Chapter 588 - 507: It’s Settled
Chapter 588: Chapter 507: It’s Settled
After dinner, Lu Jianling still had work to finish, so she went back to the company to work overtime. Before she left, she told them she would be staying at the company dormitory tonight and wouldn’t be back.
Yang Liu’er wanted to go with her, but Lu Jianling stopped her. She said she had the next day off, while Yang Liu’er would be busy at the company all day, so she should just stay home with Weiwei tonight.
That night, after having his fill of running and jumping around, Weiwei was dragged into the bathroom by Lu Jian Country and scrubbed clean. Dressed in his pajamas, he ran into the side room. He wanted to sleep in his aunt’s bed, which was right next to Aunt Yang’s. In his mind, that counted as sleeping together.
Lu Jian Country followed his son inside. While coaxing his son to close his eyes and sleep, he made small talk with Yang Liu’er. Lu Jianling and Yang Liu’er were in the clothing business. Yang Liu’er had taken fashion design as an elective in school and had a bit of an advantage, relying on memories from her past life. Still, she studied hard to improve herself, never daring to slack off. She had sewing equipment in all her residences. In this room, for example, a small section had been cordoned off as a work area, allowing the two of them to immediately start working on any pattern or style that came to mind. At that moment, Yang Liu’er was sitting at her sewing machine, fiddling with a piece of fabric. The fluorescent light was bright, illuminating the room as if it were daytime.
Uncle Lu bolted the courtyard gate, walked over to the veranda of the side room, and stood at the doorway to ask if Weiwei was asleep. He then reminded Yang Liu’er to rest early and not strain her eyes before returning to his own room to sleep.
In truth, the moment his head hit the pillow, Weiwei had been lulled into dreamland by his father’s gentle pats. Lu Jian Country saw that his father had also gone to bed, leaving him and Liu’er as the only ones still awake. Gazing at the graceful woman working diligently at her craft just a few steps away, he composed himself and asked bluntly about the fight from earlier that day, demanding to know who the woman that hurt her was.
Yang Liu’er’s hands stilled for a moment. ’I knew it,’ she thought. ’He was sticking around tonight because he was definitely going to ask about this.’
After applying the ointment Xiao Man had given her, her chest no longer hurt. Yang Liu’er pretended not to know how much Lu Jian Country had learned from Weiwei. With what she hoped was a neutral expression, she recounted how she and Weiwei had gone to the Medical College to find Xiao Man, and how the three of them had run into Xiao Man’s grandmother and mother, as well as Wu Qin—the girl who was switched with Xiao Man at birth. She then frankly explained why she had fought with Wu Qin: Wu Qin was the woman who had seduced Bai Junfan. That scumbag and bitch had even gone to her new courtyard to roll around in her bed, defiling the new house and new bed she had worked so hard to furnish. Naturally, she hated Wu Qin to death and wanted to beat her up every time she saw her!
Lu Jian Country was silent for a moment after she finished. "You need to learn to use your head," he said. "Handle things calmly and don’t be impulsive. When you’re impulsive, accidents happen, don’t they? And now you’re hurt. Look, that Wu Qin is Manman’s mortal enemy too, right? But Manman doesn’t lay a hand on her. Why? Manman is patient. She must know Wu Qin very well and understands that Wu Qin will eventually bring about her own downfall."
Yang Liu’er looked up and rolled her eyes at Lu Jian Country. "Just say it. I’m hot-tempered, uncultured, and not a lady. I’m fine with that! Manman also said to wait for Wu Qin to get her just deserts, but I don’t have that kind of patience. I can’t wait. I want to tear her apart with my own hands. It’s satisfying!"
That eye-roll from Yang Liu’er hit Lu Jian Country, and his insides felt as if they were being roasted by fire, warm and tingling. If he hadn’t seen her gritting her teeth with a face full of hatred, he might have actually thought she had just thrown him a coquettish glance...
