Chapter 123: His First Love

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: His First Love

"I came to see a friend. My friend, Shao Zhaochun, lives in room 216 on the second floor." Xu Rongrong couldn’t help but pout in disappointment upon hearing that Qi Hao wasn’t around.

However, she was more curious about why Xiao Deng was here.

"Xiao Deng, why aren’t you by Brother Qi’s side helping him? What are you doing at a school?"

"I’m helping the Battalion Commander’s wife get registered for school," Xiao Deng explained, then took the opportunity to introduce them.

"Miss Xu, this is Comrade Su Wan. She’s Battalion Commander Lu’s wife."

"Battalion Commander Lu? Which Battalion Commander Lu?" Xu Rongrong’s expression changed in an instant. She shot a glance at Su Wan, then glared menacingly at Xiao Deng, demanding an immediate answer.

Su Wan furrowed her brow and took two steps back with Aunt Zhao. Aunt Zhao also found the young woman’s attitude aggressive. ’She looks like trouble,’ she thought. ’She might get violent at any second. Better to keep our distance.’

Xiao Deng was taken aback for a moment. "Miss Xu, it’s Battalion Commander Lu Zhengchuan."

"Lu Zhengchuan! When did he get married? He actually got married?!" Xu Rongrong’s voice grew shrill on the last few words.

Aunt Zhao couldn’t help but dig at her ear, watching Xu Rongrong with even more caution.

Xiao Deng looked a bit awkward. "Is something wrong?"

"Heh." Xu Rongrong sneered and suddenly turned to Su Wan. The unabated fury in her eyes fell upon Su Wan’s abdomen, and her brow furrowed instantly. "Is the bastard in her stomach Lu Zhengchuan’s?"

Even someone as slow on the uptake as Xiao Deng belatedly realized something was wrong.

"Miss Xu, she is a pregnant woman, and she is Battalion Commander Lu’s wife. I hope you will show her some respect."

Su Wan’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. She was naturally furious at what Xu Rongrong had called her unborn child—it was her treasure, not some bastard. But this woman’s status seemed extraordinary; her family background was likely on par with Qi Hao’s.

Su Wan and Su Jue exchanged a look.

"Third Brother, let’s go up to the dorm room." Su Wan chose to avoid the confrontation. Right now, nothing was more important than the child in her belly.

There was nothing to be gained from arguing with someone as obviously petty as Xu Rongrong.

"Okay." Su Jue’s desire to become stronger grew more intense.

He didn’t actually have many material desires, but reality had taught him that without money or power, it was difficult to even protect his own family.

"Stop right there! Who said you could leave?" Xu Rongrong barked, moving to block Su Wan’s path.

Xiao Deng immediately stepped forward, shielding Su Wan.

His protective stance instantly infuriated Xu Rongrong. Her narrow eyes slanted upward. "Xiao Deng, what is the meaning of this? Are you afraid I’m going to get physical?"

"Miss Xu, please don’t make things difficult for me. If Battalion Commander Qi were to find out you were harassing her, he would be furious. Are you sure you want to make him angry?" Xiao Deng didn’t dare let anything happen to Su Wan, so he could only use Qi Hao’s name to warn Xu Rongrong.

Xu Rongrong choked on her words, a storm of anger trapped in her chest with no release. She resentfully reached out and tried to shove Xiao Deng aside.

But Xiao Deng didn’t budge an inch, letting her tug and pull at his clothes.

"Your name is Su Wan, isn’t it?" Xu Rongrong stopped, panting. Her follower, Zhang Chunhua, rushed to support her, glaring at Su Wan with righteous indignation.

"Miss Xu, you..." Xiao Deng had just started to speak when Xu Rongrong cut him off.

Xu Rongrong arrogantly lifted her eyelids and shot him a cold glance. "Xiao Deng, you’re just Brother Qi’s guard. I only want to have a few words with Comrade Su Wan. What? Is she some priceless treasure that I can’t even speak to?"

"Well..." Xiao Deng was naturally at a loss for words.

He could only turn back and give Su Wan an apologetic look.

Su Wan placed a hand on her stomach and looked up at her. "And what is it that Miss Xu wants to say to me?"

"Su Wan, I bet you didn’t know this, but I dated Lu Zhengchuan." Xu Rongrong crossed her arms, her voice dripping with superiority.

Su Wan’s pupils contracted. "Impossible," she said instinctively.

She wasn’t the same person she was at the beginning, when she knew nothing about Lu Zhengchuan.

"Zheng Chuan went on blind dates with other women, but it’s common for those not to work out. Miss Xu, perhaps that was the nature of your relationship?" Su Wan’s words were tactful.

Xu Rongrong lifted her chin. "Do you think that’s likely?"

"I knew him when he first came to the military academy. He was only eighteen then, a talented young man in his prime. Later on, thanks to Brother Qi, we often ate together outside the academy. We were dating. Even if you ask him yourself, Lu Zhengchuan wouldn’t dare deny that we were together during that time."

"And do you know why?" Xu Rongrong asked, drawing out her words with confidence.

Su Wan saw through her ploy and had no intention of playing along.

"I have other things to do, so I can’t stay and chat."

"Are you scared to listen? Because of my status, if he dared to deny it, he would be openly offending my father and my grandfather."

Su Wan’s lips thinned. She didn’t show the reaction Xu Rongrong was hoping for. Her expression was calm. "Even if that were true, it was before he married me. That’s perfectly normal."

"Oh? Is that so? Then aren’t you curious why he didn’t marry me, but chose you instead?"

Xu Rongrong’s lips curled as she dropped another bombshell.

"Why?" Su Wan knew Xu Rongrong wouldn’t let her leave unless she cooperated.

"Because he thought I was too willful. He doted on me for half a year, but in the end, we had a falling out because I threw a tantrum and tried to stop him from going on a mission, which almost affected his graduation."

"Back then, I was stubborn too. I felt I wasn’t in the wrong and couldn’t be the one to back down. So after we broke up, I never looked for him again. Who would have thought that just two years later, he’d be married with a child that’s already a few months along."

As Xu Rongrong said this, her gaze fell on Su Wan’s belly, and her eyes instantly reddened with what seemed to be a mix of grievance and anger.

Su Wan’s head was buzzing. She swayed slightly, leaning imperceptibly against Aunt Zhao so no one would notice.

She never thought hearing about Lu Zhengchuan’s past relationships would make her heart ache so much, her nose sting with the urge to cry. Her mind was filled with images of a helpless Lu Zhengchuan indulging Xu Rongrong’s whims.

"But he’s married now. Miss Xu, you also come from a high-ranking family. I’m sure you will find your own happiness." Su Wan pressed her thin lips together, trying her best to appear calm and unfazed.

Not seeing the heartbroken reaction she wanted, Xu Rongrong felt indignant. She stared at her pointedly. "Comrade Su, of course I wouldn’t do anything illicit. Since Lu Zhengchuan is married to you, I won’t say anything more."

"It’s just... the old memories are hard to forget. When I have time, I’ll be sure to pay you a visit." Xu Rongrong said this with confidence. "I remember he used to love drinking Da Feitian. It’s a shame that because he’s a soldier, he could only have a sip on his days off, and never too much."

Su Wan didn’t want to hear any more.

She didn’t want to hear about how happy, how romantic, or how deep Lu Zhengchuan and Xu Rongrong’s relationship was.

"Miss Xu, Zheng Chuan has quit drinking now. I’m afraid we won’t be able to entertain you with alcohol if you visit."