Xia Wan abruptly stood up from the chair. “I don’t need you to be responsible for me! If you really want to be responsible, just give me the money. Then go obediently and submit your divorce report!”
Lu Jingxing stood as well, reaching out to gently press her back down, making her sit properly.
“This matter can be discussed later. First, eat!”
Xia Wan didn’t feel like arguing.
After all, even if he dragged things out, she had no intention of living a proper life with him.
She was about to go to university, leaving here soon; by then, they’d be living apart anyway.
So she wasn’t in a hurry.
Seeing Xia Wan calmly eat, Lu Jingxing let out a sigh of relief. At least his delay tactic had worked.
He glanced around. The place looked the same, but somehow different from before.
“You cleaned up here after coming back?”
“Mm. This is my home, of course I have to clean it.”
“If you don’t want to go back to the Lu residence, I’ll respect that. My mother isn’t easy to deal with. I can move here to stay with you for a couple of days, alright?”
Xia Wan paused, putting down her chopsticks. “No. I’m not used to having strange men in my house.”
Lu Jingxing smiled. “Fine. Then you focus on studying at home, I’ll go buy some ingredients and make something good for you.”
Xia Wan wondered if she was expressing herself poorly.
It felt like there was a barrier between her and this man like he didn’t understand what she was saying at all.
“I’m going out today.”
Lu Jingxing paused. “Where? Aren’t you supposed to be taking the exam?”
“I promised Ji Yuanchuan I’d go find his father’s friend.”
Lu Jingxing’s expression darkened suddenly.
“You care a lot about his affairs. Didn’t you just meet him yesterday?”
Xia Wan took a sip of porridge, tilting her head to look at him. “I’m planning to use your death compensation and do business with Ji Yuanchuan.”
Lu Jingxing’s expression became complicated.
Feigning exaggerated surprise, Xia Wan said, “Oh, but you’re not dead. We don’t have to return this money, right?”
He shook his head helplessly. “No need. Keep the money. If they try to claim it back, I’ll repay it.”
Satisfied, Xia Wan finished her breakfast.
Lu Jingxing had already eaten and was waiting for her. Seeing her finish, he stood and started tidying up.
“I’ll accompany you later. Since we’re looking for someone, having more people will make it easier.”
Xia Wan was about to refuse, but then remembered Lu Jingxing held a high position in the army now—he might actually make things more convenient than just her and Ji Yuanchuan alone.
“Alright. But you’re not allowed to bully him.”
Lu Jingxing rubbed his arm. “He’s not a child.”
When Xia Wan brought Lu Jingxing to the location arranged with Ji Yuanchuan, Ji Yuanchuan looked at him with surprise.
Lu Jingxing extended his hand. “I heard you’re looking for someone surnamed Su. I grew up around here, so I’m familiar with the area. I can help you find them.”
Ji Yuanchuan tentatively shook his hand.
Soon his face turned dark red.
Lu Jingxing withdrew his hand, leaving Ji Yuanchuan’s hand trembling in midair.
Xia Wan glared at Lu Jingxing. “Childish, isn’t it? Hurry up and find the person! Once you do, I need to go study.”
Lu Jingxing hurriedly said, “You focus on studying. Leave this to me.”
“No. I don’t trust just you two alone.”
Xia Wan looked at Ji Yuanchuan worriedly. “Are you alright?”
Ji Yuanchuan’s face turned even redder. He shook his head quickly. “I’m fine! I just feel bad for delaying you.”
“It’s fine. We’re partners now. Helping each other is normal.”
Xia Wan was also curious about who Ji Yuanchuan’s father’s acquaintance might be.
In the original book, Su Lijuan used a false connection to his family to get close to Ji Yuanchuan and eventually marry him.
Though the original story didn’t have many details, Ji Yuanchuan’s father was very satisfied with Su Lijuan because of her family status.
Xia Wan was now curious whether this person was connected to Su Lijuan.
Lu Jingxing learned more details from Ji Yuanchuan about the person he was looking for.
“Surnamed Su. Met your father in the countryside a few years ago. Enthusiastic and kind-hearted. Reminds me of someone. Let’s go take a look.”
With that, Lu Jingxing led them to Su Lijuan’s family home.
Xia Wan pointed at the house. “Do you think Su Lijuan’s father fits this description?”
Lu Jingxing smiled. “When Uncle Su was young, he drove his wife away and drank heavily. Su Lijuan was beaten by him growing up. And he never left the factory for the countryside. I know all of this.”
“Then why are we here?”
“He has a younger brother who returned a couple of years ago. I heard he had been sent to the countryside and should now be working at the factory.”
“Really? I’ve never heard of him.”
Lu Jingxing knocked on the door, turning to her. “He didn’t have a good relationship with his brother. They used to live in the countryside. Each family had to send someone there, so Second Uncle returned and then was sent further into the countryside.”
“He only came back two years before I joined the army, so it’s normal that you don’t know him. If he’s been working at the factory for a year or two, he should soon get a staff dorm. So it’s still necessary to ask at the Su family first.”
There was movement inside before the door opened after a while.
A strong smell of alcohol hit them.
Lu Jingxing instinctively stepped in front of Xia Wan and called out, “Uncle Su, long time no see.”
Su Lijuan’s father, Su Jianguo, was so shocked at seeing Lu Jingxing that he fell to the ground.
“It’s not me! Don’t look for me! It was all my dead wife’s doing!”
Ji Yuanchuan cautiously asked, “Is he still drunk? Did he have a nightmare?”
Xia Wan sighed. “He probably still doesn’t know this guy didn’t die.”
She briefly explained the situation to Ji Yuanchuan.
Hearing this, Su Jianguo muttered begrudgingly, “Jingxing, you’re not dead?”
He cautiously touched Lu Jingxing’s arm, feeling the warmth, and wiped away tears.
“That’s good! I was really scared… if you had died, I wouldn’t have been able to live! Those bastards, how dare they spread such news?”
Lu Jingxing explained, “It was probably someone else with the same name who had an accident. I’ve also been on emergency missions this year and haven’t returned, causing the misunderstanding.”
Su Jianguo held his arm excitedly, mumbling, “Good, good!”
Lu Jingxing asked directly, “Uncle Su, do you know if Second Uncle is home?”
Su Jianguo’s face darkened at the mention of his brother.
“That proud brat has been gone for who knows how long.”
Ji Yuanchuan quickly gave Su Jianguo all the information he knew about his acquaintance.
Su Jianguo nodded. “That must be him then.”
He quickly added, “If you want to borrow money, I don’t have any! And staying here isn’t convenient!”
Ji Yuanchuan awkwardly scratched his head. “I just want to meet him on my father’s behalf and say hello. If he’s not here, I won’t stay long.”