Chapter 73: Aunt Rou of the Bai Family

“Aunt?” Lu Jin hurriedly pushed the woman away and asked in surprise.

“Hm?” Bai Li Rou, whose face was streaked with tears after being pushed aside, looked at Lu Jin in confusion. What was wrong with this child?

Oh, Aunt, why are you causing such a scene? Why are you calling me your son out of the blue? Lu Jin wished he could find a crack in the ground to squeeze into—this was just too embarrassing.

The household guards gathered around had no idea Lu Jin had lost his memory. Each of them stood with their mouths agape at the sight. How could the young master not even distinguish between his aunt and his mother?

“Aunt, where is my mother?” Lu Jin quickly tried to move past the awkwardness.

“Ah? You want to see your mother first? Or would you rather rest at home for a bit before going?” Bai Li Rou wiped her tears as she asked.

This left Lu Jin completely baffled. Why weren’t they living together? Then what was this place to him? At best, it was his uncle’s house.

“Forget it, let’s just go home.” Lu Jin felt a wave of disappointment. Why was everything always so different from what he imagined?

“Ah? Isn’t this home?” Bai Li Rou couldn’t even bother to wipe her tears, her eyes wide with shock.

“But my mother isn’t here, is she?” Home is wherever one’s mother is.

Bai Li Rou was at a loss. What was this child talking about? Why couldn’t she understand him at all?

“So you want to go wherever your mother is?” Bai Li Rou tried probing after a moment’s thought.

“Of course!” Wasn’t it obvious? What son wouldn’t want to see his mother first upon returning home?

“Oh, my child, you mustn’t go… If you leave, what will become of your aunt…” As soon as Bai Li Rou heard Lu Jin wanted to find his mother, she immediately grabbed him and began to weep anew, her full face streaked with tears. What was wrong with this child? Word had it he’d become the top scorer in the exam, but now that he was back, why did he seem to have lost his senses?

What on earth was she saying? Why couldn’t he go? And what did she mean by “what will become of you”? Did his former self have some strange condition?

“Hmph! Now that he’s top of the class, he can’t even recognize his own aunt!” came a sharp voice from behind Bai Li Rou.

Oh dear, who was this now? Could these interruptions please stop?

Lu Jin’s gaze went past his aunt, only to see a girl of about fourteen or fifteen standing behind her, pretty yet wearing a rather unfriendly expression. And who was she supposed to be?

“And you are?” Lu Jin asked, puzzled.

“Lu Jin, you’re something else. Can’t wait to cut ties with us, can you? Looks like you’ve found yourself someone wealthy.” The girl’s tongue was sharp, her words leaving Lu Jin even more bewildered.

“Caiwei, you’re not to speak to your brother like that,” Bai Li Rou scolded.

“Hmph! Who says he’s my brother!” the girl retorted coldly, turning her face away.

So this was his cousin? Aunt’s daughter. But what was with that attitude? Lu Jin found it odd. Was there something wrong with the feng shui here that made everyone so irritable?

“Aunt…”

“Miss, and you are?” Bai Li Rou finally noticed the beautiful woman standing behind Lu Jin. She’d been so flustered upon seeing him earlier that she hadn’t paid attention.

“I’m Shen Yanxi, Aunt. Could we have a word?” Seeing Lu Jin so flustered, Shen Yanxi had no choice but to step forward.

“Ah, yes, of course.” Bai Li Rou wiped her tears again, furtively glancing back as she walked aside with Shen Yanxi.

Lu Jin didn’t interfere. It was just as well for Shen Yanxi to ask questions—perhaps only women could understand each other. But what was wrong with this cousin, acting as though he were her nemesis?

“You’re called Caiwei?” Lu Jin looked at the girl. If she really was his cousin, he ought to get along with her.

“Hmph…”

Before he could catch what Lu Caiwei muttered, a wail erupted from his aunt’s direction.

Lu Jin turned to see Bai Li Rou with her eyes wide open, hands clamped over her mouth, tears streaming down her face like a breached river.

“My child…” she cried, running over to embrace Lu Jin once more.

Why was this happening again? Wasn’t his aunt a bit too affectionate? Who hugged their nephew and cried at the drop of a hat?

“Aunt, let’s go inside,” Shen Yanxi suggested from the side, ignoring Lu Jin’s searching gaze.

“Yes, yes, my child, come home with Aunt, we’ll talk inside,” Bai Li Rou said, wiping her tears as she led Lu Jin toward the house.

“Miss Shen, all of you come in. Chuntao, call Zhao Da and have the guards settle in the west wing,” Bai Li Rou instructed as she walked.

Lu Jin had no choice but to follow inside. As they went, Shen Yanxi whispered to him, “I told your aunt about your memory loss.”

Lu Jin finally understood the meaning behind the earlier scene. It was fine for his aunt to know he’d lost his memory—she seemed so emotional, surely she wouldn’t use it against him?

He hadn’t intended to hide it anyway; he’d planned to tell the family as soon as he arrived, since it would be impossible to have any meaningful conversations otherwise. He just hadn’t anticipated so many complications.

Lu Jin and Shen Yanxi followed his aunt to the east wing, accompanied by only a few maids and the faithful Yuan Fang.

Once inside, Lu Jin realized his aunt’s household was quite well-off; there were many rooms, all clean and tidy.

Aunt busied herself with instructing the servants to receive Yuan Fang and the maids. But these people weren’t used to being waited on; instead, they joined in the chores with the household staff.

“Jin’er, Miss Shen, come in quickly,” Bai Li Rou urged, leading Lu Jin and Shen Yanxi to seats in the main hall.

