Chapter 21

“Uncle Lu?”

Hearing Danie’s voice again, Lu Yancheng snapped out of his thoughts. “No, Auntie Xiao Song never said that.”

In an instant, the little girl’s face was full of disappointment. Her pretty crescent-shaped eyes dimmed.

Lu Yancheng picked her up. “Uncle Lu has a little secret to tell you.”

Danie beamed. “Okay!”

Lu Yancheng leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “Auntie Xiao Song told me in secret. She asked me not to tell anyone because she would get shy.”

Danie nodded, understanding. Her voice became even softer. “I see. Don’t worry, Uncle Lu, I won’t tell anyone.”

Lu Yancheng smiled. “Mm, it’s our little secret.”

Danie hooked her pinky with his.

Then Lu Yancheng asked softly, “Danie, do you want a little brother or a little sister?”

Danie thought hard, clearly torn. After a long moment, she finally said, “Uncle Lu, can I have both?”

Lu Yancheng paused, then chuckled. “Of course you can.”

Danie was overjoyed and happily ate three big buns. “I want to grow up quickly, so I can help Uncle Lu and Auntie Xiao Song take care of the baby!”

Zhang Kai and Wang Fang, watching nearby: “……”

Their well-behaved daughter had always liked little Lu, all because he was good-looking.

So young, and already judging by appearances!

She wasn’t even this affectionate with them, her own parents!

Thinking of this, Zhang Kai felt a pang of jealousy.

But that wasn’t even the worst part. The worst part was the gossip from the residential compound: “I don’t get it, both Zhang Kai and his wife look average at best—how did they have such a pretty daughter?!”

One time, Danie overheard this and seriously asked him—

“Daddy, am I actually Uncle Lu’s daughter? Did you bring home the wrong baby?”

That memory still stung, and Zhang Kai couldn’t help glaring at Lu Yancheng.

Before Lu Yancheng could even say anything, Danie saw the glare and got upset. “Daddy, why are you glaring at Uncle Lu? That’s very rude.”

Zhang Kai shot back, “And what about how rude you were to Auntie Xiao Song before?”

Danie said sheepishly, “That was before. I won’t do it again!”

She tilted her head toward the bathroom. “Uncle Lu, Auntie Xiao Song is so pretty—she wouldn’t lie to me, right?”

Lu Yancheng answered, “No, she wouldn’t.”

…

Less than half an hour later, Song Si came out and looked at Wang Fang. “Sister-in-law, can I use your power outlet to dry my hair?”

Wang Fang said, “No need to be so polite—go right ahead.”

Song Si took out the hair dryer she had brought, plugged it in, and was just about to sit down to dry her hair when she heard Lu Yancheng’s voice—

“I’ll do it.”

Lu Yancheng put down Danie, walked over, and grabbed a chair to place beside her.

“Thank you,” Song Si said as she sat down.

Lu Yancheng naturally took the hair dryer from her and began to dry her hair.

It was his first time blow-drying a girl’s hair, and his movements were a bit clumsy.

Her hair was long and usually braided into two plaits, but now it flowed down like a waterfall. Running his fingers through it gave him an indescribable feeling.

Well, in short—she looked beautiful.

He paused, remembering her inner thoughts from before. Maybe the one with the two braids wasn’t really her?

…

Not far away, Zhang Kai watched them being all lovey-dovey and couldn’t take it anymore. “This is too much. You two came to my house early in the morning just to feed me dog food?”

Lu Yancheng didn’t even look back. “Why not? Deputy Commander Zhang, you used to hand out dog food quite freely yourself.”

Zhang Kai looked at Song Si. “Xiao Song, don’t you think Lu Yancheng is being excessive?”

Song Si replied, “Not really?”

Zhang Kai threw up his hands. “Now you’re even echoing each other like husband and wife!”

But…

Seeing the hair dryer in Lu Yancheng’s hand, he couldn’t help but ask, “Where did you buy that hair dryer? I want to get one for your sister-in-law too.”

