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The reborn of paranoid boss cannon fodder wife(281-285)
🕑 Added 2024-02-24 00:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 281: The Big Boss
Li Jianfeng was having a meal at the headquarters, enjoying crispy and tender deep-fried small fish. With one bite, the bones crunched.
Suddenly, an urgent report burst in, "Brother Feng, something's wrong!"
"Brother Cheng brought people to challenge us!"
Li Jianfeng casually put down his chopsticks, looked at the frantic Wu You, who was as restless as an ant on a hot pan, and a sinister smile crept onto his lips.
"I didn't provoke him, why would he come to challenge us? Don't worry, he must be here to give gifts."
"It's not a gift. Brother Cheng brought people armed to the teeth to challenge us!"... Can't you be more alert? Who brings dozens of people and firearms as gifts? If war breaks out right at our doorstep, and our big boss remains calm, Wu You will go mad with anxiety.
"Brother Cheng's face is more terrifying than the King of Hell's. His eyes are vicious and murderous. The guards at the door were scared stiff just by his presence. If they weren't so loyal to you, they would have fled long ago!"
"I've never seen Brother Cheng so terrifyingly furious. He must be here to settle scores with us. Stop eating and go out to see what's going on!"
"They might storm in with weapons later!"
It's extremely embarrassing to have weapons seized and our headquarters attacked. If news of this spreads, they won't be able to show their faces in the jianghu, let alone gain any respect.
Li Jianfeng, however, remained unconcerned. Instead, his eyes gleamed with a crazy excitement.
"Isn't that even better? I've been looking for an excuse to spar with him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of footsteps rapidly approached the hall, and a tall, imposing figure filled with icy hostility appeared at the door.
A group of armed men followed closely behind.
The leader spoke in a cold voice, "Where is she?"
Li Jianfeng was puzzled, "Who?"
Wu You, who had anticipated an inevitable gunfight, was equally confused, utterly dumbfounded.
Didn't Xiao Cheng always resort to violence first? Why did he suddenly change the order? Moreover, they were looking for someone.
Wu You quickly asked before the Dragon Slaughter could begin, "Who are you looking for?"
"My sister-in-law!"
Zhang San furiously added, "This territory is under your control. Our sister-in-law was abducted near Ping'an Hotel. You're involved!"
Ah Dai chimed in, "The two men who took our sister-in-law were with your group when you came to deliver gifts to Brother Cheng. I saw them with my own eyes."
Li Jianfeng glanced at the fierce-looking Xiao Cheng and clicked his tongue, gesturing for his men to come in and identify the culprits.
After seeing Xiao Cheng and his men approaching the headquarters, everyone assumed that Xiao Cheng had come to challenge them.
All the remaining personnel in the headquarters were mobilized and stationed at the entrance.
Wu You shouted, and fifty to sixty black-clad figures streamed in, standing in an orderly formation behind Li Jianfeng, facing off against Xiao Cheng and his group.
Li Jianfeng casually glanced at his men and made way for Xiao Cheng's people to identify their target.
Despite searching several times, they couldn't find the person. They had to report back to Xiao Cheng, "She's not here."
"I did see them in your group when you delivered gifts to Brother Cheng. I couldn't be mistaken."
Xiao Cheng's eyes flickered with coldness as he stared at Li Jianfeng, "Are the others dead?"
Li Jianfeng was taken aback but laughed heartily, "Brother Cheng, you're joking. I don't like keeping dead people around."
He then turned to Wu You, who had just finished counting heads, "Which dog is missing?"
Wu You gulped nervously and replied, "Apart from those who are out, those who should have been here are missing. Shi Yi and Shi Er are near Ping'an Hotel. Witnesses saw them there."
Li Jianfeng clicked his tongue in disappointment, "These two brainless mutts are more trouble than they're worth. They were wagging their tails obediently behind the boss. I don't know why they had to come to Pingcheng. They couldn't even refuse, causing nothing but trouble."
Li Jianfeng shrugged helplessly, "Brother Cheng, you see it yourself. My sister-in-law isn't here."
With a cold glance from Xiao Cheng, he turned and left, followed by Zhang San, Li Si, and others.
The battle hadn't even started, and the ground had shifted already.
