Chapter 660 - 568: An Ill-Fated Past
Chapter 660: Chapter 568: An Ill-Fated Past
Shi Juying was the first to refuse to leave. Wiping away tears, she ran to the table and sat down next to Uncle Lu, looking like a frightened little bird. Even Uncle Lu found her quite pitiful.
Grandma Shi heard Shi Juhong’s continuous cries of pain but was reluctant to go outside. ’It’s so cold with the wind howling like that,’ she thought. ’Besides, I haven’t achieved my goal yet.’ Her eyes darted about as she decided it would be best to just let Lu Jian Country take Shi Juhong to the hospital alone.
Shi Zhiquan, on the other hand, went to support Shi Juhong. He subconsciously glanced back at the table laden with food and wine. Smelling the rich aroma of fish and meat, he swallowed hard, his stomach feeling even emptier. "Why don’t we eat first?" he muttered. "It won’t taste good if it gets cold!"
Shi Juhong glared at him. "Eat, eat, eat! That’s all you think about! I’m dying of pain over here, and you’re still obsessed with food! Are you the reincarnation of a hungry ghost? Have you not eaten in eight lifetimes?"
"She’s right. The injured come first. We should get to the hospital and treat that injury without delay. There’ll be plenty of good food and drink later!"
Lu Jian Country’s tone was light, as if he hadn’t been the one to injure Shi Juhong’s hand. He kindly lifted the heavy cloth curtain and nodded to Shi Zhiquan. "Come on out. Help her out the gate and walk about a hundred meters. A black car is parked under the old locust tree. Just wait there, and I’ll drive you over."
A glint of light flashed in Grandma Shi’s eyes. ’Look at that! My son-in-law is so capable, he even has a car! Tomorrow, I’ll have him drive me back home in it. Imagine how glorious and respectable I’ll look, his mother-in-law, riding in a car!’
Once Shi Zhiquan had helped Shi Juhong out the door, Lu Jian Country turned back inside. He grabbed Grandma Shi and Shi Juying, one in each hand, and hauled them to their feet. "Your own daughter and sister is going to the hospital. As her mother and younger sister, how can you not be by her side? You’re all coming along!"
Lu Jianling brought Weiwei over to Uncle Lu, then cooperatively began gathering the two bundles the Shi family had brought with them to take outside. Uncle Lu sighed and said to Lu Jianling, "They’re just here for a bit of money. Tell your brother, if he has some to spare, he should just give them a little extra. After all, Ju Xiang did leave us Weiwei. We can’t erase that contribution."
Lu Jianling opened her mouth as if to say something, but then she saw Weiwei nestled listlessly in his grandfather’s arms. With a soft sigh, she swallowed her words and turned to walk out the door.
Lu Jian Country drove off with the members of the Shi family. Lu Jianling followed the car part of the way out of the alley, her eyes scanning the surroundings. To her surprise, there was no sign of Yang Liu’er. ’She’s been gone for a while now,’ she thought, puzzled. ’Why isn’t she back? Don’t tell me she’s walking her friend all the way to their front door?’
Meanwhile, Yang Liu’er and Xiao Man were strolling leisurely along the street. The streetlights had turned on, and snowflakes had begun to drift down through the twilight. Pedestrians hurried to and fro, most looking eager to get home. On such a cold day, the two of them were likely the only ones with the idle mind for a walk.
Neither of them felt particularly cold, as their attention was almost entirely focused on their conversation. Xiao Man was filled with curiosity, while Yang Liu’er’s eyes showed not only confusion but also a touch of bewildered helplessness.
"Manman, do you think I should tell Lu Jian Country about my past life?"
"Can’t you just hold your horses for a minute? You can’t just go telling everyone about past lives at the drop of a hat. Who do you think is going to believe you? Look at Bai Junfan—he didn’t really believe it. If he had, given his personality, things would have been much worse for you! He would have locked you up long ago. Trying to leave the Bai Family would have been nothing but a dream."
Yang Liu’er’s expression faltered. She said softly, "I... I don’t know why. I just feel like Lu Jian Country would believe me. That he wouldn’t hurt me!"
