Chapter 14

Lu Yancheng felt his heart sink.

Uncle Song and Auntie Li?

Didn’t they just say on the phone yesterday that they’d visit in a few days? Yet here they were today!

He gave a brief “Mm,” and said, “Got it.”

Xiao Liu still felt something was off, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

Anyway, when Commander Chen and his wife gave him instructions, their expressions had been extremely grave—like something serious had happened.

His gaze drifted toward Lu Yancheng, and he spoke hesitantly, “Minister Lu is also on his way. He should be here this afternoon. I noticed the commander and his wife looked… not quite right. I really don’t know what’s going on.”

Lu Yancheng replied, “Thanks for the heads-up, Xiao Liu.”

Xiao Liu said quickly, “No need to be so polite, Captain Lu. By the way, have you and Miss Song had breakfast yet? The commander said if you haven’t eaten, you should come over and eat with them.”

Lu Yancheng responded, “We’ve already eaten. You go ahead and report back to the commander for me. And thank him on my behalf.”

Xiao Liu gave a standard military salute. “Understood, Captain Lu.”

After Xiao Liu left, Lu Yancheng returned to the dorm and closed the door behind him. His sharp, dark eyes fell on Song Si.

What Xiao Liu said just now reminded him of something.

Could it be that Commander Chen and Auntie Qin already knew about Song Si’s family situation?

“Song—”

Just as the words were about to leave his mouth, he remembered the intimate moment from that morning. Calling her by her full name suddenly felt too distant—too formal.

“Si-Si.”

Even as he said it, he felt the name sounded a little too affectionate, a bit… mushy.

Song Si’s eyes, clear and calm, met his. “Mm, I heard.”

Lu Yancheng: “…”

He wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to begin.

She probably knew he could hear her thoughts, right?

But that wasn’t the pressing issue right now. The key was: what exactly did Uncle Song and Auntie Li come here for?

Song Si began getting dressed.

Lu Yancheng turned away.

But just then, the mirror on the table reflected everything behind him clearly. After a few seconds, he turned his gaze away, a guilty look crossing his face.

The red marks on her chest—were those from him?

He hadn’t even realized at the time!

A few minutes later, Song Si asked, “Can you help dry my hair?”

“Sure.”

When Lu Yancheng turned around, he saw her casually throw on a coat. Her tall figure, fair skin that was almost whiter than snow, and the contrast with the dark coat—she had a kind of refined elegance that was hard to describe.

Even in the city, he hadn’t seen anyone dress like her. There was a certain… sophistication to it?

Song Si sat on the edge of the bed.

Lu Yancheng picked up the hairdryer and began drying her hair.

Her hair was long and usually braided into two pigtails. Now, hanging down like a waterfall, it felt soft as his fingers combed through it. There was a hard-to-describe sensation.

Yeah… really beautiful.

He’d never used a hairdryer before, so he was clumsy at first. But he gradually got the hang of it.

Song Si said, “It should be dry now, right?”

Lu Yancheng, “Mm.”

He turned off the hairdryer and set it aside.

Song Si reached behind her head, grabbed a black hair tie, and casually tied her hair into a ponytail. “Alright, let’s go.”

Lu Yancheng paused and looked at her.

He had never seen her tie her hair like this before. It had always been two pigtails!

But either way, she looked good.

Noticing his gaze, Song Si asked, “What is it?”

Lu Yancheng: “Nothing, let’s go.”

The two left together. Just like before, Lu Yancheng rode the bicycle and took her to the educated youth settlement.

It was a weekday morning, and even though it was Sunday, work was still ongoing, so the settlement was deserted.

Lu Yancheng parked the bicycle next to the dorm where Song Si lived, and immediately noticed the door was open. Inside, Uncle Song and Auntie Li were sitting.

Seeing the two of them arrive together, seemingly close, the expressions on Song Dalong and Li Li’s faces instantly changed.

Lu Yancheng greeted them, “Uncle Song, Auntie Li.”

He had always been a reserved person, but this time, his voice was noticeably softer.

