Chapter 294: Childhood
Lu Dongping asked Zhou Mingli to sit down and went to take a look in the kitchen. After confirming that his help was not needed, he turned back to the living room.
As soon as he joined, the atmosphere became harmonious.
The key is that Zhou Mingli and Lu Dongping now have common topics.
The follow-up to the missing child case that Lu Dongping had previously been involved in was taken over by Zhou Mingli's subordinates.
Coincidentally, Xu Qingming was able to get a few words in, because he also encountered such a group of people on the way to Cen'an City. Unfortunately, the platform was too chaotic at that time and he only caught two of them.
Because the human traffickers were caught at the station, several parties worked together to interrogate them, and finally they broke up their den that had been hiding in the crowd for more than 20 years.
It is said that all the fish have been caught in one fell swoop, but no one knows whether there are any fish that have slipped through the net.
The three of them were talking enthusiastically about this matter. If Wen Wan hadn't interrupted them by calling for dinner, they would probably have talked until dark.
Lu Chun'e helped put the meal on the table in the main hall, and then sat down with Wen Wan to eat quietly, without speaking or interrupting, and didn't even glance at Zhou Mingli.
She had tried her best to reduce her presence and keep her distance so clearly, but that gaze still fell on her from time to time, which made her feel very tormented. She felt that a meal usually took a long time, so why was this meal so slow? She should leave as soon as possible after eating!
Unfortunately, Zhou Mingli couldn't hear her inner voice, didn't understand her urgency. Even if he did, he wouldn't want to fulfill her wish now. Because when they were out, they hadn't really said anything, only half of it, and since returning, he hadn't found a chance to say a word to her.
It's really frustrating and it's killing me.
But he also knew that it was impossible today.
Having said this, without making things clear, he felt that Lu Chun'e already knew what he meant, otherwise she wouldn't have fled in panic. He couldn't act rashly from now on, but had to take it slow and steady.
Pursuing someone is like fighting a war; it requires strategy.
After dinner, Lu Dongping was going to night school, so Zhou Mingli went out with him.
Xu Qingming, however, stayed put, squatting on the steps beneath the tung tree. He plucked a piece of dogtail grass and swung it back and forth in his hands. "Each of these has an owner and a target. Tell me, should I really hurry up?"
Wen Wan stood at the door, glanced at him, and said, "Then why don't you hurry up and tell everyone to come and see! What's the point of just talking without action? Is there no one in your college who can catch your eye? Not in the Law School, and not in the entire Huada University?"
Xu Qingming looked at the sky in the west which was tinged with red clouds, and a figure suddenly flashed through his mind. He frowned and remained silent, which was rare for him.
Wen Wan sneered: "Why are you squatting there? Feeding mosquitoes? If you don't want to go back, come inside. You can sleep on the sofa tonight."
Xu Qingming stood up, rubbed his brow, and followed her into the house: "I don't have to go back. I rented a house outside. I'll go there later."
Wen Wan turned her head and looked at him: "When did it happen? Why haven't I heard you tell me about it?"
"Didn't I tell you? Oh, I forgot to tell you." As he spoke, he sat down on the sofa and said, "I'm not a child anymore. Naturally, I can't always stay with my parents. I have no freedom at all."
After saying that, he glanced at Lu Chun'e, who was leaning against the book in a daze. After a long pause, he was unable to speak. He stood up and said, "Let's go. I still have to go back and report to my father. I happen to be free these two days, so let's finalize this matter."
Wen Wan sent him outside, and Lu Chun'e was the only one left in the room.
Normally, she would have gotten up to see Xu Qingming off, but today she didn't move. She felt a bit upset and uncomfortable. She threw the book aside in frustration, leaned back on the sofa, and forced herself to suppress the inexplicable bitterness in her eyes.
It’s not that no one has confessed to her before, but at that time her heart was as hard as a rock. She had been working hard towards a goal, so there was no ripple in her heart.
But this time it's different.
She thought about Xu Qingming's attitude towards her again, and thought over and over again about what her sister-in-law had said before.
After thinking about it, I have to admit that those words make a lot of sense.
There are not so many perfect things in this world. The person you like just happens to like you.
But deep down, she couldn't let it go. After holding on to something for so many years, she didn't seem to have the courage to let it go. She knew that her one-sided love would never bear fruit, and they were not young anymore, so she couldn't waste time any longer. If they were not destined to spend their lives together, sooner or later, they would have to have their own lives and families. She thought about telling Xu Qingming her feelings, but she was afraid that if he knew her inappropriate thoughts about him, they would no longer be able to be friends, which would only cause awkwardness.
She mentally tried to push Xu Qingming aside, but then she started thinking, maybe this was an opportunity. Perhaps she could try dating Zhou Mingli. After all, he'd grown up with Xu Qingming and her sister-in-law, so they knew each other well. Perhaps by dating someone else, she could fall in love with him and move on from this unrequited love that hadn't led to anything.
