Chapter 38 The Roar of Bones

Chapter 38 The Roar of Bones

Shannan led the dog and panted as he climbed to the top of the lawn, a small hill. Winter was coming, and soon the lawn would be covered with a layer of gold.

A shuttle bus stopped on the road, and Lu Ji sat on it.

Seeing Lu Ji, Shan Nan was stunned for a moment, thinking that the two of them had an unpleasant incident not long ago, and for a moment he didn't know whether to go forward or not.

Although he was still struggling, Kizi was so excited when he saw his owner that his tail kept wagging.

Shang Nan finally walked over. He stood in front of Lu Ji and showed him the traction rope of the screwdriver in his hand. "I'm out walking the dog."

Lu Ji got out of the car, gathered his coat, and looked behind Shang Nan. The group of children were still playing ball there.

Perhaps they noticed something, and a few of them looked in the direction of Shannan and Lu Ji. They squinted their eyes, and their eyes suddenly widened when they realized it was Lu Ji.

Realizing that Lu Ji did not intend to take the shuttle bus back, but seemed to be planning to take a walk with him, Shan Nan knew about it, but still expressed concern for him, "Brother, are you physically able to walk so far?"

The stadium was wide and empty, and the wind blowing from a distance did not block anything. The curtain on the side of the shuttle bus was blown over. After Shang Nan had just finished playing with Mo Yuanyuan, he didn't feel cold, but when he looked up at Lu andWith a bloodless face and pale fingers holding the cane, he felt that the other party was being too into a show.

"Come for a walk with you." Lu Ji raised his hand to pick out the leaves and grass seeds that were still stuck on Shan Nan's hair. The grass seeds were crushed between his fingers, and when the wind blew, there was nothing left.

Shang Nan was walking next to Lu Ji and couldn't help but ask: "Brother, are you going to die because you are not in good health?"

"no."

"Then you are not a human being, why are you in poor health?"

"My health has been bad since I fell off the horse," Lu Ji asked with a smile, "Do you think I was faking it?" Shang Nan kept asking, and the purpose was too obvious.

Seeing that Shannan stopped talking, Lu Ji looked forward and said softly: "I am really not in good health now, but if I were not Lu Ji, I would still be in good health."

Shang Nan remembered that Lu Ji had not told him his original identity. Regarding the fact that he was Lu Shen in the first place, Shang Nan learned about it from 14.

"If it's not Lu Ji, who are you?" Shan Nan asked curiously.

The more Lu Ji talks to him, it should mean that he regards him as one of his own.

"I'm not Lu Ji, I'm your brother."

Shang Nan looked at Lu Ji and thought, well, forget it if you don't want to say it. There are still two and a half years left, so I'm not particularly anxious.

The two people's backs disappeared at the highest point of the lawn. Hu Dilan stood on tiptoe and watched for a long time, and couldn't help but sigh: "The relationship between these two people is really good."

Mo Yuanyuan picked up a handful of pebbles from somewhere and threw them away. He even spoke with a bit of strength, "Hey, Lu Ji just treats him as a little pet. He doesn't even have classes."If you don’t let me in, you might as well be like us. Let’s see what Lu Ji will do when he dies of illness!”

"What did you say?" Hu Dielan couldn't help but get annoyed when she heard the unlucky word "death".

Mrs. Xiang made toast in the kitchen, and the strong smell of wheat wafted out of the yard.

When she came out of the kitchen with a plate of bread, she happened to bump into Shan Nan and Lu Ji who were coming back from outside. The two were talking and laughing. It was completely impossible to tell that they had quarreled before going out.

"You've come back just in time to try the bread I baked."

Lu Ji didn't want to eat these things. He sat on the sofa. When Mrs. Xiang saw him sitting down, she immediately turned around to make tea. "The bag of green tea Mr. Lu sent last month was not bad. The tea has a rich aroma and the water is green.What's it called... Sanli Chun?"

"Xiao Nan, do you want to drink?" Lu Ji paid attention to appreciating Nan, and Mrs. Xiang naturally followed suit.

Shang Nan took a piece of bread and nodded while nibbling, "Okay, thank you, Mrs. Xiang."

[14: You should call her Grandma Xiang.]

"What kind of grandma?"

[14: Mrs. Xiang’s original name was Lu Xiang, and she was Lu Shen’s most capable housekeeper. She was burned to death in the house together with Lu Shen, along with Lu Shen VI. She is also over 600 years old this year.]

Shang Nan was gnawing on the bread, his expression a little lost. He mainly didn't expect that Mrs. Xiang was not a human being. "Like Lu Ji, is she also a skeleton?"

