Chapter 82: Making a Deal

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Making a Deal

Lu Zhengchuan couldn’t help but follow her. He sat down on the edge of the bed and watched Su Wan lie down.

He went to turn on the electric fan and then poured out the water she had used to wash her feet.

Then he returned. Just as he sat on the edge of the bed, a knock came from the door.

Lu Zhengchuan got up to open it.

Outside stood Xiao Li and He Rong.

"What are you two doing here?" Seeing them, Lu Zhengchuan’s first thought was that something important had happened.

Xiao Li handed a file to Lu Zhengchuan. "Battalion Commander, the Division Commander told me to give you this. He said to read it carefully."

"Okay." Lu Zhengchuan didn’t open it right away. The file wasn’t marked as urgent, which meant it wasn’t anything pressing.

He was more curious about He Rong’s presence. "Weren’t you over there? Why are you back all of a sudden?"

"Hmph, you’ve got some nerve. The military has put missions on hold for the sake of weapons innovation. You didn’t even tell me about it." He Rong lifted his chin and gave a haughty snort, his narrow eyes squinting slightly.

He stared at Lu Zhengchuan, his thoughts unreadable.

"I figured you’d find out sooner or later. What in the military can be kept from you?"

"Heh, are you sure? It’s obvious you just didn’t think of me at all."

"Is Comrade Su Wan in there? Is she already resting?" He Rong craned his neck, trying to peek inside.

Lu Zhengchuan reached out and pushed He Rong away, then pulled the door shut behind him. "Let’s go. We’ll talk outside."

"Tsk, not even letting me get a look at your wife?" He Rong was genuinely curious about Su Wan now.

Hearing the voices, Su Wan came out of the room.

"Why are there so many people?" Su Wan opened the door and saw the three men. Her gaze first landed on He Rong, whose military uniform couldn’t conceal his sexy, rakish aura.

’This guy gives off a real playboy vibe.’

"And this is?" Su Wan asked Lu Zhengchuan.

Lu Zhengchuan shot He Rong a displeased glare. It was obvious he had stayed behind on purpose.

He Rong smiled brightly at Su Wan and extended his hand. "Sister-in-law, hello. I’m He Rong. A pleasure to meet you. Please don’t mind my intrusion."

As he spoke, he handed her a bicycle voucher.

Su Wan didn’t take it. She finally knew who He Rong was, and she finally knew the main culprit behind Lu Zhengchuan not contacting her while he was on his mission.

But as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. She couldn’t blame He Rong entirely.

Lu Zhengchuan had gone along with it, which meant it was what he wanted too.

Su Wan just felt a pang of bitterness. After all, this proved that Lu Zhengchuan’s feelings for her weren’t that deep.

’He probably likes me a little, but not much.’

"Mr. He, hello. I can’t accept this gift. You already gave us a cash gift when Lu Zhengchuan and I got married. Is there some happy occasion in your family?" Su Wan refused the bicycle voucher. Though she liked money, she had no desire to take what belonged to others.

He Rong raised an eyebrow, a little surprised that she had refused the bicycle voucher so decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

It seemed he hadn’t expected her to not be a money-grubber.

He had originally thought that Su Wan, who was always in charge of Lu Zhengchuan’s stipend, was a very practical, materialistic woman—exactly the kind of domestic type he disliked.

But seeing Su Wan in person, she gave him a completely different impression.

"There’s no happy occasion in my family, and I don’t have a partner. Sister-in-law, don’t be so formal. When I get married someday, you can just give me a wedding gift then."

"Consider this bicycle voucher a gift to congratulate you on your child’s birth. This is just how favors are exchanged between people. You should take it, unless you don’t consider me a friend."

Su Wan felt it was too valuable. She was about to shake her head when Lu Zhengchuan told her to accept it.

"It’s just a bicycle voucher. It’s what He Rong should give. To him, it’s nothing. His mom is the director of the bicycle factory, so it’s easier for him to get these vouchers than anyone else."

Su Wan: "..."

Although she knew that anyone willing to part with a bicycle voucher must have a good family background, she hadn’t expected it to be *this* good.

"...In that case, I’ll accept it. If you need a match, Mr. He, I can help introduce you to someone," Su Wan said casually.

Though she didn’t think He Rong was short on potential partners.

"Forget about the matchmaking. I’m more curious about the mine detector."

He Rong glanced at his watch and said with a smile, "How about this? Old Lu and Xiao Li still have things to do. Why don’t I stay here and chat with your wife?"

"Get lost!" Before Su Wan could respond, Lu Zhengchuan lifted his leg and kicked him.

’Trying to be alone with my wife this late at night? Does he really think I don’t have a temper?’

He Rong just laughed after being kicked. He wasn’t angry at all. He even leaned against the wall, shooting a smug glance at Lu Zhengchuan. "Tsk, are you afraid I’ll run off with your wife?"

"If that happens, you’d only have yourself to blame for not being able to hold onto your own wife."

Listening from the side, the corner of Su Wan’s mouth twitched.

For a moment, she wondered how their ’friendship’ could be so strong.

"Hurry up and leave. Just wait until we’re back at the base. I’ll deal with you then." Lu Zhengchuan directly told Xiao Li to take He Rong away.

Xiao Li rubbed his nose. "Battalion Commander, I can’t beat Captain He. He just wants to ask Sister-in-law about the mine detector."

"Why don’t you just give Sister-in-law and Captain He some time? Honestly, with their character, nothing would happen even if you locked them in a room together. Even if you don’t trust Captain He, you have to trust Sister-in-law." Xiao Li was a little unhappy that Lu Zhengchuan didn’t trust Su Wan.

Lu Zhengchuan was so angry he laughed. Was he not trusting Wanwan?

"Are you blind?" Lu Zhengchuan rapped Xiao Li on the head.

Xiao Li clutched his head, feeling wronged, and stuck his neck out. "Battalion Commander, I don’t care. I’m definitely on Sister-in-law’s side. Don’t you dare bully her."

Su Wan rubbed her nose, feeling a little awkward.

He Rong, however, didn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA, Xiao Li’s got good judgment."

Lu Zhengchuan was one step away from giving them a death glare.

Seeing that He Rong really did have official business with her, Su Wan took the initiative. "Lu Zhengchuan, you and Xiao Li go take care of your work. I’ll just have a quick word with Mr. He here at the guest house. Come back soon."

Lu Zhengchuan pressed his lips together and shot her a resentful look, but was met with Su Wan’s bewildered gaze. In the end, he agreed.

"Alright. Xiao Li, let’s go." Lu Zhengchuan called to Xiao Li, and the two of them took the file and left.

Su Wan invited He Rong into the room to sit down and poured him some hot water in an enamel mug.

"Mr. He, I’m sorry. I don’t have any malted milk, brown sugar, or tea here. I can only offer you plain hot water."

Su Wan sat down across from him.

"It’s fine. I’m not thirsty anyway."

"I came to ask you, were you really involved in the research and development of the new mine detector?" He Rong tapped his fingers on the tabletop.

"You could say I provided the concept. It was the result of the combined efforts of the Director and all the researchers," Su Wan said truthfully, shaking her head.

This made He Rong think more highly of her. After all, many people would fight for credit, but few were truly humble.

At least in terms of character, Su Wan had certainly earned his respect.

"Let’s make a deal. I can save you from Gao Qiang’s trouble, but you have to help me research a weapon." He Rong stated the main purpose of his visit bluntly.