Chapter 28 Zheng Yaozong Arrives
The next morning, Lu Zhenyu received a valid reply.
Sun Zhiyuan: [@Zhensi, sister, my master happens to have a traditional Chinese medicine formula for the leg injury sequelae you mentioned. It's very effective. I'll have my men deliver it to you now.]
Shen Jingsi left early in the morning. Before leaving, he sneaked into her bedroom and whispered mysteriously in her ear, "Be a good girl and wait for me at home. I'll bring you a gift when I come back."
When Lu Zhenyu received the group message, she was still feeding kittens in the park.
I quickly replied, "Thank you so much, Zhiyuan."
Sun Zhiyuan replied instantly: [Sister, don't say that. Without you, there wouldn't be any of us in this group. We should be grateful to you for the rest of our lives.]
A series of replies popped up below, and Lu Zhenyu read them with a smile, but said nothing more.
Shen Jingsi called around 3 p.m., and Lu Zhenyu answered quickly.
"Hello?"
Do you miss me?
"..."
Compared to the five years of longing for each other across the vast ocean, a separation of less than a day is practically nothing.
Before Lu Zhenyu could speak, the voice on the other end of the phone said, "My mom tricked me into going home and then detained me. She keeps nagging me. I need to take the day off today, so I might be a little late getting back."
"Okay, I understand."
Are you unhappy?
"Okay! I understand!"
Shen Jingsi laughed, his voice now more energetic than before when it was hoarse.
"Sweetie, you really can't sneak off behind my back anymore. I'll take you out for a big meal tonight."
Lu Zhenyu, "Just the two of us?"
"That brat, Siwei, is making a huge fuss about wanting to see you."
She knew it, and with a pout, she said, "Okay then, I'll wait for you to come back."
On the other end, "Baby, wait for me to come back."
Lu Zhenyu had an indescribable feeling that Shen Jingsi's last sentence was deliberate.
It's like saying, indirectly, "Honey, wait for me to come home."
Despite her reluctance, Lu Zhenyu smiled without even realizing it after hanging up the phone, and fed the last piece of cat treat to the little guy.
It's a tabby cat, probably fed by the residents of this community often, as its fur is shiny and smooth.
She had no intention of adopting it; she just wanted to feed it as much as possible while she was around.
But today, for some reason, my desire to adopt the little tabby cat is growing stronger.
Even if she's gone, Shen Jingsi will still take good care of it, right?
In other words, even if she were gone, it could still keep Shen Jingsi company.
Stroking her shiny back, Lu Zhenyu said in a childlike tone, "Little Mimi, do you want to come home with me? If you do, you can come with me. If you don't, you can lie here, and I'll come and feed you again tomorrow, okay?"
After saying that, she stood up and walked towards her villa. She didn't see the little guy anywhere along the way, and thought to herself that perhaps they were destined to be apart.
Just as I reached my front door, I heard a "Meow~" from behind.
The little guy actually followed, taking a few elegant and languid cat-like steps.
Lu Zhenyu's face lit up with joy, and she quickly went back to pick it up. "You're here! From now on, you and your sister will depend on each other for survival, okay?"
The little tabby cat rubbed its head against her palm, meowing.
Feeling indescribably good, Lu Zhenyu picked it up, then remembered Shen Jingsi's phone call saying he would take her and Si Wei out for dinner that evening.
Yes, it's time for a simple makeover. And speaking of her messy hair, which is of varying lengths, it's time to go to the hair salon for a trim and maintenance.
Lu Zhenyu, who had been raised mostly by Shen's mother, had grown a head of long, glossy black hair like seaweed.
Back then, Shen's mother always liked to comb her hair while reciting old-fashioned rhymes.
"One comb to the end, and you'll grow old without illness or disaster."
"When you comb your hair twice, happiness and joy will never end."
"Comb your hair three times, and you'll have no worries for the rest of your life."
At that moment, Mother Shen gently placed her hand on her shoulder and looked at her beautiful face in the mirror with eyes full of affection.
"Our Zhenzhen is so beautiful, I really don't know which rascal will end up with her."
Fifteen-year-old Lu Zhenyu hesitated, then said, "Godmother, I... don't want to get married."
Mother Shen asked, "Why?"
“Because…” Lu Zhenyu said, “I want to stay with you and your godfather, and be your daughter for the rest of my life.”
Touched by what she heard, Shen's mother's eyes welled up with tears, and she pursed her lips as she hugged the person tightly.
"If you don't want to get married, then don't get married. Otherwise, Mom thinks there's no man in this world who's good enough for my daughter, so Mom and Dad will just support you for the rest of your life."
At that time, Shen's mother truly regarded her as her own daughter.
They doted on her, spoiled her, and disciplined her patiently. From a young age, she was taught music, chess, calligraphy, and painting by top-notch masters from both China and abroad.
Even when she was later forced to marry Zheng Yaozong for the sake of the Shen family, Lu Zhenyu never harbored any resentment towards her mother.
They gave her a second life; the old house holds all her memories of home.
That was her home, and she protected it and them with her own life.
At that time, Lu Zhenyu told herself: This is not a sacrifice, but a reward.
