Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 178 - 177 Sour... Still Sour

Chapter 178: Chapter 177 Sour... Still Sour

Lin Xia tested the water temperature until it was just right, then called Lu Zheng to wash his face.

"Lu Zheng, it’s ready!"

"Hmm, thank you!" Lu Zheng walked to the basin and folded the cuffs of his white shirt up before he started to wash his hands and face.

Lin Xia stood by, waiting to hand him the towel, her gaze lingered on the sight of his tall frame bending to wash his face, finding it difficult to look away.

His hair was both black and stiff. After washing his face, he casually wet his hair, making him look even more handsome and compelling.

Lin Xia hurriedly shifted her gaze elsewhere as Lu Zheng took the towel to dry his face and hands.

As the towel touched his face, he caught a faint fragrance and his lips curled into a smile. Was this her scent?

Lin Qiu was quietly assessing the two while carrying the bowls and chopsticks, thinking she might really gain a brother-in-law soon!

And he was a brother-in-law with particularly good looks and credentials!

The thought alone was delightful!

However, the moment she thought of her second brother, who had gone without a trace, her heart clenched slightly.

Everyone ate breakfast in silence. Lin Qiu stayed at home to clean up, while Lin Xia and Lu Zheng left together.

Lin Xia, after an initial adjustment period, had gotten used to Lu Zheng’s sudden visit.

Neither mentioned why he had come for Lingzhi, nor when he would leave; instead, they focused on how to search for the missing person.

They went to Sheng Yijin’s office, where Lin Xia made brief introductions between the two men.

Surprise flickered in Sheng Yijin’s eyes, but he still exchanged pleasantries with Lu Zheng calmly.

Afterward, Lu Zheng made several phone calls, with Lin Xia quietly listening by his side.

Even though she was just listening, she could tell he was contacting leaders. Such was the disparity in how people handled situations.

When Lu Zheng hung up the last call, he spoke up, "Now all we can do is wait for news!"

In truth, everyone understood that finding the person would be difficult, but no one said it out loud.

Following a stretch of silence, Sheng Yijin was the first to speak, "Lin Xia, you guys can go on with your business. I’ll wait in the office, and I’ll inform you as soon as there’s any news!"

Although he didn’t understand why there was a tall, imposing, and capable man beside the girl Jiang Mingyuan liked, it wasn’t the time to ponder these issues. What mattered was to find the person quickly.

Lin Xia thought about it and agreed; their presence was indeed a disturbance to Sheng Yijin’s work, especially with several other people in his office.

"Alright! Send us a message as soon as you have any news!"

Sheng Yijin saw the two to the office building’s entrance. Watching Lin Xia and the man walk side by side, he sighed inwardly, hoping for Jiang Mingyuan’s safety.

Lin Xia and Lu Zheng couldn’t just wander outside aimlessly, so they headed straight back to her place.

But on the way, Lin Xia asked him, "How did you find my house? Was it easy?"

"Easy!"

"Oh!" Lin Xia nodded, then fumbled for small talk, "Did you receive my letter?"

Lu Zheng couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, "Silly girl!" Was there even a need to ask? If he hadn’t received the letter, how would he know her new address?

Lin Xia’s face heated as she bowed her head, realizing she was indeed quite foolish.

Lu Zheng watched her for a long time as she walked with her head down, not saying a word, and he asked with concern, "Are you angry?"

He had thought Lin Xia was a straightforward girl who wasn’t prone to taking offense, so he spoke to her without much reservation, saying whatever came to mind.

"No!" Lin Xia sighed, tears suddenly falling as she spoke with a choked voice, "Lu Zheng, do you know? I actually have so many regrets! When second brother left that day, I felt something was off about him. I can’t explain it, just a strange feeling; I should have gone with him, or have him wait a bit longer to leave! Maybe then he wouldn’t have..."

She hadn’t spoken these words to anyone, not even to Xiaoqiu.

But facing Lu Zheng, who seemed like a mountain walking by her side, she suddenly felt the impulse to pour out her heart.

If her second brother really had an accident, or if...

She really couldn’t get over this hurdle herself, and that was why she was so anxiously searching.

She clearly had the convenience of Jade’s room, so why did she have to ask her second brother to transport goods for her?

She could have accompanied him since there was nothing much going on recently. Why did she rely on her second brother, letting him travel alone?

That short trip to Hezhou, it hadn’t been long before they encountered two thieves.

The place her second brother was going to, with such a long train ride, he didn’t have a place to hide his money, it must all have been tied to his body!

Even if he was capable of fighting, what could he do? Could he fight more than a few people? Could he outsmart a gang?

Every time Lin Xia thought back to the scene that day, her heart would endure agony. She hated her own selfishness.

And Mrs. Zhao had been so good to her. If something truly happened to her second brother... what would Mrs. Zhao do...

Lu Zheng didn’t expect that Lin Xia, who was speaking normally just a moment ago, would suddenly burst into tears, crying uncontrollably.

His heart inexplicably tightened; he didn’t want to see her cry.

But he had no experience in comforting girls, and he didn’t know what he could do to stop her tears.

Fortunately, the place where they stood was in an alley with no one around at the moment. Otherwise, to outsiders, it would certainly appear as if he had bullied the girl.

Lu Zheng extended his hand thinking to help wipe her tears, then put it down. Right now, they could only be considered friends, not in that kind of relationship.

Touching someone else’s girl was definitely inappropriate.

So he could only try to soften his voice, "Lin Xia! Don’t cry! He will be okay!"

Many assurances are empty, and he also didn’t dare to give her too much hope.

Yet, looking at her tear-streaked face, he felt a slight pain in his heart.

Was his reason for coming here really for those few Lingzhi mushrooms?

The answer was, of course, no!

It was to see the girl in front of him! For the person he often dreamed about in his sleep!

However, now the girl was crying over another man, and that feeling inside him...

Sour... sour... still sour...

Lu Zheng suddenly remembered the handkerchief in his pocket and quickly took it out, "Lin Xia! Wipe your tears! Don’t cry!"

Lin Xia looked up, her eyes blurred with tears, at the man much taller than herself, his clumsy attempt to comfort her making her feel somewhat better.

"Thank you!" She took his handkerchief without reservation and wiped her tears.

Lu Zheng let out a huge sigh of relief in his heart. That moment just now, he had been more nervous than ever. It seemed that girls were not easy to console! Too difficult!

After wiping her tears, Lin Xia belatedly realized that she couldn’t return the handkerchief to him now, so she simply clenched it in her hand.

"Thank you, Lu Zheng!" She offered an explanation, "I lost control of my emotions for a moment, I’m not usually like this!"

Lu Zheng quickly said, "It’s okay! Crying it out will make you feel better!" Bottling it up all the time is certainly not good.

Lin Xia nodded silently, indeed, keeping those words in her heart really was uncomfortable. Now that she had spoken them and cried, she felt much better.

But why did she always let her guard down in front of him?

In their few encounters, it seemed she could... really let herself go...