Back To The 80s-Chapter 64 - 63: Temptation_1

Gu Xiaobei found that there was less work in the office recently, and Jin Cheng was particularly elusive, showing up one day and disappearing the next. When Saturday came around, she sighed deeply, feeling unsuited to her undercover work. How could she have found out nothing?

After work, Qin Li was waiting for her at the gate. "What’s wrong with you today? Why the long face?" Gu Xiaobei asked Qin Li who looked upset.

"Ah, my mother invited some college students over for dinner at home. I just don’t want to go home." Qin Li answered with frustration. She looked behind Gu Xiaobei, her eyes filled with disappointment.

"Don’t bother looking. He didn’t come today." Gu Xiaobei comforted the lovesick girl.

"I wasn’t looking for him, he can come or not, I don’t care." Qin Li retorted stubbornly.

"Are you sure you truly like Jin Cheng, and this isn’t just stubbornness?" Gu Xiaobei was puzzled by Qin Li’s persistence.

A glimmer of confusion appeared in Qin Li’s eyes. "Sister Xiaobei, you don’t understand. Some people, you fall in love with them at first sight and it lasts a lifetime, while others, no matter how long you look, you just won’t take a liking to them."

Gu Xiaobei was surprised. Could this girl also be a time traveler? How could she have such romantic, such profound ideas?

Upon reflection, she had reacted similarly, deciding upon Lu Zhanguo with a single glance.

Gu Xiaobei walked slowly with Qin Li, in silence. Qin Li seemed to recover rather quickly and said, "Sister Xiaobei, I’ve made up my mind. If Jin Cheng doesn’t want me in the end, I won’t be a policewoman anymore. I’ll go to Capital City. I’ll go back to where I first lost Jin Jiacheng."

Gu Xiaobei was taken aback. This was too much like a tragic romance. If Jin Cheng didn’t marry Qin Li in the end, he was heartless.

Shen Heng was lounging at home with Lu Zhanguo, a cigarette hanging from his lips and looking weary. He leaned on the sofa, not uttering a word.

Lu Zhanguo eyed him icily, "Be careful, don’t drop your ashes on the sofa."

Shen Heng glanced at him sidelong, "Just look at you, so whipped."

Lu Zhanguo threw him a cold glance and ignored him. Shen Heng rose to extinguish the cigarette butt, "Things are getting a bit complicated. Boss Liao died in prison. Gao Dailin has abruptly gone quiet, probably due to that phone call with sister-in-law. Regardless of whether sister-in-law understood or not, they’ve kept quiet for caution’s sake. But there’s a bit more trouble around Gu Xiaodong. He’s confirmed to be having an affair with Liao Qing, with little Liao Zhe as his biological son. If this comes to light now, Gu Xiaodong will be expelled from the military, and even if he’s exposed for corruption later, it won’t reach the military court. Then Gao Dailin will discard him as a pawn no longer of use."

Shen Heng scratched his head, seeing that Lu Zhanguo had no intention of speaking, continued, "So, we should lay off Gu Xiaodong for now, but I hope your sister-in-law can cooperate with us."

"No way, I already told you not to involve her." Lu Zhanguo immediately vetoed this terrible idea.

"Sister-in-law is more aware of the situation than you. After receiving that phone call, she tried to find me at the hotel first. When she couldn’t, she went to investigate the company on her own at night. Tsk tsk, her tree-climbing skills are impressive." Shen Heng chuckled, thinking of the shadowy figure skulking under the walls that night.

Hearing this, Lu Zhanguo’s face darkened and he said nothing. Shen Heng handed over a handkerchief, "She was almost discovered by Gao Dailin. Thanks to me clearing up after her." At that time, as Gu Xiaobei clumsily scrambled up to run away, he quickly cleaned up the scene and directed Gao Dailin’s men to run in the opposite direction.

