Chapter 8 – You Don’t Actually Dislike Women, Do You?

Lu Cheng frowned reluctantly.

“Son, did you hear me?” Cheng Wanying raised her voice again on the other end of the line when she got no response.

“I heard,” Lu Cheng said curtly, then click—hung up the phone.

Beep—beep—beep.

The busy tone buzzed in her ear. Cheng Wanying called out a couple more times before setting the phone down with a huff. “This kid is really something else!”

Lu Chen came up the stairs with the food. Seeing the frown on her face, he instantly knew she must’ve just spoken with Lu Cheng.

“Mom, let’s eat first.”

“You go ahead. After you’re done, get some rest. You must be exhausted after staying up all night with Yi Yi.”

“I’m fine.”

It really was nothing for him.

Back in the military, missions often meant staying awake for days on end under harsh conditions, all while remaining alert. His body was used to it.

Cheng Wanying glanced at little Lu Yiyi, who was now fast asleep in the hospital bed, then turned to her eldest son. “Let’s eat together.”

“Alright.”

Last night, Lu Chen had brought them to the military hospital where he was stationed. After understanding the situation, he’d arranged for a private room for them.

The room was spacious and comfortable. There was even a small coffee table and two chairs, which mother and son now sat around to eat.

Cheng Wanying noticed that Lu Chen hadn’t touched the slices of meat in the dishes. She knew he was saving them for her. She picked up a few slices and placed them in his bowl. “If only Chengcheng were as sensible as you…”

Lu Chen understood what she meant immediately.

After a short pause, he asked, “How did Lu Cheng’s engagement come about in the first place? Is it something he absolutely must go through with?”

Lu Cheng had asked the same thing before.

But Lu Chen didn’t know the backstory.

“We must honor it,” Cheng Wanying said firmly. “Xu Nuo’s mother once saved both my life and Lu Cheng’s.”

Back then, after marrying Lu Huaizheng, she and her husband had been stationed in different places. Later, when he fell seriously ill and was on the verge of death, she received a telegram and rushed off with their second son, Lu Feng, taking a train westward.

The train station was overcrowded. She got shoved off the platform.

The train was barreling toward her, and she was pregnant with Lu Cheng at the time. If no one had pulled her up, she would’ve died.

It was a critical moment. The train was already frighteningly close. No one dared to take the risk to help her.

Just then, a slender woman stepped forward—quick and decisive. She reached out and yanked Cheng Wanying up with all her strength.

That’s how she was saved.

Later, when she reached the northwest and finally found Lu Huaizheng, she discovered she was too late. His condition had already improved, and he’d been reassigned to the south.

She sent a telegram to the family, but since she was already en route, she never received the reply.

When she returned to that same station, she was feeling unwell and showing signs of a miscarriage. Coincidentally, she ran into Yang Peiying again.

Yang Peiying took her home and nursed her back to health. That’s how the two women became friends.

For a couple of years, they kept in touch. When Lu Cheng was three, Yang Peiying gave birth to Xu Nuo.

The two kids were three years apart.

By the time Xu Nuo turned one, Cheng Wanying was finally permitted to live with her husband on base.

They had no idea when they’d see each other again.

At that time, Lu Cheng was very fond of Xu Nuo and often made her giggle. As mothers, the two women figured the kids got along well—so they arranged the engagement while they were still young.

Who would’ve thought Yang Peiying would die young? Xu Nuo was barely over two when tragedy struck.

Now, the daughter of her benefactor had arrived, still holding the engagement agreement. How could they, in good conscience, turn her away and break that promise?

Lu Chen finally understood the full story. The girl’s background was honestly quite tragic.

Otherwise, why would someone her age be sold off to a fool for marriage?

When she finished recounting the story, Cheng Wanying looked at her tall, handsome, and steady son and couldn’t help but ask more questions. “Chenchen, you’re not getting any younger. You’re twenty-seven now, right? It’s time you started thinking about settling down. Are there any suitable girls in the army? You should bring one home—”

Before she could finish, Lu Chen cut her off, “Mom, I’m not getting married. Please don’t worry about this.”

Cheng Wanying let out a long sigh. “Chenchen, forgive me for saying this again… but if your mother were still alive, she would’ve wanted to see you happily married.”

Lu Chen’s hand paused for a moment, but he said nothing.

In the past, she’d tried setting him up with girls. He always found some excuse to turn them down.

Eventually, he stopped even meeting them.

For the past couple of years, she’d stopped trying altogether. But now that Lu Cheng’s bride-to-be had shown up on their doorstep, she couldn’t help but think about Lu Chen’s marriage again.

It felt like unless she helped him get married, she’d be letting his late mother down.

Since the topic had already gone this far, Cheng Wanying decided to ask one more question directly: “Chenchen, I’ve heard some rumors going around… saying you’re not interested in women, that you don’t have any reaction to them.”

