Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Eventually, Lu Yang admitted that due to the chaos of the fight, he couldn't clearly identify the actual perpetrator. The parents of the other three individuals were summoned, and Lu Zhihong instructed the family lawyer to negotiate with them.

Lu Nian realized the fragility of her current state. After vocalizing her statement and painstakingly reconstructing the earlier events, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, causing her eyelids to grow heavy and her head to spin. Barely finishing her last word, her eyelashes drooped, surrendering to sleep once again.

Qin Si was cleared of suspicion, yet throughout the ordeal, not a single apology was offered.

Lu Zhihong ignored him habitually. Having business matters to attend to, he instructed Zhang Qiuping to stay at the hospital to watch over Lu Nian, arranged for two caretakers, and returned to his company.

In the following days, Lu Nian drifted in and out of consciousness, caught in a cycle of waking and sleeping.

"Miss, the doctor mentioned we can be discharged and return home tomorrow," said the caretaker.

Zhang Qiuping deftly picked up the bowl and ladled a serving of chicken soup for Lu Nian, infusing it with red dates and ginseng, the brew spreading a delicate aroma in the air. Lu Nian took the bowl and after sipping a few mouthfuls, felt a gentle warmth spreading from her stomach.

Outside, the snow had ceased its descent. Inside the sickroom, the heater was running, bestowing an ambiance as warm as spring.

Having finished her soup, Lu Nian gifted Zhang Qiuping with a sweet smile, "Thank you, Auntie."

"Oh, you child, no need for such formalities with me," Zhang Qiuping replied as she took back the bowl. Seeing the young girl's radiant smile and the uplifted corners of her eyes and mouth melted her heart, especially since such bright smiles had been a rarity on the young girl's face before.

Zhang Qiuping had been the longest-serving maid in the Lu family, practically watching Lu Nian grow up, attending to her with meticulous care and ensuring that every aspect of her life was well-managed.

After a week in the hospital, Lu Nian felt her health mostly restored. Early the next morning, Zhang Qiuping hurried to the hospital, helping her change out of her hospital gown and into a warm woolen coat and scarf.

The Lu family car was already stationed at the hospital entrance. One nurse helped her into the car while another stored her temporary crutch. Zhang Qiuping sat next to her, securing her seatbelt, all while explaining apologetically that "The master had a meeting this morning and couldn't make it, but he will visit as soon as he is free."

Seeming fearful that Lu Nian might take offense, she stole several glances at her, offering repeated explanations on behalf of Lu Zhihong.

Lu Nian, however, was indifferent towards her stepfather, responding with a casual nod.

Now with a slightly clearer mind, Lu Nian began recalling the background of the novel. She remembered only vague details, as her character, Lu Nian, had a minor role which she hadn't paid much attention to when reading the book.

The depiction of the Lu family in the book was quite complex. The elder generation of the Lu family had built a substantial legacy, with Lu Zhihong, initially not the most promising of the three sons, eventually emerging as the most successful, largely thanks to his marriage to the heiress of the Cheng family. However, he only had Lu Nian, a fragile and sickly sole daughter.

Lu Nian's mother had been advanced in age when she gave birth to her and passed away not long after due to illness, weakened further by complications during childbirth.

When Lu Nian was six, Lu Zhihong remarried, taking a young woman nearly a generation his junior as his wife. Despite this, no children came from this union, leaving Lu Nian as the sole heiress of the Lu family, maintaining a significant status within the household.

But Lu Nian had been frail since birth. With an early loss of her mother, a frequently absent father, and a rather inconsiderate stepmother, coupled with her own poor health causing frequent illnesses, her temperament became rather spoiled and irritable. Lu Nian vaguely recalled that the original character died prematurely in the story.

These backgrounds flashed through her mind.

Lu Nian raised her wrist, examining it for a moment. Zhang Qiuping noticed this gesture, a flicker of unease passing through her eyes, yet she remained silent.

Beneath the glove, her wrist appeared almost translucent, so fragile that it seemed it could snap with the slightest pressure. It bore numerous scars, both fresh and aged, bearing testimony to numerous suicide attempts – a heart-wrenching sight for such a young girl.

Lu Nian silently pulled her glove back on.

Clearly, the original character had lost all desire to continue living in this world.

She speculated that the reason Lu Nian had ventured alone to a secluded rooftop at school had been with this intention in mind.

The car moved smoothly. As Lu Nian gazed at the swiftly passing scenery outside the window, she resolved silently, "I will live on for your sake, and I will live well."

