Using Marriage as Bait : Extra 17
Extra 17
When Jiang Zhouming and Lu Wantang returned, the restless Zhang Minmin, looking like she’d just seen her savior, hurriedly pulled her friend down to sit beside her and asked, “Where did you go?”
“Nowhere,” Lu Wantang replied nonchalantly.
“Don’t leave me alone here. I’m so nervous.”
“What are you nervous about?”
“I’m scared we’ll run into a teacher here.”
“......”
Lu Wantang was speechless. Running into a teacher here? It wasn’t even likely they’d bump into anyone they knew.
Coincidentally, Lu Chengmao had been invited out by a few friends who wanted to welcome him back, and the gathering spot just so happened to be at Absolute. Lu Chengmao wasn’t aware that this bar belonged to Jiang Zhouming. His friends arranged the venue; he just came along.
Meanwhile, Zhang Minmin, still fearful of running into someone familiar, kept anxiously scanning the room. Her nervous glances accidentally landed on someone she recognized. Lu Chengmao was also observing his surroundings and unexpectedly locked eyes with Zhang Minmin.
Both froze for a moment.
Zhang Minmin instantly paled. She had always maintained the image of a good girl in front of others, especially in front of the boy she liked. And yet, her first visit to a bar had her running into her crush.
Lu Chengmao was puzzled as to why Zhang Minmin was here. His gaze shifted, landing on Lu Wantang sitting beside her. At that moment, Lu Wantang was holding onto the arm of the boy next to her, chatting animatedly. The two appeared quite close.
It didn’t take long for Lu Chengmao to recognize the boy—Jiang Zhouming. His expression darkened immediately.
Instinctively, Zhang Minmin tugged at Lu Wantang’s sleeve. Lu Wantang turned to look at her and saw her staring, looking conflicted, in a certain direction. Following her gaze, Lu Wantang’s eyes widened in shock as she spotted her brother in the crowd.
Lu Wantang drew in a sharp breath. Not only had she run into someone she knew, but it was her brother!
If it had been her parents, Lu Wantang might not have been as terrified. But her brother? That was a different story…
Lu Junting and Lin Xiyu, her parents, had mellowed with age, becoming more lenient. They rarely scolded her anymore and doted on their youngest daughter. But her brother? He was the one who disciplined her the most.
Lu Chengmao approached the girls. Feeling guilty, they both stood up, their expressions unnatural.
“Brother, what are you doing here?” Lu Wantang asked.
Ignoring her question, Lu Chengmao glanced at Jiang Zhouming, then quickly looked away. His tone carried an edge as he asked, “I should be asking you that. What are you doing here? Is this a place for students?”
Lu Wantang replied, “This bar belongs to Jiang Zhouming. It’s fine.”
So, this was Jiang Zhouming’s bar? Lu Chengmao’s expression grew even darker. Without hesitation, he said to the two girls, “Come with me.”
The two didn’t dare protest and obediently followed him out. Outside, Lu Chengmao hailed a cab for them and instructed, “Go straight home.”
What else could they say? They could only agree.
Back in the bar, Jiang Zhouming remained seated, watching as Lu Wantang was led away by her brother. He said nothing. Of course, he understood—he had no right to say anything. After all, they were siblings.
When Lu Chengmao returned, a bottle of wine had appeared on the table. One of his friends pointed to it and said, “The bar sent this over. The owner’s orders.”
Lu Chengmao picked up his jacket and said to his friends, “Let’s go. Find another place.”
Jiang Zhouming’s seat wasn’t far from the door, so he naturally saw the group leaving. The bottle of wine he had sent over remained untouched.
Lu Chengmao didn’t like him. Jiang Zhouming had always known that. No matter how much goodwill he extended, it didn’t matter. If someone didn’t like you, they just didn’t like you.
The group of young men around Jiang Zhouming noticed the slight and were indignant on his behalf. One of them grumbled. “That guy’s so arrogant. Brother Zhou, should we teach him a lesson?”
“What do you know?” Jiang Zhouming swirled the wineglass in his slender fingers, took a swig, and leaned back under the flickering lights. His eyes were dark and unfathomable as he said, “That man is untouchable.”
Anyone connected to her was untouchable.
Later that evening, Lu Wantang called Jiang Zhouming after returning home.
“I didn’t know my brother would show up. I was planning to spend more time with you,” she said.
“It’s fine. Are you home now?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m home.”
“Get some rest.”
“Jiang Zhouming,” she suddenly called out.
“En?”
“Let’s get a room together.”
Jiang Zhouming was in the middle of pouring himself a glass of milk, having drunk a bit of alcohol and feeling uncomfortable. He spat out the milk he had just sipped upon hearing her words.
Gripping the phone tightly, his tone grew heavy. “Lu Wantang, what nonsense are you spouting?”
“I’m not joking. I just want to sleep with you.”
“......”
