Chapter 630: Pick‑up 1

During this time, Lu Cheng hasn't dared to return home; after all, who sent him "abroad"?

Even when going to work at the unit, he deliberately avoids the department store in front of the square.

Otherwise, if his sister finds out he lied, she could twist his ears off.

Fortunately he doesn't lack a place to stay; he's been living in a tube‑shaped building, not going to the Siheyuan, because the Siheyuan side is being excavated into a basement by Guo Tuzi and his men.

Previously, because of the Internal Combustion Engine Project, he had no time; now that he's free, he told Guo Tuzi to dig it out as soon as possible.

He plans to stash his Mao Tai, Monkey Tickets, the "Mountains and Rivers Red" stamps, and any other good stuff he acquires in there.

When it was his turn for duty scheduling, he had to ride a train; Jiang Mengmeng was transferred here, and the former Broadcaster Xiao Zhou was sent to the Jingguang Line.

He thought he still needed to do some ideological work, since things were going well here, everyone got along happily, and suddenly moving someone away might be hard for Xiao Zhou to accept.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhou was delighted, willing to follow Duan Li's arrangement; she was eager to go to Nan Fang Guangcheng.

That turned out well for Lu Cheng; perhaps that day he said nice words for Jiang Mengmeng, securing his position. Since then, this young woman has become especially proactive—either helping fetch water or, when the train isn't busy, offering to massage his shoulders.

During the last duty, Jiang Mengmeng said something that made Lu Cheng spit out the water he was drinking on the spot.

The young woman then told Lu Cheng, "Since you're also divorced, why don't I get divorced too and marry you—okay?"

Lu Cheng took it as a joke; Jiang Mengmeng is very pretty, especially her figure—curvy and well‑proportioned—so if she divorced, she probably wouldn't worry about finding a husband.

But actually marrying her is something Lu Cheng has never considered; this young woman isn't someone ordinary can settle.

What Lu Cheng doesn't know is that not only Jiang Mengmeng has this notion; many other unmarried women also want to marry him.

Even though he's divorced, being handsome and tall isn't an issue; the key is that he's a deputy director in his twenties with huge future potential.

If she marries him, she'll have no worries about food and drink, and she'll also gain face.

Moreover, Lu Cheng likes joking with them, leading many of those women to mistakenly think he has romantic interest in them.

With the arrival of the dog days, the entire Capital City feels like a steamer, oppressively suffocating.

From afar, the sun‑softened asphalt shows concentric halos shimmering.

Lu Cheng drove the unit's jeep out, parked at the Alley Entrance, rolled down the window, and, with a hand raised, smoked while waiting for Yang Yin.

After a long wait, a pure‑looking girl emerged from the courtyard of a villa.

She held half a watermelon in her hand, unabashedly chewing it as she walked.

When she reached the jeep's driver‑side window, Yang Yin handed over the half‑eaten watermelon.

Lu Cheng shook his head: "I won't eat it; you eat it."

Yang Yin instantly puckered her little face: "Disdain me? No way—then you eat, you eat what's left of me, hurry and give it to me…"

The half watermelon was thrust straight into his mouth; Lu Cheng had to take it, gnawed it in a few bites, and tossed the rind onto the ground.

"That's so uncivilized—what if an old lady passes by and slips?" Yang Yin smacked it, picked up the rind, and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Then she jogged back to the car, rested her chin on the window, and tilted her head to look at Lu Cheng.

"Get in, it's scorching hot."

"Don't move." Yang Yin pulled out a handkerchief, wiped the watermelon juice from Lu Cheng's mouth corner, and said, "Hmm, now you're much more handsome."

When Yang Yin got into the car, she pulled out two packs of cigarettes: "Hey, it's not like I let you pick up my brother for free; I know you've finished your smoke, so I snuck two more packs for you."

Lu Cheng glanced and couldn't help but shake his head, sighing, "Ah, you say why I'm so lucky."

Yang Yin laughed, "Of course, my man must be pampered by me. By the way, why are you still driving?"

Lu Cheng turned the key to start the car and said, "It's not that my big brother‑in‑law flew over from the far side of the ocean; I have to convey our country's warmth, and I can't just haul him over with a human‑powered tricycle."

Yang Yin laughed, eyes curving like crescents: "Your jeep is still a bit shabby; my brother already drives those little cars now."

Lu Cheng floored the accelerator: "Then my big brother‑in‑law must be rich; later, tell him to buy me one."

"Do you have any shame!"

Yang Yin smacked him again, then looked up and said, "But if you like it, after I graduate I'll earn money to buy it for you."

Buying a small car now is something ordinary people wouldn't even dare imagine, yet Yang Yin said it with a serious face, clearly determined.

This made Lu Cheng's affection overflow; even in this sweltering weather he didn't feel hot, only a cool, pleasant sensation.

Having a girl willing to buy him a car made Lu Cheng feel extremely happy.

To show respect for Yang Yin's brother, Lu Cheng drove to a state‑owned flower shop and bought a bouquet.

Yang Yin loved it, clutching the bouquet tightly and praising Lu Cheng for his thoughtfulness.

International flights only depart from the Capital City's international airport, and Lu Cheng drove straight to the destination.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Yang Yin rested her chin on her hand, watching Lu Cheng; since getting in, her gaze never left him.

"Nervous?"

Lu Cheng glanced and replied, "Honestly, I'm a bit nervous."

Deep down he wants to marry Yang Yin, and naturally hopes for his big brother‑in‑law's blessing.

The more nervous Lu Cheng gets, the happier Yang Yin becomes, showing that Lu Cheng cares about her; otherwise, given his temperament, he wouldn't be nervous.

"It's fine, my brother is a good person; as long as it's something I like, he'll firmly support me."

Hearing that, Lu Cheng felt relieved.

When they arrived, with half an hour before the flight, Lu Cheng parked in a shady open space and turned to look at Yang Yin.

"Thirsty?"

"No, I'm not thirsty; I ate a lot of watermelon at home and couldn't bear to eat the remaining half, I saved it especially for you."

"That half, and you already chewed half of it away."

"Hmm~ I saved some for you too; I'll go get you some water, that's fine."

"No need, I think the plane will land soon; I'll just give you a kiss, that'll quench my thirst."

Yang Yin glared, "Give you a…"

Before she could finish, Lu Cheng pulled her upper body toward him and covered her lips.

It wasn't until she heard the roar of a plane passing overhead that Yang Yin pushed Lu Cheng away.

"Your mouth got swollen from your kiss, and you still want to see my brother! Later you'd better be honest."

Lu Cheng, unfazed, got off: "What's there to fear? America is far more open than ours; perhaps your brother, after seeing me, could even give me a face‑to‑face courtesy."

Yang Yin laughed: "You're overthinking it. My brother may have received an American education, but because he's often influenced by my father, deep down he still follows our motherland's etiquette."

The two walked side by side inside, standing at the pickup point to wait.