Chapter 87.2

The train arrived the next morning, and Jiang Nian, still groggy, was led off the train by Lu Yu holding her hand.

Zhu Jun wasn’t aware of their arrival today. Lu Yu first took Jiang Nian to a state-run restaurant for breakfast, then headed to the hospital. They intended to ask a nurse about Zhang Xiao’s ward room, but they ran into Zhu Jun carrying a large green bag at the hospital entrance. It had been six months since they last met, and Zhu Jun looked more mature, with a stubble on his chin.

Seeing Lu Yu and Jiang Nian, Zhu Jun was stunned, unable to believe they were suddenly in front of him. Lu Yu broke the silence first, “Don’t you recognize us?”

“Commander Lu, sister-in-law!”

Zhu Jun ran over excitedly, his eyes welling up. Lu Yu frowned slightly and scoffed, “Why are you crying? A grown man shouldn’t cry. Put those tears away.”

Zhu Jun wiped his eyes, saying, “I’m just happy. We haven’t seen each other for half a year.”

Jiang Nian asked, “How’s Zhang Xiao? Has she given birth?”

Zhu Jun smiled, “Yes, she gave birth to a baby boy the day before yesterday, weighing six pounds and eight ounces.”

Lu Yu smiled, “Congratulations on your son’s birth.”

Zhu Jun grinned, glancing at Lu Yu and Jiang Nian holding hands. He was momentarily stunned but didn’t ask any questions. He just said, “Commander Lu, sister-in-law, let me take you upstairs.”

Jiang Nian watched Zhu Jun’s back, then looked up at Lu Yu. He squeezed her fingers, leading her into the hospital. Zhang Xiao was in a ward on the second floor. Jiang Nian remembered this floor vividly because of the terrifying experience she had in the restroom one night. She tightened her grip on Lu Yu’s hand, only letting go when they reached the ward.

Zhu Jun pushed open the ward door and said to Zhang Xiao inside, “Guess who’s here?”

There were two beds in the ward, each occupied by a woman who had just given birth. Zhang Xiao was on the bed near the door, her hair a bit messy and her face pale. The newborn lay beside her, resting against the wall. Hearing Zhu Jun’s words, she paused, “Sister Chen?”

Zhu Jun chuckled, “No.”

Zhang Xiao guessed again, “Sister Lu and Sister Zhai?”

Zhu Jun couldn’t help but laugh, “Still no.”

Seeing that no one was speaking in the ward, Jiang Nian stepped in and smiled at Zhang Xiao on the bed, “Why didn’t you guess it was me?”

“Sister Jiang!”

Zhang Xiao’s eyes widened with excitement, and she was about to sit up when Zhu Jun pressed her down, “You just gave birth. Try not to move too much.”

“Yes, try not to move.”

Jiang Nian stood by the bed, noticing Zhang Xiao’s face was rounder than half a year ago, indicating that Zhu Jun had taken good care of her. She glanced at the baby, who looked very small, having been born only two days ago. The baby was sleeping soundly, and Jiang Nian didn’t dare to get too close, fearing she might wake the baby with her heavy breathing.

Zhang Xiao held Jiang Nian’s hand and said coquettishly, “Sister Jiang, I’ve missed you so much. You finally came. You have no idea how lonely I’ve been without you for more than half a year.”

Zhu Jun: …

He glanced at Zhang Xiao, smiling, “Haven’t I been here with you?”

Zhang Xiao replied, “It’s not the same. You’re no match for Sister Jiang.”

Zhu Jun: …

Jiang Nian laughed, “Well, I’m here now. How are you feeling? Are you still uncomfortable?”

Zhang Xiao shook her head, “I’m fine. I can eat and sleep just like before.” Then, seeing Lu Yu walk in, she greeted him happily, “Commander Lu.”

Lu Yu nodded and glanced at the baby on the bed.

The baby was very small, with a head about the size of his fist.

He stepped lightly, placing the things at the foot of the bed. Jiang Nian saw this and opened the bag, taking out some clothes for the baby and handing them to Zhang Xiao. She spoke softly to avoid waking the baby, “I made two sets of clothes for the baby. If the size isn’t right, I can adjust them.”

