Walking out of the Educated Youth Office, Lu Shiman felt her mood lift noticeably. Even the air seemed fresher; the shabby streets and old houses suddenly looked rather endearing.
“My popularity really is terrible,” she muttered. “When I actually need help, I can’t find anyone.”
She ran through the names in her head, trying to think of someone suitable to help her look into Li Laizi’s whereabouts. After scratching her head for a while, she let out a sigh.
It seemed she could only go back to Wu Hongfei again. Hopefully, he wouldn’t find her annoying.
She headed toward Wu Hongfei’s place. At the same time, Song Zhibai was pacing back and forth outside the Lu residence. He had waited a long while without seeing Lu Shiman, but instead saw Li Shichuan and Xiang Hongmei walking together hand in hand, looking intimate.
They were careful to avoid people, but there were no neighboring houses around the Lu residence, so the road was quiet and safe. That only made them bolder.
Song Zhibai stepped back a few paces and hid behind a wall. A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes.
That scumbag Li Shichuan—actually keeping a mistress. Did he deserve the Lu family at all?
He took a deep breath. The young miss was beautiful, but her mind… Perhaps she hadn’t noticed yet. He needed to inform her first.
Clenching his fists, he forced down the killing intent. Only after the two entered the Lu residence did he step out.
Wu Hongfei found the knocking at the door strange. Usually, months would pass without a single visitor. Why had people been coming so frequently these past few days?
When he opened the door and saw Lu Shiman, he was even more surprised.
“Young miss, this is…?”
“Can’t find a place to put the furniture?”
After thinking it over, he concluded that only one thing could bring the young miss back to this rundown alley: she couldn’t find room for the items from that morning. Otherwise, how could she lower herself to come again?
Lu Shiman shook her head. “I have something else I need to trouble you with. Can you help me find someone?”
Wu Hongfei frowned slightly. Finding someone wasn’t difficult. “Sure. Who?”
“My family’s nanny’s ex-husband—Li Laizi.”
The man wasn’t hard to locate, but why look for him? A nanny’s ex-husband—had he offended her?
“Just tell me whether you can find him or not. I have my reasons.”
“If you can’t, I’ll ask someone else.”She didn’t even know who else to ask, but her persona couldn’t collapse. Too many people had watched the original owner grow up—one wrong move and it would all fall apart.
She planted her hands on her hips, chin slightly raised, eyes proud and haughty, as if she would flip out if Wu Hongfei dared refuse.
Wu Hongfei pressed a hand to his head. This was very much the young miss. How could ordinary people ever understand her thinking?
“I can find him. Will tomorrow be soon enough?”
“Finding someone takes time. I need to ask around.”
He explained patiently, afraid she might demand immediate results. After all, he was crippled—how could he be that capable?
“Tomorrow will do. The sooner, the better.” Lu Shiman nodded. They were getting one more day of comfort—it really did make her uncomfortable to think about.
Still, she knew this kind of thing couldn’t be rushed.
“Thank you. How much will it cost to grease the wheels?”
Favors weren’t free; getting things done required money. Lu Shiman understood this well.
“You’ve already given enough, young miss. No need.”
Wu Hongfei shook his head. “Oh, right—Xiao Bai went to look for you. Did you see him?”
“Xiao Bai?” Lu Shiman frowned. Was that a person? It sounded like a dog’s name.
Did she remember someone like that?
“Song Zhibai. The boy who accompanied you to school for half a year,” Wu Hongfei said, tapping his head. How could people like them even exist in the young miss’s memory?
Xiao Bai had joined the army early on. It wasn’t strange that she didn’t remember him.
As they spoke, Song Zhibai returned, his face dark. When he reached the alley entrance and saw that figure from behind, he stopped.
Young miss.
His instincts told him that was the person he was looking for.
Lu Shiman searched her memories as well. There did seem to be such a person—skinny and small, acting as her lackey for half a year. Later, Lu Shiyin noticed his potential and sent him to study. After that, her grandfather sent him into the army.
But why was he looking for her now? Old Master Lu was gone, and Lu Shiyin had long since left. What did he want?
“Xiao Bai, you’re back? What a coincidence,” Wu Hongfei called out.
“You two talk. I’ll go ask around about Li Laizi.”
He waved at Lu Shiman and left.
Lu Shiman turned and saw a man standing straight as a poplar tree. His skin was bronze and healthy-looking; his eyes deep and resolute, nose high, jawline sharp and defined.
“Young miss.”
His voice was hoarse, carrying a faint trace of sorrow.
“You were looking for me?” Lu Shiman inclined her head slightly, her tone calm.
She couldn’t yet tell what he wanted. If he didn’t move, neither would she.
“I saw that bastard Li Shichuan holding hands with a woman.”
He spoke through clenched teeth. This was something no one else needed to know—but Lu Shiman absolutely did.
“I know. Xiang Hongmei.”“So what are you trying to say? Or rather, what do you want to do? Take revenge for me?”
Lu Shiman nodded, studying him with curiosity. What exactly did he want?
“I…”
Song Zhibai’s words caught in his throat. He opened his mouth, but after a long pause, only managed a single “I.”
How could he say it? Say that the Lu family was facing upheaval, and if things came to the worst, she could marry him?
They were practically strangers now. Why would the young miss marry him?
Lu Shiman raised an eyebrow. This man was interesting. Why hadn’t he appeared in the book?
Was he removed to make the female lead’s path to Hong Kong smoother—no obstacles allowed?
“Spit it out. My time is precious,” she urged.
If there was nothing else, she still had to go back and deal with those three old bastards.
Song Zhibai took a deep breath, gripping the corner of his clothes, visibly conflicted.
“I heard the Lu family may be investigated. If—if it comes to that, I can help you.”
The sentence came out haltingly. He had never felt so clumsy, unable to even speak properly.
Lu Shiman’s head buzzed. In situations like this, shouldn’t people be running for their lives?
And yet someone was volunteering to help her—was she hallucinating?
“How do you plan to help me?” she asked, amused.
“If you don’t mind, you could marry me—for now. A fake marriage. I’m currently a battalion commander and meet the requirements for family accompaniment. We could move elsewhere. No matter how turbulent things get in Zhe Province, it wouldn’t affect you. After a few years, when things settle down, we can divorce. I’ll respect whatever choice you make.”
“…What? Are you serious? Why would you gamble your entire future?”
“You’re doing this just to repay a debt of gratitude?”
The shock in Lu Shiman’s eyes was impossible to hide.
Someone with her background would almost certainly affect his promotions. His entire future could be ruined.
“Isn’t being a battalion commander good enough?”
Between his career and protecting the only bloodline left by Mr. Lu, there was no hesitation at all.
He looked at her steadily, without a trace of regret.
“If it comes to that, and there’s no better option, I’m willing to be your last resort—to protect you for the rest of my life.”