Lu Zhanguo’s face darkened further, bluntly accepting the handkerchief and putting it in his pocket. Shen Heng, unfazed, continued, "I’ll guarantee sister-in-law’s safety."

Lu Zhanguo didn’t want to continue the topic and said, "We’ll talk later."

"Right, Yuan Tan has returned to the country, and it seems she’s come for you. Maybe she’s already on her way to T City." Shen Heng said with great interest.

"What is she looking for me for?" Lu Zhanguo was slightly puzzled.

"Don’t tell me you didn’t know she’s been in love with you all these years. Didn’t she leave you a letter when she went abroad?" Shen Heng asked curiously.

"What letter? I don’t know." Lu Zhanguo responded nonchalantly.

"Tell me, you’re average-looking and you have a terrible temper, how do you still manage to attract women?" Shen Heng expressed his confusion.

Lu Zhanguo shot him a glare, "I haven’t done anything. What are you talking about?"

"You’d better be able to resist temptations then." Shen Heng quickly left before Lu Zhanguo could throttle him.

When Gu Xiaobei came back, Shen Heng had already left. Lu Zhanguo was cooking. Gu Xiaobei was confused. She had lingered by the kitchen entrance for a long time today, but Lu Zhanguo had completely ignored her, not even a glance her way. This was unusual.

"What’s wrong with you?" Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but ask during dinner. Lu Zhanguo responded listlessly, "Nothing’s wrong. Eat your meal."

Gu Xiaobei thought: There must be something wrong. She pondered over whether she had upset him, but she hadn’t. Was he upset about work? No, that wasn’t right. Lu Zhanguo never let his work-related issues show on his face.

After dinner, Gu Xiaobei lay on the couch, flipping through a comic book and stealing glances at Lu Zhanguo sitting at the table, writing seriously. In her heart, she grumbled: Well, fine. You dare to give me the cold shoulder, just wait and see.

Lu Zhanguo finished his work and seeing Gu Xiaobei sound asleep on the couch, he walked over resignedly and gently carried her off. The moment he laid her on the bed, Gu Xiaobei suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes full of smug satisfaction.

"Tell me, what happened to you tonight?" Gu Xiaobei asked.

"Nothing. Go to sleep, sweetheart." Lu Zhanguo patted her small face gently.

"If you say ’nothing’ again, you can forget about ever ’experimenting’ with having a son with me again." Gu Xiaobei stared at him wide-eyed, threateningly.

Lu Zhanguo was silent. This girl... he really had no way to deal with her. Gu Xiaobei moved closer and bit Lu Zhanguo’s lip, saying arrogantly, "Speak up, or I’m going to sleep."

Lu Zhanguo sighed, pulling Gu Xiaobei into his arms, "I am a bit annoyed, you went to the company by yourself, in the middle of the night. What if something had happened?"

The once cocky Gu Xiaobei suddenly deflated at his words.

"I’m in the military, I can’t always be by your side, I worry you might get into danger and I won’t be able to get to you in time." Lu Zhanguo looked at Gu Xiaobei, now wilting in his arms, and continued, "I know I can’t persuade you, but I just hope that when you’re in danger, you’ll act prudently."

"Who told you about this?" Gu Xiaobei suddenly asked.

"Shen Heng. Now, go to sleep." Lu Zhanguo patted Gu Xiaobei’s back and softly urged.

"Are you not angry anymore?" Gu Xiaobei pouted.

"Do I dare to be? You threatened not to have a son with me." Lu Zhanguo couldn’t help but find Gu Xiaobei’s threat amusing.

"Lu Zhanguo, I don’t like arguing, nor do I like giving someone the silent treatment. If we have a fight in the future, I hope we resolve it within the day. Because if the heartache lasts too long, it could go numb." Gu Xiaobei said softly, leaning against Lu Zhanguo’s chest.

"Okay." Lu Zhanguo promised.

Gu Xiaobei’s hope for her two lives was to have a warm home.