Chapter 32 His Past, Her Schemes
Lu Jingyan's resolute jawline tightened instantly, and the aura around him that had just been eased by the food froze back into ice, even colder than before, carrying a menacing aura that kept strangers at bay.
His eyes were fixed on Su Wantang's face, filled with a turbulent mix of anger and pain.
How did you know?
His voice was low and deep, each word sounding as if squeezed out from between his teeth, with a metallic, abrasive quality.
The temperature inside the small building seemed to have dropped several degrees.
Su Wantang, however, seemed oblivious to the oppressive feeling that could freeze one to the bone. She still carried the moisture and fragrance of her bath, and her silk nightgown accentuated her graceful curves, creating a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere at the moment.
She raised her hand and slowly gathered her slightly damp hair with her fingertips.
"You were talking in your sleep and called out that name," she replied casually.
This reason is irrefutable.
A person cannot refute what they have said unconsciously.
The murderous aura that was about to burst forth from Lu Jingyan was like a punch hitting cotton; there was nowhere to land, so he could only forcefully suppress it.
The scrutiny and sharpness in his eyes did not dissipate, but the rage was forcibly suppressed, turning into a deeper sense of unease.
Inside the small building, a deathly silence fell.
Only the old-fashioned wall clock ticked away, tugging at their tense nerves.
Lu Jingyan stood there, his tall figure casting a large shadow under the light, enveloping Su Wantang within it.
Su Wantang didn't urge him, but simply looked at him quietly.
She knew that some scars, the deeper they are hidden, the faster they fester. To cooperate, one must first see the other party's weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
For a long time, so long that Su Wanwan thought he wouldn't answer.
Lu Jingyan finally made a move.
He didn't sit down, but walked to the window, turned his back to her, and looked out at the deep night.
“Her name is Lu Jingyue, not Lu Jingyao,” he corrected, his voice carrying an indescribable weariness and hoarseness.
Su Wantang understood; it was just sleep talking, so it was perfectly normal to mishear one or two words.
"Ten years ago, the compound organized a trip for families to the Xishan Sanatorium to escape the summer heat. She... got lost."
Lu Jingyan's narration was extremely brief, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.
But Su Wantang could hear the overwhelming pain and self-blame in those few words.
Lost?
In those days, the granddaughter of the highest-ranking officer in a military compound "got lost" in a heavily guarded sanatorium.
These three words themselves are the biggest problem.
"Who was in charge of security at the sanatorium back then?" Su Wantang didn't offer comfort, but instead posed a more pointed question.
Lu Jingyan's back visibly stiffened for a moment.
He didn't turn around, but his voice was as cold as if it had been pulled out of an ice cellar.
“My second uncle is one of Lu Wenbo’s men.”
boom!
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.
Lu Wenbo.
It's Lu Wenbo again.
At this moment, all the clues were connected by an invisible hand.
The death of her mother, Bai Xiuzhu, was related to Lu Wenbo.
Lu Wenbo was also in charge of security when his younger sister, Lu Jingyue, went missing.
There was also the scheme at the Peace Hotel when I transmigrated here, which involved the Ye family. Gao Jianjun also reminded me that the Ye family and my second uncle, Lu Wenbo, were very close!
A vast network spanning a decade, involving both Shanghai and Beijing, and possibly even extending into the military, slowly unfolded in her mind.
Lu Wenbo is the most crucial node in this network.
This conversation did not bring them closer through sharing secrets, as is common between men and women.
On the contrary.
When the deepest wounds are ripped open, bloodily, what follows is not warmth, but an even more stagnant and oppressive atmosphere.
Without saying a word, Lu Jingyan took out the bedding from the cabinet in the corner and neatly spread it on the floor.
He once again demonstrated his stance through his actions.
The invisible Chu-Han boundary between the two remained clearly defined.
Su Wantang watched him lie down, his back to her, radiating a cold aura that seemed to say, "Don't come near me."
She said nothing, turned around and went back to her bedroom, gently closing the door.
