Chapter 79: Xiyin

Liang Shu returned to Yucheng one day earlier than Gu Han Sheng.

Mrs. Gu returned to Yucheng with a jar of ashes of the deceased.

While Mr. Gu returned to Yucheng with a captivating and enchanting woman.

Liang Shu arrived in the afternoon, and it was rare that it didn't snow that day.

She first went to the Zero Mansion, where the butler Qu An opened the door for her.

Qu An saw Liang Shu holding a box and hurried forward, "Madam, what are you holding? Is it heavy? Let me help you."

Liang Shu stepped aside, slipped a bit, and nearly fell.

"Madam, be careful," Qu An exclaimed.

Fortunately, it was just a false alarm. Liang Shu smiled slightly, "It's fine. I've been visiting relatives these days. Did my absence startle you?"

Qu An waved his hand hurriedly, "Not at all, sir informed me beforehand."

"Then I'll go upstairs first."

"Alright."

Qi Zhen stood aside, pursing her lips and sneering softly, "That box is so dark, who knows what's inside, she won't even let us touch it."

Upon hearing this sarcastic remark, Qu An shot her a sharp glare.

"Hmph." Qi Zhen turned and left.

Jiang Ping Sheng's ashes couldn't be kept in the Zero Mansion, for fear they might be discovered one day. So Liang Shu returned to retrieve the keys, as her rented apartment hadn't been vacated yet.

She would consult a master in a couple of days and then decide when to place the ashes in the solitary grave.

Liang Shu retrieved the keys and left again.

To avoid Qu An's nagging, she deliberately said to him, "Qu An, please have the chef prepare some dishes I like for dinner tonight. I'll be back later to eat."

She drove herself.

The old neighborhood lacked designated parking spots, and the sidewalks around the apartment building were full of parked cars. It took her a while to find a parking spot.

The house hadn't been inhabited for a long time. The old furniture was covered in a thick layer of dust, and there was no heating.

Apart from the absence of strong winds, the temperature inside the house was almost the same as outside.

She placed Jiang Ping Sheng's ashes in a cabinet in the living room, and Liang Shu's heart suddenly calmed down.

Her gaze was fixed on the dark box, staring blankly at it. Suddenly, she lowered her eyes, and transparent tears fell from her eyes to the ground.

"I didn't expect it to be so easy to retrieve your ashes. If I had known, should I have gone to the Ni family earlier?"

There was silence in the air.

After a long time, she shook her head, "Forget it, they were sincere to you. Consider it as your three years with them. Now, it's time for you to accompany me, A Sheng."

Time was limited today, so Liang Shu didn't want to linger.

She took the keys and left. As she locked the door, she heard footsteps behind her.

Liang Shu's fingers paused as she pulled the keys out of the lock, turning to look at the stairs below.

Lu Jinsheng's tall figure unexpectedly appeared in her sight. He was wearing a black coat over a dark gray suit. His eyes seemed to be veiled with a faint mist, the depths of his pupils pitch black, with a mocking expression in them.

At this moment, he stood on the landing below, his jaw slightly raised in her direction, his eyes cold and disdainful as they stared at her.

Liang Shu tightened her grip on the rectangular key in her hand, the sharp tip pressing against her palm causing a dull pain.

She didn't speak, her lips pressed tightly together as she watched him.

Liang Shu was very familiar with this building, and many times when she returned late at night, she hated climbing the stairs the most.

There were twenty-six steps between each floor, with a landing separating the thirteen steps below and the thirteen steps above.

When she had energy, she would climb two steps at a time, but when she was tired, she would move up one step at a time.

And Lu Jinsheng, when he reached her, Liang Shu could clearly see that he had only taken four or five steps.

The corner of the man's coat lifted as the wind blew, blowing a strand of her hair into her eyes.

She stepped back, her body pressing against the dirty wall behind her.

Lu Jinsheng coldly observed her reaction, his lips twitching, "You ran fast last time."

That was just last month.

She looked at the man in front of her, his temperament icy, "What are you here for?"