Jiang Zhouming was someone admired by many, often called ‘brother’ by his peers. His reputation for being cold and ruthless when it came to fighting was well known. Yet, in front of Lu Wantang, he always seemed to lose his composure. Like now, after hearing her words, his ears turned completely red, his gaze darting around in panic, unable to settle on anything.
Jiang Zhouming sat on the bed, trying to calm himself. “Lu Wantang, don’t joke with me about things like this in the future.”
“I’m not joking, Jiang Zhouming. Let’s find a time and get a room.”
Jiang Zhouming chuckled lightly. “We’re not even adults yet. What kind of room are you talking about?”
“Then we’ll wait until I turn eighteen,” Lu Wantang replied decisively.
Jiang Zhouming felt increasingly uneasy. He said, “We’ll see.”
But Lu Wantang took it as a yes. She smiled and said, “It’s settled, then.”
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Zhouming stared at his phone for a long time, lost in thought. It was only after a while that he flopped back onto the bed, arms and legs sprawled out comfortably. He closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.
Ever since Lu Wantang was caught by her older brother Lu Chengmao at the bar, she had become much more well-behaved—attending school diligently and returning home on time. Fortunately, her brother didn’t rat her out to their parents.
Lu Chengmao’s female classmate completed her coursework and left. When Lu Wantang shared the news with Zhang Minmin, her friend was delighted and suggested treating her to a meal to celebrate.
Meanwhile, their parents, Lu Junting and Lin Xiyu, had been preoccupied with a more pressing matter and hadn’t been paying much attention to their children.
The issue began when Lin Xiyu noticed that her ‘good friend’ hadn’t arrived for an unusually long time. While it wasn’t uncommon for hormonal changes to occur with age, this delay felt different.
Moreover, she had been feeling fatigued and out of sorts recently. As someone with experience, this situation immediately made her alert.
She shared her concerns with Lu Junting, and the two exchanged a subtle yet meaningful glance. Lin Xiyu hesitantly asked, “Do you think… I might be pregnant?”
Even someone as composed as Lu Junting had a complicated expression at this. “I’ve already had a vasectomy. It shouldn’t be possible.”
“Then what’s going on?”
“I’ll accompany you to the hospital later to find out.”
Lin Xiyu grew more anxious. “What if I am pregnant? The kids are already so grown up.” She started to feel embarrassed just thinking about it and glared at Lu Junting. “This is all your fault, you old rascal!”
‘Old rascal’ Lu Junting: “...”
Fine, he would take the blame.
That afternoon, Lu Junting took her to the hospital for a full examination. It turned out she wasn’t pregnant. However, the diagnosis wasn’t entirely comforting. The tests revealed a pituitary tumor.
The doctor provided two options: medication to control it or surgery. While medication posed fewer risks, surgery offered a more definitive solution, albeit with some danger. The doctor advised them to think it over carefully.
In the car ride home, Lin Xiyu looked pale, and Lu Junting wasn’t faring much better. Perhaps it was their age, but the prospect of illness seemed to hit harder. Lin Xiyu’s mind spiraled, imagining the worst-case scenarios—surgical complications, leaving her husband and children behind, and all the responsibilities they would face without her.
Her sadness deepened.
Years of being together had fostered a deep connection, and Lu Junting immediately sensed her change in mood. Though he was equally shaken, he knew that despair would only make things worse. He needed to be her pillar of strength.
Pulling her into his arms, he said, “It’s not as bad as it seems. The surgery isn’t that serious. I’ll find the best doctor for you. Don’t worry—you’ll be fine. And if you’d rather not do the surgery, we can stick with the medication.”
His steady demeanor and reassuring tone carried a quiet strength that calmed her a little.
“I’d rather have the surgery,” she admitted. “I don’t like the idea of slowly being boiled alive.”
“Then surgery it is.”
At dinner that evening, Lu Chengmao and Lu Wantang immediately noticed the heavy atmosphere at the table. The siblings exchanged a glance and silently reflected on whether they’d done anything to upset their parents recently. As a result, they sat down with a noticeable caution.
“I need to tell you something,” Lu Junting began, his tone grave.
The siblings lowered their heads further, bracing for what was to come. While Lu Junting was a loving father, his reputation for being a formidable businessman with an iron will preceded him. When he got angry, it was genuinely terrifying.
“Your mother has a tumor in her brain. She’s preparing to undergo surgery.”
Both siblings immediately snapped their heads up in shock, clearly unprepared for this revelation. Lu Wantang’s eyes reddened as she asked anxiously, “Will Mom be in danger?”
“There’s always risk with surgery.”
“But how could this happen?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Mom’s always been so healthy.”
“People get sick as they age.” Lu Junting said.
Lu Wantang struggled to accept this. To her, her mother had always been invincible. She could cook anything, solve the toughest problems, and fix whatever she couldn’t handle.
Now, faced with her mother’s illness, she was overwhelmed by grief. She threw her arms around Lin Xiyu’s waist, sobbing, “Mom, you’re going to be okay, right?”
