Chapter 244 Naming

Lu Rang walked over, squatted down to be at eye level with Shang Wu, and gently flicked her nose with his finger, his tone carrying a hint of teasing and confusion.

"Why do you seem to have even more worries now that you're pregnant? And you've even learned to tattle on things to Sister You right away?"

Shang Wu put down her phone, grasped Lu Rang's hand, her eyes sparkling with a serious expression.

"I'm not tattling, I'm helping them,"

"Help them?" Lu Rang raised an eyebrow.

“That’s right,” Shang Wu analyzed logically. “Although Sister You chose Mr. Fu, I don’t think she has completely let go of Cheng Zhou. She’s just disgusted by the Cheng family. I’m telling her that Cheng Zhou is going to a blind date for an arranged marriage so that she can see her own heart more clearly.”

Shang Wu paused, her eyes turning cunning.

"If she hears this news and has no reaction, or even sincerely wishes you well, it means that she has truly let go and is planning to start a serious relationship with Mr. Fu. In that case, I will sincerely wish her well."

"But if..."

Shang Wu drawled, "After hearing that, she panicked, felt upset, and even regretted it. That means Cheng Zhou's importance in her heart is much greater than she thought, so she has to make a choice quickly."

Mr. Fu, should he follow his heart and go back to tackle that tough nut of Cheng Zhou, or continue to choose his comfort zone?

No matter what choice she makes, at least it's a decision made after she's understood her own heart, so she won't regret it later.

Lu Rang couldn't help but chuckle as he listened to her long analysis, and reached out to pull her into his arms.

"When did you become a relationship expert? Your analysis is so insightful!"

Shang Wu leaned against his warm chest and hummed.

"I call this the perspective of an outsider. Besides, Sister You is so good to me, so of course I hope she can find true happiness, rather than choosing someone to settle for just because she's afraid of trouble."

"Okay, okay, you're right." Lu Rang kissed her forehead. "But right now, what you should be most concerned about isn't other people's happiness, but your own and the baby's health. Let them deal with all this messy stuff themselves, okay?"

"Okay!" Shang Wu replied verbally, but in her heart she was still pondering Lu You's reaction just now.

On the other end of the phone, Lu You stared blankly at the computer screen for a long time after hanging up.

The dense data on the screen seemed to have all been transformed into the words "marriage alliance".

She suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the office, her mind in turmoil.

Cheng Zhou is going on a political marriage? So soon?

A strange sense of irritability and loss welled up uncontrollably in Lu You's heart.

She forced herself to calm down and told herself that this was the best outcome.

But deep down, a small voice was questioning it.

Is it really the best?

A few days later, in an elegant Western restaurant.

Cheng Zhou sat by the window, opposite Miss Zhao, a woman from a similar family background and with impeccable manners, who was his marriage partner.

Miss Zhao was clearly very satisfied with Cheng Zhou, her words filled with obvious appreciation and initiative, frequently initiating conversations with a gentle smile.

Cheng Zhou seemed somewhat absent-minded, his eyes darting around, and his responses were merely polite replies.

He absentmindedly poked at the steak on his plate with his knife and fork, his appetite wane, Shang Wu's words echoing repeatedly in his mind.

Cheng Zhou felt that all of this was tedious and boring, like completing a tiring task.

Seeing his expression, Miss Zhao's smile gradually faded.

She put down her knife and fork, sighed softly, her voice still gentle, but tinged with a hint of disappointment.

"Mr. Cheng, is there something I'm not good enough that makes you find me so boring?"

Cheng Zhou snapped back to reality, and seeing the hurt look in the other person's eyes, a pang of guilt swept through his heart.

He rubbed his temples, deciding not to force himself to continue this charade, and said frankly, "Miss Zhao, you are very good, beautiful, elegant, and from a good family. You are the ideal partner for many people. The problem lies with me."

He gave a wry smile, a smile tinged with self-mockery: "I have someone I like, but she doesn't like me back, so I really don't feel like starting a new relationship right now. I came here today because of family pressure. I'm sorry to have taken up your time."

He thought that this frankness would immediately scare the other party away, and might even earn him a scolding.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Miss Zhao was not angry at all; instead, a hint of surprise and appreciation flashed in her eyes.

She picked up her wine glass again, swirled it gently, and looked at Cheng Zhou with more sincerity: "Mr. Cheng, thank you for being so honest. To be honest, this is the first time I've met someone as direct as you on a blind date. Compared to those who are good at playing both sides, I admire your kind more."

She paused, then her tone became more proactive and firm.

"Since it's all arranged by our families, and neither of us dislikes it, why don't we try getting to know each other? We won't talk about marriage, just consider it making more friends and appeasing our families. Maybe after spending more time together, Mr. Cheng will find that I'm not so bad after all, and he'll be able to let go of the past?"

Cheng Zhou was stunned; he hadn't expected the other party to make such a suggestion.

Looking into Miss Zhao's sincere yet expectant eyes, and then thinking of the endless pressure at home, a sense of despair welled up inside him.

Let's give it a try.

Perhaps being busy and having someone to accompany you will help you forget your worries.

He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded, his voice a little hoarse: "Then let's give it a try."

A bright smile immediately bloomed on Miss Zhao's face.

"It's a deal! There's a concert tomorrow night, and I have tickets. Want to go together?"

