Chapter 10: Her Scent

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Xia Xiaoyu spoke sincerely, “You’ve helped me a great deal; a mere triangular rice cake could never repay you.”

“I don’t have much money. If we were in town, I would certainly invite Comrade Lu to a restaurant. For now, this is all I can offer. I hope you won’t mind.”

Her words were earnest, unlike someone who would lie.

Lu Jingchuan sat down on a nearby stone bench.

Xia Xiaoyu served him a bowl of soup. “Try it, but it’s only wild vegetables.”

Wild vegetables and wild mushrooms.

“Wild boar meat?” Lu Jingchuan took the bowl and asked after seeing the meat inside.

Xia Xiaoyu nodded. “Yes, there’s no pork at the moment. I traded with an uncle in the village.”

Lu Jingchuan took a sip. It had the fragrance of meat and the sweetness of wild vegetables, but lacked the usual gamy taste of wild boar.

There was even a hint of garlic aroma.

Having tasted all kinds of delicacies, including many wild vegetables and mushrooms, this was the first time Lu Jingchuan had encountered something so fresh, elegant, and uniquely flavored.

“I didn’t expect you could make wild vegetables and boar meat taste this delicious.”

Xia Xiaoyu smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons. “I like experimenting with food. Being so poor, I enjoy finding creative ways to prepare meals.”

“Also, I want to thank you for another thing—thank you for helping me report it to the police.”

She had even called over the old village chief.

Raising her bowl with heroic spirit, she declared, “I’m grateful to have such a good neighbor.”

Without this neighbor, her day wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

Lu Jingchuan looked at the woman before him; her eyes were strikingly clear, as if stars were contained within.

Not unpleasant at all.

Especially that familiar scent.

He asked, “What special shampoo or body wash do you use?”

This was a topic Xia Xiaoyu was ready for.

“I developed this shampoo myself,” she said.

“How many people use the shampoo you made?”

Xia Xiaoyu frowned slightly.

Since returning, she had already started making her own shampoo.

“Several girls from the Xu family and some neighbors.”

Her tone was calm, “Several girls have used the shampoo I developed.”

Lu Jingchuan showed no expression.

But inwardly, a conclusion formed: that night, the woman had used the same shampoo.

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So if he could find the girl in this village using the shampoo developed by Xia Xiaoyu, he could identify the person who helped him that night.

Xia Xiaoyu sensed the man before her suddenly quiet down. Looking up, she saw his hand holding the bowl—distinctively beautiful joints.

Lu Jingchuan’s gaze was fixed on her.

Xia Xiaoyu noticed he had finished his bowl and said, “There’s still some in the pot. I’ll serve you another bowl.”

Lu Jingchuan did not refuse.

“Xia Xiaoyu, Xia Xiaoyu!” Xu Anxin ran over, shouting as she came closer, no longer addressing her as sister-in-law.

Xia Xiaoyu had just finished eating; the pot still contained two pancakes and a bowl of soup.

She was about to put them away.

After all, food was so scarce now.

But then she heard Xu Anxin’s voice.

Xia Xiaoyu asked, “Xu Anxin, what are you running over here for?”

Xu Anxin replied, “Xia Xiaoyu, you must go to the police station and clear things up immediately.”

Xia Xiaoyu found it amusing. “Xu Anxin, what joke are you playing? Why should I go to the police station to clear my name?”

Xu Anxin answered, “My brother will be a university student with a limitless future. You’re ruining him.”

Xia Xiaoyu sneered coldly, “Xu Jinyan, when you wanted to ruin me, why didn’t you speak up?”

Xu Anxin said, “Xia Xiaoyu, you’re already divorced from my brother. Why must you destroy him? Go explain clearly, and we won’t trouble you anymore.”

Xia Xiaoyu laughed, “Xu Anxin, you’re so bold. You say you won’t trouble me anymore?”

Xu Anxin became anxious, not catching the meaning behind her words. “Yes, I mean it. What I say goes.”

Xia Xiaoyu’s eyes grew icy. “Xu Anxin, I will never believe a word from your family again.”

Xu Anxin grew desperate and stepped forward. “So what? Xia Xiaoyu, you have no support. If you don’t cooperate, you won’t have an easy time.”

“…So I advise you to cooperate well.”

Xia Xiaoyu sneered, “You’re quite clever, seeing through everything. Then you should be able to find a way to save Xu Jinyan.”

Lu Jingchuan stood aside, unwilling to involve himself in a quarrel between women.

Besides, Xia Xiaoyu was just a temporary neighbor.

Xu Anxin suddenly lunged toward Xia Xiaoyu. “Xia Xiaoyu, I’m talking to you! I’m looking out for you. My brother will be a respectable university student. He’s far better than you. In this village, if you need anything, you’ll have to come to our family.”

Xia Xiaoyu smirked, “Is that so?”

Xu Anxin nodded seriously, “Of course.”

Xia Xiaoyu said, “Well, thank you for your concern. Now kindly stay far away.”

Xu Anxin said, “Don’t refuse kindness only to accept punishment.”

She rushed at Xia Xiaoyu.

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Reaching out to grab her.

Xia Xiaoyu dodged to the right.

Xu Anxin missed.

Xu Anxin said, “Xia Xiaoyu, I’m serious. Why are you dodging?”

She was furious; Xia Xiaoyu was like a cat toying with a mouse.

Dodging left, then right.

Xu Anxin chased left, then right.

Lu Jingchuan didn’t want to witness this farce and was about to turn away.

His footsteps suddenly halted.

His gaze fixed on Xu Anxin.

From the moment Xu Anxin had arrived, she hadn’t noticed Lu Jingchuan.

When Lu Jingchuan looked at her, she finally saw the man’s face clearly.

Stunning!

This man was incredibly handsome!

Besides her brother, no one in the village was this good-looking. She thought this man even surpassed her brother.

Xia Xiaoyu naturally noticed the strange expressions on both their faces.

Xu Anxin stopped and looked at Lu Jingchuan. “Comrade, please help me catch her. She’s my sister-in-law, yet she caused my brother to be arrested.”

Lu Jingchuan remained motionless.

Xu Anxin spoke for a long time, but he showed no reaction.

She stepped closer and waved her hand. “I’m talking to you. Are you mute?”

As Xu Anxin approached, Lu Jingchuan was even more certain—the scent was exactly the same as that woman’s.

His gaze fixed on Xu Anxin’s hair.

Xu Anxin nearly lost her temper. Remembering the phone call from Xu Jinyan demanding she make Xia Xiaoyu forgive him, she restrained herself and said, “Xia Xiaoyu, as long as you withdraw your accusation against my brother, you can name any condition. We will try to meet it.”

Xia Xiaoyu said, “I only ask that you stay far away and never appear before me. Xu Anxin, can you keep as far away from me as possible?”

Xu Anxin was speechless.

Facing Xia Xiaoyu’s stubbornness, she changed her tone. “Xia Xiaoyu, are you really unwilling to help my brother?”