Chapter 21: “If he’s not happy, I won’t be happy either!”

“It’s still too easy on them.”

As Lu Hanchuan’s cold voice rang out, Su Zhiyi gently patted his arm.

“Alright now, getting angry over people like that isn’t worth it.

But really, poor Vice Commander Wu, ending up with a mother and a wife like those two—neither of them is the least bit considerate.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she was immediately echoed by Mother Lu.

“Sigh, isn’t that the truth. Xiao Wu is such a good child.”

The days passed quietly and peacefully once again.

Today was the day the national college entrance exam results were released. The Lu family had gathered early in the morning, all sitting quietly in the living room, their faces filled with nervous anticipation as they waited for Su Zhiyi and Lu Hanchuan to return.

Before long, they heard a click—the sound of the door opening.

Then came Su Zhiyi’s cheerful and excited voice.

“Grandpa Lu! Grandma Lu! Uncle Lu! Aunt Lu! We’re back!”

Upon hearing her, everyone instinctively turned to look toward the doorway.

The first to come in was Su Zhiyi, her eyes crinkled in a bright smile.

Following behind her was Lu Hanchuan, whose perpetually expressionless, icy face now bore a faint smile.

Upon seeing them, everyone finally relaxed.

Grandma Lu gently held Su Zhiyi’s small hand.

“Just look at that happy little face. You must’ve done well.”

No sooner had Grandma Lu spoken than Lu Hanchuan’s voice, brimming with pride, followed:

“Zhizhi scored 382 points!”

As he spoke, a look of pride appeared on his face—as if he were the one who had achieved the high score.

Mother Lu exclaimed: “Aiyoo! Zhizhi, well done! Our Lu family has produced a second university student!”

Grandma Lu laughed heartily: “Hahahaha! This is such wonderful news! Sun, make lots of delicious and nutritious food today! Our Zhi-girl needs to be properly rewarded!”

“Aye! Right away! I’ll get started!”

And with that, Nanny Sun joyfully went off to prepare lunch.

Just then, Lu Hanchuan spoke again.

“Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad—I’ve already applied to end my leave from the military. I’ll be reporting back to base the day after tomorrow.”

Upon hearing that, Grandfather Lu nodded in approval, his face full of comfort.

“Good. It’s about time you returned to the military.”

At this, Mother Lu turned serious as she looked at him.

“Xiao Chuan, now that you have Zhizhi, you absolutely must not keep acting recklessly like before!”

Grandma Lu turned toward Father Lu as well.

“Zhen Nan, see if there’s a suitable opportunity to get Xiao Chuan transferred back to Yuncheng.”

Both Grandfather Lu and Father Lu nodded in agreement at her words.

Then Father Lu turned to his cold and stoic eldest son.

“Xiao Chuan, what are your thoughts on this?”

Before he could even open his mouth to answer, Su Zhiyi—seated right beside him—spoke up.

“Uncle Lu, that won’t be necessary.”

As soon as she said that, everyone turned their eyes toward her.

Su Zhiyi gave a gentle smile. “Even though Lu Hanchuan told me that he’d like to be transferred back to Yuncheng… I know it’s only because of me that he even considered coming back from Dongshi.”

“But the truth is, I know he’s really reluctant to leave his post. He doesn’t actually want to come back to Yuncheng at all.”

“Zhizhi…” Lu Hanchuan softly called out her name, his face full of indulgent affection at the sound of her tender voice.

Su Zhiyi turned to look at him with a sweet smile, then shifted her gaze back to Grandfather Lu, Grandma Lu, Father Lu, and Mother Lu.

“I know everyone wants what’s best for me. That’s why you’re hoping he’ll be transferred back from Dongshi.”

“But if he really did come back, Lu Hanchuan wouldn’t truly be happy.”

“And if he’s not happy, then I won’t be happy either.”

“So rather than that, why don’t I go to Dongshi? That way, he won’t have to leave the army he loves, and we won’t have to be apart. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Upon hearing this, the members of the Lu family couldn’t help but feel even more tenderness toward Su Zhiyi.

