Chapter 322: Do You Know Who You Are Working For?
Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Do You Know Who You Are Working For?
Sang Yue placed the peeled apple in Jiang Gong’s palm, then stood up to greet Shen Lu.
"Hello, I’m Sang Yue. ’Sang’ from the mulberry leaf, and ’Yue’ from the moon."
The young woman’s words were gentle—not in a coquettish way, but with the soft, melodic accent cultivated in the Yannan Water Village.
It was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through Shen Lu’s mind.
’Sang Yue... isn’t she the female lead?’
’That’s not right. Wasn’t Xue Can supposed to sit out this delegation’s mission? Why has the female lead appeared anyway?’
’Is this the power of the almighty plot?’
"Hello. Your name is very unique." Shen Lu’s mind was reeling with questions, but her expression betrayed nothing as she returned Sang Yue’s greeting.
Sang Yue pursed her lips into a small smile. "Perhaps it’s because my surname is rather uncommon."
"It is."
The two walked over to a nearby sofa, where Sang Yue quietly listed the things she needed.
As Shen Lu listened intently to the list of items, she was tempted to ask, ’Girl, what about your pocket dimension? Don’t you have everything in there?’
Sang Yue had, in fact, considered using her own supplies, but she didn’t dare. The technology here was different from her original world, and the materials of many items had changed. For the time being, she didn’t want to expose the fact that she had a pocket dimension.
"Okay, I’ve written down everything you need."
Sang Yue breathed a sigh of relief, a faint blush appearing on her fair cheeks. It was a good thing Xue Can had brought Shen Lu; otherwise, she would have been too embarrassed to ask for things like undergarments.
After all, telling a grown man her bra size would have been utterly mortifying.
After leaving the hospital room, Shen Lu couldn’t help but ask Xue Can, "Were you the one who rescued Sang Yue?"
"No." Xue Can shook his head. "Jiang Gong rescued her. Apparently, she saved him first while he was on a mission. Why?"
’So that’s how it was.’
Shen Lu felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
"It’s nothing. Just curious."
’She was afraid that as soon as the female lead appeared, everything would be forced to follow the original plot.’
’But from the looks of it now, that probably won’t happen, right?’
Shen Lu stole several glances at Xue Can, which he noticed.
"If you have something to say, Boss Shen, just say it."
"Do you..." Shen Lu chose her words carefully. "What do you think of Sang Yue?"
Xue Can didn’t understand what she was getting at. "Hm?"
"Do you find her... familiar? Do you feel an urge to protect her?"
Shen Lu couldn’t recall the novel’s description of Xue Can’s first meeting with Sang Yue, but she remembered the author repeatedly emphasizing his strong protective instincts toward her.
That’s why she had to ask about it.
"No." Xue Can was completely baffled. "Why would you ask something like that?"
"Um... because she’s pretty?"
Xue Can could tell that wasn’t her real reason, but since she was unwilling to say more, he didn’t press the issue.
There was a large superstore near the hospital. Xue Can led Shen Lu there, grabbing her arm on the way to keep the wind from blowing her away.
"You’ve got a strong grip, Mr. Xue," Shen Lu said teasingly once they were inside the store.
Xue Can pressed his lips together. ’She thinks *this* is strong? In that case, maybe he should just carry her back to the hospital later?’
Shen Lu was a fast shopper. She not only bought the items Sang Yue had requested but also thoughtfully added a few things the other girl hadn’t thought to ask for.
After dropping the items off at the hospital room, Shen Lu came back out.
"Mr. Xue, it’s about time. I’m going to find Fu Cheng."
"If you don’t mind, why don’t we go together? I’m heading there for dinner tonight anyway."
"Sure."
Fu Cheng always worked up a sweat during his rehabilitation sessions, so he would shower at the hospital and change into fresh clothes afterward.
Today, he took longer than usual in the shower, carefully smoothing out every wrinkle in his clothes before wheeling himself out.
He didn’t want Shen Lu to see him in such a sorry state again.
But as it turned out, it wasn’t just Shen Lu waiting for him outside—it was also the detestable Xue Can.
The Lower City District wasn’t exactly huge, but it could house several million people with room to spare.
’In a place this big, why did it have to be Xue Can?’
’Besides, he’d come to the hospital for rehab so many times, and today was the first time he’d run into him.’
"Here for a check-up, Mr. Xue?" Despite his internal complaints, Fu Cheng’s expression was as serene as ever, and he even managed to greet him calmly.
"Visiting a friend."
The two exchanged a brief greeting and then, by unspoken agreement, fell silent.
Shen Lu got into Fu Cheng’s car. Xue Can, who had driven his own car, followed them at a distance—not too close, but not too far behind.
During the drive, Shen Lu seemed preoccupied.
"What happened?" Fu Cheng keenly sensed that something was wrong with her mood. "Were you unable to get the medicine you wanted?"
"No." Shen Lu didn’t know where to begin. Some things were impossible to discuss with others; she could only process them on her own. "I’m worried about the weather."
’That definitely wasn’t the real reason.’
Fu Cheng’s eyes darkened, and he fell silent.
Back at the shop, Cai Su approached Shen Lu with a frown and told her what had happened.
"My mom got hit?" Shen Lu was surprised. "By who?"
"Sister Yang didn’t say, but..." Cai Su trailed off, though Shen Lu already understood.
There were only two people who would ever lay a hand on Yang Jing: Liu Qiang or Liu Yaozu. No one else in the shop would do such a thing.
"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Sister Cai. I’m sorry for the trouble."
Cai Su shook her head. It was no trouble; all she had done was help Yang Jing apply some medicine.
Shen Lu had neither the time nor the inclination to deal with Yang Jing’s problems right now. She and Cai Su had to get dinner ready.
Dinner consisted of mu-shu pork, a large platter of cauliflower, seaweed and egg drop soup, and scallion-braised pork chops.
After they had eaten their fill, it was time for the most relaxing part of Shen Lu’s day.
She took her usual stroll around the backyard. Yang Jing was sitting in a corner of the greenhouse, staring into space. Seeing Shen Lu approach, she scrambled to her feet, looking flustered.
The handprint on her face was still conspicuous, but Shen Lu took only a single glance before looking away.
"Don’t water the scallions every day," Shen Lu said. "You’ll kill them if you keep watering them daily."
It wasn’t high summer, the temperature inside the greenhouse was fine, and scallions didn’t like too much moisture. Yet Yang Jing watered the two scallion patches every single day. If Shen Lu hadn’t secretly sprinkled some potent fertilizer and if the fertile soil hadn’t been so resilient, the scallions would have drowned long ago.
"Oh... I-I understand," Yang Jing stammered, nodding nervously.
Shen Lu stared at her for two seconds. "I remember telling you this before. Why didn’t you listen?"
"..." Yang Jing’s eyes darted around in a panic. "I... It was your father. He said they should be watered every day."
A feeling of helplessness washed over Shen Lu. "You just do whatever he says? Do you even know who you’re working for?"
Yang Jing hung her head in shame. "I... I didn’t mean to."
"I overestimated you," Shen Lu sighed. "Fine, do whatever you want. If you ruin my crops, you can just pay for the damages."
"I-I won’t do it again."
"Mom, you’re not a clueless child anymore. Can’t you think before you speak and act? Do you really think it’s good to be so blindly dependent on others?"
Shen Lu hated lecturing Yang Jing like this, but she truly couldn’t stand to see her mother acting so spineless.
Yang Jing’s face flushed crimson. "I... Little Deer, are you ashamed of me?"
This time, Shen Lu didn’t hold back to save her mother’s feelings. "Yes. I am."