Chapter 84.3

The next morning, when Jiang Nian woke up, Lu Yu had already left. He had prepared breakfast, keeping it warm in the pot. Just as Jiang Nian finished washing up and was about to have breakfast, Yue Qiao came and knocked on the door, asking her if she wanted to go see Guan Lu, as she hadn’t come back all night.

Jiang Nian agreed. “Sure.”

After breakfast, she and Yue Qiao went to the health center. The doctor there said Deputy Commander Luo had taken Guan Lu to the county hospital that morning. So they hurried to the county hospital, which was part of the military district and much better equipped than the health center.

It took over half an hour to walk from the military base to the county hospital. They found the ward on the second floor after inquiring with a nurse. Guan Lu lay on the bed, looking pale, while Deputy Commander Luo sat beside her, watching the nurse administer an IV.

“Lu Lu, how are you feeling?” 

Yue Qiao asked as she entered. Guan Lu turned her head and smiled weakly at them. “I feel better. Why are you here?”

“We were worried about you,” Yue Qiao said.

Jiang Nian asked, “Is the baby okay?”

Guan Lu held her stomach. “The doctor said the baby is in a delicate state. I need to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation.”

Deputy Commander Luo looked tired from lack of rest. Yue Qiao said, “You should go back and rest. Jiang Nian and I will stay with her. Luo Xiaoyue needs someone at home.”

Deputy Commander Luo, looking fatigued, rubbed his face and said to Yue Qiao, “Then I’ll leave Lu Lu in your care. Thank you.” He then turned to Jiang Nian. “Thank you.”

Jiang Nian smiled. “It’s no problem.”

After Deputy Commander Luo left, Jiang Nian and Yue Qiao stayed with Guan Lu. Yue Qiao asked for details about the previous night and learned that Luo Xiaoyue had been upset since hearing about Guan Lu’s pregnancy. She had drawn a scary red face on paper and cut out eyeholes, scaring Guan Lu as she came out of the bathroom.

Guan Lu was frightened, causing instability in her pregnancy. In pain, she was taken to the health center by Deputy Commander Luo, and the rest was known.

When Deputy Commander Luo returned home, Luo Xiaoyue hadn’t gone to school yet. He entered to find her sitting on a stool, eyes red from crying. Seeing him, she immediately jumped up and hugged him, crying, “Daddy, I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. I won’t scare Auntie Guan again.”

Deputy Commander Luo sighed, patting her head. “Have you had breakfast?”

Luo Xiaoyue shook her head. Deputy Commander Luo said, “I’ll make you some breakfast. Eat before going to school.”

He gently released her and went to the kitchen. Luo Xiaoyue sat on the stool, watching his back, coldly wiping away her tears.

“Yueyue.”

Luo Xiaoyue hiccupped, looking toward the kitchen. “Daddy, what is it?”

After a pause, Deputy Commander Luo said, “Auntie Guan has had a hard time and has suffered a lot with me. The baby she’s carrying is your sibling. I don’t expect you to call her Mom, but at least treat her as an elder.”

Luo Xiaoyue watched him busy in the kitchen, a cold smile appearing before she spoke sweetly, “I’ve always treated her as an elder, Daddy. I’ve never argued with Auntie Guan.”

Deputy Commander Luo paused in his chopping, saying no more.

After breakfast, Luo Xiaoyue went to school, and Deputy Commander Luo went to the food station, bought a chicken, and made soup. He brought lunch to the county hospital at noon, also bringing lunch for Jiang Nian and Yue Qiao.

Guan Lu needed to stay in the hospital for a week for observation. Over the next few days, Yue Qiao often called Jiang Nian to visit Guan Lu together. Guan Lu’s complexion improved significantly. When Deputy Commander Luo came at noon, Yue Qiao and Jiang Nian would leave the hospital.

As they walked past People’s Street, heading back to the army base, they spotted Luo Xiaoyue with a school bag. Yue Qiao stopped, grabbing Jiang Nian’s arm. “Shouldn’t she be at home for lunch? Why is she out here?”

Jiang Nian glanced over, feeling an intuition that Luo Xiaoyue sneaked out behind Deputy Commander Luo’s back.

Yue Qiao suggested, “Let’s follow her. Maybe her mother is up to something again.”

They followed Luo Xiaoyue to a park near a small river, hiding behind a tree stump. They watched Luo Xiaoyue run up to a middle-aged woman, grab her hand, and start to complain.

