Chapter 21

This incident happened at noon, and he was very sure that Meng Yinyin would never tell anyone else about it, and it was even more impossible for him to tell anyone.

So, if neither of them had spoken, who could have spread the news, and what was their purpose?

Lu Chen’s first thought was that it must have been his uncle Lu Dashan’s family, but quickly realized that they were forcing him and Meng Yinyin to separate, not drive them together. Clearly, this was an attempt to tie them together completely.

Therefore, if it wasn’t from his side, it meant someone was trying to target Meng Yinyin.

Almost everyone knew one thing very well: Lu Chen had a bad reputation, and if Meng Yinyin was associated with him, her reputation would also be tarnished beyond repair.

That person was indeed filled with deep hatred for Meng Yinyin.

Understanding this, Lu Chen’s expression grew even colder.

The atmosphere immediately became heavy, while Meng Yinyin was still lost in her thoughts about the future being exposed and how she would be laughed at.

After venting his frustration, the brigade leader suddenly realized that the expressions of the two people in front of him weren’t very good. One looked like she was on the verge of tears, while the other had a cold expression, seemingly lost in thought.

Brigade Leader: “?”

Wait, shouldn’t he be the one who was angry? Why was it that Meng Yinyin and Lu Chen looked upset instead?

As the brigade leader puzzled over this, Lu Chen finally spoke.

He looked at the brigade leader and asked in a deep voice, “Brigade leader, who told you about this?”

He thought for a moment, then decided that he couldn’t let the person behind this go unpunished. He needed to track them down, or else, while he stayed in the shadows, Meng Yinyin would be exposed and hurt in ways he couldn’t predict.

The brigade leader froze for a moment.

“This… I’m not sure. I just heard a few people talking while they were working.”

As soon as he said this, he noticed Lu Chen’s expression growing even more serious, which made him feel a little uneasy.

“Could it be that you and Educated Youth Meng haven’t told anyone else about this?”

Lu Chen nodded slightly, acknowledging the brigade leader’s guess.

Not only had they not told anyone else, even whether they were dating was still unknown.

But now, hearing the brigade leader’s words, it seemed that their situation had already spread outside.

Rumors spread quickly, but to clear them up, one had to work hard. The person spreading the gossip must have known that one of them was poor at explaining, and the other was too lazy to bother, which is why they felt so bold.

The brigade leader, having seen his fair share of troubles, quickly pieced things together from Lu Chen’s expression and words.

He furrowed his brows tightly.

“So, is it true that you and Educated Youth Meng are in a relationship, or is someone deliberately spreading false rumors to frame both of you?”

Lu Chen’s lips moved slightly, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure how to answer the brigade leader’s question.

He instinctively looked at Meng Yinyin, deciding to leave the decision to her.

If she still felt the same as she had at lunch, he would do everything in his power to protect her.

But if she regretted it… he wouldn’t say anything.

Lu Chen looked at Meng Yinyin, and the brigade leader, unsure of the situation, also turned to her.

Meng Yinyin had been lost in her own thoughts and hadn’t heard their conversation. When she snapped back to reality, she saw both of them staring at her intently.

Why were they looking at her like that?

Seeing her confused expression, the brigade leader had no choice but to speak up again.

“Uh, Educated Youth Meng, are you and Xiao Lu dating, or…?”

Hearing this, Meng Yinyin finally realized what Lu Chen and the brigade leader had been talking about.

So the brigade leader was asking this because Lu Chen hadn’t told him?

Why hadn’t he been honest with the brigade leader? Or was it that now that the rumors were spreading, he couldn’t be bothered to explain?

Meng Yinyin’s mind was in a mess, but thinking about how this misunderstanding might help her get closer to Lu Chen, she gritted her teeth and nodded firmly.

Then, feeling guilty, she avoided Lu Chen’s gaze and vaguely explained to the brigade leader.

“Anyway, it’s just as people are saying. Our relationship… well, it’s that kind of thing.”

Meng Yinyin looked at the ground, avoiding the sky, and didn’t dare to meet Lu Chen’s eyes.

She was afraid she would see a shocked expression, as if he were asking why she had just admitted it and stained his reputation.

She fiddled with her fingers, silently cursing in her heart.

What stain? She was the one at a disadvantage here!

In the end, she would just have to treat him better in the future and spoil him a little to make up for it.

The brigade leader let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Meng Yinyin’s admission.

So, they were serious about this. That’s good. He had thought that no one in the Nanjiao Brigade would intentionally harm two young people’s reputations.

But clearly, the brigade leader was rejoicing too soon.

Because, just as Meng Yinyin finished speaking, Lu Chen calmly added from the side.

“We do have a relationship, but we haven’t told anyone else about it.”

The brigade leader’s expression froze.

“So, someone is really trying to destroy your reputations?”

Lu Chen nodded impassively.

Then, he added another remark.

“We only decided to date at lunch earlier.”

The two of them had only agreed to date at lunch, and by the afternoon, this matter had already spread throughout the entire brigade.

