Chapter 75 First Meeting

Chapter 75: The First Meeting

The 15th of the lunar month, an auspicious day for weddings.

Lu Yun was busy getting married to Zhou Yanze. She was up at the crack of dawn, and then came their wedding banquet, held at a hotel. Lu Yun expected just a regular wedding, but the way Zhou Yanze had decorated the venue was just so romantic!

After the wedding, Lu Yun went home with Zhou Yanze, still clutching the roses from the ceremony. Today's wedding was an absolute ocean of roses.

Once they got home, Lu Yun told Zhou Yanze to go shower, and she sat down to relax.

This was Lu Yun and Zhou Yanze's marital home—a traditional courtyard house. The courtyard house was newly renovated, but there was no smell at all. The rooms looked refined and warm, and everything in the bedroom was up-to-date and stylish. And everything Lu Yun needed had been bought brand new.

Lu Yun recalled how Zhou Yanze had asked her, all serious, about her daily necessities—so that's what he was preparing.

Zhou Yanze dawdled out of the bathroom, looking a bit red in the face.

Lu Yun deliberately teased him, staring at that face of his, "So you didn't get drunk this time either?"

Zhou Yanze: "I should've gotten drunk, but after thinking it over, I figured it was better not to."

Lu Yun: "Why do you say that?"

Zhou Yanze: "Today's our wedding day. I'm so excited that I thought I should get drunk. But I also thought I should keep myself in check, also because it's our wedding day. I didn't want you to have to deal with a drunk me after the ceremony."

Lu Yun couldn't help but chuckle. She gave Zhou Yanze a gentle kiss, then ran off to shower.

On their wedding night, Lu Yun didn't fall asleep until almost dawn.

The next day, Lu Yun slept in until the sun was high in the sky. Zhou Yanze had already cooked breakfast. This had Lu Yun marveling at Zhou Yanze's stamina—she'd slept until noon, and Zhou Yanze still managed to get up and make breakfast!

Lu Yun almost laughed out loud while eating the brown sugar rice cakes Zhou Yanze had made. She remembered saying before she fell asleep that she wanted brown sugar rice cakes, and Zhou Yanze got up to make them?

Lu Yun: "This tastes really good. But when did you learn how to cook?"

Zhou Yanze: "The first time I went to your place, your dad was cooking, and you really loved his cooking. After I got back, I learned to cook."

Lu Yun: "And this courtyard house—when did you have it renovated?"

Zhou Yanze: "When I first met you."

Lu Yun: "Wait, you mean you were renovating this courtyard house when you met me? And this courtyard house ended up being our wedding home?"

Zhou Yanze: "No, I started fixing it up the day after I met you."

Lu Yun wasn't dumb—she immediately caught on to what Zhou Yanze meant. But was it really what she was thinking? After meeting her and going on that blind date, he'd started renovating their wedding home?

Lu Yun: "Did you just happen to be renovating, or did you renovate because of me?"

Zhou Yanze said, dead serious, "After our blind date, I started thinking about what life would be like after we got married."

Lu Yun lowered her head and smiled, feeling like the brown sugar rice cakes tasted even sweeter!

After they got married, Zhou Yanze was really clingy. After the wedding, Lu Yun stayed home and didn't work, and Zhou Yanze didn't work either. He was glued to Lu Yun every day, would go out to buy groceries, cook for her, and help her do laundry. A man like this—Lu Yun couldn't be more pleased!

Chen Qiao was right—she'd found herself a good man.

Lu Yun: "Chen Qiao was right."

Zhou Yanze asked, "About what?"

Lu Yun: "She said I found a good man!"

This kind of married life—Lu Yun was living comfortably!

Zhou Yanze: "Maybe I'm not that good of a man?"

Lu Yun: "If you're not a good man, then what is?"

Zhou Yanze said seriously, "What I mean is, before I met you, I never thought about getting married, nor did I imagine I would do these things—and enjoy them so willingly."

Lu Yun: "Why are you confessing your feelings to me again?"

Touching her cheeks, which were a little warm, Lu Yun felt a bit embarrassed.

After the wedding, when Lu Yun went back to her parents' place, she and Zhou Yanze arrived at the compound and immediately got the tea!

Auntie Han had her eye on Han Gang's wife!

Han Gang's parents were in the middle of a fight with Auntie Han!

Lu Yun expertly pulled Zhou Yanze aside to quietly eavesdrop on the drama. Every time there was drama in the compound, as long as it wasn't about her, this was how Lu Yun enjoyed it!

"Your son, a divorced guy with a kid, actually wants to get with my daughter-in-law? Look at your son—what's he got that my son doesn't? Before my son got married, he'd never even touched a woman! And he's not even on his second marriage! Who does your Sun Zhi think he is?" Han's father shouted loudly at Auntie Han.

Sun Zhi and Han Gang's wife—what was going on?

Lu Yun took Zhou Yanze to find her parents. Lu's father said to Lu Yun, "This morning, Han Gang and his wife came back to the compound. Han Gang's wife bought a bunch of stuff for the Han family. After dropping off the stuff, they were about to head back when Auntie Han ran into them. She started talking to Han Gang's wife on her own, and even complimented her. Han Gang's wife, all flattered, said Auntie Han was a nice person, and praised her a few more times, saying she'd bring her a gift next time she came."

Lu Yun: "What's Sun Zhi got to do with this?"

Lu's father: "Sun Zhi's already at work! It's got nothing to do with him."

Lu Yun got even more curious. "If it's got nothing to do with Sun Zhi, how did they end up saying Sun Zhi wants to get with Han Gang's wife?"