Li Jianfeng sighed regretfully. The bloodthirsty excitement flickered in his eyes once more as he turned to the redwood cabinet, grabbed a video recorder, and tossed it to Wu You.
"Our boss's men have captured Brother Cheng's strategist. Brother Cheng is finally going back to Nanshi for revenge. Go and record the show for me. I want to see a lively gunfight."
A lively gunfight—shootout.
Recording a scene where blood flowed like a river.
Wu You had long accepted his boss's eccentric hobby as normal. Lunatics had diverse interests, were unpredictable, and didn't follow the rules.
He took the video recorder and left.
—Nanshi.
Bai Lu woke up to find herself in a spacious and luxurious hall, adorned with elegant crystal chandeliers.
She was tied to a sandalwood chair with ropes, her hands bound to the armrests on both sides, her ankles tied, and her waist wrapped ten times with ropes.
Her mouth was taped shut, rendering her unable to move.
The sound of footsteps, neither light nor heavy, approached from behind, gradually drawing closer.
A man in a black suit appeared from the left, not with a sinister and fierce countenance but with a refined and elegant face, aged in his thirties, exuding a hint of sophistication that seemed incompatible with ruthlessness. He wasn't bulky with a beer belly but tall, strong, and imposing, towering over ordinary people.
He was Xiao Cheng's boss.
The supreme leader who wielded the power of life and death over the entire organization, sitting atop the pyramid—the Big Boss.
The Big Boss sat down on the leather sofa opposite Bai Lu, took out a cigar from the cigarette case on the coffee table, cut it open, lit it, held it between his fingers, exhaled smoke, and stared at Bai Lu, whose mouth was sealed with tape.
"Your mouth is quite talkative, but I don't want to listen."
Bai Lu, faced with the gaze of anyone who disliked being scrutinized, would normally feel disdain or turn away.
But Bai Lu not only didn't flinch, but also met the Big Boss's scrutiny head-on. In her clear and pure eyes, there was nothing but the proud and unyielding spirit.
That aura of noble righteousness, confronting the imposing pressure from the Big Boss, directly held its ground.
Chapter 282: Let Her Go
The big boss's eyes flashed with surprise, fleeting: "You look different from your identity."
Bai Lu remained calm, her noble eyes showing no hint of guilt as she calmly faced the big boss's probing gaze.
Sitting with her legs together, she appeared relaxed and at ease, showing no signs of nervousness or anxiety about being kidnapped.
It was as if she was just a guest, with a slightly different demeanor, calm and composed from start to finish.
The big boss lit his cigar slowly, a hint of appreciation in his eyes as he observed Bai Lu.
"The fact that Xiao Cheng has stayed in Xinzhen for so long and hasn't returned to Nan City owes a lot to you."
As the word "credit" fell, there was an obvious hint of ambiguous laughter, implying that Bai Lu's methods were remarkable.
Bai Lu, her mouth sealed with adhesive tape, couldn't speak, but her eyes responded with a cold smile.
The big boss's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone unclear: "Xiao Cheng should have had a better development, but you delayed him."
Bai Lu didn't even bother to smile.
A better development? That's pushing Xiao Cheng out to be a cannon fodder, to be used as a pawn in the war between Li Chengbin and Hu Biao's father?
Is it a good development to suffer inside the prison?
If she hadn't seen Xiao Cheng's memories, Bai Lu wouldn't have believed the big boss's nonsense.
He was the kind of person who pretended to be righteous.
In her past life, when Xiao Cheng and Luo Shiliu entered the prison, the big boss never made any efforts to bail them out.
He was solely focused on fighting for territory against Li Chengbin's father-in-law, directing his men to cause chaos overtly and covertly.
He turned Pingcheng and the surrounding counties upside down.
If the matter hadn't escalated so much, and if the higher-ups hadn't sent people to crack down on them, the case wouldn't have been reviewed again.
Xiao Cheng, Luo Shiliu, Xiao Dazhuang, and Wang Hao, the four of them, didn't know when they would be released.
Even if they were released, they would have been tortured beyond recognition...
The big boss, being stared at by Bai Lu's hostile gaze, smiled knowingly.
