Seeing that Chen Jiu had closed his eyes, Zhao Chen got up, put on his straw sandals, and went to open the door.
Outside, Chen Guangren had called out but hadn’t received a response, making him anxious.
Just as he was about to push the door open, it opened.
Zhao Chen, fully dressed, appeared before the group. Seeing the anxious Chen Guangren holding a torch, he calmly asked, “Are you Chen Jiu’s father?”
To the people of Shui Lian Village, Silly Zhao had always been seen as silly, often smiling but rarely speaking. Chen Guangren’s most vivid memory of Silly Zhao was him drooling and calling Brother Jiu good-looking.
Every time he saw that, Chen Guangren would chase him away with a stick.
Who did this fool think he was to covet his son?
He had never imagined that one day Silly Zhao would speak to him normally.
“Yes, I heard my son came here. Where is he?” Concern for Chen Jiu outweighed his surprise at Zhao Chen’s change. He quickly frowned and asked, trying to peer inside the hut.
Unfortunately, Zhao Chen was taller and blocked the view.
Having heard him defend Chen Jiu earlier, Zhao Chen had a good impression of him and decided not to make things difficult.
Pretending to sigh in relief, he said, “Finally, you’ve arrived. Chen Jiu fainted on the road. I recently regained my senses and don’t remember much from before, nor do I know where his home is. So, I brought him here, thinking you’d come looking for him by nightfall. I didn’t expect you’d only come now.”
Hearing this, Chen Jiu, lying on the bed, was stunned.
Wasn’t the plan to turn the tables? Why was Zhao Chen saying this?
Could it be that after gaining the personal space, Zhao Chen no longer wanted to team up?
Instantly, Chen Jiu’s heart turned cold.
He wanted to get up, but feared he was misjudging again, and if he did, even his father might not stand by him.
Helpless, he kept his eyes tightly shut, listening to what Zhao Chen would say next.
If Zhao Chen harbored ill intentions, he would destroy the pendant before letting him succeed!
At the door, Chen Ling and Lan Shi were also taken aback. Chen Ling almost blurted out, “Impossible!”
Her sharp voice was too jarring in the night’s silence, drawing everyone’s attention.
Zhao Chen, despite his short life in his previous world, had seen enough to see through Chen Ling’s act.
Combining what Chen Jiu had said, Zhao Chen quickly guessed that this must be Chen Jiu’s treacherous sister. He immediately countered, “Why is it impossible? His health is obviously frail, and he’s been sick. Fainting from the evening chill is hardly surprising. Or…”
Zhao Chen paused, staring coldly at Chen Ling, “Or do you think something else had to happen for him to faint?”
He reacted swiftly, his attitude strong and aggressive.
Chen Ling was taken aback, instinctively making excuses for herself, “You’re talking nonsense! I mean, my brother was much better before he went out. How could he faint so easily? You must have done something to him!”
Having said that, she seemed to believe her reasoning and continued, “Yes, it must be you, this lecher who drools at my brother, who did something to him. That’s why my brother…”
“Chen Ling, shut up!”
Before Zhao Chen could say anything, Chen Guangren sternly interrupted.
He was simple-minded and didn’t see through Lan Shi and Chen Ling’s schemes.
But he treated all his children equally, caring for and protecting them.
Listening to Zhao Chen, he felt both joy and fear.
He was happy that Zhao Chen, after recovering his senses, seemed forthright and hadn’t harmed Brother Jiu. But he was also afraid that Zhao Chen might be deceptive and worried that Brother Jiu had been unconscious for too long without seeing a doctor, which might mean more time bedridden.
His poor child…
All his thoughts were on Chen Jiu, and he was shocked to see his usually sweet and gentle daughter suddenly behave differently.
Instead of caring for her brother, she was quarrelling here, which was hardly befitting of a respectable daughter!
r2u2c8