Lu's father was at a loss for words. "That's just how the Han family sees it."

What do you mean, "that's just how the Han family sees it"?

Lu Yun: "So you're saying, just because Auntie Han said a few words to Han Gang's wife, the Han family is claiming she wants Sun Zhi to get with Han Gang's wife?"

Lu's father: "Yeah, exactly. And then they started fighting! Don't think that just because the Sun family's been keeping a low profile since Sun Zhi and Zhao Lan divorced, it means they're easy to push around! So Auntie Han started fighting with the Han family right then and there!"

Auntie Han: "Our Sun Zhi wants to get with your daughter-in-law? Our Sun Zhi isn't marrying into your family, and our grandson will carry the Sun name!"

Han's father: "You're just jealous that my daughter-in-law's family has money. You're jealous of us. Sun Zhi's divorced now too. You want Han Gang to divorce his wife, and then have Sun Zhi go after my daughter-in-law!"

Auntie Han: "I already said, our Sun family's grandson will have the Sun last name. We're not like you—letting your only son marry into the bride's family! I just talked a little more to your daughter-in-law, and you're saying I want Sun Zhi to get with her. Next time your daughter-in-law comes over, are you saying nobody in the compound can even talk to her? If that's how you feel, then next time your daughter-in-law comes, I'll talk to her!"

Han's father: "I'm not gonna lower myself to your level. That divorced son of yours better hurry up and find someone!"

Auntie Han: "Whether my son finds someone or not, he's not marrying into anyone's family!"

Lu's father had already made a whole table of food. They could eat as soon as they got home.

Lu Yun: "What a shame. You already cooked everything—otherwise, you could've seen what your son-in-law's cooking is like."

Lu's father: "He knows how to cook?"

Lu Yun lifted her chin with pride. "It's really good. He learned to cook for me."

Lu Fu: “Tsk, tsk, tsk—look at you!”

Lu Yun: “What about me?”

Lu Fu: “You’re showing off.”

Lu Yun smiled and gently slipped her arm through her father’s, whispering to him, “Honestly, I still love your cooking the most.”

Flattered, Lu Fu beamed with delight. “Hurry up and wash your hands—we’re about to eat!”

Lu Yun adored pineapple sweet-and-sour pork. After sitting down, she even picked a piece for Zhou Yanzhe, their affection palpable.

Lu Mu remarked, “The two of them look like they’re starring in a TV drama—the male and female leads!”

Lu Fu: “Exactly!”

After their honeymoon ended, Zhou Yanzhe returned to work while Lu Yun resumed her job. She rose early that morning; Zhou Yanzhe drove her to the garment factory, and she leaned drowsily against his shoulder.

Oddly enough, she never felt this sleepy when getting up alone at home—but whenever she headed to work early with Zhou Yanzhe, she inevitably dozed off. Realizing why, she shot him a quiet, playful glare.

Zhou Yanzhe began reflecting on his behavior. Lu Yun said firmly, “No teasing today.”

He blushed faintly and murmured an almost inaudible “Mm-hmm.”

Upon arriving at the office, everyone congratulated Lu Yun. He Jie, especially, launched into vivid, exaggerated descriptions of Lu Yun’s wedding.

He Jie: “Your wedding was absolutely lavish! So many roses! And those dazzling lights at the reception—they nearly blinded me!”

Lu Yun herself hadn’t paid much attention to such details and hadn’t asked—though she’d loved every moment.

She’d planned to slack off all morning and gossip, but then the Zhou family showed up—not Zhou Jun this time, but Zhou Fu.

Lu Yun suddenly recalled: hadn’t she noticed the absence of any Zhou family members at her wedding?

She met Zhou Fu outside the garment factory. He struck her as sharp and shrewd. Upon seeing her, he greeted her warmly and handed her a red envelope, wishing her a happy marriage. Lu Yun declined it.

Lu Yun: “Uncle Zhou, what brings you here?”

Zhou Fu: “You should call me ‘Elder Uncle.’”

Lu Yun: “If I’m to call you Elder Uncle, then Zhou Jun ought to call me ‘Auntie.’”

She deliberately referenced Zhou Jun’s earlier attitude. Zhou Fu bristled—not at Lu Yun, but at Zhou Jun. He’d sent Zhou Jun precisely because they were peers, assuming communication would be easier. Yet Zhou Jun had behaved disgracefully—ever since meeting Sun Chun, he’d grown increasingly reckless!

Zhou Fu didn’t want Lu Yun to see him so flustered, yet what choice did he have? Business demands compelled him to seek Lu Yun out—to mend relations with Zhou Yanzhe through her.

Zhou Fu: “Let me apologize again on Zhou Jun’s behalf.”

Lu Yun: “Uncle Zhou, surely you have something specific in mind? But speaking frankly, I’m not the one to help—why not go straight to Zhou Yanzhe? After all, he’s the head of our household.”

Zhou Fu looked visibly disappointed. Of course—could Zhou Yanzhe possibly let Lu Yun take charge? Still, he maintained his polite composure, recounted several vague grievances about misunderstandings with Zhou Yanzhe, and departed.

To prevent Zhou Yanzhe from saying something inappropriate—and to spare herself further visits from the Zhou family—Lu Yun told Zhou Yanzhe the moment she saw him: “Your Elder Uncle came to see me, but I said just one sentence—and he won’t bother me again about your affairs.”

Zhou Yanzhe: “What did you say?”

Clearly, the Zhou family still hadn’t learned their lesson.

Lu Yun: “In our family, you’re in charge.”

Zhou Yanzhe burst into laughter. “I’m not in charge.”