Chapter 180: No Rush

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: No Rush

"Missing? What do you mean?" Su Wan stopped in her tracks, just as she was about to go inside to play with the children.

Zhang Yun said frantically, "It’s exactly what it sounds like. Xiao Liu said my cousin and his friend went to that disco yesterday, right? But when they went to track down the people who fled, they disappeared without a trace."

Su Wan instinctively denied it. "Impossible."

’But Lu Zhengchuan came back last night. He slept beside me and we talked.’

"Sister-in-law, how can you not be worried? Xiao Liu gave us the news and told us not to spread it. He said he was afraid you’d worry if there was no news for a long time, so he told you quietly."

Hearing this, Su Wan was even more certain that Lu Zhengchuan wasn’t truly missing.

’Based on his old habits, if he were really in trouble, he would definitely hide it from me first. He’d keep it a secret for as long as he could, unless it became impossible to hide.’

So, Su Wan concluded that Lu Zhengchuan really had come back last night. As for being "missing," it was probably a smokescreen to avoid tipping off their targets.

"I trust that Lu Zhengchuan will be fine." Su Wan wasn’t flustered, which on the surface made her seem unconcerned about him.

Zhang Yun was already anxious, and seeing Su Wan’s reaction, she couldn’t help but feel a little resentful.

But she didn’t dare say anything to Su Wan, afraid that if she made her angry, her cousin would surely scold her when he returned.

Su Wan didn’t know what she was thinking. She turned to reassure Second Sister-in-law Su.

"Second Sister-in-law, are we the only ones who know about Zheng Chuan? Let’s not tell Mom and Dad for now, to keep them from worrying for nothing."

Second Sister-in-law Su nodded. "Xiao Liu just came by. Mom, Dad, and your second brother are all busy and haven’t come back yet, so none of them know."

"But Wanwan, are you sure nothing’s wrong?" Second Sister-in-law Su was still worried.

Su Wan said, "This is just the nature of his job. If we got worked up every time something like this happened, we’d all have a nervous breakdown."

’It might be the truth, but... that’s a little too blunt.’

Second Sister-in-law Su caught the flash of displeasure on Zhang Yun’s face.

The other reason Su Wan was so certain Lu Zhengchuan was fine was that she hadn’t had a premonition dream. Even if last night wasn’t real but a dream instead, it would have been a good one.

Therefore, she wouldn’t spread the news that Lu Zhengchuan was actually okay.

’Can’t risk interfering with his mission.’

"Alright then. Wanwan, you should go check on Tuantuan and Yuanyuan. With their father away, they miss you a lot. They look for you as soon as they wake up."

Su Wan nodded, turned, and went inside to be with her two children.

Zhang Yun pressed her lips together. "I’m going out for a bit."

Second Sister-in-law Su stopped her. "Xiao Yun, do you think Wanwan doesn’t care about her husband?"

Zhang Yun said stubbornly, "No. Sister-in-law has her reasons for everything she does."

Reasons were reasons, but seeing Su Wan not only untroubled but so calm, she still couldn’t help but feel angry.

"Do you really think Wanwan isn’t worried?" Second Sister-in-law Su asked.

"Huh?" Zhang Yun looked up, confused.

Second Sister-in-law Su sighed. "You’re still young. You don’t understand that even if you’re heartbroken, you have to hide it. After all, there are children at home to care for. If she doesn’t pull herself together, how can she be a military wife? How can she take care of two kids?"

"If she were to show her grief and fall apart, it wouldn’t do the family any good. Instead, there would just be one more person to take care of."

"You’re an adult now, too. You should understand the burdens that come with adulthood."

"And how do you know what Wanwan is like when we’re not looking?"

Zhang Yun opened her mouth but was speechless. She had to admit, after those few words from Second Sister-in-law Su, her resentment toward Su Wan had faded.

"Second Sister-in-law, I was wrong. Please don’t tell Sister-in-law. I was just too worried about my cousin."

"Ah, you. You’re still not qualified enough to be part of a military family. It takes someone like Wanwan to properly manage the home front for a soldier."

Zhang Yun was a little embarrassed by her words and nodded repeatedly, indicating she understood.

Watching Zhang Yun leave, Second Sister-in-law Su wasn’t sure if she had truly changed her biased view of Wanwan. She had simply done what she felt she ought to do.

’Even though I know Wanwan wouldn’t mind, it’s still good to spare her a little trouble.’

’I just didn’t expect that while Wanwan doesn’t have any issues with her mother-in-law, her husband’s maternal family would still stir up minor conflicts.’

Su Wan didn’t know what the two had discussed behind her back.

She didn’t see Zhang Yun that evening. When she asked, her second sister-in-law said she had gone out to meet a potential partner.

Right now, Su Wan couldn’t be bothered with Zhang Yun’s dating life.

She was waiting for the night, to see if she would have a dream or if Lu Zhengchuan would return.

In the middle of the night, Su Wan woke up in a daze and once again felt that familiar presence.

She shot up, her sleepiness vanishing in an instant.

The first thing Su Wan did was reach out to touch Lu Zhengchuan’s face. The moment she felt the solid warmth of his skin, she let out a sigh of relief, but then couldn’t stop herself from slapping him awake.

"Wanwan?" Lu Zhengchuan had been sleeping soundly. Startled awake, his eyes snapped open, and he was fully alert in a second.

This was a soldier’s conditioning.

"What is going on with you? Why did Xiao Liu come to the house and say you were missing?"

Lu Zhengchuan didn’t get angry even as she pinched the soft flesh of his waist. Instead, he grinned as if he’d won the lottery.

"Wanwan, you were worried about me."

"Just tell me what’s going on. How can you be grinning like that at a time like this? Don’t you know how scary it was?" Su Wan glared at him angrily.

Seeing she was genuinely angry, Lu Zhengchuan quickly got serious and explained, "It’s like this. The disco wasn’t a big problem, but it led us to a clue about an underground criminal organization."

"Qi Hao and I chose to ’go missing’ on purpose for the investigation. We only contact our superiors on very rare occasions."

Su Wan’s heart settled upon hearing this. "I figured it was something like that."

"Huh? You figured? But I told you last night, Wanwan." Lu Zhengchuan belatedly realized why she was so angry.

Before Su Wan could glare at him again, Lu Zhengchuan hastily raised a hand to swear, "Wanwan, I really did tell you! But I didn’t realize you were probably too tired and didn’t quite hear me."

"Next time, I’ll make sure to tell you when you’re wide awake. I promise I won’t let you worry."

What else could Su Wan do but accept Lu Zhengchuan’s promise and explanation?

"So, can you come back every night?" If that was the case, Su Wan wouldn’t have to be so worried.

That was something Lu Zhengchuan couldn’t promise. "Lately, all the suspicious locations I’m investigating are within the Capital. As long as I can make it back, I will. But if the mission changes and I have to leave the Capital, I might not be able to return."

"Then how long will it take to resolve?" Su Wan couldn’t help but clutch the front of his shirt, the worry on her face unconcealed.

Lu Zhengchuan’s heart sped up. He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "...I’ll do my best."

"You still have the nerve to kiss me at a time like this." Su Wan pushed him away helplessly.

But Lu Zhengchuan only held her tighter, his tone a little aggrieved. "It’s all Qi Hao’s fault. He invites me out for a meal and we end up with a mission. I was supposed to be on leave, spending more time with you and the kids."