Though they were far away, the quiet riverbank allowed them to hear snippets of Luo Xiaoyue’s voice. She was talking about how badly Guan Lu treated her and how Deputy Commander Luo favored Guan Lu, both of them are bullying her. Jiang Nian’s brows furrowed deeply. 

The more she listened, the more displeased she became. Yue Qiao couldn’t take it any longer, rolling up her sleeves and preparing to confront them, but Jiang Nian held her back.

Yue Qiao turned, frustrated. “Why are you stopping me? That girl is lying through her teeth!”

Jiang Nian whispered, “Wait a bit.”

Seeing Yue Qiao still agitated, Jiang Nian added, “Let’s see if they plan anything against Guan Lu. If we confront them now, they’ll be on guard against us in the future.”

Yue Qiao reluctantly agreed. “Alright, let’s see what they plan.”

After a while, Luo Xiaoyue stopped talking. The woman took her hand and sat on a nearby bench. Jiang Nian quietly crept closer to hide behind a thick tree trunk, barely catching snippets of the woman’s words. She heard the woman tell Luo Xiaoyue to come back tomorrow, promising to bring something for her.

The conversation mostly revolved around how Guan Lu had ruined their family, leading to Luo Chengyi’s divorce and subsequent marriage to Guan Lu.

Jiang Nian: …

Luo Chengyi had divorced his ex-wife years before meeting Guan Lu. No wonder Luo Xiaoyue was so misguided. Her mother filled her head with lies.

After the mother and daughter parted ways, Jiang Nian and Yue Qiao stayed hidden until they were out of sight. Then they regrouped. Yue Qiao eagerly asked, “What did they say?”

Jiang Nian replied, “The woman told Luo Xiaoyue to come back tomorrow to get something.”

Yue Qiao scoffed, “Fine, I’ll come tomorrow and see for myself!”

Unaware of being followed, Luo Xiaoyue and Jiang Nian returned to the family apartment separately. Jiang Nian observed Luo Xiaoyue smiling and greeting military wives along the way, showing none of the malice and deceit she had displayed earlier with her mother.

On the way back, Yue Qiao shared more about Luo Xiaoyue’s mother. Her name was Li Pandi, indicating her family’s preference for boys. Deputy Commander Luo was only a captain when they married, introduced through a matchmaker connected to Captain Lei. This connection meant Yue Qiao knew more about Li Pandi than He Yue did.

People said Li Pandi was constantly suspicious, accusing any woman who spoke to Deputy Commander Luo of seducing him. This led to the gradual breakdown of their marriage. However, the main reason for their divorce was that Li Pandi had an affair in the village, which Deputy Commander Luo discovered. He kept it quiet to save face.

This revelation came from her husband, Captain Lei, who let it slip when he was drunk.

Jiang Nian glanced at Luo Xiaoyue entering the building, a suspicion forming in her mind.

Yue Qiao noticed Jiang Nian’s silence and nudged her. “What are you thinking?”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “Nothing.”

Lu Yu was busy these days, rarely home for lunch and returning late at night.

One night, half-asleep, Jiang Nian felt the bed sink as Lu Yu lay down. Instinctively, she turned and snuggled into his arms, her hand resting on his abs. She continued sleeping soundly. Lu Yu chuckled softly, kissed her cheek, and held her close.

The next morning, Lu Yu left before dawn, leaving breakfast warm in the pot. After eating, Jiang Nian and Yue Qiao went to the county hospital to see Guan Lu, whose condition had significantly improved. The doctor said she could likely be discharged the next day. Near noon, they went to the park by the small river, waiting for Luo Xiaoyue and Li Pandi.

After a while, Luo Xiaoyue arrived, and shortly after, so did Li Pandi. They talked briefly before Li Pandi took something from her bag and slipped it into Luo Xiaoyue’s schoolbag, whispering instructions.

Yue Qiao’s brow furrowed, eyes fixed on the pair. “Did you hear what they said?”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “Their voices were too low.”

From Li Pandi’s secretive behavior, Jiang Nian had a hunch it was something harmful, likely targeting Guan Lu. Yue Qiao had the same thought. After Luo Xiaoyue left, Yue Qiao hurried to follow her.

Jiang Nian wanted to wait and inform Guan Lu and Deputy Commander Luo, to keep Luo Xiaoyue under surveillance. But Yue Qiao’s temper flared, and she broke free from Jiang Nian’s grasp, rushing to confront Luo Xiaoyue.

Jiang Nian: …