Chapter 45 Returning Home

Chapter 45: Going Home

Having Fu Ting pick her up was definitely preferable to Fu Nanyu showing up. Fu Ting might look intimidating, but he was easily swayed—just cater to his tastes. She decided she’d treat him to a meal later, get him to keep quiet about everything, and then tell the family her facial injuries were from a fall.

Knowing Fu Ting was coming, the officer finally set aside his intention to report the incident to the rest of the Fu family, at least for now. Still, he kept everyone on high alert, just in case Fu Ting actually decided to tear the police station apart.

Lu Jingtang breathed a sigh of relief and resumed munching on her jianbing. The kind officer also offered one to the bruised and battered foreigner, though his version lacked chicken, containing only a few vegetable leaves and the crepe itself.

The foreigner still ate with great relish, exclaiming wide-eyed between bites: “Delicious! Delicious!”

Then, with an arrogant tone and broken Chinese, he declared, “I know, even though Chinese people aren’t great, your food is delicious.”

The officer smiled benignly, though his hand instinctively drifted toward his belt.

Lu Jingtang retorted flatly, “Don’t you believe in God or something? What, didn’t God give you food this good? Doesn’t He love you? If He’s truly protecting you, why are people in your country so afraid of getting shot randomly on the street? Your country’s so great—what good have you actually done? Invaded others? Killed innocent civilians? Perhaps you don’t get to enjoy such delicious things because your God is ashamed of you. Perhaps He considers you sinners for harming innocent children, unworthy of such pleasures.”

With each pointed question, the self-proclaimed world-class gourmet across from her completely unraveled. His face turned beet-red, looking as pathetic as a scolded child. He slammed the table, stood up, and roared, “You shut up! You! What you said isn’t true! We respect God! God loves His believers!”

Lu Jingtang smiled sweetly. “Well, only those who’ve been hit where it hurts lose their composure like that.”

In the mediation room, the foreigner was half-bent over, fists clenched, yelling hysterically. The officer, who had remained silent during Lu Jingtang’s verbal assault, immediately interjected with a warning: “What do you think you’re doing?! This is a police station! If you want to act crazy, go back to your own country!”

The foreigner looked wronged. “She talked too! Why aren’t you saying anything to her?”

“She wasn’t making a scene like you.”

Lin Yixiao leaned closer to Lu Jingtang. “Didn’t expect that—such a sweet face, but quite the sharp tongue you’ve got.”

Lu Jingtang munched away. “Drop the saintly act, be ruthless to others, please yourself.”

“......”

“Miss Lu, your ride… is here.”

When Fu Nanyu followed the officer into the room, Lu Jingtang had just finished her jianbing, sauce still smeared at the corner of her mouth.

She looked up.

There he was, standing out from the crowd like a crane among chickens—dignified and noble, his gaze dark and fixed on her, his expression thunderous.

Lu Jingtang was so startled she started hiccupping. Holy crap, why did it have to be Fu Nanyu?!

“Hic... hic... Big Brother, what... hic... are you doing here?”

Fu Nanyu’s eyes fell on the bruised, slightly swollen injury on her face, and his expression turned even uglier. His jaw tightened, and he spoke through nearly gritted teeth: “What, I shouldn’t have come?”

Lu Jingtang murmured awkwardly, “No, it’s good you’re here. Really good.”

“Hic... hic...”

She knew how to win people over—her big eyes looked up pitifully, like a guilty puppy that’s been caught misbehaving. No matter how angry he was, most of it melted away.

Fu Nanyu sighed, equal parts annoyed and helpless, and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he turned and walked to the water dispenser, refilled a cup with warm water, and handed it to her. “Drink.”

Lu Jingtang obediently gulped down the water, then waited quietly as Fu Nanyu completed the paperwork to take her home.

While no one was paying attention, Lin Yixiao made a quick escape. “I’m heading out. Take care of yourself.”

“Get home safe, message me when you arrive,” Lu Jingtang waved.

By the time Fu Nanyu finished the procedures and they were free to go, the father of the girl who’d helped Lu Jingtang earlier arrived. The girl’s family seemed to be of modest means—her father still had mud on his hands and feet, likely a worker from nearby. A little later, her mother showed up too, still wearing a plastic apron with a faint smell of fish about her.

The woman looked somewhat uncomfortable, as if afraid someone might look down on her. She found her daughter and immediately pulled her into a hug, checking her over with concern.

The family embraced warmly—no scolding, no disdain.

Fu Nanyu glanced their way, then turned his attention to Lu Jingtang. She was watching the family of three with unmistakable envy in her eyes, then lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers dejectedly.

When she noticed Fu Nanyu coming back, her eyes lit up. She smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons, her dark lashes thick and long. “Big Brother, you’re back.”

She looked like a child waiting eagerly at the kindergarten gate, hoping her parents would come pick her up after school.

His heartbeat echoed clearly in his chest. Fu Nanyu’s fingers twitched slightly, and his gaze softened noticeably. “Let’s go home.”

Someone gently ruffled her hair. Lu Jingtang was caught off guard. “Mhm, mhm.”