Lu Jinsheng brushed aside the strand of hair that had fallen onto her eyelashes, slightly lowering his body to look into her eyes, then said, "Why are you crying?"

In her gaze, the woman's eyes were particularly beautiful, but they were red, obviously just shed tears.

Liang Shu sniffed, "It's because of the cold."

He couldn't be bothered to expose her clumsy lie, glanced towards the door, and smirked, "Open the door."

Her grip on the key tightened even more, "This is where I live. Mr. Lu, aren't you afraid of dirtying your shoes?"

"Open it. I won't repeat it a third time."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Shu's expression remained unchanged as she casually threw the key in her hand towards the staircase. There was a clattering sound, and Lu Jinsheng watched as the key disappeared from sight.

He raised an eyebrow, staring at her.

"Bang!"

The sudden sound made Liang Shu crouch down, her face pale as she watched Lu Jinsheng kick open the door in front of her. The loose door slammed against the wall, making the whole building seem to tremble.

He grabbed her hand and walked in.

In a dozen or so square meters of space, the end was visible at a glance.

A cold wind blew in from the kitchen, and the man's cold eyes swept over, only to see that the window had no glass, leaving only a few rusty steel bars.

It seemed colder indoors than outdoors.

But the wrist held by Lu Jinsheng was colder than the temperature indoors and outdoors.

Not only cold, but also terrifyingly slender.

He glanced down, noticing the woman's half-exposed arm from her coat sleeve, which had turned purple from the cold. Even the thickest part of that arm couldn't match Lu Jinsheng's arm.

This realization made Lu Jinsheng suddenly let go of her hand.

As Liang Shu was pulled into the room, she stared at the cabinet below the TV. Lu Jinsheng's timing was indeed too coincidental.

When Jiang Ping Sheng passed away, everyone from various sectors of society expressed sorrow and regret.

At that time, the internet was not as developed, and there were not many netizens. Therefore, the catastrophic car accident did not become a highly trending social news. It was only radiating around the area where the accident occurred, with diminishing impact.

If it happened now, there would probably be even more people mourning Jiang Ping Sheng.

Those who knew him, praised him before Jiang Ping Sheng's passing; after his death, they all expressed regret.

But Liang Shu knew that only Lu Jinsheng felt hatred.

Lu Jinsheng hated Jiang Ping Sheng, and he also hated her.

He had once gone crazy, burning everything related to Jiang Ping Sheng and smashing the place where she and Jiang Ping Sheng lived.

If he were to find out that Jiang Ping Sheng's ashes were stored here now, Liang Shu didn't want to think about the consequences.

She rubbed her wrist and looked up at him, "What exactly do you want?"

Lu Jinsheng surveyed the house, not ignoring the layers of dust covering it.

It had been uninhabited for quite a while.

He walked slowly to the front of the TV, and Liang Shu followed suit, but pointed at the door, "You broke the landlord's door. Remember to transfer the repair cost to me."

"Heh," he turned around, his cold gaze falling on her face, "Is a broken door worth such regret? If I flatten this place in time, what can you do?"

After living in the Lu family for several years, Liang Shu remembered the family rules of the Lu family very clearly.

She sneered, "Flatten it? Rebuild the house? The first rule of the Lu family is that descendants of the Lu family cannot engage in any real estate projects."

"What, do you think I wouldn't dare?"

Liang Shu chuckled, "If you have the ability, sit in the position of the old man Lu, and abolish all these rules."

She knew that a person like Lu Jinsheng would only be a matter of time before he sat in the position of the Lu family patriarch.

She just wanted to divert his attention.

Lu Jinsheng turned and walked towards her room, then casually asked, "Not living here anymore, where did you move to?"

Liang Shu didn't answer.

The next moment, he suddenly turned around and stared directly at her, finally getting to the point of his visit, "Who helped you repay that money?"

When she borrowed the money, an agreement was reached between the creditor and the guarantor Lu Jinsheng. Due to the large amount, there was a three-year agreement.

