“Son, you know perfectly well how Lu Jinyun ended up joining our family.”
“She’s the one who introduced this match.”
“And it’s her own younger sister.”
“Are you really sure about this…?”
Every time He Qianlin thought about all the things his younger daughter-in-law had done, it gave him a headache.
Even though he trusted his eldest son’s judgment, he still couldn’t help asking one more time.
At the mention of Lu Jinyun, He Congnan’s eyes filled with undisguised disgust.
“Huan’er has nothing to do with her.”
“She’s not the Lu family’s biological daughter.”
“The Lu family is a blended family.”
Jiang Yun slapped her husband’s thigh so hard that it made a loud smack.
“I knew it!”
“Lu Jinyun has a broad face, single eyelids, and thick lips.”
“She looks exactly like her mother.”
“Not a bit like Lu Zhao.”
“But Lu Jinhuan has a small face, big double-lidded eyes, and a tiny mouth.”
“She doesn’t resemble either her father or her stepmother.”
“I asked her about it today.”
“She said she probably takes after her grandmother.”
“The moment I heard that, I knew she was lying!”
Thinking of the little girl’s appearance, He Congnan smiled indulgently.
“Maybe she really does resemble her biological mother’s side of the family.”
“I wouldn’t call that lying.”
Jiang Yun snorted.
“Oh, you little brat.”
“You haven’t even married her yet, and you’re already defending her?”
“They always say a son forgets his mother after getting a wife.”
“You don’t even have one yet, and you’re already putting your mother aside!”
He Qianlin rubbed his numb leg where his wife had smacked him.
“If you’re going to scold our son, why are you hitting me?”
“Enough.”
“It’s already past eight.”
“Let’s all get some sleep.”
“If time is really that tight, start preparing tomorrow.”
Neither He Qianlin nor Jiang Yun had any objections to their eldest son’s choice.
In fact…
They supported him wholeheartedly.
After all, the entire family had once believed he might never marry.
Now that he’d finally found a girl he liked, they didn’t dare object in the slightest.
Even the old master and old madam of the family wouldn’t object.
Returning to his room with his coat, He Congnan finished washing up before climbing into bed…
Still hugging it.
He took a deep breath.
The faint orchid fragrance lingering on the coat refused to fade.
The scent wasn’t overpowering.
Nor was it weak.
It simply lingered quietly.
He felt as though he’d developed some kind of illness.
If he couldn’t smell it…
He missed it terribly.
But once he did…
He couldn’t bear to let it go.
Surely…
He couldn’t spend the rest of his life carrying a coat around wherever he went.
Looks like tomorrow…
He’d have to personally keep an eye on Old Wang.
The marriage application had to be approved as quickly as possible.
Then he’d need to reserve a restaurant…
Notify the guests…
Prepare their room…
Arrange everything for the wedding.
Ideally…
He wanted to marry her within five days.
That way…
Instead of hugging his own coat like some sort of pervert…
He could hold the little girl who smelled of orchids.
After they were married…
They would share every kind of intimacy.
Eventually…
Even he would carry her unique fragrance.
Instantly, one alluring image after another flashed through He Congnan’s mind.
A dangerous glimmer appeared in his dark phoenix eyes.
A surge of heat rushed toward his lower abdomen.
Tiny beads of sweat formed across his forehead.
He silently cursed under his breath.
Then, almost as though possessed…
His hand slowly reached downward…
Early the next morning, Lu Zhao knocked on his younger daughter’s door with breakfast.
The previous night, he’d wanted to check on her.
But after returning from dinner, his wife had worn a dark expression, noisily throwing around their luggage.
Not wanting to stir up another argument, he’d simply gone to bed.
Lu Jinhuan had already gotten up.
Hearing the knock, she opened the door with a smile and accepted the breakfast her father handed her.
As the father and daughter ate together, Lu Zhao cautiously asked,
“So…”
“You and the He family’s eldest son…”
“It’s settled?”
“Mhm.”
Lu Jinhuan smiled brightly.
“We’ve officially started seeing each other.”
“He’s submitting our marriage application today.”
“Once it’s approved, we’ll get our marriage certificate.”
