But appearances are just that, appearances; internally, the Sweet Melon People differ too much from Lu Dongliang.
"Xiuer, this Lu Dongliang is the real deal," Li Banfeng said to "Lu Dongliang." "The He Family claims he’s genuine, Li Qi says he’s genuine, Ma Wu says he’s genuine, even the Chu Family says he’s genuine. Lu Chunying says he’s genuine, Duan Shaoxia also has to say he’s genuine—people and evidence abound; it’s ironclad evidence as firm as a mountain. This man is the real deal!"
「Greenwater City, Lu Family Mansion.」
Duan Shaoxia was in a state of constant panic and unease, unable to eat or sleep, fearing Lu Dongliang might suddenly burst through her front door.
As night fell, a Support arrived with a message: "Lady, Head Qiu has returned."
"Zhiheng!" Duan Shaoxia was overjoyed. "Quickly, let him in, hurry!"
"He hasn’t come alone; He Yuxiu and Li Qi are with him."
"He Yuxiu and Li Qi?" Duan Shaoxia hesitated for a moment. "They are one of us too. Let them come in together!"
Soon, Qiu Zhiheng, Li Qi, and He Yuxiu were all inside the mansion. Duan Shaoxia said, "Yuxiu, Brother Li Qi, please sit here for a moment; I have something to discuss privately with Zhiheng!"
He Yuxiu laughed and said, "Shaoxia, what kind of talk is this? You, alone with a man in the middle of the night?"
Duan Shaoxia couldn’t be bothered with shame. "This is a family matter."
Qiu Zhiheng said, "Lady Duan, let’s just talk here."
Duan Shaoxia shook her head and said, "Family affairs cannot be discussed with outsiders!"
He Yuxiu said, "Shaoxia, I’ve known about those little troubles in your family for a long time now. You’re out in public every day with Zhang Huaiyi, as if I can’t see. That child must be Yuan Hai, right? You’ve used a Technique to exchange his soul!"
Duan Shaoxia trembled. "He Yuxiu, don’t talk nonsense! What soul exchange? How could such a thing exist in this world?"
He Yuxiu laughed and said, "Shaoxia, you’re underestimating me. I have stumbled through Jianghu for so many years, and anyone who knows me must call me Sister Xiu. What haven’t I seen before? You’re using the Emotion Cultivation Technique, exchanging bone and blood. If the two people are closely related enough, you can exchange their souls. If you still won’t admit it, then I won’t meddle with your family affairs. Once Lu Dongliang returns, you won’t be able to save your son!"
Duan Shaoxia looked at He Yuxiu and asked, "That Dongliang, is he genuine?"
He Yuxiu snorted. "Who can really say which one is genuine? I think the one who can keep your son safe, he’s the real one!"
Duan Shaoxia was astonished and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Li Qi said, "I can bring back a Lu Dongliang to you, and I guarantee this Lu Dongliang won’t kill your son."
At first, Duan Shaoxia didn’t understand. Pondering for a long time, she shook her head repeatedly. "You’re all scheming against me!"
Qiu Zhiheng said, "Although I’m no longer with the Lu Family, I would never scheme against them. Lady Duan, if you want to protect Yuan Hai, this is the only way."
No matter what, Duan Shaoxia refused to consent. He Yuxiu sighed, "Shaoxia, you should go back to your room and rest for a while. I’ll come to consult with you alone later."
After Duan Shaoxia returned to her room, He Yuxiu got up to follow. Li Banfeng asked in a low voice, "How are you going to discuss this with her?"
"I learned a thing or two from Oil Peach; I’ll be able to convince her in a while."
An hour later, Duan Shaoxia stepped out of the room, composed her appearance, took a deep breath, and declared, "Let’s do it your way!"
Li Banfeng smiled.
Upon leaving the Lu Family Mansion, Li Banfeng informed Luo Zhengnan, "Notify Lu Chunying she can return to Greenwater City now."
...
In Greenwater City, on Xingqing Road, He Jiaqing bought a newspaper, leaned against the wall to skim through it, and then pulled an Ocean Dollar from his chest pocket and tossed it into a beggar’s bowl.
The beggar rattled his bowl and said, "You see? Lu Dongliang is back. Do you think it’s true?"
He Jiaqing smiled and said, "True or false, can’t you tell yet?"
The Greenwater Beggar shook his head and said, "This time, I really can’t tell. I think he’s the real one."
He Jiaqing handed the newspaper to Green Flower and said, "I need to find time to meet this person; he could be of great use to me."
PS: Who is this fake Lu Dongliang, and why does he so closely resemble the real one? Why do people always seem conflicted upon meeting him?