Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Coax Me?

“Don’t be afraid.”

Su Tang shot to her feet, her expression turning cold. “I’d like to see him try!”

Lu Xiao had been organizing things by the door when he heard the commotion. His gaze instantly turned ice-cold.

He strode to the courtyard gate and stared coldly at Wang Jianfeng’s house across the way.

Wang Jianfeng looked like he was about to smash something else, but he must have seen Lu Xiao at the gate, because he froze.

Soothed by Zhang Cui, Mai Sui’s crying gradually subsided.

The girl was sensible. Once she calmed down, she stopped crying and just stared at them with her big eyes.

Zhang Cui gently patted her daughter’s back, whispering words that seemed as much for herself as for Mai Sui. “Don’t be afraid, Mai Sui, don’t be afraid. Aunt Su is here, Uncle Lu is here, and Mommy’s here.”

Lu Xiao turned around, his tall figure casting a shadow in the doorway.

He exuded a reassuring sense of security.

Without a second glance at the house across the way, he walked straight back inside and pulled the door shut, closing out all the chaos.

“Zhang Cui, Mai Sui, everything’s fine now.”

The man’s voice was deep, carrying a strength that could instantly put one at ease. But when his gaze fell on Su Tang, the frost in his eyes melted away, replaced by a look of resignation.

And was that… a hint of grievance?

Su Tang met his gaze and arched a brow, a smile playing in her almond-shaped eyes.

She walked over to Lu Xiao and casually raised a hand to brush some dust from his shoulder.

“That scared our Mai Sui.”

Her voice softened into a gentle, coaxing tone, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Xiao. “And did it scare our Mr. Lu, too?”

Her teasing form of comfort made the tips of Lu Xiao’s ears burn.

He cleared his throat, glanced at Zhang Cui who was still soothing Mai Sui, and spoke in a low voice.

“I’m a grown man. What’s there to be scared of?”

Despite his words, his tone had softened considerably. He even tilted his head slightly, making it easier for her hand to linger on his shoulder.

“I requested leave for you from the hospital.”

It came out sounding like he was fishing for compliments.

Su Tang had completely forgotten she was supposed to work this afternoon.

She couldn’t help but be impressed by Lu Xiao’s thoughtfulness.

Su Tang’s fingers paused on his shoulder before she gave the firm muscle a gentle poke.

The young woman lowered her voice to an intimate whisper only he could hear. “Thank you.”

She rose slightly on her toes, leaning close to his ear, her breath tickling the shell of it. “I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with squeezing in with Chang Jia for a few days.”

Lu Xiao’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly. An emotion flickered in his eyes before melting into warmth.

He gazed down at his wife, so close he could touch her. The sight of her fair neck and the mischievous glint in her eyes made his earlier flicker of discontent vanish instantly.

Lu Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He didn’t argue. Instead, he played along, his voice low and a little husky, like a child begging for candy. “Since you’re asking for a favor, don’t I deserve a little convincing?”

Su Tang almost laughed out loud at his blatant demand to be pampered. She quickly bit her lip to suppress it, her eyes swimming with affection.

She raised her hand, but this time it wasn’t to brush away dust. She used the pad of her finger to gently rub his earlobe, which was slightly tense and firm to the touch.

It was an incredibly intimate and soothing little gesture.

“How about this: when you come back, I’ll have a big surprise for you.”

Her words sent his imagination racing, making Lu Xiao want to ask right then and there what the “surprise” was.

He nodded obediently with a soft “mhm” and turned to clear the divorce report from the table.

As he picked up Zhang Cui’s cup, he remembered to ask warmly, “Zhang Cui, can I get you some more hot water?”

Holding Mai Sui, Zhang Cui watched the young couple’s affectionate exchange, lost in their own little world.

Although she couldn’t make out their words, the warmth between them filled her with envy.

She nodded quickly. “Oh, yes, please. Thank you, Brother Lu.”

While Lu Xiao went to get the water, Su Tang returned to Zhang Cui’s side. She gently stroked Mai Sui’s little cheek. “Good girl, Mai Sui. Uncle Lu chased the bad man away. It’s okay, don’t be afraid.”

Mai Sui smiled.

That evening, after making dinner at home, Lu Xiao went to the dormitory to find Chang Jia.

Chang Jia was reading and, hearing footsteps, assumed it was someone from the next room dropping by.

“I’ll be bunking with you for a few days.”

Chang Jia didn’t look up until he heard Lu Xiao’s voice.

“Well now, look what the cat dragged in. What brings you here?”

Those who hadn’t applied for their families to join them on base usually lived in the dormitories.

The dorms were small and crowded; anyone who could live in the family quarters would jump at the chance.

“You didn’t hear about what happened in the mess hall at noon?”

Lu Xiao took out the quilt Su Tang had packed for him and started spreading it on the bed.

Hearing this, Chang Jia closed his book. “Of course I heard. How could I not? Your wife is seriously brave.”

With that Wang Jianfeng business, no one dared to say a word for fear of getting dragged into the mess. Only Su Tang had the guts.

Chang Jia leaned in, full of curiosity. “Quick, tell me what happened! Was your wife a total badass?”

As Lu Xiao made the bed, he briefly recounted the events of the afternoon. When he got to the part about Su Tang standing up to protect Zhang Cui, the corners of his mouth turned up in an unconscious smile.

Chang Jia caught his expression and scoffed good-naturedly, “Alright, alright, I get it. Your wife’s a total rockstar. You can stop gloating!”

’I must’ve been bored out of my mind to ask you that. I was just asking for it.’

That night, Lu Xiao lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Usually, he’d be smelling the faint, clean scent of soap from Su Tang and listening to the sound of her steady breathing.

Now, all he had was Chang Jia’s snoring, which grated on his nerves.

Early the next morning, Lu Xiao got up and brought breakfast from the mess hall for Su Tang and the others.

Su Tang, who had just woken up, groggily answered the door.

She looked so dazed, it seemed like she could fall right into his arms at any moment.

“This sleepy?”

Lu Xiao chuckled and reached out to ruffle Su Tang’s hair.

Looking at him now, you’d never guess he was the same person from when he and Su Tang first met.

Su Tang yawned. “Zhang Cui and I stayed up talking for a long time last night.”

“She’s really been through a lot. That Wang Jianfeng is a real piece of work.”

Lu Xiao’s heart ached seeing the faint dark circles under her eyes. He pressed the food container, still warm with a steaming breakfast, into her hands.

“Hurry and eat. You can catch up on sleep after.”

Then, as if performing a magic trick, he pulled an oil-paper packet from his pocket. “They had fresh sugar cakes at the mess hall. I saved one for you.”​

Su Tang’s eyes instantly lit up like stars. Looking at Lu Xiao’s face, she suddenly stood on her toes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

“You… you should go back now.”

Lu Xiao’s ears betrayed him by turning red again. Seeing Su Tang start to turn away, he swiftly wrapped an arm around her waist.

His scent enveloped her as she felt him bend down, leaning closer.

“And what was that for?”

’This time, he wasn’t about to let her kiss and run.’

“What… what do you mean?”

Su Tang couldn’t break free, and her face flushed, worried they would wake Zhang Cui and Mai Sui sleeping inside.

“Does it mean what I think it means?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep