Lu Hongjun saw her picking up things to leave and walked over to stand at the doorway, annoyance written all over his face as he said, "Lu Jiaxin, stop making a fuss."
Lu Jiaguang could no longer stand by silently, "Third Uncle, you used to dote on Jiaxin the most. I remember you took care of her when she had a fever, watching over her for a whole day and night without closing your eyes. This time Jiaxin almost got killed by traffickers and suffered so much in Ancient Capital. How can you not feel sorry for her and accuse her of acting up? Third Uncle, how could you become so heartless?"
Lu Hongjun was so choked up he couldn't speak.
Lu Jiajie also supported Lu Jiaxin's decision to move out, but he did not agree with her leaving immediately, "Xinxin, we should find a good place first before moving. Where will you stay tonight if you rush off like this?"
"Don't worry, I will ask around later and definitely find you a place by tomorrow."
He had many friends. Finding a rental place within a day was not a problem.
Lu Jiaguang said sternly, "Why rent a place? Come stay at my house."
Seeing that both nephews supported his daughter moving out, Lu Hongjun was furious, "Jiaguang, Jiajie, what are you doing? I'm not dead yet; it's not your place to make decisions for the family."
Lu Jiajie didn't mince his words, "Third Uncle, before Third Aunt passed away, she held mine and elder brother's hands, begging us to take good care of Jiaxin. Whatever promises we made, elder brother and I are determined to keep."
Ding Jing seethed with silent hatred. That damned woman had been dead so long, yet her ghost still hadn't dispersed.
Lu Jiaguang was also displeased, but he spoke more tactfully, unlike Lu Jiajie's directness, "Third Uncle, with the current situation, it's not appropriate for Jiaxin to continue living under the same roof with them. If you can't bear to part from the mother and daughter, then let Jiaxin move to my place."
Lu Hongjun replied unapologetically, "Your house is so small, it barely fits your family; where would she and Xue Mao sleep? Also, there aren't any good high schools near your place for her to attend."
Lu Jiaguang remained firm, his face composed, "Let Jiaxin stay at my place for now, and once the arrangements for her repeat year are sorted out, we can rent a place near the school. Having Xue Mao live with her means there's no need to worry about safety."
He definitely couldn't bear the thought of his sister living with that venomous mother and daughter again. They had been lucky to escape the stepmother's schemes this time; they might not be so fortunate next time.
Lu Jiaxin wouldn't consider moving to Lu Jiaguang's house; it was simply too restrictive, "Big Brother, there's no need to rent a place; I have a place to stay."
Lu Jiajie, speaking faster than he could think, "You just got back, how did you already rent a place?"
If that was the case, then she must have been planning to move out from the start. But he could understand; he would want to move out too in her shoes.
Lu Jiaxin, with her head bowed, said, "After mom fell ill, she once had a nightmare in which she dreamt that Dad and stepmother threw me out into the streets. She was afraid the nightmare might come true, so she asked someone to buy me a small apartment..."
She knew the apartment was bought on Mrs. Lu's behalf by the Xie Family. Mrs. Lu had been severely abused by her stepmother as a child and had a frail constitution. Giving birth had almost cost her life due to a massive hemorrhage, and it took her more than a decade to recover. Yet, when she was eleven years old, Mrs. Lu died saving the only child of the Xie Family from drowning in icy cold waters, just when she had her "little days." Her health deteriorated after the rescue, and she didn't last the year.
Pausing, Lu Jiaxin continued, "At that time, I said that Dad loved me and wouldn't let anyone bully me, but Mom said it was a precaution. If I was ever driven out of the house, having this apartment meant I would have somewhere to go. She made me promise not to tell anyone before she passed away, fearing that the information could lead to schemes against me for the sake of money."
Lu Hongjun, reminded of his promise to his late wife, felt his face burn with shame.
Lu Jiaguang and Lu Jiajie, thinking of their kind and gentle Third Aunt, couldn't help but feel their eyes wet with tears. If Third Aunt had been alive, their sister would have surely been accepted into a prestigious university, and they would be preparing for her schooling now.
Lu Hongjun knew that when she mentioned the house, it meant she was dead set on moving out. Knowing he couldn't stop her, he asked where the house was.
Lu Jiaxin didn't conceal anything and directly reported the address. The house was on Radiance Road, a very good location.
Ding Jing was full of regrets. Radiance Road was not far from Dazhalan, and money couldn't necessarily buy a house there. If only she had known, she would have definitely treated her daughter better and then tricked Lu Jiaxin into handing over the house. With such a house at her side, she wouldn't have to worry about Siyi's future.
Lu Jiaguang also hadn't expected the house to be on Radiance Road, "The transportation is very convenient there, and it's also close to your school so you won't need to rent a place."
Now that everything was out in the open, Lu Jiaxin didn't want to stay a moment longer; "Big brother, let's move out now!"
She originally planned to take only the valuables and bedding, but with the support of her two cousins, she changed her mind, "Big brother, the bed and the desks and chairs in the room were all carefully chosen by mom, I want to take them all with me."
Ding Jing knew she was being scolded, but the two Lu brothers present didn't make a sound. Lu Jiaguang, as a leader, would have his reservations, but Lu Jiajie was a ruffian.
Lu Jiaguang readily agreed, "Once your place over there is cleaned up, I'll arrange for a vehicle to transport these things for you."
Although Lu Hongjun was the general manager of the department store, he was already fifty-seven years old. There were rumors that the higher-ups were planning to have him step down to a secondary position next year.
Once he stepped down and lost his power, people would coolly walk away. Meanwhile, Lu Jiaguang was in the prime of his life, with patrons looking out for him, and had a bright future ahead. Lu Hongjun felt he might need to rely on him in his later years, so he placed a lot of trust in him.
Lu Jiajie, slapping his chest, said, "Xinxin, when the time comes, I'll ask a couple of friends to help move these things to Radiance Road."
Lu Jiaxin had thought she would have to fight tooth and nail to move out, but it turned out to be so smooth. She was in high spirits, "Big brother, Fifth Brother, come with me later to see the house."
Lu Jiaguang nodded and said, "If that house is dilapidated and not fit for living, you and Xue Mao can stay at my place first. If you feel uncomfortable there, just stay at the guesthouse for a couple of days."
Lu Jiaxin tactfully declined, saying, "Staying at your unit's guesthouse is too far. It's better to stay at the guesthouse near Radiance Road so it's convenient for me and Xue Mao to go clean."
Lu Jiaguang thought this arrangement was fine too.
Lu Jiaxin was not foolish enough to just move out like that. She looked at Lu Hongjun and said, "There's nothing in that house, and if I move there, I'll have to buy everything—pots, pans, ladles, furniture, appliances. Dad, I don't even have enough money for food right now."
The original owner lived a privileged life and, being young, had no real concept of money. But she was very clear that without money, it is hard to make a move outside.
Lu Hongjun understood what she meant and turned to Ding Jing, "Go get one thousand yuan."
One thousand yuan, as if that could appease a beggar!
Before she could speak up, Lu Jiajie said, "Third Uncle, how can one thousand yuan be enough? Just a decent set of furniture costs several hundred."
Hearing this, Lu Hongjun thought it made sense and offered two thousand.