Chapter 33 Taking Back Her Love

It was a quiet and long night.

Lu Zhenyu sat on the edge of the bed in front of the French windows, hugging her legs.

The lights were off, and only the round moon outside illuminated the woman's thin face.

She gazed at the distant, unreachable horizon through the glass window, her breath light and faint.

In the evening, Feng Manman called the servant who was taking care of her. The servant cried loudly for half an hour, which frightened Feng Manman, who wondered if something had happened to Uncle Zuojiang.

After the girl finished crying, she blew her nose and said to her very seriously:

“Zhenzhen, forget about Shen Jingsi. After you get a successful divorce, I’ll introduce you to someone even better.”

Feng Manman didn't even need to recount in detail what had happened to Shen Jingsi and Duan Xier these past few days; Lu Zhenyu had already guessed what was going on.

At that moment, she felt a mix of emotions, but she still smiled and asked, "What about even better ones? What kind?"

"Take your pick, I can find you any kind of girlfriend you want."

Lu Zhenyu stroked her chin and thought about it seriously, "Then... I want someone handsome, with a good physique, and preferably a younger, more 'wolf-like' guy."

Feng Manman smiled through her tears, "You actually ordered what I asked you to, but that's not a high request. I think my second brother can satisfy you in every way except for the fact that he's younger than you."

Second brother?

That army major general, Feng Jinzhou?

Lu Zhenyu shook her head helplessly.

Even knowing that none of this was possible, she still went along with it, saying, "Okay~ then I'll wait."

It seems that no matter when, in front of the person she loves, Lu Zhenyu always maintains her lingering, delicate gentleness.

Like Mother Earth, who bears the weight of time and nourishes all things, she brings warmth and peace to those who approach her, making them unconsciously rely on her and watch over her.

So Feng Manman wanted to give her the best things in the world, and then said in a serious tone:

"Actually, I really wanted to introduce my older brother to you, but he suddenly got married to a girl in Shenyang a while ago."

With a sigh of deep regret, she said, "What a pity. Such a perfect man, I should have made my move on you sooner."

Lu Zhenyu was both amused and exasperated. It seemed that her friend wanted to bring all the good men in the world into her life as potential blind dates before they were all taken.

Feng Manman knew, of course, that Lu Zhenyu was just joking with her, and that feeling came back to her.

“Zhenzhen, I’m serious.”

Lu Zhenyu asked softly, "What?"

"Please stop loving Shen Jingsi, okay? Really, stop loving him."

Feng Manman's throat tightened as she recalled what she had seen in the office during the day.

The smile on Lu Zhenyu's lips slowly faded. "Did he bully you again?"

"No." Lying on the bed, Feng Manman covered her eyes with her arm, sucking her tears into her sleeve.

"I just..." She choked up several times, her lips trembling, struggling to utter those three words, "...I feel sorry for you."

The suppressed sobs coming from the receiver reddened Lu Zhenyu's eyes, and it felt as if a heavy stone had fallen into her chest, making it difficult for her to breathe again.

“I’ve always thought that if you hadn’t gone to the Shen family back then, hadn’t met Shen Jingsi, and had instead lived with me, would none of the things that happened afterward have occurred, and you wouldn’t have had to suffer so much?”

Feng Manman cried harder and harder as she spoke, until she could no longer speak clearly. "I always felt that all your suffering was caused by Shen Jingsi."

Is it always a matter of who caused whom suffering?

Perhaps it's just fate.

Fate has made them this way, and who can stop it?

“Manman, just tell me directly, what did he…” Lu Zhenyu’s voice trailed off, she swallowed back the emotions rising in her throat, “What did Shen Jingsi do?”

Before making that call, Feng Manman struggled with her thoughts for a long time, repeatedly telling herself not to say it, not to say it.

Even if the truth can't be hidden forever, let the sisters have a few days of peace first.

But she couldn't hold back any longer, "That bastard is getting engaged to Duan Xi'er."

There was no sound from the other end of the phone for a long time. Feng Manman called out to someone several times without success, so she sat up.

"Zhenzhen, are you still listening?"

After a long while, a faint voice came from the other end, "I'm here."

The hoarse voice made Feng Manman's heart ache, "Are you alright?"

Lu Zhenyu lay flat on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Her eyes were dry and red, but no tears came out. Her amber eyes were more lifeless than the night.

She said, "I'm fine."

Feng Manman asked cautiously, "What are you doing right now?"

