Chapter 273: Chapter 273

When Li Xianglu woke up again, Qin Xi had already started dressing. She lazily twisted her body and lay on Qin Xi’s back, her two pale arms stretching out to encircle his waist, her head rubbing against his back.

Qin Xi helplessly turned around and completely pulled her out of the bed covers. He grabbed a dress lying nearby and started pulling it over her head, manipulating Li Xianglu just like a puppet doll.

After getting dressed, Qin Xi shook her awake and pushed her to wash up while he went downstairs to buy some food.

By the time he returned, Li Xianglu had freshly washed and was combing her hair. On the table were two steaming bowls of wonton soup, surprisingly served in porcelain. Qin Xi glanced at the buns in his hand, somewhat disdainfully setting them aside—the wonton soup looked tastier.

Having finished their meal, they quickly headed to the hospital ward; it was already eight o’clock.

But as they were about to push the door open, they saw a figure in blue and white stripes standing in front of the hospital bed, bowing their head and seemingly talking to the person on the bed.

Li Xianglu pushed the door open, and the figure turned around, their face showing panic. However, Li Xianglu saw a suspicious flush on their cheeks. Why was Iro here early in the morning instead of resting in her room, coming to visit her third brother instead?

Li Jianqing had woken up, awakened by the pain. The anesthesia had worn off, and the pain was unbearable, but he could endure it, it’s just that he could not sleep anymore.

Seeing his sister arrive, a smile appeared on his pale face: "You came so early?"

Iro wiped the tears from her face and said, "Xiangxiang, you two talk first. Don’t buy lunch; my brother will be here to deliver food soon."

Li Xianglu nodded and watched Iro slowly walk out, limping; she was injured and still made the effort to come to see her third brother, that was some determination.

Li Jianqing warily watched his sister and winked at Qin Xi, but Qin Xi turned away, reaching under the bed to grab a basin to fetch water.

Seeing this, Li Jianqing, left without the only person who could speak well on his behalf, let out a resigned sigh and looked down at his fingers, which were bandaged, feeling the medicine on them.

In the dim light of early morning, he hadn’t seen clearly, but now he could distinctly see the injuries on Li Jianqing’s face and arms—all over him, wounds large and small, covering his entire body. Had he rolled down a mountain?

Li Jianqing saw that his sister wasn’t speaking, so he raised his head and pleasingly said, "They’re just minor injuries, I’ll recover in a few days."

Yet Li Xianglu could see the guilt on Li Jianqing’s face. Ever since he had arrived in this time, his little brother always had that look whenever he lied or tried to hide something. Could there be something fishy about these injuries?

Li Xianglu was just about to ask when she heard the door being pushed open. It was Ai Xin and a middle-aged woman carrying a food container, followed by Qin Xi with the water.

She couldn’t ask her questions anymore; Li Xianglu watched as Qin Xi helped Li Jianqing clean up, then they started to have a meal.

The Ailuo family had prepared bone broth noodles with large slices of meat—it smelled quite delicious. Ai Xin sat by and watched Li Jianqing finish eating before leaving.

Li Xianglu felt even more puzzled. What was up with these two from the Ailuo family? Something was definitely off. Just then, the door was pushed open, and Mr. Li and Su Yan arrived.

After looking around and exchanging a few words, Li Xianglu heard that the Ailuo family had already made spare rib soup for lunch. She felt puzzled and told them that she would deliver the meal in the afternoon and then head back.

Once in the car, Li Xianglu sat in the back and told Grandpa and Su Yan about the suspicious things she observed.

Su Yan frowned and said, "Could it be that Iro has fallen for your brother?"

Qin Zhen and the Lu Family’s youngest daughter could still strive for a union, but Li Jianqing and the Ailuo family seemed a bit of a stretch, especially since Li Huai Ren had mentioned that the Ailuo family was a branch attached to the Lu Family. Families like that were even more eager to climb the social ladder. Therefore, it was critical to place each child in the most crucial position.

Li Xianglu widened her eyes and shook her head, "Impossible, my third brother and Iro have only met a few times." At most, three or four times.

Mr. Li reflected for a moment before saying, "I do think there was something odd about the rescue of Iro. Your third brother’s injury was a bit strange. Alright, let’s not worry now. I’ll make a call when I get back, and we’ll know more."

So, everyone fell silent. Li Xianglu let out a big yawn and, despite Su Yan’s protest, forcibly leaned against her to sleep, insisting on holding onto her.

Su Yan complained that she smelled sour but didn’t push her away, and just like that, they made it home without moving an inch.

Su Yan had planned to return at four o’clock in the afternoon. Upon arrival, everyone went to sleep first. Li Xianglu, seeing that Sister Xing hadn’t arrived yet, quickly took out two jin of large shrimp, four to five jin of crabs, three sea fish, and some soaked sea cucumbers from her Storage Ring, as well as a whole slab of pork rib, four pig’s trotters, and some fresh vegetables. Sister Xing would definitely think they purchased them from the Overseas Chinese Store once she saw them.

After setting down the items, Li Xianglu yawned and washed her hands and feet before heading to bed. Qin Xi had just locked the door when she saw Li Xianglu coming out of the kitchen and heading to the back. So, she entered the kitchen, only to find a large pile of vegetables, meat, and fresh shrimp and crabs. Shaking her head, she organized everything, put the meat and seafood in the refrigerator, and arranged the vegetables on the shelves before washing her hands and leaving.

In the bedroom, she found Jue Ge laying on the bed with her bottom up, sleeping soundly. She gently turned her over to lie properly but ended up getting embraced by her like an octopus.

Smiling with a sighed breath, she lay down and held Jue Ge in her arms as they both fell asleep.

When Li Xianglu woke up, it was already past twelve o’clock. They had agreed to have a late lunch today, so when she went out, she saw Sister Xing cooking.

Su Yan was born in Suzhou and liked sweet and sour food, so Li Xianglu simply made sweet and sour spare ribs and steamed stone flounder. The shrimp, being quite large, seemed wasteful to simply blanch, so she made braised shrimp instead. Sister Xing had stewed four pig’s trotters with soybeans until they were tender, and the rich meaty aroma spread through the small kitchen.

Around one-thirty, just when they were about to eat, Qin Zhen finally returned pushing his bicycle, his face gleaming, clearly having already eaten at the Lu Family’s. He sat down again upon seeing the full spread of delicious dishes on the table.

Li Xianglu glared at him and said, "Didn’t you eat enough at your mother-in-law’s?"

Qin Zhen picked up a large shrimp, removed its head, and ate it without peeling it—both crunchy and fragrant. After finishing, he proudly said, "I’m here to pay my respects to Grandma Su!"

Li Xianglu rolled her eyes and, using the serving chopsticks, picked up a piece of the steamed stone flounder for Su Yan, a large shrimp for Grandpa Li, and scooped up a piece of pig’s trotter for Qin Xi before serving herself some vegetables and starting to eat.

Seeing this, Qin Zhen didn’t mind and continued attacking the large shrimp. At home, he was easy to please and loved everything; unlike the others, his oldest brother and Grandpa Li preferred meat, best without bones, Grandma Su loved fish and wanted it at every meal, and Li Xianglu liked foods with more texture, like tendons. He was the easiest to cater to, loving absolutely everything!