Chapter 98: Stop, Commander Lu Got Kicked Out of Bed

The mood was just right, the atmosphere warm and intimate.

Things between Chu Yue and Lu Zhanlin were about to progress to the next level—she didn’t want to stop now.

She closed her eyes, trying to convince herself that the faint sound she’d heard was just her imagination. It was so soft, so quiet—it might not even be real.

But then…

Bang bang bang…

“Comrade Chu… Comrade Chu… Help…”

The voice didn’t stop. On the contrary, it became clearer and clearer. Chu Yue, whose senses were always more acute than most, heard it distinctly—even though Lu Zhanlin hadn’t picked up on it yet.

And she recognized the voice—it was Wang Chunling.

It was New Year’s Eve. Every household was either enjoying a reunion dinner or getting ready for bed. What was Wang Chunling doing out at this hour, knocking on doors in such a panic?

There was only one possibility—something had happened.

And most likely, something had happened to the child!

Chu Yue’s eyes flew open. The haze of wine and rising desire quickly vanished from her gaze. Without a second thought, she lifted her leg and kicked—right into the well-toned abs she’d just been admiring.

Lu Zhanlin never expected his attacker would be his own wife!

He had zero defenses up, and Chu Yue’s kick had real force behind it—enough to knock this tall, strong man right off the bed.

If he hadn’t reacted fast, he would’ve landed hard on the floor.

Brows tightly furrowed, Lu Zhanlin stared at Chu Yue with wide, dark eyes—completely in disbelief, like a loyal dog that had just been thrown out by its owner.

His wife didn’t want to sleep with him?

Chu Yue spoke quickly,
“Zhanlin, someone’s knocking on the door.”

As she said it, she sat up and adjusted her clothes, which had been pushed up earlier. She quickly pulled them back into place, put her shirt back on, and wiped at her mouth with a rough hand.

Her lips were burning hot—who knew what kind of mess they looked like now?

Meanwhile, Lu Zhanlin pricked up his ears and listened carefully.

The sounds outside were faint, but definitely there.

Still—if even he hadn’t noticed it, how had Chu Yue picked up on it so quickly?

After a moment’s daze, Lu Zhanlin snapped back to action, dressing with lightning speed.

His clothes were simple—just needed to buckle his belt, pull on his coat, and he was ready.

He handed his military overcoat to Chu Yue.
“I’ll go open the door. When you come out, wear this.”

As he left the room, he flicked on the lights. His footsteps were hurried—so much so he didn’t even glance at Chu Yue’s flushed cheeks and red-rimmed eyes.

Chu Yue followed a few steps behind. As soon as she opened the door, a gust of icy wind carrying snowflakes blasted against her, wiping the warmth from her face in an instant.

She pulled the military coat tightly around her to shield against the wind.

Not far away, Lu Zhanlin stood at the front door. It had already been opened, and Wang Chunling’s sobs were now clearly audible.

“Comrade Chu… where’s Comrade Chu? Commander Lu, I need Comrade Chu… please, help me… I’m begging you… help me…”

Wang Chunling was dressed thinly—not even wearing a coat. Who knew how long she had been standing in the freezing wind, her entire body shivering, her cries trembling with desperation.

She had seen Lu Zhanlin, but the only person she truly trusted in her heart was Chu Yue.

Last time, when she had nearly stepped through the gates of death, it was Chu Yue who had pulled her back.

This time, the only one who could save her—was still Chu Yue.

Chu Yue rushed out, and under the beam of Lu Zhanlin’s flashlight, she saw Wang Chunling dressed in thin clothing, her face streaked with tears, pale and bloodless.

She was still in her postpartum confinement. Not only was she not supposed to catch a chill—she shouldn’t even be getting out of bed!

Without hesitation, Chu Yue rushed forward, immediately taking off her military coat and wrapping it around Wang Chunling.

“Sister Chunling, what happened? Let’s go inside first—you’re still recovering. You can’t stay out in the cold.”

But Wang Chunling had no time to go inside—no time to sit and explain.

As soon as she saw Chu Yue, she grabbed her wrist with freezing cold hands. Her tear-filled eyes locked tightly onto Chu Yue, like a drowning person grasping their last straw.

Through gasping breaths, she frantically cried out:

“Comrade Chu—Nuanyang! Nuanyang is gone!”

The words had barely landed—

Chu Yue’s face immediately changed. All the gentleness vanished, replaced by a sharp gleam in her eyes.

“How did the child go missing?” she asked urgently.

“I—I don’t know… I ate something this morning… then I just fell asleep… and I couldn’t wake up, I slept the entire day… I only woke up in the evening—and the baby was gone… I asked her where the child was, and she said she didn’t know… didn’t know… But Nuanyang is gone… my baby is gone… not beside me… not in the cradle… she’s gone… my child is missing… Please… Comrade Chu, Commander Lu… I beg you, help me find my baby… I want my baby back…”

Wang Chunling was doing her best to explain, but she was too anxious, and the freezing air made her speech come out in broken fragments.

As she spoke, tears fell silently from her eyes—yet she didn’t even have the time to wipe them away.

Chu Yue quickly pieced together the key information, and a figure flashed through her mind—Li Jinhua.

Supporting Wang Chunling’s unsteady body, she asked quickly:

“The food you ate this morning—was it given to you by your mother-in-law?”

“Y-Yes… It was red date and egg sweet soup…” Wang Chunling answered with a trembling voice.

Chu Yue’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

Li Jinhua had been discontent ever since Wang Chunling gave birth to a baby girl. How could she possibly go to the trouble of cooking something so nourishing? Clearly, she had ulterior motives.

And after Wang Chunling fell asleep, the only person left in the house was Li Jinhua. The baby, not even a month old, couldn’t move on her own. There was no doubt that the disappearance was related to Li Jinhua.

What’s more… a few days ago, when Chu Yue met Xia Xiaolan, Xiaolan mentioned that Li Jinhua hadn’t been home for several days.

Where had Li Jinhua gone during that time? What had she been doing?

Could she have… sold the baby?

Wang Chunling had probably thought of the same thing—which was why she had pressed Li Jinhua so hard.

But Li Jinhua refused to say anything about the baby’s whereabouts. With no other options, Wang Chunling came once again to beg Chu Yue for help.

“Let’s go. We’re finding Li Jinhua—right now.”

Chu Yue made a quick decision, gripping Wang Chunling’s hand tightly and pulling her along without hesitation.

At that moment, she was nothing like the blushing, soft woman from a few minutes ago in bed.

Now, she was the rock Wang Chunling depended on—and the only hope for retrieving the missing child.

Lu Zhanlin’s expression was equally grave, his brow furrowed deeply. He immediately said:

“I’m coming with you.”