Chapter 2: Breaking the Lock
Chapter 2: Breaking the Lock
After dropping this bombshell, Lu Jiaxin didn't elaborate further. Instead, she waved at the embarrassed young boy standing not far away.
"Xue Mao, let's go upstairs."
As the general manager of the department store, Lu's father was allocated an 80-square-foot apartment and had chosen the third floor. As the only daughter, the original body had her own room since childhood. Many families in the compound, squeezing eight or nine people into 30 to 40-square-foot homes, envied and resented the original body for this alone.
Zhao Dama was left speechless by Lu Jiaxin's words, and wanted to explain, but Lu Jiaxin wouldn't even glance at her.
She had no choice but to change the subject and asked curiously, "Jiaxin, who is this child?"
Lu Jiaxin, with a dark expression, said, "Zhao Dama, stop staring at me. What you should be doing now is hurrying to tell that venomous woman that I'm back. If you're late, don't expect to get any more benefits from that woman in the future."
Everyone had been curious about how Ding Jing had caused Lu Jiaxin to fail the college entrance examination, and now they looked at Zhao Dama in surprise.
Someone who didn't get along with Ding Jing deliberately said, "Sister Zhao, Jiaxin said that you and the manager's wife are as close as lips and teeth. Why don't you tell us how Ding Jing plotted against Jiaxin?"
Zhao Dama's face changed as soon as she heard this, "Jiaxin was scared out of her wits and is talking nonsense. Don't repeat her nonsense."
"Jiaxin, you must not talk nonsense. I was just concerned about you."
Lu Jiaxin scoffed, "Whether it's nonsense or not, you know, I know, Ding Jing knows, and even the heavens know."
Of course, Zhao Dama would not admit it.
Lu Jiaxin knew that this old lady would never admit to being Ding Jing's lackey, and she didn't care. "Zhao Dama, I was foolish before and let you wrap me around your finger. From now on, I will get back what I'm owed with interest."
Zhao Dama felt a sense of unease in her heart for some unknown reason when she saw Lu Jiaxin's sharp gaze.
Lu Jiaxin didn't care what Zhao Dama thought. She turned to explain the young boy's identity to the crowd, "His name is Xue Mao. After I fainted, he saved me. Otherwise, my grave would already be overgrown with grass."
When she woke up, she had lost too much blood and felt dizzy and weak all over. Fortunately, she had run into Xue Mao, who had been out looking for food, or she might have died again.
In the compound, Black Mole Mama and Zhao Dama were the most incompatible. Although she had been rebuked by Lu Jiaxin earlier, Black Mole Mama hadn't done anything wrong, so she was delighted to see Zhao Dama being rebuked and unable to speak. Lu Jiaxin also looked much more pleasant to her.
Black Mole Mama said, "Jiaxin, why are you so bold? Knowing that your stepmother doesn't mean well by you, you should have spoken up earlier. With your father protecting her, she wouldn't dare to plot against you anymore."
"Also, after regaining your memory, you should have called your father first and had him pick you up from the ancient capital. You've been wronged once, so be more careful in the future!"
Lu Jiaxin was very much disgusted by her lecturing tone, but she wasn't the original body, so she wouldn't be foolish enough to retort and thus fulfill someone's wishes.
A cold smile curled her lips as she left behind an even more chilling remark, "If I were to call my father, that would truly be the end of me."
Without another glance at the shocked crowd, she headed upstairs with Xue Mao. Today's gossip should be enough to satisfy the curious aunties in the compound.
Upon reaching the third floor, Lu Jiaxin found the door locked. Without hesitation, she took a brick out of her bag and smashed it at the lock.
The few people who had followed her upstairs were stunned by this scene.
Although Lu Jiaxin used to be willful and sentimental, she was always a delicate young lady. How did she become so fierce?
Zhao Dama, who had followed her upstairs, thought of the benefits Ding Jing had given her in the past and could only grit her teeth and pull Lu Jiaxin back, saying, "Child, if you want to enter the house, you can wait a moment. Your Aunt Ding has gone out to buy vegetables and will be back soon."
Lu Jiaxin was truly disgusted. This old woman was like sticky candy, impossible to shake off, and simply asking for death.
Since she didn't appreciate being given a chance, Lu Jiaxin forcefully shook off Zhao Dama's hand. Unprepared, Zhao Dama stumbled backward and would have fallen if not for the people behind her.
Lu Jiaxin coldly watched her rubbing her waist and whining in pain. "Stop acting. The benefits Ding Jing gave you aren't worth your effort."
Zhao Dama endured the pain and said, "Jiaxin, I have nothing to do with Ding Jing. Don't talk nonsense."
Lu Jiaxin scoffed, "If I have nothing to do with Ding Jing, then am I slandering you? Should I list all the things you've received from her for everyone to hear?"
In fact, the original body didn't know, but those with guilty consciences couldn't bear being accused.
Zhao Dama's face alternated between green and white, and she regretted following Lu Jiaxin upstairs.
Lu Jiaxin looked at the crowd gathered at the door and said fiercely, "All of you are my witnesses. Ding Jing and Zhao Siying ruined my future and almost took my life. They are my sworn enemies."
Zhao Siying was Ding Jing's daughter. Although the original body had left home of her own accord, Zhao Siying was the root cause. If it weren't for her stunt before the college entrance examination that had shocked the original body, with her scores, getting into a university in the top 49 cities would not have been a problem.
