“What?”
Lu Jingheng suspected there was something wrong with his ears.
Frowning, he fixed his sharp gaze on Ruan Wen’s face, searching for even the slightest sign that she was joking.
But there was none.
Her expression was calm—almost too calm. Those clear eyes didn’t look as though she were discussing a life-altering decision. Instead, it seemed as though she were deciding whether to eat cabbage or radishes for lunch.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?” Lu Jingheng’s voice was cold enough to freeze water.
One second she wanted to break off the engagement, the next she wanted to get married.
What did she think marriage was?
A children’s game?
As expected, the thought process of a capitalist’s daughter was beyond ordinary understanding.
“Of course I know.”
Ruan Wen met his gaze without backing down.
“Commander Lu, I’m a woman with a bad political background and no one to rely on. If I break off the engagement, where am I supposed to go in Beijing?”
She paused, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
“Or does Commander Lu think that my life doesn’t count as a human life?”
The question instantly darkened Lu Jingheng’s face.
She had heard it.
She had heard everything.
Not a single word he said outside the train station had escaped her.
A lump of frustration lodged in his chest.
In twenty-five years of life, this was the first time a woman had left him speechless.
“So you’re threatening me?” he ground out through clenched teeth.
“No. This is cooperation.”
Ruan Wen corrected him.
“You need to fulfill your grandfather’s wishes. I need a place to survive. We get married, take what we each need, and stay out of each other’s business. Isn’t that the best solution available right now?”
She laid out her reasoning clearly and logically, as though delivering an official report.
To Lu Jingheng’s annoyance, he couldn’t refute a single point.
This woman’s mind worked faster than the rifling in his gun barrel.
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the inexplicable irritation rising within him.
“Marriage isn’t as simple as you think. There are many rules in the military compound. Can you handle them?”
“It’s better than sleeping on the streets.”
Ruan Wen’s tone remained indifferent.
“Besides, dealing with those rules sounds far preferable to dealing with your childhood sweetheart.”
She deliberately glanced toward the neighboring courtyard.
“Gu Qingyu wants to marry you so badly it’s practically written across her face. If I break off the engagement, she’ll probably think I’m not worthy of you. From then on, every time she sees me, her tail will be wagging up in the sky.”
Ruan Wen chuckled softly.
“I’m the kind of person who can tolerate anything except being taken advantage of. If she makes me unhappy, I can’t let her stay too comfortable either.”
The honesty—and pettiness—of her statement left Lu Jingheng stunned once again.
He had expected some noble-sounding excuse.
Instead, she openly admitted to being vindictive without the slightest embarrassment.
It was…
Unexpectedly interesting.
Without realizing it, some of his resistance began to weaken.
A woman who didn’t love him, didn’t want anything from him, only needed a place to stay and wanted to annoy Gu Qingyu a little…
Perhaps she wasn’t so difficult to accept after all.
At the very least, she’d be far less troublesome than a woman who adored him and cried over him all day.
When Lu Yongjie noticed the two still standing outside, he felt utterly exasperated with his blockheaded son.
“Jingheng, honestly. Ruan Wen is a young lady who’s just arrived here. Why are you leaving her standing outside? Hurry up and bring her inside. Your grandfather has been waiting impatiently.”
As he spoke, he even walked back and shoved his oblivious son forward.
The push nearly made Lu Jingheng stumble.
He shot his father an annoyed look but offered no further resistance.
That was as good as silent agreement.
Following behind them, Ruan Wen’s lips curved upward ever so slightly.
As soon as they entered the house, the strong scent of traditional medicine greeted them.
The living room was simple.
Several wooden sofas, a square table, and a portrait of the nation’s leader hanging on the wall.
Everything reflected the simplicity and dignity characteristic of the era.
An elderly man with graying hair, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, sat resting on the sofa with his eyes closed.
Hearing movement, he slowly opened them.
“Is… is little Ruan here?”
His voice was weak, but his eyes remained bright.
“Grandpa Lu.”
Ruan Wen stepped forward, speaking softly.
This was Old Master Lu—Lu Zhenhua.
In her previous life, she had only seen photographs of him in newspapers.
Now, seeing him in person, she could truly feel the aura of a battle-hardened veteran.
Even illness couldn’t diminish it.
“Ah, good child. Come here and let Grandpa have a look at you.”
Lu Zhenhua beckoned her over.
Ruan Wen obediently sat beside him.
Taking her hand, he examined her carefully.
Moisture glimmered in his aging eyes.
“You look so much like your grandmother when she was young… In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed.”
“Child, you’ve suffered all these years.”
Such a simple sentence nearly brought tears to Ruan Wen’s eyes.
Since her rebirth, she had constantly been on guard, calculating every step, never allowing herself a moment’s rest.
This sincere concern from the old man cracked open the shell she had built around herself.
“It wasn’t that bad. It’s all in the past now.”
She forced down her emotions and shook her head.
“Dad, don’t get too excited. The doctor said you need rest.”
Lu Yongjie gently reminded him.
“I’m seeing my granddaughter-in-law! Of course I’m happy! I’m not going to die from that!”
Lu Zhenhua glared at his son before turning back to Ruan Wen with a kind smile.
“Child, from now on, treat this place as your home. If anyone dares bully you, tell Grandpa and I’ll stand up for you.”
As he spoke, his gaze casually swept toward Lu Jingheng.
Lu Jingheng stared at the floor as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Thank you, Grandpa Lu.”
“Still calling me Grandpa Lu?”
Lu Zhenhua pretended to be displeased.
“You should change the way you address me now.”
Ruan Wen adapted immediately.
“Grandpa.”
“Good!”
Lu Zhenhua beamed so broadly that every wrinkle on his face seemed to unfold.
“I’ve waited many years to hear you call me that!”
After fumbling through his pocket, he pulled out something wrapped in red cloth and placed it in her hands.
“Here. This is Grandpa’s gift for you.”
Opening the cloth, Ruan Wen found a flawless white jade bracelet.
Its quality was exceptional, smooth and translucent—clearly worth a fortune.
“Grandpa, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”
She tried to decline.
“If I give it to you, then take it!”
Lu Zhenhua immediately put on a stern face.
“This is the Lu family’s heirloom. It is only passed down to the eldest daughter-in-law. If you refuse, are you trying to let its legacy die out?”
At that point, Ruan Wen had no choice.
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
“That’s better.”
Lu Zhenhua nodded in satisfaction before turning toward Lu Jingheng.
“You little brat! Why are you still standing there? Take your wife upstairs and help her get settled!”
Lu Jingheng: “…”
Taking a deep breath, he resigned himself to fate.
“Let’s go.”
Ruan Wen followed him upstairs.
The second floor of the Lu residence contained three rooms: one master bedroom and two smaller bedrooms.
Lu Jingheng pushed open the door on the left.
“You’ll stay here.”
The room wasn’t large, but it was clean.
A wooden bed.
A desk.
A wardrobe.
That was all the furniture.
The south-facing window allowed sunlight to stream in, casting a warm glow across the desk.
“Your room is next door?” Ruan Wen asked.
“Mm.”
His reply was somewhat stiff.
A newly married couple living in separate rooms?
Ruan Wen raised an eyebrow.
But that suited her perfectly.
It saved her the trouble of arguing.
Setting her luggage down, she turned back to him.
“Commander Lu, regarding our cooperation, I think it’s necessary for us to establish a few ground rules.”