"good."

After dinner, Cheng Zhou got up and escorted Miss Zhao home.

The two walked side by side to the restaurant entrance, and Cheng Zhou habitually opened the glass door for her.

Just then, another couple walked towards the restaurant entrance, chatting and laughing.

Cheng Zhou subconsciously looked up, and his gaze instantly met a pair of familiar eyes.

Lu You was holding Fu Mingyuan's arm, a slight smile on her face, seemingly discussing what to eat for dinner.

When her gaze met Cheng Zhou's, the smile on her face froze instantly, and a clear look of surprise and panic flashed in her eyes.

Cheng Zhou almost reflexively looked away immediately, as if he hadn't seen her at all.

He turned to Miss Zhao beside him and whispered, "The car is over there, let's go."

Cheng Zhou even deliberately softened his tone, appearing exceptionally considerate.

Miss Zhao glanced at him with some surprise, then looked at the equally stunned couple at the door. Seemingly understanding, she nodded understandingly and followed him quickly away.

Fu Mingyuan had witnessed the entire scene. He looked at Cheng Zhou's almost fleeing figure, then looked down at Lu You, and understood.

He smiled gently, his tone unreadable: "It seems Young Master Cheng is getting to know new people too, quite quickly."

Lu You snapped back to reality, her heart still pounding wildly.

She forced herself to suppress the inexplicable surge of bitterness and suffocation, and forced a stiff smile.

"Yes, that's good. I wish him all the best."

After saying that, she almost impatiently pulled Fu Mingyuan along.

"Let's go inside quickly, I'm hungry."

Fu Mingyuan gave her a deep look, said nothing more, and considerately escorted her into the restaurant.

at the same time.

Inside the villa.

Shang Wu was sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet in the study, with Xuan paper spread out in front of him and a brush in his hand. He was seriously dipping the brush in ink and writing something.

The handwriting was crooked and uneven, but the ink blots were blurred in a rather artistic way.

Lu Rang finished his work and walked in. Seeing her serious expression, he couldn't help but smile and approach her.

"What are you writing? Why are you working so hard?"

When Shang Wu heard his voice, she was startled and hurriedly tried to cover the Xuan paper with the book next to her, her face turning bright red.

"It's nothing, just writing something down. I'm helping the baby name, it's a secret, you're not allowed to see it!"

Lu Rang found her utterly adorable, seeing her trying so hard to hide something.

He teased her deliberately, stretching out his long arm to snatch it: "Naming? Let me see what good names you've come up with? Lu Dabao? Lu Xiaobao?"

"Hey, don't look! Go away, go away!"

Shang Wu laughed and dodged, tightly protecting the Xuan paper in her arms.

"I haven't decided yet! I'll tell you as soon as I do!"

As the two were laughing and joking, Shang Wu's phone screen lit up with a short message from Lu You: "Met you."

Shang Wu picked up her phone and glanced at it. The smile on her face faded slightly, and she sighed softly.

Lu Rang noticed her expression and pulled her and the paper into his arms.

"You're worrying about things again? You're busier than the neighborhood committee director these days."

Shang Wu leaned against him, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt, and muttered softly.

"I just hope everyone is doing well."

"I know you mean well."

Lu Rang kissed her. "But when it comes to matters of the heart, outsiders can't rush things. Just like us, didn't we go through so much before we got together? Give them some time and space, let them handle it themselves."

Shang Wu thought about it and agreed, nodding to temporarily suppress her turbulent thoughts.

Lu Rang paused for a moment, then said, "Speaking of which, of course you should name the child. You can name him however you want, whatever you want to call him. There's no need to hide anything or feel pressured."

His tone became more serious as he promised, "And, if you wish, the child can take your surname."

Shang Wu suddenly raised her head, looking at Lu Rang in disbelief: "Take my surname?"

"Mmm." Lu Rang lowered his head and gently wiped away the moisture from the corner of her eyes with his fingertips, his gaze gentle yet firm.

"You've worked so hard. This is our child, and the precious child you risked your life to bring into this world. It's only natural that he/she takes your surname."

Shang Wu couldn't say anything, she just hugged him tightly, buried her face in his warm embrace, and tried to calm her surging emotions.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, her eyes still red, but shining brightly.

"So I'm really getting up?"

"Get up," Lu Rang encouraged her with a smile, his eyes full of anticipation.

Shang Wu took a deep breath and tentatively asked in a low voice, "I'd like to name it Shang Yu, whether it's a boy or a girl, is that okay?"

“Shang Yu?” Lu Rang repeated the name.

"Um."

Shang Wu nodded, somewhat embarrassed.

“Because you come from the Yu family, and your mother’s surname is also Yu, I want the child’s name to carry the imprint of you and your family, so that it’s as if we have truly merged together.”

Her voice trailed off as she spoke, worried that her idea might be wishful thinking or touch upon some of Lu Rang's complex emotions.

However, Lu Rang remained silent.

He gazed intently at her, his eyes churning with intense emotion, which visibly reddened.

He turned his head away. "It sounds nice. You decide."

Shang Wu's heart melted completely.

She knew he was crying.

Shang Wu didn't expose him; she simply hugged him silently, pressing her cheek against his broad back.

Just then, Shang Wu's phone rang, breaking the silence of the room.