Young Brave Hearts – CH 089

Chapter 89: After Getting the Marriage Certificate 01

◎ “Now I have you, Lu Rangchen.” ◎

In August, the height of summer in Nancheng, the sweltering heat persisted.

This was Zhu Yunque’s first summer vacation since arriving at Yuhua High School.

On the day the final exam results were announced, Lu Rangchen led Jiang Sui and a few others back from their successful study abroad trip. The boys excitedly went back to the club to shower and change, preparing for their evening party.

Lu Rangchen, however, was preoccupied with Zhu Yunque and didn’t even see them off. He drove straight home from the airport.

It was that three-story villa outside the Third Ring Road in the city.

The villas were neatly arranged, all looking the same throughout the complex. In summer, the willows provided shade, creating a pleasant scene.

To be honest, this place wasn’t exactly prime real estate in the southern part of the city, but it wasn’t cheap either.

Most of the residents were upper-middle class or above, with luxury cars coming and going, a dazzling display of wealth.

Zhu Yunque only learned that Lu Rangchen had a mortgage after moving in.

The loan wasn’t large; he had been using rental income to pay it off.

It was only after Zhu Yunque returned that he decided to take the house back.

The tenant, who ran a bed and breakfast, was quite unhappy about it, saying that Lu Rangchen was affecting his business.

Lu Rangchen, once he made a decision, was a man of his word but equally kind; he directly refunded the tenant six months’ rent.

The tenant, grumbling all the while, packed up the apartment and left. He then paid for renovations, mostly soft furnishings, so it was done quickly.

But even so, Zhu Yunque hadn’t expected Lu Rangchen to be this quick.

The two of them hadn’t even reconciled yet.

They’d even had a fight at Old Liu’s place, where he’d made a clean break, saying it was over and done with.

But right after saying that, he drank all night.

It was unclear whether he’d come to terms with it or regretted it; he’d just overheard Deng Zhe mentioning that party venue, and on a whim, Lu Rangchen called the tenant.

This was something Deng Zhe had told Zhu Yunque at the party after Lu Rangchen moved in.

He said he was right there when Lu Rangchen called the tenant that night, and the tenant was furious, giving Lu Rangchen a good scolding.

But Lu Rangchen, usually so hot-tempered with athletes and colleagues, didn’t utter a single word that time. Slumped against the wall, reeking of alcohol, his tone neither conciliatory nor polite, he suddenly blurted out, “Then I’ll compensate you, okay?”

The tenant was stunned for a moment.

Then they all laughed in exasperation, saying, “Dude, are you in such a hurry to get married?”

Lu Rangchen neither admitted nor denied it, repeating his words with an unreadable expression.

The tenant was helpless.

But what could he do even if he disagreed? The house still belonged to Lu Rangchen, so he could only let Lu Rangchen take it back.

It was then that Deng Zhe understood.

He understood that Lu Rangchen was like this; he was destined to be completely controlled by Zhu Yunque for the rest of his life.

But he was the type who couldn’t keep a secret.

So, on the very night the two had moved in, he seized the opportunity to tell Zhu Yunque what had happened.

It was after Deng Zhe and the others left.

Zhu Yunque then asked about Lu Rangchen.

That night, the atmosphere was alluring and passionate.

Lu Rangchen had indeed drunk quite a bit; otherwise, he wouldn’t have truly spared Zhu Yunque, only pressing her down and touching and kissing her.

After they had kissed enough, it was Zhu Yunque’s turn to lie in his arms and fondle him.

The man’s scent of alcohol was strong but not cloying, mixed with the pleasant aroma of ebony, making him even more sensual. His shirt collar was half-open, all Zhu Yunque’s doing, a scene of eroticism.

Faced with Zhu Yunque’s questioning, he maintained his nonchalant attitude, casually curling the corners of his mouth, and said, “What else could I be thinking? Of course, I’m thinking about making my future mistress more comfortable.”

As he spoke, his long hands gently massaged Zhu Yunque’s slender yet not bony, snow-white shoulders.

Lu Rangchen let out a soft sigh, his dark eyes lowered, gazing at her tenderly and attentively. He said, “I think you should have your own study so you can read, prepare lessons, and grade assignments undisturbed.”

“But I also felt it would be too cramped to squeeze your dressing table into the bedroom with mine, so perhaps I should give you a walk-in closet. That way, you can store all the clothes, shoes, and bags you buy, and you can choose an outfit you like every day, looking beautiful every time you go out.”

“As for the future, we’ll have children eventually, right? A bedroom for the children, a study.”

“If we hire a nanny, we’ll also need a guest room.”

The more he spoke, the deeper the smile on Zhu Yunque’s face became.

Finally, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Seeing her smiling happily, Lu Rangchen also curled his lips into a slight smile, seemingly helpless. He said, “Zhu Yunque, try smiling again.”

Zhu Yunque cleared her throat, feigning seriousness, and said, “Okay, I won’t smile.”

Lu Rangchen chuckled softly, then couldn’t help but lower his head and lightly bite her lip and tongue as if punishing her.

The alluring yet seductive sensation was captivating.

Just as he pulled away, he was met with those pure and clear deer eyes.

Zhu Yunque stared intently at him, her heart fluttering. She said, “You know, Lu Rangchen, when I was little, my biggest wish was to have my own study or a big, comfortable bedroom where I wouldn’t be disturbed by anyone.”

Usually, she was aloof and distant.

It seemed impossible to truly understand her, no matter how hard he tried.

But now, as she spoke these words, Lu Rangchen clearly sensed a difference.

It seemed she was willing to open herself up to him, body and soul.

She was no longer hiding anything from him.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and Lu Rangchen’s voice was low and husky, “Just that one wish?”

