Chapter 158: Lu Tingyan

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Lu Tingyan

"Hao Mei, didn’t you say Su Wan hasn’t been back to school for the better part of a year? That she dropped out, and even if she came back, she’d have to enroll with the next class to continue her studies?" a student asked Su Wan’s roommate.

Hao Mei’s expression stiffened. "I didn’t expect this either, but I definitely heard that Su Wan had dropped out."

"As you all saw, she really hasn’t been to class in seven or eight months. Who knows, maybe she has powerful connections that are letting her continue."

After saying that, Hao Mei couldn’t be bothered to gossip with her classmates any longer. She hurried off to report the news to Xu Rongrong.

Xu Rongrong had just gotten out of class and was leaving when she saw Hao Mei walking toward her.

"Xu, Su Wan’s back."

Hearing this, Xu Rongrong frowned. "She’s back for classes? Do you know why?"

"I don’t know, but I saw that she’s already had her baby. It looks like she’s going to start attending classes again. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her. I just saw her leaving the academic advisor’s office and heading off to see her professors."

Xu Rongrong hissed, "Useless fool. Couldn’t you have gotten closer and dug up some actual information?"

Hao Mei lowered her head, swallowing her resentment.

"Xu, please don’t be angry. I’ll go find out more right now."

"Go on," Xu Rongrong said, waving her hand impatiently. After hearing the news, she couldn’t be bothered with anything at school. She turned and headed straight for the campus exit.

"Rongrong, where are you going?"

"I have to take care of something at home," Xu Rongrong replied dismissively as she walked out of the school gates.

"Dad, where is Lu Zhengchuan right now?" Xu Rongrong demanded the moment she got home. She found her family having lunch, walked over, and sat down at the table. A maid immediately brought her a bowl and chopsticks.

But Xu Rongrong was in no mood to eat. She stared at her father, waiting for his answer.

Her father looked surprised. "How did you know Lu Zhengchuan was being transferred to the Capital Military District?"

"What? Lu Zhengchuan is being transferred to the Capital Military District?" Xu Rongrong’s eyes widened in delight.

Her mother, sitting beside them, said with exasperation, "What’s there to be so happy about? You’re a married woman yourself. Don’t tell me you’re still thinking of marrying him?"

"Why not?" Xu Rongrong retorted, her face full of arrogance. "Mom, it’s not like you can’t get a divorce these days. Lu Zhengchuan being transferred to the Capital means he’s ambitious. The Xu Family can be a great help to him. Even for the sake of his child, he should choose a wife who can benefit him, not some country bumpkin."

Her mother stared. "You seriously haven’t given up on this?"

"Back when he was single, why didn’t you make a move? Now he’s married with a child. What’s the point of saying all this now?"

"Exactly," her father added, glaring at her. "Stop this nonsense. Lu Zhengchuan earned this promotion legitimately, with a first-class military honor. He’s not like those people who coast by on their family connections. Don’t even think about making an enemy out of him on my account."

"Dad, you’re so useless. No matter how capable Lu Zhengchuan is, he’s still from an ordinary family. It’s only out of respect for him that I’m not looking down on his origins."

In other words, if Lu Zhengchuan hadn’t been so capable on his own, Xu Rongrong would have looked down on him.

Her father laughed, exasperated. "I can’t even be bothered with you. Lu Zhengchuan’s family is ordinary? Do you have any idea who his parents are?"

"And besides, our family is propped up by your grandfather and your uncle. Your grandfather is getting old and could retire at any time. And no matter how powerful your uncle is, he’s from a different branch of the family. Do you really think he’d jeopardize his own career to offend a promising officer for you?"

Xu Rongrong was annoyed, but she knew her father was right.

"Well, that’s only because my brother is such a disappointment. He joined the army and was just a grunt, couldn’t even manage to earn a third-class military honor. Now he had to get discharged and find some other job."

"You have the nerve to talk about your brother? Have you forgotten how you got into Capital University yourself?" her mother said, rolling her eyes.

"Alright, I’m not here to argue. I just want to know, Dad—who did you say Lu Zhengchuan’s parents are?"

Xu Rongrong pressed, her curiosity piqued.

Her father, wanting to crush his daughter’s ridiculous notion, didn’t hide the truth. "Lu Zhengchuan’s mother is Zhang Qingqing, and his father is Lu Tingyan."

"Zhang Qingqing... Professor Zhang? The researcher?" Xu Rongrong was stunned. The books written by this giant in the field of physics, along with some of her research papers, were used as textbooks and regular course material for the physics department at Capital University.

It was just a shame that this visionary expert passed away so young. But even so, her standing in the world of physics remained incredibly high.

Xu Rongrong drew in a sharp breath. She never imagined Lu Zhengchuan wasn’t just some guy from the countryside; he had such an incredible mother.

"If Professor Zhang were still alive, wouldn’t Lu Zhengchuan be a second- or third-generation elite, just like Qi Hao?"

’I like Lu Zhengchuan even more now,’ Xu Rongrong thought. ’He really is the man I set my sights on. Just as outstanding as I expected.’

Seeing her beaming, her father couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "So you really thought he had no connections to speak of?"

"And what’s more, he’s good friends with Qi Hao and He Rong. Neither of their families is weaker than our Xu Family—in fact, they might even be a little stronger."

Xu Rongrong retorted, unconvinced, "But I’m trying to pull Lu Zhengchuan over to our side precisely to make the Xu Family stronger."

"But you don’t have what it takes, do you? You had a golden opportunity for two or three years, and I never saw you seize it. Then you threw a fit and cut off contact with him for two years. He never liked you to begin with, so why on earth would he wait for you?"

"Now that he’s married someone else, you should stop bothering them. The best way to truly get him on our side is to just be his friend."

"If you don’t listen, and he decides to retaliate, I’m not going to lift a finger to help you." Her father knew he couldn’t control his daughter, so he had to lay his cards on the table.

Xu Rongrong snorted in anger. "When have you ever managed anything for me? If I really get into trouble, Grandpa will help me."

This made her father even angrier. He pointed a finger at her and scolded, "You’ve been completely spoiled by your grandfather!"

"So Grandpa being good to me is spoiling me? You were never around when I was little, you never took care of me, and now that I’m grown up you refuse to support me. How dare you say that?" Xu Rongrong shot back.

"You...! Wasn’t I stationed on the frontier? The conditions were terrible! What would you have done there?"

"Fine, that was in the past when you couldn’t help it. But you can make it up to me now. Why don’t you give me some money, or stick up for me for once?" Xu Rongrong scoffed.

Her father nearly fainted from rage. "I haven’t given you money? What do you think pays for your food, your clothes, and all your expenses!"

"I’m asking for your help! Meet with Lu Zhengchuan. Persuade him. If you make your stance clear—representing the entire Xu Family—he won’t be able to refuse our family’s goodwill. Then, naturally, he’ll get together with me," Xu Rongrong demanded, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

Her father was fuming. "Are you out of your mind? You only know that Lu Zhengchuan’s mother is dead. Did it ever occur to you that his father is still alive?"

"His father? Lu Tingyan?" she asked. "I’ve never heard that name. Is he someone important?"