Chapter 25: Lu Yuetang Returns

The jeep arrived at the family quarters and parked by the roadside.

Shen Fubai rested his palm on the steering wheel and asked, “Are you coming along?”

“No.”

Lu Yuetang took a pack of Peony cigarettes from the dashboard, pulled one out, lit it, and flicked the spent matchstick aside. “Just pass along my proposal to her.”

“Got it.”

Shen Fubai understood.

Although Brother Lu was known to be a bit stingy, he had always valued talent in the military district. His attitude toward capable people was entirely different from his attitude toward the mediocre.

Hu Ouhua was placed in the “talented” category by Brother Lu. However, since she was a female comrade, he needed to maintain a proper distance to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Shen Fubai retrieved a backpack from the trunk, filled with study supplies he had purchased, and headed toward the family quarters. After asking a few people for directions, he finally found Hu Ouhua, who was tutoring some students.

“Brother Shen, what brings you here?” Hu Ouhua beamed with joy as she stood up from the table.

Shen Fubai handed her the backpack and teased, “We agreed last time—you’re my little sister from now on, so don’t act all formal with me.”

Seeing her move to pour him some water, he immediately declined.

“No need, I’m in a hurry. We’re heading back to Beijing tomorrow. Brother Lu said if you’d like to go early, you can ride with us. As for transferring your household registration, I can take care of it for you along the way,” Shen Fubai said with a smile.

“Really?” Hu Ouhua was overjoyed.

To be honest, she didn’t want to stay under the same roof as Hu Jingcheng any longer. If it wasn’t constant crying, it was all sorts of curses—nothing but endless negativity.

Leaving early would not only free her from that situation but also save her the travel expenses. She couldn’t be happier.

“Okay! Where should I wait for you tomorrow?” Hu Ouhua asked.

Shen Fubai noticed that she didn’t even mention discussing it with her family and decided that the Hu family must not be worth much.

“We’ll pick you up.”

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the family quarters—

Hu Jingcheng and Wu Weiwei were returning home, carrying a bag of sunflower seeds and sesame cakes, munching as they walked, spitting out shells along the way.

“Huh? Whose car is that? It’s not from around here.”

It was obviously a military vehicle, parked right at the entrance.

Could it be that someone important had arrived?

Hu Jingcheng’s eyes lit up, and she quickly ran over to sneak a peek inside.

When she saw the cold yet strikingly handsome man in military uniform sitting in the car, she instantly beamed and knocked on the window.

“Hey, hello! I’m Hu Jingcheng, Hu Ouhua’s younger sister—”

Isn’t this Yang Jiaojiao’s fiancé, Lu Yuetang?

She had seen him twice before.

His face was unforgettable—exquisitely handsome, with a small black mole at the corner of his eye that added an irresistible charm.

Why was he here?

Lu Yuetang didn’t even lift his eyelids. He simply exhaled a smoke ring and said coldly, “I remember you—”

“Ah, really? That’s great! I must be so charming that even Commander Lu remembers me. Can I sit in your car?”

Hu Jingcheng was ecstatic.

She kept winking at Wu Weiwei, as if to say, I’m about to become the next lucky woman.

Wu Weiwei was envious to death.

She quickly stepped forward, stood beside Hu Jingcheng, and put on what she thought was her sweetest smile as she greeted Lu Yuetang, “Hello, Commander, I’m Wu Weiwei—”

Hu Jingcheng nudged her aside and deliberately stepped closer to the car door. Just as she reached out to open it, she heard Lu Yuetang’s icy voice:

“My car doesn’t welcome trash worse than pigs and dogs.”

What?

Hu Jingcheng froze, thinking she had misheard. She forced a laugh and asked, “Commander Lu, w-what do you mean?”

Whoosh.

His cold gaze swept over her like a blade slicing through flesh.

Lu Yuetang glanced between the two women and said indifferently, “Betraying a friend, conspiring with outsiders to harm your own sister… If that isn’t worse than pigs and dogs, then what is?”

“Lu Yuetang!”

Hu Jingcheng’s face turned crimson.

She banged on the car in frustration.

This action drew the attention of several onlookers, making her so embarrassed that she covered her face and ran away.

Wu Weiwei felt mortified beyond belief.

The contempt in Lu Yuetang’s cold eyes was obvious, as if he were looking at something filthy. Without another word, he flicked his cigarette and took another drag, completely ignoring her.

She could no longer bear staying there. Losing interest in hanging out with Hu Jingcheng, she turned and left.

At that moment, Shen Fubai and Hu Ouhua approached.

Lu Yuetang, sitting in the front passenger seat, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and stepped out of the car. With one hand in his pocket, his gaze landed on the girl bathed in golden sunlight.

“Brother Yuetang…” Hu Ouhua smiled slightly.

Since becoming pregnant, she had lost her appetite. Instead of gaining weight, she had grown even thinner.

“You haven’t been eating properly?” Lu Yuetang asked.

“I have.”

Shen Fubai nearly burst out laughing at their conversation.

Who talks like this?

He quickly nudged Lu Yuetang and whispered, “Didn’t you say you had a gift for her? Hurry up and give it to her!”

“No, no, there’s really no need,” Hu Ouhua protested.

She had already received so much from Shen Fubai, and now accepting a gift from Lu Yuetang felt excessive—like she owed them too much.

After all, they weren’t even related.

But then, Lu Yuetang took out a cassette recorder and several tapes from the car and handed them to Hu Ouhua. “You’re studying English. This might be useful.”

A trendy gadget imported from abroad.

Just something novel.

Hu Ouhua immediately shook her head. “I can’t accept this, it’s too valuable.”

“No need to be polite. I didn’t spend a penny on it. A friend gave it to me. It’s just lying around at home, so if you don’t want it, sell it for some cash,” Lu Yuetang said casually.

“…” Hu Ouhua.

Alright then.

Rich people sure were generous.

She silently accepted the gift, resolving to repay him somehow in the future.

After agreeing on a departure time, they each went their separate ways.

As Shen Fubai drove, he side-eyed Lu Yuetang. “Bro, you’re so dramatic. You went out of your way to pick this for her, but you had to make up a whole story about a friend gifting it. Was that really necessary?”

“Shut up.”

If he hadn’t said that, Hu Ouhua definitely wouldn’t have accepted it.

She wasn’t like others—she didn’t like taking advantage of people.

Hu Ouhua felt a bit uneasy about it too.

After quickly storing the recorder in her room, she packed her clothes and then went to Zhao’s house to tutor some students, staying busy until 8 PM.

When she got home—

“Oh, look who’s finally decided to come back?” Hu Jingcheng sneered, arms crossed.

Hu Ouhua ignored her.

She cooked a bowl of noodles and finished dinner quickly. Just as she was about to go to her room to listen to the tapes, she found the place ransacked. A bad feeling crept over her.

She opened her bedside drawer.

Her bag was empty.

The recorder that Lu Yuetang had given her was gone.

In an instant, she shot up and grabbed Hu Jingcheng’s arm. “Give me back my stuff, or you’ll regret it.”

Hu Jingcheng yanked her arm away.

“I didn’t take your things. Don’t accuse me,” she scoffed.

Why should she?

They were born of the same mother, yet Hu Ouhua had the good looks, overshadowing her in everything. Even Lu Yuetang, an untouchable man, treated her differently and gave her such an expensive gift!

And how had he treated her?

Hu Jingcheng burned with jealousy.

If she couldn’t have it, then Hu Ouhua wouldn’t either.