After leaving, Lu Beicheng went straight to the political commissar’s office.
Chen Zhiguo had been waiting ever since he received Grandpa Lu’s call.
When Lu Beicheng arrived, Chen Zhiguo smiled and teased him. “You rascal, you’ve finally taken care of the biggest matter in your life.”
He’d watched the boy grow up, and he was excellent in every way. It was only when it came to romance that things had never gone smoothly for him…
Chen Zhiguo couldn’t help sighing inwardly. As he looked at Lu Beicheng, a flicker of sympathy passed through his eyes.
At least things seemed to have worked out now.
He pointed to the chair beside him, indicating that Lu Beicheng should sit down.
Lu Beicheng did as he was told and handed over the application in his hand. “Political Commissar Chen, I’m imposing on you.”
Chen Zhiguo laughed. “Since when did you start being so polite with me?”
He lowered his head and flipped through Lu Beicheng’s marriage application as they chatted. “Little Lu, tell your uncle—which girl managed to win you over?”
Lu Beicheng paused briefly, then answered succinctly, “The Lin family.”
The Lin family?
Chen Zhiguo mentally ran through all the prominent families in Kyoto. “The Lin family from the compound?”
That couldn’t be right. He’d never heard that family had a daughter.
Lu Beicheng replied, “No.”
Chen Zhiguo nodded. “Then which Lin family?”
As he spoke, his eyes skimmed a section of the application. Lin Qiqi. Why did that name sound familiar?
Unable to place it, he rubbed his brow and let the thought go.
Lu Beicheng paused. “She comes from an ordinary family.”
Chen Zhiguo was a little surprised, but he couldn’t very well press him for more, so he said nothing.
He continued reading Lu Beicheng’s marriage application. Grandpa Lu had already told him about it over the phone.
Once he’d finished, Chen Zhiguo picked up the fountain pen beside him and signed it.
He handed the signed application back to Lu Beicheng. “Bring your wife over to the house sometime when you have a chance.”
“Sure.” Lu Beicheng accepted the application and thanked him. “Thank you, Political Commissar Chen.”
Chen Zhiguo waved away his thanks. “All right, go on and get back to work.”
Lu Beicheng acknowledged him, stood, and left the office.
At the far end of the corridor outside, a woman was pacing back and forth.
It was Gu Qingwan.
As soon as she saw Lu Beicheng come out, she hurried over. “Brother Lu.”
Lu Beicheng glanced at her, his strong brows drawing together. Without changing expression, he took several steps back. “Comrade Gu.”
Hurt showed in Gu Qingwan’s eyes. She composed herself. “By the way, Brother Lu, did something happen earlier?”
Not long ago, they’d been in a meeting when Lu Beicheng had received a phone call and hurried off.
He hadn’t said a word.
Gu Qingwan had been worried, so the moment she heard Lu Beicheng was back, she went straight to his office to find him.
But the person she’d gone looking for wasn’t there. Instead, she’d seen a woman.
“No.” Lu Beicheng replied flatly, then added, “I have something to do. I’m leaving.”
By the time he finished speaking, he had already passed Gu Qingwan and continued down the corridor.
Gu Qingwan hurriedly turned and caught up with him. “Brother Lu, I just went to your office and saw a woman there. Who is she?”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help edging closer to Lu Beicheng.
Naturally, he responded by lengthening his stride, putting more distance between himself and Lu Beicheng.
In a single step, he put a considerable distance between them.
He glanced back at Gu Qingwan. “Don’t you have anything to do?”
Gu Qingwan opened her mouth. “I…”
But before she could finish, the man before her had already walked away.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Gu Qingwan’s eyes dimmed.
Her hands, hanging at her sides, clenched and unclenched. After a moment, she lowered her eyes slightly, hiding her feelings, then started walking in the direction Lu Beicheng had gone.
＊＊＊＊＊
When Lu Beicheng returned to his office and pushed open the door, he immediately saw the woman sprawled across the sofa.
Head lowered, she held a book in her hands and read intently, casually swinging her feet in the air as she went.
She looked utterly relaxed and comfortable.
The corners of his thin lips lifted despite himself. This woman certainly knew how to enjoy herself.
She seemed to come across something that interested her; her eyes curved slightly, and her lips lifted into a perfect smile.
The peaceful scene was so lovely that it caught him completely off guard.
In an instant, an inexplicable feeling welled up inside him.
Lu Beicheng furrowed his brows. This feeling was too strange.
Hearing a sound at the doorway, Lin Qiqi glanced up casually. “Finished?”
As soon as she’d spoken, her gaze returned to the book in her hands.
She didn’t even spare him another look. Lu Beicheng’s brows knitted tighter. What kind of attitude was that?
She’d been clinging to him earlier, and in less than half an hour she was already too lazy to pay him any attention!
Hmph. Women really were the most fickle creatures!
Lu Beicheng gave a cold snort.
“…” Lin Qiqi raised her little face and looked at him with her pretty almond-shaped eyes, blinking.
What was wrong with this man now?
Confusion flickered in her eyes. She couldn’t figure it out and couldn’t be bothered to. She went back to reading.
She had to admit, the book was quite good. Although much of it was child’s play to her, it was still a nice way to pass the time.
She’d clung to the man earlier, letting his presence nourish her, and at last her body felt much better. She might as well spend more time doing things she enjoyed and less time worrying about things that made her think too hard.
Lu Beicheng: “!!!”
His sharply defined jaw tightened. Why was he suddenly so irritated?
This woman’s glances were getting more and more perfunctory!
With a cold expression, Lu Beicheng walked over to the sofa and looked down at the book in Lin Qiqi’s hands, his dark eyes scanning the page.
The next second, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “Can you actually understand that book?”
It was an advanced English-language book on military weaponry. Even he, with his professional training, found it difficult to read.
Yet this woman was engrossed in it!
Lu Beicheng narrowed his long eyes and fixed his gaze on Lin Qiqi. “Do you know much about military weaponry?”
Lin Qiqi’s brows furrowed slightly. This man was so noisy.
She glanced at the page, reluctantly set the book down, and stood to stretch.
“I wouldn’t say I know much. I just understand a little.”
Lu Beicheng made no comment. He glanced at the book she’d put down and didn’t pursue the subject.
“The application’s done. Let’s go get our marriage certificate.”
Lin Qiqi looked surprised. “That fast?”
Lu Beicheng gave a casual “Mm.” Grandpa had called personally. How could it not be fast?
“Let’s go.”
Lin Qiqi nodded her little head and strode out of the office with determination.
Lu Beicheng followed her. Watching her petite, charming figure ahead, he pressed his lips together.
Had this woman gotten their roles mixed up?
She was the one who’d come to him and demanded that he take responsibility. So why was she acting as though she were bravely marching to her death—as if he were forcing her?
Women really were troublesome, and their thoughts were impossible to fathom.
He’d be better off focusing on his work.
As for this woman, he could just support her from now on.