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Tian Jing prepared a delicious meal. As the three of them sat down to eat, Lu Tian hesitated, “Aren’t we waiting for Uncle?”
“He’s working late. Let’s eat.” Tian Jing explained gently, pleased with Lu Tian’s understanding.
Lu Tian chuckled and started eating. Tian Jing was a strong woman, but she had never neglected her cooking skills. The four dishes and one soup were delicious, and even the picky Zou Fan ate with gusto, complaining, “Mom, the school food is terrible. Can you make me lunchboxes to bring?”
Tian Jing paused, looking at Lu Tian to see if she disapproved before smiling, “Mom doesn’t have time to cook for you every day. The cook can do the same.”
Zou Fan was easily appeased and agreed.
Lu Tian eagerly reached for the spicy chicken. Tian Jing watched her carefully. “Lu Tian, don’t you dislike spicy food?”
“Um, I’ve been eating hot pot with my classmates recently, and I’ve come to like spicy food.” Lu Tian explained calmly.
“Tell me what you like, and I’ll make it for you.” Tian Jing felt guilty. Lu Tian had attended boarding school since middle school, she had been busy with work and didn’t spend much time with her children, so she didn’t know Lu Tian’s preferences well.
Lu Tian agreed, teasing the handsome boy, but found him surprisingly easygoing. Tian Jing had refused to make lunchboxes for Zou Fan for fear of Lu Tian’s disapproval, yet she readily agreed to make her favorite dishes, and Zou Fan had no reaction. Their living environment was actually better than she imagined.
After dinner, Lu Tian explained her call to Grandma Tian. If Grandma Gu came looking for her, she would have to take a DNA test with Tian Jing. The novel glossed over this part, only mentioning Grandma Gu confirming the identity, crying, and accepting Lu Tian as her granddaughter. However, she had deep feelings for her daughter and granddaughter, unwilling to abandon either. Grandma Gu got the best of both worlds, which made Lu Tian even more dissatisfied with Yu Ningxuan.
“Lu Tian, what do you hope to gain from this?”
Lu Tian was stunned. Yes, why did the original Lu Tian do this? Because… Yu Ningxuan’s fiancé, Han Yifan, was someone she had secretly admired in high school. She knew Han Yifan’s mother valued social status, and coincidentally discovered that Yu Ningxuan’s mother and Tian Jing were born on the same day of the same month of the same year, so she decided to reveal the truth.
“I…” Lu Tian started, remembering the recent event where the original Lu Tian used Meng Jingdong and her sleeping together as an excuse to force a marriage.
Tian Jing understood the conflict between Lu Tian and Yu Ningxuan. She understood Lu Tian’s intentions and would protect her daughter, so she ended the previous question, “Now that things have come to this, we have to deal with it. I dislike your grandmother; we can’t let this go. Let your grandmother recognize her biological daughter, and let them deal with it as they wish, but you—”
Lu Tian knew the important part was coming, sitting up straight to listen attentively.
“Since you’re married to Xiao Meng, you need to make it work. Your future is the most important thing, understand?” She only said this once, understanding Lu Tian’s sensitive nature, to avoid rebellion.
Lu Tian nodded obediently. In the original story, Tian Jing said the same thing, but the original Lu Tian thought Tian Jing was trying to maintain the cooperation between the Zou and Meng families. She was perfunctory toward Meng Jingdong, whom she had tricked into marriage, and made increasingly reckless moves, offending Meng Jingdong and confronting Yu Ningxuan. After divorcing Meng Jingdong, Tian Jing and the Zou family’s businesses were suppressed by Yu Ningxuan’s supporters, dragging down the whole family.
Tian Jing was busy, and their conversation was short before she had to take a conference call. Lu Tian was relieved. The original Lu Tian and Tian Jing didn’t have a good relationship, and this reduced the chance of her being exposed. She wasn’t worried about the consequences of being discovered; now that she was Lu Tian and Lu Tian was her, anything that didn’t happen in the original story, she wouldn’t admit it was her doing. She just wanted to solve the current problems, escape the plot and enjoy life.
Having a clear goal, Lu Tian happily played games with Zou Fan, helping him win, quickly getting closer to him.
“Sis, I wish you’d come home every day,” Zou Fan said, thinking his sister was more fun than before.
Lu Tian shook her head mysteriously. “Sister needs her personal space, but I’ll definitely come back to see you.”
“Okay, Sister’s going to see Brother-in-law and won’t play with me anymore,” Zou Fan said, running off in fear of being beaten. Lu Tian didn’t bother with him, went to her room to shower, and went to bed.
She had a strange dream. Wearing a silk nightgown that barely reached her knees, she was barefoot on the floor, slowly walking toward the bed. Suddenly, a strong wind blew into the sunny room through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She turned to see a tall man in a black suit walking toward her, like Satan himself. He held a black riding crop in his hand, a slow smile curving his lips.
“Woman, you provoked me, and you dare to run?”
As soon as he spoke, the long, strong whip, as if it had eyes, whipped toward her precisely—
Lu Tian jolted awake. The bedroom was bathed in sunlight, making her eyes water. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality. She stared at the bedroom door for a long time, but the man from her dream didn’t appear. It was already 10 AM.
