https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-495-The-Rising-Influence-of-Lu-Jiaxin/12580243/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-497-Working-at-the-Capital-Hospital/12580245/
Chapter 496: Unreliable Emotions
Chapter 496: Unreliable Emotions
Chapter 494: The Humble Lu Hongjun
The dishes were served, and the group sat down to eat. Lu Jiaxin's face lit up as she saw that most of the dishes on the table were her favorites.
After the meal, Lu Hongjun asked Lu Jiaguang to help him to the study while also calling for Lu Jiaxin to join them. Once inside the study, he asked, "Xin Xin, when are you returning to Hong City?"
Lu Jiaxin, guessing that he had something private to discuss, replied impatiently, "The day after tomorrow."
Lu Hongjun said, "When are you free tomorrow? I want to take you to a place."
Lu Jiaxin glanced at him and asked, "I'll be visiting the Xie family in the morning. I'm free in the afternoon. Where do you want to take me?"
After the recent adoption incident, she was no longer worried that Lu Hongjun would harm her. She knew that only she could ensure he enjoyed his old age in peace.
Lu Hongjun said, "I still have some things in my possession, which I originally intended to give to you after my death. But I'm afraid that when I pass away, you might not make it back in time, so it's better to give them to you now to be safe."
Without even needing to ask, she knew he was referring to his antique collection. Lu Hongjun had quite the impressive collection, and she wondered how he had acquired them all.
Lu Jiaxin's eyebrows furrowed. "You originally intended to leave them to me? Do you think I'd believe that?"
Lu Hongjun knew he couldn't hide the truth from her, so he confessed, "These items were originally meant for Lu Shan, for him to pass on to Gou Dan and Gou Sheng, generation after generation. But this recent incident made me realize that Lu Shan can't be trusted to safeguard these items."
Lu Jiaxin had previously stated that she didn't want anything from Lu Hongjun, meaning that she wouldn't fight for them. But if he offered them to her, she certainly wouldn't refuse.
Lu Jiaguang knew that the adoption incident had created a rift between Lu Hongjun and Lu Shan. He sighed, thinking about how much trouble his older brother had caused.
Having received so many valuable items, Lu Jiaxin expressed her intentions: "If Gou Dan and Gou Sheng can study, I will support them financially. If they can't, I will still arrange for them to learn a skill."
Hearing this, Lu Hongjun felt relieved. Although Lu Shan was adopted midway through his life and thus had a more distant relationship, Gou Dan and Gou Sheng were the apples of his eye.
Lu Jiaxin continued, "Tang Sufen is too greedy. Your pension alone won't be enough for her. It's better if you don't register your marriage, as it will be easier to separate if needed. If you do register and then separate, it will be very troublesome."
Then she added, "Here, hosting a wedding banquet is considered a de facto marriage, and everyone recognizes it as such. But in Hong City, without registering, you're not considered spouses; you're just cohabiting."
Lu Hongjun's eyes lit up. "Xin Xin, does that mean I can go to Hong City in the future?"
Seeing Lu Jiaxin's gaze on him, Lu Hongjun quickly explained, "I don't mean to go to Hong City to live with you. I'm just saying that many people talk about how prosperous Hong City is, and I want to see it for myself. Gou Dan and Gou Sheng are in Si Jiu City, and I definitely can't bear to leave them. I just want to go and take a look."
Seeing how humble he had become, Lu Jiaguang felt a pang of sadness. However, he understood Lu Jiaxin's temperament and dared not offer any advice, fearing it would only make things worse.
Lu Jiaxin said, "It's getting late. I should head back."
Lu Hongjun insisted on seeing Lu Jiaxin out, specifically calling for Lu Shan to assist him.
Seeing him like this, Lu Jiaxin's heart felt a mix of emotions. When they reached her doorstep, she still said, "It's late, and you're not as mobile as you used to be. Go back and get some rest."
