Lu Wanwan immediately refused: “Captain Zhou, I don’t know how to pick scarves. You’d better find someone else to help you. I still have to give Xiaobao a bath this afternoon.”
“Yes, Wanwan still has to help me pickle vegetables today.”
Chen Shu quickly came up with an excuse as well. She was about to be driven mad by this younger brother-in-law. Yesterday everything went smoothly, and now, just as they were about to leave, he caused trouble again!
Zhou Yushen wasn’t in a hurry. He glanced at the documents in his hand and slowly said, “I remember Comrade Fang also knows how to pickle vegetables. She wanted to learn how to take care of children and even considered taking over Comrade Lu’s position before. Today, let’s give Comrade Fang a chance.”
Fang Anqian’s mouth dropped open—she didn’t want this “opportunity”!
“I’ll wait in the car, Comrade Lu. Don’t keep me waiting too long. I still have a meeting this afternoon.”
With that, Zhou Yushen stood up and walked out in long strides, giving them no chance to respond.
Chen Shu, furious, leaned back and pressed her hand to her head to ease the sudden headache. She pleaded to Lu Wanwan: “Wanwan, just go with Yushen. I promised Yuanrong yesterday, and he will definitely buy a gift for her.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say the word “apologize” in front of Fang Anqian, but her eyes conveyed it perfectly.
Lu Wanwan hesitated for a moment, then agreed. She sensed there was another reason Zhou Yushen wanted her to accompany him.
Indeed, Zhou Yushen had another motive: he wanted to test Lu Wanwan further. Seeing her reluctantly get into the car, he started the engine, a subtle, deep smile tugging at his lips.
He drove her to the largest supply store nearby. Once inside, he casually raised his chin and said in a leisurely tone, full of confident pride: “Go ahead and choose. I’ll pay.”
An elderly woman passing by let out an appreciative “Oh!” and glanced at them, full of envy: “Girl, your blind date isn’t just handsome, he’s practical and capable too.”
Another elderly woman chimed in: “And he knows how to care for others. Good men like that aren’t common. And girl, you’re attractive too—imagine how good-looking your children will be.”
Lu Wanwan’s face flushed with embarrassment. Zhou Yushen had already suspected her motives for coming to the Zhou household, and now it was even harder to explain.
She hurriedly denied it: “No, you’ve got it wrong. He’s not here for me. I’m just helping pick a gift for his blind date. We’re distant relatives.”
Since they were relatives, she obviously couldn’t be his blind date.
The two elderly women, a bit embarrassed, laughed awkwardly and walked away.
Zhou Yushen glanced at Lu Wanwan with a meaningful look. Was this her way of playing hard to get?
At that moment, Lu Wanwan had no idea what he was thinking; she just wanted to finish choosing quickly and return. She walked to the cosmetics counter and picked the best—and almost the most expensive—face cream, handing it to Zhou Yushen.
“The weather’s been dry lately. This one is very moisturizing. You can give it to Comrade Qi.”
Zhou Yushen instinctively looked at Lu Wanwan’s face. Her skin was flawless, delicate, and fair. He impulsively said:
“This one suits you better. I’ll buy it for you.”
“No need. I never use these.”
Lu Wanwan’s refusal was firm and decisive. Seeing that Zhou Yushen didn’t apply the cream himself, she simply put it back on the counter.
She turned, her gaze sharp and cold, and spoke righteously:
“Captain Zhou, I know you’ve always suspected I came to the Zhou household with ulterior motives. I didn’t want to say anything, but I don’t want you to continue misunderstanding me. Yuanyuan’s heart isn’t well, and I have to earn money to treat her. I’m a mother. For me, no one in this world is more important than my two children.”
“If you think I’m complicated, or that I’m approaching you for some reason, or doing something against the Zhou family—I admit all of that. But I’m earning my living through my own labor. I act uprightly and honorably, I steal nothing, I disgrace no one.”
Zhou Yushen looked at Lu Wanwan. Her light amber eyes shone with determination and resolve, like a burning flame, making his own breathing ease a little.
She must have heard what he said about her in the meeting room.
Zhou Yushen belatedly realized that he had gone too far and, intentionally or not, had hurt Lu Wanwan. She wasn’t an enemy agent. Even if he had doubted her before, if she was innocent, those doubts themselves were a form of harm.
Having said what she needed to, Lu Wanwan left a final remark and turned to go: “I suppose Captain Zhou doesn’t need me to help choose anything. I’ll wait outside for you.”
Zhou Yushen didn’t call after her. He turned to the curious store clerk and said: “Get two boxes of the face cream.”
Ten minutes later, Zhou Yushen walked out of the supply store carrying several bags.
He glanced at Lu Wanwan leaning against the car and naturally said his apology:
“I apologize for the things I did and said before that made you uncomfortable. You may choose not to forgive me, but apologizing is my way of showing respect. As a soldier, I shouldn’t wrong any good person, nor should I let any enemy escape.”
At this moment, Fang Anqian, after some indirect questioning, learned from Chen Shu that during yesterday’s blind date, Qi Yuanrong had been driven away by Zhou Yushen’s temper. So today, Chen Shu wanted him to buy a gift to apologize to Qi Yuanrong.
Fang Anqian was overjoyed. Previously, Qi Yuanrong had looked down on her, proud of her family background and ballet skills. She never expected that even with Zhou Yushen, she would meet her match.
“Sis, Yuanrong does have a bit of a temper. Spoiled by her family, she’s delicate and doesn’t know how to take care of Shen. If I were her, I’d never make him angry.”
Chen Shu’s smile stiffened, and her gaze at Fang Anqian became a little complicated. She hadn’t expected that, even now, Fang Anqian hadn’t given up trying to get Zhou Yushen.
“Hehe, in marriage, it’s usually give and take. As long as they’re happy together, that’s all that matters.”
Fang Anqian’s expression darkened; she knew exactly what Chen Shu meant. She immediately dropped her trump card:
“But Sis, did you know that Yuanrong has repeatedly said she won’t have children? She wants to dedicate her life to ballet for art? I’m different. I like having two or more children with a man I love. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Chen Shu picked up her tea but couldn’t drink it. She realized that the conflict between her younger brother-in-law and Qi Yuanrong yesterday must have been because of this issue—Yuanrong not wanting children.
Trying to do good but causing trouble, Chen Shu’s mood soured. She blamed her husband too and reminded him to choose carefully and inquire thoroughly—but didn’t expect all this chaos to happen.
Outside, the sound of a car stopping was heard. Lu Wanwan and Zhou Yushen walked back into the courtyard, one after the other, Zhou Yushen carrying several bags.