A complex mix of emotions welled up within him. He suddenly smiled and said, “So my little darling suffered so much as a child?”

“…”

That was just how humans were, after all.

She could be strong in the rain; she could hold back her tears.

But as soon as the rain stopped and a loved one asked her a question, her heart would crumble, her vulnerability unbearable.

Zhu Yunque’s eyes welled up with a light mist. She shook her head and said, “But it’s not bitter now.”

“…”

“Now I have you, Lu Rangchen.”

“With you, my future will only be sweet.”

He couldn’t remember which friend had said it, that Zhu Yunque was beautiful but definitely not a good match.

Other girls were either tough on the outside but soft on the inside, or soft on the outside but soft on the inside, but not her. She was tough on the outside and hard on the inside.

Before, Lu Rangchen only knew that he was the one who had been abandoned.

Hearing this, he would only chuckle silently, at most giving a self-deprecating, slightly sarcastic smile.

But until that night, Lu Rangchen realized that no one, none of them, understood Zhu Yunque.

She was the most stubborn shellfish in the world.

She appeared indestructible on the outside, but once you opened her up, you’d find she possessed the softest interior and the warmest heart.

Even her coaxing was utterly irresistible.

Because of her words, Lu Rangchen had the club manager help him select and purchase several pieces of eco-friendly furniture for his home the very next day, just to make her study and walk-in closet as comfortable and well-furnished as possible.

However, by the time everything was completely set up and Zhu Yunque could use it, summer vacation at Yuhua High School had begun.

Zhu Yunque’s new computer and desk hadn’t even been used for a few days before Deng Jiao, who was being sent by Deng Zhe for tutoring, took over.

Deng Zhe’s exact words were that this little girl’s grades were terrible, so he’d take advantage of his brother and old classmate to let Zhu Yunque teach her a lesson.

It just so happened that Deng Zhe was also renovating the supermarket at that time and didn’t have time to deal with Deng Jiao. Only after asking did she learn that he had recently saved some money and wanted to expand his shop to earn more.

Zhu Yunque didn’t object to keeping an eye on Deng Jiao.

She was just wondering what had happened between Deng Zhe and Xu Linda after their meeting at the party that day and whether they had been in contact.

Anyway, judging from what happened that day, the two seemed quite relaxed, laughing and joking, having fun as if nothing had happened.

But actually, Zhu Yunque knew that Xu Linda was still quite melancholic.

After all, she had liked someone so much during her adolescence.

How could she be indifferent to seeing him again?

That was why Zhu Yunque couldn’t help but ask.

But as it turned out, for some things, even if you asked the person involved, you wouldn’t get a clear answer. In the end, Deng Zhe just laughed it off, saying, “Hey, we’re all this age; can’t we think about something practical?”

Practical?

What was practical? Zhu Yunque didn’t know, and she didn’t relay it to Xu Linda.

She only knew that Xu Linda wasn’t as serious as she used to be. She could easily face Deng Zhe, then readily accept the pursuit of a rich second-generation, her love life flourishing.

As for Deng Zhe’s only relative, Deng Jiao…

This gossipy girl, ever since she saw Xu Linda with her own eyes that day, had been incredibly interested.

Having been entrusted to this place by her brother, the first thing she asked Zhu Yunque was, “Sister-in-law! Is that beautiful sister who likes my brother really out of the running with him?!”

The girl’s eyes widened like a child her age.

Having just been forced to memorize 20 English words and finally getting a short break, she chased after Zhu Yunque, who was going downstairs to cut fruit, bouncing around like a rabbit.

But, coincidentally, just as she finished speaking, Lu Rangchen returned.

It was a bright and sunny morning.

The tall, slender man stood arrogantly in the doorway, one hand in his pocket, holding two cups of Zhu Yunque’s favorite milk tea. He raised an eyebrow at Zhu Yunque but instead spoke to Deng Jiao, saying, “How many times have I told you, you have to call her ‘teacher’?”

Five or six days had passed since they last saw each other.

When Zhu Yunque saw him return, her heart skipped a beat.

Perhaps this was what it was like when first love blossoms into marriage.

No matter what you’d been through, you’d always find yourself falling for him again and again.

Zhu Yunque put down the fruit knife, a slight smile playing on her lips, and looked directly at Lu Rangchen, saying, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back until tonight?”

Lu Rangchen gave her a meaningful look, casually slipped on his slippers, and said nonchalantly, “I was just worried someone would miss me too much at home.”

Still that same irreverent, irritating attitude.

Deng Jiao rolled her eyes at the sour taste. “Ugh!” She put her hands on her hips and said, “Brother Rangchen, can’t you at least consider that I’m underage?”

Zhu Yunque chuckled at this.

She stepped forward, took the milk tea from Lu Rangchen, and poured a cup for Deng Jiao.

Lu Rangchen, aside from Zhu Yunque, really didn’t tolerate anyone else. He simply raised his chin at Deng Jiao and said, “If you can’t stand it, go back to your brother’s convenience store.”

He took Zhu Yunque’s hand, pulled her into a half-hug, and gave Deng Jiao a sneer, “You have a problem being a third wheel?”

The words fell.

Zhu Yunque’s lips twitched involuntarily; she wanted to laugh.

Just then, Lu Rangchen inadvertently glanced at the plate of cut fruit. His long, dark eyes looked at her with displeasure, and he raised an eyebrow with a strong hint of sourness, saying, “Zhu Yunque, you’re something else.”

“Why haven’t I ever seen you cut fruit for me at home?”

“…”

His smile vanished instantly.

Zhu Yunque pursed her lips, a hint of reproach in her voice, and said, “That’s because I usually can’t beat you in taking it.”

Author’s Note:
Deng Jiao’s inner monologue: Damn it!!!
Am I some kind of pathetic dog for you to torture?!