Chapter 3 – The Childhood Engagement

Xu Nuo slowly lifted her head and saw a young soldier standing in front of her. His gaze was calm and steady, his expression composed. The military uniform of this era was different from the ones she remembered from the 21st century—she couldn’t tell what his rank was.

Still, the aura he exuded was oppressive.

The moment she looked at the man, her eyes lit up. She had come all this way to look for someone in the military compound, and now there was a soldier standing right in front of her.

Wouldn’t it be easier if she asked him for directions?

“Did you steal something?” The man spoke before she could ask anything.

“No,” Xu Nuo denied right away. “I’m not a thief! They falsely accused me! But, comrade soldier, do you happen to know someone named Lu Huaizheng?”

At the sound of that name, Lu Chen’s eyes shifted ever so slightly. “Why are you looking for him?”

Seeing that he didn’t deny it, Xu Nuo asked quickly, “So you do know him? Can I trouble you to take me with you? I have something important to discuss with him.”

Her reply was both an answer and not an answer at the same time.

Lu Chen didn’t respond immediately. He just lowered his gaze and studied her.

She wore two long, neatly braided pigtails, a patched-up gray-blue outfit, and cloth shoes that revealed her toes—clearly a rural girl. But when she spoke, her voice was clear and steady, her demeanor calm and composed. She didn’t seem timid or uneasy in the slightest.

When their eyes met, she didn’t shy away or blush like a typical village girl. Instead, her bright and clear eyes blinked thoughtfully, as if her mind were actively working.

Seeing that Lu Chen remained silent, Xu Nuo realized that unless she explained herself, he likely wouldn’t help her.

Her sense of caution was strong, but this soldier’s was clearly stronger.

“I’m Xu Nuo. I came to Beijing to join my fiancé. He lives in the military compound. His father’s name is Lu Huaizheng, and his name is Lu Chen.”

Might as well lay all her cards on the table.

The moment Lu Chen heard her name, a flicker of emotion finally appeared on his previously unreadable face.

And when she mentioned coming to the military compound to find her fiancé, he frowned.

Now he understood why she looked somewhat familiar.

A few days ago, while on leave and visiting the compound, he’d found a strange woman at home holding a marriage agreement signed over a decade ago. She claimed she was betrothed to the Lu family since childhood and had come to fulfill the marriage now that she was eighteen.

That woman’s sudden appearance had thrown the whole family into chaos—they’d been arguing about it nonstop for days.

And now, another woman claiming to be a childhood fiancée showed up?

“Xiao Wei, let her go,” he said.

“Yes, Commander.”

Oh? So he’s a commander? Xu Nuo noted it mentally. Not a low rank at all.

She rubbed her arm, which still ached from being twisted. “Comrade Commander, I’ve told you everything I needed to. Could you help me now?”

Lu Chen pressed his lips together, clearly wanting to deal with the current situation first.

Just then, two station workers came running over, panting heavily. They thanked Lu Chen profusely and reached out to take Xu Nuo away.

“She’s a thief? What did she steal?” Lu Chen asked.

The two staff members exchanged glances and answered awkwardly, “Actually, she’s not a thief. She overturned our fruit stall and ran off! We came to get compensation.”

Lu Chen turned his eyes to Xu Nuo.

“I told you,” Xu Nuo said, “go ask that mother and son! They have all the money. It’s with them!”

Just then, the mother and son were also dragged over by station staff. The old lady overheard what Xu Nuo said and instantly exploded, “I don’t even know her! Why should I pay?!”

“But she said she’s your daughter-in-law!” someone retorted.

“She’s talking nonsense!” the old woman snapped.

Seeing the suspicious look in Lu Chen’s eyes, Xu Nuo quickly explained, “Okay, I did lie earlier. Those two aren’t my in-laws—they’re traffickers! They tried to abduct me. I was desperate and… that was the only way I could think to get out.”

Lu Chen had to admit—she played that hand brilliantly.

“Um…” The station staff looked troubled. “What do we do now? Should we send them all to the local police station?”

Xu Nuo waved her hands quickly. “No, no, I really don’t have time for the police station—I have to find my fiancé!”

“You say you’re here to see your fiancé—do you have any proof?” Lu Chen asked.

Xu Nuo sighed. “No. A week ago, my cousin Xu Shan stole everything from me and took a marriage agreement letter to Beijing. If everything went her way, she should be at the Lu household by now, impersonating me to marry Lu Cheng.”

The details she offered matched almost too well. If it was true, Lu Chen couldn’t just ignore it.

He gave a small nod. “Let’s go. I’ll go with you to the police station first.”

“Commander, what about picking up the guest?” Xiao Wei asked nervously.

Lu Chen glanced at his watch again. “If he doesn’t see anyone, he’ll just leave.”

Xiao Wei took the order without complaint, got into the driver’s seat, and started the engine. Through the windshield, he saw Commander Lu personally open the rear door and gesture for Xu Nuo to get in.

Xu Nuo politely thanked him and climbed in, scooting to the side to leave room for Lu Chen.

But Lu Chen simply closed the back door and walked to the front passenger seat instead.

The vehicle rolled out slowly.

Xu Nuo rested her chin in her hand, staring out the window at the darkening sky, her mind drifting.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the station. Xu Nuo got out and cooperated with the officers, giving a clear, detailed statement of everything that had happened.

The police quickly realized the two suspects were the very same traffickers they’d been hunting for two years. This mother-son pair had been involved in multiple abduction and trafficking cases of women and children.

They’d seen Xu Nuo as just another naive village girl, and on top of that, such a pretty one—perfect for a high-priced sale.

But they hadn’t expected her to be so clever, and instead of trapping her, they got trapped themselves.

This time, they were done for.

The case was sorted quickly. The traffickers were taken in and would be dealt with according to the law. But the damages to the fruit stall still had to be paid.

Xu Nuo handed over all the money she had left and paid it honestly.

Still, she couldn’t help feeling a bit resentful.

Those two scumbags tried to scam her and ended up costing her money instead.

As these thoughts filled her head, her facial expressions changed rapidly—so much so that Lu Chen caught himself watching her for longer than he intended.

The police station procedures went smoothly, and by the time they left, night had completely fallen.

Xu Nuo climbed back into Lu Chen’s jeep and followed him to the military compound.

---

At the Lu Residence.

The housekeeper, Aunt Lin, had already prepared dinner. All that was left was waiting for Lu Chen to return.

Before the meal, the Lu family had gathered to discuss the matter of Lu Cheng’s childhood engagement to Xu Nuo.

At the moment, Lu Cheng was sitting in the living room, legs crossed, his posture imposing. His sword-like eyebrows were tightly knit, and the faint displeasure in his sharp eyes was hard to miss. But with his father Lu Huaizheng present, he tried his best to restrain himself.

Opposite him sat Xu Shan, dressed in a floral shirt and black slacks. Her hair was done up in two long braids hanging neatly in front of her chest. The rough redness on her cheeks from years of wind and sun made her look rather rustic.

Faced with Lu Cheng’s handsome and striking appearance, Xu Shan didn’t dare lift her head, but every now and then, she’d sneak a glance at him.

Her movements were timid and awkward—almost pitiful, yet so petty and ridiculous that it bordered on cringe. There was something almost greasy about her behavior, as if she were trying to act demure but only succeeded in appearing sneaky and foolish.