And this happened even though neither of them had told anyone about their relationship. Someone had intentionally spread the news, making their private affair widely known. This could only be considered an attempt to ruin their reputations.

In this day and age, reputation was extremely important. Once it was tarnished, even minor consequences could affect one’s life, and more severe consequences could be life-threatening.

Of course, for someone like Lu Chen and Meng Yinyin, who were unmarried, being talked about wasn’t the end of the world. The worst that could happen was that others might look down on them when they look for a partner in the future.

However, this matter was not small. What upset the brigade leader the most was that, under his jurisdiction, there was actually someone so malicious!

He would not let this go until he had investigated this thoroughly.

“I know. Don’t worry, I will find out who spread the rumors.”

The brigade leader spoke heavily, and then his expression shifted to one of hesitation, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

“Although there are some people behind the scenes causing trouble, since you two are already together, you’ll have to be careful when working. Starting tomorrow, Lu Chen, you and Educated Youth Meng will work separately. I’ll assign Educated Youth Meng to work somewhere else, and Lu Chen, you’ll stay here.”

This decision was partly to avoid gossip. In their brigade, unless there was a special reason, it was generally not allowed for couples or people in relationships to work together. The concern was whether they’d get distracted or let their personal matters interfere with work.

The second reason was that after Meng Yinyin had worked with Lu Chen for so long, there had been no progress. In fact, she had become lazier, which showed that Lu Chen wasn’t firm enough with her. Otherwise, how could things have turned out like this?

It seemed that bringing Meng Yinyin to work with Lu Chen in the first place was a mistake. No young man could resist Meng Yinyin’s charms!

So, the brigade leader decided to assign Meng Yinyin to a more efficient and hot-tempered female comrade to supervise her.

After all, they were both women. The brigade leader couldn’t believe that Meng Yinyin would still find a way to escape!

Just as the brigade leader made up his mind, Meng Yinyin, who had been listening to his words, was stunned.

Could it be that the brigade leader planned to “re-educate” her, and this time, with even more intensity?

No, she really couldn’t take it!

In a panic, Meng Yinyin instinctively turned to Lu Chen for help, hoping he’d say something.

After all, right now, she felt like the troublemaker in class, the one who could never speak up.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen was the model student, the kind whose words the brigade leader would take seriously.

Having spent so much time together, Lu Chen had already figured out Meng Yinyin’s personality. He knew she was terrible at farm work, even avoiding it, and much preferred lying on the grass in the sun, maybe with a snack or two.

So, if she had to work with someone else, she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

He didn’t want to see her suffer, doing things she disliked.

Finally, Lu Chen spoke up, addressing the brigade leader. “Brigade leader, she doesn’t have to work.”

The brigade leader was taken aback. “What?”

What does this kid mean?

It was probably the first time Lu Chen had spoken in such a way, challenging the values of a life built on hard work. His tone lacked confidence.

“I mean, I can support her,” Lu Chen added.

The brigade leader’s eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at Lu Chen as if seeing a monster.

In that moment, the brigade leader was beyond disappointed. He almost wanted to shout at Lu Chen.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Meng Yinyin.

The moment she heard Lu Chen offer to support her without making her work, her eyes sparkled, and her smile was practically reaching her ears!

The brigade leader immediately realized who the true culprit was.

Unable to hold back, he shot a glare at Meng Yinyin, making her lower her head in fear, though she felt aggrieved inside. This wasn’t something she had asked Lu Chen to say. The brigade leader was being unreasonable, blaming her.

Although she had planned to say something along those lines, she hadn’t gotten the chance to speak up yet.

The brigade leader was truly difficult!

When Lu Chen saw the brigade leader’s hostile gaze shift toward Meng Yinyin, and saw her lowering her head in fear, he hesitated for a moment. Then, he stepped forward and shielded her from the brigade leader’s view.

The brigade leader: “!!!”

You are so good, Lu Chen, you really forgot about the brigade leader now that you’ve got yourself a girlfriend!

Seeing Lu Chen protect Meng Yinyin like his precious possession, the brigade leader was both angry and helpless. In the end, he didn’t say anything more, just confirming one last time with them.

“Have you two agreed on this? From now on, Lu Chen’s work points will support both of you. If you insist on doing this, then I will definitely not interfere. But, hmph, if you can’t support two people, you will have to bear the consequences yourself!”

At this point, Meng Yinyin didn’t dare to speak, so she could only look up at Lu Chen.

Luckily, Lu Chen didn’t disappoint her. Without a moment’s hesitation, he nodded solemnly and promised the brigade leader.

“I’ll take good care of her.”

The brigade leader: “……!”

What could he say? These two had agreed on it, so he couldn’t force Meng Yinyin to work. That wouldn’t make sense.

After all, the reason people worked for points was just to get enough to eat. If someone was willing to work a bit more or eat a little less to support someone else, what could he, as the brigade leader, say?