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Abandoning all principle, he said, "Alright, then. Whatever you want. Do whatever makes you feel better. I just... don’t want you to get hurt. The fact that she can hurt you means she’s more formidable than you. Why not leave her to me? I’ll get even for you."
Yang Liu’er shook her head. "This resentment is stuck in my heart. No one can do this for me! Manman said not to take Wu Qin’s life, but not to let her prance around for too long, either. She wants to give her a taste of her dreams turning to dust. In the meantime, I still want to beat her up a few more times with my own hands!"
Lu Jian Country was speechless.
’This girl really is stubborn,’ he thought. ’Her hatred is carved into her very bones. When she falls in love, she’s sure to be the type who never lets go.’
He silently rejoiced. ’Liu’er and Bai Junfan only had a beginning, no ending. And I appeared just in time. I’m confident that Liu’er and I can build a happy and beautiful life together. In our long life, we’ll have children and a love etched into our souls. I can be with Liu’er until her final moments. Bai Junfan? He’s nothing but a fleeting cloud in Liu’er’s dream, scattered by the wind!’
Lu Jian Country cleared his throat and said to Yang Liu’er, "Next time you go to beat someone up, let me come with you. I’ll just watch from a distance. I want to see for myself what kind of woman is so vicious. The college entrance exams are in two or three months. You just said that Manman doesn’t want that woman to take them, is that what you meant?"
Yang Liu’er said, "Manman’s grandfather in her hometown has an herb plantation. It’s full of precious herbs that aren’t sold to the public. You know they were switched at birth, so that hometown is also Wu Qin’s hometown. Wu Qin is digging her own grave; she’s helping outsiders find loopholes to steal the herbs. Manman said she won’t forgive her this time."
"This matter... I understand now." Lu Jian Country nodded thoughtfully. He stood up and looked at Yang Liu’er. "It’s late. You can work on this tomorrow. You should rest."
Yang Liu’er let out a sound of agreement, put down the fabric, and got up to see Lu Jian Country out. Just as the door was about to close, Lu Jian Country finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He asked softly, "Liu’er, about what we talked about last Sunday... have you thought about it?"
Yang Liu’er bit her lip. She met Lu Jian Country’s eyes but was quickly forced to lower her gaze by his earnest, burning stare.
"Brother Lu, are you really not afraid of the Bai Family’s power? Aren’t you afraid Bai Junfan will cause trouble for you?"
Lu Jian Country placed his hand on the doorknob and said firmly, "Liu’er, rest assured. The Lu Family may be humble, but we’re not a family the Bai Family can push around whenever they please! When I, Lu Jian Country, take a wife and start a family, I have the ability to protect all of them and keep them safe and sound!"
"But once you’ve recovered, you still have to go back to the Northwest."
"I’m not going back! During my years in the Northwest, I took in several professors and scholars at someone’s request. As it happens, some were experts in my field. I received their careful guidance, so I lack neither practical experience nor theoretical knowledge. After getting injured this time, my mentor advised me to take this opportunity to study at a university for two years and get all the certificates I need. I’ve decided to listen to him. And... if we get married, I won’t leave home so easily in the future. I promise, I’ll keep my word!"
Yang Liu’er lowered her head even further. "You know everything about what happened with me and Bai Junfan. My heart is bitter and empty... I like Weiwei, and I can love him as if he were my own son. But with you, I’m afraid... I don’t have it in me! Are you still willing, even with that?"
Lu Jian Country said solemnly, "I am! I will give you my all and treat you with all my heart. All you have to do is accept me! So, is it settled? We’ll pick an auspicious day and get it done?"
Yang Liu’er squeezed her eyes shut. "Let’s get married! I, Yang Liu’er, don’t do things by halves. If we’re getting married, it’s a real marriage. We’ll be bound together. In life, I’ll be your woman, and in death, I’ll be your ghost!"
Lu Jian Country was nearly knocked over by a wave of pure ecstasy. He stood stunned for a moment before he could no longer hold back and exclaimed, "Good! We’ll share a blanket in life and a grave in death! I, Lu Jian Country, and Yang Liu’er will never be separated!"