Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter 55: Leaving Home

The two talked for quite a while before leaving.

After seeing the guests off, Mrs. Qiu prepared dinner and then rested.

Ji Meiqing had prepared dinner, but Lu Yu didn't show up, and she didn't know where he was, especially since it was so late at night.

The longer time passed, the more confused Ji Meiqing became. Looking at the dark doorway, she had no idea where he was, and she wanted to find him but didn't know where to begin.

The food on the table had been reheated several times, and its color and taste had changed.

After thinking for a long time, she finally threw away all the food on the table. After cleaning up, she boiled water and took a shower, but Lu Yu still hadn't returned.

The candle wick had burned quite long, and Ji Meiqing trimmed it every now and then, which helped to brighten the room again. She went to the study to get a book to read.

Sleepiness gradually crept in, and she yawned to wake herself up a little. But it didn't last long before she fell asleep on her stomach.

The candle melted little by little, dripping wax onto the table and forming another shape.

Lu Yu didn't return until dawn the next day. The sound of the door opening startled Ji Meiqing awake. She looked around and, upon hearing the sound of someone buying things, immediately ran out.

"Brother Lu." She called out, and seeing Lu Yu standing at the door closing it, she immediately woke up.

Lu Yu turned around, "Did I disturb you?"

"No, no, I've just been waiting for Brother Lu. I wonder if Brother Lu is hungry? I'll go cook you some noodles." She was about to go to the kitchen when she was stopped.

Lu Yu refused outright, "No need, you go and rest, I can do it myself."

"Oh." Noticing Lu Yu's indifference, Ji Meiqing was a little puzzled, but she still agreed.

Back in her room, she couldn't fall asleep. The noises outside weren't loud, but each one was deafening, and she felt a pang of panic.

What on earth happened? What happened to Brother Lu?

For a moment, my mind was filled with all sorts of guesses. My heart was in complete turmoil.

She didn't lie down for long before getting up. After changing her clothes, she came out and saw Lu Yu eating noodles. She slowly walked over and sat down in front of him.

"Brother Lu, what exactly happened?"

"It's nothing." His expression and tone were extremely indifferent, and Ji Meiqing was still a little unaccustomed to it for a while.

She looked at Lu Yu, "Then Brother Lu..."

"I have something to say." Sensing what Ji Meiqing wanted to ask, Lu Yu interrupted to answer, but it was almost the same as not answering at all. He didn't give her a direct answer, didn't say anything, but the bloodshot in his eyes looked strangely odd.

Ji Meiqing didn't have much to say. "Since that's the case, after you've finished eating, you should get some rest."

"Okay," he replied, then added, "I probably won't be back for the next few days. I just wanted to let you know today."

Just as Ji Meiqing was about to leave, she suddenly stopped. She stood there, seemingly unable to believe it, and struggled to turn her head.

"you……"

"I have some important business to attend to these next few days, so I probably won't be back. You should take the time to repair the house yourself." Lu Yu slowly finished speaking.

Ji Meiqing's voice was stiff as she uttered only one syllable: "Okay..."

"Please." He wiped his mouth, then quickly tidied up the table before returning to his room. But before long, he took a bundle and went to the front hall.

Upon seeing this, Ji Meiqing immediately became anxious. She ran to Lu Yu and stammered nervously, "Brother Lu, what... what are you doing?"

"I'm going somewhere, and I'll be back in a few days."

“You…” Ji Meiqing looked at the bundle on his body, still very nervous.

Lu Yu patted her hair reassuringly, "It's okay, I'll be back in a few days."

"Brother Lu..." That's all she could call his name, but she couldn't bring herself to say what she wanted to say.

She wanted Lu Yu to stay because she was terrified, not knowing what he was going to do.

Ji Meiqing could only watch helplessly as he left. She covered her eyes, desperately trying to hold back her tears.

The once grand Su family home is now truly empty. Looking back, she sees only the shattered Lu family home.

Everyone was gone, leaving her all alone. Ji Meiqing stood up dejectedly and went back to her room. The table was covered in wax and looked dirty. She lay down on it, buried her head, and couldn't cry.

After sitting blankly for a while, Li Shi came over with her son. Ji Meiqing worked with them in the wine room. Not long after, a large group of people came in from outside. Ji Meiqing walked out blankly.

"What do you want?"

"Madam Ji, we are the craftsmen responsible for repairing your house. I wonder if you have prepared the materials?"

Ji Meiqing came to her senses and looked at the large group of people in front of her, somewhat lost in thought. "No... I forgot."

"I knew Madam Ji would forget. We've prepared the materials. Thanks to Madam Ji, without you, we wouldn't have been able to settle here and obtain the land you desired." They smiled gratefully at her.

Ji Meiqing was even more confused. "Me? What did I do?"

"If it weren't for Madam Ji, we would have had to rebuild our house ourselves," they laughed.

Ji Meiqing was even more confused. She hadn't done anything, so why were they all saying this? Could it be that she had really done something terrible?

"Madam Ji, may we begin?" The foremost craftsman looked at her cautiously. Ji Meiqing nodded and invited them in.

"Just come find me in the back tavern if you need anything," she said without further hesitation, and then went back. She left the rest to the craftsmen.

Outside, everything was in a frenzy, but Ji Meiqing seemed completely distracted. Li Shi glanced at her furtively and, seeing her swollen eyes, understood what was going on.

She suddenly spoke up to advise, "Men are all like this, why does Madam Ji keep clinging to him?"

"Huh?" She came to her senses and looked at her blankly, but seeing Li's "you know what I mean" expression, Ji Meiqing felt even more confused.

Li Ming coughed twice to indicate that he was still there. Madam Li, however, ignored him and went straight to lecturing Ji Meiqing, "Although Young Master Lu is a good person, he is indeed not suitable for a young girl like you. It's obvious that your personalities don't match."

"Cough cough..." Ji Meiqing almost choked. "What did you say?"

"Oh dear, don't you understand? No wonder you haven't won over Young Master Lu yet."

"Pfft..." Ji Meiqing couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of saliva. She really couldn't understand why they would think that way.