Lu Yancheng said, “Huaqiao Mall.”

Zhang Kai: “……”

That place required foreign exchange coupons! And he didn’t have any!

He looked at Lu Yancheng. “Captain Lu, how about I give you the money and you help me get one?”

Lu Yancheng nodded. “Sure, give me a few days. I don’t have any foreign exchange coupons right now.”

Zhang Kai: “I’ll remember that. You promised.”

Lu Yancheng checked her hair. “All done?”

Song Si, “Mm.”

She reached behind her head, grabbed a black hair tie, and tied her hair into a simple ponytail. “All right, let’s go.”

She turned to Wang Fang and Zhang Kai. “Thank you, sister-in-law, and thank you, Deputy Commander Zhang.”

Zhang Kai was a straightforward man. “Comrade Xiao Song, no need to be so formal. Just call me Brother Zhang in the future.”

Song Si began, “Okay, Brother—”

Before she could finish, Lu Yancheng immediately interrupted, “Better to stick with Deputy Commander Zhang.”

Zhang Kai glared. “Wow, you’re really jealous over just ‘Brother Zhang’?”

Lu Yancheng calmly replied, “It’s just not appropriate.”

Song Si: “……”

Is he really jealous?

Thinking about it carefully… it kind of seems like he is. So, was last night’s phone call really nothing?

Lu Yancheng, “Sisi, let’s go.”

Song Si, “Okay.”

Before they left, she gently cupped Danie’s round cheeks. “Say goodbye to Auntie Xiao Song.”

Danie said, “Goodbye, Auntie Xiao Song. Don’t forget to come over for dinner tonight!”

Song Si smiled. “Auntie Xiao Song will remember.”

Leaving Deputy Commander Zhang’s home, the two quickly arrived at Chief Chen’s residence.

Chief Chen and Qin Hua had been waiting for a while.

Hearing the knock, Qin Hua opened the door first. When she saw Song Si standing next to Lu Yancheng, her eyes lit up. “Sisi, is that a new outfit you bought yesterday? It looks great!”

Song Si, “Mm, thank you, Aunt Qin.”

Qin Hua thought of the phone call with Yun Zhen last night and felt heavy-hearted. “Come in quickly.”

She linked arms with Song Si and led her inside.

Lu Yancheng, left on the side: “……”

Ever since she first came to the Chief’s home, his status seemed to have dropped a bit!

Chief Chen and Aunt Qin genuinely adored her!

He followed them inside, seeing Qin Hua already pulling Song Si to sit on the other side. He walked over and sat next to Chief Chen.

Chief Chen looked at Lu Yancheng. “Comrade Yun Zhen called you last night?”

Lu Yancheng, “Yes, sir.”

Chief Chen didn’t pursue the topic. “Mm. Let’s eat breakfast.”

Later, he would have a private talk with this kid. He and his wife had already discussed it last night—if Lu Yuanduan and Comrade Yun Zhen insisted on divorcing Song Si and Lu Yancheng, they were planning to adopt Song Si as their goddaughter.

That was Aunt Qin’s idea, and he agreed instantly.

He felt like he’d hit the jackpot—a beautiful, well-behaved girl as a daughter!

His own son had long been a disappointment to him!

Today, Qin Hua was noticeably quieter.

Song Si could clearly feel that the atmosphere was different.

Still claiming her mother-in-law didn’t say anything? It’s obvious they want them to divorce, right?

Upon hearing her inner thoughts, both Chief Chen and Qin Hua froze.

Had Sisi already figured it out? And not because Lu Yancheng told her?

Qin Hua quickly recovered and picked up some pickled vegetables for her. “Eat more.”

Just then, the phone rang.

Chief Chen had a bad feeling and stood up. “I’ll get it.”

He answered, hearing Secretary Wang’s voice. “Chief Chen, I’m calling early because something urgent came up.”

“What is it?”

“Song Zhiqing’s parents have arrived. They’re already at the educated youth settlement. Should I take them there to find her, or have her come over?”