[14: No, Mrs. Xiang is just a residual soul parasitic in a hairpin. It is the hairpin she wore on her head yesterday when she was wearing a green cheongsam. It was Lu Xiang’s belongings. She relied on Lu Ji’s resentment to survive.Life, if Lu Ji is gone, then she is gone too.]

At this time, Mrs. Xiang came over with two cups of tea, one cup was placed in front of Shannan, and the other was placed in front of Lu Ji. She smiled elegantly and said, "If you are afraid of burning it, let it cool for a while. If you want some milk tea, I will give it to you."Can you make a cup?" she asked Shannan, who looked dazed for some reason.

Shan Nan shook his head, "No, thank you, Mrs. Xiang."

After finishing her work, Mrs. Xiang went back to her room. She had been studying making clothes recently, and she was making winter clothes, which were particularly suitable for her.In this day and age, there are very few people who can make their own clothes by hand. Shang Nan originally thought that Mrs. Xiang was gifted and could not learn it well, but she did not expect that the Lu family already had this skill in the past.He was famous for his crafts such as textile embroidery. Later, he adapted to the times and slowly began to explore emerging industries.

The people of the Lu family are far behind Lu Shen, but compared to others, they still have a lot of skills. This is why even if Lu Shen does not exist later, they can still make the Lu family stand firm among so many families.But people's hearts are not as strong as snakes swallowing elephants. The Lu family has experienced several turbulent and large-scale crises, which made them realize that almost no family can prosper forever unless someone is willing to sacrifice their lives for stability.

Shan Nan was speechless: "Then Lu Shen obviously didn't know anything about it."

[14: Only a devil would be willing to do this kind of thing.]

"Alas." Shannan sighed subconsciously and made a sound.

Lu Ji was flipping through a book on the side. After he returned to the room, his face looked much better than before. When he heard Shan Nan sigh inexplicably, he raised his eyebrows and said, "Is there something bothering you? Tell me about it."

Lu Ji is usually a very gentle person when we get along with him, but he was once the youngest head of the prosperous Lu family. No matter who he became later, he was still the best and most beloved child, so no matter how gentle his personality was, can't affect what he says in his heart.

From being unsure at the beginning, Shang Nan is now ready to tell which tone Lu Ji must use in his reply.

It is now.

Shang Nan randomly picked a reason to excuse Lu Ji, "I was thinking, I will be sixteen soon. I am old."

Lu Ji: "..."

"Young people don't know what it's like to be sad..." Lu Ji said slowly, but before he could finish speaking, Shan Nan suddenly rushed over and covered his mouth.

Shang Nan put his other hand on Lu Ji's back on the sofa. He lowered his voice and asked Lu Ji, "I'm small, are you big?"

Lu Ji lowered his eyes, and Shang Nan retracted his hand. Lu Ji did not push Shang Nan away. The young man had a vigorous and forward-moving energy, which was very gratifying, but Lu Ji still wanted to say something. Not only did he say it, but he also taught him a lesson.little child.

Shan Nan was slapped hard on the forehead and was scolded: "Don't be rude."

"You haven't told me yet what birthday present you want." Lu Ji put down his book and straightened Shan Nan's collar. Seeing that there were still crumbs stuck to the corner of Shan Nan's mouth, he took out a tissue and helped Shan Nan naturally.Nan wiped the corners of his mouth.

Shangnan was the first child who was not afraid of it. He kept his identity secret for more than half a year here. It did not scare him. If he told it, he would really turn into a little rose.Of course, a beautiful child like Xiaonan, even if she turns into a rose, will definitely be the most beautiful one in the garden.

It will also keep its promise and give Shangnan the best care.

But now it seems that it is actually a little reluctant to part with it. It hopes that Shannan can grow up without any worries.Marrying a wife and having children is another matter. Shannan is still young now, so there is no need to think so far ahead.

Shang Nan sat on the sofa and took another piece of bread in his hand, "I told you."

He said before that he wanted Lu Ji to live well.

Lu Ji obviously still remembered. He looked at Shang Nan and thought of how he attracted so much attention in the crowd. After pondering for a while, he replied softly: "Let's talk about it later."

Shannan didn't know what Lu Ji meant. He couldn't guess what Lu Ji was thinking.

After eating two pieces of bread and drinking a large cup of hot green tea, Shannan burped. It was a very small burp, but it was still sensitively caught by Lu Ji.

Lu Ji glanced at him and said, "I'll go to class with them after my birthday."

Butler Meng received instructions from Mrs. Xiang to prepare a birthday party for Shannan. Looking at the requirements on the tablet, even Butler Meng, who had been in charge of the Lu family for many years, found it a bit unbelievable, "Are you sure?"

Mrs. Xiang nodded. She was wearing the most fashionable cheongsam from earlier years. Because it was winter, she added a white fur collar and a black cashmere coat. She didn't look like she was working in the Lu family at all. On the contrary,Like someone’s wife, madam.

But she was from Lu Ji's side, and Lu Ji never cared about this.

Compared to Mrs. Xiang, who dresses gracefully every day, Butler Meng still feels that the birthday banquet request she has is more outrageous.

At sixteen, he was almost half an adult. It was normal for Lu Ji to want to make a big deal for Shannan.

But it had to be held in the main living room of the main house, everyone was required to participate, and everyone in the Lu family was required to prepare gifts... I must have thought that Lu Ji really regarded Shang Nan as his younger brother.

Lu Ji is a man who values rules. The Lu family treats Lu Ji the same way they should treat Shan Nan. Butler Meng glanced at the people in the room. In this way, Shan Nan and the group that came with themThe child is completely different. Whether it is status or the status of the Lu family, it will quickly rise because of this birthday party.

"I'll have someone prepare it right now," Butler Meng said.

Mrs. Xiang wrapped her coat tightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Please ask the pastry chef not to make the cake too sweet. Long children are prone to obesity."

Butler Meng: "..."

Butler Meng first went to the logistics office to inform the preparation venue, whether it was balloons, ribbons, lights, or various age-appropriate decorations. He then went to the kitchen and passed the menu to the chef. Finally, he went to a few young masters and ladies.study room.

Before that, Butler Meng had already anticipated how the young masters and ladies would react when he informed Lu Ji of his request. As expected, it was expected.

Lu Qisheng: "What?"

Lu Qiming: "Huh?"

Lu Li was reading a book without even raising her head, "I know." After receiving a cane from Lu Ji, she completely woke up. In Lu Ji's eyes, blood relations may not be as good as his own preferences.Rules become nonsense when you meet something you like.

However, she didn't expect that Lu Ji would like Shang Nan so much. She almost suspected that Butler Meng was choosing people according to Lu Ji's preferences!

Butler Meng bent down slightly and said, "At seven o'clock in the evening, I hope you will all be there on time in formal attire."

"Still dressed up? Kill me."

Lu Li gave Lao Liu a cold look and said, "If you want, my brother can help you achieve your wish."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Butler Meng, "Uncle Meng, we have no problem."

Even Lu Li said there was no problem, and others didn't dare to have any problems.

After Butler Meng left, they dared to express their dissatisfaction, "Brother, just be good to him if you are good to him. Why do you want all of us to know that this will cause trouble for him? What if someone is jealous of him and hurts him?"

Lu Qisheng: "You can try."

Lu Qiming: "It's a bit too public."

Lu Li sneered: "Only you fools would think that this is celebrating Shonan's birthday, and that this is announcing that Shonan will become a member of the Lu family, babies."

"That is to say, apart from not having the right to inherit, Shang Nan has all the rights that we also have. Like Lu Qiming, you yell at your little follower all day long. If you do the same to Shang Nan, it would be against the rules..”

"This is too shameful for that little brat."

"My brother is happy. My brother has this right, but you don't."

"What are you talking about? We can do it without you?"

Shang Nan could see that both Mrs. Xiang and Lu Ji attached great importance to his birthday. Shang Nan was a little moved. He felt that if he was a monster, then he must have been influenced by Lu Ji.

"You are young and are not suitable for those rigid suits." Mrs. Xiang put on a pure white thick short suit jacket that was formal yet casual, with a white shirt made of soft fabric inside. "I like black ones.Is the bow tie still red?" Mrs. Xiang took out two bow ties.

"black."

Mrs. Xiang: "Then let's go for red."

Shang Nan: "..."

After putting on his short boots, Shannan looked up, and he didn't know where Madam Xiang got a small crown for him to wear. Shannan's scalp felt numb and he ran away, "That's all I need, thank you Madam Xiang.".”

"You are the protagonist today, come here, come here!" The little crown was inlaid with gems or diamonds, shining whitely under the lamp.

In fact... Mrs. Xiang never said that the appearance of Shang Nan greatly satisfied her desire to dress up. She loved to dress up beautifully for herself or others.It was impossible for Lu Ji to satisfy her, so the only thing left was to admire Nan.

