When the two entered, the sizzling sound of cooking came from the kitchen. Lu Huaizheng exchanged a glance with Yu Hao, then led her over.

Lu Xin was facing away from them, spatula in hand, wearing an apron. Her back looked thin and small, somewhat different from what Yu Hao had imagined, yet somehow exactly as she should be—a fragile woman who easily aroused men’s protective instincts.

As Lu Xin turned to reach for ingredients, she caught sight of the two standing at the kitchen door from the corner of her eye. She instinctively looked up, still not fully composed, her eyes red and swollen with traces of tears. She hurriedly wiped them, turned her head away, and pretended to focus on cooking, saying in a muffled voice, “You’re here.”

Lu Huaizheng glanced at Yu Hao, then leaned against the doorframe. “Fought with Huo Ting?”

Lu Xin didn’t turn around. “Can’t you properly call him Uncle?”

Lu Huaizheng had a fear of the term “uncle.” Years ago, when he first came to Huo Ting’s house, Lu Xin had asked Lu Huaizheng to call him uncle, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it because it reminded him of that previous man. Lu Xin didn’t understand his thoughts, but Huo Ting later noticed and told him that if it was difficult, he could just call him by name, that he didn’t mind. And so it had continued all these years.

Calling him “Uncle Huo” or “Mr. Huo” would sound strange. Besides, Huo Ting had never treated him like a child. Compared to an aunt-nephew relationship, the two interacted more like buddies.

Lu Huaizheng lowered his head with a smile. “Won’t you turn around to look at my wife?”

Lu Xin was in a desperate situation. She had just had a big fight with Huo Ting and was hiding in the kitchen to cry privately, and now she had to deal with her nephew’s teasing. With her eyes so swollen, how could she greet the girl?

Knowing that Lu Xin would rather find a hole to crawl into right now, Lu Huaizheng stopped teasing her and led Yu Hao back to their room.

Lu Huaizheng pushed the suitcase to the door. Yu Hao looked around the room full of masculine energy. It wasn’t exactly messy, but since no one had lived there for so long, things were rather cluttered. At the bottom of the bookshelf by the door were two basketballs, both deflated. The remaining shelves were filled with various books covering an impressive range of subjects that astonished Yu Hao: military history, science, and many foreign language originals… even books like “Jane Eyre” were not translations.

“Have you read all these books?”

Lu Huaizheng’s gaze scanned the bookshelf. “Most of them.”

Yu Hao also loved reading, but she preferred literary classics with strong narratives, like “Jane Eyre.” She couldn’t get into popular science readings, and Lu Huaizheng’s bookshelf was full of them—almost entirely popular science books.

“May I look through these books?”

For her husband’s sake, she decided to give them a try.

“Feel free.” Then Lu Huaizheng added, “This is our home now. Whatever you want to take or use, you don’t need my permission. Before the military housing comes through, if you find it inconvenient to live here, we can buy another house.”

“What about your previous apartment?”

“It’s a bit far from your workplace, and besides, it’s too small—only fifty square meters. We won’t be able to live there after we have children.”

“But why… why did you buy such a small place?”

“I bought it casually when I was at military school, just a bachelor pad.” Lu Huaizheng went in and opened the wardrobe, clearing half of it for her. He grabbed several black jackets and tossed them onto the bed, turning to her, “You unpack first? I’ll go to the study. If there’s not enough space, just take my things out. I’ll buy a bigger one another day.”

Yu Hao was both shocked and envious.

Tsk, tsk, look at that—excellent people are always working harder than you. Her husband could buy his apartment while still in college, while all her years of work had made no substantial progress in savings. She had even once fallen into a financial deficit just to buy a handbag.

“You’re something.”

“You bet. Back then, I scrimped and saved to put together twenty thousand yuan. Add the few million from Grandpa, and with a deep breath and firm resolve, I made the purchase.”

“…”

Lu Huaizheng smiled and stroked her head, done teasing her. “If you’re tired, take a rest. I’ll come back later to help you unpack.”

Yu Hao suddenly hooked her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the lips.

Lu Huaizheng held her waist, pulling her into his arms. He took control, stealing a deep kiss. “Happy?”

“Happy.” Yu Hao kissed him back, murmuring, “I’m happy just being with you. Just thinking that I’ll see you after work makes me happy. Senior Zhao says I’m too blissfully content, and I tell her I am. Right now, I don’t want to do anything but be with you.”

“You’re that dependent on me?”

“Mm.”

Lu Huaizheng held the back of her head, his lips gradually moving to her ear. He pulled her closer against himself, gently nuzzling her cheek, his hot breath gradually quickening. “You’re making me blissfully content too.”