“Meng Jingdong’s influence is too strong. Why did I dream of him?” She muttered to herself, shuddering at the thought of his words in the dream. Too cliché!
Lu Tian spent two days at home over the weekend, returning to school on Sunday, bringing plenty of food made by her stepmother’s cook. It was very popular.
“Lu Tian, Yu Ningxuan came looking for you yesterday, but we said you weren’t back,” He Lianchen reported, appreciating the food.
“What did she want? I’ve never seen her so angry. Isn’t she a soft girl?” Jiang Feifei was the most gossipy.
Peng Yangyang simply warned, “Yu Ningxuan is very angry. She’ll probably look for trouble.”
“I have some karma with her. We’ll have more to settle.” Lu Tian didn’t reveal the truth, only asking her roommates to help maintain peace in the dorm, otherwise, she’d rent a place off-campus. Unfortunately, the original Lu Tian was short of money, with little to spare after living expenses and pocket money.
Jiang Feifei was impatient, “Keep me updated; I’ll back you up!”
Lu Tian agreed to share any news, successfully handling this situation.
“Oh? How was Professor Lu’s lecture on Friday?”
Lu Tian asked, and Jiang Feifei slapped her thigh, pained. “Professor Lu fainted during his lecture and was taken to the hospital.”
“Yes, we were all scared,” He Lianchen said regretfully and worriedly, “They didn’t allow photos, but Professor Lu looked awful.”
“Someone on my Moments posted a prayer for Professor Lu. Let’s do the same?”
The three girls quickly forwarded the post to Lu Tian, who skimmed it before also forwarding it, hoping the handsome older man would recover.
City First People’s Hospital
Meng Jingdong rushed to the hospital. Professor Lu had just woken from a coma. Seeing his concerned expression, he managed a weak smile. “Why are you here too?”
“Uncle, you’re too stubborn. The doctor said you need to rest in the hospital; why did you go to Dongda University to give a lecture?” Meng Jingdong’s voice was low…
Professor Lu waved his hand. “It’s nothing. I’ve made arrangements with the school, and I should keep my promise. This is my last lecture.”
“Aren’t you very busy lately? If you are, go back. I have medical staff here; it’s alright.”
“It’s fine. My parents wouldn’t feel comfortable with you in the hospital alone.” Professor Lu’s parents were elderly, and he had no children. He loved Meng Jingdong like a son, so he should be there to care for him.
“Jingdong, you…” Professor Lu trailed off.
Meng Jingdong knew what he was asking but frowned instinctively at the thought of that person, vaguely saying, “She’s fine. Don’t worry about her; she should focus on her own illness first.”
Professor Lu chuckled wryly, nodded, and closed his eyes. He still had an IV drip, and under the influence of the medication, he quickly fell asleep. Meng Jingdong got up, adjusted the air conditioning temperature, went to the window to admire the scenery, pondered for a moment, and then sent a message to his assistant.
‘Has she contacted you?’
Song Ci replied quickly: “Miss Lu hasn’t contacted me. Should I contact her?”
Meng Jingdong quickly replied: “No need.”
—
Lu Tian sneezed loudly in the classroom, attracting the attention of a dozen or so people. The moment she saw her teacher’s concerned look, a bad feeling arose in her heart.
“The female student who just sneezed, please stand up and answer my previous question.”
The original owner studied Financial Management, just like her, but she had graduated a year ago and couldn’t immediately recall the knowledge points from her junior year. Luckily, Peng Yangyang, who was quiet and helpful, came to her rescue, answering the question, allowing Lu Tian to sit down.
“Lu Tian, why aren’t you answering your phone?” He Lianchen, sitting to her left, looked up from his novel, noticing her phone’s incoming call light was constantly on.
“How can I answer the phone during class? Besides, I don’t know the person.” In fact, it was probably the Gu family. Four days had passed since the original owner had caused a scene at Yu Ningxuan’s engagement ceremony. The Gu family’s DNA test results must have come out, so they were looking for her to contact Tian Jing.
He Lianchen casually asked and continued reading his novel. Lu Tian found the textbook boring and decided to go with the flow, taking out her phone, figuring out a way to make some money. She used to buy stocks and could probably squeeze out some pocket money to buy some penny stocks.
After thinking it over, she gave up on struggling on her own and chose to send a message to Tian Jing.
“Mom, can you lend me two hundred thousand?”
Tian Jing was probably free and replied quickly: “What do you need the money for?”
“To buy stocks, to earn some pocket money.”
“Prove it’s you.”
Lu Tian took her phone, quickly took a selfie with the front camera and sent it.
Tian Jing acted quickly. In less than five minutes, two hundred thousand was transferred to Lu Tian’s card, followed by a message: “If you can make money, your dividends will be at your disposal starting this year.”
Tian Jing owned a company with good profits. Before her marriage, she had agreed with her husband that twenty-five percent of the shares belonged to the original owner. After the original owner came of age, the shares were transferred to her name, but the dividends were always managed by Tian Jing.
Lu Tian happily replied: “Okay.”
Author’s Note:
I did the stupid thing of putting it in the draft box without setting a schedule…