Lu Chen was drinking his soup when—pfft!—he spat it out in shock.

“Aiyo, aiyo!” Cheng Wanying hurried to take out her handkerchief to wipe him clean.

“Mom, please stop believing the gossip.”

Cheng Wanying was still waiting for an explanation, but after a long silence, none came.

She sighed deeply. Sigh…

Looks like this matter just isn’t going to work out.

After the meal, Lu Chen went to wash the lunchboxes, and just as Cheng Wanying finished tidying up the table, Lu Cheng arrived at the hospital room with Xu Nuo in tow.

Seeing that Xu Nuo was still wearing the same clothes from the day before—and looking down at her feet to see shoes with her toes sticking out—Cheng Wanying couldn’t help but feel a stab of sadness. Who knew how this girl had lived all these years?

Her biological mother was gone, and she’d grown up with her elderly grandmother. She must’ve suffered so much and endured countless hardships.

“Auntie Cheng, I’ll go check on Yiyi.”

Xu Nuo stepped forward and carefully examined the child. Seeing her breathing steady and lips a healthy red, she knew things had improved.

“She’s doing much better now. Don’t worry.”

“Good.”

“Good girl,” Cheng Wanying took her hand warmly and said, “There’s nothing urgent at the hospital right now. Since Lu Cheng is off these days, why don’t the two of you go out, walk around the streets, buy some clothes, eat something nice, maybe catch a movie?”

Lu Cheng, sprawled lazily on the sofa, immediately bristled at the thought of being told to take Xu Nuo out. He was strongly opposed.

“Mom, I’m not going. I don’t have time.”

“Nonsense!” Cheng Wanying scolded him with a frown. “No time? You’re on vacation—don’t think I don’t know that. Go. Take Nuonuo out for a bit.”

“My big brother’s on vacation too. Why don’t you let him take her?”

“Listen to yourself. What nonsense are you spouting? Nuonuo is your fiancée, not your brother’s!” She was about to let her son have it again but noticed Xu Nuo standing right there. It wouldn’t be proper.

So, she walked over to Lu Cheng and, when no one was looking, pinched him hard on the shoulder. “You going or not?”

Lu Cheng winced from the pain.

He was the type who was stubborn like a mule—the more you pulled, the more he dug in his heels. The harder you pushed, the more he backed away.

But seeing his mother’s exasperated face, he didn’t have the heart to say no outright.

His eyes spun as a plan popped into his head.

“Fine, I’ll go.” He stood up and turned to Xu Nuo, “Come on, let’s go on a date.”

Seeing her son finally agree, Cheng Wanying immediately switched to a smiling face. She gave Xu Nuo a gentle push. “Go on, go with him. That boy’s always known how to have fun—he’ll show you a good time.”

Xu Nuo had no other plans for now anyway. Since things at the hospital had settled, it wouldn’t hurt to take a little break. She could think about finding work later.

The two of them walked out one after the other. Just as they opened the door, they ran into Lu Chen returning with the clean lunchboxes.

“Bro, we’re heading out. I’ll leave Mom and Yiyi to you.”

“Going on a date?” Lu Chen asked casually.

“Yep!” Lu Cheng answered begrudgingly.

“Go ahead. Everything’s taken care of here.”

Lu Cheng nodded and stepped outside first.

As she passed by Lu Chen, Xu Nuo gave him a polite greeting, “Big Brother Lu, we’re heading out.”

That well-mannered and gentle look made her seem like a soft little white bunny.

But last night, when that “little white bunny” slapped someone across the face, she’d done it with swift and decisive force.

Lu Chen pressed his lips into a thin line and gave her a slight nod in return.

Lu Cheng had grown up in a military compound. Even though his father had tossed him into the army, he still carried some of that “spoiled rich kid” air.

Walking beside Xu Nuo, he felt a bit embarrassed.

Just look at those shoes—her toes are sticking out! What year is it? How can she be wearing clothes and shoes like that?

He walked ahead, thoughts spinning wildly.

“Yo, if it isn’t our Third Young Master Lu?” a mocking voice called out. He looked up and saw Lei Ming, one of the guys he’d grown up with in the compound.

“Come on, cut it out with the ‘Young Master’ stuff, alright? Watch your wording—I’m a soldier now, got it?” Lu Cheng corrected him.

“Okay, okay, fine, Captain Lu. But hey, what are you doing with this young lady?” Lei Ming teased. Then suddenly, something clicked. “Wait a minute—didn’t I hear that your family brought in some country girl who’s supposedly your childhood fiancée? Don’t tell me this is her? Wow, gotta admit—she might be a bit rustic, but she’s definitely easy on the eyes. Hi, I’m Lei Ming. What’s your name?”

Out of politeness, Xu Nuo was just about to introduce herself when—

Lu Cheng suddenly blurted out something that nearly made her jaw drop:

“What nonsense are you spouting? She’s not mine—she’s my brother’s!”