Wen Wan sent Xu Qingming away and returned to the house, where she saw her sitting there rubbing her face hard with her hands, not even realizing it until it turned red.
Wen Wan sat down opposite her and said, "Chun'e, what's wrong with you?"
Lu Chun'e took a deep breath and even shivered.
"It just feels annoying."
Lu Chun'e opened her mouth, wanting to find someone to talk to, but she didn't know how to start, especially to her own sister-in-law. She couldn't just say directly: "Oh, I secretly like your brother, and have liked him for many years-" How shameless that would be.
Wen Wan didn't know what she was holding back so tightly. She coughed softly and said, "Yes, because of Zhou Mingli?"
"Ah?" Lu Chun'e raised her eyes and looked at her in shock.
Wen Wan laughed: "You were fine this morning, but after he came and went out for a walk, you became abnormal. What did he say to you?"
"He, he, he just--" He stammered and couldn't say anything.
Because she didn't know what to say. Zhou Mingli told her about his situation, and she ran away without waiting for him to finish. She knew what was going on, but it was another matter if he didn't say it out loud.
Wen Wan raised her eyebrows slightly: "He is interested in you and wants to pursue you?"
Lu Chun'e's face turned red, so red that it seemed like blood was about to drip out.
Wen Wan didn't continue talking, and changed the subject: "Let me tell you about my childhood!"
"I was born prematurely, and everyone in my family thought I was weak and fragile, like I'd be hard to raise. They worried I'd be hungry, cold, bumped, or hurt, so they never left my side. Even when I first started school, my grandmother and mother were worried. So, even though there were many children my age in the compound, I didn't have a single playmate. When I got home from school, I'd spend all day studying. Occasionally, I'd hear noises outside, and I'd just stand upstairs, open the window, and watch."
"Back then, the Xu family didn't live in the same place as ours. They lived in the old house, not too far from here. The Zhou family lived the same way, very close to the Xu family. Every time my mom took me back to the Xu family for a short stay, I was especially happy. Although I still couldn't go out and play with everyone, my seventh brother would always secretly take me out, and then he would get punished when he came back. But he only remembered the food and not the beatings. He would forget about it as soon as he turned around and continue to find ways to take me out again."
"That's when Zhou Mingli and I met."
"It seems like he bumped into me, causing me to fall flat on my butt. Then my seventh brother rushed over to fight him, but he didn't win. Zhou Mingli defeated my seventh brother, and then he came to his senses and wanted to apologize to me, but my seventh brother didn't give him a chance. He angrily dragged me away, and then Zhou Mingli followed behind, and we became familiar with each other after a while."
"He and my seventh brother have known each other since childhood, but like me, he has no friends. He is the youngest of five brothers. There is almost a ten-year age difference between him and his fourth brother. His mother was said to be quite old when he was born, and she died after giving birth to him. Therefore, his father didn't like him very much, and his brothers didn't like him either. He grew up with Old Man Zhou."
"A few years later, within two years of knowing me, his father fell ill and passed away."
"I've told you before that because of my grandfather and my eldest uncle, all the boys in the Xu family would be sent to the army for training when they reached a certain age. My seventh brother was no exception. When he was sixteen, he joined the army, and Zhou Mingli followed him. Later, my seventh brother came back, but he didn't. He stayed in the army, and we haven't seen each other for all these years. But before I went to the countryside, I occasionally heard adults talk about how hardworking and capable he was, how he kept making achievements, and how he was rising quickly. I didn't expect that after all these years, he would actually reach the rank of colonel, a position that many people can never reach in their lifetime."
"When I came back this time, I found that he had changed a lot. Before, he seldom talked to people and was gloomy. Few people liked him. I really didn't expect that he would change so much. He would take the initiative to say hello to people and joke with people. What I didn't expect was that--" She looked at Lu Chun'e and didn't continue.
What's more, I didn't expect that Zhou Mingli would fall in love with Lu Chun'e.
Love is a matter between two people. As a bystander, she can't say anything. She can only tell what she knows. How to get along with each other depends on Lu Chun'e herself.
Lu Chun'e spoke after a while: "Then, is the Zhou family like the Xu family, with particularly good family conditions?"
"The Zhou family, Old Master Zhou is also a veteran revolutionary, but he's a civilian and retired a long time ago. Zhou Mingli has several brothers, some in politics, some in education. I didn't visit them when I came back, so I don't know much about them. I only heard from my aunt. But, Chun'e, the Zhou family's financial situation doesn't affect you. Zhou Mingli's career is in the army, so he's not on the same path as them. The most important thing is that you understand that you are already excellent enough. You are a good girl, more than enough for Zhou Mingli."
"Family background and such have never been important. What matters is whether you want to spend your life with him."
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