It was quite a coincidence. When Lu Xiaoyan got home, she asked her parents about Fourth Brother’s whereabouts.
The Lu family patriarch replied flatly, without much emotion or expression, “He hasn’t come back yet.”
Lu Xiaoyan didn’t say anything further.
Instead, it was Lu Xiaojing who was talking to the woman Lu Shaoting had gone on a blind date with.
She pressed Lu Xiaoyan, asking why she’d been looking for the Fourth Son all along.
Seeing the guilty look in Lu Xiaoyan’s eyes—which could never hide anything—
Lu Xiaojing immediately suspected that Lu Xiaoyan was up to something she didn’t want anyone to know about.
The two sisters, Lu Xiaojing and Lu Xiaoyan, didn’t get along very well to begin with.
At first, Lu Xiaojing had married well and was always showing off in front of her younger sister, Lu Xiaoyan, even making many disparaging remarks about Lu Xiaoyan’s husband.
But now, Lu Xiaojing’s husband had been investigated for taking kickbacks related to a university research project.
Thanks to the Lu family’s connections, however, although he wasn’t fired, he was no longer entrusted with any important work.
Not only had his income dropped, but rumors had also spread around campus that he was having a close, inappropriate relationship with a female student.
In contrast, Lu Xiaoyan not only has a harmonious marriage, but her son is also doing well in school.
Since he’s an only child, he stayed right here in the city.
Lu Xiaojing has two children: an older daughter and a younger son.
Her daughter went to work in the countryside and has been gone for several years.
Her son is a good-for-nothing who doesn’t do well in school.
Later, she turned to Lu Shaoting, who arranged for him to join the military.
This disparity in family and children’s circumstances also led Lu Xiaojing to feel jealous of her younger sister, Lu Xiaoyan.
In short, she simply didn’t want Lu Xiaoyan to have a better life than she did.
But as it happened, Lu Shaoting would listen to a few of the things Lu Xiaoyan said, whereas he completely ignored whatever Lu Xiaojing and Lu Jianming had to say.
Lu Xiaojing was curious: What was Lu Xiaoyan doing with Lu Shaoting?
“Lu Xiaoyan, you’ve never been able to tell a lie since you were a child. As soon as you lie, your eyes start darting around.”
“What are you doing with the Fourth Brother?”
Lu Xiaoyan didn’t want to say anything, but Lu Xiaojing cornered her in the kitchen.
Unexpectedly, Lu Shaoting’s blind date, Zhou Liyun, overheard them.
Zhou Liyun knew Lu Shaoting.
It actually went back to a social gathering organized long ago by her workplace and a military unit.
Zhou Liyun worked in the pharmacy at the military region hospital. After attending that event once, she had taken an interest in Lu Shaoting.
But at the time, Lu Shaoting had flatly rejected many people.
Zhou Liyun was twenty-five at the time, dressed in a modern, fashionable style, and still hoped she could charm Lu Shaoting.
To her surprise, Lu Shaoting completely ignored her.
This blind date had been arranged by her uncle—who had some connection to the Lu family patriarch—who had recommended her to him.
When the Lu family heard about Zhou Liyun, they felt she and Lu Shaoting were of similar age. and that she had a steady job.
So they decided to invite her over to their home for a matchmaking meeting.
Zhou Liyun had heard from the Lu family that Lu Shaoting hadn’t refused; since he hadn’t refused, that meant he was willing to go on the date with her—that he was interested in her.
Zhou Liyun would absolutely not let anyone else snatch Lu Shaoting away from her.
Zhou Liyun decided to go take a look outside and chase the person away while she was at it.
She wouldn’t allow anyone to ruin her blind date.
But she never expected that when she reached the door, she would not only see a young, beautiful woman—dressed simply, even shabbily and thinly—but one whose face still radiated an innocent beauty that couldn’t be hidden. What made people unable to resist feeling jealous was her face, which was far too young and beautiful.
Almond-shaped eyes, cherry-red lips, and long, jet-black hair tied into two braids.
And there stood Lu Shaoting, dressed in his military uniform, standing tall and imposing.
