Lu Weidong looked at the young woman in front of him.
The dark gray wool coat seemed made for her, accentuating her tall, poised figure and calm temperament.
Their eyes met for a moment, and he quickly turned his head, muttering to the saleswoman: “This one. Make it official.”
By the time they left the department store, their hands were full of shopping bags.
The weekend crowd was thick, and even the bus stop outside was jam-packed.
Eventually, they squeezed onto a bus, pressed close against other passengers.
Originally standing side by side, the crowd forced them tightly together.
Ye Wenxi could barely move, one hand holding the heavy mesh bag, the other bracing against the front window for balance.
Lu Weidong stood behind her, trying to shield some space with his body, but their chests and backs inevitably pressed together.
The bus jolted with every start and stop, their bodies brushing slightly with each movement.
Ye Wenxi’s petite figure, especially her curvy hips, brushed against Lu Weidong’s tense legs more than once.
He could feel the softness through the fabric, and his body reacted instinctively.
Then the bus braked sharply!
“Ah!” Ye Wenxi yelped, toppling backward.
Her hands scrambled behind her instinctively, trying to grasp anything to stabilize herself.
In her panic, her hand swung wildly—directly hitting…
“Ugh…” Lu Weidong grunted, muscles tensing instantly as if struck by electricity.
His body reacted faster than his mind, and he instinctively tightened his arms, catching Ye Wenxi just in time.
Ye Wenxi shivered violently, like she’d been burned, and wrenched herself free, cheeks burning crimson.
It all happened in a flash.
A few meters away, a little girl in her mother’s arms pointed at them with wide, innocent eyes:
“Mom, look at that auntie and uncle! Their faces are so red! Are they sick?”
Ye Wenxi’s face burned even more, her mind buzzing.
She glanced surreptitiously at Lu Weidong.
The proud company commander, head bowed low, face flushed as if ready to bleed, utterly embarrassed, unable to meet her eyes.
Finally, the bus reached their stop, and they almost fled the vehicle, one after the other.
Back in the family compound, Aunt Sun had nearly finished setting lunch.
Lu Weidong dropped the shopping bags in the corner, barely catching his breath.
“I’ll go handle the paperwork for you,” he said abruptly, then rushed toward the door, footsteps betraying his fluster.
“Hey? Weidong!” Liu Xiuyun came from the kitchen, worried.
“The food’s ready! Eat first, then go!”
Lu Weidong didn’t seem to hear, his pace unbroken as if escaping, the main door shutting with a soft “bang.”
Liu Xiuyun looked at the empty doorway, shaking her head: “This boy, what’s gotten into him?”
At the lunch table, it was only Liu Xiuyun, sister-in-law Li Shufen, and younger sister Lu Weihua.
Lu Weihua, curious, asked: “Mom, where’s Xiao Jun?”
“Went out with Xiao Gang from the Xu family this morning,” Liu Xiuyun said, placing a piece of braised pork on Ye Wenxi’s plate.
“Wenxi, don’t worry about them. Eat first. The meat’s tender—have more.”
“Thank you, Auntie,” Ye Wenxi replied politely, as Li Shufen added some fresh vegetables to her bowl.
“Try this, Wenxi. Aunt Sun cooked the greens just right.”
“Thanks, sister-in-law,” Ye Wenxi smiled and dug into her meal, though her mind replayed the awkward bus incident, her cheeks warming again.
…
In an old street-side billiards hall, the door was small, the sign peeling, smoke curling inside.
Several half-grown boys lounged by green, worn-out tables.
Against the wall were tattered sofas, and a radio blared noisy pop songs.
Lu Xiaojun and Xu Zhigang sat on the innermost sofa, bottles of soda in front of them.
Lu Xiaojun took a big bite of his pancake, mumbling:
“My second uncle is really getting married. Tell your sister to give up already.”
Xu Zhigang scratched his head, annoyed: “I wish she would! You have no idea—she came back last night, out of her mind, only returning at dawn. Her eyes were all red from crying…”
He leaned in, lowering his voice: “She even wanted me to find out about your uncle and aunt.”
Lu Xiaojun immediately raised an eyebrow: “Your sister wants to do what?”
Xu Zhigang rolled his eyes: “What can she do? She just can’t let go.”
Lu Xiaojun shook his head, clicking his tongue, either marveling at his uncle’s charm or worrying about the trouble his future aunt might face.
“Just tell her straight—no chance, not even a bit.”
He shoved the last bite into his mouth, patting off crumbs.
“They’re good together! Though they’ve known each other a short time, my uncle protects my aunt like she’s his own eyes.”
Xu Zhigang’s expression shifted: “A short time? My uncle marries people he barely knows? He used to refuse all introductions.”
Lu Xiaojun laughed, leaning in with an air of pride, mimicking his uncle’s calm but authoritative tone:
“‘Tell her this doesn’t concern her. I’ll take responsibility.’”
Xu Zhigang was baffled: “What are you mumbling about?”
Lu Xiaojun staggered slightly as Xu nudged him, then glared:
“You don’t get it! Like a blockhead—you’ll never find a wife!”
“Hey! Who said I wouldn’t find a wife?”
Xu Zhigang leapt at him, trying to grab his neck.
Lu Xiaojun yelled and dodged nimbly, and the two were soon chasing each other through the smoky billiard hall.
…
Back at the military family compound, Commander Xu’s yelling echoed through the house.
Xu Zhigang had barely stepped inside when his father, Staff Officer Xu, roared, ears ringing:
“Are you seeing someone or what? Acting like you’re dying in your room—have some self-respect!”
Inside, Xu Miao had locked herself in all day, refusing to eat or communicate with anyone.
Xu’s mother hurriedly pulled at her husband’s arm: “Don’t be so harsh! You know how she feels about Lu Weidong.”
“Suddenly he brings home a wife—she can’t handle it. Give her a few days to calm down.”
“A few days?” Xu Xu’s father’s face turned red with rage.
“She’ll starve herself to death in days! Then let’s see how you calm her!”
At that moment, Mrs. Xu saw Xu Zhigang enter—like a lifeline—and quickly dragged him over:
“Xiao Gang! Go talk to your sister; maybe you can get her to open the door.”
Xu Zhigang, holding a bowl of noodles, went to Xu Miao’s door.
“Knock, knock—” He rapped gently. Silence.
“Sis, it’s me.”
After a few seconds, dragging footsteps sounded inside.
The locked door clicked open.
Pale-faced, eyes red, Xu Miao appeared at the doorway, first words:
“Did you talk to Lu Xiaojun?”