Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

"Hidden in a cabinet?" Xue Rui asked incredulously.

Isn't this something only "Old Wang next door" would do?
Although he had also hidden it in Gu Muxue's closet for a while.

That feeling is awful; you're constantly on edge.

"Mmm!" Lin Ruoxi nodded emphatically, her eyes sparkling.

Lin Ruoxi's mindset was simple: since Gu Muxue wasn't around, she could do whatever she wanted as long as Xue Rui agreed.

"Um... let me think about it some more?" Xue Rui said uncertainly, while observing Lin Ruoxi's reaction.

His original intention was to appease Lin Ruoxi and make her a promise, agreeing to spend a few more days with her after visiting relatives.

But he simply couldn't refuse the little girl's pitiful gaze.

"I...I'll sneak back and leave before dawn, so no one will notice," Lin Ruoxi said weakly.

Before Xue Rui could reply, Lin Ruoxi said crisply, "I promise I will be very quiet and won't make a sound."

"Xixi, what will you do if you get hungry?" Xue Rui asked a very practical question.

"Hmm, I'm not hungry."

"There's no toilet in my room, you can't just hold it in."

"I... I can drink less water."

Xue Rui pinched the bridge of his nose. Lin Ruoxi had put it so bluntly; if he didn't agree, his conscience wouldn't allow it.

Just as the two were discussing how to "deceive everyone," they heard light footsteps behind them, along with Xue Yao's urging:

"Hurry up, hurry up, Mom's calling us to eat."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoxi stood up, grabbed Xue Rui's arm, and gently shook it: "Let's go."

……

When they arrived at the old man's house, there were four or five tables set up in the courtyard, and many people were seated at the tables. Xue Rui subconsciously walked towards the table where the women were sitting.

In the past, he would have preferred to sit with men, boast, and discuss national and familial affairs.

But now, because he possesses memories of the future, he naturally stands in God's-eye view, and has lost the mood for discussion. He'd rather sit at a table with a woman and listen to some gossip.

When Xue Yao saw her older brother coming over, she moved aside, making room for the three seats she had reserved in advance.

"Sit there."

Lin Ruoxi grabbed Xue Rui's arm and weakly pointed to the middle-aged men's dining table.

"Why?" Xue Rui asked, looking bewildered.

Don't girls this age usually like to sit at the same table with women?

Why choose a group of greasy middle-aged men?
Lin Ruoxi looked around and whispered, "They only eat peanuts, so we can eat more vegetables. I... I'll pull out a chicken leg for you later."

Xue Rui's lips twitched involuntarily. This little girl was really down-to-earth; she had actually figured out the routine of attending banquets.

But Lin Ruoxi's tone sounded like she was lying or hiding something.

Indeed, that was the case. Lin Ruoxi had already prepared herself to "spend the night in the closet," and she had a very clear understanding of her own appetite.

If she didn't want to be hungry all night, she had to eat more beforehand. Only at a man's dinner table could Lin Ruoxi eat her fill.

After taking his seat, Xue Rui explained with a smile, "Those tables are all full."

Xue Yao looked at the two empty chairs beside her and thought to herself, "Isn't my brother just lying through his teeth?"
An elderly man smiled and handed Lin Ruoxi a drink and a bowl and chopsticks: "It's alright, sit down and eat."

Lin Ruoxi's seating arrangement did not cause any resentment among the guests; instead, it became a new topic of conversation at the dinner table.

However, not long after the meal began, everyone noticed something unusual: Lin Ruoxi had an unusually large appetite, picking up food one after another with her chopsticks.

"This girl is really pretty, and she has quite an appetite. Xiao Rui, you'd better work hard to earn money, or you won't be able to support a wife," an uncle joked.

Lin Ruoxi hurriedly swallowed what was in her mouth, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

She choked.

"Have some water." Xue Rui handed the orange juice to Lin Ruoxi's lips.

However, Lin Ruoxi only took a small, symbolic sip, swallowed what was in her mouth, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Xue Rui looked at the orange juice, which had barely decreased in volume, and his eye twitched involuntarily. Lin Ruoxi was determined to stay and not leave.

“Uncle, I don’t need him to support me. I can earn money to support my family.”

Lin Ruoxi blushed and lowered her head to eat in small bites.

Lin Ruoxi felt a little guilty. She and Gu Muxue had agreed that she couldn't embarrass Xue Rui, and she had even practiced how to eat elegantly beforehand.

But she forgot today.

After these words, there was a moment of silence at the table, and Xue Rui received many envious glances.

Xue Rui noticed Lin Ruoxi's change and put some food on her plate, saying, "Don't worry about it, your uncle is just joking with us."

But Lin Ruoxi continued to eat her food in small bites, thinking that she couldn't embarrass Xue Rui.

Seeing that his words had no effect, Xue Rui gave his father a wink.