Before Lu Jin could even settle, his aunt was by his side again, gripping his hand and weeping as she looked him over from head to toe.

“How did you end up losing your soul?” she choked out, her tears making Lu Jin’s heart ache.

Lu Jin was startled by her words about losing his soul. He was rather sensitive to such talk at the moment.

“Aunt, it’s not that I’ve lost my soul—I just can’t remember the past. I’ve lost my memory,” Lu Jin quickly reassured her.

Only now did he take a good look at his aunt: she was in her thirties, plump and gentle, her features as warm as jade in spring, her words soft and caring, radiating an innate warmth and kindness.

“All right, whatever my child says. Just tell Aunt what happened,” his aunt pressed anxiously.

Lu Jin wanted to explain, but first he needed to introduce Shen Yanxi to avoid further awkwardness.

“Aunt, am I married? Do I have children?” Lu Jin asked cautiously. This question was crucial for him.

“You always said you wanted to focus on your studies and not be distracted. Is it that you’re thinking of marriage now?” Bai Li Rou stopped crying at once and glanced at Shen Yanxi.

Her words lifted a thousand-pound weight from Lu Jin’s heart. The original him wasn’t married—his troubles were much lighter now. Everything else could be handled.

Shen Yanxi, sitting nearby, was also relieved to hear Lu Jin wasn’t married. Though she’d resolved to face things with him, such matters would have made her own position awkward. Now, all those concerns evaporated.

She’d always had a knot in her heart: if Lu Jin already had a wife, she wouldn’t be his first and true wife, which would have always bothered her.

“Aunt, I fainted while looking at the exam results. She saved me, and since then, I’ve had amnesia and nowhere to go. She took me in and cared for me… Later, we got married. She is now my wife—Shen Yanxi.” Lu Jin recounted the events leading up to his amnesia and marriage.

He had to make sure Shen Yanxi was clearly introduced; she was no kidnapper, and it wouldn’t do for the family to think she’d abducted their good son and turned him into a live-in son-in-law.

Shen Yanxi listened intently, every scene flashing before her mind’s eye. She never once doubted that Lu Jin would stand up for her.

“My child, how much you must have suffered… Aunt waited for you every day, never expecting this…” Bai Li Rou’s tears never ceased as she listened to Lu Jin’s retelling.

Seeing the pain in his aunt’s face, Lu Jin’s heart ached as well.

“Aunt, it’s all in the past now. Besides, look, I’ve even gained such a beautiful wife…” Lu Jin joked, trying to comfort her.

“Greetings, Aunt!” Shen Yanxi, hearing this, could no longer remain seated and quickly rose to bow.

“Good, good, Xi’er, sit down. Aunt has never seen such a lovely girl—my son is truly fortunate…” Bai Li Rou stood, wiping her tears away, her smile as radiant as spring grass.

She’d already suspected as much—no one would bring a young woman home for no reason. Now that it was certain this was her daughter-in-law, and such a beautiful one at that, she was even more delighted. Still, doubts and regrets lingered: with no elders present, how had they managed to wed?

“Aunt, you didn’t look for me during this time, did you?” Lu Jin asked, worried that some mishap had occurred in between.

At his words, Bai Li Rou’s heart skipped a beat. Was Jin’er blaming them for not searching for him?

They’d waited so long for his return, and had considered looking for him. But people said that scholars often liked to socialize, and since Lu Jin had become the top scorer, he’d surely be invited everywhere. They’d worried that if they did try to find him, it would only cause him annoyance. Had they known he’d lost his memory, they’d have gone immediately.

“Aunt, could you tell me about our family? I don’t remember a thing,” Lu Jin asked, quickly changing the subject when he saw her hesitation.

Lu Caiwei, who had been listening, grew suspicious. Had he really lost his memory?

Now that Bai Li Rou had calmed down, she gave Lu Jin another searching look. Yes, this was her son.

She slowly began to explain, and through her account, Lu Jin finally learned of his original family situation.

Both his parents had died when he was very young, and it was his uncle, Lu Yuanrong, and aunt, Bai Li Rou, who had raised him. So calling her “mother” wasn’t wrong at all.

His aunt truly had loved him as her own son. The care and concern in her eyes was genuine, not feigned.

Thinking back to the earlier scene at the door, it was no wonder she was so adamant about not letting him go looking for his mother.

“And where is my uncle?” Lu Jin asked, for he hadn’t seen him yet.

“Father’s out in the fields,” said Lu Caiwei, before his aunt could answer.

Lu Jin glanced at her, but the girl just gave another cold snort and turned away, her braids swinging behind her in youthful defiance.

“My child, don’t mind that silly girl. I’ve spoiled her rotten,” Bai Li Rou said quickly.

“Hmph! You’re so biased…” The girl burst into tears and ran out.

Lu Jin was left awkwardly at a loss. What on earth was going on here?

“Husband, you talk with Aunt. I’ll go check on Caiwei,” Shen Yanxi said, rising swiftly.

“Xi’er, you needn’t mind that girl. She’ll be fine soon. Just stay here and keep me company.”

“Aunt, you talk. I’ll go look in on her—it’s no trouble at all.”

Shen Yanxi had wanted to give the family some time together anyway, so she took the opportunity to step out.

“My child, you married while your uncle and I weren’t even present…”

Lu Jin found it stranger still. His aunt was so good to him—why the hesitation, why the anxiety in her eyes?

“Aunt, just ask whatever you want. You and Uncle raised me; you’re my parents in every sense. There’s nothing you can’t ask,” Lu Jin replied gently.