Zhou Liyun walked over with a light step, a gentle smile on her face.
“Shaoting, you’re back. Why didn’t you go home? I heard from Second Sister that you were coming back soon, so I came to the gate to meet you.”
Lu Shaoting turned his head to look at Zhou Liyun.
He gave a subdued “Mm-hmm” and said, “You go home first.”
Zhou Liyun remained unfazed, but a flash of jealousy crossed her eyes as she stared at Gu Xia, her smile unchanged.
“Shaoting, who’s this young lady standing in front of you? She’s quite pretty.”
Zhou Liyun knew Gu Xia had come to see Lu Shaoting, so she asked this on purpose.
Gu Xia glanced at Zhou Liyun, then observed the intense possessiveness Zhou Liyun was directing toward Lu Shaoting.
She suddenly understood…
A moment ago, Lu’s second eldest sister had remarked, “The fourth brother has already agreed to the blind date—why hasn’t this matter been settled yet?”
“Lu Shaoting, I won’t interrupt your blind date, but you must give me an explanation today. Or else, I’ll wait for you to come find me later.”
Lu Shaoting’s face clearly betrayed his impatience.
He had just explained to Gu Xia that the higher-ups were conducting strict investigations right now, and regarding the Gu family’s situation, it wasn’t appropriate for him to intervene at this time.
He was under the jurisdiction of the military district, whereas the issue involving Gu Xia’s parents was a matter of political stance.
But to be honest, given the current situation, the Gu family’s affairs were indeed not worth Lu Shaoting’s personal intervention.
His position as deputy division commander was at stake—and he wouldn’t risk violating discipline just for a woman.
He simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Gu Xia could tell she wasn’t important to Lu Shaoting. Did his refusal to help mean he saw no point in supporting her? To put it bluntly, she wasn’t worth it.
On top of that, she’d used the child she was carrying to blackmail him.
That only made Lu Shaoting even more annoyed.
But Gu Xia really had no other choice.
She had been far too naive, thinking that helping her parents and older sister would be so easy and straightforward.
Come to think of it, she had used deception to get pregnant with Lu Shaoting’s child, which naturally enraged him and made it even less likely that he would help her.
After Lu Shaoting finished speaking, he saw that Gu Xia hadn’t moved; she was still stubbornly standing in the same spot.
Lu Shaoting said harshly, “I told you to go back. Don’t you understand what I’m saying? Gu Xia, let me tell you this: you’d better know your place and stop causing trouble.”
Gu Xia trembled uncontrollably under his icy glare, but she still managed to say:
“You promised me—I’d listen to you, and you’d help me. You’re such a high-ranking official; you can’t go back on your word.”
“Get lost.”
That single word “Get lost” made even Zhou Liyun’s heart flutter.
At the same time, her expression softened even further.
“Shaoting, don’t get angry. Let’s go home. People who aren’t worth our time aren’t worth our attention. This young girl out here really doesn’t know where she picked that up—so young and already clinging to a man like that.”
Lu Shaoting subtly avoided Zhou Liyun’s physical contact and turned to walk toward the staff compound.
After shooting Gu Xia a fierce glare, Zhou Liyun quickly ran after Lu Shaoting.
She called out, “Shaoting, wait for me!”
Gu Xia didn’t even realize how she had numbly made her way back to her rented room.
She had even forgotten her hunger; once she returned, she simply lay down on the bed and fell into a deep, drowsy sleep.
In her dream, she didn’t know where she was.
She had no idea if it was in her past life or this one…
She cried bitterly, blaming herself for being useless. Whether in her past life or this one, it seemed she could never change the tragic fate of her parents and older sister.
As she slept deeply, she suddenly heard a knock on the door.
Opening her eyes and looking at the pitch-black room, Gu Xia realized she had slept straight through until it was completely dark outside.
She quickly got up and turned on the light.
Only then did Gu Xia go to open the door.
What met her eyes was Lu Shaoting, his expression cold and somewhat stern.
Suddenly, as if possessed, Gu Xia stepped forward and threw her arms around Lu Shaoting.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss his full lips.