TSWPF -Chapter 390 Don’t Understand

“Sir… about this matter?” Magistrate Ma swallowed hard. If Wutong Mountain really hid such a group of people, then they…

He couldn’t help shivering and looked at Liu Zhimou, unsure what the sir planned to do.

Liu Zhimou frowned deeply, formulating a plan in his mind. He told Magistrate Ma to continue overseeing the office while he went back home for a moment.

Magistrate Ma nodded reluctantly, watching Liu Zhimou leave.

He hoped this matter wasn’t as serious as he feared; otherwise…

When Liu Zhimou left the office, he adjusted his expression and strode home as if nothing had happened.

As soon as he returned, he went straight to Master Luo.

Master Luo was giving a lesson to the children. Seeing Liu Zhimou’s serious expression, he knew something was wrong and told him to wait in the study. After assigning homework to the kids, he went to the study to meet Liu Zhimou.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” His expression was unusually serious.

“Master, it’s a big matter.”

Master Luo closed the door, sat beside Liu Zhimou, and asked what the matter was. What could be so serious to trouble him so?

Liu Zhimou took a deep breath and recounted what Wu Mei had told him.

After hearing it, Master Luo’s expression changed. “Is this information reliable?”

“I don’t think Wu Mei is lying, but I still need someone to investigate and confirm whether it’s true.”

This was a serious matter; it couldn’t be left unchecked.

Master Luo pondered for a long while and told Liu Zhimou to have someone investigate immediately and to strengthen the household’s defenses. If the enemies acted recklessly, their family would be the first target.

Liu Zhimou nodded. Master Luo had thought the same way as him.

“If this is true, then your being injured is one thing, but it’s also possible that these people, fearing you might discover them, could attempt to kill you outright. If the investigation confirms it’s true, have Xiao Ling take the children and leave Ninghua County to return to Niutou Village to lie low.”

They didn’t know how many people were involved. Having Li Qingling and the children leave would be safer.

Liu Zhimou looked at Master Luo and told him to leave as well. He would stay behind alone.

Master Luo shook his head, saying he must remain here to give advice and strategies at any time.

He was old now and unafraid of death.

“Don’t you want to see your great-grandson and great-granddaughter born?”

Master Luo: “….”

“Don’t you want to see those kids get married and have children?”

Master Luo: “….”

“Don’t you want…”

“Enough!” Master Luo interrupted, slightly annoyed, glaring at Liu Zhimou. “Who said you won’t make it back alive? No matter what, we will see Xiao Ling and the others again. Alive.”

Seeing Master Luo’s stubbornness, Liu Zhimou let out a small sigh. Although he would do everything to survive, no one could predict what might happen, so he had prepared for the worst.

Master Luo felt a heaviness in his heart, unsure of what to say.

He knew very well that if a fight broke out, there was no guarantee anyone would come back alive. That was why he wanted to stay close to Liu Zhimou, to advise and strategize.

“Master, I want to entrust Xiao Ling and the children to you,” Liu Zhimou said seriously, locking eyes with Master Luo. “With you by their side, I can fully focus on dealing with those people. If… if I don’t make it, having you there…” With Master Luo as their support, no one would dare bully them.

“Silence.” Master Luo’s face darkened, cutting him off. “What do you mean ‘if you don’t make it’? Remember, you must return alive, understand? If you… if you dare… I’ll make Xiao Ling marry off your children to others, let them call another man ‘father.’” How desperate would that make you? Jealous or not?

Liu Zhimou’s eyes widened in shock, shouting, “You dare?” The thought of his beloved wife marrying another man enraged him; let alone his children calling someone else ‘father.’ “I will come back safely.” He gritted his teeth, determined to return to Xiao Ling and the children no matter what.

“What’s there to dare? If you don’t return safely, I’ll do exactly that,” Master Luo replied lightly.

Anger was good—it meant he cared.

Liu Zhimou stood up, pacing several times like a trapped wild beast, grinding his teeth in frustration.

“Master…”

“Hmm?” The angrier Liu Zhimou became, the happier Master Luo felt.

Liu Zhimou strode up to Master Luo, stared at him for a while, and then let out a heavy sigh, slumping back into his chair.

Seeing his expression, Master Luo’s heart skipped a beat. Had he overreacted?

He cleared his throat and said, “If you don’t want your wife and children to become someone else’s, then you must return safely. Understand?” He paused. “I believe you will come back safely. I know you will.”

