Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned. How did Luo Caixia become a suspect?

But Luo Caixia had just ingested pesticide. In her current state, even if she could have injured Zhou Chang'an, she certainly couldn't have dragged him to the village entrance.

Wang Fenglan suspected Luo Caixia because she believed that after being humiliated by Zhou Huai'an and failing to die by suicide, Luo Caixia had become the talk of the village. Could she have turned around and blamed everything on Zhou Chang'an?

The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Clutching Zhou Chang'an's hand, she cried, "Chang'an, was it that bitch Luo Caixia? I will avenge you!"

Zhou Chang'an shook his head violently, his eyes filled with despair.

But Wang Fenglan was convinced that even if Luo Caixia hadn't done it herself, she was behind it. "Did she hire someone? I bet it was that sly fox!"

Zhou Chang'an suddenly stopped yelling. He lay there numbly, staring at the ceiling, wondering how he could ever show his face in public again.

Seeing his reaction, Wang Fenglan took it as confirmation of her theory. Ignoring Chen Qiaolan's presence, she lashed out: "That Luo Caixia! It must be because you slept with her back then—she's held a grudge all this time!"

Chen Qiaolan suddenly stopped crying. She stared at Wang Fenglan in disbelief. "Mom, what did you say?"

Even Zhou Changyuan, standing nearby, was speechless. When did that happen between Zhou Chang'an and Luo Caixia?

Lin Xiaoxiao inwardly gasped. The drama kept getting bigger!

So Luo Caixia had slept with Zhou Chang'an? How could she still play the victim every day, making everyone think Zhou Huai'an had wronged her?

She straightened up, eyes shining as she peeked through the door crack.

Wang Fenglan finally realized she'd spoken out of turn, but the words couldn't be taken back.

Defiantly, she glared at Chen Qiaolan. "Luo Caixia seduced Chang'an! She's just like her loose widow of a mother!"

Chen Qiaolan couldn't accept it. She shook Zhou Chang'an's shoulder. "Is it true? Did you sleep with Luo Caixia?"

Zhou Chang'an didn't respond, lost in thoughts of his ruined life.

Wang Fenglan, protective of her son, scolded Chen Qiaolan: "What are you doing? He's injured! Stop shaking him!"

Furious, Chen Qiaolan fired back, "I just want to know—when did he sleep with her? You all knew and hid it from me, didn't you? Did you think just because my family lives far away, I'm easy to bully?"

She thought about how often Luo Caixia had visited their home over the years—how Wang Fenglan had treated her like a daughter-in-law already. She had assumed it was because Luo Caixia was Zhou Huai'an's girlfriend.

Turns out, they had slept together!

Enraged, Chen Qiaolan stood up and started arguing with Wang Fenglan.

Wang Fenglan, already boiling with anger, rose and shouted back: "You good-for-nothing glutton! If you hadn't given birth to two grandsons for our Zhou family, I'd have told Chang'an to divorce you long ago! So what if he slept with someone? Maybe you're just too useless to keep your man!"

Chen Qiaolan burst into loud sobs. "You're all bullying me...!"

If Zhou Changyuan hadn't stepped between them, the two women might have come to blows.

Lin Xiaoxiao watched delightedly from the doorway. Good heavens, the Zhou family stories were more dramatic than any TV show—one scene after another, each more sensational than the last.

Zhou Huai'an returned from the doctor's office and saw Lin Xiaoxiao from a distance, huddled in his army coat and pressed against the door. The oversized coat made her look like a child, and her eager peeking seemed almost playful.

As he approached, he could hear the heated argument inside—Wang Fenglan and Chen Qiaolan were now hurling creative insults at each other's ancestors, shocking even Lin Xiaoxiao.

Compared to the limited profanity and "certain plants" popular online in later years, this was truly impressive.

Zhou Huai'an stood behind Lin Xiaoxiao for a moment, listening but not quite understanding the commotion. He was more intrigued by how Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to be enjoying the vulgar spectacle.He asked quietly, "What's going on?"

Lin Xiaoxiao jumped, clasping a hand over her startled heart before turning around. "Your family is certainly... lively!"

Zhou Huai'an frowned. "What happened?"

Covering her mouth to suppress a laugh, she pulled Zhou Huai'an aside and whispered conspiratorially, "You'll never believe this—Zhou Chang'an and Caixia had a thing."

Zhou Huai'an's expression darkened. She looked like a little mouse that had stolen honey, almost giggling aloud. He sighed. "Don't spread rumors. She has nothing to do with me."

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded eagerly. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm just telling you—they had something going on. They slept together."

Zhou Huai'an felt slightly embarrassed. This girl really said anything that came to mind. As for Zhou Chang'an and Luo Caixia's relationship, he couldn't care less.

Seeing his silence, Lin Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me? It's true! Your mother said it herself."

Zhou Huai'an replied calmly, "That's their business. The doctor said Zhou Chang'an might need a second surgery—a prosthetic implant. Otherwise, daily life will be very difficult. They can't do it here; he'd have to go to the city."

Lin Xiaoxiao thought it really wasn't that big of a deal—with proper care, he could manage just fine. But she sensed Zhou Huai'an might be testing her. Even though she'd already revealed more than she should, she decided to keep playing innocent.Blushing, she said, "I... I really don't know about these things. Better listen to the doctors."

Zhou Huai'an studied her for a few seconds, then nodded. "Alright, let them decide. I'll take you to get something to eat."

Lin Xiaoxiao pointed toward the room. "Aren't you going in?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "No need."

There was nothing he could do about their fighting anyway.

Noticing that Zhou Huai'an was only wearing a green army sweater, Lin Xiaoxiao's conscience kicked in. She quickly took off the coat. "Here, put this on."

She had to admire his resilience—he'd spent the whole night in just that sweater without so much as a shiver, his posture still straight and steady.

Zhou Huai'an took the coat and put it on. Immediately, he was enveloped in a soft, sweet fragrance— unmistakably Lin Xiaoxiao's scent.He felt his ears grow warm and cleared his throat quietly. "Let's go."

Lin Xiaoxiao watched his reaction, a sly smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

Like a fox that had spotted its prey, she followed Zhou Huai'an downstairs.

They washed up briefly at a sink on the first floor, left their belongings at the gatekeeper's office, and then walked to a state-run restaurant further away.

Lin Xiaoxiao had assumed they would just grab a quick bowl of noodles nearby, so she was surprised when they ended up walking quite a distance.She was even more surprised when Zhou Huai'an ordered a pound of rice, pork with cabbage, and scrambled eggs with scallions.

Her eyes widened. Was Zhou Huai'an also craving rice?

Just hearing the word "rice" made her mouth water...