Chapter 108: Will I End Up Alone?

September 22, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Mu Chenze certainly thought it was worth it, but he had no intention of saying so directly.

“At the time, I acted on impulse—I didn’t even think about whether it was worth it or not. It’s only now that I realize being a witness and providing clues could get me targeted for revenge, and maybe even bring trouble to my family. As for whether it’ll be worth it in the future… I guess that depends on how you thank me.”

Chu Xuan really wanted to thank him properly. The six hundred yuan in her hand hadn’t even warmed up yet before she handed it over. “How about a thank-you fee? Is this enough?”

Mu Chenze waved his hands quickly, refusing to take it. “I don’t want a thank-you fee. You can think of another way to thank me.”

Chu Xuan smiled, “Then how do you want me to thank you?”

Mu Chenze blurted out, “How about this—if I’m still single at thirty, will you marry me? That way my mom won’t just find me some random wife.”

Even though he’d concluded last night that Chu Xuan didn’t have romantic feelings for him, he still wanted to ask.

He didn’t even understand why he wanted to ask.

Chu Xuan’s heart skipped a beat, then started pounding.

She tried to steady herself. “Don’t you dislike chubby girls? I’m so fat, and you still dare to ask me that? Are you joking?”

What’s with this guy today?

Mu Chenze quickly regained his composure and replied seriously, “You’re right, I don’t like chubby girls. I was just asking casually, don’t take it to heart.”

After saying that, he couldn’t help but wonder—if Chu Xuan ever slimmed down, would he like her then?

Chu Xuan had the urge to smack him. His “casual question” had nearly given her a heart attack.

Luckily, she kept her cool.

There were so many things she needed to do in this life.

Find out who was really behind Qin Xuehong’s stabbing, uncover Feng Chunhua’s secrets, track down her biological father’s background, repair her relationship with her mother…

Especially before she uncovered the truth about the mastermind and her father’s identity, she’d rather stay single forever—she didn’t want to drag anyone else down.

Seeing Chu Xuan fall silent, Mu Chenze grew serious. “You once said you’d never get married. Is there something you can’t talk about? We’re buddies. You can tell me, can’t you?”

Chu Xuan didn’t want Mu Chenze getting involved in these matters and possibly dragging him and his family into trouble. “There’s nothing I can’t say. I just simply don’t want to get married.”

Mu Chenze glanced at Chu Feng’s bedroom. Looks like he’d have to ask Chu Feng about it.

He’d come back another day when Chu Xuan wasn’t home.

“Alright then, I’m off.”

Chu Xuan watched him leave, only turning away when he was out of sight.

Chu Feng came out of his bedroom, catching the complicated look in his sister’s eyes. He swallowed the words he’d been about to say.

He’d promised not to bring up whether his sister and Brother Chenze were a good match anymore.

When Chu Xuan saw her little brother, she quickly composed herself and smiled. “I just earned another six hundred yuan.”

She patted the money in her hand.

At the mention of money, Chu Feng clapped happily. “I never thought we’d make so much during typhoon season.”

They’d made nearly six thousand yuan in the past few days.

Chu Xuan looked content. “I didn’t expect it either. Ever since we split from the family, our luck’s been good. I believe we’ll have ten thousand yuan in savings soon.”

Chu Feng nodded vigorously. He believed his sister could do it.

If they hadn’t lent Liu Zhaodi 1,500 yuan, they’d be just a few hundred short of ten thousand.

Chu Xuan knew Liu Zhaodi wouldn’t be able to pay back the money anytime soon, so their family was still nearly two thousand yuan short of being a “ten-thousand-yuan household.”

She set a small goal for herself: to earn two thousand yuan by the end of August!

She locked the courtyard gate and went back to her room to stash the money.

With this weather, you had to keep the gate locked at all times.

Half an hour later, there was a knock at the door.

“Xiao Xuan, it’s me, Aunt Hua. Open up.”

It was drizzling outside. Chu Xuan grabbed an umbrella and went to open the door.

Aunt Hua’s rain pants and boots were splattered with mud, making Chu Xuan realize just how clean Mu Chenze’s clothes had been earlier.

The roads outside were a muddy mess. It was easy to get mud all over your rain gear, and a light rain wasn’t enough to wash it off.

She couldn’t help but suspect that Mu Chenze had changed into new rain gear at her doorstep just to make a good impression.

“Xiao Xuan, I came to talk to you about Feng Chunhua.”

Aunt Hua’s words pulled Chu Xuan back to the present.

“Aunt Hua, come inside and talk.”

Hua Daling waved her hands. “No need, I’ll just say a few words and go.”

She was embarrassed to enter, afraid Chu Xuan would give her food again—she didn’t want to keep taking advantage.

Unable to change Aunt Hua’s mind, Chu Xuan let her stand under the eaves.

Hua Daling continued, “Feng Chunhua didn’t manage to leave. She sent someone back this morning to let Chu Dashan and his son know—she slipped and got hurt, and she’s in the county hospital. Chu Zhi went to the county to take care of her, so only Chu Dashan was home this afternoon. Guess what happened?”

Chu Xuan remembered Chu Dashan’s affairs from her previous life and couldn’t help but say, “He brought another woman home?”

“That’s right! Not only did he bring her home, he turned on the radio and they started dancing! They were really into it.”

Hua Daling mimicked a few dance moves, looking quite convincing.

Chu Xuan was curious which woman it was this time—Chu Dashan never turned anyone away. “Did you see who it was?”

“I did! It was Liu Dafang from the next village. She’s married, but her husband works out of town and is hardly ever home. She’s over forty and still doesn’t have kids.”

“So it’s her!”

Chu Xuan knew a bit about Liu Dafang.

In her previous life, Liu Dafang’s husband had caught her and Chu Dashan in their own bedroom. Chu Dashan had pulled a hundred yuan out of his pocket, and Liu Dafang’s husband took it and said, ‘Go ahead, carry on.’

He was in debt from gambling and needed the money.

Later, Feng Chunhua found out about this and took people over to shave Liu Dafang’s head and beat her up.

That wasn’t the end of it—Liu Dafang, trying to avoid another beating, ratted out Chu Dashan’s other lovers. There were at least ten of them.

This reminded Chu Xuan that maybe Chu Dashan’s lovers could be useful to her.

Right now, with Feng Chunhua away, it was the perfect time to use Liu Dafang.

Liu Dafang’s weakness was her greed for money.

Chu Xuan said, “Aunt Hua, could I trouble you with something? When Liu Dafang leaves Chu Dashan’s house, if the rain isn’t too heavy, could you come let me know?”

“No problem.”

“If it’s pouring or really windy, don’t bother—your safety comes first.”

“I know, I know. Don’t worry! I’ll be off then.”

“Aunt Hua, wait! We just made some roasted peanuts—let me give you some to take home…”

“You keep them for you and Xiao Feng.”

Hua Daling didn’t give Chu Xuan a chance to hand her food, turning and running off.

By the time Chu Xuan came out with a bag of peanuts, Aunt Hua was already gone.

She didn’t force it, deciding to give them to her next time she came by.

At that moment, Mu Chenze was in his own yard scrubbing his rain pants.

Qin Mahua came over, carrying a basket covered with a floral cloth. “Xiao Ze, most people get mud on the outside of their rain pants, but how did you get yours dirty on the inside?”

Mu Chenze made up an excuse. “I accidentally stepped in a deep mud puddle—of course they got dirty.”

He wasn’t about to admit he’d worn his new rain pants over the dirty ones.

Qin Mahua patted the basket. “Since the rain’s let up, I’m taking a couple of meat pies over to Chu Xuan and her brother. You keep scrubbing!”"