Gu Xia suddenly realized—was she actually feeling sorry for Lu Shaoting?
She immediately shook her head, trying to snap herself out of it and shake off that unwarranted pity.
No matter how pitiful Lu Shaoting might be, how could he compare to the tragic fate of her family, who had died unjustly?
Even if Lu Shaoting were disabled and had lost his ability to carry on the family line, he could still live a decent life.
Her parents and older sister didn’t even have that chance.
Seeing Gu Xia standing by his hospital bed shaking her head, Lu Shaoting frowned and said in a low voice, “Gu Xia, I’m calling you. What are you thinking about? Didn’t you hear me?”
Gu Xia quickly replied, “I heard you.”
“What did you want?”
“I need to use the bathroom. Go outside and call someone to help me.”
Gu Xia hesitated for a moment before understanding what he meant by “use the bathroom.” She turned and went out to call a young soldier in, but Gu Xia herself didn’t leave.
Lu Shaoting glanced at her.
His tone was impatient as he said, “What are you still standing there for?”
He didn’t say the words “get out.”
Gu Xia replied very earnestly, “I’m learning how to take care of you.”
Those words made Lu Shaoting’s face darken instantly.
“Get out.”
Gu Xia didn’t understand, but she obeyed.
After helping the commander with his urgent needs, the young soldier walked outside.
He looked at Gu Xia standing there like a student being punished by a teacher.
He said, “The commander said you should go back and come again tomorrow.”
Gu Xia just glanced at the young soldier but, out of courtesy, went back into the ward to confirm with Lu Shaoting.
Lu Shaoting repeated coldly.
But Gu Xia looked at him and asked, “Do you really want to marry me? There are no Lu family members here now, so you don’t need to use me to provoke them on purpose. I want to know what you’re thinking.”
Gu Xia didn’t dare say more.
After all, Lu Shaoting was in poor health at this time. Both the doctors and his family had said he might be unable to have children.
If that were the case, she could use the child in her womb to strike a deal with Lu Shaoting—he might agree.
But it was also possible that Lu Shaoting, being ruthless, would resent her scheming and refuse.
Until Lu Shaoting confirmed it, Gu Xia’s heart was filled with worry and unease.
Especially after the Lu family’s commotion today, Lu Shaoting seemed angry and even said he wanted to marry her…
Gu Xia’s purpose in coming to the hospital to see Lu Shaoting was to use the child to strike a deal with him—he would help her parents and sister.
As for marrying him, that would undoubtedly be the best outcome for Gu Xia.
By marrying Lu Shaoting, she could rely on his status to arrange jobs for her parents and sister herself.
“The fox borrowing the tiger’s might”—she had learned that phrase in school.
She didn’t mind using it at a critical moment.
She was just afraid that Lu Shaoting was only saying he would marry her to anger the Lu family.
Ultimately, Gu Xia was still childlike in nature—she wanted everything to be clear and needed to ask for confirmation.
After she finished speaking, she saw that Lu Shaoting didn’t reply but was looking at her with cold eyes.
“Gu Xia, do you want to marry me, or do you want to give birth to the child and use it to threaten me into helping you? What exactly is your goal in doing all this?”
Gu Xia wanted to tell the truth.
Whether it was marrying Lu Shaoting or giving birth to his child.
Of course, she was only taking advantage of Lu Shaoting’s power and his current status.
But she couldn’t say that.
Although she hadn’t spent much time with Lu Shaoting,
she had gained a rough understanding of his temperament—he responded better to softness than to force, and being coaxed suited him best…
She hesitated for a moment, seeming somewhat uneasy.
In a soft voice, she said, “Marrying you and having your child aren’t contradictory, are they? If we got married, would you treat me well?”
Treating her well meant he could help her, didn’t it?
Lu Shaoting was well aware that Gu Xia’s initial approach to him had ulterior motives.
Yet, hearing her gentle words still stirred faint ripples in his heart.
But he knew clearly that Gu Xia had approached him with a purpose from the very beginning.
He couldn’t let himself be swayed by her sweet talk into believing she was a genuinely good person.
At this moment, the sternness and coldness on Lu Shaoting’s face softened slightly, though his scrutinizing pressure remained.
“Marrying someone who can’t have children—I imagine you’re not doing it because you like me.”
“No, it’s not that I don’t like you,” Gu Xia said anxiously. “Actually, you’re quite good. Look, you’re handsome and tall. And you’re a military officer, so impressive—I’m sure many people like you.”
Lu Shaoting gave a cold laugh.
But in that laugh, there was a hint of bitter amusement at her naive words.
What use were these superficial qualities?
It only showed how young and inexperienced Gu Xia was, focusing only on such things.
If she were older, like Zhou Liyun, she would definitely stay away from a man like him, whose lower body was practically useless.
After a moment of thought, Lu Shaoting said, “If you marry me and the child is born safely, I’ll help you resolve the issues with your parents and sister.”
“Gu Xia, this is just a marriage of convenience. Once the child is born, you’ll leave on your own. I’m marrying you not because I like you, but to give my child a legitimate existence.”
Gu Xia nodded.
It suited her just fine, as she didn’t like Lu Shaoting either.
He had made things very clear, and Gu Xia understood.
Lu Shaoting’s meaning was that marrying her was solely to give his child a legitimate status, so it wouldn’t be labeled a bastard.
He certainly wouldn’t take a fancy to her either—she was just a bit pretty.
Apart from her looks, what else did she have to offer?
Gu Xia felt she had nothing.
She was very aware of her own limitations.
“I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll listen to you completely. Whatever you say goes.”
Seeing her so obedient, Lu Shaoting found it hard to be difficult.
“Once the child is born, you’ll leave. Don’t appear before me or the child again. I imagine, being so young, you wouldn’t want anyone to know you’ve had a child, right?”
This time, Gu Xia didn’t nod.
Because she didn’t know how to answer Lu Shaoting’s question.
She hadn’t yet felt the child’s presence, nor did she know how reluctant she would be to part with the child in the future.
Gu Xia felt that her goal seemed to have been achieved, and she should be happy.
But this happiness was mixed with a strange feeling.
It wasn’t about Lu Shaoting.
It was that she felt she had made another mistake somewhere, but she didn’t know what.
As Gu Xia was leaving, she happened to run into Lu Xiaoyan and the others, who were just about to depart.
Lu Xiaoyan’s expression was very unpleasant.
Lu Xiaojing, Lu Jianming, and Qin Xiulian left together, but Lu Ye was nowhere to be seen.
“What kind of family is this? Everyone’s scheming, constantly scheming.”
“Isn’t it good for Old Fourth to leave behind an heir? What’s there to oppose?”
Lu Xiaoyan spoke, just as she heard Gu Xia call out “Aunt Lu.”
Seeing Gu Xia, Lu Xiaoyan’s expression reluctantly improved a bit.
She said, “I saw you two talking, so I went out to make a phone call. What did you and Shaoting talk about? Is Shaoting going to keep this child?”
Lu Xiaoyan was quite concerned about Lu Shaoting.
The siblings didn’t exchange many affectionate words verbally.
But when it came to important matters, they genuinely helped each other out.
Gu Xia didn’t hide anything and answered truthfully, “He said he would marry me, so the child can openly be recognized as his.”