Chapter 275: Encountering a Familiar Person

Regarding this issue, Lu Cheng can't be 100% certain either; after all, political matters are somewhat complicated, but the end of the year is definitely a good opportunity.

To reassure Lin Qingyan, he said earnestly, "Believe me, we'll definitely make it."

Lin Qingyan lightly nodded; that leaves only half a year.

After longing for so many years, she should have been ecstatic.

But for some reason, she now feels conflicted.

On one hand, she hopes to see her parents soon and have the family reunited; on the other hand… she fears that day might arrive.

The ball eventually ended.

When they headed outside, Lu Cheng held someone with one arm, and Lu Ying disdainfully brushed his hand away.

"Hey, watch the impression—why are you hugging on both sides?"

"You're my sister; what impression am I supposed to mind!"

"Didn't you say that outsiders wouldn't know I'm your sister?"

Lu Cheng was instantly speechless, leaned in and asked, "Sis, what's it like dancing with a foreigner?"

Seeing it was getting late, Lu Ying quickened her pace outward, pouting as she said,

"It's nothing special; he's quite gentlemanly in speech, but his dancing skills are lacking—he stepped on my foot twice, it hurt like hell. Next time I won't look for a foreigner; you'd better lead me instead."

Hearing Lu Ying's complaints, Lu Cheng and Lin Qingyan burst into laughter.

At the entrance, Lu Ying looked for the bicycle, "Lu Cheng, where's your bike? Where did you park it?"

"Bicycle? Huh?" Lu Cheng scratched the back of his head and hurriedly searched left and right.

Lu Ying grew impatient, "What's with the 'huh'? You didn't lose it again, did you? Didn't you lock it?"

"I did lock it. When I arrived, I clearly remember parking it right here. How did it disappear? It really seems lost!"

"You! You're done!"

Lu Ying's anger flared instantly; she grabbed a brick, vowing to smash a hole in Lu Cheng's head.

Seeing his sister's seriousness, Lu Cheng quickly intervened, "Sis, sis, I'm kidding. It's not lost; it's parked right here."

When he saw the bike indeed parked on the other side, Lu Ying relaxed, "Take better care of it; I bought it for seventy bucks."

"Ah, I know. Look, I've tied it with two iron chains."

Lu Ying glared, "What 'tied' it? It's locked. It sounds like you're tying a dog. Are you disliking it?"

"No, no, I haven't even had time to cherish it. In a moment I'll carry the bike, let it ride me."

Lu Cheng squatted there, having unlocked the front lock and still needing to unlock the rear, making a mess; anyone unaware would think it's a brand‑new bike.

In the Capital City it's fine; most households can afford a bike, but in remote small communes, they're still precious.

With only one bike, Lu Ying saw she couldn't sit, and said, "Then you ride the bike back. Qing Yan and I will take the bus; don't wander, just go straight home."

Lu Cheng, having unlocked both front and rear locks, stood up and said, "Why take the bus? That's not how we live. Get on; I'll take both of you. Sis, you sit on the front crossbar."

At this hour there's probably no bus, Lu Ying thought it was fine, just as she was about to step forward, Lin Qingyan suddenly volunteered to sit up front.

Lu Ying was surprised; sitting on the front crossbar meant Lu Cheng would wrap his hands around her—she's his sister, so it's fine—but why is Lin Qingyan so eager?

"Did we decide who sits up front? Hurry up."

Lu Cheng urged, and Lu Ying replied, "Then let Qing Yan sit up front."

Lu Ying, wearing a skirt, sat sideways at the back; Lin Qingyan… huh? Even without a skirt, she could only sit sideways.

When the two were seated, Lu Cheng lowered his body slightly, hands on the handlebars, while Qing Yan sat in his arms like a motionless little bird.

He gave a hard pedal, and the bike shot forward, Lu Cheng swaying the handlebars left and right.

Lu Ying tapped from behind, "Ride properly, why the wobble!"

None of them noticed a figure trailing far behind.

……

Heading home along Hu Tong, Lu Cheng greeted neighbors along the way; when he passed the Hu Tong Entrance, he suddenly saw a familiar figure—Li Huiying.

He thought it was a chance encounter, but soon Li Huiying saw him too, opening her mouth to greet, clearly having come specifically to find him.

Lu Cheng quickly gave a strong kick to the pedal, pulling away rapidly.

He wasn't afraid of Lin Qingyan seeing him; after all, they were going to divorce, and he mainly didn't want his sister to see, or she'd nag him to death.

At the courtyard entrance, Lu Cheng got off the bike and handed it to his sister.

"Sis, you go home first."

Lu Ying, holding the handlebars, asked, "Where are you off to again? It's so late, why haven't you gone home to sleep?"

"I'm just going to the bathroom."

Lu Cheng told a lie; he was planning to go to the Hu Tong Entrance to meet Li Huiying.

How could that nasty woman still have found her way to the house! I don't know what she wants, but she needs a face‑to‑face warning.

Lu Ying didn't doubt him, "Okay, go then. When you come back, remember to latch the courtyard gate; I see the lights inside are off, we're probably the last ones home."

In a communal Da Za Yuan like this, there's no strict rule for nightly closing time; it's usually around nine to eleven PM, and even night‑shift workers or youngsters watching movies are expected to be back by then.

Whoever is the last to enter or leave the courtyard quietly secures the gate; after years of communal living, everyone has developed an unspoken sense of duty.

If the courtyard is locked and someone truly returns too late, they have to shout for a family member to open it, inevitably waking others, so everyone is conscientious and tries not to come back too late.

In the past, Lu Cheng often hung around outside, coming home at two or three in the morning; he'd try shouting for someone to open the gate a few times, which would certainly wake the neighbors, so his dad would beat him with a broom each time.

After that, he dared not call for anyone, yet he couldn't stay out overnight; fortunately Sun Yan Hong's house faced the main road, so Lu Cheng would kick the room where Sun Yan Hong slept a few times.

No matter how late, Sun Yan Hong would drape a garment over herself and open the door for him.

Lu Cheng straightened his clothes and headed toward the Hu Tong Entrance; Li Huiying indeed hadn't left yet.

It had been a while since they'd met; after the weather warmed, Lu Cheng's visits to the bathhouse dwindled, and because Li Huiying lingered in that pool, he would switch to other bathhouses.

The Capital City never lacks bathhouses, and with the upcoming Reform and Opening Up, they'll keep increasing.

Seeing Li Huiying, Lu Cheng wore a look of disgust; if it weren't for having found her at his doorstep, he would have been too lazy to even acknowledge her.

"Why did you come?"

"Why are you being hostile? I came looking for you."

Sure enough, Lu Cheng still said irritably, "You came looking for me, but you didn't have to come all the way here, right? Haven't I told you before, if I see you again, I'll smash your face."

Li Huiying wasn't scared at all: "Don't try to scare me; I know you can't let go."

"Hiss!" Lu Cheng felt it was a sin, wondering how he ever liked her in the first place.

To get rid of Li Huiying's entanglement, Lu Cheng had to reveal his situation: "You're not done yet, are you? Let me tell you honestly, I'm already married. Even if I'm handsome, it's hard enough to find a second one; the two of us could never resume our past connection."

"I know you're married," Li Huiying said; she had learned it from Sun Zhuren at the bathhouse.

Lu Cheng frowned: "You know I'm married? Then why are you still looking for me, what does that even mean?"