Lu Jiaxin dropped this major bombshell and didn't continue, instead, she gestured to the visibly uncomfortable boy standing not far away.
"Xue Mao, let's go upstairs," she said.
Mr. Lu was the general manager of the department store, and as the top executive, he was allocated a large eighty-square-meter house, opting for the third floor. As the only daughter, the original occupant had her own room from a young age. In the family compound, many families crammed into thirty or forty square meters of living space were envious of the original girl's situation.
Aunt Zhao, just silenced by Lu Jiaxin's words, wanted to explain, but the latter did not even look her way again.
She had no choice but to shift the topic, feigning curiosity as she asked, "Jiaxin, who is this child?"
Lu Jiaxin's expression darkened as she replied, "Aunt Zhao, stop fixating on me. What you should be doing now is hurrying to tell that viperous woman the news of my return. If it's too late, don't expect to gain any more benefits from her."
Everyone's focus had been on how exactly Ding Jing had caused Lu Jiaxin's failure in the college entrance exam, but upon hearing this, they all looked at Aunt Zhao in astonishment.
Someone who had a grudge against Ding Jing deliberately said, "Sister Zhao, Jiaxin mentioned you're quite close with the manager's wife. Give us the inside scoop—how did Ding Jing plot against Jiaxin?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhao's face immediately changed, "Jiaxin is talking nonsense out of shock. Why are you all chiming in with such nonsense."
"Jiaxin, you can't spout nonsense. I was just concerned about you," Aunt Zhao defended.
Lu Jiaxin scoffed and replied, "Whether it's nonsense or not, you know, I know, Ding Jing knows, and even Heaven knows."
Aunt Zhao, naturally, would not admit to any of it.
Lu Jiaxin had long known this old woman would never admit to being Ding Jing's lackey, and she didn't care, "Aunt Zhao, I was naive before and let you fool me completely. From now on, I will take back what I'm owed, with interest."
Aunt Zhao, seeing her sharp gaze, inexplicably felt a sense of unease.
Lu Jiaxin didn't care what she thought and turned to explain the identity of the boy to everyone, "His name is Xue Mao. After I passed out, it was he who saved me; otherwise, my grave would be covered in tall grass by now."
When she had come to, due to excessive blood loss, she was dizzy and weak all over, compounded by a torrential downpour. Had she not encountered Xue Mao out looking for food, she might have died again.
In the family compound, Aunt Xue and Aunt Zhao were the least amicable towards each other. Although she was scolded by Lu Jiaxin earlier, Aunt Xue harbored no guilty conscience, and seeing Zhao being so thoroughly rebuked that she dared not speak, Aunt Xue was overjoyed and found Lu Jiaxin increasingly agreeable.
Aunt Xue said, "Jiaxin, why are you so magnanimous? Knowing that your stepmother has ill intentions towards you, you should have spoken out earlier. With your dad protecting you, she wouldn't dare plot against you, right?"
"Also, after recovering your memory, you should've called your dad first to have him pick you up from Ancient Capital. You've been fooled once already, you should be more careful in the future!"
Seeing her lecturing tone, Lu Jiaxin was irritated, but since she wasn't the original person, she wasn't foolish enough to confront Aunt Xue and give certain people what they wanted.
She let out a sneer, then dropped an even more chilling comment, "If I had called my dad, I really wouldn't have been able to come back."
Having said that, she no longer cared about the shocked looks of the crowd as she took Xue Mao upstairs, feeling the gossip-worthy events of the day should satisfy the nosy aunts of the family compound.
Once they got to the third floor, Lu Jiaxin saw the door was locked and without hesitation, pulled a brick from her bag and smashed it against the lock.
The few people who followed upstairs were stunned by this sight.
Lu Jiaxin had always been a willful, dainty girl; now, she seemed so fierce and unyielding.
Aunt Zhao, remembering the past favors Ding Jing had shown her, felt compelled to step forward and restrain Lu Jiaxin, saying, "Child, there's no need to rush this moment to enter your home. Your Aunt Ding has gone grocery shopping and will be back soon."
Lu Jiaxin was utterly disgusted; she just couldn't shake off this old woman, who was as persistent as a sticky candy, downright seeking death.
Since Aunt Zhao was being so shameless, Lu Jiaxin forcefully pushed her away. Caught off guard, Aunt Zhao staggered backward two steps and was only saved from falling by the people behind her.
Lu Jiaxin looked at her impassively as she moaned and rubbed her lower back, saying, "Stop pretending. The little favor Ding Jing did for you isn't worth selling yourself out like this."
Enduring the pain, Aunt Zhao insisted, "Jiaxin, I have nothing to do with Ding Jing, stop making wild accusations."