Having already experienced death once, she cherished this newfound opportunity for a fresh start, whether in reality or within the confines of a book's universe.

Soon, the car entered the villa district, pulling up to the expansive Lu estate. Beyond the broad white driveway lay exquisite buildings. Freshly fallen snow from the night before adorned the surroundings, with groups of cleaners busily sweeping it away from the roadside.

Lu Nian's room, located on the second floor of the side house, was decorated with utmost elegance.

Cozy and welcoming.

Upon entering the bedroom, one is greeted by a princess bed, adorned with a delicate, patterned sheer canopy that drapes down. The floor is layered with a thick wool carpet, where a gigantic rabbit plushie lays alongside various other stuffed toys scattered across the bed.

With her hand still proving somewhat cumbersome, Lu Nian had no choice but to rely on Zhang Qiuping's assistance to take a hot shower. After drying her long raven hair and changing into a casual home dress, she found herself breaking into a sweat from the effort. Zhang Qiuping, accustomed to serving her, noted that the young mistress seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood today, cooperating fully and emanating a refreshing vitality.

Now, her main task was to recover. After taking her medicine and supplements, Lu Nian gazed out the window at the emerging sun, its warmth spilling through the glass, and a thought sprang to mind.

"Aunt Zhang," Lu Nian asked, "Did Qin Si come back with us?"

Since her fall, her mind had been somewhat muddled, causing her to forget this important detail.

Today was the weekend; Qin Si probably didn't have school.

Hearing this name from Lu Nian caught Zhang Qiuping off guard. She recalled how Lu Nian had defended Qin Si in the hospital room, which caused her to slow her pace of folding the clothes. "He might have returned, but I'm not certain—do you need to see him, Nian Nian?"

Lu Nian didn't deny it, speaking softly, "Kind of... there is a small matter." She also wanted to check on the extent of his injuries.

"I'll have someone bring him to you right away," Zhang Qiuping replied, instinctively wiping her hands on her apron before turning to leave.

Lu Nian hadn't expected such a response and hurriedly said, "Wait a moment."

Why was this being treated like a feudal summons, without considering Qin Si's own will or his current situation?

Zhang Qiuping responded promptly, "After all, he doesn't have anything else to do."

Everyone knew that Qin Si held a very low position in the Lu family. Though he was brought into the Lu family primarily because of Lu Nian, she hardly paid any attention to him. Qin Si, due to his character and legal constraints regarding inheritance, had never been formally registered as a member of the Lu family, making his time in the household particularly unpleasant, as no one took him seriously.

Zhang Qiuping naturally shared this sentiment. In her eyes, Qin Si's sole purpose in the household might just be to cheer up Nian Nian, being at her beck and call.

Lu Nian subtly furrowed her brow, shaking her head, "No need."

Unsure of where she went wrong, Zhang Qiuping became somewhat anxious, choosing not to pursue the matter further.

Despite her reservations, Lu Nian couldn't quite let go. After a short while, she rose, "Aunt Zhang, I'd like to go for a walk."

Zhang Qiuping shook her head reflexively, "It's too cold outside."

Lu Nian smiled, gently tugging at Zhang Qiuping's sleeve with a tender voice, "Aunt Zhang, I've been stifled staying in the hospital all this time. I know you mean well, but I just want to walk around nearby. I'll be back shortly, nothing will happen."

Unable to genuinely restrain Lu Nian's desires, and seeing her employ such a coaxing tone, Zhang Qiuping reluctantly agreed. Lu Nian insisted on going alone, wrapping herself in an extra layer of clothing and donning a scarf and gloves before finally stepping out of the house with great difficulty.

The area was a wealthy residential district with well-maintained greenery, offering a tranquil and refreshing ambiance.

Along the roadside lay patches of unmelted snow. Lu Nian wandered slowly along the path leading out of the Lu estate, soon encountering a group of children around her age who were busily forming snowballs to throw at each other, their laughter filling the air.

"Lu Nian." Recognizing her as she strolled by, the boys hurried over, their faces alight with excitement.

They were neighborhood kids who attended the same school, familiar with the prominent Lu family, but due to Lu Nian's reclusive nature and rare appearances outside her home, they hadn't had much opportunity to play with her.

Despite their young age and awareness of Lu Nian's status as the young lady of the Lu family, the intent to curry favor with her wasn't blatantly apparent.

Nonetheless, Lu Nian's striking appearance left a profound impression, the most direct and unmistakable allure to the youngsters.