"You indeed have more than just looks; you have a soul."
"When Xiao Cheng suffered outside and came back to plead with me, I didn't expect him to enjoy such sweetness outside."
The big boss chuckled, his eyes turning cold as he finished his words, the atmosphere gradually becoming sharp, and the cigar in his hand, which hadn't burned even a third, suddenly broke.
"Your existence is an obstruction."
Organization headquarters building was heavily guarded, with internal personnel holding guns at the door, usually displaying a formidable aura.
At this moment, however, the head of security was kneeling on the ground, completely paralyzed, not daring to move.
Because the cold barrel of a gun was pressed against his forehead.
The distance of a long gun, without expression, as Xiao Cheng pulled the trigger, the barrel pressed down.
"Open the door."
The ruthless voice fully embodied the decisive resolve that if the door wasn't opened, a bullet to the head was inevitable.
The headquarters building was located in a vast estate, surrounded by high-voltage electric fences. Anyone trying to break in would be electrocuted to death.
There had been successful cases before.
"Xiao Cheng, don't be impulsive. Let me ask the boss first. The boss is inside."
The head of security tried to pick up the walkie-talkie that had fallen to the side, next to which were the guns.
But as soon as his hand reached out, Xiao Cheng smashed the gun with a shot, the smoking barrel once again against his forehead, his patience exhausted, his brutality apparent as he pressed him down.
"I told you to open the door."
The head of security was scared out of his wits.
"If I tell you to open the door, you open it. Are you asking for death by dilly-dallying?" Zhang San kicked the other security guards who were controlled. "Did the big boss send someone to arrest a very beautiful girl? Speak up!"
The security guards were more sensible and scared of death than the head of security. They immediately confessed, "I don't know if the boss sent someone to arrest the girl. I only saw the boss's informant planted next to Li Jianfeng just now, driving back in a van."
"The driver was Shi Yi, the co-driver was Shi Er, and the rear window was completely closed, and nothing could be seen."
The security guards had seen Xiao Cheng before. Xiao Cheng would come to report his work every now and then, and they knew that Xiao Cheng was the big boss's capable assistant.
But they had never seen Xiao Cheng so ruthless and brutal in front of the enemy. He had never appeared when Xiao Zhongbiao died.
In the van of Shi Yi and Shi Er, there must be someone very important to Xiao Cheng. They'd better be sensible and let them pass, or they would go to see the King of Hell in the next second.
Xiao Cheng's killing intent was no joke.
The gun that had already been fired was also no joke.
The head of security didn't hesitate to make a decision and let them pass.
Xiao Cheng led the way straight to the reception hall of the main building. The estate was silent, like a dark prison.
There were guards standing at the door, and Zhang San and the others approached with guns, grabbing the opponent's weapons and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
Xiao Cheng opened the door without hindrance.
Under the crystal lamp, the big boss bent slightly, standing in front of the girl tied to the chair, unable to move, the dagger in his hand flashing with cold light, lifting the girl's chin.
"Let her go."
The big boss looked up, a cold gun barrel already aimed at his forehead.
He straightened up, and the gun barrel followed suit.
Without leaning to either side, it approached step by step.
He probably didn't expect that someone who had followed him for so many years would point a gun at his head. The big boss was slightly stunned for a moment, and the tip of the knife fell on the girl's carotid artery.
"Are you defying me?"
As he spoke, eighteen black-clothed figures suddenly emerged from all directions in the dimly lit hall, their guns all aimed at Xiao Cheng.
Xiao Cheng had never put down his weapons in front of enemies. Even if he knew he had no chance of winning and was on a dead-end, he never gave anyone the opportunity to restrict him.
But at this moment, seeing the blade at Bai Lu's neck move, he immediately put down his weapon.
"Let her go, and I'll stay."
The big boss was quite satisfied with Xiao Cheng's cooperation. He slowly released the blade that was against Bai Lu's neck.
Turning back to the sofa, he sat down leisurely, took out another cigar, and cut it open.
From the smoke, he watched as Xiao Cheng untied Bai Lu.
Chapter 283: His Thoughtfulness
Xiao Cheng first untied the ropes from Bai Lu's feet, then the ones binding her hands to the chair handles, and finally the ropes around her body. He gently peeled off the adhesive tape covering her mouth.