Xue Jianfeng kept his eyes on Lin Ruoxi. He was quite satisfied with this daughter-in-law, even though she seemed a bit stingy. For example, when the dishes were served, Lin Ruoxi unhesitatingly grabbed a chicken leg for Xue Rui.

But in the end, isn't it all for the good of his son?
Xue Jianfeng stood up, pulled off the other chicken leg, and put it in Lin Ruoxi's bowl:

"Being able to eat is a blessing. Our family owns a restaurant, so you can eat as much as you want from now on."

“Yes, your father-in-law is capable, you can just enjoy the good life with him.” Someone immediately chimed in.

Xue Rui looked surprised for a moment, and in his heart, he gave his father a very high evaluation.

The reason he didn't touch the chicken leg was because Lin Ruoxi had already disposed of one, and there was no reason for his family to touch another one.

But his father didn't seem to care about any of that.

After thinking about it for a moment, Xue Rui instantly felt relieved.

Because his father was doing well, which brought a lot of benefits to the relatives, no one at the table dared to voice any objections, and some even flattered Xue Jianfeng.

Lin Ruoxi saw the chicken leg in the bowl, and she looked up blankly, glancing at Xue Jianfeng and then at Xue Rui.

Things are better now, but due to cultural inertia, chicken legs on the dinner table still carry a different meaning.

That was a special kind of pampering.

Lin Ruoxi gave this affection to Xue Rui.

She swallowed nervously, feeling that the chicken leg was too heavy.

Lin Ruoxi looked around, then picked up her rice bowl, intending to give the chicken leg to another child.

"Where to?" Xue Rui asked with a smile, pressing Lin Ruoxi's hand down.

"I...I don't like chicken legs," Lin Ruoxi said softly.

Xue Rui sighed inwardly, "Who doesn't like chicken legs?"
Having never received care from elders, one will always feel a sense of "unworthiness".

Xue Rui whispered in Lin Ruoxi's ear, "Eat it. If you don't eat it, you're disrespecting Dad. He's been working so hard all these years, isn't this the day he's been waiting for?"

Lin Ruoxi's mind was blank, her thoughts filled with the words "our dad".

Xue Rui held the chicken leg to Lin Ruoxi's mouth. Lin Ruoxi opened her mouth blankly and took a bite of the chicken leg.

Lin Ruoxi gnawed the chicken leg clean, even crunching down the cartilage.

"Is it really that delicious?" Xue Rui joked.

Compared to the chicken bones he was gnawing on, the bones Lin Ruoxi was gnawing on were so bad that even Da Huang (a famous dog) would shake his head in disapproval.

"It's delicious." Lin Ruoxi smiled foolishly.

For Lin Ruoxi, this chicken leg was not only a sign of her elders' care for her, but also a form of recognition.

After dinner, Lin Ruoxi walked over to Xue Jianfeng, who was drinking, and whispered, "Uncle, I have to go home. I'm worried about Grandma being home alone." Xue Jianfeng paused, his drunkenness subsiding, and said with feigned regret, "It's the New Year, stay a few more days."

Lin Ruoxi's eyes lit up. She really wanted to stay a few more days, but her time was up.

“Grandma…I’m worried about her being home alone.” Lin Ruoxi said with the same regret.

Xue Rui watched from the side, his lips twitching. Why were these two suddenly being so polite?

One is pretending to be reluctant, while the other is genuinely reluctant.

"Xiao Rui, go see them off." Xue Jianfeng tossed the car keys to Xue Rui.

"Okay," Xue Rui said with a smile.

After saying goodbye to Xue Rui's parents, Lin Ruoxi stood in the alley, her heart filled with emotion.

She first checked her phone and told Gu Muxue: "Muxue, I've said goodbye to my aunt and uncle."

Gu Muxue: [Okay.]

At the same time, Xue Rui also received a WeChat message from Gu Muxue.

Gu Muxue: [Ruoxi is going home. Can you drive her home? If you don't have a car, I'll have my driver go over.]

Lin Ruoxi looked nervous and whispered, "No... please don't tell Mu Xue, okay? I'm afraid she'll be angry."

Xue Rui nodded helplessly, took a picture of the BMW car key, and replied:
"No need, I'll drive my dad's car."

Xue Rui patted Lin Ruoxi's head: "Xixi, what do you want to do now?"

Lin Ruoxi bit her lip: "Hmm... let's hide my car first and put it in another village alley."

Xue Rui's lips twitched: "Okay."

The two parked their car at the village committee office in the next village, covered it with a cover, and then drove back home.

Because her parents were still staying at a relative's house, the house was empty at the moment, and Lin Ruoxi was able to enter Xue Rui's room smoothly.

After entering the room, Lin Ruoxi decisively locked the door. She put her phone on silent mode and pulled the curtains halfway up the wall, looking out the window through the gap between the curtains and the wall.

