Chapter 142

Even though she had never dated before, Yu Xiangnian understood Yang Wanli’s implication.

So, he had been beating around the bush to suggest that he needed her to be the lady of his house.

Yu Xiangnian thought to herself, was she surrounded by stepmothers? She already had to be a stepmother, and now there was another waiting for her to step in!

She politely smiled and gently refused, “Director Yang, you are truly a responsible father. With your excellence, I’m sure many single women would want to build a complete family with you.”

Yang Wanli adjusted his glasses. “I haven’t found the right one yet.”

“Perhaps the timing isn’t right. Let’s wait and see,” Yu Xiangnian said.

“Comrade Yu, since you understand what I mean, let me be direct.”

Yang Wanli said seriously, “I planned to wait until you resolved your husband’s situation before bringing this up. But since we’re already here, let me tell you my thoughts.”

“You and I both have a child. After we get married, we can have two more. You can take care of the household and the children while I earn money to support the family. Don’t worry, I can take good care of you and the children.”

Yu Xiangnian’s mouth twitched, and she cursed internally: “You wish!”

“You don’t want to work, and I can be the breadwinner. What do you think?” Yang Wanli asked.

Yu Xiangnian responded immediately, “I have no interest in you whatsoever! I am a married woman!”

Yang Wanli said, “Comrade Yu, you can take some time to think it over. You can’t wait for your husband forever. Like I said, people need to look forward.”

The mention of Cheng Jingmo possibly not returning made Yu Xiangnian even more annoyed.

“Director Yang, I am willing to wait for my husband to come back. As long as there’s no confirmed news of his sacrifice, I’ll wait for him. Even if he doesn’t come back, I wouldn’t consider you!”

Yang Wanli’s face showed a hint of displeasure, but he kept his composure and asked, “Then what kind of person are you considering?”

Yu Xiangnian didn’t want to offend Yang Wanli, but to avoid future entanglement, she decided to make her position clear and crush his hopes.

“Taller than 1.85 meters, very handsome, under 25 years old, never married, and without children,” Yu Xiangnian said. “Director Yang, you don’t meet any of my criteria!”

Yang Wanli laughed, unfazed.

To him, Yu Xiangnian was joking. A married woman wanting to find a man who was never married and without children? Ridiculous!

“Comrade Yu, don’t you think your standards are unrealistic for a woman who has been married?”

Yang Wanli said, “Honestly, your advantages are being young and pretty and not having had children. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even consider a married woman.”

How could he be so ordinary yet so confident?!

Yu Xiangnian smiled without humor. “Director Yang, why is it that a married man can seek an unmarried woman without children, but a married woman cannot seek an unmarried man without children?”

Yang Wanli replied, “That’s just how society is.”

“Just because society is like that doesn’t mean I have to be,” Yu Xiangnian said, tired of maintaining even a semblance of politeness.

She continued, “You think you have good qualities and can choose others, but that’s because you haven’t seen better. With my qualities, I’m the one who does the choosing, not the other way around!”

Yang Wanli noticed that Yu Xiangnian’s face was downcast and she was clearly unhappy.

He didn’t want to fall out with her since he still hoped to develop their relationship further in the future.

“Alright, alright, Comrade Yu,” he said with a placating smile. “We can talk about this later. There’s no rush.”

Yu Xiangnian had no intention of continuing this discussion later. She wanted to make things clear today.

“Director Yang, we are just ordinary colleagues. Please don’t bring this up again in the future,” Yu Xiangnian said. “This meal is on me as a thank you for your help last time.”

She didn’t want to owe Yang Wanli anything.

She stood up, went to the cashier to settle the bill, and bought a couple of small dishes to take home.

After this day, Yang Wanli specifically went to inquire about Yu Xiangnian’s background.

Upon learning about her family, he finally understood what she meant by saying that with her conditions, she had the luxury of choosing others.

Yang Wanli then gave up on the idea of being with Yu Xiangnian.

On the way home, Yu Xiangnian thought about what had happened earlier and found it both amusing and annoying.

A man in his thirties, ordinary in looks and height, widowed with a child, dared to consider her?

How delusional!

Cheng Jingmo would never be like that. Despite being excellent in every aspect, he was always so humble.

Thinking of Cheng Jingmo, she remembered it had been seventy-three days without any news!

You wretched man, whether you’re dead or alive, you should send some word!

How long was she supposed to wait?

I’ll give you a hundred days. If you still don’t come back, I’ll consider you dead and find eight men with six-pack abs to comfort my widowed heart!

That night, Yu Xiangnian dreamed of the first time she met Cheng Jingmo.

He was wearing a military uniform, tall and slender, with a blue and yellow halo over his head, looking indifferent to her.

She asked him when he would come back.

He ignored her question and sat on the ground, engrossed in something.

Yu Xiangnian tried to see what he was working on, but she could never quite see it, only hearing a “buzz buzz buzz” sound.

When Yu Xiangnian woke up the next day, that sound seemed to still echo in her ears.

She lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind racing.

Last time she dreamed of falling off a cliff, and it really happened.

So, does dreaming of Cheng Jingmo mean he’s still alive?

What was he working on?

The “buzz buzz buzz” sound?

Radio waves!

If what Cheng Jingmo was working on made that sound, it must be their radio.

Cheng Jingmo was sending a message to headquarters!

Yu Xiangnian was stunned by this thought at first, then overjoyed!

She jumped out of bed, quickly washed up, hopped on her bike, and rushed to the command center.