As soon as the tape loosened, Bai Lu's slightly pale lips opened as if to speak, but were promptly silenced by Xiao Cheng's slender index finger.
"The time is almost up," Xiao Cheng whispered softly to the worried Bai Lu before leading her outside.
The two opposing forces engaged in battle outside, with varying degrees of injuries. Upon seeing Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu emerge, accompanied by the people of the big boss, they immediately ceased hostilities.
The big boss's men returned to their camp to tend to their injuries and assess the situation.
Meanwhile, Zhang San, Li Si, and the others returned to Xiao Cheng's side, preparing to leave together.
However, Xiao Cheng loosened his grip on Bai Lu's hand and said to them, "Escort my wife to the examination site."
Zhang San, Li Si, and the others were all stunned.
Did Xiao Cheng mean that he wouldn't leave and only Bai Lu and they would go?
Bai Lu was worried about leaving Xiao Cheng alone here. The big boss was cunning and malicious. What if he harmed Xiao Cheng?
Before she could voice her concern, Xiao Cheng reassured her gently, "He wants me to come back and continue to serve. He won't harm me. Go and take the exam with peace of mind."
"After the exam, you'll see me."
Bai Lu glanced around at the menacing figures surrounding them, then looked up to see Xiao Cheng gently pushing her away. She could only express her concern in a parting instruction, "Be careful."
"After the exam, if I don't see you, I'll come find you," Xiao Cheng agreed, nodding.
Bai Lu then said, "Zhang San, just take me to the exam site. The rest of you can stay here."
Staying here would mean that if Xiao Cheng needed them, they could help. He wouldn't be fighting alone.
But Xiao Cheng said, "No need."
He pushed her gently, urging her to leave, "Go."
It wasn't until they walked out of the mansion gate that Bai Lu understood the meaning behind Xiao Cheng's "no need."
He had already prepared everything for her.
Inside the taxi, he had placed her exam admission ticket, ID card, and all the necessary examination materials that fell to the ground when she was knocked unconscious at the Ping'an Hotel. They were all packed in a document bag, along with a bottle of mineral water.
There were also bread and milk on the seat. Since eating while in motion could be difficult, bread and milk were just right.
The driver was also someone Xiao Cheng knew from Nan City.
Bai Lu had just sat down and closed the car door when the speed began to rise, quickly reaching its maximum.
Zhang San, Li Si, and the others were also busy. All of them, riding motorcycles, cleared the way ahead.
Bai Lu had seen motorcycle teams speeding in the past, but she never thought or witnessed motorcycles moving this fast, almost leaving no trace.
The people who could accompany Xiao Cheng were indeed extraordinary. Even their impetuous temperament, when needed, was refined. They even surpassed Xiao Cheng, directly shouting in the street.
"Get out of the way!"
"Hey, idiot in the middle of the road, is this your family's road? Are you the only one on the road? Get out of my way!"
"Stop! What are you doing up there? So many cars blocking the road, aren't you letting anyone through?!"
"Hey, kid, what are you looking at? I'll honk at you, don't get cheeky!"
"What are you doing! What's happening up there? So many cars blocking the road, are you still letting people through?!"
During the high school entrance examination period, the roads near the schools would be crowded with vehicles and people. Even though this province's city wasn't economically developed and didn't have many cars on the streets, there were still quite a few motorcycles and bicycles everywhere.
Even a slight mishap could lead to accidents.
The congested road was blocked by an accident, a collision between a car and a motorcycle.
Lying beside the motorcycle were a father and son, both suffering from varying degrees of severe abrasions and injuries from the impact.
The teenager lying unconscious was a high school entrance examinee. His bloody admission ticket and ID card lay scattered on the ground. Unfortunately, the teenager was seriously injured and couldn't continue with the exam. If he survived this ordeal, he would surely regret it when he woke up.
The ambulance quickly carried the injured away, leaving the road blocked. Traffic police were busy clearing the way.
This section of the road was still a considerable distance from the Ping'an examination site, and time was running out. Waiting any longer would make them late.
Bai Lu accepted Zhang San and Li Si's suggestion and didn't take a taxi but instead rode on Zhang San's motorcycle to the examination site.
