Lu Heng took the certificate from Professor Sun.
“Professor Lu, I’ll leave it to you. My back can’t handle standing for long—I’ll sit and rest for a bit.”
Lu Heng helped Professor Sun sit down on a nearby stool.
Then he lowered his head and looked at the name on the certificate:
Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian, from the Beidahuang Farm.
Lu Heng had thought he would never see this name again in his lifetime.
Yet not only did he see it again—he saw it on this very occasion.
The National Science and Technology Work Conference!
That quiet, soft-spoken young wife who would blush the moment she spoke, who had only an elementary school education and had never even studied middle school algebra—how could she one day overcome agricultural technical challenges and stand on the national stage to receive an award?
Such a tremendous transformation made Lu Heng question:
Was this really the same person?
What kind of experience could cause such a drastic change in such a short time?
That girl who used to tremble softly on the heated bed, whose teasing words would make him so shy he’d hide under the blanket—how had she become an expert in agricultural technology?
“Oh! She’s actually pregnant!” Professor Sun exclaimed in surprise.
Lu Heng: “???”
Pregnant?!
He suddenly looked up and saw a beautiful pregnant woman walking onto the stage.
Her face was still the same—bright and delicate.
But both hands were supporting a belly as large as a basket.
She walked with a swaying motion, like a clumsy penguin.
“!!!”
Lu Heng’s pupils shook.
She… was pregnant???
“Professor Lu? Professor Lu?”
Professor Sun noticed that Lu Heng hadn’t moved, while the award recipient was already standing at the center of the stage.
Everyone below was waiting!
Anxious, Professor Sun held his aching back and stood up again.
“I’ll go instead.”
Lu Heng immediately pressed the old professor back onto the stool.
“You rest!”
Holding the certificate, Lu Heng strode onto the stage.
A wave of excitement erupted from the audience.
“Wow, Professor Lu himself is presenting the award!”
“Clap clap clap—”
The applause, which had just died down, burst out again.
This time, it was clearly for the elegant and distinguished Professor Lu.
Below the stage, Xu Hongmei was clapping so hard her hands were about to go numb:
That wretched girl is so lucky—she actually got Professor Lu to present her award!
If only—
If only she had gone up on stage in Jiang Mian’s place just now!
Ahhhhhhh!
It’s all her brother’s fault for meddling!
Meanwhile, Jiang Mian, standing on the stage, looked at the man walking toward her—and instead became calm.
The man’s face was stern, carrying a forceful air of “I came here for you.”
Jiang Mian smiled.
The man stopped in front of her and extended his hand, speaking in a formal tone:
“Congratulations, Comrade Jiang Mian. Keep up the good work.”
“Thank you, Leader. I will continue to do my best.”
Jiang Mian shook his hand.
A familiar feeling.
Those hands were still warm, but far more refined than before.
Jiang Mian didn’t dare think too much about it and tried to withdraw her hand.
But her palm was suddenly gripped by the man.
Jiang Mian was startled.
There were so many eyes watching below the stage?!
Yet Lu Heng, in full view of everyone, calmly began to reminisce:
“Long time no see. Have you remarried?”
“No. I’m single.”
Lu Heng’s gaze lowered, landing on her slightly protruding belly, his voice turning extremely dry:
“Then whose child is it?”
“…” Jiang Mian raised her head, meeting the man’s deep gaze, her lips moving slightly. “Yours.”
“…………”
Lu Heng’s mind went completely blank.
He froze on the spot.
Jiang Mian could even see, with her own eyes, his tall figure sway slightly.
Not good!
If he collapsed right here, how would she explain that nothing had happened?!
“Professor Lu, steady!”
Jiang Mian reached out her other hand, lightly supporting him.
Audience below: “……”
Why are those two getting so close?
“What’s going on?”
Sitting among the audience, Xu Hongmei broke out in a cold sweat:
“This Jiang Mian—how can she be so handsy with Professor Lu? Does she have no shame? She’s disgraced our entire farm!”
Xu Haibin also stared tensely at the two facing each other on stage, a shocking thought suddenly rising in his mind.