Chapter 116: Weifeng’s return.

Liwu had just returned from the precinct, late in the night. It had been a long 24 hours of chasing after an arsonist. Her trench coat smelled smelled heavily of smoke, her boots were burned at the tips and her mind was already drifting toward the comfort of a hot cup of tea, some cookies and a quiet evening.

She was about to just about to enter the villa when butler Chen stopped her. “Young miss, we have guests. Your presence is required in the living room, in the main manor.”

Liwu frowned. She thought it was the Nan family again, back with their trouble.

Instead, she found chaos.

The entire family was gathered in the main hall, faces pale, voices hushed. And in the single odd colored chair in the center, clutching a crutch, covered in bandages and bruises, sat a man she had once been destined to marry. Her brother-in-law, Shen Weifeng.

Liwu froze. Her heart skipped. Shen Weifeng, the younger brother of her husband had the same face as Weijun. She could see why his brother had taken his place as the groom on the day of the wedding. According to rumors among the servants, he was expected to be away for at least a year, but here he was, limping back into their lives like a ghost dragged through a battlefield.

She supposed that all those injuries were a result of the bad luck she had sent his way when she assumed he was her husband.

“You must be Tai Liwu, my wife.” He smiled as he joked. “Surprise,” he croaked, attempting a bigger smile. He tried to lift his right arm but it was in a sling, just as his left leg was bound in a crude splint. His face bore the marks of a dozen accidents.

She winced, feeling just a dash sorry for him. Ever since she discovered that he was not her husband, she had stopped. But, it had been too late.

Weijun stepped inside, and like Liwu, he froze. His expression was a storm of emotions–shock, anger and a flicker of concern. “Feng’er, you are back.”

“Yes,” Weifeng said, lifting his crutch. “Though it seemed as if something did not want me to return. I nearly died a dozen times on the way. Slipping on puddles and rugs, falling roofs, a runaway horse, a car explosion, bird poop, even a fish stick in the strong arm of an eight month old baby. It’s as if the heavens themselves suddenly hated me.”

Every eye in the room turned to Liwu. Weijun scoffed, because he just knew all that bad luck had been meant for him.

Liwu coughed into her sleeve, trying to her guilt. Correction, she thought, not the heavens but me.

Madam Xu gasped. “You are like a broken vehicle, no part is working the right way. How bad is the broken leg?”

Weifeng sighed dramatically. “I will be lucky to walk again. A cow almost sat on me!! Don’t ask how or where, just know it happened.”

The room erupted in murmurs. Brothers whispered, uncles shook their heads and Yuening patted her bunny’s tail. One aunt clutched the prayer beads she acquired from a temple when Liwu moved in. Liwu’s stomach twisted. She had not expected her bad luck to be this thorough. No cow had ever tried to sit on her.

Again, Weijun’s eyes flicked to Liwu, sharp as a blade. He knew. But, he said nothing, only folded his arms and stared at his younger brother.

Weifeng, oblivious, or portending to be, limped toward Liwu. “Sister-in-law,” he said with a crooked grin. “I am sorry that I was not there for the wedding. But I have returned with a gift.” He chuckled. “Not the bad luck that is plaguing me, I heard you have enough of that on your own.”

Liwu’s cheeks burned. “Well, considering the fact that you ran off on the day of the wedding and almost left my sister standing at the alter, I am inclined to pity the cow,” she muttered. “It must have been traumatized.”

The room burst into laughter. Weifeng had only returned for close to an hour and during that time, everyone had been tense. They had been afraid of how Liwu would react since Weifeng should have been her husband. But, she was handling it well–with a joke even.

“Beautiful and funny.” Weifeng commented. With his working hand, he reached into his pocket and came up with a single flat rose. “I could not get my hands on a fresh one so quickly.”

Tension started to rise again. Everyone worried about how this would go. Weifeng was known for giving roses to women he wanted to pursue. What did he mean by giving one to Liwu?

Weijun’s jaw tightened. He pulled Liwu back and firmly kept a hand around her waist. “Enough banter. Feng’er, you must be tired. In fact, you look like you should be in a hospital right now.”

Weifeng’s grin faded. “I would rather stay home, I think I will be safer here.”

“No.” Weijun replied strongly.

Liwu quickly squeezed his arm. “Wei,” she looked at him sharply, “You need to relax. Your brother is a grown up and he can stay where he wants to. We are tired, we should go have dinner and then head to bed.”

Weijun relaxed slowly. He sighed and said to Weifeng, “Sorry brother, I didn’t mean to sound so tough. It’s just that I really think you need a hospital. That leg was not treated well, the bandaged are falling apart. You need proper medical care, not what you think you need.”

Weifeng smiled stiffly. They both knew what he thought he needed: Manman. They also knew that Weijun did not want Manman on the grounds of the manor. Shen Weifeng was not a fool. He could already see that there was something strange between his brother and sister-in-law.

Madam Xu, ever the peacemaker, clapped her hands. “Nonsense! your brother does not need to be in a hospital, he can be treated from home and I will watch over him to make sure he recovers.” She looked at her sons. “Help your brother to a room on the first floor and help him take a bath. I will call a doctor.” She looked at Liwu and Weijun. “Save the greetings and questions for another day. It’s late, everyone here should already be in bed. I for one know that I will sleep peacefully knowing that there is no arsonist looking to set us on fire.”

She said that because it was the news airing on television. As late as it was, the Minister for justice was holding his press conference.

Liwu muttered goodnight and left. As soon as she reached the villa, she handed the pressed rose to Majesty. “Dispose of it.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep