Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chaste and Fierce Man
Yan Wuxin touched his nose guiltily, "Well... the night I went to Fengchun Tower to redeem him, he was trying to commit suicide by hitting his head against a pillar because he refused to entertain customers. He bled a lot, it was quite frightening. At the time, I couldn't think of any other way, so I quickly redeemed him. Fengchun Tower happened to be not far from Jiu'an Hall, so Fang Qing and I took him to Jiu'an Hall for treatment that very night. We also rented a courtyard next door for him so it would be convenient for him to get medical treatment and medicine."
Lu Jinlan was shocked for a long time, both surprised and angry: "Such a big thing, and you didn't mention a single word to me?"
Yan Wuxin protested, "Didn't you tell me not to say anything at first? Anyway, Manager Ping said that Yu Mian was your person and she would definitely cure him, and his life wasn't in danger, so I didn't mention it. Later, you were angry with him, and you got upset whenever anyone mentioned him, so how could I dare to say anything? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
Lu Jinlan breathed a sigh of relief, "Alright, alright, I'm just asking you to do this one thing for me, and you've done a complete mess of it. If there's anything else you haven't said, just tell me quickly."
Yan Wuxin clenched his fists and thought for a moment, "You know everything except what he said about threatening to kill himself."
Lu Jinlan pinched the bridge of her nose and noticed that Xiang Ruzhen had been watching her.
Lu Jinlan said helplessly, "Ruzhen, at this time, you shouldn't say things like 'Don't be obsessed with men'."
Xiang Ruzhen immediately denied it: "I didn't mean to say that. On the contrary, I think Young Master Lou's actions have impressed me. He is a loyal and righteous man, and you really shouldn't have let him down."
Yan Wuxin chimed in, "That's right, Lu Jinlan, you are a heroine, loyal and generous to your sisters, no doubt about it. But aren't you too heartless towards men? People call you a romantic and talented woman, if you keep betraying Young Master Lou's affections, won't you become a heartless woman?"
Lu Jinlan sighed, "It's a bit of a mess, let me think about it."
Lu Jinlan never imagined that Lou Yumin was so deeply in love with her. Although she had already learned of his feelings for her through the system notification that night, had it really come to this?
Unable to sleep at night, she couldn't help but recall Lou Yumin's agitated expression during their argument that day.
His captivating eyes were pitifully red. He looked up at her, gripped her hem tightly, and asked painfully, "Just because I once fell into prostitution, do you think I'm available to any man?"
He refused to work as a prostitute for her sake, even willing to die. Yet she told him to marry another woman. How heartbroken he must have been at that moment.
Thinking about all this, Lu Jinlan wished she could slap herself.
Unable to sleep, she tossed and turned, and finally gritted her teeth and woke up Yan Wuxin and Xiang Ruzhen.
Once outside the dormitory, Lu Jinlan immediately said, "I need to go out and check on Yu Mian."
Yan Wuxin: "I support you, go! Men need care most at this time."
Xiang Ruzhen hesitated for a moment, "But this violates the student code of conduct."
Lu Jinlan said, "If I don't go, you'll say I'm heartless. If I go, you'll say I'm breaking the rules. You should come up with a way to satisfy both sides."
Xiang Ruzhen frowned and remained silent for a moment, as if she was really trying to think of a way to have the best of both worlds.
“I’ve got it! If you’re going out on official business and have to break school rules, that’s perfectly reasonable. It’s also reasonable for you to visit the sick Young Master Lou while you’re out.”
Lu Jinlan nodded. "What you said makes a lot of sense. There's only one question: what official business do I have?"
Xiang Ruzhen: "Didn't you say that there must be some kind of illicit dealings behind the cafeteria owner's back? Anyway, his house isn't far from Jiu'an Hall. Why don't you go and take a look? You might find something."
Lu Jinlan: "You said it yourself. If you punish me for this, I won't accept it."
Xiang Ruzhen couldn't help but laugh and said, "You're going out on a student council investigation mission this time. If you get caught, it's on me. I'll take the blame for you."
"My dear sisters! You two cover for me, I'm off."