The clothes weren’t the old-fashioned style common at the time but had a modern, stylish look. Zhang Xiao glanced at them and was delighted. The women on the other beds also noticed, and their eyes lit up. One of the women in the middle bed said, “You have such skillful hands. These clothes look really beautiful.”

Such styles weren’t available here, and even in other places, they might not be found in department stores.

Jiang Nian smiled, “Thank you.”

Lu Yu and Zhu Jun chatted about other matters while Jiang Nian showed Zhang Xiao the local specialties she brought. Finally, she made a cup of malted milk for Zhang Xiao, who drank the warm, sweet beverage happily.

Jiang Nian asked, “Is it just the two of you?”

It was Zhu Jun and Zhang Xiao’s first time being parents, and they might not know what to do in case of any issues. Before Zhang Xiao could understand, Zhu Jun responded first, “My mother is coming tonight. She will help take care of Xiaoxiao during her postpartum recovery.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “That’s good. Having an elder to teach you how to take care of the baby is much better than being clueless yourselves.”

Zhu Jun went home to get the small bedding and clothes Zhang Xiao made. Before his mother arrived, Jiang Nian stayed at the hospital to help Zhang Xiao. Around noon, Lu Xiaoqing and Zhai Peipei came over with chicken soup they had prepared in the dormitory. As soon as they entered the ward, they saw Jiang Nian sitting by the bed. Lu Xiaoqing reacted first, “Jiang Nian, when did you get here?”

Jiang Nian stood up and smiled, “I just arrived this morning.”

Zhai Peipei looked at Jiang Nian and laughed, “We haven’t seen each other for half a year, and you look different.”

Lu Xiaoqing said, “Your face looks more radiant than before.”

Jiang Nian: …

They hadn’t said much, but Jiang Nian still felt her face flush.

She touched her cheeks and laughed, “Really?”

Zhang Xiao said, “Yes, I thought you looked different when I first saw you too.”

Jiang Nian: ???

Zhai Peipei, who knew how to take care of babies, picked up the baby when it started crying and soothed it. Then she said to Zhang Xiao, “Feed the baby a little milk; the baby is hungry.”

Zhu Jun instinctively asked, “Do you need my help?”

Zhang Xiao’s cheeks flushed, and she glared at him without saying a word. Zhai Peipei couldn’t help but laugh, “No need, you can wait outside.”

Lu Yu went out first, waiting in the hallway. Zhu Jun followed, closing the ward door behind him and standing next to Lu Yu. With just the two of them there, Zhu Jun asked softly, “Commander Lu, you and sister-in-law…” He paused, unsure how to continue.

Lu Yu said, “We got married. It’s been almost half a year now.”

Zhu Jun was stunned, turning quickly to look at Lu Yu. He remembered the last time he and Song Bai went to Yuan City to find Commander Lu. They had dinner at the Red Star Hotel, and even then, Commander Lu and his sister-in-law didn’t seem like brother and sister-in-law but more like a couple.

It seemed they were already together back then.

Commander Lu and his sister-in-law weren’t blood-related, so there was nothing improper about their relationship.

Zhu Jun felt a bit unsettled and said to Lu Yu, “Commander Lu, that’s not fair. You got married without telling Zhang Xiao and me. Even if Zhang Xiao was pregnant and couldn’t come, I could have taken a few days off to attend.”

Lu Yu patted Zhu Jun’s shoulder, “Sorry, we were just focused on getting married then.”

Zhu Jun: …

He asked Lu Yu, “Do you plan to tell Commander Tang and the others about it now that you’re back?”

Lu Yu replied, “Yes, we’re going to invite a few old friends for dinner and let them know about Jiang Nian and me.”

Zhu Jun nodded, “Alright.”

He wasn’t too surprised by Commander Lu and his sister-in-law being together since there were already signs before. Now that Commander Lu confirmed their marriage, Zhu Jun recalled earlier events. It seemed that during the New Year and their visit to Commander Song’s house in Dongshi City, Commander Lu’s care for his sister-in-law was already beyond what a younger brother-in-law would do.

Zhu Jun felt that Commander Lu had hidden it well, only revealing it now.