”

Hearing Su Zhiyi directly address her by her full name made Lu Hanchuan even more panicked inside.

The left hand resting on his thigh clenched tightly, his fingertips digging deep into his flesh. Even when his palm was pierced by his own nails, he didn’t notice.

Su Zhiyi had not yet noticed Lu Hanchuan’s small action. Her expression turned slightly cold as she continued: “From his attitude toward you, anyone with eyes can see—it has always been you clinging to him one-sidedly.”

“So what?! Keke’s family and mine have been close for generations! Grandpa Jiang already planned long ago to marry Keke to my big brother!

Even if my brother doesn’t like her now, as long as they get married, their feelings will naturally grow over time.

Keke’s background is something a village girl like you could never match! Besides, Keke is my best friend, and I only recognize her as my sister-in-law! You can forget about marrying my brother!”

“Lu Qingyu, shut your mouth!” Mother Lu finally couldn’t bear it any longer and shouted furiously.

Su Zhiyi looked at the infuriated Mother Lu, as well as the clearly angry elders of the Lu family and Father Lu.

She shook her head lightly and said: “Lu Qingyu, do you go looking for donkeys to kick your head whenever you have free time?”

Lu Qingyu understood the sarcasm in her words and was instantly enraged, wanting to retort, but Lu Hanchuan’s cold, blade-like glare pinned her to the spot. She didn’t dare utter another word.

Then Su Zhiyi turned her head and looked at Jiang Keke, who was still standing to the side, crying pitifully.

Her face filled with annoyance, she said coldly: “Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck—are you about to lay an egg?

Not only are your eyes useless, your heart is rotten too.

Don’t act like you’re some pitiful victim forced into this situation, and don’t put on a show about how deeply you love Lu Hanchuan.

And stop treating Lu Hanchuan like he’s a clueless idiot!

You know very well what the truth is.”

As the Lu family listened to Su Zhiyi bluntly lash out at Jiang Keke, they all instinctively lowered their heads, trying their hardest to suppress their laughter.

Even Lu Hanchuan, who had been utterly panicked just moments before, found himself calmed by her sharp and decisive words.

However, at that moment, Su Zhiyi suddenly shot him a glare, causing the peace that had just returned to his heart to unravel into chaos once again.

When she saw his face still void of any expression, Su Zhiyi couldn’t help but roll her eyes—beautifully and with clear disdain.

By now, Jiang Keke could no longer stay. Inwardly, she cursed Su Zhiyi with venom, but her voice was still reluctant as she said her goodbyes: “Brother Hanchuan, then… take care of yourself and rest well. I… I’ll go now.”

With that, she turned around with an aggrieved expression and walked away.

Seeing this, Lu Qingyu stomped her foot heavily and ran back to her room.

In a foul mood, Su Zhiyi softly said: “Grandpa Lu, Grandma Lu, Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu, I’m done eating. Please take your time.”

With that, she didn’t spare a single glance at Lu Hanchuan, nor did she turn back, heading upstairs and back to her room.

The rest of the family immediately turned their angered gazes toward Lu Hanchuan.

Grandma Lu wore an expression of deep disappointment. “You foolish boy! Aren’t you going to hurry up and find a way to coax Zhi-girl?”

A bitter smile appeared on Lu Hanchuan’s face. “There’s no need.”

With that, he stood up, took the cane from the side, and turned to walk toward his room.

Watching the bitter sorrow on Lu Hanchuan’s face, everyone finally understood what was truly going on.

They all couldn’t help but shake their heads with a mixture of helplessness and heartache.

Lying in bed, Lu Hanchuan’s heart was being torn apart by the brutal tug-of-war between his selfish possessiveness and his desire to let Su Zhiyi go—for her own good.