Jiang Xiaoyu lay on the bed, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Her bottom especially—it felt like any slight movement would make her want to rush to the bathroom.
But last night she had run back and forth to the toilet over twenty times and was completely exhausted.
Hearing her mother speak, she just lazily lifted her eyelids. “What’s the matter?”
“Beizhen has started preparing your betrothal gifts!”
What?!
Jiang Xiaoyu immediately perked up and rolled over to sit on the bed.
“Mom, are you serious?”
Her mother patted her thigh. “Absolutely. His mother has already started exchanging tickets, deliberately avoiding our family. Tell me, if that isn’t preparing betrothal gifts for you, what else could it be?”
It was a secret surprise for Jiang Xiaoyu!
A blush quickly spread across her face, her excitement indescribable.
She had thought that after what happened last night, Lu Beizhen wouldn’t pay any attention to her.
Yet, in just a day, he had already begun preparing the betrothal gifts.
Clearly, Lu Beizhen liked her very much!
She had originally planned to take the day off, but now she was full of energy and decided to go back to the military base with Lu Beizhen.
That way, she could spend more time with him on the way.
Jiang Xiaoyu quickly got ready and went out.
By chance, Lu Beizhen had just driven the car out and was leaning against the passenger-side door.
He lifted his fair wrist to check the time.
Was he waiting for her?
Jiang Xiaoyu felt her heart flutter even more.
“Beizhen!” she called as she hurried over, smiling shyly. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s go!”
She reached for the passenger door.
Just as Lu Beizhen was about to extend his hand, his arm was suddenly grabbed.
Caught off guard, he stepped forward slightly.
Looking down, he frowned slightly but realized it was Xiaoyu’s mother.
Since she was an elder, Lu Beizhen calmed his expression. “Aunt Zhou, what’s the matter?”
Xiaoyu’s mother, with a mysterious smile, pulled him into a corner.
After glancing around to make sure Fang Shuqin wasn’t nearby, she whispered, “Did you manage to get the TV ticket?”
“What?”
“The TV ticket! Your unit recently had a competition, right? The first prize was a TV ticket. You’ve got to make sure you win it!” she reminded him.
She had just remembered that Fang Shuqin had gone to exchange for the bicycle ticket.
This was one of the “Three Exchanges, One Prize.”
But that “one prize” was supposed to be a television.
Aunt Zhou feared that if they got married without it, there would be problems, so she hurried to remind Lu Beizhen.
Once he had the TV ticket, buying the television would be nothing for him.
“You’re so capable, first place will be easy. Auntie is waiting for your good news!” she winked. “Oh, don’t tell your mother about this, okay?”
Otherwise, Fang Shuqin would start scolding everyone again.
Now that Xiaoyu and Lu Beizhen weren’t married yet, she would wait until the wedding, then settle everything properly.
Lu Beizhen frowned, sensing that something about this didn’t seem quite right.
Before he could ask further, Song Tian had already come out of the house.
“All right, Auntie has other things to attend to. You should head to the base with Xiaoyu.”
Fearing Fang Shuqin might appear, Xiaoyu’s mother quickly slipped away.
But only Song Tian came out.
Today she wore a light gray shirt with blue straight-leg pants, paired with the little floral cloth shoes made by Fang Shuqin herself. Her long black hair was braided into two pigtails.
Her cute appearance made her look even more youthful in this outfit.
“Sorry, I forgot to grab the blueprint and had to run upstairs to get it. That’s why I delayed you,” Song Tian explained.
Lu Beizhen’s gaze moved away from her, and he slightly nodded. “Let’s go.”
Song Tian reached for the car door.
Just as she touched the handle, she noticed Jiang Xiaoyu was already in the passenger seat.
Song Tian immediately felt awkward.
How had she forgotten about Jiang Xiaoyu?
Both of them were going to the base, and she following them would make her seem like a third wheel.
“I guess I’ll just take the bus then,” Song Tian muttered, letting go of the handle.
Jiang Xiaoyu, however, called out, “It’s fine, Song Tian. Get in. We’ll head to the base later, but first, let me drop you off at work.”
She thought she should be magnanimous.
In a good mood today, she didn’t want to dwell on old grudges with Song Tian.
Besides, once she married Lu Beizhen, Song Tian would be almost like family, so it was fine to tolerate her a little.
She couldn’t let last night’s incident happen again, causing trouble.
Lu Beizhen might not mind this time, but what about next time?
Since Lu Beizhen had already shown his sincerity to marry, she had to make some concessions too.
“Come on, Song Tian, get in quickly. The machinery factory probably requires you to clock in, and if you hesitate, you’ll be late,” Jiang Xiaoyu urged.
Song Tian hesitated.
Indeed, her work at the machinery factory was easy, but punctuality was required; being late would mean a pay deduction.
More importantly, it was only her second day at work, and being late would be inappropriate.
“All right, then I’ll trouble you,” Song Tian said, climbing into the back seat.
Lu Beizhen walked around to the driver’s seat.
His gaze held a faint chill, clearly displeased.
Song Tian silently shrank her neck.
Sure enough, Lu Beizhen was upset that she was interfering in this little commute alone-time.
But last night, he had offered to take her to work!
Song Tian felt frustrated and turned to look out the window, remaining silent the entire ride.
Jiang Xiaoyu wanted to speak, but her stomach still hurt, and she feared she wouldn’t hold it in. She clenched every muscle, trying desperately to resist the urge.
Soon, the military jeep arrived at the machinery factory gate.
Song Tian jumped out immediately.
By chance, Tian Dali was arriving for work and greeted her, “Good morning, Tiantian!”
“Good morning, Team Leader Tian! You look so energetic today—good news?”
Tian Dali laughed heartily. “Yes! Come, let’s go to the office; I’ll tell you!”
They laughed as they walked through the factory gate.
Lu Beizhen’s face darkened as he gripped the steering wheel.
So quiet in the car, yet once outside, he was chatting and laughing with others?
“Beizhen, I… I’m going to the bathroom, I’ll be quick,” Jiang Xiaoyu said, feeling she couldn’t hold it any longer.
She hurried inside the factory to borrow a restroom.
After finishing, she came out to find Lu Beizhen’s jeep gone.
What was going on?
“Old man, where did the soldier driving the jeep just now go?” Jiang Xiaoyu asked the guard.
The guard, annoyed by her rudeness, didn’t want to respond.
“I’m talking to you! Did you see him?” she asked again.
Proud of her military engineer status, she looked down on ordinary workers.
Finally irritated, the guard said, “He left. Said you should take the bus. Here, take your bus ticket.”
He handed a ticket through the booth window.
Jiang Xiaoyu reached for it, but the guard let go.
The bus ticket wobbled and fell to the ground.
“Oh dear, my hand shook. Pick it up yourself,” the guard said.
Jiang Xiaoyu’s face turned green with anger as she bent down to pick it up.
Just as she bent, her stomach churned violently again.
She quickly turned, intending to rush back to the restroom.
But the guard had locked the door.
“Old man, what are you doing? Open the door! I need to go to the bathroom!”
The guard cupped his ear. “What? I’m hard of hearing!”
Bang!
He slammed the booth window shut and turned to his radio.
Hmph, didn’t respect this old man?
Then just wait and experience a little revenge from him!