In stark contrast to her assertive attitude toward the Lu family, Gu Xia became exceptionally docile once she reached the second floor.
She took the initiative to clear away Lu Shaoting’s used bowl and chopsticks, then went to the bathroom to fetch a towel to wipe his face and hands, and brought a basin for him to brush his teeth and wash up.
Lu Shaoting was very particular about personal hygiene.
While they were at the hospital, after he had reminded her many times—and since Gu Xia wasn’t slow on the uptake and was at an age when she picked things up quickly—she soon got the hang of it and remembered everything clearly.
After finishing these tasks, she had nothing else to do, so she went ahead and unfolded the folding bed.
Gu Xia had taken care of Lu Shaoting for a while at the hospital, and Lu Shaoting—who observed her habits with meticulous attention—had taken note of everything.
She worked with a calm yet efficient pace, combining gentleness with strength, and approached everything with great seriousness.
She was so serious that Lu Shaoting couldn’t bring himself to criticize her.
Just like now, as he watched her sitting on the folding bed, her gaze fixed straight out the window.
The sky outside had grown dim; she couldn’t really see much of the view.
The atmosphere in the room was quiet, with a hint of oppression.
Lu Shaoting felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of irritation. After a moment’s thought, he called out softly, “Gu Xia.”
Gu Xia seemed to be a beat behind.
But once she realized what he’d said, she immediately walked over to Lu Shaoting’s side and asked with concern.
“Do you need to use the restroom? I’ll help you get there.”
Lu Shaoting’s serious gaze held a touch of the calm composure typical of an elder.
“Gu Xia, I’ll ask you one last time—have you made up your mind? Will you marry me? You’re still so young. If you’re willing to terminate the pregnancy, I can give you some money. Take it to your parents—you can help them too. You don’t have to rely on me.”
A flicker of confusion crossed Gu Xia’s eyes.
But she was even more certain now—she didn’t dare take the gamble. She was afraid of losing, because if she did, it would cost her parents and sister their lives.
How much money could Lu Shaoting give her?
With just the money in hand and no power or influence, would she even be able to keep it?
Gu Xia suppressed the unease in her heart.
She had a vague feeling that Lu Shaoting still didn’t want to have anything to do with her.
Even with the child, she couldn’t tie him down.
This time, she was able to come to the Lu family home by capitalizing on Lu Shaoting’s anger toward his family—it was simply a good opportunity she’d seized while he was in trouble.
When he was in trouble—when he needed someone’s care the most—
his family hadn’t done nearly as much for him as she, an outsider, had.
Perhaps while he was in the hospital, Lu Shaoting had been a bit out of his mind and deliberately used her to provoke his family, which was why he’d said he’d marry her.
But Lu Shaoting wasn’t some greenhorn.
He was in his thirties and had been through the grind of military life for decades—there was no way he’d let himself be threatened or manipulated by a woman who’d deliberately framed him, gotten pregnant, and was now trying to use the child to tie him down.
Gu Xia raised her eyes to look at Lu Shaoting, her gaze clear and bright, her tone firm.
“I want to marry you.”
She didn’t want to say anything else, afraid that saying too much would reveal her flaws.
She had no other way out.
She couldn’t let the sex go to waste, nor the pregnancy.
She knew her actions were despicable and her methods underhanded, but this was her only option.
Lu Shaoting’s deep, steady gaze met her clear, innocent eyes.
There was no shyness or timidity in her gaze—only the earnest determination to marry him.
It was the first time anyone had chosen him so earnestly.
Lu Shaoting was so overwhelmed that he even forgot Gu Xia had approached him with an ulterior motive.
Then, he finally found his voice again.
It was even lower and hoarser than before. “Don’t regret this.”
Gu Xia replied, “I won’t regret it. Marrying you is the best choice for me.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say anything more.
Mainly because Gu Xia truly didn’t know what to say.
She felt that, with her limited intellect and life experience, she wouldn’t be able to withstand any further questioning from Lu Shaoting.
Fortunately, he didn’t ask any more questions.
Lu Shaoting discussed the wedding arrangements with Gu Xia.
