Chapter 869 A Dream Lu Qingyang was discharged from the hospital and returned to the modern world, but his soul seemed to still be lost in the 1980s.
He picked up the phone next to him, which showed November 2024, the time he had traveled through time.
He even wondered if he had lost his mind.
I even consulted Dr. Miri.
Dr. Li gave him a thorough examination and told him, "You must have suffered a severe blow to the head and had a very long dream. The present is the real thing, and the others were all fake."
Lu Qingyang nodded thoughtfully, but Miri still didn't believe it.
On the day he was discharged from the hospital, his mother and younger brother Lu Zhitao came to pick him up.
"Brother, look how much weight you've lost after being in the hospital for so many days. We're having a feast at home to celebrate your discharge."
Lu Qingyang shook his head; he really couldn't adapt now.
The thought of his extended family members made him feel uneasy.
I returned from the hospital to my mother's small restaurant.
The restaurant deliberately closed today, and two large round tables were put together, filled with relatives who had come after hearing the news.
The air was filled with the lingering smell of cooking oil from the range hood, the various perfumes worn by relatives, and their overly enthusiastic concern.
Lu Qingyang was placed in the main seat and subjected to comprehensive scrutiny and condolences.
"Qingyang, you're truly blessed! You survived such a calamity, you're sure to have good fortune in the future!" Auntie's voice was loud and clear as she handed over a thick red envelope.
“That’s right, that’s right. You’d better walk carefully in the future. The quality of these things these days is hard to say.” Second Uncle chimed in, handing one over as well.
Lu Qingyang mechanically thanked him, and soon a stack of red envelopes appeared in his hand.
The conversation quickly and seamlessly shifted from his experience of being injured to a major event in his life.
His aunt sat down next to him, picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and put it in his bowl, looking him over and saying, "Qingyang, you see, this incident shows even more that things are unpredictable. You're over 10 now, and your job is stable. It's time to think about settling down. Living in this big city isn't such a big deal."
With the overly sweet braised pork still in his mouth, Lu Qingyang hadn't even swallowed yet when he mumbled a "hmm".
The aunt clearly took this as approval and immediately turned to her mother, who was busy pouring wine, raising her voice a notch: "Brother, sister-in-law, I think Qingyang has finally come to her senses. It just so happens that my colleague's niece, a college graduate, works as a primary school teacher with a permanent position. She has a quiet personality, her family is local, and her mother even has a pension. I mentioned Qingyang to the family, and they've seen her photo. They said they'd like to meet her!"
The mother's eyes lit up, and she quickly came closer: "Really? The teacher is great, very reliable, and will be good for the child's education in the future."
"Of course, why would I trick my own nephew?" The aunt said with a smug look on her face.
"I've already made plans with the Gye family this weekend. It's a new coffee shop near Gye Min Park. The atmosphere is nice. Cheong Yang, dress smartly and wear the light-colored shirt I bought you. It'll make you look younger."
Lu Qingyang was completely dumbfounded.
Braised pork is stuck in my throat; I can neither swallow it nor spit it out.
"I'll pass."
"Forget it, let's go see him. It's not like we'll lose anything."
Even after the event ended, the mother still confirmed the details of the blind date with her sister-in-law over the weekend.
Lu Qingyang walked to the restaurant entrance, looking at the cold, unfamiliar street with its neon lights. As the evening breeze blew, he unconsciously pulled his thin coat tighter around himself.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and saw a WeChat message from his aunt, with the location of a coffee shop and the message: "Don't forget, Saturday at noon, the girl's name is Li Ting."
He stared at the unfamiliar name and address for a long time, then twitched the corner of his mouth.
Lu Qingyang lay on the bed, wondering what would happen if he closed his eyes and opened them again, only to find himself back in the previous world.
I don't know how much time passed before my consciousness sank into darkness.
The next day, he was awakened by the sound of a power drill coming from some construction site near his window.
I opened my eyes, and there was still that same indifferent ceiling light.
The phone on the bedside table buzzed and vibrated, its screen lit up, showing an ordinary weekday morning in 2024.
Well, the last illusion has been shattered. Lu
Worse news followed.
His previous job at the Forestry Bureau was taken by someone with connections who was "more in need" of the position because he was hospitalized for a month.
The leader's tone on the phone was apologetic but brooked no negotiation: "Xiao Lu, you need time to recover, and the position doesn't wait... Let it go. The compensation will be given according to regulations, and if there are other opportunities in the bureau in the future, you will definitely be given priority!"
That's fine.
My career is at rock bottom, my savings are dwindling, and I still have to go on a blind date this weekend.
Be swift and decisive, even if it means destroying your own defenses. Make sure that within the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, you proactively, resolutely, and permanently block them from contact.
Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye.
Lu Qingyang pulled out the old T-shirt that was a little gray from washing, put on a pair of casual pants with slightly bulging knees, and wore a pair of sneakers with yellowed edges.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, which made him look like someone who could go straight to the entrance of the job market, he nodded in satisfaction and headed to the battlefield.
A newly opened cafe next to the Gimmin Park.
Lu Qingyang went inside and found a seat by the window.
The other party had arrived; it was indeed the quiet Ms. Li from the photo, wearing a light-colored dress, with a glass of water in front of her, but she hadn't ordered coffee.
"Hello, I am Lu Qingyang." He sat down, his voice flat.
Li Ting looked up and saw his attire. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it, giving a somewhat forced smile.
"Hello, Mr. Lu, I... I won't have coffee. Would you like something else to order?"
Lu Qingyang ordered a latte.
Following the procedure, Li Ting began to inquire about the work situation.
Lu Qingyang sighed: "Sigh, don't even mention it. My previous job, when I went back, there were no positions left. Now, I guess I'm in flexible employment. Jobs are hard to find, but my monthly mortgage payment is still the same."
Li Ting tightened her grip on the water glass, but remained silent.
Lu Qingyang pressed his advantage: "To be honest, I lost some money investing in a friend's business before and I'm in debt now, which I'm slowly paying off."
He thought, "This guy should be scared away by now, right?"
Li Ting pursed her lips, her gaze drifting towards the window, revealing little emotion.
Lu Qingyang was somewhat surprised; this defense was rather high.
He decided to take drastic measures, pointing to his head and saying in a heavier tone, "Well, after being hit on the head last time, this part... seems to be a bit fuzzy. Sometimes my memory is poor, and my reactions are slow. The doctor said that... there might be some aftereffects."
Finally, Li Ting responded.
She looked away and turned to Lu Qingyang, placing her hands on the table, appearing somewhat nervous.
Lu Qingyang picked up the latte that had just been delivered, intending to finish it and leave.
Just then, Li Ting seemed to have finally made up her mind: "Actually... Mr. Lu, I... I don't really mind what you've said."
"Pfft—!" Lu Qingyang almost spat out his coffee, forcing it down and coughing violently.
You don't mind? You don't mind being in debt, unemployed, or even having a mental disability?
What's up with this girl?
He coughed so hard that tears came to his eyes, and it took him a while to catch his breath.
Li Ting felt even more embarrassed under his gaze, and lowered her head even further: "I...I don't mind that I'm pregnant, I'm six months along."
"..."
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