CHAPTER 659: CHAPTER 442 THE REAL REASON

The second watch had arrived.

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"You’ve been off today, what’s really going on?" After dinner, they returned to the hospital. With more than twenty minutes before work began, Chuxia didn’t leave the car and started to interrogate Mikang.

"What’s wrong with me?" Mikang tried to recall, "I think I acted pretty normal, right? Maybe you’re overthinking it? Or are you jealous?"

"I’m talking about serious stuff here, Mikang. Although we haven’t known each other for very long, I do know a bit about your temper.

I’ve never seen you so enthusiastic about anyone as you were with Lin Wenbin today. Although you later explained it by saying you didn’t want the Lin Family to feel like you were taking advantage of marrying me. Still, I know that’s not the main reason.

If you trust me, just tell me. Of course, I’m not insisting on knowing your secrets, but I feel like you shouldn’t leave with things weighing on your mind."

Mikang’s lips curled into a sly smile, "Are you afraid of having regrets?"

"Can you be serious for once?" Chuxia glared at him helplessly, "And can you not talk about unlucky things? The New Year is close, can’t we be more sensible?"

"Are you being a bit too sensitive?" Seeing Chuxia frown, Mikang quickly added, "Okay, I’ll be honest, I don’t want you to be without support when I’m not around.

Choosing Jing Zhe was a choice made without options. Now that Lin Wenbin is here, he’s the most suitable candidate. He’s your cousin, so nobody can gossip.

As your husband, since I can’t protect you wholeheartedly, needing help from your uncle, I of course need to show sincerity. I won’t lie, this is the first time I’ve tried to please anyone. It was quite awkward."

"Really?" Chuxia looked him in the eyes, "Do you mind Jing Zhe helping me?"

"I don’t mind, but it’s unfair to him..." Mikang became serious, "You realize that too, right?"

"Yes!" Chuxia broke into a smile, "Hey, now that you and Lin Wenbin are getting close, aren’t you jealous?"

"I wish I could always be the one to take care of and protect you, but, there are times when one has no choice. I can’t let my pride compromise your safety."

"Who was it that endangered me today?"

The topic changed so quickly that Mikang was taken aback, then he sighed lightly, "You, you can’t be fooled by anything. You lead me in circles just to catch me off guard and fall into your trap, right?"

"I’m sorry..." Chuxia smiled sheepishly, "I didn’t really mean to trick you. I know you won’t tell me because you don’t want me to live in fear, and I know you’ve arranged for people to protect me so I won’t really be in danger.

But, I still want to know the truth because I don’t want to be like a clueless bunny, wondering why I was chosen when the wolf comes."

Mikang wore a bemused expression, "Who’s trying to turn you into a clueless bunny? I didn’t intend to keep it from you this morning; I just wasn’t sure if it was a plot or an accident, so I didn’t mention it.

As it turns out, it was likely just a coincidence. Rao Xue was released, Rao Ying came to get her things, just happened to see you, then saw Cheng Guo riding his bike coming over and pushed him hard. Coincidentally, Cheng Guo’s bike brakes weren’t working, and with her push, it went completely out of control.

But for now, I haven’t let anyone act. It’s better to err on the side of caution. Let’s wait and see. Given her temperament, just creating a tense atmosphere might make her slip up."

"You sure you really know her?" Chuxia looked at him half-jokingly, "Aren’t you afraid that your little scare might actually alert and scatter her accomplices?"

"She and I were classmates, and we’ve interacted occasionally. If she really had a strong backer, she wouldn’t have allowed Rao Xue to be detained. Their sisterly bond is very strong. That’s why she targets you, you get it now?"

"What are you planning to do about this?"

"I’ll make sure she won’t dare to bother you anymore, don’t worry..." Mikang patted her shoulder, "Now that I’ve caught her, I can’t let her off easily."

Chuxia trusted that Mikang would handle the situation well, so she didn’t press further and changed the topic, "By the way, will you be able to come back for the New Year?"

"By the schedule, I should be back by then. Currently, we’re on a rotation system, stationed in each military region for three months, so you can rest assured, after the New Year, I’ll have plenty of time to spend with you."

"Big brother, you’re being a bit presumptuous..." Chuxia rolled her eyes at him, "I’m asking if you’ll be able to come back so we can plan for the New Year in advance.

My parents are coming over in a few days, and they’ll probably stay here during the New Year. But after the holiday, we always go visiting relatives. This is our first New Year after getting married, and according to our local customs, you have to kowtow to my grandparents."

"So, I have to ask in advance, if you can’t make it, we’ll just wait until after the fourth day to return. I can’t really explain the specifics, but there’s a particular custom around the third and fourth days in our area," she said.

