Rebirth Counterattack: I Heard That the Imperial Marshal Has a Crush on Me

Shen Wu couldn’t reveal that he had returned yet, so Lu Junzhi instructed him to stay here in peace without any disturbances.

Chu Muxi agreed, realizing that living on the Central Island made it nearly impossible for Chu Tianhao to interfere. Breaking through the Central Island’s security was practically unattainable.

“Grandpa, I’ll head back now. If I return later, they might become suspicious,” Chu Muxi reluctantly bid farewell to Shen Wu.

Shen Wu affectionately patted his head and advised, “Take good care of yourself, Xiao Xi. Don’t worry. Now that I’m aware of Chu Tianhao’s treacherous ambitions, he won’t succeed. In fact, you don’t need to return to him. Come live here with your grandpa. What do we have to fear from Chu Tianhao?”

Chu Muxi tilted his head and gently rubbed his grandfather’s hand. “Don’t worry about me, Grandpa. I can handle it here.”

He hadn’t achieved his revenge yet, and besides, Chu Tianhao wasn’t solely responsible for all those transgressions.

During his previous life’s imprisonment, Chu Mubei, who had come to flaunt his power, had inadvertently divulged a crucial piece of information. The evidence of treason placed on Chu Muxi’s head was orchestrated by people behind Chu Tianhao.

They had initially planned to commit treason, but they were apprehended. When Chu Muxi exposed the match result with Lu Junzhi, they sought to ensnare Lu Junzhi in their plot and placed the entire burden of guilt on Chu Muxi.

Chu Tianhao and that man were in the same predicament. If Chu Muxi didn’t fall, there was a chance that Chu Tianhao might escape unscathed.

Chu Muxi would never allow Chu Tianhao to have such an opportunity.

“Alright, just be careful on your way back,” Shen Wu stated before noticing Lu Junzhi standing in the yard.

“Xiao Lu, go accompany Xiao Xi.” He mentioned this casually but witnessed Lu Junzhi walk directly over to them.

“I’ll escort him back,” Lu Junzhi stated impassively.

Shen Wu was taken aback for a moment. “Very well, you don’t have to go to such lengths.” Despite the increased safety of having Lu Junzhi accompany his grandson, Shen Wu felt a sense of embarrassment regarding the trouble he had caused the senior officer since his return.

Even if the latter was a junior, Shen Wu felt somewhat self-conscious about having him personally see his grandson off.

Chu Muxi was currently a bit awkward around Lu Junzhi, so he quickly interjected, “It’s alright, Marshal Lu. I can manage by myself. There are attendants available.” He attempted to downplay the situation.

However, Lu Junzhi remained unfazed, standing resolutely before them.

Chu Muxi looked at him for a moment and eventually relented, pretending to shift his gaze elsewhere.

Lu Junzhi smirked faintly, but neither Shen Wu nor Chu Muxi noticed.

“I have some business to attend to, and I’ll take him back along the way,” Lu Junzhi decided, suppressing the turmoil in his heart and opting to let the boy leave.

Shen Wu replied with a smile, “Very well, thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome.”

The two of them boarded the airship, and Chu Muxi waved to Shen Wu. “Grandpa, we’ll see each other again in two days.”

“Alright, alright, take care,” Shen Wu replied with a hint of reluctance in his tone.

Chu Muxi was also somewhat emotional, choking back his feelings. “I know, Grandpa.”

As the airship ascended and left the yard, Chu Muxi kept his eyes fixed on the window, unwilling to withdraw his gaze.

“In two days,” Lu Junzhi suddenly said.

“Huh? What?” Chu Muxi had initially tried to discreetly wipe away the tears that welled up in the corners of his eyes. However, Lu Junzhi’s comment prompted him to turn around abruptly, and their eyes met.

Lu Junzhi arched an eyebrow. “Are you crying?” Without waiting for Chu Muxi to deny it, he added, “Child.”

Chu Muxi was instantly indignant. “Who are you calling a child! I’ll be an adult in two days!”

Lu Junzhi examined him closely and remarked, “In two days?”

“Yes, two days! In three days, I’ll have the legal authority to make my own decisions!” Chu Tianhao would no longer be able to use his guardianship to restrict his actions once he turned eighteen.

Lu Junzhi observed the flash of hatred in Chu Muxi’s eyes and couldn’t help but wonder if this child had genuinely been mistreated. He had been respectful, obedient, and courteous toward his elders, but it was the second time today that Lu Junzhi had witnessed such deep-seated hatred in his expression.

While Lu Junzhi had a relatively amicable relationship with Shen Wu, he had never fully grasped the intricacies of the Shen and Chu families’ affairs. Before today, they were essentially strangers.

In essence, the Chu family’s status couldn’t even secure them an entry into the Lu family’s villa outside of the central island.

Yet, there was an inexplicable allure to Chu Muxi, causing Lu Junzhi to approach and explore him repeatedly, in search of understanding.

Despite being the empire’s dream lover for half of the population, an object of envy for the other half, and the focus of affection for most women, Lu Junzhi was entirely inexperienced when it came to matters of the heart.

Over his thirty years of service, only two things had found their way into his heart.

One was his commitment to his parents, and the other was his dedication to the empire.

Chu Muxi was the first to suddenly enter his life without causing any aversion. Lu Junzhi could sense that some of the confusion plaguing Chu Muxi was somehow linked to himself.

After all, Chu Muxi was still a young, lacking the adeptness and worldly wisdom to shield his emotions entirely. Despite his cautiousness, he inadvertently revealed certain clues.

Lu Junzhi had noticed Chu Muxi’s eyes on him multiple times through the reflection in the window as he communicated with his subordinates. These glances conveyed a range of emotions, from confusion and sadness to occasional shyness—sentiments he had observed in countless individuals who had deliberately sought his attention.

What perplexed him was that if anyone else attempted to get close to him with such expressions, he would have been extremely repelled and rejected them without hesitation.

Yet, when he realized that the one exhibiting these emotions was Chu Muxi, a small but undeniable sense of delight took root deep within his heart.

“Lu, Marshal Lu?” Chu Muxi ventured to call out, noting Lu Junzhi’s blank stare as he appeared to be lost in thought.

Were his thoughts focused somewhere else entirely?

“What?” After a brief pause, Lu Junzhi inquired in a hoarse voice.

Chu Muxi pointed to the outside. “We’ve arrived.”

Lu Junzhi suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing that they had indeed reached their destination.

After safely landing the airship on the ground, Chu Muxi was about to lean down to unfasten his seatbelt. However, he suddenly encountered difficulty as the buckle seemed stuck. He tugged at it a few times, but it refused to budge.

As he engaged in a silent struggle with the seatbelt, a hand extended from the other side of the cockpit. Delicate, well-proportioned fingers lightly touched the clasp twice, producing an audible click as the safety buckle finally released.

Chu Muxi stared at the hand resting on his waist, his heart racing like a startled deer, his mouth suddenly parched.