The call connected, and the other party quickly gave Zhou Yushen a precise answer.
“Captain Zhou, the matter you asked me to check has been clarified. That night, Lu Wanwan was indeed in the vicinity. As for when she left, there’s no exact time.”
“Alright, I understand. Thank you.”
Zhou Yushen hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, furrowing his brow. Even after confirming the truth, his expression didn’t relax.
His sister-in-law had never mentioned visiting the unit before, and now she planned to go for a few days—and take Lu Wanwan with her.
Was this just a coincidence, or was there another reason?
Until he figured it out, he had to prevent Lu Wanwan from going to the unit with his sister-in-law.
When Lu Wanwan woke from her nap, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were still asleep. She tucked them in, tiptoed out, and went to feed Xiaobao.
As she reached the corner of the staircase, she suddenly overheard a conversation from the study upstairs. She was about to leave when she heard Zhou Yushen mention her name.
“Sis, you can go for the visit, but Lu Wanwan cannot come to the unit. I had her records checked. There’s nothing serious, but she’s changed a lot over the past two years.”
“She’s become a mother. Of course she has to be strong for her children. Changes are normal.”
Chen Shu deeply empathized and couldn’t help defending Lu Wanwan. “I can’t handle even one child, Xiaobao. Wanwan has two and has taught them so well, supporting them herself. She’s already worked very hard.”
The more Chen Shu spoke, the more she admired Lu Wanwan—but something still seemed off. Where was Wanwan’s husband? Chen Shu realized she hadn’t heard Lu Wanwan mention him, and she had forgotten to ask.
Zhou Yushen still couldn’t relax. The military wasn’t like any other place, and he voiced his doubt: “Why did my sister-in-law suddenly want to visit the unit?”
The topic moved quickly. Chen Shu opened her mouth to explain but quickly swallowed her words. If she told Yushen now that it was to arrange a match for him, he would definitely not allow her to go.
“Oh, no particular reason. I just suddenly wanted your brother to see Xiaobao.”
Her answer sounded normal, but Zhou Yushen knew that a month ago, his brother had suggested the visit, and Chen Shu had refused.
“Fine, fine. Xiaobao is your nephew. Are you going to just watch him go hungry and cry? Besides, your brother’s approval for Wanwan to go with me means there’s no problem.”
Zhou Yushen rubbed his temples, realizing it wouldn’t be easy to get his sister-in-law to change her mind.
That afternoon, Lu Wanwan seized an opportunity and feigned discomfort, politely telling Chen Shu, “Sister Chen, I’ve been having severe insomnia and a bit of a stomach upset from the cold. I might not be able to go with you to the unit.”
Chen Shu immediately became concerned. “Should we see a doctor? I also had serious insomnia before—this isn’t something small.”
“No, I just need a few days to adjust.”
Chen Shu suddenly realized something and asked Lu Wanwan, “Did you hear what Yushen said earlier?”
Without needing an answer, Chen Shu could tell from Wanwan’s reaction and immediately held her hand reassuringly.
“Yushen has been in the military for years; he’s naturally very cautious. If you can go with me to the unit, it’s because the approval went through.”
“Besides, if you don’t go, Xiaobao and I will just stare at each other, tears in our eyes. Can you bear to see him hungry?”
“Come with me, take Tuantuan and Yuanyuan. Don’t they also want to be soldiers when they grow up? Let them experience the atmosphere. They’ll grow up together with Xiaobao. It’s settled—let’s go.”
Chen Shu left no room for Lu Wanwan to refuse.
Excited at the prospect of visiting the unit, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan stayed up late the night before and barely slept. Wanwan almost overslept the next morning, but luckily everything had been packed in advance.
After breakfast, as they got into the car, Lu Wanwan helped Chen Shu organize her things. Tuantuan and Yuanyuan ran ahead, trying to climb in, but failed each time.
Zhou Yushen placed the bags in the car. Seeing the two little figures struggling, he couldn’t help but smile. He went over, picked up Yuanyuan, and placed her in the seat.
Yuanyuan happily looked around and sweetly thanked him, “Thank you, Susu.”
Zhou Yushen patted her head and then lifted Tuantuan, placing him next to Yuanyuan. “Take care of your sister. Your mom will be here soon.”
“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll take care of Yuanyuan.”
Though curious, both children obediently sat still and didn’t touch anything.
Everyone got in the car. Chen Shu held Xiaobao in the front passenger seat, Lu Wanwan sat behind with the twins, and Zhou Yushen drove. They quickly set off.
At first, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan excitedly looked out the windows, but soon they grew quiet. Yuanyuan, especially, leaned against Lu Wanwan, feeling unwell. “Mom, I feel sick, I want to throw up.”
It was motion sickness.
Lu Wanwan had anticipated this. She massaged Yuanyuan’s acupressure points to ease the discomfort.
Zhou Yushen drove with one hand and pulled some candies from the storage compartment with the other. He handed them to the backseat: “These are peppermint and milk candies. They can help with motion sickness.”
“Thank you.”
Lu Wanwan took two pieces, giving one to each child.
Zhou Yushen gave the remaining candy to Tuantuan. There were still candies in the compartment, and Chen Shu took one and unwrapped it.
Feeling the sweetness of the milk candy, Chen Shu glanced at Zhou Yushen driving. She had ridden in his car before—besides the candy, it was impeccably clean.
Zhou Yushen ignored her gaze and looked in the rearview mirror at Tuantuan and Yuanyuan. A bold thought crossed his mind: could they be his children?
Bored during the ride, Chen Shu chatted with Lu Wanwan.
“Wanwan, you’re out working with two kids. What about your husband?”
“He’s dead.”
Lu Wanwan’s tone was calm, as if she were merely commenting on the weather.
Zhou Yushen glanced at her in the rearview mirror. Fang Anqian had asked the same question before, and the answer had been verified—since the twins’ birth, she had been widowed.
“Oh… I’m sorry, Wanwan. I didn’t know. You’re raising two kids on your own—that’s so hard.”
Lu Wanwan didn’t want to discuss the scumbag in front of the twins. She lowered her head, feigning sadness, and ended the topic with one sentence:
“He was good and was looking forward to the children. Now that I have them with me, it’s enough.”
Hearing this, Zhou Yushen’s eyes lingered on the woman in the rearview mirror, and a strange feeling passed through him. He realized he was almost jealous that Tuantuan and Yuanyuan were hers and not his.
By the time they arrived at the unit, it was already noon. Fang Anqian personally came to meet them.
“Sis, Rui-ge has a last-minute meeting and isn’t finished yet. I’ll take you to the cafeteria first.”