She really couldn’t understand why, ever since she came back from the Lin Family, Zhao Yulan had repeatedly reminded her to confirm this matter with Zhou Mikang in a letter in advance. Now that she was facing him in person, it saved her the trouble.

"Can’t you act like you can’t live without me?" Zhou Mikang said with a headache, watching her, "Why do you always seem like you don’t care about me at all?"

"Commander, when you married me, you said you wanted to win my heart gradually, so what’s the rush?"

"I have patience, but you have to give me some response, right?"

"Hmph, you think winning my heart is that easy?" Chuxia gave him a disdainful look and then slyly tugged at him, "Zhou Mikang, are you sure, do you really want my heart?"

"Nonsense!"

"If I, Lin Chuxia, truly fall in love with you, I won’t allow you to treat any woman other than family members nicely. Like how you visited your ex-girlfriend today, I just wouldn’t allow it, unless I’m with you. The me after falling in love is possessive and irrational like that. Are you still sure you want it?"

"Were you jealous all this time?" Zhou Mikang smirked teasingly. "If you want to know what I said to Ye Meiru, just ask straightforwardly. Why beat around the bush? Chuxia, you’re becoming less and less adorable, always beating around the bush with me today."

"Get lost, I don’t need to know." Chuxia gave him the middle finger and quickly pushed open the car door, getting out and running into the yard.

Zhou Mikang watched her back disappear at the entrance until she was out of sight, still in a daze. Did she really not care? Or was she pretending not to care? Whichever the answer, it bothered him quite a bit. Afterward, he shook his head, amused. He was actually being led around by the nose by his young wife, which was quite something, but he loved this feeling.

Being genuinely concerned about someone, sharing in their happiness and their worries, feeling warmth in his heart just thinking about her—that kind of emotion, he had finally found it!

If his sister were alive, she would definitely be happy for him, he thought of Zhou Xiaorao, and the smile on his face faded bit by bit.

Once, Xiaorao had hugged his arm and discussed with him what happiness was, what love was. She said her greatest wish in life was to have a loving brother and a loving partner, someone who could make her feel concerned and warm.

Unfortunately, she passed away before she could fulfill that wish.

Chuxia asked him why he was so warm to Lin Wenbin, and he said he wanted to provide her with a strong backing. In fact, the real reason was that he hoped Chuxia could fulfill the wish his sister had not.

Ultimately, it was about providing Chuxia with backing, but the feeling was different. For a moment, he wanted to tell Chuxia the truth, but when the words reached his lips, he changed them. He was worried Chuxia might misunderstand that he saw her as his sister’s shadow.

His feelings for his sister were certainly different from those for Chuxia, but explaining sometimes is the weakest defense, and misunderstandings are the hardest to resolve. Sticking to the principle of avoiding trouble when possible, he chose to keep it hidden.

This wasn’t deception, but true love!

But even thinking this way, he still felt uneasy. He sighed deeply, started the car, and drove away, comforting himself that someday, they would have no secrets between them.

At the conference room door, he encountered Zhou Jingping. Thinking of his sister earlier made him feel distant from his father, so he just gave a faint smile and quickly entered the conference room.

Zhou Jingping, who initially wanted to talk to him, stood stunned for a long while before stepping in.

Noticing his father’s occasionally anxious glances at him, he sighed inwardly. He understood the rationale and told himself he didn’t mind, but deep down, it was still hard to be completely unaffected.

The meeting lasted a full hour and a half, primarily focusing on specific work arrangements for everyone in the future. They also set a date for their return, the fifteenth of January; they would accelerate the march on the road and almost be back by the minor New Year.

After the meeting, his shoulder was suddenly slapped hard. Turning his head, it was Qiao Jingjun, who smiled and said, "What were you thinking about? You didn’t even acknowledge my greeting when you came in."

"Sorry, I’ve been a bit exhausted these days, kind of out of it, didn’t hear you."

Qiao Jingjun smiled meaningfully, "I understand, I understand..."

Zhou Mikang could tell what he was thinking by his expression and, annoyed, slapped him on the forehead, "What wild thoughts are you having? Try driving day and night for three days yourself."

"If it wasn’t for the rush to see your wife, would you have needed to be so desperate?" Qiao Jingjun said, dodging to the side, "Third Brother, I’ve got something serious to talk to you about, can we stop fooling around?"

Zhou Mikang squinted at him without making a sound.

Qiao Jingjun gestured apologetically with his hands, "Alright, alright, my fault, I was the one fooling around. I really have something serious to discuss with Third Brother, can we talk outside, please?"

(To be continued. If you like this book, you’re welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) or purchase tokens of support. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)