When Lu Ji came down from upstairs, Shang Nan didn't look at the road and ran into his arms. Lu Ji had the fragrance of traditional Chinese medicine mixed with a slight bitter taste. He was the only one in the Lu family who had this kind of smell.A taste.

Seeing Shang Nan running out of breath and his face slightly red, he asked, "What are you doing?"

Shang Nan hid behind Lu Ji, "Mrs. Xiang wants to put a crown on me." He really thought it was too exaggerated!

He hid behind Lu Ji, and Mrs. Xiang didn't dare to come over.

But Lu Ji reached out and pushed Shan Nan out, and at the same time said, "Listen to her."

Mrs. Xiang is particularly strong, maybe because she is not human, Shannan thought desperately.

The crown is very small, no bigger than a palm. It is just a decoration. There is a large ruby inlaid on the crown, which perfectly matches Shang Nan's red bow tie.

Shang Nan looks like a little prince.

He has really grown up, not even a little bit older than when he first came here. His facial features have lost their immaturity and excessive simplicity, and the youthful vigor and brightness gradually appear. You can imagine how many people such a child will attract when he becomes an adult.The girl came one after another.

Mrs. Xiang put on Lu Ji's coat, and Shang Nan skillfully took the lamp off the wall and held it in her hand, "Let's go."

Walking in the corridor, Shang Nan looked at the shadows of the two people on the ground.

Lu Ji was much taller than him, and his shoulders were wider. Shannan still remembered the painting, and he could imagine Lu Shen's appearance based on the painting.Shang Nan's eyes followed the outline of the shadow and slowly moved to Lu Ji's face. He thought, it would be great if all the injustices Lu Shen suffered had not happened.

The night wind was so cold that Lu Ji's lips lost their color, and he kept coughing all the way to the main room.

But even so, he still changed into formal clothes, just wearing a coat over the formal clothes.

Lu Ji wanted to tell everyone in the old house that Shang Nan was different from his friends. Those children were raised as tools, and Shang Nan was the child he protected, not a tool.They should be the little roses in bud in his rose garden.

The living room can accommodate hundreds of people, and the overall layout took a lot of manpower and material resources.

Considering that a boy was used, they also brought in a six- to seven-meter-tall spaceship from outside and placed it in the middle of the living room. It can accommodate several people inside, and there is also a control room that can be operated inside.Run around.

The roses at the door were light green, tied into a huge bouquet with pure white lace straps, and the balloons were light pink and white.They didn't know where they got photos of Shang Nan. They enlarged them to a huge size and put them in frames on the wall. Judging from the angle, they all seemed to have been taken secretly without Shang Nan knowing.

The lamps on the top of the long table in the center were replaced with different shades of blue, as bright and clear as glass beads.

Not only Lu Li and the others came, but Mo Yuanyuan and the others also came.

Lu Li put a pink hat on her head and a bud-shaped tube top white dress. She looked at Shannan coming in and looked up and down. She didn't say anything, but slammed the box in her hand.On the table.

"Thank you everyone for coming to celebrate my birthday." Shannan bowed deeply to everyone.

Lu Ji sat next to him, raised his hand and patted Shannan's back twice, "You're welcome, they are honored to come to your birthday party."

Everyone: "..."

Since there were minors on the table, not all of them were drinking. Only adults could drink. This was also one of the rules of the Lu family.

Shang Nan drinks yogurt. When someone comes to greet him, he pretends to clink glasses with them with yogurt.

Lu Jiye and Shang Nan gently clinked their glasses. Lu Ji's glass was filled with white wine. His drinking posture was very good-looking. His fingers were slender and white, and the veins on his arms were slightly bulging. He held the wine glass loosely and casually, Shang NanI think so, he has been a young master for hundreds of years.

Waste of food is a big taboo of the Lu family, so the cake is not big, decorated with blueberries and green grapes, and filled with cream and lime cheese.

I don't know who turned off the lights, but Butler Meng came forward to put candles on the cake and lit the candles again.

Shannan felt that this was so thoughtful.

Closing his eyes and making a wish in front of everyone, Shang Nan could feel the difference in everyone's eyes on him, but Lu Ji's eyes made him the most uncomfortable. He was gentle and focused, as if he couldn't see anything else in his eyes..Probably the light from the candle was too hot, burning his face more and more.

Although he was not from this world, and Shang Nan was not sixteen years old, his wish was never in vain. He closed his eyes and muttered silently in his heart, "I hope Lu Ji will live well, his blackening value will be cleared, and his mission will be completed successfully."