With motorcycles, they wouldn't be blocked by traffic on the main roads.
Zhang San drove the motorcycle at a fast speed, matching the speed Xiao Cheng had when he drove Bai Lu from Xin Town to the city in the morning.
It was smooth sailing all the way.
Arriving at the examination site in the final three minutes, Bai Lu had been tossed around so much that she almost lost her bearings.
Fortunately, she had only eaten bread and milk, so her reaction wasn't too strong. She didn't feel nauseous for the time being, but she did feel a bit dizzy, and people seemed to have double images. She needed to take it slow.
However, Zhang San, Li Si, Ah Dai, and the others had no reaction at all. They all looked refreshed, even though they were carrying injuries. It was as if speeding recklessly was perfectly normal for them, and they were all high-spirited.
They all cheered Bai Lu on.
"Sister-in-law, good luck on the exam!"
"Sister-in-law, you'll definitely succeed in the exam!"
"Sister-in-law, you'll pass the exam whenever you take it!"
Bai Lu rubbed her temples and sincerely thanked the brothers for accompanying her.
"Thank you for your kind words, brothers."
With that, she took the document bag and hurried into the examination room. The surroundings were deserted, with not a single examinee in sight.
There was only Bai Lu's lone figure, sprinting towards the exam room.
Zhang San, Li Si, Ah Dai, and the others were still cheering her on from behind.
They genuinely hoped that Bai Lu would successfully complete the exam and get into a good university.
As the brothers of a university student, it would be a matter of pride for them. Regardless of which university student from which gang they encountered in the future, they could hold their heads high and proudly say that their sister-in-law was in charge.
Zhang San, Li Si, and all the brothers present either didn't finish high school or didn't finish middle school.
It wasn't because their grades were extremely poor and they were expelled from school. Among them, there were people with good, average, and below-average grades.
Dropping out of school was their own choice because their families didn't have the money. Even if they were admitted to a good university,
they couldn't afford to attend.
Their parents were all migrant workers, some working in the fields, some toiling away in brick factories, and others working overtime in small factories every day. Despite their hard work, they didn't earn much in a month.
Just maintaining the family's living expenses was already difficult. They didn't dare to get sick, as falling ill would mean risking the family's financial stability. How could they afford to send them to university?
No one knew what life was like for poor families. Everyone liked to watch rich people on TV, watch the fake poor people portrayed on TV, and believed that the lives of the lower class were like that, with no worries about food and clothing, and life was carefree. Only they themselves knew what life was really like.
They hoped Bai Lu could get into a good university, learn better and more advanced knowledge, and then engage in big business with Xiao Cheng in the future, bringing them along to make money together and live a truly comfortable and worry-free life.
Luo Shiliu, Xiao Dazhuang, Wang Hao, Zhang San, Li Si, and others were all good examples. Under Xiao Cheng and Bai Lu's business, they had done what they could to improve their lives.
Not to mention the tremendous changes in Xiao Village.
Chapter 284: Likings
The exam began.
Bai Lu couldn't calm her mind entirely; images of Xiao Cheng being watched by the big boss's men kept replaying in her head.
She also wondered if the big boss had sensed Xiao Cheng's stirring up of the four major forces.
She doubted whether the big boss would hold Xiao Cheng accountable.
If the big boss insisted on keeping Xiao Cheng, what would Xiao Cheng do? Would he continue down the perilous and bloody path, or would he seek another opportunity to escape? The estate belonged to the big boss, and everyone inside was his person. With enemies all around and few allies, how could Xiao Cheng escape?
Worry was inevitable when one cared deeply. With her mind preoccupied, she couldn't focus on her exam paper. Doubts clouded her thoughts, making it impossible to write coherent answers.
Bai Lu knew her mind was unsettled, and any answers she produced would be incorrect. She had to put down her pen.
She took a deep breath.
She needed to readjust her mindset, put aside distractions, and if she couldn't, she needed to replace them with other thoughts. She needed positive thoughts to dispel the worries disrupting her normal thinking process and regain composure.
