It was only then that Bai Yao heaved a sigh of relief. She said, âThe risk of Mrs. Xuâs operation is high, and there is a very big chance that she might not survive the operation. She is a devout Buddist, and she will take into consideration that we did a good deed for her at the last moment of her life when we introduce Fu Zhi to her. She will go to heaven.â
Lu Zhiwen did not reply.
He expected a lot from Lu Chuwan and even wanted to pass the company to her when she grew up.
Unfortunately, he had never thought that his daughter would be sent to a reformatory. This made Lu Zhiwen hold a grudge against the family of his second brother, who had not stopped Fu Zhi.
After Bai Yao went to inform Mrs. Xu of their visit, Lu Chuliang went up to his dad. With a frown, he asked, âDad, didnât you say that Fu Zhi knows how to treat illnesses?â
Lu Zhiwen scoffed, âSheâs just a 17-year-old girl, not to mention that sheâs a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. Maybe sheâs really as capable as the rumors say, but Mrs. Xuâs condition requires an operation. Thereâs nothing she could do about it.â
âIf thereâs nothing she could do about it, then are you not doing her a disservice by introducing her to Mrs. Xu?â Lu Chuliang replied as he gulped a large mouthful of water from a cup.
He did not agree with his fatherâs way of doing things.
This was the reason Lu Zhiwen favored his daughter more than his son. âSheâs the main culprit who put your sister in the reformatory. How many times do I have to tell you that we should beat our enemy at their own game, huh? Fu Zhi should pay for what she did!â
âBut it was my sisterâs fault. How could you blame Fu Zhi? You could just give her a good scolding for what she did. The main branch of the Xu Family is in the capital. If the treatment goes south midway and Mrs. Xu loses her life, the Xu Family will go after her life!â
Lu Chuliang knew Lu Chuwan inside out. He treated her as his sister, but she had never respected him as her brother.
He did not like what Fu Zhi had done to his sister as well. After all, they were a family. They could have solved the matter privately as a family. He could not fathom why Fu Zhi had to make things reach an impasse. That said, none of this would have happened if Lu Chuwan had behaved herself.
Besides, Lu Jingqing and his family had been good to him.
âThatâs the result I want! Now that your sister is in the reformatory, her future has been ruined!â Lu Zhiwen smashed the cup in his hand and threw it at Lu Chuliang. âAs a businessman, you should never be soft with your enemy! Like it or not, weâre doing it, and you have to follow me to the Xu Family on Friday!â
Lu Chuliang was stunned at first when his father threw the cup at him. He could not evade it in time, and the boiling-hot tea was splashed on his body. He threw caution to the wind and shouted, âSuit yourself! If you want to make a fool of yourself, then go ahead! Iâm not going!â
He took his phone from the table and then went to a bar nearby.
*
There had been a faint scent of medicine in the Lu Mansion lately.
It was 9:30 when Fu Zhi received a text message saying that Lu Chuliang had gone out at night. Perhaps she had just finished a game, as she was not sleepy yet. She changed into a black sweater and went out of her room.
Xu Wei and Lu Jingqing had already gone to bed, so there was no one in the living room. Of course, that was only provided that she ignored Lu Yushen, who had just come out of the kitchen with a cup of warm water in his hand.
When Fu Zhi saw him, he was staring at her.
Perhaps he had just woken up, as his eyes were red around the rims. The way he looked at her resembled an animalâs cub, and Fu Zhiâs heart skipped a beat.
A second later, Lu Yushen asked, [Where are you going?]
Even though he was typing on his phone instead of talking, Fu Zhi could see the âyouâre not going anywhereâ message in his eyes.
She did not want to tell him where she was going, so she explained. âI just need some air. I will be back soon.â
[We are not allowed to go out after 8. Can you be a good girl?] His eyes were watery.
Fu Zhi was speechless.
âNope. Iâm going to look for Lu Chuliang and give him a good beating.â
However, Lu Yushen refused to move away from the door.
