Chapter 167: Still Angry

“What’s wrong?” Su Wan asked, both curious and concerned. “Did something happen?”

Lu Zhengchuan turned to meet her gaze, held up the bookmark in his hand, and asked, “Wanwan, what is this?”

“It’s a bookmark. What’s wrong?” Su Wan thought he was still angry about what happened earlier that evening. She’d reflected on it and decided to keep her distance from everyone in the future. It was just that sometimes, when she got engrossed in her research, she didn’t even notice if her arm was touching someone else’s.

But since Lu Zhengchuan was so prone to jealousy, she would of course do her best to avoid such misunderstandings for the sake of household peace.

“Your bookmark?”

“Yes,” Su Wan nodded.

Hearing this, Lu Zhengchuan’s expression darkened even more. “See for yourself what’s written on it.”

Su Wan reached out, took it, and looked at what was written. It was a line of poetry—a confession of love. Crucially, the name signed at the bottom was clearly a man’s.

The name was none other than Senior Brother Lin.

Su Wan’s first reaction was confusion. The bookmark was indeed hers, and she had been reading her book today. How had she not noticed anything written on it, especially a love poem like this? No wonder Lu Zhengchuan was angry.

“I did lend my book to someone today. I don’t know why Senior Brother Lin would write this on it. In our department, everyone at school knows I’m married and have a child. Why would he risk his future to do something like this?”

“I suspect someone is trying to set me up.” Su Wan truly couldn’t understand why Senior Brother Lin would do this.

Besides, Senior Brother Lin was genuinely talented and dedicated to his research. Why would he waste his time on such pointless drama?

Lu Zhengchuan suppressed his anger. He felt Su Wan had a point, but he couldn’t help still feeling furious.

“Do you think someone is setting you up, or is it that this man actually likes you but doesn’t have the guts to pursue you openly, so he’s using this love poem to drop a hint?” Lu Zhengchuan snorted coldly.

Su Wan shook her head. “I don’t know who’s setting me up. I just think this is a stupid way to do it. Like you said, it’s a love poem. If it’s really as you suspect, he could have just written his last name and then hinted at it during our daily interactions. Wouldn’t that be a better way to avoid leaving evidence?”

“But he chose to leave his full name. Isn’t he afraid I’ll report him?” Su Wan retorted.

Lu Zhengchuan’s voice was tinged with sourness. “You’re still defending him.”

“I’m not defending him. I just don’t think anyone would be that stupid. His future should be the most important thing.”

Seeing Lu Zhengchuan’s expression sour, Su Wan wisely changed the subject. “Of course, you have a point too. Maybe some people are just that bold and always count on getting lucky.”

“In any case, this matter has to be investigated thoroughly. If Senior Brother Lin really did it, I’ll request a transfer to a different research project.”

“What do you think of that?” Su Wan asked, looking up at him.

Lu Zhengchuan snorted coldly. “I can’t control what you want to do.”

“Huh?” Su Wan looked at him, confused. ‘Haven’t I already proposed a solution?’

“You go dry your hair. I’m going to wash up.”

Lu Zhengchuan tossed out this sentence and turned to leave the room.

Mother Su happened to be coming over with a thermos of freshly boiled water and saw Lu Zhengchuan leaving with a grim face.

“Wanwan, did you and Zheng Chuan have a fight?” Even though Lu Zhengchuan had reined in his emotions the moment he saw her, deliberately trying to act like nothing was wrong, Mother Su still noticed.

Seeing her mother, Su Wan sighed helplessly. “Mom, yes, we did.”

“What was it about? Tell me. Weren’t you two getting along so well during the day?” Mother Su fretted.

Su Wan was at her wit’s end. She briefly explained what had happened. “I really don’t know what’s going on. I plan to look into it tomorrow and give him an explanation once I find out the truth. I’ve already told him all this, but I don’t know why he’s still angry.”

“Wanwan, I don’t get it either. But since he’s a man, your dad might understand. I’ll go get him.” After hearing the story, Mother Su was silent for a moment, admitting she didn’t quite understand either.

Father Su was brought over. After listening, he scratched his hair. “Well, Wanwan, is it possible that what Zheng Chuan wants is for you to comfort him, not for you to solve the problem?”

“Huh?” Su Wan looked up, bewildered.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, he’s unhappy, and he wants you to say something nice to coax him. Once he’s not unhappy anymore, everything will be fine. As for how to solve the problem, he doesn’t really care, because you two will figure it out sooner or later. That’s a problem for later. What does that have to do with how he feels right now?”

Su Wan: “…”

“Is it really like that?”

“Don’t you go misleading Wanwan. If you mess up their relationship, I’ll deal with you,” Mother Su said, pinching the soft flesh on Father Su’s waist.

Father Su looked aggrieved. “Didn’t you ask me what I thought? If it were me, that’s exactly what I’d be thinking.”

Mother Su glared at him. “You’re so dramatic.”

Father Su felt even more wronged. ‘I’m dramatic? Maybe so.’

‘But it’s not just me who’s being dramatic now. My son-in-law is too. Why am I the only one getting called out?’

“Mom, don’t pick on Dad. I’ll give it a try.” Although Su Wan didn’t understand her father’s logic, she decided it was a long shot worth taking.

Mother Su nodded. “Alright, you handle it. A couple’s relationship is something only the two of you can manage. We can’t interfere.”

“Okay.”

“I put the hot water here. And the baby bottles are all washed.”

“Get some sleep.”

Mother Su left with Father Su, taking the two children’s dirty cloth diapers with them. She put them in a basin, washed them by hand, and hung them up to dry in the courtyard before finally going to rest.

Su Wan towel-dried her hair until it was damp. The summer was hot, so she read a book while it air-dried. After about half an hour, her hair was almost completely dry.

She stood up and stretched a bit, noticing that Lu Zhengchuan still hadn’t returned. Seeing that the two children were asleep, she turned and went outside, where she found Lu Zhengchuan in the courtyard, hand-washing his own clothes.

Su Wan walked over and crouched down beside him. She gathered her thoughts and said, a little uncomfortably, “Zheng Chuan, you’re the only one in my heart. I don’t even bother looking at anyone else. No one can compare to you.”

“…Why are you suddenly saying this?” Lu Zhengchuan paused his washing.

“I’m speaking from the heart. You’re the one I like. I don’t pay any attention to anyone else. It’s probably because you’re the only one who can capture my heart.” Spilling out all these sweet words she had never imagined herself saying, Su Wan felt mortified.

She hung her head, not daring to look up, afraid she would hear him mock or contradict her.

Lu Zhengchuan cleared his throat, his voice tight. “Of course, you’re the only one in my heart too. Xu Rongrong came looking for me today. I didn’t even go to the Xu Family’s place; I just stopped her at the gate.”

“Huh? Xu Rongrong came to see you today?” Su Wan’s head snapped up, her attention instantly drawn to the important news.

A dark blush was still visible on Lu Zhengchuan’s cheeks. His voice was full of magnetism as he asked, “Wanwan, when you said you like me, was it true? You’re not just saying that because of the children, are you?”