With news of their son, Lu Qian and his wife seemed to regain some spirit. Chen Lan, who hadn't been eating much, managed to consume a banana and a bread.
Seeing Chen Lan eat, Yang Jian remembered it was already lunchtime.
"Uncle, it's past twelve. Can I treat you to lunch outside?"
"No, no need. My daughter will be bringing food soon. Judging by the time, she should be here any moment."
As soon as he finished speaking, a white figure appeared at the doorway.
"Dad, Mom, dinner's here. I was delayed by something today, so I just cooked some frozen dumplings."
The girl who entered hadn't finished speaking when she looked at Yang Jian, equally surprised, "You, what are you doing here?"
"Are you Lu Yao?"
Yang Jian had heard Lu Feng introduce his family and knew he had a sister named Lu Yao, a graduate of a normal university and now a teacher at the experimental middle school.
Lu Qian asked curiously, "Do you know each other?"
Lu Yao nodded, "Dad, I was just scammed again. This young man helped me out of it and beat up those people. Otherwise, I would have lost another ten thousand yuan today."
"It must be Lao Gui's men again. These hooligans are like ghosts, never leaving. Ah, it's all your brother's fault. Come, Yao Yao, let me introduce you. This is Yang Jian, whom your brother used to mention often."
"You are Yang Jian, my brother's master?"
Lu Yao didn't have a good impression of Lu Feng's associates. Her initially pleased expression suddenly turned cold.
"No, no, I wouldn't dare to be his master. However, I suppose I can be considered your father's disciple."
Hearing Yang Jian say this, Lu Yao's expression softened. "Then do you know where my brother is now?"
Chen Lan spoke at this point, "Yao Yao, your brother has been working with Xiao Yang at the construction site. He even spoke to us just now."
"Really? Yang, Jian, Jian Ge, can you call my brother again? I want to talk to him."
The emotional Lu Yao didn't know how to address Yang Jian. She had called him brother before, and now she called him Jian Ge.
"Yao Yao, don't bother. Your brother is also using someone else's phone. Xiao Yang has already agreed to persuade your brother to turn himself in."
"Really? That's great, Jian Ge, thank you. We've been worried sick trying to find him. So you've been taking care of him all along? Is he doing well there?"
"He's doing fine, just that his personality has become a bit withdrawn. He doesn't like talking to people much."
"Withdrawn is good. It's better than causing trouble all day."
Lu Qian coughed, "Yao Yao, don't just talk. Xiao Yang hasn't had lunch yet. Why don't you take him to a restaurant outside to eat something good?"
Yang Jian quickly refused, "No need, Uncle. My sister is in Chengguan. She's already prepared my meal."
Lu Yao, however, grabbed his sleeve, "What's with the politeness? Come on, I'm treating. Not only did you bring news of my brother, but I also have to thank you properly for what happened just now."
Unable to refuse such a kind invitation, especially from a beautiful woman, Yang Jian found no reason to decline.
The two went downstairs. Yang Jian planned to grab a quick bite at a small restaurant opposite the hospital, but Lu Yao insisted on going somewhere more upscale, otherwise, it wouldn't show enough sincerity.
"Wow, you're driving a car? And this car looks expensive."
In the parking lot, Lu Yao had assumed Yang Jian also rode a motorcycle, but then she saw him take out his car keys and honk at a nearby SUV.
"Let's go. You can leave your scooter here. I'll drive you back after dinner."
"Jian Ge, have you become a big boss? This car is nice."
Lu Yao didn't stand on ceremony, opened the car door, and got into the passenger seat.
"What big boss? I just took on a carpentry subcontract. Where are we going?"
"Let's go to Pinwei Shiguang. Parking is easier there."
"That's where your brother had his incident. Don't you have any psychological baggage going there?"
"What's there to be bothered about? My brother became famous there. He didn't die, and those hooligans deserved to die."
What kind of logic was that? Yang Jian didn't understand. He drove them directly to Pinwei Shiguang.
The two requested a booth, ordered three delicate vegetable dishes, and a pot of fruit tea.
"Jian Ge, where are you working? After my brother's accident, how did he end up with you? How is he now?"
As soon as the food was ordered, Lu Yao fired off a barrage of questions.
"I'm working in Xichuan. After your brother had his accident, he took several long-distance buses, and then he hired a private car at a high price to reach our construction site. I then arranged for him to help me watch the warehouse. It's very easy, and he's quite used to it."
"Then why didn't he call home? We were all so worried, unable to help him at all?"
"He was afraid the police were monitoring your phones."
Lu Yao nodded, "Yes, our phones are indeed being monitored. Even relatives visiting our home are questioned by the neighborhood committee."
"By the way, Xiao Lu, you mentioned just now that you were scammed again. Have you been scammed before?"
"Jian Ge, please call me Yao Yao. Ever since my brother's accident, things haven't been going well at home. Mom fell ill, and Lao Gui's former subordinates have been causing trouble for me. A week ago, they extorted three thousand yuan from me. They also threatened my parents."
Lu Yao's once bright and cheerful face instantly turned gloomy.
Upon hearing this, Yang Jian's anger flared, "Was it Wu Laizi? How do you know him?"
"It was him. Just a few days after my brother's accident, on my way home from school, I was harassed by some hooligans. Wu Laizi pretended to be a good person and beat them away, trying to get close to me this way. But I could tell he wasn't a good person, so I ignored him. He then repeatedly caused trouble for me and my family. The two scams were likely orchestrated by him."
"That's outrageous, Yao Yao. If anyone bullies you again in the future, just call me, or call the police directly."
Looking at Lu Yao's helpless expression, Yang Jian couldn't help but feel a strong urge to protect her.
"Jian Ge, you know Wu Laizi too? And he seems afraid of you?"
"I broke his hands and feet, which is why I was detained by the police for over twenty days. It was during that time that I met your brother."
Speaking of this, Yang Jian suddenly remembered that if Lu Feng hadn't met him, he wouldn't have come into contact with Yu Feng, nor would he have been exploited by her, leading to the current situation. Everything the Lu family was experiencing now was caused by him.
Lu Yao, however, didn't notice Yang Jian's anomaly. "No wonder Wu Laizi acted like a mouse seeing a cat when you appeared and slipped away when you weren't paying attention. Jian Ge, if he bothers me again in the future, can I say you're my boyfriend?"
Yang Jian was shocked, "No, no, no, I have a girlfriend."
"Tch, I don't really want you to be my boyfriend. I'll just use your name to scare him, see if he dares to harass me and my family again."
"Then you should say I'm your father's disciple."
"No, I have too many disciples of my father, and they are all doing legitimate work. That won't scare this hooligan. Only the status of 'boyfriend' will make him back down."
Yang Jian's face darkened. So, I'm not doing legitimate work either, just like Wu Laizi, a hooligan?