Chapter 151: Chapter 149: His Responsibility

Wang Xinxin took the apple slices from Su Tang, nibbling on them.

She didn’t ask any more questions. Things had already reached this point, and she felt her cousin-in-law was right—it was best to just follow her heart.

’There’s no point in overthinking it. Better to think about what I should do next.’

So after that, Wang Xinxin rarely met with Chen Zhengnian.

Chen Zhengnian, of course, noticed that Wang Xinxin was deliberately avoiding him.

He didn’t understand why.

But his pride wouldn’t let him go looking for her.

As time went on, they started acting like strangers.

It was like they were right back where they started.

Some time passed like this. As Su Tang’s pregnancy progressed, her belly grew, and it became harder for her to get around.

It had been so long since she’d heard from Su Xinyao that Su Tang had almost forgotten about her.

So, when Su Tang remembered her one day, she called her parents in Shanghai.

As it happened, it was her Aunt Su, Su Yufen, who answered the phone.

“Oh, Tangtang? Your parents are out right now. I’ll have them call you back when they return.”

“That’s okay, Auntie. I was actually calling for you. I wanted to ask, has Su Rui’an been in Shanghai recently?”

Though Su Yufen was a little confused by Su Tang’s question, she still answered.

“Yes. Your father found someone to get him a job at the school, so now he commutes with your dad every day.”

“What is it, Tangtang? Do you need him for something?”

With Su Yufen’s confirmation, Su Tang felt relieved and replied, “It’s nothing, Auntie. I’m just glad you’re all doing well at home.”

“Auntie, please keep an eye on Su Rui’an. He was mixed up with Su Xinyao before, so don’t let him get involved with her again.”

Hearing Su Tang’s warning, Su Yufen naturally agreed.

After hanging up, Su Tang felt much more at ease.

As she was thinking about this, she suddenly heard the ROLLING of thunder outside. Just as she walked over, a fierce wind began to HOWL.

It blew so hard she nearly lost her footing.

Luckily, Lu Xiao arrived home just then. He rushed forward to steady her and shut the window.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How are you home so early?”

Just as she spoke, Mr. and Mrs. Lu returned, carrying bags full of things.

“We heard a huge storm is coming, so your father and I went out to buy extra supplies. You have no idea, everyone was in a frenzy.”

In the Northwest, when it rains, it’s often a torrential downpour, sometimes with thunderstorms and hail.

It was no laughing matter.

“I came back to tell you about that. I have to go to the front line. Mom, Dad, please take good care of Tangtang.”

Lu Xiao never hid things from Su Tang, especially not something this important.

Hearing that Lu Xiao was going to the front line for flood relief, Su Tang’s brow furrowed.

But he was a soldier, and this was his duty.

Protecting his home and his country was his responsibility.

Su Tang didn’t say much. She just turned, went into their room, and packed a bag for Lu Xiao.

She included some medicine.

“You have to come back safely.”

Su Tang held Lu Xiao’s hand, reluctant to let go.

Even though she knew the plot guaranteed that Lu Xiao would get a promotion and a raise after successfully getting through this, Su Tang couldn’t help but worry.

“Don’t worry. I’ll come back safe. You stay home and don’t go wandering off.”

After they said their goodbyes, Lu Xiao left.

Not long after, Wang Xinxin also rushed back, braving the downpour.

The moment Wang Xinxin stepped inside, she sneezed. Rainwater streamed from the hem of her clothes, forming a small puddle on the floor.

She shook out her soaking hair, looking a bit of a mess. Her voice was laced with a chill. “This rain is insane! The moment I stepped out, it was like someone was dumping buckets of water. My umbrella was useless.”

Su Tang quickly asked Mrs. Lu to bring a dry towel, then slowly stood up, supporting her back. “Why didn’t you wait for the rain to let up before coming back? What if you catch a cold?”

Wang Xinxin took the towel and hastily wiped her face, her nose red from the cold. “How could I wait? The radio said this rain might last for days. I was worried you might be short on something, so I went to the commune to buy a few things.”

As she spoke, she bent down and picked up the bag at her feet. Inside were a few packs of dried noodles and milk, as well as some boxes of common cold medicine.

Mrs. Lu clicked her tongue in admiration. “You’re such a thoughtful child.”

Wang Xinxin felt a little embarrassed and scratched her head. “My cousin-in-law is pregnant; she needs to keep her nutrition up. By the way, where’s my cousin? I don’t think I saw him.”

At the mention of Lu Xiao, the smile on Su Tang’s face faded slightly. “He’s gone to the front line. For flood relief.”

Wang Xinxin, towel in hand, widened her eyes. “He had to go to the front line in a storm this bad? That must be so dangerous!”

“Is the situation there really bad?”

Su Tang shook her head gently, trying to keep her voice calm. “He didn’t say much when he left, just told us to stay safe at home. He’s a soldier. This is what they have to do.”

Wang Xinxin stood up and said softly, “How about I sleep with my cousin-in-law tonight? Aunt and Uncle are getting older, and if anything happens during the night, I can help out.”

Su Tang looked at the churning dark clouds outside as raindrops PITTER-PATTERED against the glass.

She nodded, pretending to be calm. “Okay. I’m a little scared of the thunder, anyway.”

Wang Xinxin sat nearby, her thoughts suddenly turning to Chen Zhengnian.

She’d seen him when she left that morning.

’Her cousin had gone, so Chen Zhengnian probably had to go too, right?’

“I never thought it could rain this hard here.”

The downpour showed no sign of weakening; in fact, it was getting even heavier.

It felt as if the rain was determined to soak the very earth to its core.

No one was sleepy, so they all gathered in the living room to talk.

Mrs. Lu said she hadn’t seen rain this heavy in decades.

She had always thought sandstorms were the common disaster in the Northwest.

“Oh, by the way, Xinxin, did you ever run into that person at the commune who wanted to set you up on a blind date?”

As they were talking, the topic somehow circled back to Wang Xinxin.

Wang Xinxin shook her head. “I don’t even know who it was. He didn’t even have the guts to show his face, yet he dared to bring up a blind date?”

Her assertive words made Mrs. Lu and Su Tang chuckle.

But it was true. Who would want to date someone who didn’t even dare to reveal their own name?

“Mom, you should go get some rest,” Su Tang said. “I don’t think this rain will stop. You can’t possibly stay up all night.”

“What’s to be afraid of? I’m still strong and healthy. You, on the other hand, are pregnant. You should be the one to go to sleep.”

With that, Mrs. Lu moved to help Su Tang to her room.

After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went back and forth for a bit, Wang Xinxin cut in and told them both to go to bed.

“I’ll wait here for Uncle. You two go get some sleep.”

Wang Xinxin stood up and began to usher them toward the bedroom.

Just then, their conversation was cut short by a frantic KNOCKING at the door. Mr. Lu stood in the doorway, drenched in a raincoat.

“The radio said the rain’s too heavy… a mudslide is coming…”

Hearing this, Mrs. Lu’s vision went dark, and she nearly fainted.

’A mudslide?’

’That’s just as terrifying as a flood.’

“Don’t panic, Dad,” Su Tang said quickly. “What did the radio say? Are they organizing an evacuation?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep