Chapter 28: Cuckolded — Did It Happen or Not?

To Lu Yuanbao, the death of his birth mother didn’t feel like death — it felt more like a permanent disappearance.

Back when life was tough, his mother often acted mentally unstable, but at least he wasn’t alone — he had her by his side. When she was lucid, she would hug him, stroke his head, tell him bedtime stories, and hum out-of-tune lullabies.

After she left, he became completely alone. Even the village’s little yellow dog would bully him.

He walked the field ridges by himself, foraged alone in the mountains, and curled up alone in haystacks to sleep. There was no one to talk to. Later, some strangers brought him into the city, but even then, he was tossed into a corner and left alone.

No one had anything to do with him. It was as if the whole world had forgotten him.

That was — until Chu Yue appeared, and everything changed.

Chu Yue bathed him, dressed him, fed him, made him listen, gave him chores to do, and told him to stay put…

Sometimes, even when Chu Yue was fierce, Lu Yuanbao still wanted to stay close to her.

Because Chu Yue would hold him, stroke his head, and frequently glance at him to check if he was still there.

That feeling — it was like he had gone back to the time when his mom was still around. He wasn’t alone anymore — there were two of them.

So if one day they had to leave this place again, he wanted to go with Chu Yue.

In the glow of Lu Yuanbao’s eyes, Chu Yue felt a sharp pain pierce her chest — as if she’d been stabbed with a needle — because she genuinely felt the vulnerability and fear of a child.

She thought that as long as he had food, warmth, and safety, that would be enough. But she had forgotten — even a small child still has emotions.

“Yuanbao, listen to me. First, we’re not leaving this place. Like I said before, we’re going to live in this home for a long, long time — a really long time.”

“Second, I will not abandon you. Listen carefully — I will not abandon you. We are already a family. A family has a household registration book. On it, I’m listed as the mother, and you’re my son. I’m not asking you to start calling me ‘mom’ right away, but we are truly, legally mother and son.”

“You might not fully understand what I’m saying yet, but I want you to remember these words with all your heart. Whenever you feel scared, think about them. It’ll help you feel a little better. Do you understand?”

In the dim light, Chu Yue looked directly into Lu Yuanbao’s eyes. She spoke slowly and clearly, using a pace he could understand, pronouncing each word carefully.

After listening, Lu Yuanbao felt like a soft current of electricity had touched his heart — a tingling, numbing warmth.

He did his best to remember every word Chu Yue had said. “Mm. I’ll remember.”

Chu Yue gently touched his face — it was cool to the touch, but there were no tears. Lu Yuanbao had stubbornly held them back.

Now, it was time to address another important issue.

“Yuanbao, do you not like Lu Zhanlin? I mean, your father.”

At the mention of Lu Zhanlin, Lu Yuanbao blinked rapidly and shook his head, his voice muffled, “No… I don’t dislike him. He’s really amazing.”

Lu Yuanbao had followed Lu Zhanlin to the army base once. Along the way, every soldier in uniform they passed saluted Lu Zhanlin. The overwhelming aura of strength he carried was something even a child could feel.

Lu Yuanbao knew that man was his biological uncle — now officially his father. But…

Lu Zhanlin wasn’t someone who felt easy to get close to.

Just like the impression Chu Yue had when she first saw him on the train — good-looking, cold, and fierce. A man who radiated a ruthless chill.

Even the army wives in the military compound were intimidated by Lu Zhanlin’s presence, let alone a six-year-old boy.

“Yuanbao, he and your mom were blood siblings. That means you and he share the same bloodline. He’s the only person in this world who’s related to you by blood — and he will care about you. Give him some time. Get to know him slowly. I believe he can be a good father.”

While she spoke, Chu Yue pulled Lu Yuanbao into her arms, gently hugging him, patting his chest, and softening her tone.

“You’re just a six-year-old little rascal. Why are you thinking so much? You should be eating, sleeping, and causing mischief like any other kid. Now close your eyes and sleep with me.”

Chu Yue’s familiar bossy tone had returned.

But Lu Yuanbao didn’t hate it — in fact, he secretly smiled and slowly closed his eyes.

“Good night, Yuanbao.”
…

The administrative building of the military district was brightly lit. The meeting had dragged late into the night, and they were now taking a half-hour break.

Xu Feng stood by the window with a cigarette between his fingers, puffing away. The glowing red tip of the cigarette flickered in the darkness.

Lu Zhanlin stood next to him, slightly turned toward the window. His dark eyes stared at the pitch-black sky, his expression focused and serious.

“It’s the middle of the night, and there aren’t even any stars. What the hell are you looking at?” Xu Feng asked curiously. He leaned in closer to Lu Zhanlin and followed his gaze out the window—then suddenly swore, “Shit! Lu Zhanlin, don’t tell me you’re worried about your wife and kid?”

Professional soldiers have a strong sense of direction, so Xu Feng only needed one glance to realize that Lu Zhanlin was looking toward the family quarters next to the barracks.

The cigarette in Xu Feng’s hand trembled, ashes falling to the ground.

He stared at Lu Zhanlin, eyes wide with disbelief—just as stunned as he had been this morning at the train station when he learned that Lu Zhanlin had a wife.

This was Lu Zhanlin—who hadn’t been near a woman in over ten years!

Xu Feng had slept in the same trench as Lu Zhanlin, scrubbed down in the same bathhouse. They’d known each other for nearly a decade, rising through the ranks together from green recruits to company and regimental commanders.

In all these years, not once had he seen Lu Zhanlin show interest in a woman—not even mention a woman’s name.

Now, suddenly, he had a wife and a kid? Of course Xu Feng was shocked.

“Bro, tell me the truth—is that girl really your wife? Or did you just rope her in to dodge a forced marriage?”

Xu Feng was close to Lu Zhanlin, so he didn’t beat around the bush. Once he got started, he couldn’t stop talking.

“Remember how much our old commander valued you? He practically tried to shove his granddaughter into your bed. As long as you said yes, he would’ve married you two off immediately—and even transferred you to the Capital Military District as a department head. But you? Nope, wouldn’t even consider it. You didn’t want the granddaughter, didn’t want the capital, just kept submitting reports until you ended up in this godforsaken place over a thousand kilometers from the capital. Why the hell would you do that?”

The “old commander’s granddaughter” Xu Feng mentioned was He Meijiao.

As for Lu Zhanlin’s potential transfer to the Capital Military District, it had once been the talk of their entire unit. After all, he was the only soldier in the whole army who had earned both an individual first-class merit and a group first-class merit. He was a favorite of the old commander.

But alas, while the willow was willing, the flowing water was heartless.

Lu Zhanlin would rather hide away in the remote southwest than marry He Meijiao.

But she didn’t give up—she even transferred to the Southwest Military District herself and became part of the guard unit.

Xu Feng had thought, Well, that’s it. There’s no way Lu Zhanlin can escape now. The girl had basically thrown herself at him.

Who could’ve guessed Lu Zhanlin would suddenly submit a marriage report—and somehow come up with a wife out of nowhere, even with a son in tow.

It was all too sudden. Xu Feng couldn’t help but suspect this “wife” was someone Lu Zhanlin had fabricated just to escape the forced marriage.

Xu Feng’s imagination really was something else.

Lu Zhanlin withdrew his gaze and shot Xu Feng a cold look. When had this muscle-bound brute become such a storyteller? Next time they held a troop talent show, he should just send him up to do stand-up comedy.

Lu Zhanlin replied coolly, “We’ve been engaged for almost ten years. We just recently registered the marriage.”

“What the hell! So you two were childhood sweethearts? That explains why she didn’t recognize you on the train—you must’ve turned too ugly after joining the army. No wonder you used to send wads of money home whenever you got your stipend. Turns out you had a beauty hidden away in the countryside! If I had such a gorgeous wife back home, I’d be happy to send money too.”

Xu Feng kept rambling, clicking his tongue in amazement. He didn’t even notice his cigarette had burned out. His words were tinged with obvious jealousy.

They’d all been single for so long—who didn’t want a wife and kid?

But then—

“Wait a minute! You’ve been engaged for ten years, but you’ve been in the army that whole time. Never once took a leave. So where did that kid come from? How did your wife manage that on her own? Don’t tell me… she cheated on you?!”

Xu Feng suddenly shouted, his voice echoing through the hallway.

Lu Zhanlin ignored Xu Feng’s yelling and didn’t answer the question. He turned and walked straight back toward the meeting room.

Leaving Xu Feng alone in place, scratching his head in agony.

Was Lu Zhanlin really cuckolded?

Or was he not?

Would someone please just tell him the truth already?!