Chapter 24 – Brother,My Family is in Danger! Come Back Quickly!

“Stop it, you’re making me so embarrassed.”
Ning Songyun’s smile was almost frozen on her face.

Zhao Yu’s eyes were full of teasing amusement, earning herself a little glare from Ning Songyun.

Suddenly, the sweet-and-sour ribs that had already been passed on were set back in front of Zhao Yu.

Puzzled, Zhao Yu looked up, only to see Lu Chen pulling his hand back.

Jiang Huanyan naturally didn’t miss her son’s gesture. She observed Zhao Yu carefully, and though no one knew what was going through her mind, the smile on her face only grew brighter.

In the conversations that followed, Jiang Huanyan mentioned Zhao Yu several times while chatting with Ning Songyun.

Songyun noticed this at once. She had originally planned to stake a claim on behalf of her older brother, but at the moment, she had no standing to do so.

Watching Lu Chen subtly tend to Zhao Yu’s likes and dislikes several times, she was so anxious it felt like she was an ant on a hot pan.

After dinner, Ning Songyun wanted to drag Zhao Yu away quickly, but Jiang Huanyan insisted on keeping her.

“Songyun, Auntie hasn’t seen you in so many years. Stay over tonight so we can have a proper chat.”

“That wouldn’t be convenient, Auntie,” Songyun quickly protested, afraid Zhao Yu was Jiang Huanyan’s real target. “My friend has to get back too, so we should just go together…”

“Oh, nonsense,” Jiang Huanyan clapped her hands. “Let Achen take your friend back. It’s perfectly safe that way.”

She spoke as she pulled Ning Songyun’s hand, leading her further inside. Passing by Lu Chen, she even gave him a meaningful look.

“Come, Songyun, let’s check the room I prepared for you.”

Songyun still struggled a little, but in the end, Jiang Huanyan dragged her away.

“Then… then I’ll head back now,” Zhao Yu stood up, ready to leave.

Lu Chen rose silently, picked up his coat, and genuinely looked like he was about to escort her.

“There’s no need to trouble—”

“It’s dark, not safe,” Lu Chen cut in, taking Zhao Yu’s performance costume bag by the door as well.

Seeing Zhao Yu still standing there, he turned back. “Anything else you need to bring?”

“Ah? No.” Zhao Yu waved her hands quickly and hurried out of the Lu household before him.

Maybe it was because nights fell earlier in Heilongjiang province, but even though it was just past seven, the streets were already nearly empty.

Walking at Lu Chen’s left side, Zhao Yu felt awkward.

Earlier, she had tried to take her bag back, but he had firmly refused. So they continued silently, side by side.

When the occasional passerby saw them, they exchanged knowing smiles.

Further off, one could even hear snippets like:
“New couple, you can tell at a glance.”
“They’re still so shy, young people are really nice to watch.”

At that moment, a man suddenly rushed out of nowhere on a bicycle, splashing through a puddle. Dirty water flew everywhere.

Before Zhao Yu realized what was happening, someone pulled her aside, guiding her safely to the right.

When she looked up, Lu Chen’s coat was already soaked with muddy water.

“Thank you.” Zhao Yu felt embarrassed. “Let me wash your coat for you.”

The words slipped out, and she regretted them instantly.

They’d only met once before—basically strangers. How could she blurt out something like that?

“It’s fine.” Lu Chen took off the army coat and draped it over his arm.

Relieved, Zhao Yu fumbled for another topic. Just as she thought of one, the guesthouse sign came into view.

“Here I am. Um… my bag.”

Standing at the entrance, Zhao Yu and Lu Chen stared at each other for nearly a minute before she finally pointed at the bag in his hand.

Lu Chen seemed to realize only then. He handed it over. “Sorry.”

Zhao Yu lowered her head, shaking it slightly. “It’s fine. Thank you for walking me back.”

Silence fell again.

When Zhao Yu sneaked a glance up, she found Lu Chen looking straight at her. She quickly looked away. “Then I’ll go in now. About your coat—I’m really sorry.”

Without giving him a chance to answer, she dashed inside.

Lu Chen stood outside the guesthouse for about three minutes before finally turning to leave.

Since Ning Songyun had been left at the Lu home, Zhao Yu enjoyed a luxurious single-occupancy stay that night.

After washing up, she lay on her bed, drifting off to sleep before long.

Meanwhile, left behind at the Lu household, Ning Songyun was restless, unable to sit still until Lu Chen returned.

If she had a phone with internet, she would’ve already spammed her brother with: “Brother,My Family is in Danger! Come Back Quickly!”

“Achen, you’re back. Did you send Comrade Xiao Zhao safely? Why is your coat so dirty?”

“Splashed by a bicycle,” Lu Chen replied, changing into slippers and heading to his room.

“Wait, leave the dirty clothes there!” Jiang Huanyan stood up and took them from him.

Seeing this, Songyun hurried to her feet. “Auntie, it’s getting late. You should rest early, I’ll go to bed too.”

“Alright, sleep well,” Jiang Huanyan said, letting her go since she also wanted to question her son.

Once in her room, Songyun left her door slightly ajar, secretly eavesdropping.

“Achen, what’s going on? Do you know that Comrade Xiao Zhao?”

Jiang Huanyan tossed the clothes into the washing machine, pulled Lu Chen to the sofa, and asked directly: “Tell me honestly—do you like her?”

Lu Chen froze mid-sip of water. In his mind flashed Zhao Yu dancing gracefully on stage, and then walking quietly beside him earlier that evening.

When he said nothing, Jiang Huanyan caught the look in his eyes and instantly understood.

“Alright, I get it.”

Her son had always been indifferent to women. No matter how pretty they were, he treated them all the same—never even spared them a smile.

Tonight, she had intended for him to meet Ning Songyun, but instead, fate had brought Zhao Yu into the picture.

For her son to actually show a different attitude toward a woman—that was rare indeed.

As long as the girl’s character was sound and she liked Achen back, no matter the obstacles, she’d make sure her son married her.

Knowing his mother well, Lu Chen could already guess what she was plotting.

“Mom, don’t meddle. I’ll handle it myself.”

“What exactly are you handling?”

Jiang Huanyan didn’t have much faith in her son’s ability to court women. But seeing the steady look he gave her, she could only raise her hands helplessly.

“Fine, fine. I won’t interfere. But if you fail, don’t come crying to me.”

She got up and went back to her room.

Still, even if she didn’t trust him much, she was already planning in her mind what sort of gift would be suitable for her future daughter-in-law.

“Should it be a jade bracelet? Or gold…”

Songyun, who had hastily closed her door when Jiang Huanyan stood up, now pressed her ear tightly against it.

And that was exactly what she overheard.