Chapter 15 – An Embarrassingly Awkward Moment

The rain was still pouring hard. It didn’t seem like it would let up anytime soon. She was already soaked through, so Xu Nuo figured—whatever, no need to rush.

Her gaze drifted off, blank and unfocused, as her mind started going over how she’d bring up the breakup to Old Master Lu when she returned to the Lu household later.

She didn’t even notice that Lu Chen had already approached, standing beside her with an umbrella.

“Let’s go. Get in the car,” a low, calm voice spoke near her ear. Only then did she turn her head and look up at him, dazed.

Because of long-term malnutrition, the original Xu Nuo’s complexion had always been pale. After being drenched in the rain, her skin looked even whiter—almost ghostly—while her lips had taken on a faint purplish hue.

Rainwater was streaming down over her head, flowing in rivulets down her neck and toward the curves of her chest. Lu Chen forced himself not to glance downward, frowning instead. “What were you thinking? Get in the car. Let’s go home.”

That snapped Xu Nuo out of her thoughts.

She’d just been worrying, wondering what she’d do if this rain didn’t stop. How on earth was she supposed to get home?

She never expected to run into Lu Chen here of all places.

Honestly, this was some good luck. A free ride—perfect!

Delighted, she gave him a beaming smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Lu-ge, it’s you! Wow, what a coincidence—looks like fate really brought us together!”

Lu Chen said nothing, just handed her the umbrella.

Xu Nuo accepted it, about to ask what he’d do without it, when she saw that he was already taking off his military jacket.

He was trying to put it on her.

She quickly shook her head. “It’s okay! I’m not that cold.”

Lu Chen didn’t respond. His eyes just flicked downward—barely.

Xu Nuo instantly got it. She looked down at herself.

Then she saw it—her white shirt, soaked through and clinging tightly to her body, revealed the thin camisole underneath… full of holes.

She quickly wrapped her arms around her chest, her face flushing slightly.

Not because he saw, but because… the camisole was downright pitiful.

The original Xu Nuo had lived a hard life with her grandmother. Money was tight, so every piece of clothing was patched and repatched.

When she transmigrated, the original Xu Nuo’s clothes were already falling apart. Xu Nuo had thought of sewing them up herself—after all, stitching flesh and stitching fabric shouldn’t be all that different, right?

What she hadn’t expected was that the fabric was so old and brittle, it would tear to shreds with the slightest tug.

She’d gotten fifty yuan from the Xu family’s elders and planned to buy a new outfit once she got to the city. But before she could, she ran into human traffickers.

In the chaos, she’d flipped someone’s fruit stand to protect herself—and ended up paying out the rest of her money as compensation.

So… here she was.

This situation was beyond awkward. Worse than being naked, honestly.

Lu Chen acted as if he hadn’t noticed anything. Expressionless, he simply draped his coat over her and held the umbrella high. “Let’s go.”

Back in the jeep, Xu Nuo sat in the back seat.

Thanks to his jacket, she finally felt warm again.

As the car pulled away, Lu Chen turned his head slightly and asked, “So, how did things go?”

Xu Nuo shook her head. “Not so well. But it’s fine—I’ll figure it out eventually.”

Lu Chen glanced at her through the rearview mirror. She seemed surprisingly optimistic.

An hour later, the heavy rain had begun to ease. By the time the jeep drove into the military compound, the downpour had nearly stopped altogether.

Summer rains—swift to come and just as quick to go.

The jeep stopped in front of a two-story building. Lu Chen got out first and courteously opened the back door for her.

Xu Nuo stepped down with his coat still draped over her shoulders and gave him a polite thank-you. “Thank you, Lu-ge. Here, let me give your coat back.”

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want to go back like that?”

“There probably isn’t anyone at home right now, right? It’s noon—everyone should be napping,” Xu Nuo murmured to herself. She’d heard from Aunt Lin that Old Master Lu always took an afternoon nap, and there shouldn’t be any other men around either.