“What?” Yu Hao didn’t understand.

In the next moment, Lu Huaizheng held her waist with one hand and lifted her onto the desk. Then with a sweep of his hand, he pushed all the mess on the desk to one corner, clearing space in the middle. Yu Hao realized what was happening and nervously tried to push him away, but he had already pressed close. He glanced at his watch and pretended to be eager as he kissed her neck, saying, “Half an hour, I’ll be quick.”

Yu Hao was exasperated. Her small hands pushed against him with little strength, more like tickling than resistance. Lu Huaizheng didn’t budge, standing straight against the desk, looking down at her leisurely yet provocatively. “The more you push me, the more excited I get.”

His eyes had reddened. No, no, he was transforming.

Those eyes, deep and sharp like a wolf’s, fixed on her. Yu Hao didn’t dare move, didn’t dare push him away. She cautiously raised her eyelids to steal a glance at him. There was no escape, so she could only blush and make a small request: “Can we eat first? Let’s eat first.”

There was a strange, exciting sense of illicit passion.

Lu Huaizheng had only meant to tease her, and besides, the door wasn’t even closed—he wouldn’t do anything. But now, her little glances made his thoughts wander. He stroked her head very politely and accepted this absurd suggestion with shameless delight, wagging his metaphorical wolf tail, smiling uncontrollably: “Good idea.”

Lu Huaizheng barely ate dinner, hastily taking a few bites before putting down his chopsticks. Then he leaned back in his chair lazily, urging Yu Hao with his gaze to eat faster. Yu Hao ignored him, keeping her head down and eating slowly, deliberately chewing.

At first, Lu Huaizheng was patient, but when he realized Yu Hao was deliberately stalling, he became slightly displeased. Under the table, he nudged Yu Hao’s foot with his own. Yu Hao withdrew her foot but still said nothing, continuing to sip her soup slowly, her eyes looking everywhere but at him.

Lu Huaizheng lowered his head and pushed up the corner of his lips with a smile. Deliberate, isn’t she?

The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat strange. Lu Xin wasn’t speaking to Huo Ting, and Yu Hao wasn’t speaking to Lu Huaizheng. After Yu Hao had two consecutive bowls of chicken soup, Lu Xin brought out the entire pot from the kitchen. “If you like it, have more. Take your time, there’s no rush.”

“Okay.” Yu Hao obediently handed over her empty bowl. “Thank you, Aunt.”

Just as she finished speaking, Lu Huaizheng, who was talking with Huo Ting, interrupted. The man leaned back in his chair, tapped the table, and reminded her, “Eat less at dinner, it’s not easy to digest.”

When Lu Xin heard this, she was stunned and asked Yu Hao, “Does he always boss you around like this?”

Yu Hao held her rice bowl, nodding hurriedly, looking pitifully helpless.

“Does he also supervise you when you run?”

Lu Xin knew Lu Huaizheng too well. Yu Hao’s heart melted, and she nearly burst into tears. Family! Finally, she had found a normal person!

Her expression couldn’t have been more pitiful.

Once on this topic, Lu Xin became unstoppable, speaking with deep feelings. Having been under Huo Ting’s control for all these years, she had finally found an outlet for her frustrations. It was like a dam breaking. Meeting Yu Hao was like meeting a fellow villager in a foreign country—two teary-eyed compatriots!

“These two are just like that—self-satisfied, tyrannical, and overbearing, without any consideration for others’ feelings. They commit all sorts of atrocities under the banner of ‘it’s for your good’!”

The two men exchanged glances, knowing Lu Xin was using this opportunity to vent about her situation.

Lu Huaizheng laughed. “Scold your husband if you want, but leave me out of it. I haven’t done any of those things you mentioned.”

Lu Xin glared at him. “You even control how much chicken soup someone drinks. What would you call yourself if not a slave driver?!”

“That’s a personal attack.” Lu Huaizheng reminded her lazily, arms crossed.

Lu Xin glared at him without speaking. Huo Ting finally spoke up, putting down his chopsticks. “Look, Lu Xin, explain to me—’atrocities’? Isn’t that term a bit excessive?”

Lu Xin’s face was cold. “You want to kill my child.”

This bombshell shocked both Lu Huaizheng and Yu Hao.

Lu Huaizheng instinctively looked at Huo Ting, who also had a cold expression. “With your health condition, what child are you talking about? Haven’t you seen your medical report from last year? It’s as thick as a dictionary! Is it appropriate for you to have a child?”

