Chapter 503

Chapter 503

About to Depart

Faced with the Zhang family’s hospitality, Lu Hang and Lin Nannan could only say they’d visit another time, and after politely turning them down repeatedly, they finally managed to leave the Zhang residence.

Once outside, the two exchanged a smile, both feeling the weight of their generous hospitality.

"Do you have any thoughts about what Sister-in-Law mentioned?" Since they were in no hurry to return, they decided to walk back slowly.

Lin Nannan went quiet for a bit, thinking about Jiang Xiaomeng. "I still don’t want to suspect her for no reason. So far, she hasn’t done anything to harm me, and there’s no easy way to look into it. Let’s wait and see. If I make all the arrangements and let her know we’re leaving, and she still has something to ask of me, then it’s definitely suspicious."

Lu Hang said with concern, "No matter what happens, you have to tell me. I’m worried it could be dangerous!"

"Okay!"

When it came to her safety, Lin Nannan cared more than anyone.

She wouldn’t act the hero—after all, her life meant everything to her, especially since she had already died once.

Two days later, Jiang Xiaomeng was released from the hospital. Lin Nannan and Lu Hang went to help her with the discharge paperwork and offered to take her home, but she declined.

"Are you going to be all right by yourself?" Lin Nannan asked worriedly. "What if something happens? There’s no one at home to help you."

Jiang Xiaomeng shook her head. "The neighbors will look out for me. I’ve already put you both out too much. I can’t bother you any further."

Seeing her insistence, Lin Nannan didn’t push it further and let her decide for herself.

Jiang Xiaomeng left without a second thought, which made Lin Nannan stop and wonder if their earlier suspicions were correct.

"She really doesn’t seem to want to trouble us," Lin Nannan said softly, watching her figure walking away. "Did we guess wrong?"

Lu Hang narrowed his eyes. "Then let’s see if she’s really as she appears."

Lin Nannan turned to him, thoughtful. "You mean... if she doesn’t make a move these next few days, it means we were overthinking it. Otherwise, she has ulterior motives?"

"Not necessarily. In any case, she knows we’re leaving in a couple of days. If she’s going to do anything, it’ll be during this time. Let’s wait and see," Lu Hang explained. "Let’s go back and spend time with our daughter."

Lin Nannan nodded.

The two walked side by side, unaware that after they turned to leave, Jiang Xiaomeng, who had already left, emerged from around the corner. After making sure they were gone, she carried her things and went back into the hospital...

After Jiang Xiaopeng’s condition improved, he was able to get out of bed and move around.

He knew his sister was being discharged today and assumed she had already left.

That was what they had agreed on earlier—to play along with Lin Nannan and her husband’s arrangements to keep them unsuspecting...

"Big Brother," Jiang Xiaomeng called out as she approached, frowning when she saw him walking in the hallway. "What are you doing? Your injuries haven’t healed yet. Aren’t you afraid something might happen?"

Seeing her, Jiang Xiaopeng showed no joy but instead frowned and asked, "Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to follow their arrangements and go home first?"

If she didn’t go home, their next act couldn’t proceed.

"I wanted to, but Lin Nannan just told me they’ll be heading back home in a few days. If I didn’t come to discuss it with you, how could I handle the rest alone?" Jiang Xiaomeng lowered her voice, sounding helpless.

Jiang Xiaopeng was taken aback. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Lin Nannan said it herself."

"Did she say anything else?" Jiang Xiaopeng asked, frustrated.

Jiang Xiaomeng sighed helplessly, "What else could there be? She's so strange. Others would be eternally grateful for saving their life, but she's just distant and aloof, like I butted in where I wasn't wanted. Just playing dumb is exhausting enough. Do you really expect her to have the Lin family look out for us?"

Jiang Xiaopeng’s face darkened. He realized that ever since their plan encountered Lin Nannan, everything had gone wrong. It was giving him a headache.

But they couldn’t afford to rock the boat with her—they had no choice but to grin and bear it...

"Big brother, what do we do now?" Jiang Xiaomeng asked anxiously when he fell silent.

If they missed this opportunity, they would truly have no chance left.

Jiang Xiaopeng said with a grim expression, "Then we go for broke. We can’t afford to hold back anymore."

"What should we do?" she asked.

Jiang Xiaopeng leaned closer to her and muttered a few words. Jiang Xiaomeng frowned and asked warily, "Will that work?"

"At a time like this, why are you still hesitating?" His tone was sharp, and Jiang Xiaomeng, afraid of angering him, didn’t dare say more.

...

Back at the Lin residence, after briefly explaining the whole situation, Lin Nannan and Lu Hang began packing their luggage to prepare for their return.

"Why so rushed? Lu Hang has only been here a few days. Why not stay a bit longer?" Zhou Cuiwei said with great reluctance upon hearing they were leaving.

"Lu Hang has work commitments. This trip was taken using his time off and can’t be extended too long," Lin Nannan explained. "We’ll come stay when we have time in the future."

Zhou Cuiwei didn’t believe it and instead said nostalgically, "You’re both so busy. Why not leave Du Du here? It would be easier for you to visit her."

The suggestion made Lin Nannan chuckle. "She’s really mischievous right now. Who here can handle her?"

It wasn’t meant as a scare tactic—Little Lu Dudu was going through a rebellious phase. When upset, spitting was the least of it; she’d even hit people. After playing with someone once, she’d picked up the habit. When a child hits, it hurts, and since she only cared about her own happiness, she’d throw a tantrum if unhappy. It was a real headache.

If possible, she’d love for someone else to take care of her, but Lu Hang couldn't stand to be apart from her.

His daughter was his treasure—if someone else raised her, he’d be heartbroken.

Zhou Cuiwei thought of her chubby little granddaughter and felt truly reluctant to let her go. After all, the Lin family’s children were all grown up, and Du Du was the youngest, so she naturally received extra affection.

But this child was just like her mother—when she threw a tantrum, no one could restrain her. Without Lin Nannan around, no one could really handle her, especially since everyone was too soft on her to get tough.

"Once you go back, who knows when you’ll come again..." She wished days like these could last forever but knew their departure was inevitable.

"When we have the chance, we’ll definitely come. If you miss Du Du, you can always visit her at the army base. But check with us first before coming—we might not be there," Lin Nannan reminded her.

"If you’re not at the base, where else would you be?" Zhou Cuiwei asked, puzzled.

Lin Nannan explained openly, "What if we go back to our hometown? After all, Du Du is already so big and has never been there."

Zhou Cuiwei lit up at this. "If you go back to your hometown, let me know. I’ll go too and help you take care of the child."

Lin Nannan almost wanted to ask if she was blowing off her mother-in-law and grandmother with that excuse, she thought to herself.

"Alright, I’ll let you know when the time comes!" Lin Nannan didn’t refuse, mainly because she wasn’t sure how things would be arranged then. For now, it was best to humor her.