The Missing Husband Returns (27)

Xue Ci taken aback by his bold statement, and her expression froze.

The other person stared at him, then put their slender white finger in their mouth again.

Xue Ci forgot to pull it back.

Only when his fingertips were roughly licked by a hot tongue and gently scraped by teeth did he tremble and pull his hand back.

What are you saying?

Is that what he thought... it meant?

A sudden surge of heat rushed to her cheeks, making Xue Ci's pale skin glow with a rosy hue, like a piece of fine mutton fat jade.

Her dull eyes and brows finally showed signs of embarrassment and annoyance.

"... You're sick, why are you still thinking about these things?"

Xue Ci wanted to curse, but when she looked up, she saw that Zhao Ying's eyelids were drooping from the fever and his brow was tired.

He couldn't bear it, so he swallowed his words.

"Take your medicine and get some sleep. Don't get sick again."

Zhao Ying, feigning illness, tried to gain Xue Ci's sympathy. "I don't want to sleep in another room."

Why are you pushing your luck...?

Xue Ci helplessly, "Where do you want to sleep?"

"That's the room Lu Xiunan slept in. I hate him." The honest man's eyes were sinister, and he spoke of Lu Xiunan's name with a hint of gritted teeth.

Then he took Xue Ci's hand and gently rubbed it against his cheek.

"He always looks at you like that, and he even broke us up."

"Xiao Ci, let's remarry, and then leave this place."

"Don't look at him, don't play with him, okay?"

Xue Ci surprised.

My usually composed ex-husband actually said something so childish.

He pursed his lips and refused.

Zhao Ying looked disappointed.

The honest-looking man with deep-set eyes had a droopy face, and his hair was still damp, making him look pitiful.

Xue Ci stared at him, hesitated for a few seconds, and then gave in.

"Then you can sleep here."

After a whole night of commotion, including negotiations and being soaked in the rain, Zhao Ying finally gave up.

Xue Ci, of course, wouldn't let a patient sleep on the floor, so she brought over the bedding.

The two slept in the same bed, but separately.

The bed is big enough that you can barely touch it.

Whether it was due to illness or exhaustion, Zhao Ying slept very soundly that night and didn't wake up until after eight o'clock in the morning.

After Xue Ci woke up, she touched the other person's forehead.

Thankfully, the fever has subsided.

He tiptoed out of bed; the sky had cleared and the air was crisp.

When the door opened, Zhou Qize was standing outside, holding a sesame seed cake and fried dough sticks.

"Xue Ci..." The boy was in good spirits and handed her breakfast. "Are you hungry? I made it this morning."

11: [Host, it seems like he's pursuing you.]

Xue Ci's dazed expression froze for a moment.

He didn't believe 11 at first, but he was proven wrong in no time.

Zhou Qize entered the room, placed breakfast on the table, stared intently at his face, and after a suspicious blush appeared on his ears, finally spoke, "... You... you're divorced?"

"..."

"So, you're single now, are you planning to find someone next?"

Xue Ci's eyelids twitched in fright.

Zhao Ying, whom he had just divorced, was still in the bedroom.

But Zhou Qize kept looking at him with his bright black eyes, as if he was waiting for him to speak.

Xue Ci slowly shook her head. "I am indeed divorced, but I don't plan to find someone else right now."

"No, it's nothing!" Hearing Xue Ci mention divorce with his own ears, Zhou Qize suppressed his emotions. "I was just asking. When it comes to finding the next one, you should choose carefully. There's no need to rush."

"But didn't Master Zhao come to see you yesterday? Does he want to remarry you?"

Xue Ci.

"No matter what, the divorce is definitely his fault, and he'll probably come back to bother you again during this time." Zhou Qize's tone was serious, like a good friend who was concerned for Xue Ci. "Otherwise, you can pretend to date me and make him give up."

Xue Ci: "..."

11 finds it terrifying: [Host, look at him! His thoughts are written all over his face!]

It began to suspect that even this seemingly legitimate piece was part of the Fragment.

"I..." Xue Ci was about to say no need, but then she saw a figure at the bedroom door.

Zhao Ying was standing there at some point.

His complexion was so bad; he must have heard what Zhou Qize said.

[Progress bar +1.]

Xue Ci's eyes lit up.

He frowned as he pondered, realizing that the progress bar was adjusting based on the protagonist's state of mind—when Zhao Ying heard Zhou Qize's words and felt that remarriage would become more difficult, he would become disheartened and focus all his energy on his career, thus the progress bar would move forward.

Zhou Qize's words inspired Xue Ci's thinking to some extent.

After discussing it with 11, he was tripped up by another problem.

He plays an honest countryman who can't be a scumbag who accepts anyone.

11 quickly dispelled his concerns: [Host, this isn't 00C! In this world, you're playing the role of a pampered, honest man. Divorce is certainly painful, but you'll definitely find someone new right away!]

You can't live without your husband!

In other words, husbands come and go, but wives remain constant.

Although playing the role of a pampered wife was a bit odd, Xue Ci roughly understood. "[Should I just go directly to Zhou Qize?]"

11 made some rustling noises, fiddling with something, and replied a few seconds later: [Host 11 just searched and found that you haven't remarried or dated since your divorce.]

[However, you're an honest person and won't reject suitors, so just accept all their advances and let the protagonist know you're choosing a marriage partner, then back off!]

Xue Ci solemnly.

He finished the rest of his soy milk, licked his lips, pretended not to see Zhao Ying, and deliberately said to Zhou Qize, "I'll look for someone, but this time I want someone with fair skin and around my age."

Fair skin, similar age... Zhou Qize's eyelids twitched.

He fully meets the requirements.

The tall, handsome young man, who hadn't even graduated from university yet and had absolutely no romantic experience, was completely mesmerized by Xue Ci's words. He stared intently at Xue Ci's face, oblivious to Zhao Ying walking up to the table.

"Xiao Ci."

Zhao Ying was recovering from a serious illness, and his voice was hoarse.

Xue Ci gave a perfunctory "hmm," but the other person was so pitiful that she couldn't bear it and shared half of her breakfast with him.

Zhou Qize realized, "Master Zhao didn't leave last night?"

Xue Ci explained, "He has a fever, and it rained last night, so he'll be leaving today."

Seeing Xue Ci's eagerness to distance herself from him, Zhao Ying felt a pang of pain in his heart and fell into a deep emotional slump.

Xue Ci just said that she likes fair-skinned and young men.

Completely opposite to his appearance.

Was Lu Xiunan right? Xue Ci divorced him because she didn't love him.

But... how could I not love her?

If she didn't love him, would she stick to him every day calling him "husband," and obediently open her mouth to let him eat her tongue?

If someone is willing to grant even those unreasonable demands, how could they not love you?

Zhao Ying's sense of unworthiness reached its peak at this moment.

But he didn't dare to speak, afraid of angering Xue Ci and losing the chance to meet her altogether.

The humble ex-husband quietly finished his breakfast, still refusing to leave.

Xue Ci him, and Zhao Ying, using the excuse that the quilt wasn't folded yet, returned to his bedroom, trying to prolong the time as much as possible.

"Then you'll be living alone from now on."

Seeing that Zhao Ying refused to leave, Zhou Qize made a pointed remark, saying that the village was not safe recently and wild boars were coming down the mountain. He suggested that if Zhao Ying was afraid, he could ask him to come and stay with him.

Xue Ci gave a vague answer.

Inside the room, Zhao Ying heard every word clearly, and the fog in his eyes grew darker and darker.

*

Zhao Ying used illness as an excuse to stay at Xue Ci's house until the next day. During that time, he didn't mention remarriage again, and the atmosphere was unusually quiet, as if they had returned to the days before they moved to the provincial capital.

This completely disrupts the career path, causing the progress bar to regress rapidly.

Xue Ci urged him to leave.

Zhao Ying knew that Xue Ci would definitely look down on her incompetent husband.

Aside from his recently started business, he has nothing else to offer and is unable to compete with others.

If he had any backbone, he should go and make money right now, work hard, and then come back to pursue Xue Ci after he has achieved fame and fortune.

But he was just too insecure.

News travels fast in the village. Xue Ci had only been back for two days when most people learned of their divorce. In the past two days, he personally saw many young people from the village bringing eggs and fruit to Xue Ci.

They said that people from the same village should help each other, but without exception, all the men's eyes were fixed on Xue Ci.

But Xue Ci too oblivious and couldn't see through their ill intentions at all. She even smiled and thanked them.

With such a well-behaved and beautiful appearance, how could she not attract covetous eyes?

"Did you hear me?" Xue Ci, receiving no reply, emphasized again, "I said, don't let it interfere with your own affairs, or I'll like you even less."

Zhao Ying's face stiffened, and finally his voice was hoarse. "... I understand."

*

On the other side, Lu Xiunan and Fu Yun drove to the entrance, with several construction workers in the car.

Fu Yun knew everything about how Lu Xiunan had broken up his brother and sister-in-law; he was even an accomplice.

After getting out of the car, he saw Zhao Ying's pickup truck and reminded Lu Xiunan, "Brother Lu, Xue Ci... her ex-husband seems to still be here. Shouldn't we avoid suspicion?"

