Volume One, Chapter 12: Nian An? Also Called Nian An?

“Dead?”

Lu Zhenhua’s voice abruptly rose, his loud tone echoing throughout the small courtyard.

His tall frame trembled uncontrollably; his unbound right foot stepped back, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“An An... dead?”

Lu Zhenhua refused to believe it, dared not accept the truth.

If it were true...

How could he face Brother Shen to explain?

Brother Shen had saved his life!

It must be false! It had to be false!

Suddenly, Lu Zhenhua grabbed Liu Zhaodi’s shoulders and lifted her effortlessly. He roared, “Nonsense!”

“Do you despise An An’s background? Then, when Officer Wang called me away, did you intentionally prevent Jianxun from going to pick her up? And when I found out, you tried to fool me by saying she’s dead?”

Lu Zhenhua’s fury made his grip painful on Liu Zhaodi’s shoulders, yet she endured the pain silently, not daring to cry out.

Because she felt guilty!

Though things were not exactly as Lu Zhenhua accused, she had indeed prevented their son from going to pick her up. She even encouraged him to go out with the general’s daughter instead.

Shen Nian’an was supposed to be picked up by Liu Zhaodi herself.

But she was dissatisfied with this arranged marriage—extremely dissatisfied!

A few years ago, when the Shen family was still prosperous, she would have been a hundred percent content.

After all, the Shen family was truly wealthy, dripping in riches.

They lived in a small Western-style house filled with antiques and many foreign luxuries.

Unfortunately...

A couple of years back, Liu Zhaodi had been chasing after them, but the Shen family dismissed her with a joke.

Now, the Shen family had been demoted, becoming a universally despised capitalist family. Anyone associated with them was doomed. Still, she had to swallow her pride and honor the engagement.

Did she think Jianxun was some stray dog? If unwanted, just kick him aside; if wanted, beckon him back?

There is no such thing in this world.

Liu Zhaodi believed Lu Zhenhua felt the same way, unwilling to accept the match. Yet, surprisingly, he foolishly agreed out of old favors.

Had she known this would happen, she would have told him about Jianxu’s relationship.

Not telling him before, now at this critical moment, whether true or not, for the sake of face and so-called brotherly ties, Lu Zhenhua would definitely force Jianxun to break off the engagement and marry that capitalist’s darling daughter.

Jianxun’s fiancée was the general’s daughter!

Marrying her would mean a bright future for Jianxun.

But marrying that... An An, Jianxun’s life would be over!

Lu Zhenhua was always strict and decisive at home. Liu Zhaodi feared him, but she treasured their son even more!

So she agreed outwardly, secretly planning to teach that shameless capitalist’s daughter a lesson to force her to withdraw from the engagement.

Unexpectedly, she slept too deeply; when she woke, Jianxun was already home.

Lu Zhenhua had been out for some time, and fearing his sudden return, Liu Zhaodi had told her son to drive and pick her up.

But unexpectedly, they didn’t pick her up—she had jumped into the sea and died.

“Lift your head! Speak!”

Startled by the shout, Liu Zhaodi trembled like a leaf. She rolled her eyes, debating whether to tell the truth.

Lu Zhenhua saw her evasive glance and knew she was hiding something. His tense heart relaxed slightly.

As long as she was safe!

He would deal with this vile woman later!

He warned, “Liu Zhaodi, you better tell me the truth. Otherwise, if I find out anything, tomorrow we’re divorced, and you can go back to your mother’s house!”

That was impossible!

Her mother’s home was poor and harsh. She lived comfortably on the island and had no intention of returning.

Liu Zhaodi closed her eyes, biting her lip, and said, “I don’t like the Shen daughter, but I only made Jianxun go late to pick her up...”

“What?” Lu Zhenhua was instantly furious. He and Brother Shen had promised, treating An An like their own daughter. Yet this vile woman had slapped him in the face.

How could he face his elder brother from now on?

“It was... just half an hour late,” Liu Zhaodi lied, too afraid to meet his gaze.

Half an hour late?

That meant An An was out in the cold wind for half an hour?

Lu Zhenhua’s vision blurred with anger, but he gritted his teeth and held back.

The urgent matter was to find An An.

The new family housing had been approved. From now on, he would never let An An suffer any grievance in this house.

His eyes wide as saucers, suppressing his fury, he demanded, “Where is An An?”

After much beating around the bush, Liu Zhaodi pressed her lips and forced herself to say, “Dead... When Jianxun went there, they said she jumped into the sea and died...”

The same answer again.

Feeling the faint possibility that this was true, tears welled up in Lu Zhenhua’s eyes.

“You’re lying! An An was fine! How could she jump into the sea and die? Did you, that hateful woman, drive her away? I want a divorce!”

Divorce!

For a stranger, he wanted a divorce?

She served him food and drink, bore him a son, yet she was worth less than an outsider in his eyes?

Liu Zhaodi, enraged, forcefully pushed Lu Zhenhua’s arm away, her face sharp and bitter: “Who knows what nonsense was going on in her head? Anyway, when Jianxun went, she was already dead.”

“When Jianxun went?”

Could it be that the child misunderstood and thought her uncle didn’t want to accept her, leading to despair?

Thinking this, Lu Zhenhua’s murderous gaze fixed on Liu Zhaodi: “You drove An An to her death! I’ll kill you!”

Just as Lu Zhenhua’s large hand was about to fall on Liu Zhaodi’s fragile neck, Lu Jianxun suddenly pushed open the door and stood in front of her.

“Dad, don’t blame Mom. I didn’t want to go pick her up.”

Jianxun’s unexpected return stunned Liu Zhaodi, who then tried to push him away.

But Lu Zhenhua’s slap came even faster!

“Blame you? Fine! I’ll beat you to death!”

Their son was Liu Zhaodi’s everything.

Seeing their son being struck, Liu Zhaodi lost her fear and stood up to wrestle with Lu Zhenhua.

Soon, the room was filled with the crashing sound of objects falling, a woman’s wails, and a man’s cries...

At that moment, Officer Xu and his wife arrived late.

Hearing the commotion, they hurried inside.

With Officer Xu’s intervention, everyone calmed down and explained the situation clearly.

Only the Shen family’s capitalist identity was omitted.

A vibrant life was lost just like that.

Officer Xu felt deep regret.

But he could not stand to see this family torn apart.

He gave his wife a look, signaling her to talk to Comrade Liu Zhaodi, while he led a tearful and snotty Lu Zhenhua outside to counsel him.

“Zhenhua, since it’s already happened, your wife and son didn’t do it intentionally. Let’s just let this go. Later, burn some paper money for the girl,” Officer Xu sighed. “Maybe she just had bad luck.”

Lu Zhenhua had no daughters. Shen Nian’an had been under his watch since she was a month old. Though they rarely met, in his heart, she was his own daughter.

He cursed, “Nonsense!”

“My An An is the luckiest! I even got her a blessed longevity lock! She’ll have a lifetime of wealth and smooth fortune!”

“An An? Also called An An?”