Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 5

In the midst of the commotion, the servants brought the doctor over.

Even though Lu Deren was furious, he maintained his composed appearance and politely said to the doctor, “Thank you for coming.”

In Qingshui County, this was always his image.

Everyone knew that the son-in-law married into the Qiao family was a refined gentleman, a truly outstanding man among thousands.

Madam Qiao, with reddened eyes, stepped aside to make way for the doctor, while Lu Tang held Madam Qiao’s trembling shoulders.

The incident with Gu Changming had caused a huge stir, and the doctor naturally understood why the eldest daughter of the Lu family had fainted.

Without saying much, the doctor quickly applied acupuncture to wake Lu Shuqing and prescribed a few medicines before swiftly leaving.

“I’m just a doctor with no emotions, only here to earn money!”

As soon as the doctor left, the awakened Lu Shuqing cried bitterly under her blanket.

She and Gu Changming had shared mutual affection for three years!

She always believed that she and Gu Changming would be as loving as her father and mother.

That scoundrel!

Lu Shuqing cried heartbreakingly, making Madam Qiao feel as if needles were piercing her heart.

Lu Tang glanced at Lu Deren and tugged at Madam Qiao’s hand. “Mother, why don’t my sister and I sleep here tonight? We can stay with sister.”

Then she turned to Lu Deren and said, “Father, could you go check on the Gu family?”

From the moment the incident happened, Lu Deren’s mind was not here. He wanted to rush to the Gu family immediately to find out why Gu Changming had gone to the Spring Fragrance Courtyard and chosen those two prostitutes.

He agreed quickly, “Alright then, Madam, you stay with Shuqing. I’ll go to the Gu family.”

Taking a deep breath, Lu Deren, with a face full of fatherly sorrow, said to Lu Shuqing, “Shuqing, don’t worry, I’m here.”

As soon as Lu Deren left, Lu Tang slipped out of bed to close the door.

Madam Qiao was about to comfort her daughter but was startled by Lu Tang’s odd behavior. “What are you doing?”

Lu Tang lowered her voice, “Mother, Sister, I have something important to say.”

Afraid that Lu Deren might return, Lu Tang quickly recounted everything she had heard at noon.

After finishing, the three of them looked at each other with wide eyes.

The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Lu Tang pursed her lips, looking from her mother to her sister. “Although I’m not sure if father is really involved, I’m not lying. It’s true.”

“They’ve said such things, and you’re still not sure? Do you have a brain?” Lu Shuqing, with her swollen eyes, sobbed, “So, the young man who hugged you at the Fortune Tea House, was he really handsome?”

Lu Tang:.

What the heck! Is that the main point here?

“Sister, have you cried so much that your brain got damaged?”

Lu Shuqing glared at Lu Tang, “I was just trying to distract mother so she wouldn’t be too shocked!”

Lu Tang:.

“Great job!”

After Lu Shuqing spoke, both siblings turned to Madam Qiao, holding her hands on either side, softly calling, “Mother.”

Madam Qiao took a deep breath, the air stinging her chest painfully, making her internal organs feel as if they were being cut with a knife, slowly and agonizingly.

How could she not be heartbroken and furious?

That was the man she had trusted and loved wholeheartedly!

Holding back her tears, Madam Qiao squeezed her children’s hands and asked Lu Tang, “So, you said those things at noon?”

“I am your father!”

Lu Tang nodded firmly.

“So, the incident with Gu Changming, was it your doing?” Madam Qiao looked at Lu Tang, this once carefree boy of fourteen who spent his days idling.

In the past, she thought it was just Lu Deren spoiling the child.

But now…

He wanted to ruin her precious boy.

Despite being a rogue, Lu Tang handled Gu Changming effortlessly. As long as the Gu family couldn’t find out who framed Gu Changming, he would never recover.

Closing her eyes, Madam Qiao’s heart trembled with pain.

Her father’s last words echoed in her mind: “Treat Lu Tang as your son. If anything happens, he will be your support.”

Her father couldn’t rest in peace, even on his deathbed.

Without waiting for Lu Tang’s answer, Madam Qiao turned to Lu Shuqing, “This marriage…”

“Mother, Gu Changming isn’t worthy of me. This marriage must be annulled! Don’t worry, I’m a bit sad, but more than sadness, I want to destroy that scoundrel! He wants to use my dowry to support another woman? Over my dead body!”

As Lu Shuqing spoke, her eyes flashed with fierceness.

Lu Tang said to Madam Qiao, “Mother, do you want a divorce? My sister and I will support you.”

Madam Qiao sneered, “Divorce? He is a live-in son-in-law. It’s I who would be kicking him out!”

Pausing, Madam Qiao continued, “Your father never mentioned resuming his official position, and as for this woman, Ming Yu, he kept her a secret from us. Who knows what else he’s hiding. I need to investigate thoroughly before making any decisions. For now, act as if you know nothing. Understood?”

Her greatest fear was not hatred, but fear!

She feared Lu Deren had gone too far, possibly leading them to ruin.

Gu Yunhe had said that all of Shuqing’s dowry would eventually belong to Ming Yu. What else could Lu Deren do?

Lu Tang was worried her mother might act impulsively upon learning the truth. Hearing Madam Qiao’s words, she felt relieved.

The three talked for a while before blowing out the candle and lying down.

Though each harbored their own thoughts, none of them truly slept.

“Do you want to draw lots now?”

Just as Lu Tang lay down, the system’s voice sounded.

“Yes.”

With nothing else to do.

A grid of nine squares appeared in front of Lu Tang, forming a picture of green mountains and clear waters.

“Please pick a tile at random.”

Lu Tang chose the middle one.

“Processing the system…”

After a brief moment, the tile she selected glowed and flipped over.

In large golden letters, it read: Congratulations, you’ve received a Punishment Task!

Lu Tang:!

“Hahaha!”

The system’s cold voice burst into maniacal laughter.

“I’ve followed 3,152 hosts, and you’re the only one who drew a punishment task!”

Lu Tang:.

“Can I refuse this reward?”

“What are you saying? You chose this reward, so you must complete it.”

“Generating reward, please wait”

“Please complete the task of staying awake all night.”

Lu Tang:.

Stay awake all night? She couldn’t just lie there all night without moving.

Even if she could stay lying down, her eyelids couldn’t hold out!

It’s not like she could just decide not to sleep, and her eyes would obey!

After a long time, when she heard the even breathing of Madam Qiao and Lu Shuqing, Lu Tang softly called out, “Mother, Sister.” When no one responded, she quietly got out of bed.

Grateful that it was summer, she could at least walk around the courtyard without sleeping.

Yawning and stretching, she had just barely extended her arms when she heard a faint cry from outside, “Bandits are kidnapping people!”