CHAPTER 485: CHAPTER 485: PRETENDING TO BE A FOOL IS IMPOSSIBLE

Xu Xiuxiu’s serious and cautious calling momentarily stunned Lu Xiangxiang. The latter gazed at Xu Xiuxiu, her eyes somewhat lifeless and hazy, as if she were waiting for Xu Xiuxiu to pronounce a death sentence upon her. Lu Xiangxiang felt that never before had she experienced such fear and anticipation as she did at this moment, because she knew all too well that the incident had gotten far too big. Even Lu Jianhang, that man, was helpless and couldn’t cover it up. Otherwise, if it had been like any other day, even though Lu Jianhang would have been utterly disappointed with his daughter, he would certainly not have stood by and watched as he did this time.

However, it was obvious that Xu Xiuxiu was her last hope, and she was truly afraid that this final hope would be strangled.

Indeed, the reality was that the relationship between Xu Xiuxiu and Lu Xiangxiang had not yet improved to the extent that Xu Xiuxiu would go to all lengths to absolve her of guilt, let alone allow Lu Xiangxiang’s crime to affect Song Yuanhuan’s future. For a woman whose relationship was mediocre at best, who could even be called a rival in love, to ruin her own man’s prospects? Was it worth it?

Clearly, the answer was that it wasn’t worth it. It was almost as foolish as behaving like an idiot, and Xu Xiuxiu was not capable of being such an idiot!

"Lu Xiangxiang, I’m sorry. I can’t help you," Xu Xiuxiu frankly spoke, shattering Lu Xiangxiang’s hopes. She simply was not able to give Lu Xiangxiang any hope.

"..." As if she had already anticipated this outcome, when Lu Xiangxiang actually heard Xu Xiuxiu say those words, she stood dumbstruck for a long time. Disappointment and despair spread throughout her heart: "No, Xu Xiuxiu, please don’t do this, please help me. There’s no one else who can save me, only you. I know I was a fool before. I got myself into this mess. I will spend my entire life atoning. Please, can you save me?"

"Sorry." Xu Xiuxiu coldly raised her hand to push away Lu Xiangxiang’s hand that was clutching at her.

Xu Xiuxiu’s rejection caused Lu Xiangxiang to break down: "Why are you so heartless, Xu Xiuxiu? Can’t you help me?" Lu Xiangxiang said, agitated, as tears slid down from her somewhat wrinkled eyes, crying in a way that was both pitiable and painful.

It’s said that those who are to be pitied often have detestable aspects, and at this moment, Lu Xiangxiang’s helplessness was truly pitiable, but also detestable. She claimed to have been forced into drug trafficking, but whether this was true, Xu Xiuxiu did not know. She felt that there were many ways to deal with being forced into something, and this self-righteous surrender was definitely the most foolish.

Moreover, drugs had harmed so many people, even destroying countless families. Xu Xiuxiu was painfully aware that as a person who led a healthy and positive lifestyle, she despised these unhealthy things the most. She could still tolerate smoking and drinking to some extent, but drugs - the mere word sent chills down her spine.

"Lu Xiangxiang, I am that heartless. Is it your first day seeing this? You’re really funny, actually coming to beg me." Xu Xiuxiu snorted coldly and then, without any intention of engaging with Lu Xiangxiang any longer, turned and walked towards her home. The children had said that morning they wanted to eat the pork trotters she stewed, and she still had to go buy some trotters to stew for them. It took time to prepare properly, and without the right heat, the flavor wouldn’t come out, so where would she find the time to accompany Lu Xiangxiang in her hysteria?

"Don’t go, Xu Xiuxiu. You must have a way, right? Please show me a clear path! I really don’t want to go to jail. I don’t want to spend the second half of my life behind bars." Seeing that Xu Xiuxiu was truly leaving, Lu Xiangxiang became frantic and desperate, grabbing onto Xu Xiuxiu’s clothes, and in her pain, knelt down and cried before her.

The once high and mighty woman had been crushed, time and time again, leaving Lu Xiangxiang in a defeated state. Observing Lu Xiangxiang like this, Xu Xiuxiu inevitably felt some emotion, but said nothing, "Lu Xiangxiang, pleading with me is useless, I really can’t help you." Xu Xiuxiu shook her head, attempting to push away Lu Xiangxiang’s hand.

Perhaps truly driven to desperation, Lu Xiangxiang began to cry and revealed her fierce side, "Xu Xiuxiu, if you don’t help me, you’ll regret it, believe it or not?" Lu Xiangxiang said through gritted teeth, making her final threat.

"Even so, I’m still powerless to help, you should seek help elsewhere." Xu Xiuxiu was also getting a little angry, and it was obvious that she had no need to be overly polite to Lu Xiangxiang, who was behaving crazily, switching from begging to threatening, not knowing that the thing Xu Xiuxiu hated the most was being threatened by others.

Having seemingly accepted her fate after threatening her, when Xu Xiuxiu still rejected her, Lu Xiangxiang no longer sought Xu Xiuxiu’s pity. Lu Xiangxiang, with fierce eyes, stood up from the ground, keeping her gaze locked on Xu Xiuxiu’s retreating figure.

After Xu Xiuxiu left, she went straight to the nearby small vegetable market, bought two pig’s feet, and also a good amount of vegetables. Carrying these things, she strolled leisurely on her way home. However, halfway home, leisurely carrying her groceries, she was unexpectedly bumped into by a man running towards her, causing her vegetables and pig’s feet to drop to the ground.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry," the plainly dressed man apologized repeatedly to Xu Xiuxiu, then bent down to help Xu Xiuxiu pick up her items.

"It’s okay." Xu Xiuxiu, originally annoyed by Lu Xiangxiang’s appearance, had felt her left arm go numb after being bumped, and her mood couldn’t have gotten any worse, but seeing that the other party was considerate and had even apologized and helped pick up her belongings, Xu Xiuxiu coldly shook her head indicating that she didn’t mind.

"I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry, I truly apologize." After handing back the items to Xu Xiuxiu, the man hurried away.

Xu Xiuxiu didn’t pay much attention to this and continued on her way home with her vegetables and pig’s feet, and thus she naturally missed seeing the man who had bumped into her hooking up with Lu Xiangxiang. With her already complicated feelings due to Lu Xiangxiang’s appearance, Xu Xiuxiu also failed to notice that Lu Xiangxiang had been following her, not far behind, the entire time, even following her to the entrance of her residential building.

...

Xu Xiuxiu didn’t have a regular job to keep busy with in Imperial City, so she could be considered a proper housewife. On weekdays, when Song Yuanhuan went to work and the kids were in school, she would be home alone, tending to the garden, occasionally crafting by hand, and spending the majority of her time with the family’s dogs. Therefore, when she went out to buy groceries every day, she would also casually bring back some meaty bones and other treats for them.

Used to Xu Xiuxiu’s daily routine, as soon as she opened the front door, the family of dogs, led by Little Huang, wagged their tails and waddled over to the entrance, standing in line awaiting her—a row of seven or eight dogs of varying sizes lined up facing Xu Xiuxiu, creating an adorably silly scene.