After the candles were blown out, the lights in the living room were turned on again, and the cake was cut and divided without Shan Nan having to do anything.

After eating the cake, everyone presented their gifts and left one after another.

Soon, only Shannan and Lu Ji were left in the living room. Shannan thought the cake was delicious and he had a lot left. He wanted to finish eating before leaving.

The cheese with lime juice was a little sour, but very refreshing. Shannan ate it seriously. When a black velvet square box was handed to him, he was stunned for a moment.

"For me?" Shannan looked at Lu Ji.

Lu Ji said: "It's for you."

Shannan put down his fork, "Can I open it?"

"Can."

Shang Nan untied the bow on it and opened the box. Inside was a silver bracelet, a very simple silver bracelet. Shang Nan took out the bracelet. When he saw the sapphire on it, he immediately felt that this bracelet was not simple.

He looked at Lu Ji, then at the silver bracelet, thought about it, and handed it back, "It's too expensive."

Although he didn't know much about gems, but looking at the color, size and clarity of the sapphire, he knew that the value must be great. He was here to save the monster, and there was no need to collect the monster's wool during the mission.

Lu Ji took the returned bracelet into his hand, but did not take it back. Instead, he pinched Shan Nan's wrist and dragged him forward. Shan Nan almost threw himself into Lu Ji's arms and quickly moved his chair forward.So as not to fall.

Lu Ji lowered his eyes, and his eyelashes swept out two faint gray patches under his eyes. He put the bracelet on Shannan's wrist and said, "As an elder, I hope you are safe, so I gave you the bracelet. You refused so neatly.", will make me think that you don't respect me."

As an elder...

Not bad.

However, Lu Ji did not tell Shannan how old he was. Thinking of this, Shannan pretended to be puzzled and said: "Is twenty-four years old considered an elder?"

Lu Ji coughed a few times and smiled, "When did I say I was twenty-four years old?"

"But I didn't say it wasn't..." Shannan said softly.

"I am six hundred and twenty years old this year." Lu Ji rubbed Shan Nan's hair.

Shang Nan knew it, but he didn't expect Lu Ji to tell him so frankly at this time, so Shang Nan's accident was not an act. After the accident, he still needed to respond to Lu Ji. How should he respond?

Shannan thought for a while, then said in a surprised and flattering tone, "Are you so old?!"

Without any warning, Shan Nan was flicked on the forehead again.

In fact, there is no trace of decadence in Lu Ji at all, nor can we see the hundreds of years in his soul. He looks like a young man, and his consistent gentleness only makes people think that he is a rich young man with an excellent temper.

"Then you have lived for more than six hundred years?" Shannan fully showed his curiosity as an "uninformed person".

"Not living forever."

Shannan lowered his head and thought, "Oh, then why don't you live forever? If you live forever, you can still provide for me in the future."

"..." Lu Ji smiled. He rubbed Shan Nan's hair again, almost knocking off the little crown. "If I live forever, I can only live for a few decades. I can't provide for you in old age."To the end."

Shang Nan took off the shaky little crown on his head and looked up at Lu Ji longingly, "Then I don't want you to support me until we die. How about we support each other until we die together?"

The smile on Lu Ji's face slowly faded and became very light. His dark eyes stared at Shang Nan intently for a long time. Shang Nan's heartbeat became faster under such a calm and very oppressive gaze.No lie, he was meant to stay in this world until his death, provided the mission was successful.

The boy's tone was sincere, and there was no need to doubt its authenticity. His child was not the kind of bad boy who told lies.

It took so long that the taste of butter disappeared from Shannan's mouth. He was about to speak to break the silence when he heard the announcement of 14.

[14: The blackening value is reduced by 10.]

Shang Nan was a little surprised that the task progress was actually advanced at this time, but Shang Nan also breathed a sigh of relief, and the progress bar finally started to advance.

Lu Ji looked at Shang Nan for a while, then suddenly reached out and wiped the cream from the corner of Shang Nan's mouth, "Let's talk about it later," he replied.

He had answered Shannan like this before, but the situation was completely different, and his defenses were now loosening.

Lu Ji wiped his fingers with a tissue, lowered his eyelids, and casually began to lecture Shannan again, "Don't talk about death all the time, be calm. We were as old as you at that time..."

Shannan had already started eating the cake. When he heard Lu Ji's words, he turned his head and continued, "When you were as old as me, you had two children, right?"

Lu Ji smiled at the corner of his mouth. After a few seconds, he threw the tissue on the table and said calmly: "No."