If she didn't repay the money after three years, Lu Jinsheng would have to make up for it. And she would either be beaten to death or whatever the creditor fancied.

And now, the three-year deadline had long passed.

Liang Shu was living quite well.

Lu Jinsheng had not received any calls either.

It was perplexing enough.

He walked up to her, towering over her, and repeated, "Who helped you repay it?"

"The other party extended the deadline."

"Extended the deadline..." Lu Jinsheng slowly chewed on these words, paused, then suddenly asked her, "How many years has it been since my mother passed away?"

"Eleven years."

He suddenly bent down, his icy black eyes locked tightly on her beautiful face, sneering, "Yes, I can even give you an extra year, let alone them?"

The loan shark industry was like this.

They would never force someone into a dead end if they could get the money.

Liang Shu pinched her palm hard with her fingers, her teeth clenched together, only to hear Lu Jinsheng continue, "I said I would send you to hell ten years later. Are you ready?"

"The worst is death, one life for one life, it's fair." She smiled.

"One life for one life, you think it's that easy."

Liang Shu still remembered that scene.

The day before the Chinese New Year was New Year's Eve.

And the night before New Year's Eve was New Year's Eve Eve.

Lu Jinsheng's mother was named Liang Xiyin.

Liang Xiyin died on the New Year's Eve Eve of that year.

At that time, Liang Shu was thirteen years old and was selected because of her beauty. She, along with other children from the welfare home, went to attend a charity donation event organized by wealthy people in Yucheng. That day, there were also children from other welfare homes.

Among the dozens of children, there would be a few lucky ones who would be adopted by wealthy families.

Because Liang Shu's situation was special, the director of the welfare home also gave her special care.

The families who came to attend the donation event that day were all either rich or powerful, with money and power occupying at least one of the two. The home was strong.

If Liang Shu was fortunate enough to be one of the lucky ones that day, then she wouldn't have to worry about her future.

The banquet hall was on the fourth floor of the hotel.

Liang Shu got lost that day. She encountered Lu Jinsheng's mother in the quiet corridor on the fifth floor.

That elegant woman.

Although Liang Shu had heard people talk about her rise to power, how she became the mistress, outliving the original wife, and was married into the wealthy Lu family by tycoon Lu Zhenlin, at that time, Lu Zhenlin's eldest son was only two or three years old, and she married into the family.

Shortly afterwards, she gave birth to Lu Jinsheng and Lu Yao. Lu Zhenlin gradually accepted her from initial disapproval to complete acceptance.

They said that this woman was extremely cunning.

In the eyes of thirteen-year-old Liang Shu, she perceived this woman as remarkably beautiful and aristocratic, exuding an elegant, confident, and poised demeanor with every gesture.

She was currently chatting with another woman in the corridor.

Before long, it seemed that a slight mishap occurred, and Liang Shu stood silently aside.

The other woman caught sight of Liang Shu from the corner of her eye and beckoned for her to come over.

Liang Shu obeyed and approached. The woman took her by the shoulder, smiling, and said, "Isn't this the most beautiful girl at today's gathering? What's your name?"

She earnestly replied, "I am Liang Shu."

The woman smiled at Liang Shu and continued, "What a coincidence! It seems the lucky one chosen just now might be you. According to the committee's decision, perhaps the Lu family will adopt you."

With that, the woman lowered her voice, looking at Liang Shu, and said, "Liang Shu, Mrs. Lu's ring fell downstairs. Could your keen eyes help find it downstairs? Perhaps you two are destined to be family."

Liang Shu nodded and headed towards the stairs. At the staircase, she glanced back at Liang Xiyin, who looked anxious and gazed outward.

Liang Shu hurried downstairs, thinking to herself that perhaps this ring was of great significance to her.

The turn of events happened swiftly.

In just three or four minutes.

Liang Xiyin jumped from the fifth floor and landed squarely in front of Liang Shu—

And at that moment, she held the gemstone ring, staring blankly as the crimson blood spread from deep within her chest.

Not just red blood, but also some brain matter.