Lu Xin wasn’t actually that fixated on having children. She had polycystic ovary syndrome, which made conception difficult. After two marriages, she had never gotten pregnant. Her ex-husband was a drunkard who repeatedly beat and scolded her for being unable to bear children. Eventually, she couldn’t take it anymore and divorced him, taking Lu Huaizheng with her.

She hadn’t planned to remarry, placing all her hopes on Lu Huaizheng, until she met Huo Ting.

She was twenty-nine when she met Huo Ting, who was thirty-one. She had thought her heart was still, yet she found herself falling for a man. The emotions felt like an oasis to someone who had been wandering in the desert for years.

His infatuation with her left Lu Xin at a loss. Twenty-nine, divorced, with an eight-year-old child—Lu Xin never believed Huo Ting could fall in love with her. In this relationship, she was cautious, treading on thin ice, afraid that one misstep would trigger a mine and shatter her dream.

Unexpectedly, this man proved step by step through his actions that he truly loved her, not caring about her broken, disfigured past, not caring whether she was perfect.

She thought marrying Huo Ting was the happiest thing in her life. She had no other wishes—having Huo Ting and Lu Huaizheng, who was like her own son, including how Huo Ting treated Lu Huaizheng—she saw it all.

The day she discovered she was pregnant, Lu Xin was in a complete daze. She felt as though heaven had dropped a pie on her. She hadn’t expected that life could be even happier beyond happiness. Manager Ding said it was a blessing that came from Huo Ting and her having a kind heart and treating others well.

Of course, a man like Huo Ting wouldn’t understand this. He probably didn’t believe in ghosts or gods; otherwise, why would there be sayings like “good people don’t live long, while calamities last for a thousand years”? How could God, being so busy, take care of everyone? He thought it was just a matter of scientific probability; he truly believed a child wasn’t a necessary outcome. Lu Xin’s poor health, including all the risks facing older pregnant women, had all been explained to him by their private doctor.

Huo Ting had watched a documentary about maternity cases overnight. One of them was an older mother who had a severe hemorrhage. That mother was very strong-willed, had her entire blood supply replaced seven times, and still managed to pull through. But Lu Xin’s physical condition was too poor; he didn’t believe she could endure it.

However, Lu Xin felt this child was hard to come by. Since it chose to come at this time, it was a gift from heaven. Even at the risk of her life, she wanted to try, and she believed she could persevere.

When Huo Ting heard about risking her life, he became furious. It seemed she cared nothing for him now that she was having a child.

Manager Ding said that the maternal instinct a woman feels when she learns she’s pregnant is something men can’t understand.

Huo Ting was so angry that he said some harsh words. Lu Xin had been angry ever since and insisted on having the child.

The meal ended halfway in an unpleasant atmosphere.

Lu Huaizheng took Yu Hao back to their room. After this scene, he wasn’t in the mood to fool around with her anymore. He put her on the bed and went to the balcony to smoke. The balcony was open-air, surrounded by white magnolia trees, with imposing Chinese scholar trees standing tall in the darkness beyond.

He had one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette, leaning on the railing, tall and straight-backed.

Something soft pressed against him from behind, and slender arms wrapped around his waist.

Lu Huaizheng’s spine tingled, the sensation instantly traveling to the top of his head. Using the cigarette to mask it, he took a slight breath, lowering his head to examine her jade-like hands, so delicate and fragile they seemed like they might break at a touch.

“You’re too thin,” he remarked, restraining himself.

Yu Hao tightened her arms around his waist. “I just have a small frame without much flesh. I’m not that thin—I weigh 92 jin.”

He snorted. “Still lighter than one of my weight bags.”

Yu Hao rested her head against his back. “Then don’t carry weight bags anymore. Just carry me.”

He smiled and took a drag from his cigarette. Then he heard Yu Hao ask softly from behind, “Are we still doing it?”

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito, but it made his blood surge, and even his exhalation of smoke was lingering and affectionate. He glanced back at her, then calmly turned his gaze back to the small forest in the distance, deliberately teasing her. “Now you’re thinking about it? Why were you avoiding it earlier? If I hadn’t reminded you, were you planning to finish that chicken soup before coming upstairs?”

Yu Hao forcefully turned him around to face her, then nestled in his arms, finding a comfortable position. “Your aunt and uncle were there just now. The way you were looking at me, if I had hurriedly finished eating and gone upstairs… people would have thought too much, okay?”

Lu Huaizheng put out his cigarette, stubbing it in the ashtray. He leaned casually against the railing, lowering his head to poke her nose teasingly. “So what if they thought too much? We’re legally married, not having an affair. Not just us—even at their age, they’re the same. Where else would the child come from?”