So Xiang Ruzhen and Yan Wuxin pretended to argue to attract the patrol team, and Lu Jinlan took advantage of the chaos to climb over the wall and head straight for Willow Leaf Alley.
She found the small courtyard with a red gate next to the dessert shop. The people inside were still awake. Judging from the big-headed, big-bellied figure, it must be the owner of the canteen.
This old guy is in his forties, single, and has a simple social network, so he's really hard to investigate. Lu Jinlan peeked through the crack in the window and saw the guy count his money for a while, sort out his accounts, blow out the light, and go to sleep.
Lu Jinlan secretly noted down the location where he had left the account book and quietly left.
*
Lou Yumian had just taken his medicine and lay down to sleep when, in his hazy state, a warm hand gently touched his forehead.
Lou Yumian opened her eyes and saw Lu Jinlan sitting by the bed, her eyes instantly reddening.
His voice trembled slightly as he asked, "Am I dreaming?"
Lu Jinlan smiled. "Do you want me to pinch you?"
Lou Yumin suddenly pounced on her, hugged her tightly, and said domineeringly, "I'm happy even if it's a dream, but you're not allowed to leave if it's a dream."
Lu Jinlan gently patted his back, "You've lost weight, are you still sick?"
"It was just a cold, I'm all better now. But Manager Ping was worried and told me to take my medicine for a few more days. These days, men in the capital consider thinness to be beautiful, and Fang Qing hasn't eaten much these past two days in order to surprise Young Madam Yan. Isn't it good to be thin?"
Lu Jinlan frowned. "You're not following the trend of dieting too, are you?"
Lou Yumin's face flashed with a hint of guilt: "Don't you like me being thin? Then I'll eat more in the future."
"Hmm, don't be too thin, it's unhealthy and you'll get sick easily." Lu Jinlan said, checking his forehead. Last time, it was covered by a hairband, so she hadn't noticed it. Now, upon closer inspection, she could indeed see a scar the size of a fingernail.
She couldn't help but feel sorry for him and said, "How could you do such a foolish thing? Why didn't you say anything when you saw me last time?"
Lou Yumin lowered her eyes. "I didn't mean to use this to manipulate your feelings. If I really died, I wouldn't want you to have a life taken for nothing. If I really wanted to do that, I shouldn't have let you leave that morning. I would have clung to your legs and begged you to redeem me. I didn't do that because I know I'm not worthy."
Lu Jinlan quickly said, "You're not allowed to say that. I'm not some kind of good woman."
“You are, you are the best woman in the world. I have never heard of any patron who would look down on a man in a brothel. But that night you told me not to belittle myself, that there are also men of character in the world of prostitution. I have never been pitied by any woman, but you are a renowned and talented woman who wrote a poem for me and even left your name.”
Lou Yumin smiled wistfully as she spoke, “At that time, I thought my life had been worthwhile, and I would die willingly. I didn’t know you would send someone to redeem me, otherwise I would never have died.”
He said, taking Lu Jinlan's hand. "Just let me follow you. I've decided on you for life. I don't want any title or status, and I dare not hope that you will love me. I only ask to be by your side, even if it's as your servant like Qing'er. As long as you don't drive me away, that's enough."
"Don't say anymore." Lu Jinlan kissed the corner of his mouth. "I won't send you away. How could I bear to hurt my man?"
Lou Yumin's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Before Lu Jinlan could answer, he pounced on her eagerly, like a giant dog wagging its tail, pressing down on her and kissing her endlessly.
Lu Jinlan, her eyes glazed, gently touched his head. "Seducing me? Aren't you sick?"
Lou Yumin licked her lips. "I'm all better, really. If you don't believe me, try it."
Lu Jinlan curled the corners of her lips and reached into his collar. "Then I'll see if you've improved."
The bed curtains were drawn, and suddenly another downpour began.
As dawn approached, Lou Yumian helped Lu Jinlan get up and dress.
Lu Jinlan said, "This courtyard is too small, I'm sorry to make you feel uncomfortable. When I have time off, I'll buy a big house. Manager Ping is really something, she's usually so thoughtful and considerate, she knows you're one of my people, but she didn't even arrange for a few people to serve you. I'm worried about you living alone."