Some splattered on her face, almost dyeing her innocent, lively eyes red.

Thirteen-year-old Liang Shu, witnessing this scene, was undeniably terrified.

Yet, her strong mental fortitude kept her rooted in place, as if her body had stiffened, rooted to the ground, piercing through the pavement, anchoring her in that spot.

Later, she couldn't recall much.

Her memory cleared again at the funeral parlor.

That was also the first time Liang Shu saw Lu Jinsheng, nearly seven years her senior.

The handsome young man gripped her shoulder, shaking her forcefully, demanding, "That ring was her destiny, why did you touch her ring? Why did you touch her ring? Did you want to take her life?!"

She had intended to return the ring to him, but now, Liang Shu could only clutch it tightly, unable to utter a word.

She felt bewildered and dazed.

But the elegant woman's death before her had a profound impact on her young mind.

Liang Shu wanted to explain, so she endured the urge to vomit amidst the violent shaking of her body and parted her lips.

She wanted to tell him: "Your mother's ring fell. I only wanted to kindly help her retrieve it. I am not the one who caused her death."

But whether she didn't voice her words or Lu Jinsheng didn't hear them, she didn't know.

Later, she entered the Lu family, and soon after, the women in the Lu family were spreading rumors: she was the one who killed Lu Jinsheng's mother.

They said, "Someone has thoroughly investigated her background. She's a jinx, adopted from the orphanage time and time again, and now the Lu family has become the scapegoat."

"I wonder what the old master was thinking? His daughter-in-law was killed by her, yet he insists on bringing this jinx back."

"I suppose the old master had no choice. With so many eyes watching at the charity event, in today's society, based on scientific evidence, no one would believe she killed Xiyin."

Xiyin was Lu Jinsheng's mother's name.

She only learned that later.

Xiyin, Xiyin.

What a lovely name, only to be lost like this.

The Lu family believed that it was the myriad demons and ghosts on Liang Shu's person that caused the death of Lu Jinsheng's mother, but Lu Jinsheng knew it wasn't because of that.

The police concluded that it was an accident that night, Mrs. Lu fell accidentally.

The place was a blind spot for surveillance cameras, and there was no footage of her falling.

The surveillance elsewhere only captured Mrs. Lu falling and landing in front of Liang Shu.

Lu Jinsheng watched the footage, and Liang Shu was holding a ring at the time.

And that night, the woman who was chatting with his mother also said that his mother's ring fell, and this little girl went to pick it up.

The secrets about Liang Xiyin, only Lu Jinsheng knew.

The marriage between Liang Xiyin and Lu Zhenlin was not as rosy as it seemed; Lu Zhenlin had an affair, which Liang Xiyin and Lu Jinsheng witnessed firsthand in a hotel.

In an aristocratic family, this was a scandal that couldn't be exposed.

So Liang Xiyin endured it silently, and also made Lu Jinsheng keep silent, not to reveal it.

Later, Liang Xiyin fell into depression.

Throughout her life, the only thing Lu Zhenlin gave her wholeheartedly was the sapphire ring on Liang Xiyin's hand.

In daily life, she seemed normal, but only Lu Jinsheng had seen her go crazy and weep in the dead of night, repeatedly throwing the ring into various corners of the room, and then painstakingly retrieving it, not even allowing Lu Jinsheng to touch it.

Unfortunately, that day, the ring slipped from her finger.

And then Liang Shu picked it up.

Then the tragedy happened.

Lu Jinsheng felt that at that time, Liang Xiyin's depression was already under control. If it wasn't for Liang Shu, perhaps everything would have been fine.

On New Year's Eve, the entire Lu family was still immersed in grief.

Liang Shu was waiting for the people from the welfare home to come and take her back. The vast Lu family had no place for her, so she hid in the bushes in the Lu family garden.

Several hours passed, and no one came.

It started snowing at night. She wore her hat and crouched under the bushes, letting the snowflakes fall on her clothes, melting into water, seeping in, chilling her skin.

Lu Jinsheng appeared.

