Lu Qingshen took the fruit from her and they walked into the ward together. Qin Jian’s gaze fell on the man in the bed. He looked a few years older than Lu Qingshen with cropped hair and sharp features carrying a proud unyielding air. His arm was bandaged his leg in plaster and closer examination revealed bandages wrapped around his torso as well.
“Lao Lu you have come to see me. The mission must have gone well,” the man said. He turned toward Qin Jian. “And this is?”
“Qin Jian my wife,” Lu Qingshen introduced formally then turned to her. “Xiang Zheng is my closest friend and comrade in arms.”
Qin Jian was displeased. They had agreed she was his soon to be ex wife not his wife. She offered an awkward polite smile instead. The man’s presence felt overpowering and she did not wish to offend him by speaking out of turn.
“The one who made such a scene at the base?” Xiang Zheng raised an eyebrow looking at her without obvious judgment. “Since you brought her here the fault cannot lie with her.”
Qin Jian found this surprising. Lu Qingshen did not blame her for her mother’s behavior at the base? She had not instigated it herself but she was still part of the Qin family and in her past life she had failed to stand up sooner. Anyone else in his position would have held it against her.
“The trouble at the base was not of her doing,” Lu Qingshen confirmed.
“Then you have had a difficult time with her family,” Xiang Zheng said bluntly. “Though you have always been too lenient Lao Lu. If it were me I would have found ways to bring them to heel.”
Qin Jian was still processing his words when she caught the cold edge in Xiang Zheng’s tone. She straightened immediately to make her position clear. “I am filing for divorce today. The money and demands came from my mother and Qin Yun not from me. No one should hold that against me. And Lu Qingshen chose to send the money of his own accord. It is not for outsiders to interfere so long as no innocent person is harmed.”
Xiang Zheng laughed outright. “You want a divorce now? I heard you were the one refusing to sign.”
“I did not know Lu Qingshen had originally been engaged to Qin Yun not me,” she explained. “If I had I would never have married him.”
Lu Qingshen pressed his lips together watching her earnest expression. Xiang Zheng burst into laughter and winced as the movement pulled at a cut on his face. Qin Jian thought he deserved it.
“Lao Lu it seems you are not quite so irresistible after all,” Xiang Zheng teased. “I assumed your wife was clinging to your family’s status and afraid to let go. It appears she never wanted to marry you in the first place. You are better off parting ways then. Do not hold her back.”
Qin Jian nodded in complete agreement. His words matched her own thoughts perfectly. Lu Qingshen turned to her his gaze steady and intense. “Why do you not sit and rest for a while? I will keep my promise to you.”
“Very well,” she replied sitting down. Xiang Zheng watched them with growing curiosity. They talked for a while longer and Qin Jian waited patiently. When enough time had passed she looked at Lu Qingshen signaling that it was time to leave for the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Lu Qingshen spoke to his friend one last time glancing at his watch. “I must take my leave now. Rest well. I will see you back at the base.”
Outside the ward Qin Jian walked with a light step. “Shall we go straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau?” she asked turning to him eagerly.
He looked at her in confusion. “Why are you more eager than I am?”
“My future husband is waiting for me,” she said playfully. “How can he take his place if you do not step down first?”
Lu Qingshen’s expression darkened instantly. “Future husband?”
“Why not?” she challenged. “You cannot expect me to remain unmarried forever just because we are parting ways.”
He stopped in his tracks frowning deep in thought. Qin Jian reached out to hurry him along when someone approached and greeted him. “Battalion Commander Lu visiting Battalion Commander Xiang?”
It was one of the hospital doctors. He nodded to Lu Qingshen then glanced at Qin Jian with a look of sudden realization. “Congratulations Battalion Commander Lu. Is this your wife? She is expecting.”
Qin Jian’s mind went blank and she nearly stumbled. Lu Qingshen reached out and steadied her before she could fall. “Expecting?” he asked in shock.
The doctor she had never seen before. “You must be mistaken,” she said calmly though her heart raced.
The doctor smiled knowingly. “There has been a misunderstanding between you then. She came in alone for her first prenatal check up.”
Qin Jian’s face burned. She did not know whether to ask him to stop speaking or hide herself. She should never have come inside with Lu Qingshen.
“You are pregnant?” Lu Qingshen’s face lit up with sudden joy.
She composed herself quickly. “I was going to tell you after the divorce was finalized.”
“Battalion Commander Lu you truly did not know?” the doctor said. “That was a month ago. She must be four months along now and will begin showing more visibly at five. You must take better care of your wife.” With that he excused himself leaving the couple to sort things out.
Qin Jian watched him go struggling to recall whether she had seen him during either of her visits. She took a steadying breath. “Let us proceed with the divorce first. We can discuss custody arrangements afterward.” She gripped the hem of her clothing and turned toward the exit.
He caught her arm. “What is it?” she asked feigning innocence.
“First we speak of the child then the divorce,” he said firmly.
“That is not fair! Must we discuss it here? We can go to the bureau and talk properly at home afterward.”
He pulled her gently back standing close and looking down at her. “You kept this from me.”
“What choice did I have?” she replied. “We have no real foundation and were ending our marriage. I had the right to decide when to tell you.”
“This is my child too,” he said firmly. “You had no right to keep it from me.”