Chapter 51
Clingy to death
A glimmer of hope ignited in Lu Qin's heart, and she looked up.
The light flew towards them, getting closer and closer, and then the figures of several guards appeared in the night.
Ling'er quickly pulled out her handkerchief and waved it around. When the guards saw Lu Qin, they were as if they had found a lifeline and shouted repeatedly, "Young Master, we've found her!"
They skimmed across the rooftops like dragonflies skimming the water. After a series of figures flashed by, Lu Qin spotted Hao Jingshi across a narrow path.
He paused for a moment, then rushed towards her without hesitation.
Lu Qin breathed a sigh of relief and took a few steps forward. In the blink of an eye, Hao Jingshi appeared in front of her like a tornado.
"Lu Qin, you scared me to death."
Hao Jingshi blurted out, looking her up and down while holding her shoulders, his arms trembling, "Xuan Lan said she saw lunchboxes scattered all over the alley, and I knew something was wrong... Was it Qian Yuming? Did he hurt you?"
“No…” Lu Qin looked up and saw the tears glistening in his eyes, illuminated by the lantern, and her heart skipped a beat.
Before she could finish speaking, Hao Jingshi hugged her tightly again, saying, "From now on, whenever you go out, I'll have my bodyguards follow you. I'll never let this happen again."
Lu Qin was pulled into his arms tightly. After a few seconds of stunned silence, she reached out to hug him back.
In her memory, he had never shed a tear. Even if he was extremely sad, he would only tremble slightly in his eyes and then stubbornly endure it to save face.
He was forced to kneel for a whole day and night, and he didn't utter a single word.
She was knocked unconscious by the plaque, but he didn't shed a tear.
When he misunderstood her relationship with Lu Pan'an, he only choked up for a moment.
Why am I so agitated today?
"It's alright, my husband. Qian Yuming just wants to talk to me," Lu Qin said gently. "There's a reason for this, and it's not easy to explain right now. Shall we go back to the manor and talk about it?"
Hao Jingshi gave a muffled "hmm," but didn't let go. Instead, he buried his head and slowly closed his moist eyes.
When he discovered that Lu Qin was missing, he assumed it was Zhang Gui who had reported it. He closed the shop and rushed over with murderous intent, but the servant told him tremblingly that Zhang Gui had been drinking with someone at a restaurant all afternoon and had not returned yet.
He didn't believe it and dragged the servant boy to break into the Zhang residence, alarming the neighbors. After a long struggle, the drunken Zhang Gui returned, vomited all over the ground in front of him, and fell asleep immediately.
Upon learning that Zhang Gui was not responsible, Hao Jingshi became even more bewildered. He went to search elsewhere, but after several hours, he still couldn't find Lu Qin. He could only wander the streets in despair.
After lingering for a long time, he passed by the mansion and suddenly recalled the night Babao died.
Looking at the swaying lucky charms on the tree that day, he suddenly felt the pain of losing his son and was unable to calm down. So he asked Xuan Lan to accompany him to the temple.
I originally intended to chant sutras for Babao so that it could ascend to the Pure Land as soon as possible, but when I was leaving, I ran into the old fortune teller on the street at the door.
The old man looked at him, smiled and pondered, "So even those who don't believe in fate will come to pray for the little one they care about."
Hearing the old man's teasing, Hao Jingshi had no time for idle chatter and walked straight toward the gate. Unexpectedly, the old man called him back from behind and said slowly, "Young master, I wanted to remind you the other day that your wife seems to be a person with a short life and should not have lived to this day."
He was stunned for a moment, then his anger flared up. He immediately drew Xuan Lan's knife, pointed it at the old man, and told him to shut up.
Xuan Lan quickly tried to dissuade him, saying that there were all sorts of gods watching over the temple and that he couldn't resort to violence, but the old man was not afraid of him and calmly said, "It's normal not to believe, this matter is not in accordance with common sense. However, young master, I advise you to restrain yourself and not bring trouble upon yourself."
After saying that, he muttered "See you in a few days" and walked away.
Now, several days have passed, and Lu Qin has suddenly disappeared. After ruling out Zhang Gui, Hao Jingshi feels that the old man is behind it all.
Without a second thought, he went to the temple to confront the old man, but to his surprise, the old man remained unperturbed and revealed the name Qian Yuming.
Although he was half-believing and half-doubting, he didn't care about that and immediately went to Qian's clothing shop. But the old man waved his hand and said that was not right. He even drew a simple sketch and told him to come here to find Lu Qin.
Seeing that this road led to Qian's Clothing Shop, Hao Jingshi took the blueprints and rushed over. Unexpectedly, he actually saw Lu Qin's figure across the street.
He felt a sense of joy at having something lost and then regained, but after holding her and confirming that she had gone to see Qian Yuming that afternoon, he immediately felt uneasy again.
Everything the old man said came true. He was afraid that the saying about Lu Qin's ill fate would also come true.
No, what should he do...?
"Husband?"
Noticing that his clothes were wet, Lu Qin quickly raised her hand and gently patted his back.
She didn't quite understand what was wrong, but seeing that he seemed very grief-stricken and unable to pull himself out of it, she patiently waited for him to calm down.
Feeling her reassurance, Hao Jingshi loosened his tense arms: "It's okay, I hurt you. I want to hold you a little longer."
Lu Qin naturally had no objection after hearing this. She leaned forward and rested her cheek against his shoulder.
