Lu Tingting tried to raise the price in the yard, hoping Lin Nian would give up.
But she had underestimated the savings Lin Nian had accumulated over the past five years, and even more so, her desire for a real “home.”
Lin Nian didn’t argue with her or make a scene.
She stayed calm, took a bankbook out of her cloth bag, and placed it in front of the landlord, Mr. Wang.
“Mr. Wang, this is all my savings from these past few years. I won’t pay double, but I’ll pay twenty percent more than the price we discussed earlier, and, like this lady, I’ll pay a year in full.”
Her voice was quiet, but each word was firm and resolute.
“I have one condition: we sign the contract today. This house will be mine today.”
Mr. Wang looked at the numbers in the bankbook, which made him flinch slightly, then at Lin Nian’s unwavering gaze. He immediately made his decision.
On one side was a sincere, determined woman wanting to rent the house; on the other, a spoiled young lady deliberately causing trouble.
The choice was obvious.
Moreover, Lin Nian’s offer far exceeded his expectations.
“Good! Comrade Lin, for your sincerity, I’ll rent the house to you!” Mr. Wang decided at once, handing her the contract and pen.
Lu Tingting was completely stunned.
How could she have imagined that this seemingly poor rural woman could bring so much money?
She wanted to raise her bid again, but Mr. Wang refused firmly.
“Young lady, you can’t be unreasonable! There’s always a first-come, first-served order!”
Finally, under Lu Tingting’s murderous glare, Lin Nian decisively signed the lease.
The single-story house with a small yard officially became her new home with her children.
…
News of Lu Tingting’s failed attempt and public humiliation spread through the entire military compound like wildfire.
Of course, it reached Lu Tingchuan’s ears.
That night, after finishing his official work, Lu Tingchuan returned to his parents’ home.
The moment he entered, he saw Lu Tingting sitting on the living room sofa, crying and complaining to their mother.
“…Mom, you don’t know how arrogant that woman is! She did it on purpose! She can’t stand me! And she even mocked me in front of so many people…”
Lu Tingchuan’s mother comforted her daughter while speaking angrily: “This is outrageous! A rural widow dares to bully our Lu family? Tingting, don’t worry. I’ll handle this!”
Lu Tingchuan stood in the foyer, listening to the twisted version of events, his face cold as ice.
He changed his shoes and walked straight into the living room without saying a word, his voice low and commanding:
“Lu Tingting, come with me to the study.”
His tone carried no warmth, and the once-noisy living room immediately fell silent.
Lu Tingting shivered under his icy gaze and stopped crying.
“Brother…”
“Come in.” Lu Tingchuan didn’t repeat himself and turned toward the study.
Their mother wanted to say something, but their father gave her a stern look that stopped her.
Inside the study, Lu Tingchuan didn’t sit. He stood by the window with his back to Lu Tingting.
“Speak. Why did you cause trouble for her?”
“I… I didn’t!” Lu Tingting stubbornly replied. “I was just looking at a house. Who knew I’d run into her?”
“Coincidence?” Lu Tingchuan turned sharply, his eyes piercing like a hawk, staring at her. “Do you think I’m as easy to fool as Mom and Dad? First, you went to her stall, slandering her goods as unclean. Now, you go to a house she wanted to rent and maliciously raise the price, trying to leave her homeless. Lu Tingting, where did you get the nerve to do this?”
Each sentence was harsher than the last, colder than the last.
Lu Tingting, intimidated by his unprecedented aura, felt a wave of fear. Her whole life, her brother had been strict but never interrogated her like a criminal.
Grievance and frustration surged in her heart.
“Am I wrong?” she cried loudly. “Who am I doing this for? Isn’t it for you, for our Lu family? Don’t you know what people are saying outside? They say you’ve been charmed by a street-vendor woman! That you’re going to be her supporter even though of your status! Do you know how humiliating that sounds?”
“She’s a jinx! Just her appearance is ruining your reputation! I’m doing this to show you her true face, for the dignity of our Lu family!”
She thought her “consideration for the big picture” would make her brother understand her intentions.
Instead, she saw growing anger and unfamiliar seriousness in Lu Tingchuan’s eyes.
“You’ve disgraced the Lu family with your foolish actions!”
His voice came through gritted teeth.
“You went to her stall and were silenced by facts and reason—didn’t you feel embarrassed?”
“You went to compete for a house and were outdone by someone who earned it honestly—didn’t you feel ashamed?”
“Lu Tingting, your proud family background and status are meaningless against someone who builds everything with her own hands! You didn’t make her embarrassed—she became an inspirational example, and you became a complete joke!”
Each word struck Lu Tingting like a blade, piercing her heart.
She turned pale, trembling.
“I… I…”
“I’m warning you,” Lu Tingchuan stepped closer, towering over her. His gaze was devoid of brotherly warmth, filled only with the authority of a senior officer.
“From today, immediately stop your childish and pointless behavior.”
“You are not to provoke her again.”
“If I ever hear that you caused her trouble again…”
He paused, each word deliberate.
“I will report you immediately and transfer you from the troupe to the toughest frontier unit, so you can experience what real life is like!”
Transfer… to a frontier unit?
Lu Tingting’s eyes widened in terror.
That place was unbearable—exposed to the elements every day, living with low-ranking soldiers…
She couldn’t believe her brother would go so far over an outsider.
Fear completely overwhelmed her pride and grievance.
Looking at her brother’s cold, emotionless gaze, she finally realized he meant it.
“Waaah!” Lu Tingting could no longer hold back. She ran out of the study, crying.
She didn’t go to her parents, knowing it would be useless.
She ran out of the house straight toward the military hospital.
There was only one person there who could comfort her, who could give her guidance—
Her future sister-in-law, Bai Yueru.
The study fell into dead silence.
Lu Tingchuan, irritated, tugged at the collar of his uniform, feeling suffocated.
He walked to the desk and picked up a teacup, intending to drink.
But thinking of Lu Tingting’s slander against Lin Nian and the suffering Lin Nian might have endured, his grip on the cup tightened uncontrollably.
“Crack—”
The sturdy ceramic cup shattered in his hands.
Sharp shards cut his palm, blood dripping onto the dark floor.
Yet he felt no pain.
He stared at his hands, at the mess and blood.
He realized he could no longer remain detached about Lin Nian.
His sister’s misbehavior had mirrored his own feelings—strong, unspoken, and growing beyond control.
He had completely lost control.