“It’s the weekend. Lu Feng and his wife usually come by,” Lu Chen replied.

Hearing that, Xu Nuo gave up on returning the coat for now. Better to stay covered.

Lu Chen and Xu Nuo entered the Lu house one after the other, and sure enough, the living room was lively.

Aside from the Lu family members she had already met, there were four new faces—two men and one woman. (Possibly a typo in the original as the count doesn’t match.)

The two men were chatting with Lu Huaizheng over tea and hadn’t noticed the doorway.

But Cheng Wanying, sitting beside them, looked up and immediately spotted the two entering. “Lu Chen, Xu Nuo, you’re back? Eh? What a coincidence, you came home together?”

She also noticed the military jacket draped over Xu Nuo’s shoulders.

Lu Chen calmly explained, “I saw her walking in the rain on the road and brought her back along the way.”

While they spoke, the young woman standing beside Cheng Wanying turned her gaze to Xu Nuo and gave her a quick once-over. “You’re the village girl our Third Lu was arranged to marry?”

Xu Nuo nodded politely. “Yes, I am.”

“Xu Nuo, this is your second sister-in-law,” Cheng Wanying introduced her. “Her name is Zhang Man, she works at the textile factory.”

“Hello, Second Sister-in-law,” Xu Nuo greeted politely, then discreetly sized her up.

Zhang Man wasn’t especially pretty, but she was very fashionably dressed—curled short hair, a trendy dress, and little leather shoes.

“Oh no, you’re soaked!” Zhang Man stood up, baby in her arms. “Quick, go change your clothes or you’ll catch a cold.”

“Yes, yes, go quickly,” Cheng Wanying chimed in, turning to call out to Aunt Lin, “Xu Nuo’s been caught in the rain. Go make her some ginger tea to warm her up.”

Though it was summer, it wasn’t quite midsummer yet. Getting drenched like that could easily make someone fall ill.

Aunt Lin went into the kitchen to prepare ginger tea. Lu Chen followed her, leaning in to whisper a few words.

“You really do pay attention. I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”

“Thanks, Aunt Lin.”

Meanwhile, Xu Nuo went to the bedroom to change. She found Xu Shan still napping, sprawled across the bed. Xu Nuo poked her. “There are guests outside. Aren’t you going to at least take a look?”

“Nope. I don’t know any of them,” Xu Shan mumbled. “Besides, what would I even say? They’re all city people. You’re not home, and I’m just a country bumpkin—how embarrassing!”

After that, she pulled the blanket over her head.

Xu Nuo shook her head, exasperated. What a hopeless case.

Whatever. Once she left in a few days, what reason would Xu Shan have to stay here anyway?

Just as she was about to change, Xu Nuo realized she hadn’t brought any underwear.

She’d left in such a hurry, nothing was prepared. What now? She couldn’t exactly go out wearing a dress and nothing underneath, right?

She was still struggling with this when a knock sounded at the door.

“Xu Nuo, it’s me, Aunt Lin. Open up—I have something for you.”

Xu Nuo opened the door, and Aunt Lin handed her a small bag with a smile. “I saw that you didn’t bring any luggage, so I figured you wouldn’t have a change of clothes. These undergarments are brand-new and clean—I just didn’t get a chance to wear them yet. Just make do for now. Tomorrow I’ll take you shopping to buy some proper clothes.”

Xu Nuo was touched. Aunt Lin really was attentive. “Thank you, Aunt Lin. This is truly a lifesaver.”

Aunt Lin chuckled. “Don’t thank me. This was all Lu Chen’s doing—he noticed.”

Lu Chen…

Xu Nuo repeated the name in her heart. Compared to that useless third brother of his, Lu Chen really was much more dependable!

After changing into fresh clothes, Xu Nuo stepped out and walked over to Lu Chen. She leaned in and said quietly, “Lu-ge, thank you. Your jacket’s wet—I’ll wash it before I return it to you, okay?”