Chapter 65: Feeling the Pain

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Feeling the Pain

He couldn’t help but feel a little nervous as he said this.

"...Really?" Su Wan looked up, pleasantly surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Are you happy about it?" Lu Zhengchuan asked, his lips pursed.

"I am." Su Wan nodded, a faint smile gracing her beautiful face. "I really was worried something would happen to you. I don’t want our child to be fatherless before they’re even born."

"I can accept a long-distance relationship and seeing you less." Su Wan glanced at him. "But I need you to stay alive."

The corners of Lu Zhengchuan’s mouth curved up slightly. His resolve to make this decision grew even firmer. His voice was low and magnetic. "Okay. I understand."

Su Wan nodded, satisfied. ’At least this shows that Lu Zhengchuan is responsible,’ she thought. ’He’s willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our child.’

However...

Su Wan thought of the research project and decided to give him a heads-up. "A batch of better mine detectors should be coming out for the military soon. I’m not sure what kind of arrangements the army will make for this."

"New mine detectors?" Hearing this, Lu Zhengchuan instinctively replied, "Impossible. There hasn’t been much progress on mine detector research in the military right now."

"..." Hearing how certain he was, Su Wan couldn’t help but look up at him. "Do you think I would lie to you?"

"This has nothing to do with whether you’re lying or not." Lu Zhengchuan shook his head, his expression serious. "I’ve been following the research on mine detectors closely. It concerns the safety of many soldiers, and even the outcome of battles. As far as I know, Dean Xu and his team haven’t received any foreign technical support."

"...Oh." Su Wan opened her mouth but decided not to continue the topic. Saying more would feel like showing off, and she wasn’t in the habit of bragging, so she simply said nothing.

When Liu Lang was carried out after having his wounds dressed, he was fully conscious and naturally saw the two people sitting outside.

"...Battalion Commander Lu, Sister-in-law," Liu Lang mumbled.

Su Wan took the initiative to ask, "Lieutenant Liu, are your injuries serious?"

Liu Lang froze for a moment, seemingly surprised that she would ask about him.

He forced a smile. "I’m fine. It’s not serious."

"Lieutenant Liu, stop putting on a brave face," Doctor Qi interjected, rolling his eyes. His exasperation was plain to see. "Your leg needs to be treated at the provincial military hospital. Otherwise, you could end up with a permanent disability, and you might not even be able to stay in the army on the front lines. You soldiers just don’t take care of your bodies. By the time something really goes wrong, it’ll be too late for regrets."

Liu Lang’s face paled. He lowered his eyes, his expression strained. "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Doctor Qi."

Su Wan hadn’t expected his injuries to be so severe. Still, she spoke up, stating the facts plainly. "Lieutenant Liu, Zheng Zhizhi came to the base today. She deliberately tried to push me and was taken away by Squad Leader He from the research institute."

"She came because your marriage application wasn’t approved."

Liu Lang’s pupils constricted. A flash of disgust crossed his eyes before his expression returned to normal.

"I see. Thank you for telling me, Sister-in-law. I’m sorry. She did something wrong, and I won’t cover for her." Liu Lang took the initiative to apologize.

Su Wan nodded. "Even though your marriage application wasn’t approved and you aren’t officially husband and wife, she was only able to come to the base because of you, right?"

"Without you, she couldn’t even get into the military compound." Su Wan pressed the point.

Liu Lang opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to deny it. He just lowered his head and apologized, "I’m sorry, Sister-in-law. This is my fault."

"But there was nothing I could do. She’s technically my fiancée. I can’t just forbid her from entering the military compound."

Hearing this, Su Wan laughed. "So you mean, you don’t want to be the bad guy and restrain Zheng Zhizhi, so you’d rather let me bear the risk of getting hurt?"

"Also, I’m curious. The Zheng Family doesn’t have the money to buy Zheng Zhizhi train tickets to run around causing trouble. So, did you give her the money?" Su Wan’s gaze was sharp. She rested her hands on her stomach, her eyes fixed on Liu Lang, her tone quite aggressive.

This was the first time Lu Zhengchuan had seen her be so assertive, but he didn’t interrupt or interfere.

"I... I gave it to her." Liu Lang didn’t dare to look at Su Wan, avoiding her gaze.

Upon hearing this, Su Wan couldn’t help but scoff. "You’ve admitted it yourself in front of Lu Zhengchuan. He’s your superior officer. As for how to handle this, I expect you to show some accountability."

"...I’ll compensate you for your medical expenses, Sister-in-law." After a moment of internal struggle, Liu Lang reluctantly proposed the compensation.

Su Wan was already fed up with Zheng Zhizhi and Liu Lang’s drama. Seeing how pained he was to part with his money, she certainly wasn’t going to let such a good opportunity slip by.

"Alright, then. Give me the compensation money."

With so many people watching, it would be impossible for Liu Lang to go back on his word or slander her later.

Liu Lang, "..."

He turned his head and borrowed a hundred yuan from a few of the young soldiers, then gave it to Su Wan.

Su Wan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lu Zhengchuan. "Should I take it?"

"Take it. The baby is fine, and the compensation money will be useful. Besides, it’s what he ought to give you." Lu Zhengchuan’s words were clearly directed at Liu Lang.

A flicker of resentment showed in Liu Lang’s eyes, but he didn’t refute Lu Zhengchuan’s words.

But his mood had visibly soured.

"Liu Lang, I hope you can control your fiancée. You’re a soldier, not some useless bum who can’t do anything. You had a promising future, but because of your own cowardice, things have gotten this bad. Before something irreparable happens, you should make the right choice. Maybe you can still salvage the situation."

Liu Lang’s pupils constricted. He seemed to think of something, and the flicker of spirit he’d just shown vanished.

"Let’s go," Liu Lang told the soldiers carrying him.

The young soldiers instinctively glanced at Lu Zhengchuan. After he nodded his approval, they hurriedly carried Liu Lang away.

The conflict between Liu Lang and Lu Zhengchuan’s family was impossible to hide on the base.

The news spread through the military compound—Liu Lang was injured and would be recuperating in the family courtyard, and Zheng Zhizhi was causing trouble again.

Su Wan didn’t know this yet.

But even if she didn’t know for sure, she had her suspicions, and she had no intention of covering for Liu Lang and Zheng Zhizhi.

"Ms. Su, come over here. Let me give you a check-up." Doctor Qi, who had overheard Su Wan’s words, called out to her as soon as Liu Lang had left.

His tone was familiar, like that of an elder one had known for a long time.

Lu Zhengchuan noticed this and was a little surprised.

’How did Su Wan get so close to people in the military compound?’

"Doctor Qi, thank you for the trouble," Su Wan said with a smile as she walked over and sat down at his desk.

The fierce, grim look Doctor Qi had when confronting Liu Lang was gone, replaced by a face wreathed in smiles. "Ms. Su, don’t say that. I couldn’t be happier that you trust my medical skills."

"Speaking of which, if it weren’t for you, my unfilial son might have gotten into serious trouble," Doctor Qi said with heartfelt gratitude.

Listening from the side, Lu Zhengchuan was completely confused. "Doctor Qi, Qi Ming was on the mission with me. Did he run into some kind of trouble?"

’How did he get involved with Su Wan?’

He had only been away on a mission for a little over half a month. How was it that he came back to find so many things had happened with Su Wan that he didn’t know about? The thought that his wife hadn’t told him made him feel a pang of disappointment.