Lu Zhao felt both guilty and heartbroken.
“Huan’er…”
“I’ve wronged you.”
Lu Jinhuan shook her head.
“I don’t feel wronged at all.”
“If I marry a military officer, I’ll never have to worry about food or clothing.”
“Even medical treatment will be free.”
“What do I have to complain about?”
“Didn’t you tell me before…”
“If Brother Congnan didn’t have that medical condition…”
“Our Lu family wouldn’t have been worthy of him even if smoke had risen from our ancestors’ graves?”
Lu Zhao choked on his words.
“Ahem…”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m worried because…”
“You won’t be able to have children of your own.”
“And he’s so much older than you.”
“What if someday…”
The He family looked down on ordinary people like them from the bottom of their hearts.
If his younger daughter could have borne children…
Perhaps the elders of the He family would eventually accept her for the children’s sake.
But…
She was marrying a man believed to be infertile.
Which meant…
She might never have children.
She might spend her entire life without truly being accepted.
Even Lu Jinyun had given birth, yet her married life was miserable.
What would happen to his Huan’er?
Ever since seeing Lu Jinyun the night before…
Lu Zhao had begun regretting everything.
Part of him wanted to give up altogether.
Perhaps…
Families that didn’t belong together shouldn’t force themselves together.
What he hadn’t expected…
Was that after being apart from his daughter for less than an hour…
The two young people had already become a couple.
Now…
It was too late to say anything.
“Dad.”
“Brother Congnan is wonderful.”
“He’s handsome.”
“He comes from an excellent family.”
“And he’s outstanding in every way.”
“Your daughter doesn’t really have anything except a reasonably pretty face.”
“If anyone’s making a sacrifice in this marriage…”
“It isn’t me.”
“It’s him.”
Hearing that made Lu Zhao feel even worse.
“Don’t think that way.”
“You’re no worse than anyone else.”
“You’ve been obedient and sensible ever since you were little.”
“You’ve never caused me trouble.”
“You’re the most well-behaved child I could ask for.”
Lu Jinhuan only smiled without responding.
Deep down, she thought,
Being too gentle isn’t really a virtue.
Because I never lose my temper…
I’m always the one people overlook.
After breakfast, the father and daughter chatted for a long while before Li Haili finally got out of bed.
Not wanting anything to do with her, Lu Jinhuan stayed in her room reading a book while waiting for He Congnan to pick her up.
Meanwhile…
He Congnan had left home very early.
As soon as he reached his office, he swiftly wrote out his marriage application.
Then, application in hand…
He went straight to Old Wang’s office and waited outside.
Half an hour later…
Wang Tiejun finally appeared, leisurely carrying his large enamel tea mug.
From a distance, he noticed someone squatting outside his office.
Fortunately, Air Force pilots had excellent eyesight.
Otherwise…
He might have mistaken him for a military dog that had wandered over from the Army.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Where’s your military bearing?”
“Why are you squatting here like that?”
Wang Tiejun had watched He Congnan grow up.
He regarded him much the same way he would his own son.
“Commander.”
“I’m here to submit my marriage application.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d approve it.”
Wang Tiejun fell silent.
He looked out the window.
The sun certainly wasn’t rising from the west.
Then why was this kid talking nonsense?
“Who’s getting married?”
“You?”
“To whom?”
“Your reputation’s already infamous.”
“There’s still a girl willing to marry you?”
He wasn’t referring to He Congnan’s infertility.
Rather…
This young man had such a sharp tongue that every blind date ended badly.
Eventually…
None of the elders dared introduce women to him anymore.
They were afraid of offending the women’s families.
None of that bothered He Congnan in the slightest.
“My fiancée is from Suzhou.”
“We confirmed our relationship yesterday.”
“So you’ll need to hurry.”
“Preferably approve it tomorrow.”
“I’m worried that if we delay even a couple of days…”
“…she might change her mind.”
Unlocking his office door, Wang Tiejun continued teasing him.
“No wonder.”
“So she’s from out of town.”
“Have you looked into her family?”
“What about her character?”
“You’re in such a rush…”
“You didn’t trick the poor girl into this somehow, did you?”