"Huh?"
Lu Jinse collected herself. "Auntie, I'm not deaf; of course I heard you. I understand the reasoning you’re giving me, and I know that marriage is a serious matter that requires careful consideration. But I have already thought it through, and no amount of persuasion will change my mind."
She had made up her mind.
Xiao Guifang let out an imperceptible sigh of relief. It seemed Lu Jinse was truly determined to break off the engagement, which meant there was a real chance for Qian Lili’s wish to come true. Although she disapproved of her daughter giving up her studies to get married, who was she to say no when Lili was her precious daughter? As long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.
Lu Jianliang lit a cigarette. Through the curling smoke, the worry in his eyes deepened. "Girl, before you make this decision, have you stopped to think about where your grandparents will be left standing? How can you face them? This engagement was set by your grandfather and Old Man Xu. Your grandfather saved Xu Yueshan’s life when they were young; he practically traded his life for that connection. Plus, the Xu family helped get me my job. How can you expect me to sleep at night after what you’re doing?"
His tone wasn't harsh, but his words struck home.
Lu Jinse fell silent. Grandparents? Though the world was vast, there were very few people truly worth cherishing in her life. Only three. Aside from her father, there were only her late grandparents.
Compared to her peers, Lu Jinse’s childhood had been full of twists and turns. Her father had told her that her mother passed away due to illness the moment she was born; she didn't even know what her mother looked like, and there wasn't a single photo of her in the house. Her father hadn't known how to care for a child, and whenever Lu Jinse cried, he would panic, not knowing what to do. The harder he tried to comfort her with his clumsy hands, the louder she would wail. Her grandparents back in their hometown, feeling for their son and their granddaughter, had eventually taken her in to raise her. It wasn't until she was five that Lu Jinse returned to her father’s side, which was why her feelings for her grandparents were so deep.
Lu Jianliang leaned forward and tapped the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray. "Girl, why have you stopped talking? It’s not too late to change your mind."
"That’s right, Jinse," Xiao Guifang added. "You really must think this through. You can't let your grandfather lose face. Your marriage isn't just about you; it involves the elders on both sides." She watched Lu Jinse intently. Whether or not Lili would have a chance to marry Xu Yueshan depended on this answer.
"Dad, here is how I see it," Lu Jinse finally spoke. "One of these days, I will go to my grandparents' graves to kowtow and beg for their forgiveness. They are watching from above, and I’m sure they would forgive me, because when they arranged this engagement, they only ever wanted me to be happy. As for your job, Dad, you don’t need to feel pressured. To the Xu family, that’s just a drop in the bucket."
Though her father’s words had been painful, she would not change her mind. In this life, not only would Lu Jinse have nothing to do with that scumbag, but she would also make sure that pair of wretches ended up in utter ruin! She would see them disgraced, lose everything, and wish they were dead. Otherwise, what was the point of her rebirth?
Before Lu Jianliang could respond, Xiao Guifang sighed. "Sigh! Jinse has always been strong-willed since she was a child. Once she makes a decision, you couldn't pull her back with a team of oxen. But a forced melon is never sweet. Since this is the case, Old Lu, why don't we think about how to explain this to the Xu family?"
*A forced melon is never sweet?* Lu Jinse’s heart sank. Her aunt’s reaction was strange. In her past life, Auntie Xiao had constantly praised the Xu family. After Huanhuan died tragically in the fire, when she went home and told her father she wanted to divorce Xu Yueshan, Auntie Xiao hadn't said a single bad word about him. She had just kept urging her to look on the bright side, saying what was done was done and couldn't be changed. She even said that since Huanhuan was gone, Yueshan must be heartbroken, too, and that fire is merciless and no one can control it.
Auntie Xiao had always been the type to advocate for harmony rather than separation. But this current remark was a clear shift in her stance. It was strange—both mother and daughter were acting abnormally today.
Lu Jinse stood up. "Dad, Auntie, I was caught in the rain earlier and I’m not feeling very well. I want to take a bath and get some rest. Let's talk more tomorrow, shall we?" There were too many red flags. She didn't want to continue the conversation and looked for an excuse to leave.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Xiao Guifang’s eyes, too quick to capture.
"Alright," Lu Jianliang said, crushing his cigarette in the ashtray. "We'll talk tomorrow. This needs careful consideration. Girl, think about it again; don't act on impulse and end up regretting it for the rest of your life."
"Mhm," Lu Jinse nodded. "I know, Dad."
Xiao Guifang turned to her daughter. "Lili, how is the room coming along?"
"Mom, I’ve cleaned everything up." Qian Lili emerged from the room carrying a basin of dirty water, meeting her mother’s gaze.
Xiao Guifang said nonchalantly, "Good. Your sister says she wants to rest, so we'll talk tomorrow. You go get some rest, too."
"Okay." Qian Lili caught the implied meaning in her mother's words. She took the basin to the bathroom to dump it, washed her hands, returned to her own room, and shut the door tight.
Lu Jinse picked up her travel bag. "Dad, Auntie, I’m heading to my room."
"Good," Lu Jianliang nodded. "Go on, get inside."
Lu Jinse, still wrapped in her father’s jacket, carried her bag into the room. As soon as she entered, she smelled dust in the air. Her brow furrowed; the windows hadn't been opened. She placed her bag on the desk and pushed the window wide open. The fresh, cool, damp air after the rain, mingled with the faint fragrance of earth, rushed into her nose and filled her lungs. The heavy, stifling feeling that had gripped her since her rebirth finally eased. Her brow smoothed, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. It felt good to be alive.
Lu Jinse walked to the bed and yanked the sheets off, tossing them onto the floor—they were covered in hidden dust. Auntie Xiao had only cleared out the junk and given the furniture a cursory wipe. It was all just for show. She hadn't expected much else. Lu Jinse went to the wardrobe, found a clean sheet, spread it out, shook out the quilt, and used a small broom to sweep away the dust. She would make do for tonight and pull the cover off to wash tomorrow.
Once finished, she unzipped her travel bag. The bag was canvas; though it had been rained on, the clothes inside remained dry. She put her undergarments in the wardrobe, took out a set for tonight along with her toiletries, and silently summoned the Spirit Spring Space.
The Lu family didn't have a bathroom; bathing usually meant just wiping oneself down with warm water. In this era, people generally washed at public bathhouses filled with steam. The Xu family, of course, was an exception; they had an electric water heater—that’s why people said the Xus were well-off. They even had a black-and-white television and a washing machine. Living in a household like that, how could Xu Yueshan not be arrogant?
Lu Jinse used the Spirit Spring Water to bathe and wash her hair. Her hair had been soaked by the rain, and even after toweling it off, parts of it were still plastered damply to her scalp, which felt terrible. After her bath, she felt refreshed, and the injury on her backside felt much better; the Spirit Spring truly had miraculous properties.
Lu Jinse dried her hair, put on white cotton pajamas with small blue floral prints, and stepped out of the space. She went to the family bathroom to wash the clothes she had changed out of, hung them on the clothesline, and turned toward the kitchen. She hadn't eaten dinner and was feeling hungry, so she wanted to see if there was any leftover food in the cupboard.
When she passed her father’s bedroom on her way to the kitchen, she suddenly heard Auntie Xiao speaking to her father. She didn't have a habit of eavesdropping, but two words she unintentionally overheard grabbed her attention completely.
What were the words?
"Substitute bride."
Lu Jinse stopped in her tracks, her ears pricking up.