Chapter 55

Lu Yun’s decision on whether to buy a second apartment in Seagull Garden or in another neighborhood became a point of consideration.

After spending several days exploring various neighborhoods in the provincial capital with He Cheng’an, they ultimately decided to purchase another unit in Seagull Garden.

At that time, the construction in Seagull Garden was among the best in the provincial capital, and having both apartments in the same complex would be more convenient for them.

It seemed that Lu Yun had become somewhat accustomed to Seagull Garden, feeling that the other neighborhoods could not compare.

They returned to the same sales office as before. When the staff saw them, they were momentarily taken aback, as they had a lasting impression of both Lu Yun and He Cheng’an.

These two individuals were strikingly good-looking. Previously, when He Cheng’an was renovating their first apartment, several unmarried girls in the sales office blushed upon seeing him, but He Cheng’an maintained a serious demeanor that deterred them from speaking to him.

There was one instance when a bold girl mustered the courage to approach him, only for He Cheng’an to bluntly state that he had a girlfriend. He frowned while saying this, and then walked away without looking back.

Later, when He Cheng’an returned to the office with Lu Yun, who was now his girlfriend, the staff members discussed the couple for quite some time.

They envied Lu Yun and thought she was incredibly beautiful.

The sales office staff inquired, “You’re referring to this sixty-square-meter apartment, right?” Upon receiving a nod from He Cheng’an, they asked, “Whose name will this be under? I’ll print the contract.”

He Cheng’an replied, “It will be under my wife’s name.”

When Lu Yun heard him use the term “my wife,” she couldn’t help but smile softly, biting her lip as she stood by.

It was the first time He Cheng’an had used such a formal title, and although they had been married for some time, Lu Yun was used to directly calling him by his name.

Occasionally, she would call him Cheng’an, while he continued to refer to her as Ah Yun.

This time around, both Lu Yun and He Cheng’an were very familiar with the process of purchasing a home. In the end, they proudly acquired a sixty-square-meter apartment.

As Lu Yun held the purchase contract while exiting, she felt a rush of excitement. This was their second apartment! Although it was just over sixty square meters, they wouldn’t be able to renovate it immediately.

He Cheng’an looked at Lu Yun’s expression and couldn’t help but smile, his gaze fixated on her bright smile, his demeanor gentle.

Meanwhile, the sales office staff watched them from the side, commenting on the couple.

“They really look perfect for each other.”

“If I were a guy, I’d buy a house for a wife as beautiful as her.”

“Haha! First, you need to have He Cheng’an’s skills,” one of the sales office staff joked.

“Do you guys know that the quality of the houses He Cheng’an has renovated is exceptionally good? His aesthetic sense is also top-notch. Many homeowners regret not hiring him for their renovations in the first place,” another staff member chimed in.

What the sales office staff said was indeed true.

In Seagull Garden, many people felt remorse after seeing the houses that He Cheng’an had renovated with his crew.

Most of them regretted not choosing him for their renovations. He Cheng’an’s team worked meticulously, producing results that were often more visually appealing than other homes.

He also came up with many innovative solutions that others hadn’t thought of. Because of this, He Cheng’an later signed contracts with several homeowners in Fucheng Garden.

—o—o—o—

When Lu Yun and He Cheng’an returned home that weekend, Zhang Meili was stunned to learn that they had bought a second apartment.

Zhang Meili asked, “Isn’t the first apartment still not renovated? Why did you buy a second one?”

Lu Yun smiled and explained, “I thought the prices would go up, and since we could buy another apartment around sixty square meters, we decided to go for it.”

Zhang Meili immediately recognized Lu Yun’s reasoning. The girl had been increasingly savvy lately, balancing her business endeavors with university studies. Zhang Meili suspected that even if she hadn’t mentioned her own resignation, Lu Yun would have considered it.

Now that He Cheng’an was supporting Lu Yun, he followed her lead. Many others in the county would struggle to afford a single apartment, yet they were buying multiple ones in the provincial capital.

After all the excitement, Lu Yun felt worn out. Lately, she had developed a fondness for eating instant noodles straight from the packet. It was a method she hadn’t indulged in for a long time.

She had seen the neighborhood kids enjoy them like treasures, sharing the noodles in a playful manner, reminiscent of a little king among them.

On their way back, He Cheng’an bought several packs of instant noodles for Lu Yun. After trying a few bites, Lu Yun found herself enjoying them again.

Whenever she had some downtime, she would open a packet of instant noodles, sometimes adding the seasoning, sometimes leaving it plain.

When Lu Yun returned home with the instant noodles, He Cheng’an called Zhang Meili aside.

In a low voice, Zhang Meili remarked, “Ah Yun has been quite ambitious lately. You should keep a close eye on her.”

He Cheng’an responded, “It’s good that she’s ambitious; everything she’s doing is right. But don’t worry, I will definitely keep an eye on her in other matters.”

Hearing He Cheng’an say that made Zhang Meili feel conflicted. While she genuinely wanted He Cheng’an to help look out for Lu Yun, she would not be pleased if He Cheng’an ever criticized Lu Yun. She had expected He Cheng’an to agree with her request, but she hadn’t anticipated his response.

Now, Zhang Meili felt more at ease regarding He Cheng’an and Lu Yun.

He Cheng’an said, “I’ll go ask her what she wants for lunch. I’ll cook in the kitchen.”

Zhang Meili smiled and nodded, “Go ahead and ask.”