Liu Zhimou lifted his head, closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them, his gaze was resolute. He forced a small smile. “I can. I will come back safely.”

With that determined expression, Master Luo nodded in satisfaction, patted his shoulder, and told him to send people to investigate. Until the result was known, he shouldn’t let his mind run wild.

Just now, he had been foolish, letting Liu Zhimou’s thoughts drag him along and making the situation sound so serious. Perhaps… perhaps they were overthinking it.

Master Luo rubbed his sore temples and gave a wry smile, hoping things weren’t as bad as they feared, that there was still a way to handle it delicately.

Liu Zhimou nodded at Master Luo and strode out of the study to find Ling Yi, instructing him to arrange an investigation.

After arranging everything, he returned to the courtyard.

He gestured to Xichun, who was about to greet him, and quietly pushed open the bedroom door. Sitting beside the bed, he gazed at Li Qingling’s sweet sleeping face, letting his tense heart slowly relax.

He sat down and gently caressed her cheek. For her, he had to stay safe—he couldn’t let her suffer her whole life.

Sensing Liu Zhimou’s mood, Li Qingling slowly opened her eyes. Sleepily, she looked at him and smiled unconsciously. “Husband?”

“Hmm…”

Li Qingling, in a coquettish gesture, opened her arms. Liu Zhimou leaned down slightly, picked her up, and sat with her in his lap, one hand gently resting on her belly. “Awake?”

Only now did Li Qingling realize she wasn’t dreaming—Liu Zhimou really had come back.

Rubbing her eyes, she looked at him in surprise and asked why he had returned so early.

“It’s almost noon. Early?” He thought she must be dazed from sleep. “Do you want breakfast? Huh?” Surely she hadn’t skipped it—she must have slept straight through since he left the office.

Li Qingling leaned against his chest, coyly saying she had eaten.

After breakfast, feeling sleepy again, she had climbed back into bed—unaware she had slept for so long.

Had she perhaps conceived a little sleep god?

Ever since she became pregnant, she felt she could never get enough sleep, always exhausted.

“You still sleepy? Want to sleep a bit more?” Seeing her drooping eyelids, he asked gently.

If she slept all day, he would have worried something was wrong if Grandpa hadn’t assured him it was normal.

Shaking her head slightly, Li Qingling said she wouldn’t sleep more. She had slept enough and didn’t want to scare him by continuing.

Liu Zhimou nodded, gently patting her back, and asked if she wanted lunch.

Li Qingling lifted her head, stared at him for a moment, and asked if something had happened.

Her intuition was sharp—if he wasn’t careful, she would notice.

He had to appear nonchalant in front of her, hiding any signs of worry.

“Really nothing? Are you sure?” After all these years of mutual support, she could sense if something troubled him. “Is it about the office? Something you can’t tell me?”

If he said it was nothing, she might not believe him. Liu Zhimou simply nodded. “It’s an office matter; I can’t reveal it.”

Li Qingling nodded understandingly, not pressing further, and nestled back into his embrace with a contented sigh.

Seeing her not questioning him, Liu Zhimou felt a sense of relief. Her understanding touched him deeply.

He wondered how much merit he had cultivated in his past life to meet her in this life.

He lowered his head, kissed her lips, and asked again if she wanted to eat.

Stretching lazily and smiling, Li Qingling nodded. “Yes.”

Liu Zhimou kissed her forehead, lifted her from the bed, helped her sit in a chair, wiped her face, helped her put on her shoes, and led her to the main hall for Xichun to serve the meal.

Xichun responded and quickly went to the kitchen.

Li Qingling rested her chin on her hand, watching Liu Zhimou. After a while, he noticed and laughed, pinching her cheek. “What are you looking at?”

She said, “You’re handsome.”

Liu Zhimou pinched her cheek again, teasing, “Do you really like this face of mine?”

“Of course,” she nodded. “Everyone loves beauty. Seeing your face, I can eat an extra bowl of rice.” How pleasing to the eye.

Liu Zhimou smiled, indulgently shaking his head. “You…” Should he be happy that she liked his appearance?

Seeing him smile, Li Qingling smiled too and added that she loved him, the person, even more.

Hearing this, his gaze softened. “Me too,” he said.

“You too what? Hmm?” Men… always too reserved to say ‘I love you.’

He smiled silently, tucking her hair behind her ear. He loved her deeply.

Even without words, she understood.

Li Qingling pressed him, asking again, “You too… what?”

“You understand…”

“I don’t understand,” Li Qingling shook her head. “Tell me, and I will understand.”