CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40 ONSET OF ILLNESS

"Xia Mian, something’s not right with me." Lu Zechuan lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse, "Move in with me, stay together with me!"

Xia Mian: "????"

"Okay?" Lu Zechuan’s voice lingered like the sound of a cello, restrained yet tantalizing.

Xia Mian felt her ears itching, momentarily stunned, unable to respond for a long time. Her hand slipped, and she accidentally hung up the phone...

This man, it was bad enough that he looked good, but even his voice was this alluring. Although she had lived this long, she really couldn’t resist his pitiful act of pleading!

Xia Mian raised her hand to rub her ear.

The next moment, her phone received a WeChat message from Lu Zechuan: "I’m sorry, I was just joking just now."

The relationship between the two of them was a mix of truth and falsehood, and his request just now had crossed a boundary.

Xia Mian stared at the words on her phone, her eyelids lowered. After a while, she chuckled lightly and replied, "I am telling you quite seriously, I agree."

In a past life, Lu Zechuan had shown her kindness. In this life, she had originally wanted to repay him, but she couldn’t resist this man’s beauty and charm, getting a bit of an ulterior motive.

On the other end, Lu Zechuan stared at the words on the screen. He recognized every character, but when put together, he had the illusion that he couldn’t understand them.

Agreed?

Lu Zechuan was dazed, feeling like he was dreaming. Did she just agree like that?

Wouldn’t she think he was being reckless? Wouldn’t she think he was being abrupt?

Xia Mian, how could she be so wonderful!

"Thank you." Lu Zechuan typed these two words, then felt they were too distant and polite, slowly deleting them.

"I’ll wait for you." Lu Zechuan typed these three words but still felt it inappropriate, like a rogue.

In the end, he only replied with the word "Okay."

Xia Mian stared at the word "Okay" on the screen and slowly smiled.

Xia Mian needed to explain to Song Juan about moving to the Lu Family.

Song Juan immediately expressed opposition to Xia Mian going to live with the Lu Family.

How could a young girl recklessly go to live in a man’s house?

Song Juan feared that Xia Mian would follow in her own footsteps and was adamant against Xia Mian going to the Lu Family, even leaving her company matters to return home.

Xia Mian was suddenly harried, and just when she was at a loss for what to do, Lu Zechuan came over with presents in hand.

"Auntie, rest assured, Xia Mian is just coming to stay at my place for a few days. Our family will treat her with respect and will not do anything that would harm her reputation." Lu Zechuan spoke leisurely, with propriety and respect.

But Song Juan wouldn’t agree, "A girl going to your place like this, how will she marry in the future?"

Lu Zechuan remained calm and unruffled, "Auntie, if you’re concerned, I can first get engaged to Mianmian."

Upon hearing this, Song Juan was stunned.

She had imagined many scenarios of her daughter being wooed by someone unsuitable, but she hadn’t expected anything this hasty.

"Just get engaged because you say so?" Song Juan was dissatisfied, "Mianmian is still young, no rush in matters of marriage!"

Her Mianmian had just turned eighteen, and that Lu guy already had his eyes on her? Absolutely shameless!

"Mom!" Xia Mian rolled her eyes, "I’m really going to the Lu Family for something important."

Song Juan huffed, "Mianmian, it’s not that I’m unreasonable, I just...it’s just inappropriate..."

"Mom. The Lu Family people are really nice." Xia Mian smiled as she held Song Juan’s hand, "I’m just staying for a short while. Once the Lu Family’s matters are settled, I’ll return. Lu Zechuan has shown us kindness, and I want to help him within my capabilities."

Song Juan sighed softly, "Fine, I’m not unreasonable either. Do what you want, but remember, no matter what happens, always put your safety first."

Xia Mian smiled and acknowledged, and then packed her things, bundling up and leaving with Lu Zechuan for the Lu Family.

Watching Xia Mian rush off, Song Juan couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh, "A grown daughter can’t be kept at home..."

***

Xia Mian followed Lu Zechuan back to the Lu Family.

In the hospital, Ji Hua’s condition gradually stabilized, and Mu Keying and Ji Changxing arranged for Ji Hua’s discharge.

The night Ji Hua was discharged and returned to the Ji Family, Mu Keying and Ji Changxing had just laid down when they heard the sounds of heavy objects hitting the walls in Ji Hua’s room.

"Old Ji, did you hear something?" Mu Keying, timid by nature, cowered under the blanket, clutching it tightly, with only her eyes showing.

"There is a sound." Ji Changxing also sat up.

Out of concern that Ji Hua might have an adverse reaction after just being discharged, Ji Changxing had specially arranged Ji Hua’s recovery room next to theirs.

Listening to the noises from the next room, they sounded unsettling.

"I’ll go have a look." Ji Changxing got up, put on a piece of clothing, and went out.

As Ji Changxing approached Ji Hua’s door, just as he stood there, the door was punched open from inside.

Ji Changxing stared at the fist that nearly hit his temple, his heart nearly leaping into his throat.

The fist was covered in blood, with a skull ring on the index finger.

Ji Changxing recognized the ring - it was Ji Hua’s.

The quality of their door was top-notch, but now Ji Hua had punched a hole right through it...

Ji Changxing shuddered, feeling as if all the hairs on his body were standing on end, his voice shaking as he asked, "Huazi? Are you alright?"

All he got in response was a low, hoarse growl.

Ji Changxing had watched zombie movies before, and this growl really gave a sense of a zombie coming.

Ji Changxing gulped, mustering the courage to try to push Ji Hua’s fist back in.

Just then, Ji Hua suddenly went crazy, banging against the door with all his might.

The door was splintering with debris flying everywhere, in the dead of night, making the whole place shake.

Mu Keying came out wrapped in a coat, her body trembling uncontrollably, "Old Ji, let’s run!"

Their son looked close to madness, and if they stayed there, they’d just get themselves into trouble. The son might be of their own blood, but they valued their own lives more.

"Huazi!" Ji Changxing’s expression darkened. He had a son and a daughter; his daughter Ji Ling was already a lost cause, and if his son were to be lost too, he would have no heirs!

Just as Ji Changxing finished speaking, Ji Hua shattered the door open and stepped out.

Upon seeing Ji Hua’s current state, Ji Changxing was dumbfounded.

Ji Hua’s head was covered in blood, his eyes were red, his gaze vacant, like a puppet being controlled.

"What are you two standing there for?! Run!" Ji Ling, who had been woken up, came out to see this scene and shouted at Mu Keying and Ji Changxing, who were petrified.

Only then did the two of them return to their senses and turned to run downstairs.

Ji Ling stretched out her arms to guard the stairway, "Brother! Snap out of it!"

Ji Hua seemed to not hear, advancing step by step towards Ji Ling.

In a split second, Ji Ling suddenly recalled something, took out a talisman from her sleeve, spat on it, and slapped it onto Ji Hua’s forehead.