The original body was gone, and the mother and daughter duo owed her a life. She couldn't kill them to avenge the original body, but they wouldn't have any peaceful days from now on.
The crowd was shocked by the hatred in her eyes. However, it was understandable. Cutting off someone's source of income was like killing their parents, and blocking someone's path was even worse.
Xue Mao stepped forward and took the brick from Lu Jiaxin's hand. The onlookers thought the boy was very sensible, but instead, he took the brick and continued to smash the lock. With a boy's strength, it didn't take long for the lock to loosen.
Lu Jiaxin was quite satisfied.
As soon as the lock was broken, she pushed the door open and walked in. Once Xue Mao entered, she locked the door from the inside, blocking everyone else out. As for what those outside thought, she didn't care at all.
Xue Mao stood in the middle of the living room, looking at the clean and tidy house and the array of furniture, feeling that his eyes were not enough to take it all in.
He pointed to the square, iron lump on top of the cabinet and asked in confusion, "Sis Jiaxin, why is your television bigger than others'?"
Lu Jiaxin, who was turning on the electric fan, turned her head and glanced at it, replying, "That's a color TV."
After turning on the fan, she took out two bottles of soda from the refrigerator. She opened one and handed it to Xue Mao, drinking the other herself. It was late summer, and she felt like she was about to smoke from the heat. Drinking a bottle of ice-cold soda was refreshing.
Xue Mao took the soda but didn't drink it right away. Instead, he examined the refrigerator with interest and asked, "Sis Jiaxin, is this a fridge? It looks so nice."
Lu Jiaxin thought the refrigerator was ugly, but it was still a rare item, only owned by particularly wealthy families. This was because it was not only expensive to buy but also costly to run in terms of electricity. She smiled and said, "There are a lot more sodas in the fridge. Help yourself."
After finishing his soda, Xue Mao asked with some worry, "Sis Jiaxin, what if your dad gets angry when he finds out about what you just said?"
That rainy night when he had seen Lu Jiaxin's clothing, he knew she was from a wealthy family. After all, an ordinary person couldn't afford such a dress, and indeed, Sis Jiaxin's family was even wealthier than he had imagined.
Lu Jiaxin replied nonchalantly, "Let him be angry. At worst, we'll fall out. If I could survive on my own in the ancient capital, I certainly won't end up on the streets back in the Forty-Nine Cities."
"Sis, where will we stay if we're kicked out?"
As someone who had once slept on the streets and often been driven away, Xue Mao's biggest fear was becoming homeless again.
"Don't worry, we have a place to stay."
Xue Mao was immediately relieved upon hearing this. As long as they had a place to stay, he wasn't afraid even if they had no money. They could continue to sell snacks, and their earnings would be more than enough to support the two of them.
Lu Jiaxin placed the empty soda bottle on the table, picked up the phone, and dialed a number. The call connected quickly, and she recognized Lu Hongjun's voice. "It's me. I'm back, and I'm home now."
Before Lu Hongjun could say anything, she hung up and quickly dialed another number. This time, the phone rang for a while before it was answered.
Lu Jiaxin heard a strange voice and said, "I'm looking for Lu Jiaguang."
Lu Jiaguang was the original body's eldest male cousin, and they had an age difference of twenty-eight years. He had joined the army at eighteen, back when enlisting was one of the few paths available to sons of farming families, and many would try their best to get in. It was with Lu Hongjun's help that he had finally realized this dream.
After enlisting, he had been brave and ambitious, rising through the ranks in the military. Unfortunately, at thirty-five, he was injured during a mission and could no longer remain in the army. At that time, Lu Hongjun had been targeted by someone and couldn't help, but it was the original body's mother who had pulled some strings, and he had ended up working for the railway bureau in the Forty-Nine Cities.
Lu Jiaguang was very grateful to the original body's mother, so he treated the original body like his own daughter. Whatever he gave to his own children, he would also prepare for the original body.
The person who answered the phone was a secretary, and upon hearing the name of a young woman, he politely said, "Miss, our stationmaster is in a meeting. If you have something to say, please leave a message, and I will pass it on to the stationmaster after the meeting."
Lu Jiaxin thought this secretary was quite good, and she didn't beat around the bush. "I am Lu Jiaxin. Please tell my eldest brother that I'm home and waiting for him."
According to the original body's memory, this eldest male cousin was very fond of her. Now, Lu Jiaxin needed someone to back her up, and Lu Jiaguang was the natural choice.
Secretary Li was startled when he heard Lu Jiaxin introduce herself, and he quickly asked, "Miss Lu, where are you now?"
After Lu Jiaxin had gone missing, the Lu family had mobilized all their connections to look for her. They found out that the original body had bought a train ticket back to her hometown and reported it to the police. The police's analysis suggested that the original body was likely abducted by human traffickers. Everyone believed that the original body was unlikely to be found alive, and Lu Hongjun had even given up the search. Only Lu Jiaguang refused to let go and continued to look.
Hearing the urgency in Secretary Li's voice, Lu Jiaxin felt a warmth in her heart. A subordinate's urgency reflected that of his superior. Lu Hongjun, as a father, was useless, but this cousin was truly considerate.
Lu Jiaxin replied cheerfully, "I'm back. I'm home now."
Secretary Li said hastily, "Miss Lu, please don't hang up. I'll go get the stationmaster right now. Miss Lu, please don't hang up. It'll only take three minutes, no, at most two minutes."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll wait for my eldest brother and won't hang up."
(End of Chapter)
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