Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
It was good to say it out. That way, no one would be burdened by it.
She was Xia Ruoxin; she always had been. She would never become the real Lu Xiaohua. She was not just carrying Lu Xiaohua’s identity and face. She bore the burden of lying to a mother, too.
That was good. The sun from outside finally shone on her. She closed her eyes as if she could feel the light dancing on her body. There seemed to be gentle warmth on her every time.
When Lu Jinrong wanted to say something, Jian Qingying placed her finger on her lips.
“Everyone, keep quiet. My daughter is sleeping.”
Xia Ruoxin really did fall asleep. She lay quietly there with a gentle smile on her face as if she had had a sweet dream.
Jian Qingying dared not move her. She had just heard that her daughter had been hurt in the stomach so she was afraid of opening her wound. She just carefully covered her daughter with a blanket. The family of three walked outside, leaving the peace and quiet to Xia Ruoxin.
“Mom, if you found out that early? Why didn’t you say so?” Lu Jinrong felt stupid because of his mother. The most formidable person in his house was not him or his father—but his mother.
“Didn’t you all not want me to know?”
Jian Qingying sat down in the chair. She was still mad at the father and son for keeping it from her. She was not here when her daughter was in danger; she was not by her daughter. How was she to take this as a mother?
“Then, why are you saying this now?” Lu Ke’en walked over and sat down. “Isn’t it good to continue keeping it a secret?”
“What’s good?” Jian Qingying was a little hopeless when she said it. “You guys are good, using a fake Xiaohua to fool me.”
“Mom, I didn’t…” Lu Jinrong opened his mouth to speak, but Jian Qingying interrupted him.
“Don’t worry, Mom doesn’t blame you. Even though she’s not your biological sister, who’s to say she’s not your sister.” Lu Ke’en, who was on the side, nodded profusely. “Yes, she’s my daughter. That’s a fact that cannot be changed.”
“As for why I said it out?” Jian Qingying sighed. “You all were just thinking about me and yourselves, but haven’t you thought about that child? She’s carrying Xiaohua’s identity, but she was filled with guilt because of her lies. Another in her position would be delighted and feel fortunate to be a child of the Lu family.
“But look at her. She’s never felt that way. She has never wanted anything of ours, and she saved Dad’s life.” As she spoke, Lu Ke’en gripped her hand. They had spent their lives together, and they knew what each other felt.
He instantly understood everything the instant Jian Qingying spoke.
That was true. Now that everything was out in the open, there were no more burdens.
Jian Qingying stood up again and gently opened the ward’s door. She saw that Xia Ruoxin was still in the same position as she was earlier, but she was sleeping peacefully.
This child had an affinity with their family so she was one of them.
That was probably the best Xia Ruoxin had slept since she became Lu Xiaohua. No lies, no burdens.
Jian Qingying came over to take care of Xia Ruoxin every day. Even though there were nurses in the hospital, she still felt worried and wanted to come over personally herself. She also got Qin Xuejuan to make a pot of soup for her daughter.
Xia Ruoxin had the soups that Qin Xuejuan made the last time she was sick so the latter knew what kind of soup she liked. Therefore, Xia Ruoxin would finish all the soup each time.
She got better by the day, but like before, she refused to speak of her past and how she got hurt.
They had to talk about eventually, but now was not the time.
Lu Jinrong had brought her a number of books to kill time recently. However, she would be able to return home soon if there were no problems. She would only fully recover after six months or so or recuperation.
“Chu Lui is about to get engaged to Xia Yixuan,” Lu Jinrong said plainly as he watched Xia Yixuan’s reaction.
“Really?” Xia Ruoxin did not react much, but her heart was already dead.
“How they are has nothing to do with me.” Her biggest link to Chu Lui was Rainy. Now that Rainy was gone, Chu Lui could marry whoever he wanted. She just wondered how ironic it would be for him to keep his mother’s murderer by his side.
“Brother, I have something I would like you to pass to them as a gift.” Xia Ruoxin set her book down as if she had thought of something.
She really did have a gift for them. She just hoped that they would have a happy marriage and be at each other’s throats.
Inside a bar, this was where Lu Jinrong and Chu Lui used to frequent. It was quiet and expensive of course, but the two of them were used to it. After a while, the two of them sat across from each other.
“My sister asked me to pass something to you all. This is what she got from Xia Yixuan. I guess it’s returning it to the owner.”
Lu Jinrong said as he lifted a heavy object and placed it on the table. “She said that you will like it.”
Chu Lui looked down and stared at the bag on the table. Why would someone gift this? Was it some kind of explosive inside?
However, he really did pick up the bag and set it down next to himself.
“Thank your sister on my behalf.”
“You’re welcome.” Lu Jinrong really needed not to push it. He did not think of how Chu Lui had given and traded himself in for the Lu family’s peace. But to Chu Lui, helping Lu Xiaohua was just a simple gesture.
He was not bothered if they were going to thank him. He was not short on thanks anyway.
Neither of them was chatty so they each took a side of the table as they chatted on and off.
After that, Chu Lui left with the bag. By the time he got home, it was already late. He got out of the car, only to recall that there was a bag in the car. He returned, picked it up, and brought it straight back to his room before he went to see Song Wan.
As for the bag, he forgot about it. When the caretaker cleaned up in the morning, she left it in the cupboard; and Chu Lui had forgotten about the object’s existence entirely.