That last promise Xiao Cheng made to her resurfaced in her mind. He had said that she would see him as soon as the exam was over. Xiao Cheng was a big shot, not a child. When a big shot made a promise, they kept it. He had never broken his word, nor would he. She should trust him. After finishing the exam, she would see him waiting for her outside.
Bai Lu inhaled and exhaled, anchoring her determination in her mind. With focused attention, she swept away all distractions and resumed writing with determination.
In the scorching June heat, waves of hot air flooded in through the windows. Despite the ceiling fan spinning and casting a breeze, the air was still hot, and the students were drenched in sweat.
But none of them stopped writing to fan themselves.
Every person raced against time to answer the questions. The college entrance examination was the only chance to change their destinies. If they missed it, they would have no future.
The future hung in the balance, waiting for the strokes of their pens.
As the bell signaling the end of the exam rang, all the students handed in their papers and left the classroom in an orderly manner.
Bai Lu headed straight for the school gate, passing by the edge of the playground, only to be intercepted by a haughty figure.
"What bad luck to end up in the same exam room as you, a loser like you. You really bring bad luck," Zhou Jiayi sneered with disdain. "With your trashy grades, you shouldn't even be here. Going back to the countryside to farm would suit you better, country bumpkin."
Bai Lu committed the most impolite act of her past and present lives. Before her enemy could strike, she pushed her into the roadside green belt and walked away without looking back.
She had no time to deal with Zhou Jiayi.
She didn't want to hear Zhou Jiayi's nonsense.
This was the fastest and most effective method.
Zhou Jiayi ended up in the green belt, her head full of green branches. Her arrogant face twisted in disbelief, turning to anger.
"Bai Lu, you wait and see!"
Bai Lu had already reached the school gate.
Outside the gate, there was a sea of people coming and going, including students who had finished their exams and parents.
And there was one more person, dressed in a deep blue shirt and black trousers, a tall and imposing figure standing out prominently in the crowd. Despite his extraordinary handsomeness and imposing demeanor, no one dared to approach him within three meters. He exuded a chilling aura as if just approaching him would lead to annihilation. Everyone treasured their lives and kept their distance.
Except for Bai Lu, who waded through the crowd, smiling broadly as she threw herself into his arms.
He had really come.
She really saw him after finishing the exam.
Xiao Cheng was taken aback by Bai Lu's embrace, his heart fluttering slightly. His hand, hanging by his side, subconsciously lifted to return the embrace.
Since she recovered from her illness, the feeling of closeness with him, which had been erratic, seemed to have disappeared. Occasionally, there was still a sense of intimacy.
Even though she didn't remember the events of that night, he promised her that he would make an electric chestnut roaster and sell it. The next day, he brought back the necessary items from the store to make it, and she was very happy.
While he was making the electric roaster, she was reading in her room. Sometimes when she came out to get water, she would stand by the corridor and watch him. If he caught her looking, instead of calmly saying how good-looking he was, as she used to, she would immediately avert her gaze, her face showing a fleeting blush before she casually commented on how well he was doing his work.
Then she would pour him a glass of water.
Previously, when Wang Cuihua came to find him, she would watch Wang Cuihua's performance like a spectator. Now, when Wang Cuihua came over, she wouldn't even let her in.
And now, she initiated a hug with him.
If it weren't for that night, when she explained the manifestations of possessiveness and affection, he wouldn't have thought that her feelings for him might have changed during this time.
Unusual reactions, similar to when she first invaded his heart.
He had experienced it, but only partially understood it.
He didn't know if their relationship had progressed.
He didn't know if he needed to say or do something to confirm the progress of this relationship.
Or should he just let it go naturally?
Xiao Cheng's face showed an unprecedented bewilderment, confusion, incomprehension, and ignorance, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.
But there was no annoyance.
Xiao Wei, who had recovered from sunstroke the previous day, still looked a bit weak. He lay on the table, staring at the phone on the high table opposite him, anxious and nervous.
He didn't even turn on the TV, his favorite pastime. He wasn't interested in watching martial arts heroes fighting anymore.
This was supposed to be his entertainment plan after the summer vacation. However, now, all he could think about was his sister-in-law.
"Why hasn't big brother called back yet? Haven't they found sister-in-law yet...? Is sister-in-law okay...?"
The fan blowing wind made Xiao Wei drowsy, but he kept his eyes wide open. He wanted to wait for his big brother and sister-in-law's call.
"Big brother, sister-in-law..."
"Creak—"
The sound of the door opening was a thousand times more effective than Xiao Wei rubbing his eyes. His drowsy eyes instantly cleared up.
As big as brass bells, he turned his head to the door, and the next second, he erupted with a super-sized light bulb glare.
"Big brother, sister-in-law!"
The little guy immediately got up and rushed out.
As a result, because of his injured knee, he fell flat on his face.
Bai Lu hurriedly helped the little figure up and checked his red and bloody knee, swollen and torn, clearly injured for the second time.
"When did you fall? Why didn't you take care of it? Sand has gotten into the wound..."
Xiao Cheng, carrying groceries, closed the door as if nothing had happened, calm and composed, without a hint of guilt for not helping.
Xiao Wei was more sensible. He knew that his big brother had to go save his sister-in-law. Regardless of whether it was right or not, he had only fallen. It wasn't like he had broken his leg and couldn't get up.
However, the feeling of being cared for after being injured was really good, warm and hot in his heart.
"It was after lunch, when I was taking a walk to aid digestion, I accidentally fell. It's not serious..."
Chapter 285: Going on a Trip
After tending to Xiao Wei's scraped hands with sand, disinfectant, and medicine, Bai Lu realized that the little guy's hands were also scratched.
The poor child, suffering from sunstroke yesterday and not fully recovered today, had another bout of flesh wounds.
Even the little flower of the motherland had its petals scattered.
After applying all the medicine, tending to the wounds, and tidying up, Xiao Cheng had already prepared dinner.
The table was filled with delicious dishes, steaming hot and home-cooked. Although they were simple dishes, they tasted as exquisite as delicacies, with a perfect blend of flavors, aroma, and appearance, tempting one to have seconds.
Bai Lu thought having two bowls of rice was quite normal, especially since she hadn't eaten lunch. After being hungry for so long, she should have three bowls of rice, although she felt a bit embarrassed.
Eating three bowls of rice in front of Xiao Cheng would be a bit awkward and embarrassing.
Fortunately, Xiao Cheng didn't serve her rice as he usually did but instead poured her a bowl of pork rib soup.
He even said, "You didn't eat lunch, so eating too much now would be hard to digest. You can have some supper later."
Bai Lu choked on the soup... coughing as she swallowed it down directly.
The third bowl of rice was postponed to supper directly.
Well, that was fine.
"Did Sister-in-law not have lunch?" Xiao Wei asked with concern as he served Bai Lu a piece of meat.
"I had bread and milk," White Lu replied, smiling as she ate the meat from the soup bowl.
"I wasn't hungry."
"That's good." Xiao Wei glanced at Xiao Cheng, who was adding more soup to Bai Lu's bowl, feeling relieved. Big Brother cared so much about Sister-in-law; he wouldn't let her go hungry.
"Then let's have dinner for supper."
Bai Lu was surprised by the straightforward way Xiao Wei forced her to have lunch, coughing out loud.
"No need, it's too much trouble, and it's not good to have a heavy meal for supper. I'll just have noodles. I like noodles, they're delicious."
As expected, they had noodles for supper.
And it was Xiao Cheng who personally cooked them, while Bai Lu tended to the fire. She had been doing this job quite frequently lately.
It was relaxing, and she could admire Xiao Cheng's cooking skills. Apart from feeling a bit hot, everything else was fine.
She wasn't afraid of the heat; she had a small fan.
Unfortunately, the boss couldn't use a fan while cooking. The fan couldn't be placed on the stove; it would scatter the fumes everywhere, and the grease stains would end up on the fan.
He had to endure the discomfort time and time again.
Bai Lu watched Xiao Cheng cracking eggs into the pan with one hand, admiring his cooking skills with amazement.
Suddenly, she remembered that on the way back from the exam, she had asked Xiao Cheng if the big boss had given him any trouble.
At that time, Xiao Cheng had said that the big boss did mention him staying, but he refused.
Bai Lu hadn't smelled any blood when she hugged him, nor had she felt any wounds on his body, so she didn't think much of it.