The two embraced in the night, completely oblivious to everything around them, until a childish voice came from the side of the street.
"Sister, I know Uncle Zhang Gui's family..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the adult covered his mouth, turning it into a few "oohs".
"..." The street fell silent for a moment. Hao Jingshi paused silently and slowly raised his head from the crook of her neck.
"Go to Zhang Gui's house?" he muttered as he released her.
Lu Qin couldn't help but twitch her lips. When she looked up, she realized that everyone on the street was sticking their heads out to look at them.
They missed the chance to reconcile in the afternoon, but they're making up for it now... but that wasn't in their plans!
Hearing that she was looking for Zhang Gui's house late at night, it would be strange if Hao Jingshi didn't go crazy!
Lu Qin quickly hugged Hao Jingshi again: "No, you've misunderstood, don't listen to her nonsense..."
"I'm not lying!" The child, who had just broken free from the adult's hand, spoke in a clear, melodious voice that echoed throughout the street. "I clearly heard it just now. Ask the uncle next door, where does Uncle Zhang Gui live..." The child's mouth was covered again.
It takes only a mouth to spread rumors, but it takes a lot of legwork to debunk them!
Lu Qin wished she could dig a hole and take Hao Jingshi away, but then a kind-hearted person said to Hao Jingshi, "Young man, I think you shouldn't worry about her. She was asking around the streets about Zhang Gui's house. Who knows what she's up to so late at night!"
"Exactly, a woman like that is unacceptable!"
"Nonsense!" Seeing Hao Jingshi's reddened eyes staring at her suspiciously, Lu Qin almost jumped up. "I didn't! Husband! Let me explain!"
"..."
Hao Jingshi stood there for a long time without making any reaction. After a while, he suddenly and silently led Lu Qin away.
Seeing that he wouldn't listen to reason, the people on the street could only turn away in exasperation and stop meddling. The guards, seeing this, knew what was going on and didn't dare to get too close.
Lu Qin followed him briskly all the way, silently watching his hand that was holding hers tightly, and cried out in her heart.
She knew she was doomed today, and sure enough, she was.
That night, Hao Jingshi relentlessly tormented her, refusing to listen to any explanation she gave. Only when she started sobbing did he grit his teeth and pinch her face from behind, turning her towards him.
"Explain to me, where did you go and who did you see this afternoon?"
"Why are you being so fierce!" Lu Qin knew he was being stubborn, and helplessly said with red eyes, "How many times have I told you, but you just won't believe me! I didn't have a secret rendezvous with another man! It was Qian Yuming who kidnapped me and Ling'er; he wants to cooperate with us!"
"Then what's the meaning of you inquiring about Zhang Gui's family so late at night?" Hao Jingshi pressed down on him again. "Tell me, are you up to something else by insisting that I play this part in your play?"
“Hey…” Lu Qin grabbed the blanket in a flustered manner, “Can you think about it? What could I possibly want with Zhang Gui? He’s not even as good as Qian Yuming. I’m not crazy…”
"Oh, you have feelings for Qian Yuming?"
"Hao Jingshi, your brain... ah!"
"Do you have it?"
"I have no feelings for anyone else, my husband, you're the only one in my heart, please...please be gentle..."
Hearing this plea for mercy, Hao Jingshi finally chuckled and said with satisfaction.
"That's more like it."
...
After explaining more than ten times, Hao Jingshi finally calmed down and listened to the whole story.
After most of the night had passed, Lu Qin, huddled in her blankets, was parched and exhausted, so she simply turned her head and went to sleep with her back to him.
Seeing her puffing up in anger, Hao Jingshi bent his arm to support his head, lay down on his side facing her back, and scratched her from behind.
Lu Qin curled up in a ball, itching, and immediately turned around to glare at him, then rolled over and pinned down his mischievous hand.
Hao Jingshi winced in pain, but with a smirk, he withdrew his hand, pretending to be nonchalant.
"Qian Yuming is cunning and may be hiding something. Let Xuan Lan deliver the manuscript tomorrow."
“No way.” When it came to serious matters, Lu Qin stopped being temperamental and explained gently, “It is precisely because he is cunning that I have to go in person. Xuan Lan is too carefree and cannot understand the hidden meaning in his words. If he conveys something improperly, we will suffer in silence.”
Seeing that she was speaking so seriously, Hao Jingshi considered it for a moment and then said, "Alright, then I'll go with you."
"You keep an eye on the clothing shop, and let Xuan Lan come with me."
"No, I'll stay with you. Let Xuan Lan and the others guard the clothing shop."
“My dear husband, you’re not a child anymore. Why do you keep arguing about it?” Lu Qin thought he was still being jealous for no reason and said helplessly, “When have I ever done anything to wrong you? Besides, Qian Yuming has a wife and several concubines. He won’t care about me, a married woman.”
"Young master, young master isn't that bored." Hao Jingshi glared, wanting to explain, but embarrassed, and stammered, "No matter how busy the clothing shop is, it's not as important as you. Besides, there's been a lot going on lately, and Zhang Gui and Qian Yuming are both troublemakers. I need to stay by your side every step of the way to feel at ease."
Seeing his eyes darting around as he talked, Lu Qin's heart softened. She understood his thoughts and had no choice but to agree.
She rested her chin on her hand, looking at Hao Jingshi who was sleeping peacefully with his eyes closed.
I don't know what's wrong with him today, he's being incredibly clingy.
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