But the words had already been spoken. Everyone had ears—covering mouths now wouldn’t help.
“You have someone you like?” Song Meihua parted her lips slightly, a little stunned, looking at Lu Yunyang. “Since when? How come we didn’t know?”
Lu Zhongzhan and Lu Zhijun listened with confused expressions. If they had known Lu Yunyang liked someone, Lu Zhijun wouldn’t have agreed to the Su Family’s matchmaking proposal.
Both of them looked at him, waiting for a response.
Lu Yunyang glanced at Lu Yunzhao, slightly annoyed at why she had said such a thing.
He was certain that what had just happened between him and Su Yutao hadn’t been seen by the others. So where did Lu Yunzhao get this idea from?
Yet, Lu Yunzhao wasn’t wrong. He indeed liked someone now. There was no need to deny it—otherwise, they would surely find excuses to push him into more matchmaking in the future.
Lu Yunyang gave a faint “hm.” “I do have someone I like.”
Hearing this, Lu Yunzhao suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. If her brother hadn’t admitted it, she would have been scolded later. Luckily, that didn’t happen!
“Then why didn’t you say so?” Song Meihua asked, looking at Lu Yunyang. “If you had, we wouldn’t have been in such a hurry to find you a match.”
Lu Yunyang raised an eyebrow. “Because now isn’t the right time.”
“Then where’s she from?” Song Meihua was impatient, firing a rapid series of questions: “How old is she this year? What does she do? How many people are in her family?”
Lu Yunyang lifted his eyes slightly. The entire room’s eyes were fixed on him, waiting for an answer.
He thought for a moment and then said slowly, “She’s just a very beautiful girl. Her home isn’t far from our production team. When the time is right, I’ll tell you all.”
“How can that be?” Song Meihua laughed. “The more beautiful the girl, the faster and more decisively you should act!”
Lu Yunyang: …
Song Meihua continued immersing herself in her own advice: “You should give me her birth date and time so I can have someone calculate her fortune. Otherwise, dating a girl without marrying her—that’s just mischief, isn’t it?”
“Mom, you’re too impatient,” Lu Yunyang’s lips twitched slightly. “Our relationship is still very simple. It’s not like what you think.”
He and Yutao had just started. Even if marriage were in the future, it had to happen step by step. Moreover, the previous issue of withdrawing from the match was still fresh in memory, and he hadn’t figured out how to tell everyone about this yet.
“Then what’s the situation with the two of you?” Lu Zhijun asked directly. “Do you like her unilaterally, or does she like you too?”
Lu Yunyang pondered for a moment, as if he had found a way to stall them. “I like her unilaterally. She hasn’t responded to me yet, so I can’t say anything now.”
Hearing this, Lu Yunzhao immediately thought of the bouquet of flowers. She believed her brother and the girl must have mutual feelings. So why wouldn’t he say so? Could there be some hidden difficulty?
“Really?” Song Meihua sounded a little incredulous. With such an excellent son, was there really a girl who didn’t like him? “Don’t lie to us just to trick us.”
“I’m not lying,” Lu Yunyang said expressionlessly. “I’ll tell you when she responds. And I might have a chance to transfer to County Hospital, so marriage isn’t urgent.”
Once he said this, everyone in the room stirred. Lu Zhijun immediately set down what he was holding and asked, “Is that likely?”
“Fifty-fifty,” Lu Yunyang replied with a smile. “Depends on luck. If not this year, then next year for sure.”
At twenty, he was already at the commune’s hospital. By timing, his transfer would be either this year or next.
“That’s great,” Song Meihua said, excited, hands clasped together. “The ancestors are blessing us.”
Lu Yunyang didn’t want them to be too happy too soon, so he reminded, “Mom, there’s only a fifty percent chance. Don’t rush, and don’t spread it outside.”
“I know that,” Song Meihua said, then immediately turned back. “This isn’t urgent. Let’s talk about that girl.”
Lu Yunyang: …
Speechless.
Lu Yunzhao saw her brother’s helpless expression and quickly spoke: “Mom, don’t be so impatient. The two people need to get to know each other before marrying.”
“Brother is already getting to know the girl. Being impatient won’t help. Are you going to just force a marriage?”
Lu Yunyang looked at Lu Yunzhao curiously, surprised by her eagerness to help. Could it be that she knew about his situation with Yutao?
But judging by her tone, it didn’t seem like she knew. Otherwise, with her attitude toward Yutao, she wouldn’t help talk on his behalf.
“Nowadays, marriage is decided by parents, not that complicated,” Song Meihua said unhappily. “If you like someone, we just ask around, then find a matchmaker to propose. That’s it.”
“What era are you living in?” Lu Yunzhao immediately retorted. “Mom, your thinking is still so old-fashioned. Marrying casually isn’t an option. What if you meet another Su Yutao?”
The room instantly fell silent, no one spoke again.
Lu Yunyang felt conflicted. He had blocked their questioning, but at the same time, they were reminded of Yutao’s unfavorable impression.
After everyone left, Lu Yunyang looked at Lu Yunzhao. “How did you know about me?”
Lu Yunzhao knew she couldn’t hide it. She looked at him cautiously. His expression softened slightly, and he said truthfully, “I guessed. You don’t want matchmaking, so you must like someone, right?”
It had only been a guess. Lu Yunyang exhaled, relieved, and nodded. “I didn’t expect you to be quite clever. Not bad.”
“Of course. I even spoke for you just now,” Lu Yunzhao winked at him. “Brother, see… am I good to you or not?”
Her face practically screamed, “I helped you, you should reward me.” Lu Yunyang ignored it, getting up and entering his room.
