Chapter 445: Aren

"You're saying you rushed to bring me back just because of Gao Xiaoyan again—and now she's pregnant?"

"Yes, Jingyao, but your brother insists the child isn't his, and I can't tell! Right now, only you can make the call. But we didn't act fast enough."

"Right now, forget everything else—go use your classmate's connections and absolutely do not let this leak to Zixue's school. If you do, your brother is finished."

"What do you mean I'm the one to decide? Father, you can't even control your own son? And isn't this time different?"

Lu Jingyao was nearly insane—truly, she was about to lose her mind.

In August, her brother Lu Zixue was arrested; she flew back overnight to get him out. That time, she could still claim it was a "mistaken arrest"—too much free love, not hooliganism.

But this time? Never mind how harsh the school's stance on such matters is—how could you possibly go back to Liu Muhan again?

The child isn't Lu Zixue's? Are you joking? Why did I even pull you out before?

Lu Jingyao froze, staring at her brother, his face stubborn and flushed with emotion. A sharp pain pierced her heart.

"."

When Lu Jingyao finally arrived, bumpy and breathless, at Li Ye's doorstep, there was exactly one minute left.

"I'm not like you," Lu Jingyao said painfully. "You and Gao Xiaoyan already have a child—you must take responsibility. I have nothing with Li Ye."

Lu Ruichang hurriedly said: "Hey hey, I'll go with you."

Lu Ruichang hesitated: "I admit the grandson doesn't help—it's Zixue who must recognize them, mother and child. Otherwise, let's find some connections—"

Lu Jingyao couldn't help but say: "Father, you're a primary school principal—you teach and nurture young minds. We can't do something so heartless."

After thinking for a moment, she said firmly: "Father, you must accept this grandson."

"."

Lu Jingyao suddenly felt a roaring in her ears, then the world spun, her vision turned blinding white, then endless darkness.

Lu Jingyao mounted her motorcycle and raced toward the county without a second's delay.

Lu Jingyao finally understood her father's torment.

Lu Jingyao slowly shook her head: "Father, this is about Zixue growing tired of Gao Xiaoyan."

"Then what do we do? How did Li Ye get involved? Is he seeking revenge?"

Lu Zixue was stunned by his sister's slap. The burning pain made him blurt out: "Many senior students at our school have dated multiple girls—no one clings to anyone. Besides, aren't you the same? What right do you have to scold me?"

So Lu Jingyao felt she owed the most to her mother.

"Zum~"

Especially since Lu Zixue easily won Gao Xiaoyan, this process of growing tired of her accelerated.

"I'll strangle him someday."

"I'm not asking whose child it is—I'm asking why you no longer love Gao Xiaoyan? Didn't you adore her to death before? How could you change your heart in just a few months?"

Liuqiao Township is forty li from the county, but the roads are terrible—you might not even make it in half an hour.

"Who knows if we're the same? You say you have nothing with Li Ye—but I don't believe the child isn't mine. You were already engaged to Li Ye—do you expect anyone to believe he didn't touch you?"

Lu Jingyao stared blankly at Lu Zixue, wanting to raise her hand and slap him hard—but she couldn't even move a single finger.

Who believes it?

Though Lu Zixue only mumbled a few words, his meaning was clear—you dumped Li Ye, just as I'm dumping Gao Xiaoyan. What's the difference? What right do you have to lecture me?

He argued: "You're a college student—you don't need to ask me this. Free love means freedom. Love when you love, stop when you stop."

Lu Jingyao waved her hand silently. She was terrified of Li Ye now—he was no longer the Li Ye she once knew.

"........"

Lu Zixue's ear was twisted painfully, but no matter how hard he struggled, Lu Jingyao wouldn't let go.

Lu Jingyao suddenly remembered Li Ye's "one-hour ultimatum."

But Lu Ruichang chuckled bitterly: "Your brother ran off. He said he'll strangle you when you wake up."

"Your principal earns only a few hundred a year—we don't need that pittance. Jingyao, go talk to Li Ye—don't let this go to the police station."

Lu Zixue's ear and cheek still burned. Seeing his sister suddenly hesitate, he no longer showed her the usual respect.

Lu Jingyao's fury surged—she slapped him hard across the face.

Who believes it?

"."

"Jingyao, you're right—we can't lose our conscience. Your mother's illness stems from that child. I'll accept this grandson—even if it means retiring early."

Lu Jingyao shook her head and asked her father: "Father, what's wrong with Mother?"

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Though Lu Zixue denied it, Lu Jingyao had seen enough absurd cases at school to guess his thoughts.

Lu Zixue stepped back half a pace and muttered: "Sister, how can we possibly sort this out? I broke up with Gao Xiaoyan four or five months ago—now she suddenly claims she's carrying my child. Who'd believe that?"

Lu Ruichang said: "Your mother's been anxious these days—can't sleep, so we called you back to decide. We just can't understand why your brother refuses to acknowledge Gao Xiaoyan. We're terrified of being made fools of!"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Are college students allowed to be hooligans? Which college student behaves like you?"

"Let go, let go, sister, let go!"

She struggled to sit up and saw her mother, too, hooked up to an IV on the next bed.

Lu Jingyao sighed, seeing her father's exhausted face.

Lu Ruichang, seeing his daughter's anger flare again, gave a bitter smile and finally nodded.

"Jingyao, what's wrong? Do you feel unwell?"

Lu Jingyao: "You stay here with Mother. I'll go alone."

Gao Xiaoyan was Lu Zixue's white moonlight—when he couldn't have her, he adored her desperately. But once he got to college, he realized there were better girls—and now he regretted it, despised her.

"You bastard, you've driven your sister to death!"

"Father, I'm telling the truth!"

Lu Jingyao scrambled out of bed: "Father, where's Zixue? Bring him here—I'll go with him to Li Ye's to fetch her."

Lu Jingyao suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Lu Zixue's ear.

But Lu Jingyao's mother, hearing her husband's words, nodded vigorously: "I've always said we should accept the child—it's a Lu family child!"

"."

Lu Zixue's words struck like an invisible curse—piercing her mind, capturing her soul, shattering her stubbornness, destroying her pride, leaving her body utterly paralyzed.

Lu Jingyao looked at her emaciated mother and felt a sudden pang of heartache.

"."

When Lu Jingyao woke, she found herself lying in Liuqiao Township's clinic, an IV drip hanging from her hand.

Lu Ruichang had taught for years, finally secured his permanent position, and barely became a primary school principal—if this grandson appeared now, he might be stripped of it all.

She glanced at her wrist—only thirty minutes left. She'd passed out for twenty.

Lu Jingyao took a deep breath and gestured to her brother: "Zixue, come here. Tell me plainly—why don't you love Gao Xiaoyan anymore?"

"."

Lu Jingyao's mother, hearing the commotion, cried out: "Husband, husband, Jingyao's awake!"

Lu Jingyao's father rushed in from outside, saw her sitting up, and sighed with relief.

Lu Jingyao bit her lip, slipped on her shoes and jacket: "Father, give me the motorcycle keys."

He was no longer indecisive—he was decisive, ruthless.

Lu Ruichang: "Go slow, don't rush—how can you possibly have exactly one hour?"

Our family was poor since childhood. Though Father had many siblings, each lived their own life—who would help the poorest one?

Mother, Dan Guixiang, was frail but held the family together. Her minor illnesses turned severe, nearly killing her.

Lu Jingyao dismounted the motorcycle, smoothed her wind-tousled hair, gathered her courage, and walked into the Li family's gate.