Chapter 19: Reward Me, I’m More Than Willing to Cultivate Together with You~

After spending two nights alone in an empty room, Jiang Ruoxue found her thoughts spiraling wildly each evening. Although she believed Lu Fan wasn’t the type to act recklessly, she couldn’t overlook Lin Ziyu’s nature. Lin Ziyu had always preferred younger men, and over the past two years, Jiang Ruoxue had frequently kept young admirers, from male models at clubs to minor fresh faces in the entertainment industry. Rumors about her abounded throughout the underworld. It was said that she had once been hurt by a man, which turned her into a flirtatious rake who only targeted younger men. Wealthy, influential, and beautiful, she could hook anyone with a mere flick of her finger.

Torn by inner torment, Jiang Ruoxue couldn’t resist coming here. Yet, upon arrival, she was confronted with an intimate scene. Even if she hadn’t come, Lu Fan intended to push Lin Ziyu away. Jiang Ruoxue’s sudden voice startled him, and he hastily pulled Lin Ziyu back onto the sofa.

“Lu Fan, you shameless man!” Jiang Ruoxue seethed with fury. After scolding him, she turned on her heel and fled, with Lu Fan rushing after her. Lin Ziyu toyed with a strand of her golden hair, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Outside, Jiang Ruoxue was about to open the car door to leave. Lu Fan held the door, meeting her furious gaze. “Miss Jiang, it’s not what you think. Please let me explain.”

He believed that since they hadn’t yet received the divorce certificate, he ought to remain faithful and not let Jiang Ruoxue misunderstand him. Jiang Ruoxue’s face flushed crimson; she raised her hand and slapped him fiercely across the cheek.

“Shameless!” Lu Fan could have dodged, but he took the slap squarely.

“I was with Sister Ziyu…” Lu Fan began.

Jiang Ruoxue clenched her teeth, voice tinged with bitterness. “Sister Ziyu, huh? You say it so affectionately!”

The thought of him calling her “Miss Jiang” yet addressing another woman so warmly infuriated Jiang Ruoxue even more.

“You and she are alone together. Last time I called, she said you were taking a bath. Lu Fan, don’t forget, we haven’t received our divorce certificate yet—we’re still married. Is this how you’re faithful to me?”

“A bath? Are you misunderstanding something? I was unconscious for two days and just woke up. Sister Ziyu was taking care of Xiao You for me. She was only teasing me just now. To me, she’s like a sister.”

Though Lu Fan’s explanation sounded ridiculous, Jiang Ruoxue remembered their five years together. If he were truly that kind of man, he would have acted on it long ago. Moreover, from what she had seen, Lin Ziyu was the one taking the initiative. Unlike her, Lin Ziyu was a spiritualist, reputedly at a high level. Spiritualists are more sensitive to their surroundings; perhaps Lin Ziyu had sensed her arrival before she even got out of the car—what had just happened was deliberate.

But why would the eldest daughter of the Lin family bother so much over him?

Jiang Ruoxue felt there was a mystery shrouding Lu Fan; he was far from the simple person she imagined.

“What exactly is your relationship with her?”

“She’s a sister I’ve known since childhood.”

Lu Fan’s gaze was sincere, revealing no hint of deceit.

“Didn’t you grow up in the countryside? How did you come to know someone from the Lin family?”

Faced with Jiang Ruoxue’s pressing questions, Lu Fan shook his head. “Sorry, that’s something I can’t disclose.”

Jiang Ruoxue sensed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what. If he were truly someone formidable, how could he have endured five years as a live-in son-in-law in the Jiang household, being bossed around daily without a temper? She must be overthinking.

“Miss Jiang, why have you come here?”

Jiang Ruoxue’s mind was in turmoil; she couldn’t say it was because of Lu Fan.

“I wanted to check if you’ve prepared the gift for Grandma. Don’t embarrass me tomorrow. Who knows, you just moved out and are already causing trouble!”

“I haven’t.”

“Then bring the child back home. There are still over twenty days left for proper handover. The new maid knows nothing—not even how to make hangover soup. She hasn’t even tucked me in once at night. I nearly caught a cold!”

Lu Fan frowned. He had already decided to draw a clear line with Jiang Ruoxue.

“We’re going to separate sooner or later. I don’t think this is necessary.” For the first time, Lu Fan refused her request.

The image he had just seen enraged Jiang Ruoxue further. “What? Is it too difficult for you to move back? Or do you think I’m disturbing your fun with that enchantress? Lu Fan, when we married, you promised to treat me well. Is this your promise?”

Her relentless pressure left Lu Fan struggling; he was never good at dealing with women. He sighed helplessly. “Miss Jiang, you’re asking too much.”

“Lu Fan, Xiao You is my daughter, too. You’d rather have a stranger watch her than call me once. You say you were unconscious for two days, and the child is so young. What if this happens again? How am I supposed to feel at ease?”

Having reached this point, Jiang Ruoxue was determined to make him move back.

But Lu Fan’s stance was firm this time. “Miss Jiang, before we get the divorce certificate, I will follow your instructions and do a careful handover with the maid, but I won’t move back. For five years, I’ve personally taken care of Xiao You. Rest assured, no one loves her more than I do. I won’t let her get hurt.”

“I’ll prepare the gift for Grandma tomorrow. It’s getting late; you should go home.”

Jiang Ruoxue snorted coldly, seething with anger. “You’re utterly unreasonable.”

With that, she slammed the car door and strode away, eager to see what gift Lu Fan would prepare.

Lu Fan lowered his eyes as he entered the house, not wanting things between him and Jiang Ruoxue to reach this point.

Lin Ziyu grinned mischievously. “I think your ex-wife has finally realized your worth and wants to cling to you.”

“Senior sister, don’t joke around. Over the years, all she’s dreamed about is her ‘white moonlight.’ She doesn’t like me.”

“And what about you? Do you like her?”

Lu Fan shook his head. “I couldn’t see clearly before. Now I realize it’s more gratitude than affection. Besides, someone like me, who’s spent years cultivating in the mountains, finds it hard to develop true feelings.”

Lin Ziyu patted his shoulder. “Young man, don’t be so sure. You just haven’t met the right person yet. When you do, you’ll understand what it means to throw caution to the wind.”

“Looks like you’ve met that person yourself?” Lu Fan countered.

At the mention of this, Lin Ziyu’s expression shifted slightly. She yawned, stretched lazily, and quickly found an excuse to leave. “Since you’re awake, I’ll go. Taking care of the child these days has exhausted me.”

“Thanks for your hard work, senior sister.”

Lin Ziyu suddenly thought of something, a sly smile curling at her lips. She traced a circle on Lu Fan’s chest, elongating the sound seductively, “If you really appreciate my hard work, then reward me. I’d be more than happy to practice dual cultivation with you, little junior brother~”