Since it was for the sake of the child, they would keep it simple—just a few tables for close family and friends. There would be no grand celebration or so-called festive fanfare.
That was exactly what Gu Xia wanted.
She wasn’t marrying Lu Shaoting out of genuine love, so she had no expectations for any of that.
She simply said, “I’ll leave it all up to you.”
And with that, the conversation—which Lu Shaoting had hoped would put an end to Gu Xia’s persistent nagging—came to a close.
Lu Shaoting’s injury had mostly healed during his stay at the hospital.
After returning home, someone came by every three days to deliver his medication, though it was always Gu Xia who changed his dressings.
Later, a question occurred to Gu Xia: Since Lu Shaoting’s injury was to his thigh bone, how could it possibly affect his ability to have children?
She didn’t dare ask about it and kept quiet on the matter.
What if Lu Shaoting went for a follow-up exam, found out his body was fine and he could still have children, and then simply rejected the child she was carrying?
Wouldn’t all the effort she’d put in during this time have been for nothing?
So Gu Xia pretended she didn’t understand anything and devoted herself entirely to caring for Lu Shaoting.
Later, Lu Xiaoyan paid a visit and told Lu Shaoting that they should “get it over with” while Gu Xia’s belly wasn’t too big yet.
She knew Lu Shaoting’s leg wasn’t fully healed yet, so it wasn’t suitable for him to go out at the moment.
Lu Xiaoyan accompanied Gu Xia the entire time and bought her a few outfits.
It was a rushed and hurried affair, tinged with anxiety and a lack of blessings.
In accordance with the Lu family matriarch’s firm demands, they arranged six tables of food at a state-run restaurant not far from their home.
On the day of the wedding banquet, Lu Shaoting went to the restaurant leaning on a cane.
Gu Xia, meanwhile, stayed close to Lu Xiaoyan the whole time.
Lu Xiaoyan gave her a simple makeover, but didn’t invite anyone.
Looking at the demure young woman sitting in the chair reflected in the mirror, Lu Xiaoyan said softly with a smile:
“Look how beautiful you are. You really have a natural beauty—I didn’t even put makeup on you. Just a little powder and some lipstick, and you look so lovely.”
“Gu Xia, rest assured—you won’t regret being with Shaoting.”
Gu Xia gave a faint smile. Deep down, she wasn’t particularly nervous; instead, she felt a sense of joy that she had finally achieved her goal.
She said, “It’s not a hardship. Uncle Lu treats me very well.”
Lu Xiaoyan replied, “Fourth Brother just seems a bit aloof. Once you have a child and he experiences the warmth of a family, he’ll change.”
Gu Xia hummed in acknowledgment and didn’t say much else.
She then followed Lu Xiaoyan to the state-run hotel.
The only member of the Lu family in attendance was Lu Jianming’s wife, Qin Xiulian; neither Lu Jianming nor Lu Ye had come.
Lu Xiaojing did attend, but she didn’t bring her husband. He loved to drink, and she was afraid he’d get too drunk and make a scene.
Lu Xiaoyan and her husband both attended, but their son didn’t come—he was busy with work.
It was the Lu family matriarch who had said there was no need to invite so many people.
In fact, if it weren’t for concerns about saving face, the Lu family matriarch wouldn’t have wanted to go to the hotel at all.
The wedding banquet was rather shabby.
This was clearly the Lu family matriarch’s way of giving Gu Xia a taste of her authority.
Lu Shaoting hadn’t notified his comrades-in-arms either.
It was Zhao Lixin—who had worked alongside him on the leadership team—who first learned of the wedding when he visited the Lu family to see Lu Shaoting and overheard the Lu family’s housekeeper casually mentioning it.
That was how he found out Lu Shaoting was getting married.
Since it was his longtime partner getting married, Zhao Lixin showed up uninvited.
He even brought along several officers and cadres from the division headquarters who usually worked with him.
They made up a full table.
But looking at the somewhat meager spread before them, they didn’t dare say much.
They could only think to themselves that Lu Shaoting must have been forced into marrying a woman he didn’t like.
When they saw Gu Xia, who had come with Lu Xiaoyan, their eyes widened in shock…