However, what shocked him was that it was Lu Chen—the very person he thought would stay single forever—who said this.

Thinking about it, maybe Meng Yinyin’s arrival was a good thing for him. At least it made Lu Chen more sociable, more like a normal person.

He really couldn’t tell if this was a blessing or a curse.

In the end, the brigade leader stormed off in frustration, his emotions conflicted.

After the brigade leader left, Meng Yinyin finally dared to speak.

She looked up at Lu Chen, her heart filled with joy that she couldn’t hide.

She bit her lip and, with a slight sparkle in her eyes, softly asked, “Lu Chen, was what you said just now true?”

Lu Chen lowered his gaze to meet hers. Her eyes shone with hope and joy, her messy hair fluttering in the wind, almost as if it were cheering for its owner.

Her happiness was that simple.

Seeing this, Lu Chen’s heart suddenly softened. He nearly lost control of his hand and wanted to pat Meng Yinyin’s head.

However, as soon as his finger moved, he quickly realized what he was about to do.

He suppressed the restlessness in his fingertips and said in a deep voice, “Mm, as long as you’re happy.”

Meng Yinyin’s pupils widened suddenly.

She was happy—of course, she was happy not having to work!

The moment she thought about how Lu Chen was actually willing to support her with his work points, Meng Yinyin couldn’t hold back any longer. The corners of her lips curled up, and she beamed with a bright, dazzling smile.

Her eyes were curved, and her face was as beautiful as a painting.

In that instant, Lu Chen felt that the thorny flowers by the shore, the willows by the water, and all the scenery around them were nothing compared to her radiant smile.

He could hear the sound of his heart beating wildly in the wind, and he also heard Meng Yinyin sweetly say, “Lu Chen, you’re really kind!”

He looked at her without speaking but silently agreed in his heart.

You are too.

…

After work, Meng Yinyin returned to the Educated Youth dormitory with an unprecedented light step, arrogantly eating a loquat in her hand. The sweet and sour taste was irresistible to her, and she closed her eyes in satisfaction.

She was the last to return to the Educated Youth point, so when she appeared, the others, who had heard the rumors in the brigade in the afternoon, looked at her with complex expressions.

Everyone initially thought that she would be angry or humiliated, having heard the rumors about her and Lu Chen being together, especially since she had even delivered clothes to him. They expected her to be upset and perhaps even cry as she came back.

No one had decided whether to satisfy their curiosity by asking her about the situation or to comfort her, telling her not to be sad.

What they didn’t expect was that Meng Yinyin’s reaction was completely different from what they imagined. On the contrary, she seemed to be in a good mood?

Could it be that she hadn’t heard the rumors?

Or was she just pretending nothing had happened?

Everyone was unsure, but they were all intrigued by her reaction, feeling an itch in their hearts as they wondered what was going on.

Just as they were about to ask Meng Yinyin about the rumors, they saw Yu Xiaoyu walking out of the girls’ dormitory with a stern face. When she saw Meng Yinyin, her expression changed dramatically, becoming anxious and worried.

She didn’t dare delay and quickly walked over to Meng Yinyin, pulling her hand to lead her back into the dormitory.

Meng Yinyin hadn’t reacted yet and stared at Yu Xiaoyu in confusion.

“Xiaoyu, what’s wrong?”

What was wrong?

Something big happened!

This silly girl!

Yu Xiaoyu was so exasperated that she wanted to poke Meng Yinyin’s head and ask what was going on inside it. There had been a huge issue outside, and she hadn’t noticed at all!

Seeing that Meng Yinyin still looked clueless, Yu Xiaoyu hurriedly pulled her into the dorm, barely closing the door before lowering her voice to ask.

“Yinyin, didn’t you hear any rumors this afternoon?”

Only then did Meng Yinyin realize why Yu Xiaoyu had called her in. She suddenly understood.

Then, without caring, she waved her hand casually and said in a relaxed tone, “I know, you mean the rumor about me and Lu Chen being in a relationship, right?”

“You know?” Yu Xiaoyu was truly shocked now, her eyes widening as she looked at Meng Yinyin.

Wait, if she knew, then why was she reacting this way?

This wasn’t just a question Yu Xiaoyu wanted to ask, it was the burning question all the other Educated Youths outside the dorm had in mind as well.

They had sharp ears, and since Yu Xiaoyu hadn’t closed the door properly, everyone had heard Meng Yinyin’s words just now.

Hearing this, everyone perked up their ears. If it weren’t for the situation, they would have pressed their ears against the door to hear what Meng Yinyin would say next.

If she knew about the rumor, how could she smile like that?

But just as Meng Yinyin was about to answer Yu Xiaoyu, it seemed like she suddenly thought of something, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Then, under Yu Xiaoyu’s confused and curious gaze, she cleared her throat, suddenly raising her voice and speaking with a theatrical tone toward the door.

“Ah, speaking of this, I should really thank someone!”

Yu Xiaoyu: “???”

What was going on?

Had this girl really been scared silly by today’s events?!