Lou Yumin smiled. "I have martial arts skills, and the capital is safe, so you don't need to worry. Manager Ping did say he wanted to buy me two servants, but I refused. I can take care of myself. This courtyard has six rooms, which is big enough for me to live in alone. Besides, Jiu'an Hall is right next door, and Qing'er often comes over to talk to me, so it's very convenient. Most importantly, it's close to you. Even if you bought a big house, it would be meaningless for me to live far away from you."
Lu Jinlan: "Then I'll look for a house near the academy, so it'll be more convenient for me to see you in the future."
Lou Yumin nodded happily, "Then can you come the day after tomorrow?"
"What about the day after tomorrow?"
"My birthday is the day after tomorrow."
Lu Jinlan hesitated for a moment and said, "Unfortunately, there is a night exam the day after tomorrow."
Lou Yumin's eyes darkened for a moment, and she quickly said, "Then forget it. Can I go with Qing'er to bring you food?"
"Go again in a few days. Take good care of yourself these next few days. I'll come see you when I have time."
"Okay." Lou Yumin said, somewhat disappointed.
Lu Jinlan moved his lips, and Lou Yumin smiled knowingly, leaning down to place a comforting kiss on his lips. "I'm leaving."
When Lu Jinlan returned to school, Xiang Ruzhen asked her, "What did you find out?"
Lu Jinlan: "The boss's husband has an account book. I'll go out again the day after tomorrow and find a chance to take a look."
Xiang Ruzhen asked in surprise, "Can't we do it tomorrow? Why do we have to wait until the day after tomorrow?"
Lu Jinlan smiled knowingly, "Because the day after tomorrow is Yu Mian's birthday, I should at least spend time with him, right?"
Xiang Ruzhen rolled her eyes. "You're such a romantic, Lu Da Cai Nu. I'm impressed."
Lu Jinlan asked Yan Wuxin for help, "What gifts are you giving your children for their birthdays?"
Yan Wuxin hissed, "I don't usually give birthday gifts, not because I'm stingy or unwilling to spend money. I never mistreat them; my monthly allowance is more generous than that of other people's servants. I'm just afraid of the hassle. Think about it, with so many men, how can I remember their birthdays? Giving gifts is even more complicated; if this one is too expensive, that one is too cheap, and it's a real hassle when men get jealous. If you want to give a gift, you'd better keep it from Lin Cheng, or he'll definitely make a fuss."
Lu Jinlan nodded. "Of course."
Yan Wuxin slapped his forehead. "Ah, I've got it! Jade ornaments are all the rage in the capital lately. I heard that Wan Yu Zhai has acquired a piece of fine white jade and made it into one hundred white jade hairpins. They're more than ten times more expensive than ordinary jade hairpins, costing one hundred taels each."
"One hundred taels isn't expensive, I'm not short of money. The key is that we can't go out during the day, who can help me buy it?"
"Let's ask around, just in case someone can get out."
Lu Jinlan asked around, but got nothing.
After class that evening, she was lying on her dorm bed pondering the matter when Chu Yishu returned from outside and said with a smile, "Lu Jinlan, someone is looking for you outside."
Who is it?
"A very handsome young man."
When Lu Jinlan came out, she was surprised to see Lin Cheng.
Ever since she impulsively kissed him last time, he has avoided her whenever he sees her, and the two haven't spoken to each other for several days.
Lu Jinlan was taken aback. "Why are you here?"
Rin: "I heard you wanted to ask someone to buy something from outside?"
"Wow, your cafeteria is really well-informed."
"I'll go grocery shopping with the head chef tomorrow. What do you need? I'll buy it for you."
"Huh?" Lu Jinlan took a deep breath, feeling secretly guilty.
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Author's Note: I forgot to explain the term "boss husband" until now. It corresponds to "boss wife." This "boss husband" refers to a businessman who is the boss, unmarried, and not the legal husband of any particular woman, but he does have an unspoken wife. In other words, regardless of whether he is married or has a wife, people generally refer to a businessman as a "boss husband."
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