Song Zhiyao’s waist hurt.
Although the pain had eased significantly after Lu Yanzhi’s treatment, she still had to lie on the bed.
Meals and medicinal soups were delivered to her bedside by the servants.
The next morning.
Song Zhiyao finally saw Suxin.
Suxin had followed behind Lan Xin into the room, but for a moment, Song Zhiyao could barely recognize her.
Just a few days ago, Suxin had been chirping happily in front of her. Now, after Song Zhiyao had awakened, she looked haggard and worn beyond recognition.
Suxin had clearly taken time to wash up and dress properly, but her hands—red, swollen, cracked, with frostbite—couldn’t be restored in a short time.
Although a servant, Suxin had never suffered like this before.
Song Zhiyao looked away, feeling a pang of pity.
Suxin knelt. “Your humble servant, Suxin, pays respects to the Young Madam.”
“Rise,” Song Zhiyao said. “Suxin, these past years… I’ve put you through a lot.”
Suxin lowered her head, her body trembling slightly. “Your humble servant has not felt wronged.”
She simply didn’t understand why her mistress, who had seemed perfectly fine, now appeared like a different person.
Song Zhiyao said, “The past was all a misunderstanding. Now, are you willing to return to my side?”
“I am willing,” Suxin replied immediately.
“Good,” Song Zhiyao nodded. “Then you will resume the responsibilities you had before.”
As for Lan Xin, she didn’t ask. Not that she didn’t want to, but Lan Xin was now with Lu Jianshen. Song Zhiyao felt far more at ease knowing that.
“Yes,” Suxin responded.
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside.
Lu Yanzhi entered.
His gaze swept over Suxin, then quickly fixed on Song Zhiyao. “Step aside.”
Suxin and Lan Xin instinctively looked at Song Zhiyao.
She nodded slightly, and only then did they leave.
Now, only the two of them remained in the room.
Song Zhiyao knew Lu Yanzhi had come to massage her waist again; he had mentioned yesterday that she would need another session today.
But after the maid left, she suddenly remembered something: she hadn’t changed her clothes!
It was inconvenient for her.
There was no way she could expect Lu Yanzhi to help her, right?
Clearly, after Lu Yanzhi lifted the blanket, he realized the same thing.
The room fell into silence.
Song Zhiyao felt a little awkward. “Lan Xin is right outside.”
“Song Zhiyao.” Lu Yanzhi lowered his eyes, his cold voice carrying a warning. “If you want a divorce paper, I’ve already given it to you.”
“If you refuse to leave, then remember your identity,” he said deliberately, enunciating each word: “Young Madam of the Lu family.”
They were husband and wife.
Yet Song Zhiyao openly wished to remain chaste for another man.
He was willing to accommodate her for Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei’s safety, but that didn’t mean he had any such inclinations himself.
Song Zhiyao didn’t think that far. She was a little stunned by his warning. “I… I remember—”
Before she could finish, Lu Yanzhi had already risen.
Soon after, Lan Xin returned, helping Song Zhiyao change clothes and cover herself before leaving.
Lu Yanzhi entered again, resuming yesterday’s procedure.
Even though it was the second session, Song Zhiyao still wasn’t entirely used to it.
“Lu Yanzhi, how is Shen—ah, it hurts!” As soon as she mentioned Lu Jianshen, Lu Yanzhi’s pressure slipped slightly, causing her to cry out in pain.
He paused for a moment, then moderated his force. “You don’t need to pretend to care. Just stay away from them.”
He would never allow what had happened with Lu Jianshen being pushed into the ice lake to happen again.
Song Zhiyao bit her lip.
It was reasonable for Lu Yanzhi not to trust her, but she still felt hurt. Just a few days ago, she had been full of anticipation for the children’s birth.
Now, everything had changed.
She took a deep breath. “Lu Yanzhi, I know you don’t believe me, but I genuinely care for Shen. You can monitor me.”
“No need.” Lu Yanzhi’s voice was icy, his hands unceasing. “I’ve given you chances.”
Many times.
And every time, he had been disappointed.
This time, it concerned Lu Jianshen’s life. He could no longer tolerate failure.
Song Zhiyao’s heart sank. She wanted to argue but couldn’t. All she could do was bow her head in silence.
But she was certain of one thing: staying away from her children… was impossible.
She believed that time would reveal her true intentions.
Eventually, Lu Yanzhi would understand that she was determined to be a good mother.
The room fell silent again.
Today’s atmosphere was entirely different from yesterday—there was no trace of intimacy.
From her silence, Lu Yanzhi sensed stubbornness. His icy voice carried a warning: “Do not approach them again. Otherwise, I will take action against Lu Jinyu.”
He had investigated and knew that Song Zhiyao had always been the one acting.
But Lu Jinyu was also at fault!
Lu Jinyu was Song Zhiyao’s weak spot. He didn’t mind threatening her a little.
Song Zhiyao blinked. “Do as you wish.”
Double joy, indeed. She had long disliked Lu Jinyu herself.
Her response caught Lu Yanzhi off guard. He frowned slightly, his gaze probing.
No matter whether Song Zhiyao spoke truth or lies, he always spoke truth himself.
Silence returned to the room.
Lu Yanzhi soon finished massaging Song Zhiyao’s waist and rose to leave.
After the second session, she no longer needed to lie on the bed, though bending was still off-limits for now.
Suxin soon came to attend to her.
Compared to before, Suxin was now very reserved, and Song Zhiyao noticed but said nothing.
She continued to give her usual instructions.
In just half a day, Suxin regained some of her former ease.
Song Zhiyao, with Suxin’s help, inspected her private storeroom. It was almost empty, so the process was quick.
She made a list, thoughtfully converting some items into market value.
“Deliver this to Lu Jinyu,” Song Zhiyao instructed Suxin. “Return immediately. No need for explanations.”
She hadn’t been joking last time.
Money was one thing, but her dowry… she was returning it all.
Suxin acknowledged and immediately took the list to Lu Jinyu’s estate.
Lin Guan Guan and Lu Jinyu were both present. Upon seeing that the list came from Song Zhiyao, Lin Guan Guan smiled brightly.
Lu Jinyu remained composed, but the corners of his lips curved slightly in pride.
Suxin delivered the items as instructed and quickly left.
Lin Guan Guan beamed at Lu Jinyu. “Brother Jinyu, you really have foresight. Song Zhiyao couldn’t resist… though I wonder what she sent this time.”
Thinking of Song Zhiyao, a trace of disdain flashed in Lu Jinyu’s eyes.
He casually handed the list to Lin Guan Guan.
She opened it, and the pages tumbled down in a flurry, forming a pile on the floor.
“So many things,” she marveled.
“Brother Jinyu, when did Song Zhiyao send all these?”
Lu Jinyu furrowed his brow and glanced over.
His body stiffened. Swiftly snatching the list, he confirmed that most of these items had already been delivered by Song Zhiyao.
And now she was sending the list again… what was her intention?
To remind him of all she had given?
He had never asked for anything—Song Zhiyao had always insisted on sending them.
But seeing so many items… even Lu Jinyu was secretly impressed.
His elder brother had married Song Zhiyao—that was eight generations of bad luck.
“Brother Jinyu, there’s something written on the back,” Lin Guan Guan said.
Lu Jinyu turned it over and saw two large characters: Return the Money!