When He Cheng’an entered the room, Lu Yun was busy reviewing the exam papers she had worked on. There was a question she couldn’t solve, so when He Cheng’an approached her to ask about lunch, she set the paper aside and began to think seriously.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Yun suggested, “How about tomato and egg stir-fry? I haven’t had that in a while. I’d also like a serving of braised pork.”

He Cheng’an replied, “Okay, I’ll go cook. I’ll call you when the food is ready.”

Lu Yun handed her packet of instant noodles to He Cheng’an. After taking a bite, he nodded at her, “Delicious.”

He Cheng’an washed his hands in the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves before starting to cook.

The residents of the courtyard watched him. Although they knew He Cheng’an treated Lu Yun well, they wouldn’t dare strike up a conversation with him, as he had an intimidating demeanor.

However, every time they saw He Cheng’an cooking in the kitchen, they couldn’t help but express their admiration in private. Lately, during their conversations, they often found themselves envying Lu Yun.

—o—o—o—

Li Ling and Han Jiangang learned that Lu Yun and He Cheng’an had returned, so they visited the Lu family in the evening, bringing with them some fresh eggs from the countryside and fresh fruit.

Lu Yun didn’t have many friends, as most of her time in the provincial capital was spent with He Cheng’an or focusing on her own tasks. While with Li Ling, they chatted for over an hour about trivial matters.

For instance, Li Ling mentioned her argument with her sister-in-law, while Lu Yun expressed her frustration over a question she couldn’t solve on her exam paper.

Later, when Li Ling and Han Jiangang prepared to leave, Lu Yun and He Cheng’an were getting ready for bed. Lu Yun sat in a chair, watching He Cheng’an as he organized the bed sheets and comforter.

He Cheng’an remarked, “It might get busy over at Fucheng Garden. I’ve signed contracts for about twenty units, and there are a few more in negotiation. Zhang Hao has been occupied with the ear fungus business as well, so I thought I could have Han Jiangang help me with the ear fungus matters while he’s here. What do you think?”

Lu Yun recalled that Li Ling had always wanted Han Jiangang to start a business, but Han Jiangang clung to his stable job and was reluctant to venture into entrepreneurship.

It was only because of his own store that he began to show interest in business, but the couple had yet to decide on what kind of business to pursue.

Listening to He Cheng’an, Lu Yun looked at him and softly asked, “Is it because of me?”

After a moment, He Cheng’an replied, “Han Jiangang isn’t as clever as Zhang Hao; he doesn’t grasp things as quickly. However, he is responsible and generally quite honest, so it would be fitting for him to help out here.”

He Cheng’an didn’t directly answer Lu Yun’s question, but the truth was that he was indeed considering having Han Jiangang help out because of Lu Yun.

The condition was that Han Jiangang had to be capable. He didn’t choose better or more suitable options primarily because of his relationship with Li Ling and the fact that Han Jiangang was Li Ling’s husband.

After contemplating for a moment, Lu Yun decided that it would be acceptable for Han Jiangang to assist with the ear fungus matters, which gave her peace of mind. However, she still said, “He Cheng’an, I care more about you, so in the future, you don’t need to consider these things. If you agree with me, then I’m on board with whatever you decide, how about that?”

He Cheng’an smiled and embraced Lu Yun, saying, “Alright.”

Lu Yun added, “I treat you well, but you need to take care of yourself too.”

—o—o—o—

By the next day, Han Jiangang’s involvement was settled. When he learned that He Cheng’an wanted him to come along, he was overjoyed. He made another trip to the Lu family, bringing along a significant amount of items. Knowing that Lu Yun liked pig trotters, he bought a bunch of them.

It had been a while since Lu Yun had made braised pig trotters. Once He Cheng’an prepared the trotters, Lu Yun took over the cooking, and by the evening, there was a large platter of braised pig trotters on the Lu family’s dining table.

Lu Yun had one trotters and intended to have more, but He Cheng’an had also made her favorite sweet and sour ribs. Lu Yun ended up eating a bowl of rice along with half a plate of sweet and sour ribs and some other dishes, finishing it off with a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup. She simply couldn’t manage to eat any more of the trotters.

That evening, Lu Yun needed to go back to her room to review her studies. Since Lu Yun had eaten a lot, He Cheng’an decided to take her out for a walk. Because she was reluctant to move, He Cheng’an led her on a stroll around the nearby alley before they returned home.

Lu Yun lounged in a chair and said, “He Cheng’an, I feel like having a drink.”

He Cheng’an glanced outside and asked, “Do you want to eat some spicy skewers too?”

Lu Yun couldn’t help but laugh. She hadn’t been to the store in days; she had already gone through the accounts and, with the Lu family keeping an eye on things, she felt comfortable letting them manage it. Zhang Yuan was also reliable, so Lu Yun decided to focus on her studies instead.

Lu Yun nodded, “Yeah.”

Seeing Lu Yun’s lazy demeanor, He Cheng’an knew she didn’t want to move. He took out a few takeout boxes, planning to bring some food back. Before leaving, he asked the others in the Lu family if they wanted anything, but everyone declined. Only Lu Yun expressed interest, so He Cheng’an headed out.

After some time, He Cheng’an returned and found Lu Yun casually tied her hair into a bun. He chuckled, “Weren’t you just saying you didn’t want to move?”

Lu Yun linked her arm through He Cheng’an’s and said, “I’d rather go with you.”