After returning from visiting Grandpa Wen, Lu Ming’an received a phone call and began leaving early and returning late because of a mission.
Lin Zhitang had originally been thinking that if Lu Ming’an’s vacation time was insufficient, she would find an excuse to let him leave first. Coincidentally, now that he had a mission, she finally had time to deal with Su Ya and Su Yun properly before leaving Shanghai without any lingering worries.
The two agreed that once Lu Ming’an finished the matters at hand, they would go register their marriage.
Lu Ming’an’s marriage report indeed had not been approved immediately.
At such a young age, Lu Ming’an’s future was practically limitless. But if he married Lin Zhitang, then for the next several years, promotion would become extremely difficult.
When Lu Ming’an called to urge approval of the marriage application, Lin Zhitang’s file had already been placed on the regiment commander’s desk.
“Ming’an, Lin Zhitang is the descendant of capitalists. Does your family know you want to marry her? You understand the current political situation better than anyone. If you marry her, your future path will become very difficult. Are you still determined to marry her?” Commander Qian asked earnestly.
“Commander, I still insist. If my position can’t advance further, then that’s due to my own lack of ability and has nothing to do with her. And don’t worry, the old master at home already agreed.”
“Fine. I’ll personally make the call and confirm. If you’re not lying to me, and this marriage really was approved by the old master himself, then I’ll sign it immediately.”
Commander Qian truly cherished the soldiers under his command, especially someone as capable as Lu Ming’an. He did not want to see Lu Ming’an’s future ruined like this.
However, Commander Qian had been one step slower than Lu Ming’an. Lu Ming’an had already called the old master first, and the line remained busy for quite some time, making Commander Qian so anxious he nearly scratched his head bald.
Finally, after the call connected—
“Chief, this is Qian Danian. About Ming’an—”
Old Master Lu had just finished speaking with Lu Ming’an and was still in excellent spirits. Before Commander Qian could even finish speaking, the old man directly interrupted:
“I approved Ming’an’s marriage. The Lin family are Red Capitalists. Every member of the Lin family sacrificed themselves, and Zhitang is their only remaining bloodline. Just sign the papers as usual.”
Afterward, the old master made several more calls, personally pushing Lu Ming’an’s marriage application through special approval procedures and urging them to approve it immediately.
In truth, after receiving Lin Chennian’s letter, the old master had asked every unmarried grandson in the family, as well as their parents, for their opinions. If none of them had agreed, he could have repaid the favor in another way. He was not an old-fashioned man who would sacrifice his grandson’s happiness merely for repayment of gratitude.
Among the grandsons of marriageable age, only Lu Ming’an had agreed to this marriage arrangement. When the old master sent Lu Ming’an to Shanghai to bring Lin Zhitang back, it had also been giving him a chance to change his mind. If the two truly lacked fate together, he would never force it.
But now, it seemed the outcome was good. The old man was about to gain a granddaughter-in-law after all.
Over the past few days, Lin Zhitang had been constantly wandering around outside.
She was about to leave Shanghai, and many ration coupons usable in Shanghai would be useless elsewhere. Who knew when she would have the chance to return again? So she wanted to seize the opportunity to buy as much food and daily necessities as possible to store in her space.
As for the second reason—
Naturally, it was to give those people an opportunity to make their move.
It wasn’t that Lin Zhitang wasn’t afraid. There was even a knife stored in her space. But if one did not enter the tiger’s den, how could one catch the tiger cub?
When Lin Zhitang returned home that day, Su Ya and Su Yun blocked her at the entrance.
“Tangtang, what’s going on? Why did you change the locks? Are you guarding against your own mother?” Su Ya asked unhappily.
Lin Zhitang smiled at her.
“I’m not guarding against you. Mom, you know the house was robbed. I was worried someone had copied the keys. Otherwise, how could they have entered so silently? So I changed all the locks. Mom, how could you suspect me like that? You’re my only remaining family now.”
Lin Zhitang smoothly turned the situation around against her.
“It was Mother who misunderstood you.” Su Ya’s expression stiffened, caught midway between smiling and crying. Grinding her teeth slightly, she forced out a strained smile.
“Did you come today for something?” Lin Zhitang pretended not to notice Su Ya’s ugly expression.
As for Su Yun, Lin Zhitang simply ignored her entirely.
Seeing that Lin Zhitang had no intention of opening the door and inviting them inside, Su Ya inwardly cursed again.
Ungrateful little white-eyed wolf. I should’ve gotten rid of her earlier.
Hearing Lin Zhitang’s question, Su Ya had already switched her expression into that of a loving mother.
“I’ve come looking for you several times, but you’ve been out all day long. Oh right, where’s Ming’an? Why haven’t I seen him?”
“He has something to handle. He hasn’t been around these past few days.”