Soon after, the family happily finished their lunch together.

Just as Su Zhiyi put down her chopsticks and dabbed her lips clean, she was suddenly pulled up by Lu Hanchuan, who led her straight toward his room.

The rest of the family could only watch their backs with amused, doting smiles.

Seeing how strong the relationship between the two of them was, the Lu family felt genuinely happy.

On the other side, Su Zhiyi had only just stepped into the room—

When the next second, she was abruptly pinned between the scorching heat of Lu Hanchuan’s chest and the hard surface of the door behind her.

At the hollow of her neck, she felt the searing heat of his breath.

Su Zhiyi’s cheeks flushed bright red at once. “Lu Hanchuan, what’s gotten into you?”

But her question was answered not with words, but with a fierce and fervent kiss.

His lips first fell on the delicate skin of her slender neck, then traced upward, nibbling lightly until they reached her sweet, soft lips.

The next moment, he forcefully pried open her mouth, plunging in to claim the sweetness inside without restraint.

The kiss grew more and more heated, and as passion swelled, Lu Hanchuan’s calloused palm—unable to control itself—slid under the hem of Su Zhiyi’s shirt.

As his large hand brushed gently across her waist, Su Zhiyi couldn’t help but tremble slightly, unaccustomed to the intimate sensation.

Feeling the faint tremble of the girl in his arms, Lu Hanchuan reluctantly nestled his head into the crook of Su Zhiyi’s neck.

A deep and husky voice murmured: “Zhizhi, I love you.”

Upon hearing that, Su Zhiyi gave a sweet smile. “Mm, I know. Lu Hanchuan, I love you too.”

Hearing those words of love from the girl he cherished most, the emotions that had barely been suppressed within Lu Hanchuan surged up once again with renewed intensity.

At that moment, the depths of his eyes were filled with a fierce possessiveness.

As the arms around her waist tightened even more, Su Zhiyi shifted slightly in discomfort.

Just then, a muffled groan, filled with restraint, sounded beside her ear.

“Zhi-bao, don’t move. Just let me hold you for a while. Just for a little while.”

As soon as he said this, the arms encircling her waist relaxed just a bit.

At that moment, Su Zhiyi could only hold him quietly, her eyes brimming with tears.

Zhi-bao—what an old, long-forgotten name. So old that it made Su Zhiyi’s heart clench tightly with pain.

The next morning, Mother Lu saw the two still reluctant to part and couldn’t help but shake her head with a laugh.

“Xiao Chuan, since Zhizhi still has two months before school starts, why don’t you take her with you to the base for a while?”

“Really?!” Before Mother Lu had even finished her sentence, Su Zhiyi raised her little head with excitement written all over her face.

She turned to the man beside her—Lu Hanchuan, who was currently gazing at her with a smile in his eyes.

“Well? Can I or not?” Seeing him only smile and not reply, Su Zhiyi grew anxious and asked again.

Looking at the eager young girl before him, Lu Hanchuan let out a soft sigh.

“You can, but… Zhizhi, the conditions at the base are—”

“I’m not afraid at all! Please, take me with you, won’t you?”

Faced with Su Zhiyi’s pleading expression, Lu Hanchuan’s heart softened in an instant.

At that moment, Mother Lu chimed in supportively.

“Zhizhi will have to live there sooner or later anyway. This time she can just take it as a chance to get familiar with life there ahead of time.”

Grandma Lu nodded kindly, then turned toward her eldest grandson.

“Xiao Chuan, once you get to Dongshi, you must take good care of Zhi-girl.

If you let her suffer even the slightest grievance—just wait, this old lady will beat you when you get back.”

Lu Hanchuan responded with a faint smile.

“Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll take good care of Zhizhi.”

Grandfather Lu added with a grin: “Old woman, just rest easy. That rascal won’t give you the chance to hit him.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the living room rang out with cheerful laughter.

Soon after, Grandma Lu and Mother Lu happily set about preparing all the daily necessities that Su Zhiyi would need.