Yu Hao hit him, annoyed. “How can you say such things? Not even sparing your aunt and uncle.”

Lu Huaizheng held her and threw his head back in hearty laughter. “I used to often hear them ‘doing business.'”

Yu Hao hit him hard again. “You’re still saying it!?”

As he laughed, Lu Huaizheng lowered his head to kiss her. The moment their lips met, Yu Hao trembled slightly. Lu Huaizheng’s kiss was very light; these gentle touches made her sensitively tremble—it was maddening.

Lu Huaizheng knew her too well. He turned, pressing her against the railing, his hands on either side, surrounding her. He lowered his head to kiss her again and again. Yu Hao couldn’t bear this teasing kind of kissing; her whole body felt electrified. She could hardly stand, her legs weakening, her breathing rapid as she leaned against his chest, her hands lightly pushing against him, softly calling his name: “Lu Huaizheng…”

Lu Huaizheng, playing with her, looked down at her leisurely, his expression hovering between smiling and not. He kissed her here, pecked her there, occasionally propping himself up to gaze at her deeply and carefully, his eyes looking at her like a treasure.

Hearing Yu Hao call his name breathlessly, he kissed her and casually responded, “Yes.”

Yu Hao’s mind was in chaos, her heart surging, as if inhabited by hundreds of little deer. She could barely catch her breath, yet saw him still looking at her with that half-smile. After three seconds of eye contact, unexpectedly, he suddenly lowered his head and captured her lips in a deep kiss.

He was completely at ease—an experienced master of seduction.

Yu Hao’s mind exploded, her reason submerged. Her hands, no longer under her control, hooked around his neck. Lu Huaizheng, holding her lips, smiled and said in a husky voice, “One kiss and you react. How can you be so sensitive?”

“You—you, shut up!”

“I—I won’t shut up!” Another voice, laced with laughter, whispered in her ear.

Yu Hao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This man was simply too much, even mimicking the way she spoke.

…

Late at night, Lu Huaizheng, dressed, came out of the room. Huo Ting was standing at the front door in a suit, smoking.

Lu Huaizheng changed his shoes and went out, standing beside him. “Is Aunt still angry?”

Huo Ting smoked and sighed softly, “Still angry.”

In this matter, Lu Huaizheng had no position to advise; both had their reasons. Privately, he leaned a bit more toward his aunt. Having a child was his aunt’s long-standing wish, he knew. No one could use any reason, including love, to deprive her of the right to be a mother. He couldn’t advise his aunt to give up this child, nor could he advise Huo Ting to give up his aunt.

Huo Ting rarely smiled. “Do you think I’m being selfish? Depriving her of the right to be a mother so I don’t lose her.”

Lu Huaizheng said, “I can only say, if I were you, and Yu Hao was in Aunt’s situation, I would do the same. It’s not selfishness.”

The two walked toward the garage as they talked.

Huo Ting tossed the keys to Lu Huaizheng and got into the passenger seat. Lu Huaizheng opened the driver’s door, and the two men, with tacit understanding, got into the car quietly.

“Is Yu Hao asleep?” Huo Ting adjusted the rearview mirror.

Lu Huaizheng started the car and turned the steering wheel. “I finally got her to sleep. Let’s be quick about this. I’m afraid she’ll wake up in the middle of the night, and get nervous if she doesn’t see me.”

Huo Ting lit a cigarette, looking sideways out the window, tossing the lighter back into the storage compartment. Abruptly, he said, “Your profession is terrifying enough. I didn’t dare tell your aunt about you being bitten last time. If she knew, she probably wouldn’t sleep at night from worry.”

Lu Huaizheng half-pressed the brake, slowly rolling out of the garage. He didn’t turn on the headlights, navigating in the pitch-black garden. “Then don’t tell her. I don’t think it’s a big deal. If I hadn’t been with Yu Hao at that time, I truly wouldn’t have found it scary at all.”

The hot blood running in Lu Huaizheng’s veins was something Huo Ting couldn’t feel, but he did admire this kid. Over the years, only two people had evoked such emotions in him: one was Lu Huaizheng, and the other was old Mr. Yu from back then.

Lu Huaizheng dared not rev the engine, afraid of waking the two inside. He didn’t even put the car in gear, nor did he press the accelerator or brake, rolling at a leisurely 2m/s through their villa garden, making the majestic Bentley drive with the momentum of a Chery QQ. When they rolled to the main gate and onto the main road,

He held nothing back, suddenly flooring the accelerator, unexpectedly, like an arrow leaving a bow, directly merging onto the main road. Then all the way speeding, like an unbridled wild horse, on the quiet, dark suburban roads, leaving a trail of dust.