But on the way back, she realized that if the big boss wanted Xiao Cheng to stay, he wouldn't let him go so easily if Xiao Cheng refused.
After hesitating for a moment, she thought that since he was here, there was no need to speculate. If she wasn't reassured, she could just ask directly, "Did the big boss ask you to do anything?"
Xiao Cheng probably knew what she was worried about.
He replied seriously, "I won't work for him anymore. I used a spy to leave."
If Xiao Cheng had said no, Bai Lu wouldn't have believed him. But since he mentioned a spy, she believed him eighty percent.
"Whose spy?"
While picking up the noodles with chopsticks and putting them in the bowl, Xiao Cheng said, "He Yongli."
That was somewhat unexpected yet reasonable.
The big boss wanted to cultivate Qian Shou to deal with He Yongli, unaware that He Yongli had long infiltrated his organization.
Bai Lu praised Xiao Cheng for his indifferent and aloof attitude over the years, not getting involved in matters that didn't concern him.
He must have discovered the spy a long time ago but didn't say anything. After all, he was only working for the big boss, not serving him. Loyalty to the big boss was irrelevant.
As for what the big boss thought or how he felt, that was his business.
Bai Lu didn't doubt Xiao Cheng's reasons. Since the noodles were ready and Xiao Cheng had served them, he called Bai Lu to supper.
Supper for three, each with a bowl, was just the right amount. Bai Lu's bowl was the largest and was filled to the brim.
Bai Lu: "..."
She had to call Xiao Wei over for supper.
Xiao Wei was in the main house, watching TV and doing summer homework.
The little flower of the motherland possessed a powerful and rare ability: doing homework while watching TV.
Xiao Wei came to the kitchen, saw Bai Lu's large bowl of noodles, and didn't find it strange at all; he thought it was only natural.
Without receiving any shared glances from Bai Lu, he sat down quietly and ate his noodles, not even lifting his head.
The delicious aroma filled his mouth.
Bai Lu was also content. She swore that she wouldn't eat noodles for at least half a month, no, three days.
In the next two days, Xiao Cheng personally took Bai Lu to the exam venue and picked her up afterward.
Bai Lu's safety was ensured, and the college entrance examination went smoothly.
Some matters needed to be addressed now.
Things that had been weighing on Bai Lu's mind, things she had been thinking about day and night, things she often dreamed about at night.
Bai Lu told Xiao Cheng one night that she wanted to go on a trip, to which Xiao Cheng was slightly surprised and only told her to come back early.
The next morning, he accompanied her to the South City Railway Station.
It was a long journey from the town to the provincial capital, South City, with inconvenient transportation. It took several transfers to get there.
The train station was crowded with people waiting for their trains, some carrying luggage while others had large and small bags, and under the bustling crowd, they made their way to the bus station to catch a ride home.
Xiao Cheng bought the tickets for Bai Lu, waited with her for the train, and bought her some snacks for the journey.
He watched her board the train, headed to find her family.
As the green train departed from the platform, Bai Lu's last image was of Xiao Cheng standing in place.
Her emotions were complicated. From Xinzhen to South City, they hadn't said much along the way, and neither had he.
Perhaps some things were understood between them without needing to be spoken.
From South City to the Capital City, the train ride took 30 hours. Without a phone, newspaper, or magazine, there was nothing to pass the time, making the wait seem endless.
Xiao Cheng had bought Bai Lu a sleeper ticket by the window. As she looked out at the passing scenery, her thoughts were in turmoil, filled with anticipation, longing, and uncertainty.
Bai Lu was born in the spring of 1999, when everything was in bloom, and the world was filled with beauty.
Twenty-three years of warmth and happiness, of joyful family moments, ended in the Bermuda Triangle.
Now, in the 1990s, according to the trajectory of the world's time and space, her parents were only a few years older than her.
Her father, at twenty-seven, was not yet the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, just a senior judge.
Her mother, at twenty-five, was not yet a high-ranking official at the Tax Bureau, just an ordinary employee.
The family's residence was not the detached house she remembered but a scattered mess of old photos, one of which had fallen from a metal box in her parents' room, scattering memories of their first home after marriage.
The first residential complex where they lived.
