Lin Nianhe felt like she might be suffering from "Fifth Madam syndro."
Everyone seed to look like...
She cleared her throat, lowered her gaze to avoid Lu Zai’s eyes, and stepped inside.
As soon as she saw the furnishings inside, Lin Nianhe’s confusion temporarily moved aside.
This... this... this room...
The living room was the sa as when she first ca, as if even the creases in the cushions had not changed; the dining room, however, had undergone significant changes—the solid wood dining table was covered with a bed sheet, and even the two chairs had protective covers.
The delicate furniture paired with the worn-out bed sheets made for a very surreal combination.
She subconsciously glanced at Lu Zai.
Only then did she realize he wasn’t wearing slippers, just socks.
Lin Nianhe was a bit baffled: "What’s going on here?"
Lu Zai scratched his head and said with a shy smile, "My mom was worried about scratching the furniture."
He was smiling, but Lin Nianhe couldn’t bring herself to smile.
Because living in soone else’s house, his mom not only didn’t damage anything but even used the best things from her own ho to wrap up all these trivial items at the Shen Family.
Her care was heartbreaking.
Lin Nianhe silently sighed and solemnly apologized, "I’m sorry for the trouble we’ve caused you."
Lu Zai panicked, waving his hand repeatedly, "No, no, it’s...it’s nothing..."
He was stuttering again.
Because he hadn’t expected Lin Nianhe to apologize to him at all.
Lu Zai blushed and stumbled over his words, unable to say anything else.
Lin Nianhe said no more, asking him to take her to the study.
The situation in the study was different from the dining room, probably tidied up after Lu Zai finished his work.
Unused drawing paper and pen tools were placed at one corner of the desk.
Lu Zai took out two piles of drafts—the thinner one was the original architectural drawing and the transcribed complete architectural drawing, while the slightly thicker one was...
"There were mistakes in these sketches, and I didn’t dare to toss them carelessly, so they’re all here." Lu Zai said sincerely, "Uncle Mao prepared fifty sheets of drawing paper for , these two are complete, these are scraps, and these are unused...all here."
Lin Nianhe took the drawings, feeling a little amazed.
The lines were sharp and clean, with no traces of random eraser marks, looking quite pleasant.
She sat down and carefully checked against the data.
Confirming that every number in the transcribed sketches was correct, Lin Nianhe then put down the drawings and took out an envelope containing a thousand yuan for him, "Well done, this is your due."
Lu Zai licked his lips, took the envelope, and softly said, "Thank you, Miss Lin."
"Please sit down." Lin Nianhe didn’t leave imdiately but told him to have a seat.
Lu Zai went to fetch a chair and sat anxiously opposite Lin Nianhe.
He tried to sit up straight, even though such a posture made him quite uncomfortable and strained.
Lin Nianhe asked, "Have you decided? Do you want to learn a craft or go to school?"
"Well..." Lu Zai hesitated, "I...I...I discussed with my mom, she said let listen to you..."
These past days, during her spare monts, Lin Nianhe also pondered over Lu Zai’s dilemma. She said, "If you continue high school and college, it’ll take a total of eight years. By the ti you graduate and start working, you’ll be twenty-six."
"Learning a craft might take a bit less ti. If you’re willing to learn, I can ask the Shen Family to help find a master for you."
Lu Zai listened earnestly, nodding continuously, striving to keep every word Lin Nianhe said in his heart.
"From my personal perspective, I’d lean more towards going to college; however, the age issue is an unavoidable reality. After all, you’re an only child, your mom should be concerned about you getting married." Lin Nianhe suggested, "Why don’t we go discuss this with your mom?"
Lu Zai nodded, then said, "She’s in the room, I’ll go get her."
"Alright."
After a while, his mom ca over.
Lin Nianhe had already moved another chair and even poured tea for them.
"Auntie, please sit." Lin Nianhe stood to welco her.
"Miss Lin, thank you, thank you." His mom clasped her hands together and seed about to bow to Lin Nianhe.
"Please don’t," Lin Nianhe quickly went to hold her up, "You’re an elder, it’s not appropriate for you to bow to ." Saying this, she helped his mom sit down.
His mom’s eyes were a bit tearful. Clutching Lu Zai’s arm, she gently said, "I know... I know... If it weren’t for you, Miss Lin, being kind-hearted to help us, Zhuzi would have spent his life just carrying heavy loads..."
She took a deep breath, holding his arm tighter, "Miss Lin, Zhuzi’s life is yours from now on. Whatever you say, he’ll do. A big guy doesn’t fear getting married late, I don’t understand these things, it’s all up to you."
His mom was quite wise.
She didn’t beat around the bush, straightforwardly pledging loyalty to Lin Nianhe, no matter her own pride, just hoping for a bright future for her son.
His mom thought it through— even if Lin Nianhe doesn’t let Lu Zai study, as long as he’s running errands for the Shen Family, it’s better than manual labor at the docks with no guaranteed future.
These days, she’d heard from the young girl delivering als that things outside were chaotic, with protests and arrests, scaring her into sleepless nights, feeling both regretful and thankful.
Listening to his mom’s words, Lin Nianhe was sowhat amused yet touched.
The old lady was too straightforward, making it difficult for Lin Nianhe to refuse.
Actually, seeking Ah Sheng’s help to find soone to transcribe the architectural drawings had personal motives.
Frankly, this task only required literacy skills, not really needed to specially find soone like Lu Zai from the outside.
But she needed soone of her own in Xiangjiang.
Soone who had little connection with the Shen Family, a loyal follower she grood from the ground up.
After all, she had a cooperative relationship with the Shen Family, couldn’t rely on them for every matter.
And it wasn’t possible for the Shen Family to handle all matters.
For example, deceiving Shen Hongzun at the gaming table.
Lin Nianhe looked at the drawings in her hand.
She had to admit, Lu Zai’s drawings were quite well done, showing his ticulousness.
Without further hesitation, Lin Nianhe put down the drawings and said, "Then go ahead and apply for college; I’ll give you two thousand yuan each month until you complete your studies."
Lu Zai’s eyes slightly glowed, "Alright, I will follow your advice."
"You’ll major in Business, with a minor in Law, and after graduation, you’ll work for for five years," Lin Nianhe added.
Before Lu Zai could speak, his mom said, "Five years? He’ll work for you for the rest of his life!" She grabbed his arm, "Zhuzi, do you hear? If you dare have second thoughts about Miss Lin in the future, I’ll beat you!"
Lu Zai nodded repeatedly, "Hmm, I know... I know."
Lin Nianhe took two sheets of paper and quickly wrote out two contracts, detailing the various requirents and clauses. Signing her na, she pushed them to Lu Zai, "Take a look, and sign if you don’t see any issues."
Lu Zai reviewed them and, finding nothing problematic, signed his na.
With two copies, Lin Nianhe returned one for herself, only then knowing Lu Zai’s real na.
Guo Zhen.
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