When answering, Lin Zhitang deliberately glanced toward Su Yun, and as expected, something changed in her expression.
“Alright then. The day after tomorrow is your Uncle Song’s and my wedding. You must come, and bring Ming’an with you too.”
“Of course, Mom. It seems the Song family and Uncle Song value you greatly. I’ll definitely attend your wedding on time. I’ll even prepare a huge gift for you.”
Lin Zhitang smiled brightly.
She only hoped that when the time came, Su Ya would be able to smile as happily as she was now.
Hearing this, Su Ya felt reassured that Lin Zhitang still cared about her as a mother after all. Just like before, she was still easy to coax.
A huge gift?
Su Ya began to suspect that Lin Chennian might have secretly left money for Lin Zhitang elsewhere. She resolved to find an opportunity to probe further.
Only after Su Ya and Su Yun left did Lin Zhitang open the gate and enter Lin Mansion.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
“Brother, thanks. Sorry for ruining your vacation.”
Gu Lin punched Lu Ming’an lightly in the chest as he laughed.
“What’s there to be polite about?” Lu Ming’an returned the punch.
Gu Lin wiggled his brows teasingly.
“I heard this vacation was for your marriage. What’s sister-in-law like? Is she pretty?”
The moment those words were spoken, the soldiers standing nearby all perked up their ears.
“She’s beautiful. Once she follows the army, you’ll all see for yourselves.”
Lu Ming’an glanced at them as he answered.
A faint smile flashed through his eyes. At that moment, he missed the little girl waiting at home terribly.
In a certain corner of Shanghai—
After parting ways with Su Ya, Su Yun knocked on the door of a residence occupied by three street thugs.
“Brother Hu, you already took my money. When exactly are you planning to act?” Su Yun stormed in angrily.
“I already have people watching her. We’ll make our move tomorrow. Don’t worry. I, Brother Hu, have never been someone who breaks my word.”
Brother Hu lounged crookedly in a chair as he replied lazily.
“It’d better be that way.”
Su Yun arrived in a rush and left just as quickly.
Watching her fiery temper, one of Brother Hu’s underlings couldn’t help spitting to the side.
“Tch, this little bitch sure is arrogant. Brother Hu, you’re just letting her act this way?”
Brother Hu narrowed his eyes and asked calmly, “How much do you think she’s worth?”
Immediately, his subordinates understood. The group exchanged glances before grinning lewdly.
Su Yun thought she had bribed them with money, never realizing that she herself had already become prey in their eyes.
The next morning, after washing up and heading downstairs, Lin Zhitang discovered breakfast already sitting on the table.
“Hmph, gone for days without even showing his shadow, and now he’s suddenly back.”
Though her tone sounded dissatisfied, the smile on her face had already exposed her true mood.
The day Lu Ming’an received the call, he had only left her with a few brief instructions before departing from Lin Mansion.
Lin Zhitang had originally believed she only liked Lu Ming’an a little.
But as the days of his absence stretched longer and longer, she discovered she liked him far more than she had imagined.
She did not know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
But she did not reject it.
So she chose to follow her heart.
Her father had once taught her that once she started something, she should never give up halfway through. She believed feelings should be the same.
Since she had fallen for him, she would never let go easily—
Unless Lu Ming’an fell in love with another woman.
“Zhitang.”
Lu Ming’an’s deep voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.
Lin Zhitang looked up from her breakfast.
“You finished your mission?”
“Mhm.”
As he responded, Lu Ming’an pulled out a chair and sat beside her.
Lin Zhitang lifted her hand and gently pressed her finger beneath his eyes.
“Ming’an-ge, your dark circles are terrible. Did you not rest properly?”
Lu Ming’an’s body suddenly stiffened.
Feeling the warmth of Lin Zhitang’s fingertips against his skin, he momentarily lost himself.
Seeing him staring blankly, Lin Zhitang waved her hand in front of him.
“Ming’an-ge, I’m talking to you. Why are you spacing out?”
“Ah—I heard you.”
Lu Ming’an snapped back to reality.
“It was just because of the mission. I’m fine. I just need some rest.”
The warmth lingering beneath his eyes gradually faded.
Unexpectedly, Lu Ming’an felt a little disappointed.
He wanted Lin Zhitang to be close to him.
He wanted to kiss her. Hold her.
He wanted to get married.
He wanted to become Lin Zhitang’s husband and protect her for the rest of his life.
The end of happiness was finding someone willing to accompany you through the rest of your lifetime.
Though they had not spent much time together, and Lin Zhitang’s feelings toward him were still only surface-level affection, Lu Ming’an believed that if two people were truly connected heart to heart, it was only a matter of time.
From the very first moment he saw Lin Zhitang, he had already fallen for her.
At a single glance, he had placed her deep within his heart.
And Lu Ming’an believed that Lin Zhitang was the person destined to walk through this lifetime beside him.