Halfway through the drive, Huo Ting suddenly asked, “I see you probably have no interest in returning to work at the company?”

Lu Huaizheng immediately understood. “What, you want to give De’an to me?”

Huo Ting gave a faint “mm.” “I originally thought you’d serve as a soldier for a few years, then come back. I had planned to arrange for you to join the company when you returned. Who knew you’d progress to where you are now, nearly losing your life in the process? I guess you’ve really taken to this profession and probably have no interest in business anymore?”

Lu Huaizheng smiled noncommittally, gripping the steering wheel, and looking back at him. “I’m used to being in the military and have no interest in going elsewhere. Even if I transition out in the future, I plan to stay in the service. Having grown accustomed to holding a gun, if you ask me to pick up a pen, even the calluses on my hands would disagree. You and Aunt could have a child.”

“Mm.” Huo Ting suddenly agreed. “I’ll think about it a bit more. This child may have come at quite an opportune time.”

Lu Huaizheng, driving, turned to give him a deep look upon hearing this.

The magnificent Bentley slowly stopped at the S University gate. The campus entrance was quiet, with large trees standing silently. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

The two didn’t get out of the car, each leaning out of their open doors, one foot on the ground outside, bodies resting against the seats, lighting cigarettes to smoke slowly.

“Are you sure he’s a student here?” Lu Huaizheng leaned back in his seat, looking out through the windshield.

Huo Ting was half sprawled on the car window. “The information is reliable. I had someone check. This kid is a fanatic follower of that Di-whatever. Many people at S University know he’s obsessed with that woman. His entire dorm room is plastered with her posters. He studies chemistry with psychology as a second major. A typical shut-in. Every Friday, he stays at the internet cafe next door until midnight, then returns to his dorm. Due to his extreme personality, he has few friends.”

One-thirty.

Yu Hao woke up thirsty. Going downstairs in the dark to get water, she encountered someone sitting on the sofa. Startled—this was her first time staying in this big villa—she was nearly scared out of her wits. Suddenly, she heard Lu Xin’s voice, “Yu Hao?”

“Aunt?”

The light came on, and Yu Hao, uncomfortable, shielded her eyes. Through blurry vision, she saw a small, thin figure sitting on the sofa.

“You’re not asleep yet?” Lu Xin was wearing dark green silk pajamas, sitting properly on the sofa.

“I’m getting some water.”

Lu Xin nodded. “Next time, let Huaizheng come down. You’re not familiar with the light switches here, you might fall.”

Yu Hao had woken up to find Lu Huaizheng gone. She thought he might be in Huo Ting’s study and had wanted to call him, but not knowing where the study was, she had come down herself. With sleepy eyes, she said, “He’s not in the room.”

Lu Xin was startled. “He’s not here either?”

The two women exchanged sharp glances. “Is Uncle not here either?”

“No.”

Yu Hao didn’t think much of it; they probably went out for something. “Why don’t you go to bed first? Staying up late isn’t good when you’re pregnant.”

But Lu Xin didn’t move, sitting there unblinkingly. “Huo Ting has been acting suspicious lately.”

“What?”

Although Yu Hao hadn’t interacted much with Huo Ting, from what Lu Huaizheng had told her, he didn’t seem like someone who would be unfaithful. “Are you sure you’re not misunderstanding?”

Lu Xin said, “I went to his company the other day and heard two female employees gossiping about him. Recently, he went on a business trip with a female executive from his company, something he didn’t tell me about. I trust him completely, but I don’t understand why he would hide even this from me. Just now, he received a call and left.”

Lu Xin was truly heartbroken, her voice choking. Yu Hao hurriedly comforted her. “I’ll stay here with you to wait for them to return. Don’t be upset. I think it must be a misunderstanding.”

Two-thirty.

The sound of the door rustling came from the hall. The two women inside exchanged glances, alert, sitting upright, hearts racing nervously, even their scalps tensing.

“Click.” The door opened.

And simultaneously, “Click.” The lights came on.

The living room was brightly lit. The two men were startled by the sudden light. Looking up, they saw their wives sitting on the sofa like two statues, straight-backed and expressionless, staring intently at them.

Seeing the shocked expressions of the two men,

Yu Hao initially wanted to laugh, but seeing Lu Xin’s stern face, she didn’t dare. She could only suppress her smile and look seriously at Lu Huaizheng.