It was night, and although there were streetlights, they weren't very bright. Tripping and falling could lead to trouble. Lu Jiaguang chimed in, "Yes, Third Uncle. You should head home and rest. Shan Zi, help your grandfather inside."
"Okay."
After seeing the guests out, Lu Jiaguang turned back to find Lu Hongjun.
"Xin Xin has left?"
"Yes. Third Uncle, Jiaxin's attitude has softened a lot compared to before. If it were in the past, she wouldn't have been willing to sit down and have a meal with you."
"And you mentioned wanting to go to Hong City to take a look. In the past, he would have flown into a rage, but today she didn't refuse."
"Third Uncle, let's take it slow. One day, Jiaxin will forgive you."
If Lu Jiaxin had been there, she would have told Lu Jiaguang that he was overthinking things. The reason she hadn't argued with Lu Hongjun today was firstly because he was now old and frail with white hair, and it wouldn't reflect well on her if she were to anger him to the point of death. Secondly, Lu Hongjun no longer dared to exert his paternal authority over her as he used to. Instead, his words now carried a hint of appeasement.
Upon returning home, Lu Jiaxin freshened up and then called Nie Zhan. When she heard from the maid that he hadn't returned, she tried his office, but there was no answer. Fine, he must be out entertaining clients again. Ever since she had moved out, Nie Zhan seemed to have unleashed his social side.
Thinking of the short videos she had watched in her past life—of wives going on business trips or visiting their parents for a few days, and their husbands celebrating their temporary freedom as if they had been released from prison—a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
The next morning at nine, Lu Jiaxin went to the compound to visit Su Hongying. After being cared for over such a long period, Su Hongying's complexion had improved, and she had regained her pre-miscarriage health.
Seeing Lu Jiaxin, Su Hongying smiled and asked, "Did you go hiking again?"
Lu Jiaxin nodded and said, "Yes, I climbed Mount Heng and Mount Song. Even though the sun isn't that strong now, I'm still tanned like charcoal."
Her skin tanned easily, but fortunately, it also lightened quickly, which could be considered a blessing.
"Take it easy," Su Hongying advised.
Lu Jiaxin understood the underlying meaning and laughed, "It's already good enough that I don't find him boring and old-fashioned. How dare he complain about my looks? If he dares to do so, I'll replace him immediately. It's not easy to find a three-legged toad, but a two-legged man is plenty."
Such bold words left Su Hongying coughing from the shock.
Lu Jiaxin quickly patted her on the back, and after she calmed down, she brought her a cup of water.
Su Hongying smiled as she took the cup, took a sip, and said, "You're just putting on a strong front. If you really broke up, who knows how sad you'd be?"
Lu Jiaxin replied nonchalantly, "I'd definitely be sad, as we've been together for three years. But if he dislikes me for getting tanned, it proves that he only loves my appearance and not my inner self. It's better to break up with such a man early on to minimize the damage."
During the summer vacation, when she was even more tanned than now, Nie Zhan hadn't complained, so he definitely wouldn't now. However, there were indeed some men in this world who only cared about a woman's looks, and once she gained weight or her appearance changed, they would lose interest.
Su Hongying agreed, "It's good that you think this way. In this world, the most unreliable thing is emotions. When a couple is in love, they're like glue, wanting to stick together all the time. But once they turn against each other, they'll try to trample you into the mud and make sure you never get back up."
She had seen too many loving couples turn against each other and tear each other apart in her previous life.
Lu Jiaxin laughed, "That won't happen. Nie Zhan at least has that much decency. But Su Auntie, what you said is true. The most dependable thing in this world is money, and the least dependable is indeed emotions."
After chatting for a while, she asked, "Where's Uncle Xie? Is he on another business trip?"
Su Hongying smiled and said, "No, he was waiting for you to come over, but then he received a call and had to go out. He'll be back later. Jiaxin, why don't you have lunch here today?"
"Okay."
(End of Chapter)
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