Chapter 13: At Least He’s Chaste

As soon as Wen Nian finished serving the dishes, she caught a hostile glare.

Zhao Xinyi stared intently at her delicate face, eyes flashing with sparks.

Without any politeness, she said bluntly,

“Aunt Lin, is this your family’s maid? You better be careful if she looks like this. I don’t think she’s really here to be a maid.”

Before Lin Siyun could respond, Commissioner Zhao interrupted and scolded her first.

“Xinyi, stop talking nonsense.”

Zhao Xinyi was defiant.

“How am I talking nonsense? She looks like a fox spirit—obviously here to seduce men.”

“Xinyi, shut up!”

The more she heard, the more outrageous it sounded. Commissioner Zhao was so angry she nearly slammed the table.

Seeing her father scold her so harshly in front of others, Zhao Xinyi looked aggrieved.

“Why are you so harsh with me? Did I say something wrong?”

Commissioner Zhao glared at her, then smiled apologetically.

“Sorry, Captain Lin. Xinyi is still a child and speaks without thinking. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll make sure to educate her well when we get back.”

Wen Nian was furious!

How could this turn into a personal attack?

They really took her for a maid!

Eating the food she made and still wanting to smash her bowl.

What nonsense!

True, she was a kid—over two hundred months old.

Before Lin Siyun could say anything,

Lu Binghuai’s expression darkened. He put down his chopsticks and said to the Zhao family,

“This is the daughter of the Qing Kingdom, Wen Nian.”

Seeing Lu Binghuai’s bad mood, Lin Siyun quickly tried to smooth things over, giving the Zhao family a slight smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Little Wen is not our maid. Binghuai and I regard her as our daughter.”

Though Commissioner Zhao’s rank wasn’t high, her brother-in-law was Commander Fu from the Military District.

Even for Fu’s sake, she couldn’t show attitude toward Commissioner Zhao.

Besides, Zhao Xinyi was a junior—picking a fight with her would just make her look petty.

Zhao Xinyi wasn’t convinced.

How could such a fox spirit live in the Lu family?

Could it be that she had eyes on Lu Hanzheng?

She disdainfully glanced at the dishes as if looking at garbage, not even moving her chopsticks.

“Aunt Lin, where’s Brother Hanzheng? Why haven’t I seen him?”

Lin Siyun answered calmly,

“Oh, he went to the military headquarters. He should be on his way back now.”

Zhao Xinyi pouted in displeasure.

“Does Brother Hanzheng not know I came today? And he’s late.”

Lu Binghuai picked up his chopsticks, his tone cold.

“Eat first. Don’t wait for him.”

Commissioner Zhao was speechless, no longer interested in smoothing things over.

She already regretted coming.

She just wanted to finish the meal quickly and leave.

Her daughter really was spoiled—arrogant and rude, with no tact.

Not yet realizing, Lu Hanzheng was avoiding her.

This blind date was obviously the commander’s one-sided decision.

Treating the girl like a maid—didn’t they see how dark the old commander’s face was?

The girl’s father had done great favors for the Lu family.

They probably wouldn’t have another chance to eat there again.

Might as well eat as much as they could now.

Commissioner Zhao stopped paying attention to her foolish daughter and ate with satisfaction.

The standard of this family meal could rival a state banquet.

People really can’t be judged by appearances!

Everyone enjoyed the feast heartily. Zhao Xinyi was left standing aside.

She reluctantly picked up her chopsticks and tasted a bite.

Then she couldn’t stop.

Though she looked disdainful, her chopstick speed didn’t slow down.

The whole table of food was eaten clean.

After lunch, Zhao Xinyi waited and waited, but Lu Hanzheng still hadn’t appeared.

Commissioner Zhao was losing face and had no choice but to take her daughter and leave.

Just as they stepped out the door,

Lu Hanzheng returned.

Just then, they bumped into each other.

“Brother Hanzheng, why did you just get here? Didn’t you know I was coming today?”

Ding Xinyi ran over happily.

“I did know.”

Lu Hanzheng immediately took two steps back, trying to avoid her as much as possible.

“Then why didn’t you come earlier?”

Ding Xinyi didn’t notice this detail and frowned unhappily as she stepped forward to question him.

“I knew, but you just didn’t want to come.”

Lu Hanzheng acted indifferent and aloof, then walked straight into the house.

Commissioner Ding pressed her temples—this young master didn’t leave any face at all.

After Ding Xinyi realized this, tears welled up in her eyes; she covered her face and ran off crying.

Lin Siyun watched coldly from the side, already knowing how this would end.

Even if Lu Hanzheng had lost his memory now, his nature wouldn’t change.

He was still the proud favored son of heaven, impossible to be pushed around.

So of course, he gave no face whatsoever.

But Lu Binghuai thought he had amnesia and believed he could be controlled.

That was why he insisted on arranging this blind date.

As a stepmother, she couldn’t influence anyone.

Lu Binghuai called out to his son who was about to go upstairs, his face displeased.

“Stop! Didn’t I tell you yesterday that Uncle Ding would come for lunch, so you should stay home and not go out?”

Lu Hanzheng stood at the stairway, his expression cold.

“You did say that, but I didn’t agree.”

“Even if you don’t like Xinyi, you can’t let the girl lose face and make her cry before you’re satisfied, can you?”

“If she wants to cry, that’s her business, not mine.”

“And don’t arrange any more of these ridiculous blind dates for me. Don’t just shove anyone my way.”

Wen Nian hid in the kitchen, listening to this verbal sparring between father and son.

In the end, Lu Binghuai still lost the argument.

Her anger eased a little—at least he’s chaste.

Wen Nian resigned herself to cleaning up the pile of dirty dishes.

She quickly wiped them down.

Then carefully applied skincare oil to her hands, massaging gently.

After all these days of hard work, her hands felt rough.

That wouldn’t do.

She was a delicate young lady, after all—from head to toe, even every strand of hair had to be perfect.

She picked a fairly conservative white dress and tied her hair in a shoulder-length style for young ladies.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Calm and unhurried.

The entire second floor was Lu Hanzheng’s alone.

Even Jiang Wenwen lived downstairs in the guest room.

Lin Siyun had arranged for Wen Nian to stay upstairs, right across from Lu Hanzheng.

Who knew what she was thinking?

Lu Hanzheng had no objections.

Neither Lu’s father, Lin Siyun, nor Jiang Wenwen ever went upstairs.

At least since Wen Nian came, no one else had been upstairs.

The whole second floor could be said to be Lu Hanzheng’s domain.

So it was obvious who was knocking.

She paused, didn’t respond, and continued fixing her hair.

The knocker seemed patient and polite, the sound soft and rhythmic.

Wen Nian picked up some essential oil she made herself and rubbed it onto her delicate swan-like neck, waiting until her skin fully absorbed it before getting up and heading to the door.

She opened it; Lu Hanzheng was still there, standing in the doorway, still holding the knocking pose.

She had left him waiting so long, she thought he would have left already.

Lu Hanzheng didn’t expect her to open the door suddenly.

As he came in, a faint, lingering fragrance drifted over.

“Did you need something from me?”

Wen Nian pouted, her tone cold.

She was holding a grudge.

The girl looked bright and delicate, her thick black hair cascading down her back.

Her white dress clung to her slender figure; her narrow waist could be circled with one hand, her calves fair and straight.

Last night she looked enchanting like a temptress; now, in this outfit, she seemed like a pure little fairy.

A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Hanzheng’s expression but quickly disappeared.

He handed over a bag.

“This is for you.”