The moment the door closed, the calm on her face vanished, replaced by a sharp, almost excited glint of a hunter's eye.
Do you sympathize with Lu Jingyan?
No.
For a soul that has struggled in a hospital bed for ten years and seen through the coldness and warmth of human relationships, sympathy is the cheapest and most useless emotion.
She saw an opportunity.
An excellent opportunity to upgrade the two from a "contractual couple" to a "strategic alliance"!
Lu Jingyan harbors a deep-seated hatred for Lu Wenbo, stemming from the blood feud of his missing younger sister.
She felt a deep, visceral pain for Lu Wenbo, a pain akin to that of her own mother who had died unjustly.
They share a common, irreconcilable enemy.
This is the most unbreakable foundation of the alliance.
“Lu Wenbo…”
Su Wantang lay on the soft bed, silently chewing on the name in the darkness, a sweet yet cold smile curving her lips.
You'd better pray that everything you did was perfectly legitimate.
Otherwise, I wouldn't mind sending you on your way.
...
The next day.
The estrangement of one night seemed as if it had never happened.
Su Wantang got up very early, full of energy.
When Lu Jingyan returned from his morning exercise, she had already prepared breakfast: simple white porridge, pickled vegetables, and two golden boiled eggs.
The two finished their meal in silence, without saying a word.
After Lu Jingyan went to the army, Qin Zheng appeared at the door of the small building on time.
After a night of soaking in the spiritual spring and receiving the medicinal effects, although his injured leg was still unable to move vigorously, he could walk normally, albeit with a slight limp.
This miraculous change has instilled in him a deep-seated awe for Su Wantang.
"Young Miss." He bowed respectfully.
"Qin Zheng, I need you to do something." Su Wantang handed him a piece of paper and a small wad of cash. "Go and find out if there are any standalone shops or courtyards in Beijing with excellent locations suitable for doing business that are for sale. They need to be quiet, private, and the bigger the better."
Choosing a location for "Tangdixuan" is the first step in her business plan, and it must be implemented as soon as possible.
"Yes!" Qin Zheng didn't ask any more questions. He took the paper and money, turned around and left, showing great efficiency.
Su Wantang spent the entire morning in the small building, tending to her precious crops in her spatial dimension.
Irrigated by the spiritual spring, the rare medicinal herbs and the "Wuyi Snow Peak" tea trees are thriving, exuding a spiritual aura.
Vegetables and fruits are growing wildly; cucumbers are already hanging with tender shoots, and tomatoes have produced unripe fruits.
This is her biggest trump card for survival in this world.
Qin Zheng returned around noon.
His expression was somewhat solemn, yet tinged with excitement.
"Young Miss, we've found a place."
Qin Zheng spread a simple map on the table and pointed to one of the locations.
“In Houhai, in Ya’er Hutong, there is a large three-courtyard house that is urgently for sale.”
Houhai?
Su Wantang's eyes lit up.
That's one of the most valuable locations in Beijing in the future, a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, a perfect place to open a top-tier private club.
"How is the yard?" she pressed.
"The courtyard itself is excellent, very well preserved, and its layout and furnishings are in accordance with the regulations of the former dynasty's royal residence." Qin Zheng's tone was full of admiration, but then he changed the subject, "However... this courtyard is a bit eerie."
"oh?"
"I inquired and found out that the original owner of this courtyard was a very special person. It seems to have been left behind by a high-ranking eunuch from the previous dynasty. It changed hands several times afterward, and none of the previous owners lived there for long. They either went bankrupt or ran into trouble. The neighbors all say that the courtyard is unclean, so it has been abandoned and no one dares to take it over."
"Anything else?" Su Wantang scoffed at these superstitious claims; she was more concerned with practical matters.
Qin Zheng lowered his voice: "The most crucial thing is the seller's terms."
"The price was extremely high, a full 30% more expensive than a yard of the same size on the market. Moreover, he specifically requested that it be free."
"Only...gold."
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