Lu Yunzhao: …
Cheapskate! Next time I won’t help you speak.
The entire afternoon passed uneventfully. Lu Yunyang didn’t know what excuse to find to go over there. He sat at the table, idly organizing his medical books, when an idea struck.
On the way back today, he had coincidentally seen Su Yuqing chatting with some people about wanting to apply to Medical School. These medical books…
He decided to send the medical books to Su Yuqing. It was a legitimate excuse to see Su Yutao and test the Su Family’s attitude toward him.
When Lu Yunyang arrived at the Su Family, they were preparing dinner. The group looked surprised to see him—after the broken engagement, no one from the Lu Family had come over.
“Yunyang, what brings you here?” Although the match between their families had failed, Grandma Su had no objections to Lu Yunyang. “Any reason?”
Lu Yunyang glanced at Yutao. She smiled, lifting her eyebrows at him.
He looked at the old lady and said, “I heard Yuqing wanted some medical books, so I brought the ones she might need.”
He handed the books to Su Yuqing gently. “See if these are what you need.”
Su Yuqing looked down at the books—medical texts—and her eyes lit up. With these, she wouldn’t need to buy many textbooks for school!
“Great!” Su Yuqing happily accepted them, seeing nothing wrong. “Thank you, Yunyang-ge!”
“Aren’t you even a bit embarrassed?” Zheng Chunling glared at Su Yuqing.
Su Yuqing pouted. Lu Yunyang quickly explained, “Some of these books are old. I don’t need them at home. Better to give them to Yuqing so they have value.”
Grandma Su thought Lu Yunyang was sensible. Before she could speak, Yutao’s voice laughed softly, “Doctor Lu, have you eaten?”
Lu Yunyang turned his gaze. The girl stared directly at him, her eyes shimmering like spring water, radiant and captivating.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. Unconsciously, two words slipped from his mouth: “Not yet.”
Yutao smiled at him. “Then have a meal with us?”
“Yes, have a meal,” Grandma Su said, worried whether to give him some money, thinking he had genuinely brought the books. “Don’t be polite—Yuqing got your books anyway.”
Zheng Chunling and the others thought Lu Yunyang wouldn’t stay for dinner, considering past tensions. But unexpectedly, he agreed immediately.
Zheng Chunling: …
Su Dahe: …
The Su Family’s table was round and large. Lu Yunyang sat next to Su Dahe, Yutao directly opposite him, able to watch him eat elegantly.
During the meal, the old lady asked many questions, naturally leading to matchmaking. Lu Yunyang explained to the Su Family, “My mom suggested it, but I refused.”
Grandma Su treated him fully as a junior. “You’re not young anymore. Your mom’s concern is understandable. You can’t keep postponing because of work.”
“Lu Yongqiang is your age, and his wife is already pregnant with their third child. You don’t even have a fiancée.”
Lu Yunyang lifted his eyes, scanning the girl’s face opposite him. She smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling as if slightly intoxicated, utterly enchanting.
“I have someone I like,” Lu Yunyang said softly, looking at her. “She’s a little younger than me, so marriage will have to wait.”
Everyone assumed he was speaking to Yutao directly.
Grandma Su sighed and shot Yutao a glance, asking no more.
“Doctor Lu,” Yutao said to him calmly, moving her foot under the table to lightly touch his. “Is the girl beautiful?”
Lu Yunyang stiffened. His gaze dropped slightly. He hadn’t seen anything, but he could feel her foot nudging him.
He subtly moved his foot, voice trembling: “Yes… very. She not only cooks but also makes flowers and crafts.”
“Really?” Yutao’s smile deepened, her foot opportunistically following his movement again. “Is she the girl we know?”
Lu Yunyang glanced around. Everyone was waiting for an answer with gossiping eyes, unaware of the under-table antics.
His face heated. He gripped his chopsticks tightly, heart almost in his throat.
In front of so many people, she actually dared to do this…
“Later… when there’s a chance, I’ll introduce her to you,” he said, staring at her playful smile, fumbling for words.
“When… later?” Yutao asked, her foot movements becoming even more daring.
Lu Yunyang looked at her coquettish expression, wishing he could bite her. “Probably… after New Year.”
“Eat, eat!” Grandma Su, knowing more now, grew increasingly unhappy. What could have been a proper engagement was completely ruined.
Infuriating. So infuriating.
“Doctor Lu, eat more,” Yutao said, smiling as she passed him some vegetables.
The girl’s movements finally stopped. Lu Yunyang broke into a sweat from the meal. After eating, he left the Su Family immediately.
Whether it was the lingering heat from the Su Family or the summer night’s warmth, Lu Yunyang slept restlessly that night.
He could always smell a faint fragrance, seeping into his heart, making his body flush as if he had taken some medicine.
Finally, past midnight, his eyelids could no longer hold, and he slowly drifted into sleep.
In a hazy dream, he sensed the scent intensifying, and a woman stood by his bed, twisting her waist.
Her face was exactly like that girl. She wore a thin camisole, shoulders slender, yet her chest heaved, and her thin waist looked as if it could snap.
She smiled boldly, biting her lip, slowly leaning toward him…
Lu Yunyang instantly understood her intention and pushed her away. “Don’t…”
With that shout, Lu Yunyang suddenly opened his eyes.
Bright sunlight streamed through the curtains. As his vision focused, he saw the ceiling of his room.
Consciousness returning, he realized it was just a dream.
Though only a dream, he became aware of his own problem, slowly sitting up and looking down.
Seeing his body, Lu Yunyang angrily tugged his hair, muttering unconsciously: “Beast!”