Lu Xiunan gave a faint smirk. "Avoid what? Xue Ci has already divorced him; he's the one who should be avoiding suspicion."

Fu Yun blurted out, "It's you who got divorced..."

Lu Xiunan glanced at him, Fu Yun immediately shut up.

"If they can get a divorce, it must mean their feelings weren't deep. If Xue Ci really liked him, no amount of pressure from me would work." Lu Xiunan showed no remorse whatsoever; instead, he spoke with perfect logic and evidence.

Fu Yun thought to herself, "Could it be that you are my true love?"

He dared not say this, for if he did, he would no longer be able to remain brothers with Lu Xiunan.

What he dared not say even more was his inexplicable feelings for Xue Ci.

Lu Xiunan didn't waste any time. He told the renovation team to wait in the car and walked to Xue Ci's house.

As a result, her face turned black.

The lobby was packed with tall, young, single men.

They were all unfamiliar faces.

What's going on?

What do you think this place is?

Fu Yun noticed the person standing at the door without entering the house and was puzzled. Then he looked—

He whispered, "No wonder they say there's always trouble around a widow's door."

He had barely uttered those words when he glanced at Zhao Ying.

"..." I forgot, her ex-husband is still alive. Xue Ci is only divorced, not a widow.

The lobby was crowded, but Xue Ci was nowhere to be seen. The two brothers, however, were united against the outsider and managed to send away the group of burly men who looked like they had ulterior motives.

Xue Ci Aunt Song Liu's house and returned with a jar of tea eggs in her arms.

When he got home, he found vegetables, oil, and rice scattered all over the lobby. He assumed Lu Xiunan had brought them and looked at him with surprise.

"I didn't send it. Why would I send something so cheap?"

The young master has no shortage of money, and he himself feels embarrassed to give these gifts when pursuing someone.

Then he took out a small, square, dark blue velvet box from his pocket. "This is it."

The box was exquisitely packaged, like it was for jewelry, and looked exceptionally valuable. Seeing Zhao Ying present, Xue Ci accepted the gift without hesitation.

Lu Xiunan's lips curled up so wide he could barely contain himself.

Once Fu Yun was in a good mood, he took out a bag of milk candy from behind his back and handed it to Xue Ci: "Want some?"

Clearly, Xue Ci prefers this one.

Her eyes were bright as she looked at Fu Yun, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile.

Lu Xiunan's expression changed from sunny to stormy in an instant.

However, she was quickly appeased by two tea eggs.

It was getting late, Xue Ci urged her ex-husband to leave.

Having witnessed Xue Ci accepting gifts from Lu Xiunan, Zhao Ying also felt that he needed to leave to earn money. Otherwise, how could he compete with Lu Xiunan?

Despite having the same appearance, Lu Xiunan is rich and powerful, spends lavishly, and is also more cultured and refined.

What makes him worthy of Xue Ci's choice?

Zhao Ying left quickly, and before leaving, he helped Xue Ci take all the fruits and vegetables in the lobby to the kitchen to clean them up.

After the main character left, only Lu Xiunan and Fu Yun remained at home.

Upon receiving the mission notification #11, "Sun Xingmei is coming to borrow money; no one else is allowed to be present," Xue Ci urgently urged the two to leave.

Lu Xiunan crossed his long legs, making the old plastic stool look like an executive chair.

He showed no intention of leaving, instead saying, "I have important business to attend to today."

Xue Ci immediately asked, "What?"

Lu Xiunan glanced at him before taking a piece of paper out of his pocket.

Xue Ci was taken aback. After looking at it for a while, she realized that it was the draft paper he had used when he was preparing for the cram school exam, and there was a little rabbit he had drawn on the back.

"How... how did you get this?"

Lu Xiunan glanced away, seemingly not very good at these kinds of things, his voice slightly stiff. "Last time when I asked you what kind of house you wanted to live in, didn't you draw it out on the paper?"

"I brought a renovation contractor over so he could take the measurements and see how it should be done."

He spread out the draft paper, and there was indeed a small house on it, with a red roof, white walls, and a small yard in front of the door, where flowers were planted and rabbits were raised.

Xue Ci was stunned.

Lu Xiunan did ask him this question when he was tutoring him, but he thought it was just a casual question. He didn't expect that the other party would even keep this old manuscript.

She really took his words to heart.

"Thanks."

Xue Ci rarely felt that Lu Xiunan was a good person.

However, he had a mission to complete soon, so it wasn't convenient for him to leave the man there.

