Zhou Yushen kept his eyes on the road as he drove, giving a vague, perfunctory response before finally asking the question he had been pondering.
“Comrade Qi, what did you and Comrade Lu talk about in the kitchen?”
Qi Yuanrong’s expression wasn’t good, her smile turning stiff. “Just a few private things between women. Why are you suddenly interested in this? What did you hear?”
“I heard you speaking in a foreign language. Comrade Lu knows a foreign language, right?”
The car stopped in front of the guard post. Qi Yuanrong angrily pushed the door open and got out. She didn’t know how to answer and regretted agreeing to go to the Zhou house for dinner today.
Not getting an answer, Zhou Yushen also got out of the car.
Zhang Hai had just finished reprimanding two subordinates who made mistakes and was heading toward the office in anger. When he saw Zhou Yushen, he immediately came over to gossip.
“Ge Shen, is Comrade Lu’s cooking good? You and her went on a blind date… Yuanrong? You and Ge Shen—ha, haha…”
Earlier, Zhang Hai had only vaguely heard Rui-ge say that Ge Shen was going home for dinner and a blind date. He had caught Lu Wanwan’s name in passing and didn’t expect it to be Qi Yuanrong with Ge Shen.
He hurriedly gave a dry explanation: “My mouth just ran off. Yuanrong, you’re the flower of our unit. You and Ge Shen are really well matched. As for Comrade Lu… I’ve got something to do. You two carry on, carry on.”
Zhang Hai realized that the more he explained, the worse Qi Yuanrong’s expression became. In the end, he shot Zhou Yushen an apologetic look and slipped away awkwardly with an excuse.
Zhou Yushen’s face also darkened. He felt Zhang Hai was far too idle. Facing Qi Yuanrong’s burning anger, he still tried to explain.
“I didn’t go on a blind date with Comrade Lu, and we don’t have any other relationship. I only asked because I wanted to know.”
Qi Yuanrong raised her hand to stop him, her voice trembling slightly. “A man’s feelings for a woman start with curiosity. If you really want me to believe you’re innocent, then fire her and make her leave here. For the rest of your life, you can’t see her again.”
“She was hired by my sister-in-law to take care of Xiao Bao.”
Zhou Yushen’s straightforward explanation only fueled Qi Yuanrong’s anger. Acting on impulse, she blurted out, “Most of what you say to me is about Lu Wanwan. Even when serving food, you give it to her child. If you don’t dismiss her, I won’t marry you.”
As soon as she said it, Qi Yuanrong felt some regret. But the words were already out, and she had her pride. Seeing Zhou Yushen’s brows lower and his expression turn serious, her eyes filled with tears as she turned and walked away, protecting her last bit of dignity.
After walking more than ten meters, she couldn’t help but turn back, only to find that Zhou Yushen and the car were already gone. This time, her tears couldn’t be held back.
After returning, Zhou Yushen still told his sister-in-law about Qi Yuanrong’s request.
“Sister-in-law, Comrade Lu was hired by you to take care of Xiao Bao. Comrade Qi’s request is rather unreasonable. She may not actually be satisfied with me and is just constrained by the relationship between our families, so she can’t refuse directly.”
Chen Shu also felt troubled. She had already noticed during the meal that Qi Yuanrong disliked Lu Wanwan. Now she and Xiao Bao both relied on Lu Wanwan. She sighed.
“Forget it. If Yuanrong isn’t suitable, we’ll find another match. I’ll discuss this with your brother.”
Zhou Yushen opened his mouth, not wanting to go on blind dates.
But Chen Shu didn’t give him the chance to speak and quickly found an excuse to busy herself.
The living room was left with only Zhou Yushen. After standing there for a while, he went back to his room, took a bag, and headed to the east wing.
Lu Wanwan wasn’t there. Only Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were on the bed playing.
After knocking and entering, Zhou Yushen took out the clothes he bought from the bag and gave them to the children. “These are gifts from uncle. See if you like them.”
Yuan Yuan buried her little face in Tuan Tuan’s arms, peeking with one eye at the pretty dress.
Tuan Tuan shook her head and refused to accept them. “Uncle, Mama taught us not to accept things from others casually. You should take them back.”
No matter what Zhou Yushen said, the two children refused to accept the clothes.
In the end, Zhou Yushen took the clothes out and went to find Chen Shu. “Sister-in-law, these are clothes I bought for Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan. That day, I impulsively said they were my children. This is an apology.”
In that matter, Zhou Yushen had indeed used the two children, and it had affected Lu Wanwan’s reputation.
Chen Shu felt an apology was indeed necessary, and giving it to the children was appropriate.
“Alright, I’ll give it to them later. By the way, there’s something I want to tell you. You meet many people in the army. Wanwan is still young, and it’s hard for her to raise two children. Help find her a suitable partner—someone who doesn’t mind the children and is steady.”
Chen Shu felt Lu Wanwan had a gentle personality and was easily taken advantage of, so she added, “It’d be best if his family situation is simple.”
Zhou Yushen fell silent for a moment, wanting to ask if this was Lu Wanwan’s own intention. After hesitating, he nodded without saying anything, though he felt uneasy inside.
She was his first woman, and the only one so far. She had married, had twins, and now she even wanted to remarry?
Zhou Yushen was distracted the entire afternoon. He simply went to train harder until dinner, only then calming his mind.
Meanwhile, Qi Yuanrong, still indignant, couldn’t swallow her anger no matter how much she thought about it. She waited all afternoon, but Zhou Yushen never came to apologize or coax her.
That evening, while eating at a restaurant with friends, she overheard people at the next table mentioning Zhou Yushen’s name—they were arranging for a relative’s daughter to meet him for a blind date. Unable to stand it, she deliberately brought up Zhou Yushen while chatting with her friends, smearing him in various ways.
The people at the next table changed expressions repeatedly and stopped mentioning introducing their relative to him.
Over the next few days, Qi Yuanrong spread all kinds of rumors about Zhou Yushen—bad habits, questionable conduct, saying he was cold toward women and too close to men.
The news spread quickly, and the families in the army no longer dared to introduce anyone to Zhou Yushen.
When Fang Anqian learned about this, she secretly rejoiced for a long time. Others might not know, but she was very clear those rumors were slander. Carrying some pastries she bought, she went to see Chen Shu again.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Zhou Yushen playing with Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, building blocks. Watching how patient and gentle he was with the two children made her unbearably jealous.
Even if she didn’t want to admit it, Fang Anqian knew very well that Lu Wanwan was good at having children—the twins were just too adorable. If they weren’t Lu Wanwan’s children, Fang Anqian would have wanted to pick them up and kiss them.
But she believed that in the future, the children she had with Zhou Yushen would be even cuter and more beautiful.
Taking advantage of a moment when Zhou Yushen left, Fang Anqian walked over to Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, trying to get close to them. She took out two pieces of candy and offered them.
“Tuan Tuan, Yuan Yuan, would you like some candy from auntie?”