Although still young with a hint of childishness lingering and a constant sickly pallor on her face, she was truly beautiful. Delicate and refined like a porcelain doll, with a fair complexion and soft, dark hair, everyone wanted to play with Lu Nian.

Lu Nian gave an apologetic smile, gestured to her throat and coughed softly. The children understood immediately, discarding their snowballs and lowering their voices several notches, as if afraid to shatter her with their noises.

Qiu Lin said, "Lu Nian, you've missed class for quite a while. I can lend you my notes."

"Nian Nian's hand is not in good condition, I'll help her copy them," said Gu Pingze. The Gu family had some business dealings with the Lu family, so Gu Pingze knew Lu Nian from a young age and spoke to her with affection.

Lu Nian used a mix of subtle and explicit hints before she finally managed to extricate herself from the eager group of young boys. She continued down the road and soon spotted a familiar figure under a tree.

Qin Si was standing not far away, his hands clutching a clump of snow that had turned to ice, his head bowed, engrossed in something unknown.

Seeing her surrounded by a group, he showed no intention of approaching. Now, as she drew closer, he didn't even shift his gaze, throwing the snow away indifferently and straightening up to leave.

A boy of eleven or twelve, he hadn't begun to shoot up yet, retaining the appearance of a younger child.

Lu Nian noticed the hand protruding from his sleeve, with long bones but as pale as his cheeks, devoid of any hint of color. The perennial redness and swelling from frostbite were painfully evident, mingling with the darkening bruise where he had been harshly stepped on during a fight. It made Lu Nian wince internally at the sight.

The boy was incredibly sensitive, instantly noticing where her gaze had fallen. His ears turned red, and his first reaction was to hastily withdraw his hand, as if wanting to hide it.

Before Lu Nian could react, he seemed to have another thought, once again extending that unsightly hand, shamelessly displaying it under her gaze.

However, his expression had turned even colder, a mocking smile adorning his lips, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on her, dark and bottomless, terrifying in their depth. "Miss, are you satisfied with what you see?" he asked bitterly.

Under the cold sunlight, Lu Nian saw his face clearly for the first time. The original book hadn't offered much description of Qin Si's appearance, focusing more on his ruthless, brutal nature and willingness to employ any means necessary.

But looking at the younger version now, he was indeed remarkably handsome.

Especially his eyes, which Lu Nian greatly admired - large and dark, but not overly round, thereby lacking the childishness commonly found in boys his age.

The little wolf pup looked at people with an icy, fierce demeanor. However, Lu Nian saw the snowflakes clinging to his long eyelashes and the defiant fingers he hid behind his back.

She blinked, remaining silent, but swiftly removed her gloves and handed them to him, her gaze briefly skimming over the wounds on his face and hands.

They were a pair of thick gloves, adorned with a ring of soft, white rabbit fur, seeming especially warm.

"You can use them however you wish," Lu Nian said. Her hands were not very nimble, making even the act of removing the gloves somewhat difficult. Her voice, soft as cotton, mingled with the wind.

Her health was truly poor, and the prolonged exposure to the cold wind had brought a chill that started at her feet, causing an itch in her throat that she couldn't suppress, leading to a desire to cough. She could only offer him an apologetic smile before beginning to walk back.

She thought that upon her return, she needed to ask Zhang Yi to buy some frostbite ointment and call a doctor to specifically examine his injuries.

The little girl's walk was somewhat unsteady, stumbling occasionally, her delicate figure gradually fading from his sight, even tripping and nearly falling at one point.

He remembered that day; it was she who had spoken up to clear his name.

Qin Si couldn't figure out why she had suddenly started to show kindness towards him. He never believed that Lu Nian harbored any goodwill towards him. Yet, recalling the way she had looked at him in the end, the boy pursed his lips tightly.

It seemed as though she had become a different person altogether.

He shook his head, dismissing this absurd thought. After all, this was nothing more than the young mistress showing pity to a stray dog by the roadside, granting favors whimsically, ready to retract them the moment she lost interest.

Perhaps it was yet another bout of his whimsical tormenting, merely a game of giving and retracting, all for the final pleasure of reveling in his agonized and humiliating appearance.

The spikes on the boy's body bristled in alert, forged through countless brutal pains in over a decade, all to protect himself.

A chill surfaced from the depths of his heart, and Qin Si violently pulled off the white gloves, throwing them vehemently into a nearby trash bin.

Author's Note: Tossing it away might bring momentary joy, but future regret will tear at the heart.