Chapter 53: Are You Unable to Let Her Go?

Qiao Jiu stood by the window, watching as Lu Fengzhou strolled unhurriedly toward a car parked by the roadside. She hadn’t noticed earlier, but now she saw that his car had been there all along. Just before he got in, his phone seemed to ring. He lowered his head and fished out his phone, looking at it for several seconds before putting it away again. He paused for a moment, and Qiao Jiu thought he might turn back to look, but in the end, he didn’t. He simply opened the door, got in, and drove away a few moments later.

With a soft hum, Qiao Jiu rubbed her lower back and turned into the bathroom. Lifting her clothes, she found, unsurprisingly, a fresh bruise. Clearly, Lu Fengzhou had been angry earlier; in his roughness, he’d lost control, and she’d taken the brunt of it. After pausing to steady her breath, she went back to her room, changed clothes, and lay down. Even lying flat, the pain in her bruised side was sharp and persistent—she wondered if the bone was hurt.

She felt a surge of irritation. Whenever that man appeared, nothing good ever happened. After a while, she reached for her phone, finding Song Wan’s news still dominating the headlines. Money had clearly played its part; though everyone knew about hired online commenters, setting the tone could still sway public opinion. Song Wan’s reputation had noticeably improved.

Among the comments, besides the obvious plants, there were some more neutral voices, offering measured opinions. They remarked that Song Wan was a newcomer to the entertainment world; it was understandable if her acting wasn’t perfect at first—she could improve with time. As for having a patron, which beautiful woman in show business didn’t? As long as she wasn’t harming anyone, there was nothing to criticize.

Qiao Jiu smiled to herself. Not harming others... At first glance, Song Wan indeed hadn’t done anything unforgivable. But when she really thought about it, Song Wan was hardly any cleaner than Lu Fengzhou.

...

At dusk, after work, Lu Fengzhou drove to Song Wan’s residence. He rang the doorbell, and soon the sound of hurried footsteps came from inside. Song Wan opened the door, her eyes alight with a smile. “You’re a bit earlier than I expected. I guess the traffic wasn’t bad.”

Lu Fengzhou said nothing, merely stepping inside. In the kitchen, Mu Yun was busy cooking. He walked over, his brow furrowed. “Why are you still making Teacher Mu cook? Her health isn’t great—she needs to rest.”

Song Wan paused, then quickly explained, “I told her I could cook, but my mom insisted. She said it’s been too long since you tasted her food and wanted to make something for you herself.”

Mu Yun glanced at Lu Fengzhou and smiled. “My health isn’t so fragile. You heard what the doctor said today—just be careful and avoid any mishaps. Cooking won’t tire me out.”

She turned back to stir-frying, continuing, “I’m leaving tomorrow. I wanted to cook for you one last time; who knows when I’ll get the chance again.”

Song Wan was clearly surprised. “You’re leaving so soon? You hardly ever visit—why the rush?”

Mu Yun’s voice was gentle. “You young people have your own lives. I shouldn’t be in the way.”

“You’re not in the way,” Song Wan protested, following her into the kitchen with a pout. “I’m not working on any projects right now. I finally have some free time and can keep you company.”

“I don’t need you keeping me company,” Mu Yun replied. “Go do your own thing. We’ve been together every day for years—I’ve had more than enough of you.” Her tone was half-joking. “And you know your father—he won’t even pick up a fallen bottle, let alone cook. If I’m not home, he’ll probably starve.”

Lu Fengzhou waited a moment before saying, “If you’re not in a hurry, you could stay a couple more days. I’d like to show you around.”

“No need,” Mu Yun said. “There’s nothing I’m eager to see. I only came because it’s been so long since I saw you two. My health isn’t a big issue—I know my own limits. I just wanted to see how you’re both doing. Now that I’ve seen you’re well, I can be at ease.”

The last dish was finished, and she carried it to the dining table, where they all sat down together. Song Wan’s mood was visibly dark, her face sullen. Mu Yun ignored her, urging Lu Fengzhou to eat.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Mu Yun said, “I heard that recently Axu and Gangzi came to find you. Did you see them?”

Lu Fengzhou lowered his gaze, his voice even. “Yes, I saw them.”

Mu Yun smacked her lips thoughtfully. “I don’t know how to put this, but Axu’s had a tough time these years. He was a smart kid, but somewhere along the line, he took a wrong turn—got into all sorts of trouble back home, thieving and scheming. He was almost beaten half to death for stealing, then got into gambling and lost the house his father had saved for his marriage. His father kicked him out, and I only heard he came looking for you after I got here. You should be careful—he’s tricky now, and not in a good way.”

Lu Fengzhou chuckled quietly after a moment. “I met him, bought him a drink. He didn’t say much, left the next day.”

Mu Yun looked surprised, then relieved. “At least he knows his place.”

A faint smile touched Lu Fengzhou’s lips, but there was no warmth in his eyes. He had left Axu with a crippled hand in the hospital. Whether it was fear or shame, the man had fled the hospital the next day. Lu Fengzhou had thought he’d returned home, but apparently not.

They finished the meal at a leisurely pace. Mu Yun wanted to clear the table, but Lu Fengzhou shot Song Wan a look. Song Wan jumped up. “Mom, you rest. I’ll take care of it.”

Mu Yun set down her chopsticks. “All right, you clean up. I have something to discuss with Azhou.”

She rose and headed toward the bedroom, Lu Fengzhou following behind. As he closed the door, he caught sight of Song Wan craning her neck from the dining table, her face full of anticipation.

Lu Fengzhou’s eyes darkened; he took a couple of steadying breaths before sitting down beside Mu Yun, who was perched on the edge of the bed. After a while, she spoke. “I didn’t know about your marriage, nor your divorce. I had planned to come and meet your wife.”

“It's been over half a year since the divorce,” Lu Fengzhou replied.

Mu Yun sighed. “I thought, when you agreed to marry her, you must have come to terms with some things.” Without waiting for his response, she continued, “You went to see her this afternoon, didn’t you, Azhou? Is it that you still can’t let her go?”