He was dressed in all black, which, to Liang Shu at that time, seemed cool, and indeed, he himself exuded a cold aura.

She suddenly remembered his shouting at her in the funeral parlor that morning.

Truly, like two different people.

That appearance still frightened her.

So Liang Shu merely lifted her head to look at him, the rustling snowflakes falling onto his shoulders, accentuating his tall figure even more.

Liang Shu lowered her head, looking at the cobblestone pathway covered with a thin layer of snow.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, and Liang Shu's heart jolted as she looked up.

Lu Jinsheng's eyes, as dark as the night sky, met hers, and in that instant, Liang Shu felt that the coldness enveloping her was nothing compared to this.

She heard Lu Jinsheng's words clearly, his thin lips slightly parted as he said, "On this day ten years from now, I will send you to hell."

Ten years had passed.

Now it was the eleventh year.

Lu Jinsheng never joked; he was a ruthless man, so Liang Shu knew that although this day might have come late, it would never be absent.

Liang Shu thought, when that day truly arrived, if she couldn't handle this game, then dying was no big deal.

There was nothing to fear in death.

As they said, she had caused the misery and death of so many people, so there was nothing to say about going to Avici Hell.

Even if it was bitter in Avici Hell, as a human, she wouldn't feel it anymore. That was something the Liang Shu after becoming a ghost would have to face.

The only regret was that she probably wouldn't be able to see Jiang Pingsheng.

Jiang Pingsheng could only go to heaven; her destination was hell.

But then, what would Mr. Gu do?

She was still Mrs. Gu now.

...

Liang Shu followed Lu Jinsheng downstairs.

Or rather, it couldn't be said that she followed; she was dragged downstairs by Lu Jinsheng.

His big palm gripped her wrist, only concerned with taking long strides downstairs, regardless of how she felt.

Of course, Lu Jinsheng didn't need to care about her.

Yet inexplicably, the warmth in Lu Jinsheng's palm transferred to her skin through this contact, accompanied by a perverse warmth.

His car was parked downstairs.

Liang Shu gritted her teeth and followed him all the way, her attention always on the ground, not seeing the person coming out of his car ahead.

"Mr. Lu."

A slightly cold, slightly aloof female voice.

But it inexplicably gave Liang Shu a familiar feeling from the bottom of her heart.

She no longer tried to pry Lu Jinsheng's hand away but instead looked up at the woman standing by the car door.

On such a cold day, she was still dressed in a professional suit, a commuter-style ladies' casual blazer paired with a matching pencil skirt, winter's leg-sculpting miracle nude stockings on her legs, and black patent leather shoes with medium heels.

At this moment, she was slightly bending over, opening the rear door.

Liang Shu saw that face and suddenly froze.

She softly called out, "Chen Xian."

At the sound, the woman named Chen Xian turned her head abruptly, meeting Liang Shu's gaze, her meticulously made-up face showing a slight change.

But that was all.

Lu Jinsheng threw something into the car, slammed the rear door shut, and then got into the car from the other side.

Chen Xian sat in the passenger seat, turning slightly to Lu Jinsheng and asking, "Are you going back to the company next, or..."

"Back to the Lu residence."

Liang Shu looked at Chen Xian, feeling an unprecedented complexity in her emotions.

What shocked her wasn't that Chen Xian had become Lu Jinsheng's secretary or assistant, but that Chen Xian had changed too.

Liang Shu couldn't go to the Lu residence now.

So halfway there, she opened the car door and jumped out.

Luckily, it was winter and snowy, and the driver wasn't going fast, otherwise Liang Shu's dangerous move would have surely ended in disaster.

Seeing Liang Shu jump out of the car, Chen Xian's gaze was incredibly complex. She glanced at Lu Jinsheng's expression in the rearview mirror and hesitated, "Mr. Lu, should we... stop the car?"

Lu Jinsheng reached out his long arm and closed the car door, not even sparing Liang Shu a glance. He half-closed his eyes and said coldly, "Let her go."

Where could she escape to, anyway?