Actually, I wanted to be with her and hug her, because I knew without a doubt that her heart was already broken at that moment.

Lu Zhenyu replied, "I'm admiring the moon."

"The moon?" Feng Manman climbed to the window and saw a bright, round moon.

The voice on the other end of the phone said, "The moon was just as round on the second night I returned to China. At that time, I thought it meant that my life was about to be complete."

But she only learned tonight that the moon isn't just full the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, it's full every sixteenth day of the lunar month.

"It turns out that it wasn't me who was fulfilled, but them."

Are you very sad?

It's alright.

Lu Zhenyu had foreseen this outcome five years ago.

At this moment, she just felt a little depressed and heavy-hearted, unable to laugh or cry.

After an unknown amount of time, a gentle voice came from the receiver: "Manman, I will."

Feng Manman didn't react immediately, grabbed her phone and asked, "What do you mean?"

Looking at that day and that month, Lu Zhenyu calmly said, "I will give my love to no one."

-

To avoid his father's annual leave, Zheng Yaozong has been out partying and hasn't been home at all lately.

This gave Lu Zhenyu a much more leisurely life. After recovering, he spent his days painting in the back mountain and writing articles in his room.

Sometimes after dinner, I would go for a walk and run into Mr. Zheng, and we would walk together.

In such a large Zheng family, Lu Zhenyu has spoken the most with Zheng's father in the five years since she married into the family.

Gao Zhengjie was a good official who served the country and its people. His only flaw, which could hardly be called a shortcoming, was that he worked in other provinces most of the year and only returned home twice a year at most.

"You must have suffered a lot of injustices with Xiao Zong while you were abroad all these years, right?"

There was no need to answer the question; Lu Zhenyu only needed to smile, and Gao Zhengjie would understand.

He sighed, "That child is spoiled by his maternal grandfather and mother. He never knows his place. If he dares to bully you again, tell Dad, and I'll deal with him."

If there's anyone in this world that Zheng Yaozong can fear, it's his own father.

Although Gao Zhengjie didn't spend much time with him when he was young, he would really beat him when he made mistakes.

As his official position grew, his influence within the Zheng family increased, making his sons even more wary of him.

Back when Shen Jingsi nearly killed Zheng Yaozong, if it weren't for Gao Zhengjie's intervention, Old Master Zheng would never have let the Shen family off so easily.

Lu Zhenyu calmly replied, "Thank you, Dad. I understand."

The man's eyes, hidden behind the silver mirror, held a faint smile, a genuine appreciation for his daughter-in-law.

"I heard you've been writing a lot. How about it? Have you ever thought about publishing a few of your own books and trying your hand at being a writer?"

Lu Zhenyu's gaze deepened slightly as Shen's father looked at her with a smile. After a moment, she looked away and gazed at the nearly desolate forest ahead.

In a calm tone, he said, "I can't go anywhere on weekdays, so I pass the time by writing, but as for being a writer, I don't think I have that ability."

Gao Zhengjie also looked away. "How will you know if you don't try? If you want to do it, just say so, and Dad will help you."

Hearing a soft thank you, he called out to her again, "Xiao Yu."

Lu Zhenyu looked at the man and said, "Father, please speak plainly."

Intelligent people always communicate in this way; there's no need for beating around the bush, a single glance is enough for them to understand each other's thoughts.

For those who hold office for a long time, it is common for them to cut off the tail of the enemy. "If we talk about character and values, Xiao Zong is far from a good match for you. It is only natural for you to want to leave."

Gao Zhengjie said to her seriously, "If you are ever really determined to get a divorce, just come and tell me. In the Zheng family now, I still have the authority to make decisions."

Under Lu Zhenyu's slightly surprised gaze, Gao Zhengjie stood up and gently patted her shoulder.

"Go back early and think carefully about what I said."

Watching the man leave with his hands behind his back, Lu Zhenyu remained seated under the desolate pavilion.

She couldn't be sure if Gao Zhengjie truly intended to help her get a divorce, but she was certain that this man's eyes were far more far-reaching than his hands.

If she wants to divorce Zheng Yaozong, will he help her?

Lu Zhenyu may not completely disbelieve him, but she understands one thing: his name is Gao Zhengjie, he is Zheng Yaozong's biological father, and also the future head of this Zheng family mansion.

Perhaps there's 80% truth to it, but Lu Zhenyu doesn't have the extra life to gamble on the remaining 20%.