"I have something to do today, could I come again tomorrow?"

Xue Ci's tone was obedient, so it seemed she hadn't refused his help in renovating the yard. Lu Xiunan had made a wasted trip, but his expression was bright. "Okay, I'll come find you again tomorrow."

Seeing Lu Xiunan's expression, Fu Yun realized that the other party was clearly completely captivated.

Does he really think he can get his marriage certificate tomorrow?

Not long after the two drove away, Sun Xingmei, just like in the script, came to Xue Ci to borrow money.

As in the original storyline, he would have given the other party the 10,000 yuan check, but Sun Xingmin gambled it all away, and even the child's medical expenses were raised by Sun Xingmei.

Xue Ci discussed it with 11 beforehand. He didn't touch the check, but put away the crumpled money he had saved and went to the town's health center with Sun Xingmei.

Sun Xingmei's child has a congenitally weak immune system and coughs whenever he catches a cold, requiring intravenous fluids.

Xue Ci helped pay for the medicine and hospital fees; the money was just enough.

Sun Xingmei expressed her gratitude repeatedly.

[Congratulations, host! The world's progress bar is now at 92%.]

[You have one last task left! Six months later, you're unhappy living alone and remember how good your husband was, so you go to the city to find him. But you find him successful, dressed in a suit, a far cry from your former self, and you leave feeling utterly dejected.]

[After completing this mission, the protagonist's career path will be almost finished! You can then reclaim the world and leave!]

The last task was simpler than expected, Xue Ci went home satisfied.

Well... after borrowing the money, I'll have to start wearing patched clothes again.

*

On the first day she wore patched clothes, Xue Ci was caught by Lu Xiunan.

The other person frowned. "Where are the clothes I sent you?"

"I didn't bring it back." Xue Ci was afraid he would ruin the plot. "I like my own clothes."

Although wearing old clothes didn't affect Xue Ci's face, it actually made her look pitiful, especially when she was being bullied to the point of tears.

But Lu Xiunan would certainly prefer him to be dressed up nicely.

The divorce was a done deal, and from then on, he Xue Ci's place every day, showering her with money and gifts, relentlessly pursuing his former sister-in-law.

On one occasion, she even received the same gift as Zhao Ying, who had taken some time to come back.

Both of them gave Xue Ci communication equipment.

For the sake of the plot, Xue Ci accepted Lu Xiunan's gift.

Zhao Ying looked dejected, and afterwards he worked even harder to earn money.

The progress bar has reached 95%.

Of course, the villagers also gossiped about it.

"If she finds someone richer, she'll definitely get a divorce. Otherwise, why would she divorce someone with such a good relationship?"

"I never expected the two brothers would be looking for the same person."

"That younger brother is a real scoundrel, daring to covet his own sister-in-law!"

"Don't just talk about him; countless people in the village are watching him."

Xue Ci often hears these things when he goes out. He's been bothered by several men lately, so he deliberately used the excuse of being afraid of gossip to tell everyone not to come to his house.

The crowd then quieted down.

Xue Ci into a quiet life.

The lush green leaves turned yellow and withered. After the small garden was rebuilt, it became larger and had about ten more seedlings.

It was like returning to her previous life. Xue Ci wore patched clothes, traded flowers with A Hui for three meals a day, and occasionally took on some handicrafts.

At the end of October, after being reminded by Song Liu, he realized that the cornfield had not yet been harvested.

I'm the only reliable breadwinner in my family.

Xue Ci was eager to try it out. Recalling the protective gear Zhao Ying had given him last time, he changed into a rough linen coat and put on his boots in a very proper manner.

Place a sickle in the bamboo basket.

The weather was cool and the temperature was just right. Little Nuomi Tuan carried a large bamboo basket on her back and headed towards the cornfield.

The sickle was too heavy for him; his arm started to ache after he had just chopped down a corn stalk.

Just as Xue Ci was panting and looking at the vast cornfield with distress, A Hui came over.

Xue Ci her head to look, her eyelashes fluttering.

How did you know I was here?

A Hui pointed in the direction of Song Liu's house.

It seemed Aunt Song Liu had told him. Xue Ci sat on the rock, licking her dry lips. "Is there something you need?"

A Hui shook his head. He knew that after Xue Ci came to harvest corn, he also carried a bamboo basket, much larger than the one Xue Ci brought, which he had used for hunting before.

He put down the bamboo basket, took out water and a towel from it, and picked up the sickle that Xue Ci had thrown on the ground.

The butcher was strong and healthy; he fell down a plant in seconds.

However, Xue Ci's family has several acres of cornfields, and A Hui alone cannot finish the work in one day.