"And what would be the point of telling him?" Xiao Man shot her a look. "To tell Lu Jian Country that in his past life he married Shi Juying, then you unfortunately died in a tsunami, and Shi Juying’s son and Weiwei became mortal enemies fighting over the inheritance, which ended with Weiwei and his cousin—Lu Jianling’s son—dying together in a car crash? Are you serious? None of that is good news, so why make them miserable by telling them? This life is already different. You can just quietly guide them to avoid the disasters of their past lives! In short, I think you can be very happy together as you are. You don’t need to worry about anything else!"
The Lu Feng Group. In their past life, it was a major conglomerate consistently ranked among the top ten in the world, so of course Xiao Man knew of it. She was just as surprised. She never would have thought that the famous Boss Lu was actually Lu Jian Country! ’I really can’t see it,’ she thought. ’There’s absolutely no resemblance.’ But after hearing what Yang Liu’er said, she slowly cast her mind back, and it seemed it really was him!
In his past life, Boss Lu wasn’t named Lu Jian Country; he must have changed his name. His public image in magazines, newspapers, and on television was worlds apart from how he looked now. That Boss Lu had a very distinctive, large beard and a stout, imposing build—the spitting image of a tycoon. He was always followed by an entourage of male and female bodyguards and secretaries, but he was never pictured with his wife. His wife rarely appeared at major functions, and his two sons and other relatives also seldom made public appearances. To the outside world, the Lu Family was mysterious, glorious, and fabulously wealthy. It was just a shame that the fates of Boss Lu and his eldest son were not good.
Yang Liu’er kicked at the snow beneath her feet and sighed. "I’m still in a daze. The wildly famous Lu Feng Group from my past life actually belongs to the Lu Family, and the world-class billionaire is Lu Jian Country! Oh my god! I never even met him in person in my past life. I only knew a man like that existed from the idle chatter of the Bai Family. And whenever I occasionally watched the news with Bai Junfan, I would always hear the name ’Lu Feng Group.’ The only reason I even recognized ’Mrs. Lu,’ Shi Juying, was because of Tang Yaxuan. I don’t know what their relationship was, but Tang Yaxuan brought Shi Juying to the Bai Family estate twice. Shi Juying actually really liked the liangpi I made... Seeing her so suddenly today gave me a huge shock. I don’t know, it just feels... tsk! It’s like I stole her husband or something!"
Xiao Man was speechless. ’This is exactly why Meng Po Soup exists,’ she thought. ’Suddenly running into your husband’s wife from a past life has to be incredibly uncomfortable.’
Xiao Man smiled at Yang Liu’er. "It must have been tough for you, holding this in all day. If I hadn’t shown up, were you planning on telling Lu Jian Country right away?"
Yang Liu’er shook her head. "If you hadn’t come, I probably would have called you to meet up tomorrow. I wouldn’t blurt out something I wasn’t sure about."
"Honestly, in my opinion, it’s not a matter of ’stealing’ or ’snatching’ anyone’s husband. After all, while you’d heard of him, you never actually knew Lu Jian Country in your past life. You two married in this life because fate brought you together. Besides, from what you’ve said, their marriage couldn’t have been a happy one. Lu Jian Country, Weiwei, and even Lu Jianling met tragic ends. That sounds more like an ill-fated bond than anything else! In this life, Lu Jian Country is completely devoted to building a family with you, and he only sees Shi Juying as Weiwei’s aunt. Even if he were to ’awaken’ to some of his past, there’s no way he would choose Shi Juying again. So you don’t need to feel guilty. If you truly love Weiwei and want what’s best for Brother Lu, then your job is to protect them. That’s what’s important. Of course, if you feel you trust Brother Lu completely and you really, truly want to share your past with him, that’s your choice."
Hearing Xiao Man’s words, Yang Liu’er began to relax a little. They walked another fifty meters or so before Xiao Man reminded her she should be heading back, since they still had guests at home. Yang Liu’er was reluctant. "I can tell they aren’t happy to see me. If I’m just standing there, they probably won’t be able to enjoy their meal. I might as well wait until they’ve had their fill before I go back. Sigh, it makes me feel terrible, too."
"Well, should I walk you back again then?"
"No, don’t. You should head home before your family starts to worry. And what’s the deal with Lu Jian Country? Did he lie about coming to get us? Hailing a cab would be more reliable!"
In the end, the two of them walked back to the mouth of the alley. Yang Liu’er watched Xiao Man get into a taxi and drive away before finally turning to head home.