Song Dalong forced a smile. “Xiao Chen is here too.”

Li Li struggled to smile but failed. “Si-Si, Xiao Chen, why did you come together?”

Her eyes drifted past Song Si and landed on Lu Yancheng. Before they could respond, she asked again, “Xiao Chen, isn’t your unit busy?”

Lu Yancheng replied, “It’s Sunday today—our day off. I haven’t seen you both in a long time and really wanted to visit. So I came with Si-Si.”

He turned slightly and noticed Song Si was still sitting on the back of the bike. With one arm, he helped her down.

Song Si took his hand. “Dad, Mom, didn’t you say you’d come in a few days?”

Song Dalong’s smile faded. He looked at Li Li.

Li Li froze, unsure how to respond. Her eyes landed on their clasped hands.

When did their relationship become so good?

Song Si added, “Dad, Mom, are you feeling unwell? You look pale.”

Li Li snapped back to reality and quickly replied, “Do we?”

Her hands, resting on her pants, started gripping the thin fabric tightly, forming creases one after another.

Song Dalong took a deep breath, as if it was difficult to do so. “Come in and sit down.”

Song Si held Lu Yancheng’s hand as they entered. She looked at him and said, “You sit here. I’ll get some water for Mom and Dad.”

Lu Yancheng said, “Let me.”

He beat her to it—grabbing the thermos and pouring a cup of hot water for each of them, including Song Si. He then placed the cups on the table. “It’s a bit hot.”

Song Dalong and Li Li exchanged glances, their expressions complicated.

It looked like the conversation they needed to have would take time—and they’d need to start with Si-Si.

Although Lu Yancheng had stayed with them for a few years, he was ultimately a high-ranking officer’s son. He couldn’t ignore his background.

Song Dalong coughed a few times. Li Li quickly said, “Xiao Chen, your Uncle Song ran out of cigarettes on the way here. Could you go to the supply store and buy a pack for him?”

Lu Yancheng, “Alright.”

He looked at Song Si. “I’ll be back soon.”

Song Si, “Okay.”

Silence fell.

Once Lu Yancheng had gone far enough, Li Li turned to Song Si, grabbed her hand, and asked with concern, “Si-Si, didn’t you always say you didn’t like Xiao Chen and wanted to divorce him?”

Song Si detected something in her tone. “What’s going on?”

Afraid that Song Si would say something next, Li Li quickly spoke first, having made up her mind. “Your dad and I talked it over. We’ve agreed to let you and Xiao Chen divorce. Didn’t you say you liked that Gu guy? It’s a new era now—arranged marriages are outdated. The country promotes free love now. We were too old-fashioned before.”

Song Si smiled, her eyes bright as spring water. “Mom, when did I say I wanted to divorce Xiao Chen?”

She looked directly at Li Li. “Mom, you misunderstood. I don’t like that Gu Chen guy. All polished looks and slick hair—he’s just a pretty boy. One look and you can tell he’s useless. No sense of security at all.”

Li Li’s chest tightened. She was speechless for a long time.

Why?

Why hadn’t she agreed to the divorce earlier!

If she had, Xiao Chen would probably be with that Nian Nian girl by now!

Frustrated, she reached over and pinched Song Dalong.

Song Dalong looked at Song Si.

This time seeing her, she seemed quite different—much more obedient than before?

But no matter what, she wasn’t their biological daughter.

After a long while, he spoke. “Last month, you wrote to us saying you wanted to divorce Lu Yancheng. The letter’s right here.”

A letter?

As Song Dalong pulled a letter from his pocket, Song Si reached out and took it, unfolding it and reading a few lines.

It was real.

Then she noticed the old-fashioned gasoline lighter placed nearby. Acting quickly, she grabbed it, struck the flint, and before they could react, set the letter on fire and shook it lightly.

Li Li panicked and shouted, “Song Si, what are you doing?!”

She lunged to snatch the burning letter.

But Song Si moved faster. She stood and raised her arm high.

She was tall, and Li Li couldn’t reach. Enraged, she raised her hand to slap Song Si across the face.