Chapter 11: Su Ning
There is no time now to make proper arrangements, only wait until going back first tomorrow and then properly reorganize everything.
At the small stream, she washed the mud off her hands clean, shook off the water stains, and after temporarily finding no omissions, flashed out of the space.
The evening breeze at night dispersed the daytime heat, bright moonlight spilled down, shattering the surrounding eerie and terrifying atmosphere.
Not daring to linger longer in such a place, Su Ning started the car and roared away.
……
“Uncle Lu, how is the child?”
“He’s in the ICU for observation. The doctor said as long as he passes tonight’s critical period, there won’t be any major issues.”
“Uncle Lu, rest assured, he will definitely be fine.”
“Mm.”
The clothes on his back against the wall had long been soaked with sweat. The moment he knew his son was temporarily safe, Lu Fei nearly lost his footing and collapsed to the ground.
He had seen life and death before, in fact, far too much of it, and even when he himself was badly injured, he had never been afraid.
But this time facing his son’s life hanging by a thread, even the towering man couldn’t help but redden his eyes and feel fear in his heart.
If it weren’t for…
Lu Fei looked at her full of gratitude, his cracked lips trembling slightly, “Xiao Ning, thank you.”
A thousand words reached his lips but only this one remained.
He didn’t want to inquire, nor would he touch her secret; he just needed to remember this favor!
“Then, I should also thank Uncle Lu?”
She gave him a playful smile. Su Ning knew his unspoken words and understood that meaningful look in his eyes.
The world has no shortage of smart people. Holding back curiosity and not asking a single question was the greatest protection and promise to her.
Clearly nothing was said, yet it seemed everything had been made clear.
This strange tacit understanding made the adult and child, two people differing by twenty years, suddenly feel a sense of mutual appreciation.
“Uncle Lu, eat something first. You’ll still need to keep watch tonight.”
She handed him the aluminum lunchbox she was carrying and explained, “It’s too late, the hospital canteen has no more meals, so I could only order plain noodles.”
“Enough, enough. Noodles are great.”
Originally meant to help with a task, but the matter wasn’t finished, and instead, he made the little girl run around busy for him.
Remarkably, though young, she was so thoughtful and meticulous; no wonder she was the junior Old Zhang liked and doted on so much.
His heart was softened incredibly by her care. Lu Fei’s stiff facial lines softened, “Xiao Ning, if there’s anything Uncle can help with in the future, just say the word.”
“I’ll remember that, Uncle Lu. I won’t hold back when the time comes.”
Seeing there was nothing more for the moment, Su Ning returned the key to him, “Uncle Lu, it’s late, so I’ll head back first. The car is parked at the hospital back door, and the stuff has already been cleared out.”
“Good.”
Lu Fei nodded, set the lunchbox on the long bench first, and pulled all the money out of his clothes pocket, “This isn’t enough yet. Uncle will give you the rest tomorrow.”
“No rush for now. Then, Uncle Lu, I’ll go back first.”
“I’ll walk you…”
She waved her hand to cut off his words, not giving him a chance as she turned and ran, “No need, Uncle Lu. You can’t leave here. I’m off!”
“Hey, Xiao Ning!”
“This girl!”
Seeing her run off as fast as a rabbit afraid of being caught, Lu Fei was amused and helpless. He gazed at the corridor where her figure had long vanished, taking a long time to withdraw his gaze as he pondered silently in his heart—
Old Fu said the girl would soon go to Xiangnan for work. He remembered that Dafeng and Iron Hammer had returned to their hometown after retiring; weren’t those two lads from there?
It seemed he needed to send a telegram to get in touch and reconnect.
……
Steel Factory Family Courtyard.
Returning home past curfew once again, Su Ning felt that playing the good girl for too long, occasionally being ‘rebellious’ like this wasn’t bad.
“Ning Ning is back!”
“Mm, Aunt Qian, has my dad not come back yet?”
Only the living room light was on inside the room, the house quiet. Qian Huiru sat on the sofa looking preoccupied.
Seeing the person who pushed the door in, she immediately adjusted her expression, smiling warmly and kindly, “Your dad has a work engagement at the factory tonight; not sure when he’ll be back.”
“Shanshan hasn’t come back either?”
Seeing her smile become a bit forced, without waiting for an answer, Su Ning changed her shoes on her own, her tone as distant and polite as ever.
“Sorry to trouble Aunt Qian, the shoes got a bit dirty.”
“Just leave them there. Tomorrow Aunt Qian will clean them for you when there’s time.”
“Thanks, then I’ll go back to my room first. You should rest early too.”
With the sound of the bedroom door closing, the smile on Qian Huiru’s face could no longer be maintained and completely vanished.
Her tightly clenched hands had veins bulging, and from clenching too hard, her fingertips began to turn white.
Hah, Su Jinglei was useless, but the daughter who didn’t want to give birth was formidable and tricky.
Her outward manners were flawless, scheming and tactics all present, yet without the impatience and arrogance fitting her age.
In outsiders’ eyes, gentle and courteous; in front of teachers, self-disciplined and diligent; in family and elders’ hearts, well-behaved and sensible.
Over these years of overt and covert clashes, because of everyone’s ingrained thinking and ideas, it became her best camouflage, and she hadn’t suffered even a small loss, while making herself frustrated and sick every time.
But it was almost time…
The one who laughs last is the winner, isn’t it?
……
Su Ning didn’t care what thoughts Qian Huiru had, nor was she in the mood to bother.
Once she became strong, one day she would find out the truth about her mom and younger brother’s deaths back then.
If the facts weren’t as Xu Zixin said, then for everyone involved, every single one, she absolutely wouldn’t hold back.
Even her own dad Xu Zixin!
“Pa~”
Casually tossing the bag on the desk, Su Ning opened the wardrobe, took a set of change of clothes, and went to the adjacent toilet to wash up.
……
Qinghe Lane No. 68.
Fu Xingguo, just off work and back home, saw the person sitting boldly steady in the courtyard, his scalp tingling, his back instinctively tightening.
He placed the briefcase clamped under his arm on the stone table nearby, cleared his throat, and then asked, “Dad, who upset you this time?”
“Heh, besides my good eldest son, who else?”
Hiss—
This wasn’t over yet; he still wanted to strike?
“Don’t make that beaten-coward face. You’re a grown man with a son; do you think your old man would beat you?”
The vine broken yesterday was still under the eaves! He had never seen such blatant lying with eyes wide open!
Fu Xingguo tried hard to maintain his expression, his forced smile no better than crying, “Dad, just tell me straight. How many?”
“Don’t bullshit me here. Have you handled the matter I told you to?”
So it was about this. Fu Xingguo, understanding, let out a big breath, his tight back also relaxing.
“Dad, don’t you trust me to handle things? The letter has been sent out. Old Zhang and Old Quan both agreed to tomorrow’s meeting. As for He Ziyuan, I didn’t call him!”
“What exactly do you want him to do that I can’t? You know we two have never gotten along since we were kids. What were you thinking calling my arch-rival over…”
“Hey, ah, Dad, don’t hit!”
“Ow~ Your eldest grandson is still home. Give your son here some face! Ow ow, don’t hit, don’t hit, dear dad!”
“Daring to defy me openly but obey in secret. If I don’t see little He tomorrow morning, I’ll peel your skin and hang it on the roof!”
If it delayed Ning’er’s matter, he’d roll up the dried skin and stew soup!
Fu Chenggong looked sinisterly at the frantically jumping brat rabbit, “You’d better jump even higher.”
“Ah, I just remembered, there’s an urgent matter at the office waiting to be handled. Dad, I’ll go back and work overtime first!”
