Chapter 232: A Hundred, a Thousand Times the Pain
“…The groceries are still in the car.”
Nan Zhi quickly found an excuse to change the subject.
Lu Shixu didn’t press the matter. He just followed quietly behind her, saying he’d help.
In fact, Lu Shixu was the one who carried in the vast majority of the items. Nan Zhi was only holding two light, airy bags of wild vegetables.
Just as the two were about to enter the house, they suddenly heard someone in the distance calling, “Nan Zhi.”
Nan Zhi and Lu Shixu turned around one after the other.
At the end of the country path, Fu Chao was walking toward them, holding Qing Xi’s hand. He quickly reached them.
Nan Zhi stopped in her tracks and asked him,
“What are you doing here?”
Fu Chao replied,
“Didn’t you say you were going to the market? I figured you’d be back around now, so I thought I’d come see you. Here, I brought you something.”
Earlier, Fu Chao had called Nan Zhi to ask if she wanted a ride into town to look around.
Nan Zhi had declined because she was already at the market with Nan Yi and Lu Shixu at the time.
Fu Chao hadn’t said anything then, but he had timed his arrival perfectly and showed up with a large pile of things in his hands.
Nan Zhi didn’t refuse him.
“Come on in.”
Just then, Lu Shixu shot a quick glance at Nan Zhi.
Fu Chao immediately noticed the subtle movement.
Suppressing a sneer, Fu Chao let out an intentionally exaggerated gasp.
“Why are you carrying two such big bags! Some people have no consideration! Here, give those to me!”
Lu Shixu, the target of the thinly-veiled jab, didn’t answer.
Nan Zhi couldn’t take it anymore.
“Don’t be so dramatic. These two bags of vegetables just look big; they’re actually very light.”
Fu Chao didn’t believe her and insisted on taking them.
When Nan Zhi finally gave in and handed the bags to him, he weighed them in his hands and finally quieted down… or so you’d think!
Fu Chao, clearly a master of verbal gymnastics, immediately changed his tune.
“If they’re this light, then there’s even less reason for you to be carrying them.”
Lu Shixu, once again the target of a veiled comment, remained silent.
How could Nan Zhi not see Fu Chao’s passive-aggressive digs?
“Alright, in the time we’ve spent talking, I could have already gone inside and put these down.”
Fu Chao was left speechless.
He couldn’t very well be sarcastic and passive-aggressive toward Nan Zhi, could he?
He quickly pulled Qing Xi along, following behind Nan Zhi and deliberately putting distance between her and Lu Shixu.
Nan Zhi saw his petty maneuver and found it amusing, but she didn’t stop him.
So Lu Shixu silently followed at the very back.
At a glance, his figure actually looked somewhat desolate and lonely!
Fu Chao, catching sight of this: ‘Pah! That sly fox really knows how to act!’
He quickly nudged Qing Xi.
Qing Xi: “Ah, Auntie Zhizhi, is Yiyi not here?”
As expected, Nan Zhi’s attention was diverted.
“Oh, him? He was tired out from our trip this morning, so he’s sleeping. Does Xiao Xi want to go play with him?”
Qing Xi waved his hand with the air of a big brother.
“It’s okay, I’ll wait for him to wake up. I can play by myself for now.”
Nan Zhi couldn’t help but smile, praising him,
“Xiao Xi is such a good boy. Why don’t you stay for lunch?”
For the past few days, Nan Yi had been staying with Nan Zhi over by the village school, while Qing Xi stayed in the village with Fu Chao. The two boys, who had been inseparable during last season’s filming, hadn’t played together in a long time this season.
Qing Xi happily agreed.
“Okay, okay! I love Auntie Zhizhi’s cooking!”
Nan Zhi’s smile grew even wider.
Fu Chao hadn’t expected this bonus and beamed brightly.
“Oh my, that would be imposing.”
Nan Zhi saw right through his feigned reluctance.
“You don’t want to eat?”
“…I do!”
Even if it wasn’t just to annoy Lu Shixu, Fu Chao had to stay for Nan Zhi’s cooking alone!
Nan Zhi didn’t bicker with Fu Chao, simply adding a few more dishes to the menu in her head.
The old house had a simple layout, with an open-plan kitchen.
Nan Zhi directed Lu Shixu and Fu Chao to put the things on the dining table while she went to get a colander, selecting the ingredients she would need for the day.
Lu Shixu and Fu Chao said in unison,
“I’ll help you!”
One voice was deep and cool, the other eager.
After their voices faded, they both glanced at each other at the same time.
Nan Zhi deliberately teased,
“I didn’t realize you two had such good chemistry.”
Lu Shixu refuted slowly and forcefully,
“We do not.”
Fu Chao pouted.
“Heh.”
Nan Zhi ignored the hostile atmosphere between them, placed the colander in the middle, and started giving orders without ceremony.
“First, wash the acacia flowers we bought today. Remember to be gentle; these flowers are very fragile, so don’t damage them. Then there are these wild vegetables. They were just freshly picked from the mountains, so they have a lot of dirt on them. Make sure to wash every single leaf thoroughly. Also, those…”
What Nan Zhi said was indeed clear and methodical.
But she had assigned them way too many tasks!
Back at Nan Family’s Small Restaurant, Fu Chao had been in charge of the front of house, but he didn’t have much experience in the kitchen.
The only “specialty dish” he had unlocked so far was dumplings, and he could barely manage to cook them without the filling spilling out.
Washing vegetables and such was truly a bit difficult for him.
Fu Chao: “W-wait! Say that again, I don’t remember it all clearly!”
Nan Zhi didn’t say anything and was about to patiently repeat herself.
“No need.”
Lu Shixu stopped her.
“I’ve memorized it. He can listen to me.”
Nan Zhi didn’t doubt him in the slightest and nodded.
“Alright, I’ll leave you to it then.”
She still had many other ingredients to prepare.
Seeing Nan Zhi turn and decisively exit the house,
Fu Chao shot a cold look at Lu Shixu.
“I never thought the great Mr. Lu would be so willing to lower himself.”
In Fu Chao’s eyes, Lu Shixu was definitely scheming with ill intentions!
It wasn’t that Fu Chao hated any man who got close to Nan Zhi, but that Lu Shixu was truly not a suitable partner!
Never mind his complicated family background, just look at that old man behind his family—was he someone to be trifled with?
This had nothing to do with whether Nan Zhi had a humble background or had a child.
That old man would never allow anyone who could sway Lu Shixu to exist!
What he wanted was a head of the Lu Family who was absolutely perfect, impartial, cold, and prioritized benefits above all else!
So, if that old man were to set his sights on Nan Zhi, what kind of catastrophic blow would that bring her?
He probably wouldn’t even have to target her specifically. Just the lift of a finger would be enough to destroy Nan Zhi’s entire career!
It was tragic, but it was reality.
Even Fu Chao was powerless to stop or change it.
What could Lu Shixu possibly do?
Lu Shixu looked askance at Fu Chao, his gaze as sharp and cold as ice.
“It seems Third Young Master Fu has forgotten what I said before. In that case, I’ll repeat it: ‘In what capacity are you standing here, ‘warning’ me on Nan Zhi’s behalf?'”
Fu Chao met Lu Shixu’s gaze without a hint of fear.
His perpetually smiling face was now sharp and formidable.
“Nan Zhi and I are closer than family. If you hurt her, I swear, no matter the cost, I will make you suffer a hundred, a thousand times more than she does!”