How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Qingru rushed home before dark and lingered with Guo Zixing at the door for a while.

With a sweet feeling in her heart, Qingru finally knocked on the door of the Lü family.

"Excuse me, are you from the Lü family?"

Qingru was startled and turned around to see a strong, muscular man standing at the door with a scholar-looking man, asking for directions.

"Yes, who are you looking for?"

The two men exchanged a glance, and the burly man stepped forward and said, “Don’t be afraid, sister. My name is Boss Shi. I live in the south of the city. You came to my house to look for Brother Wu Fu the other day, but he wasn’t home. I’m bringing him here today.”

Qingru frowned and tried to recall, but she didn't remember anyone telling her about this. She was also afraid of delaying Mr. Lü, so she let the person in.

"I just got home today, I don't know if what you're saying is true or not, come in."

The servants heard the noise and opened the door. Seeing two more people outside, they immediately became alert.

"Miss, Master and Second Miss are waiting for you to have dinner."

"Hmm, has my dad been to the south of the city these past few days?"

"I went there; they said they were looking for someone."

Qingru was now half convinced and immediately beckoned the two of them in.

"follow me."

Shi Da pulled Wu Fu along and followed Qingru.

Inside the main room, Lü Peijun, in a rare good mood, prepared a large table of delicious food, including steamed sea bass, braised pork ribs, and spicy stir-fried chicken... The table was filled to the brim.

"Why are you in such a good mood today? You even had time to make so many delicious dishes."

"I've been so busy lately that I've neglected you and your sister. You're going to school tomorrow, so we have to have a family reunion dinner together."

"Okay, as long as you don't mind the trouble." Since Mr. Lü came back, they have had more than one family reunion dinner. As long as he is happy, that's all that matters.

"Dad," Qingru called out crisply from the doorway.

"Qingru..." Lu Peijun had just walked over when he noticed the two people following behind him.

"You are..." Actually, Lü Peijun had a guess in her heart, mainly because Shi Da's face was too similar to that of the fat aunt, making it difficult to mistake one for the other.

"Greetings, Master Lü. My name is Shi Da, and this is Wu Fu you are looking for," Shi Da said in a deep voice. He was tall and had a rough voice, but his attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, which made people feel at ease.

The thin, scholarly-looking man next to him stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "What brings you here?"

Song Fu's heart pounded, fearing that Yan Ru would expose him on the spot. Ever since he had messed things up and been severely scolded by Master Song, he had been looking for an opportunity to get close to the Lü family.

Unexpectedly, the Lü family happened to be looking for Xin Laohei's family, and the excuse he had used to approach Warden Cheng Ping earlier was that he was "Xin Laohei's nephew," so he got it without any effort.

Lu Peijun sized Song Fu up and down. Although Song Fu had a handsome face, his eyes were not clear. She always felt that there was a scheming glint in his dark pupils.

Yan Ru stepped forward and recognized Song Fu at a glance, but she did not expose him and pretended not to know him.

Song Fu caught a glimpse of Yan Ru's skirt out of the corner of his eye, and his heart tightened even more.

It took Lü Peijun quite a while to finish looking him over, her face still amiable. "Good child, I'm just searching for someone else, and I can't be sure if you're the one I'm looking for. How about this, you stay at my house for now, and we'll meet tomorrow, okay?"

"It's entirely up to you."

Shi Da then took his leave, saying, "I've delivered the person, so I'll be going now. Goodbye."

"Wait a minute," Lü Peijun stepped forward to stop him. "Young man Shi, it's getting late. Going back like this might be dangerous. Why don't you stay the night and leave tomorrow?"

"No need, what am I afraid of, I'm a grown man, I'm leaving."

"It's not right to not eat when guests come. If you go back hungry, it would make us seem impolite."

Yan Ru's voice was gentle, and she herself was gentle, leaving Shi Da somewhat dumbfounded for a moment.

Yan Ru smiled and advised, "Normally there isn't much food or drink when you come, but today we're lucky. They've prepared a big feast. Let's have some together."

Shi Da's tongue was tied, and he couldn't speak properly, so he could only nod in agreement.

Song Fu turned his head to look and saw that Shi Da's dark face was clearly flushed with pink.

Qingru came out after changing her clothes, and Shi Da was once again petrified on the spot.

How come I didn't notice before? This Miss Lü is so beautiful.

He shuffled into the room, and the group of people at the table began toasting and drinking.

Yan Ru glanced at Song Fu, poured him a glass of fruit wine, and said, "Thank you for saving me that day."

Song Fu's hand holding the wine glass trembled, and most of the wine spilled out.

Lu Peijun hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Is something amiss?"

Song Fu shook his head, drank the wine in one gulp, then stood up and bowed deeply to Lü Peijun.

“Master Lü, I dare not lie to you. The name Wu Fu was something my mother said casually after I was born. She said that she had no family to take care of her during her postpartum period and was not blessed, so she gave me that name out of spite. Later, she passed away, and I was sold to the Song family to work as a servant, after which I was called Song Fu.”

Lu Peijun pondered these words for a moment, not believing a word of them, but still managing to feign a sigh on her face, "Good child, it's good enough that you're alive, you're very good. If it's confirmed tomorrow that you are the person we're looking for, then I will definitely help you get back your indenture."

Song Fu said gratefully, "Thank you for thinking so highly of me. In fact, I was afraid that some people would look down on my status as a servant, so I never dared to tell outsiders. Brother Shi, I'm sorry, I haven't been telling you the truth."

Shi Da looked completely bewildered, unable to process what Song Fu was saying for a moment. "So your name is Song Fu?"

"Yes."

"Oh, oh, okay," Shi Da was confused for a long time before he finally understood.

Song Fu dared not look at Yan Ru's face, fearing that if he looked for even a second longer, he would lose his composure.

"Alright, stop apologizing and hurry up and eat, it'll get cold soon."

The banquet resumed, and everyone drank a few more cups, except for Yanru, who, due to poor health, only drank tea instead of wine.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Yan Ru led his men to escort Shi Da and Song Fu to their private room.

Shi Da was so drunk that he went into the house and fell asleep immediately.

Only Song Fu was still half-conscious. Yan Ru had someone place him next to the stone table in the courtyard, and then told the servants to stand back, as she had something to ask.

"Young Master Song Fu?"

Song Fu's hazy consciousness suddenly jolted, and he opened his eyes to look at Yan Ru.

"Are you really Xin Laohei's nephew?"

For some reason, Song Fu suddenly understood Yan Ru's implied meaning and hurriedly replied, "That's what my mother said. As for whether it's true or not, we'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out."

Song Fu was actually gambling, because previous information indicated that Xin Laohei had already passed away. Even if it was a test, it would most likely be about Xin Laohei's life, which he already knew by heart.

"I hope you are a sincere person too."

Song Fu turned his head to one side, not daring to look directly at Yan Ru.

“I…I am truly devoted to you, Miss.”

Yan Ru suddenly leaned down and said close to Song Fu, "You saved me, so I believe you are a good person. As long as you don't harm my family, I won't care what your intentions are."

Was she really that wary?

Song Fu was alarmed, but dared not show it.

Yan Ru smiled as she watched Song Fu, drunk and confused, then ordered someone to carry him into the house.

Before his eyelids closed completely, Song Fu only saw Yan Ru's graceful figure receding into the distance.