Xue Rui joked, "Xi Xi, what are you doing? If you're going to draw the curtains, just draw them all the way."

“Drawing the curtains in broad daylight is too deliberate. As long as I’m not near the window, people outside can’t see inside from this angle. I’ve confirmed it on the first floor…” Lin Ruoxi explained.

"Oh, right, if you go out, don't lock the door. It will only make people curious. I'll just stay in the closet." Lin Ruoxi said in a very low voice.

She opened the closet door, laid out a small blanket inside, folded some clothes into a small pillow, and quietly lay down inside.

Lin Ruoxi had even hidden her shoes in the closet beforehand, so that no clues could be found from the outside.

"Xi Xi, tell me honestly, was this premeditated?" Xue Rui asked deliberately with a stern face.

Lin Ruoxi huddled in the closet and said weakly, "No...nothing."

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the door. Lin Ruoxi instinctively covered her mouth to prevent herself from making a sound.

With a "gulp," Xue Rui swallowed hard.

Lin Ruoxi was so nervous that Xue Rui also became nervous.

Damn it, we're in our own home, but it's acting like we're thieves in someone else's house.

Suddenly, someone pressed down on the doorknob, and Xue Rui's heart started pounding.

"Brother, didn't you go to see my sister-in-law off? Why did you lock the door in broad daylight?"

Xue Yao's voice came from outside the door.

Lin Ruoxi pointed to the door, nodded slightly to Xue Rui, and then gently closed the cabinet door.

Xue Rui instantly understood Lin Ruoxi's meaning. Lin Ruoxi told her to open the door and let Xue Yao in, so as to dispel Xue Yao's doubts.

After opening the door, Xue Rui asked impatiently:
"She drove home by herself. What do you want from me?"

Suddenly, Big Yellow perked up its ears and slipped into the room from beside Xue Rui's feet.

Xue Rui and Xue Yao turned their heads at the same time, their eyes fixed on Da Huang.

Da Huang lowered its head and its nose twitched in the room, making Xue Rui's heart jump into his throat.

Suddenly, Da Huang raised its head and wagged its tail as it walked toward the cabinet.

Big Yellow stood up on its two legs, scratching at the cabinet door with its two front paws and making strange whimpering noises.

A "woof!" brought the two of them back to their senses.

Xue Rui and Xue Yao exchanged a glance, and he saw a mocking smile in Xue Yao's eyes.

In the blink of an eye, Xue Yao squeezed through the door without saying a word, while Xue Rui held her back tightly.

"Brother, what's in your closet?" Xue Yao asked loudly.

Xue Rui was immediately alarmed. He pulled Xue Yao into the room, locked the door behind him, and whispered, "Yao Yao, keep your voice down."

Xixi, you're so meticulous, yet you still made a mistake!
There's a traitor in our family!

"I know even if you don't tell me," Xue Yao threatened with a smile.

"You can pretend nothing happened."

Xue Rui took out his phone and pressed 1000 yuan on the transfer interface.

Xue Yao's eyes lit up. She immediately understood what Xue Rui meant. Her brother was giving her hush money!

"Add a little more," Xue Yao said with a smile.

Xue Rui sneered and put his phone away: "Fine, then. It's not like I have to stay at home."

Xue Yao pouted and pointed at Da Huang, saying, "What about my good brother's hush money?"

"It's worth at most two hundred, take it or leave it." Xue Rui rolled his eyes.

Xue Yao, seeing that she had a good deal, happily took the reins of Da Huang and said, "Two hundred yuan, let's go."

"Woof!" Big Yellow stuck its tail and refused to leave.

"There's nothing inside. You're hallucinating." Xue Yao picked up Da Huang without saying another word.

Xue Rui: ……

……

After Xue Yao left, Xue Rui locked the door again.

Hearing the door lock, Lin Ruoxi gently opened the cabinet door. She curled up inside and murmured, "I...it was my fault."

Xue Rui bent down and gently stroked Lin Ruoxi's head.

The little girl looked adorable curled up in a ball.

"Xi Xi, Yao Yao just blackmailed me. How are you going to make it up to me?" Xue Rui joked.

Lin Ruoxi paused for a moment, then reached into the cabinet for her schoolbag.

"I don't want money," Xue Rui said.

Lin Ruoxi reluctantly withdrew her hand, looked up at Xue Rui, and said, "Then...then punish me."

Xue Rui sighed; Lin Ruoxi was still so petty.

Xue Rui didn't want Lin Ruoxi to feel guilty, so he pointed to his face and said, "I'll punish you by making you kiss me, and then this matter will be over."

Lin Ruoxi smiled, her eyes crinkling. Without hesitation, she kissed him, from his cheek to his lips, and then to Xue Rui's neck.

Hearing the slightly rapid breathing beside him, Xue Rui thought to himself, "This is bad."

For Lin Ruoxi, this was entirely a reward. (End of Chapter)