He was wearing a white t-shirt, and he looked just like a prince out of a fairy tale.
Fu Zhi looked at his hand and realized his fingers were turning white because he was holding the cup too tightly. She thought for a while and said, âGive me your hand.â
Lu Yushen cocked his head, as he did not know why Fu Zhi wanted his hand. He put the cup on the table and then carefully stretched his hand forward.
Without any hesitation, Fu Zhi grabbed a handful of milk candy and put it on his palm. When her fingers grazed his palm, the tips of Lu Yushenâs ears turned red.
âNow that youâve accepted my candy, you have to let me go out, got it?â
Lu Yushen did not know what to say. He stared at his sisterâs eyes for a long while before finally giving in. His shoulders slumped down, and he began typing again. [What time are you coming back?]
âI promise I will return before 11,â Fu Zhi said as she pushed the door open. When she realized that Lu Yushen was still following her, she waved her hand to push him inside and added, âI have to go now. You go back to your room and sleep.â
Lu Yushen looked at her for two seconds straight. Then, like a large dog with its tailed curled up, he dejectedly sat on the couch and waited for his sister.
What they did not know was that a third person was present in the living room. As she was standing in the corner of the living room, Gu Yanâs expression was dark.
*
Fu Zhi flagged a cab and went to the bar.
It was a high-class pub in Yu City filled with a myriad of lights and people. It was equipped with many private rooms and offered a wide range of facilities.
âHi, Iâm looking for Lu Chuliang.â Fu Zhi pitched her voice low, trying to imitate the voice of a man as she talked to the receptionist. She was wearing a mask, so nobody could see her face clearly.
The receptionist was stunned. She quickly looked up at Fu Zhi, who was wearing a black mask and a duck-tongue cap, before checking on the computer. After two seconds, she asked, âMay I know whoâs looking for him?â
Fu Zhi replied, âLu Zhiwen.â
The receptionist was stunned once more. She was skeptical, but she still answered politely, âHe just left. The waiter led him down the alley over there.â
Fu Zhi nodded. Then, she turned around and walked toward the alley that the receptionist had pointed at.
There was something rotten in the alley, and the air reeked of a musty smell. No sooner had she taken two steps into the alley than she heard a series of flustered footsteps ahead of her.
After a short while, the footsteps died away, and the sound of labored breathing and talking followed.
âRun! Why did you stop running? I want to see where you can run to!â Interspersed between ear-splitting curses was the sound of wooden sticks striking human flesh. âHow dare you sleep with my woman? Do you know how long I have been waiting for you?â
âTo hell with Young Master Lu. Without your dad, youâre nothing!â
Fu Zhi lifted her eyebrows.
Inside the dimly lit alley, a group of eight hoodlums with strange hairstyles were beating Lu Chuliang.
Lu Chuliang was 5 years older than Fu Zhi and was wearing a beige trench coat today. His sleeves were rolled up, and he was shielding his face with his two slender arms.
When he heard the footsteps, he put down his arms and looked toward the source of the sound. His eyes glowed brightly. âHelp! Help!â
The group of young men continued to shower him with punches. âWorthless piece of sh*t!â
The thought of Fu Zhi calling the police had emboldened him. He stared back at the group of hoodlums and snarled, âYour girlfriend would rather have a loser like me than sleep with you!â
Fu Zhi was speechless.
It seemed like she had underestimated Lu Chuliangâs mouth, but God had sent someone to punish him.
With that thought in mind, Fu Zhi turned around and left. Lu Chuliang saw that she was leaving and hastily shouted, âFu Zhi, Fu Zhi! Donât go!â
Fu Zhi stopped in her tracks. She adjusted the mask on her face, turned around, and asked in a calm voice, âYou need my help?â
âOf course I need your help! Hurry up and save me!â
Lu Chuliang felt like he could not hold on any longer.
Fu Zhi then said plainly, âCall me mommy.â
Lu Chuliang was speechless.