Gu Xia had come to seek Lu Shaoting’s help.
As for the Lu family, she could easily guess that they would all oppose her staying here. They were afraid that Gu Xia, arriving with a swollen belly to find Lu Shaoting, would bring shame upon the Lu family.
Within the military compound, the Lu family held considerable prestige and influence, especially the Lu Family Matriarch, who had spent her entire life chasing fame, fortune, and reputation. She would absolutely never allow Gu Xia to stay in the Lu household while visibly pregnant.
Just as Gu Xia was about to follow Lu Shaoting and leave, Lu Ye stepped forward.
“Uncle, how can you believe Gu Xia’s words? She didn’t come earlier or later—she deliberately chose this moment to come to the Lu family to find you. My grandfather said you’re about to be transferred soon. She must be here to ruin you and our entire family.”
After speaking, Lu Ye cast a disgusted look at Gu Xia.
“Who knows whose bastard child you’re carrying? My uncle has always been upright and self-disciplined—he would never touch you. Aside from your pretty face, you have no brains. Among all the young men in the military compound, not a single one likes you…”
“Compared to your sister, you’re not even in the same league.”
Since childhood, Gu Xia had been quiet and well-behaved, preferring to keep to herself and stay low-key. She wasn’t as clever as her sister, and her academic performance was average. She wasn’t as eloquent or as bright and outgoing as her sister either.
In the eyes of outsiders, aside from being fair-skinned, delicate, and clean-looking, she had little else to boast about.
But in the eyes of her sister and parents, she was always the family’s ray of sunshine. Especially her sister—when their parents were busy during her childhood, it was her sister who practically raised her. No matter who tried to drive a wedge between the two sisters, her sister would always explain, “My sister is adorable and well-behaved.”
To Gu Xia, her sister was like a small but sturdy tree that had always sheltered her from wind and rain. No matter what others said, Gu Xia would always believe in her sister.
Gu Xia suppressed the tears welling in her eyes. She was the type who cried easily when criticized and couldn’t bear to be wronged. But now, she couldn’t afford to show weakness.
Lifting her gaze to meet Lu Ye’s, Gu Xia spoke in a clear, cold voice, “I don’t care whether anyone likes me or not. No matter how much you try to sow discord between me and my sister, I will never believe you.”
“And let me reiterate—whether Lu Shaoting did it or not, he knows perfectly well. What right do you, an outsider, have to stand here and say anything?”
“Why are you so afraid of me getting close to your uncle? Could it be that my family’s misfortune has something to do with you?”
Hearing this, Lu Ye flew into a rage.
“Gu Xia, what nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean, ‘has something to do with me’? Your family was raided and sent down because of your capitalist overseas connections and unclear political stance.”
“Who would bother reporting you for no reason?”
Gu Xia retorted coldly, “Did I say you were the one who reported the Gu family? Why are you so eager to admit it yourself?”
These words struck a nerve with Lu Ye, exposing his guilt. He stepped forward, about to shove Gu Xia, but she deftly turned and positioned herself behind Lu Shaoting.
Lu Shaoting merely glanced at his nephew.
“What kind of temper is that? Try laying a hand on her and see what happens.”
He had no intention of marrying Gu Xia, but now that Gu Xia claimed to be pregnant with his child, Lu Shaoting felt it necessary to ensure she wouldn’t be hurt while it remained uncertain whether the child would be kept.
Lu Ye, however, was acting like a cornered dog, desperate and reckless.
“Uncle, do you really believe what Gu Xia says? She’s been in the countryside for so long, and suddenly shows up claiming to be pregnant with your child? That’s utterly ridiculous.”
Lu Shaoting replied coldly, “Whether it’s my child or not, I’ll find out. What business is it of yours? Does this have anything to do with you from start to finish?”
Lu Ye was immediately left speechless.
Stammering, he managed to say, “I—I’m just worried about you.”
“No need.”
Lu Shaoting’s firm attitude was nothing unusual in the eyes of the Lu family.
The Lu Family Old Master had no particular dislike for this son. In the old master’s eyes, a soldier should be exactly like this—serious when seriousness was called for, upright when uprightness was required.
He should have a firm hand and a resolute attitude.
But as a son, the Lu Family Old Master felt that Lu Shaoting lacked a certain softness of heart.
Seeing Lu Shaoting about to leave, the old master called out, “Shaoting, if it really is your child, marry her if you want. You’re not young anymore anyway.”
As soon as the old master finished speaking, the old lady, Zhang Yue, glared angrily at Lu Zhongjun.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking? Can they even get married at their age and with their status?”
“Gu Xia is so much younger than Shaoting. Having him marry her would only bring shame to the Lu family. I, Zhang Yue, can’t bear such disgrace.”
But Lu Zhongjun, the old master, said, “She’s already pregnant and has come knocking on our door. What do you suggest we do? You and I both know what your younger son is like. If he didn’t want to, he’d rather stab himself than give in…”
The key point was this:
On the day Gu Xia drugged Lu Shaoting, he had been completely off guard, carrying nothing but a fountain pen on him.
Even if he had wanted to stab himself, there was no knife to use.
Once outside the Lu family living room, the breeze cleared Lu Shaoting’s mind a little.
This Gu Xia was truly a headache.
Gu Xia stood quietly by his side, neither crying nor making a scene.
Suppressing a wave of frustration in his chest, Lu Shaoting finally told Gu Xia to get in the car.
Only after getting in did Gu Xia look at Lu Shaoting and ask, “Where are you taking me?”
“To the hospital.”
Hearing this, Gu Xia grew worried and fearful. “Why are you taking me to the hospital? I’m telling you, don’t even think about forcing me to have an abortion. I won’t agree to it.”
“Lu Shaoting, you just promised to help my parents and sister find jobs. As long as they’re no longer in the rural northwest, as soon as they’re transferred away, I’ll go for the abortion immediately. I won’t lie to you.”
Lu Shaoting looked at Gu Xia, who seemed so afraid of him, and asked coldly, “Now you’re scared? Why did you deceive me when you drugged me?”
“Gu Xia, I treated you like a niece. You’re even younger than Xiaowan. Why did you do something like this? If I help your parents and you abort the child, what about your life? Are you just going to throw it away?”
Gu Xia lowered her eyes, hiding the confusion and helplessness within them.
She couldn’t answer Lu Shaoting’s question.
Because when she chose to do this, she hadn’t thought about the consequences or her own life. All she wanted was to protect her parents and sister.
“I don’t know, I only know that you are the only straw I can grasp.”
“Uncle Lu, I can sign an agreement with you. As soon as my parents and my sister leave the rural countryside in the northwest, I will go for an abortion. If you’re not at ease, you can accompany me.”