As darkness fell, the two returned from the fields.

Xue Ci planned to give A Hui money so that A Hui could go back with her to harvest the next batch of corn.

As soon as they reached the door, the door, which should have been locked, was wide open.

The sound of tables and chairs clattering came from inside.

"Hold!"

Someone inside cursed angrily.

The voice sounded familiar, and before Xue Ci could react, A Hui's strong body shielded her behind her.

He tilted half his face to the side, and a dark shadow flashed past inside the room.

Unfortunately, he was forcefully knocked down by someone inside as soon as he reached the door.

"Ah--" A piercing scream rang out, and the man on the ground cursed the other, "Fuck your ancestors! Motherfucker--Ah--"

Xue Ci heard the sound of her arm dislocating and was so frightened that she pulled her toes back.

He recognized Sun Xingmin's voice.

Then, in the next moment, he felt a flash of metallic light appear before his eyes, the light piercing towards another tall figure—

Xue Ci's heart skipped a beat.

Soon, the sound of fabric tearing could be heard.

A Hui rushed over immediately and helped snatch the fruit knife from Sun Xingming's hand.

Xue Ci what was happening and belatedly ran over. After turning on the light, he found the house in a mess, with Lu Xiunan holding Sun Xingmin's arms and twisting them behind his back.

With A Hui's strength, the already short Sun Xingmin was unable to struggle and could only howl around.

This commotion attracted the attention of nearby villagers, who all gathered around to ask what was going on.

Lu Xiunan lifted his eyelids and glanced at the ground as if it were filthy trash. "He came to steal something."

The people of Zhou Family Village are quite united. They knew Sun Xingmin was a gambler, but they didn't expect him to also steal and carry a knife!

Several strong young men escorted him to Village Chief Zhou to see how to handle the situation.

The crowd left, making a ruckus.

"Looks like we'll have to change the locks." Lu Xiunan walked towards Xue Ci, handed him the check, and said, "Keep it safe."

"Thank you..." Xue Ci looked up and saw the bloodstains on the man's forearm. Her face instantly paled. "You... you're injured!"

Lu Xiunan glanced at it, his expression blank. "A minor injury."

It looks like it was just swiped.

The more indifferent Lu Xiunan was, the more guilty Xue Ci felt.

I went closer to examine the wound. The area cut by the fruit knife wasn't large, but it was quite deep, and blood was gushing out.

Xue Ci's face turned pale, and she immediately found a towel to wrap around his arm tightly, then pulled him toward the Yiyi doctor in the village.

Fortunately, the doctor was still awake and cleaned Lu Xiunan's wound, stitching it up with a few stitches.

Xue Ci dared not look, and after everything was dealt with, she took small breaths.

"Are you in pain? Is there anything you want to eat? I'll buy it for you."

What can you buy at this time?

Seeing Xue Ci's worried and busy appearance, Lu Xiunan felt lightheaded.

So that's what it feels like.

His wife was worried and stayed by his side.

Zhao Ying's life used to be fucking awesome.

Lu Xiunan deliberately said, "It hurts a little now."

Xue Ci frowned and whispered, "Then... should I take some painkillers?"

Lu Xiunan: "That stuff can make people stupid. What if they can't even chase after people anymore?"

Xue Ci: "Then... what should we do?"

He couldn't think of a good solution, and his eyes welled up with worry.

Do you want some candy?

Lu Xiunan looked at him.

Like a bad man deliberately deceiving someone.

"However, there are indeed ways to relieve the pain."

Xue Ci had no doubts whatsoever, and leaned closer to listen attentively to what he had to say next.

Lu Xiunan glanced at A Hui beside him. "It's so late, aren't you going home?"

A Hui had helped a lot earlier, Xue Ci around to thank him and told him to go back and rest.

The butcher stared intently at Xue Ci, a look of longing on his face, but still obeyed and left.

That cut was indeed serious.

Lu Xiunan had lost too much blood, and his lips were now pale.

Xue Ci closer with concern. "Why don't you lie down and rest for a while? What do you want to eat? I'll go buy it."

Lu Xiunan stared into Xue Ci's eyes and suddenly said, "I want to eat that."

Xue Ci was taken aback. "Huh?"

Then they heard the man's slightly hoarse voice.

"The pink one."

Author's Note:

Hmm... Eat... See you at the cornfield tomorrow.

And this world is almost over, and the little Q Ci I requested has finally appeared, hehe, it's the patched Xiao Xue Ci ~~~ I've already added her to my character card, the previous little umbrella Xue Ci is in the back slot~ [heart emoji][heart emoji][heart emoji]