She even thought that if there were an afterlife, she would like to be their family again.
She later cut off her black hair with scissors.
She has no choice but to cut it; Zheng Yaozong pulls her head every time he makes a move. Cutting it will reduce one of her weaknesses.
Holding her tabby cat, Lu Zhenyu hummed a nursery rhyme as she slowly made her way home along the pebbly path strewn with rain-soaked leaves.
As I walked through the courtyard to the villa's gate and was about to open it, my outstretched hand paused.
She didn't remember but was certain she would close the door tightly, but it was only slightly ajar.
The next second, as her brain started twitching, Lu Zhenyu, holding the cat, silently backed away.
Just as I was about to turn and walk out of the courtyard, there was a loud "bang" behind me!
The door was kicked open.
"My dear wife, where are you going?"
It really was him.
Close her eyes, take a deep breath, put down the kitten in her arms, pat its head, and say, "Let's go."
The kitten stood there tilting its head to look, and she stomped her foot hard, scaring the little guy away.
Turning back, all I could see was Zheng Yaozong leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, shaking his leg, squinting at Lu Zhenyu.
His bodyguards moved ahead of Lu Zhenyu, blocking the already small courtyard gate and crushing her hopes of escape.
Zheng Yaozong walked slowly and leisurely to Lu Zhenyu with his arms crossed, his eerie long shadow completely obscuring his slender body.
"How are things, my dear wife? You and that adulterer are doing quite well while I've been away."
Having anticipated this day, how could Lu Zhenyu be afraid?
She was just a little disappointed.
They hadn't gotten the medicine for Shen Jingsi yet, nor had they waited for him to return.
You might think she ran away again, but actually, this was the only time she didn't intend to run away.
Upon seeing Zheng Yaozong, my first thought was: it seems she won't make it until tomorrow morning.
The moment she came to terms with reality, Lu Zhenyu, too lazy to say another word to the man in front of her, turned and walked towards the villa.
"Where are you going?" Zheng Yaozong asked impatiently as he turned around and grabbed her hair.
She pulled her short hair back and continued walking forward, saying, "Get the medicine and change my clothes."
Zheng Yaozong chuckled, "You're quite sensible. You'd better not try anything funny with me. If you run away, I'll have someone break the other leg of the traitor."
He scratched his head dramatically with a mocking smile. "Hey? I remember last time you crippled his right leg, right? Fine, next time I'll cripple his third leg, let's see how you two still have your affair."
Lu Zhenyu ignored him and went straight back to her bedroom.
He did take the medicine, and as he left, he glanced back at the living room.
My gaze fell upon the white camellias displayed on the wall, serenely resting in a simple black porcelain vase.
Lu Zhenyu suddenly had a strong premonition that she might never be able to come back from here.
"You're dawdling, waiting for Shen Jingsi to come back and save you."
Zheng Yaozong's noisy voice rang out from outside the door, and he looked in with a wicked smile.
"Alright, stop thinking unrealistically. I'm holding a beauty in my arms right now, how could I possibly be thinking about you?"
Lu Zhenyu came out, remaining silent throughout.
Seeing people walk past him as if he were dead, Zheng Yaozong became furious again.
He grabbed Lu Zhenyu by the back of her collar and pulled her forcefully in front of him, gritting his teeth as he choked her neck.
"Are you playing dumb with me again? Where's that flirtatious attitude you have in front of Shen Jingsi?!"
Despite her eyes being bloodshot from suffocation, Lu Zhenyu remained quiet as she watched the man teetering on the edge of madness.
The next second, she laughed, "Want to hit me? Right here."
The same words, the same laugh—Zheng Yaozong, who had been tricked before and detained for half a month, was fooled again. His face darkened, and he shoved the man hard to the ground.
"Damn it, you're trying to scam me again? Do you think I'm stupid enough to fall for your tricks?"
After waiting for a long time without anyone returning, the old steward of the Zheng family came looking for her. When he saw Lu Zhenyu lying on the ground, he rushed over.
"Oh my young master, please don't do anything foolish!"
Zheng Yaozong angrily ran his hand through his hair, "Damn it, she deliberately provoked me!"
Whether you're provoking me or you've become even more daring, who knows?
The butler dared not refute anything, "Young Master, please calm down, but you absolutely cannot hit the young mistress today."
"Why should I!" Zheng Yaozong roared. "Damn it, this is the capital city. I can fight whenever I want, and nobody can stop me!"
The butler nodded repeatedly in agreement, “But it really won’t work today. The Shen family is holding a banquet the week after next. If you cause any harm to the young mistress, we won’t be able to explain it then.”
After much persuasion, the housekeeper helped Lu Zhenyu up, saying, "Young Madam, the Master knows you've returned to the country and specially sent me to pick you up."
Lu Zhenyu nodded, limped along with her injured right knee, and got into the car with the old butler.
Zheng Yaozong, who was walking behind, did not get into the car immediately. He turned around and glanced at the tabby cat that was standing on the wall and meowed.
He grinned, licked his upper teeth with his tongue, and revealed a wicked smile, "Kill him and skin him, then make a bag for your young mistress."
The two bodyguards responded and chased after the cat.
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