Lin Xiyu was also anxious about her condition, but she didn’t want to scare her children further. Stroking her daughter’s head, she said softly, “It’s nothing serious. I’ll be fine after the surgery. Don’t worry, okay?”
“Really? Will you be completely better after the surgery?”
“Of course.”
Although Lin Xiyu tried her best to comfort her children, the meal remained somber. After dinner, Lu Junting called Lu Chengmao into his study.
“I’ll be staying with your mother at the hospital starting tomorrow. While we’re away, you need to look after your sister. You’re older now, and it’s time to take on some responsibility. I’ll arrange for you to join the company and learn under Assistant Zhou.”
“Understood,” Lu Chengmao replied obediently.
“Good. Go and prepare.”
But instead of leaving, Lu Chengmiao hesitated. Though not as outwardly emotional as his sister, he was deeply worried about his mother. He couldn’t bring himself to ask her directly, fearing it would add to her burden. So, after a pause, he asked, “How risky is the surgery?”
Lu Junting studied his son. He was nearly as tall as him now. Though not as shrewd as he had been at that age, he was already more capable than most peers. It was time for him to shoulder some responsibility.
“Every surgery carries risk,” Lu Junting said honestly. “But worrying won’t change anything. Focus on doing what I’ve assigned you. That’ll be the best way to support me and your mom.”
After a long silence, Lu Chengmao nodded.
Later that night, Lu Junting found Lin Xiyu staring out the window, lost in thought. He walked over and embraced her from behind. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” he asked.
He loved this gesture—hugging her from behind. Even in middle age, Lu Junting still cherished these moments of intimacy with his wife. Lin Xiyu held his hand and sighed, “We’ve been together for twenty years, Junting. Time flies. I’m already old.”
“Everyone ages.”
She turned to face him, studying his features. To her, he still looked like the man she had fallen for years ago.
“Junting, if something goes wrong with the surgery, I want you and the kids to live well. If possible, I hope you’ll find someone else to be with. You still have a long life ahead of you, and living alone would be too lonely.”
Lu Juntin's face instantly darkened, anger flaring in his eyes. But considering her condition, he suppressed his temper and said in a low voice, “Why are you saying such discouraging things? I remember telling you—I won't let anything happen to you.”
“I'm not being discouraging; I'm serious.”
“Stop saying it, Lin Xiyu. I don't want to hear this right now.”
He was clearly upset, and although Lin Xiyu had much more to say, seeing his reaction, she decided against speaking further.
The next morning, Lu Junting took Lin Xiyu to the hospital. Since the surgery needed to be performed as soon as possible, once the tests confirmed it was viable, the procedure was scheduled promptly.
According to the doctors, she was expected to regain consciousness the next day. But when the time came, Lin Xiyu still hadn’t woken up. The same happened on the third and fourth days—she remained unconscious.
Lu Junting lost all his usual composure, nearly shouting at the doctors to explain what was going on. This hospital was, after all, partly funded by the Lu family. A group of experts gathered, nervous under his glare. Despite repeated examinations, they found her life signs intact, but Lin Xiyu simply would not wake up.
The Lu family had been deeply shaken over the past few days. In a matter of days, Lu Junting seemed to age significantly, with a patch of gray hair now covering his head.
During this time, Lu Chengmao frequently went to Changheng. With Lu Junting away, he temporarily took over some responsibilities, only finding time to visit the hospital occasionally.
One evening, Lu Junting called Lu Chengmao to his study. Though Lu Chengmao had been learning quickly, Lu Junting felt it was still insufficient. His temper flared, and he scolded Lu Chengmao harshly.
The tense atmosphere at home had weighed heavily on everyone. Lu Chengmao felt both aggrieved and sad, but he could only endure the reprimand obediently.
“Why are you learning so slowly? You even have to ask me whether to launch a new feature?”
“Sorry, Dad. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'll keep learning.”
“Keep learning? Who do you think you'll have time to learn from?”
Lu Chengmao glanced at his father, puzzled, and said, “Who else can I learn from? Of course, I will follow you. If you teach me slowly, I will eventually learn it.”
Lu Junting said angrily, “Where do I have time for you to learn from me?”
Lu Chengmao looked puzzled, but he had been smart since he was a child and quickly turned around. He thought of some possibility with a look of disbelief.
“Dad? What are you planning?’
There was no point in hiding it, so Lu Junting spoke plainly. “I've already drafted my will.”
The statement left Lu Chengmao stunned for a long moment. He understood what this meant. If their mother didn’t wake up, it seemed his father had no intention of continuing on.
The revelation hit him like a ton of bricks. From childhood, he had revered his father as a role model. In his memory, his father had never been shaken, always handling every difficult situation with calm precision.
He knew his father wasn’t someone who acted on impulse. Any decision he made would have been thoroughly considered. That he had this thought wasn’t due to despair—it was because his feelings for their mother ran too deep.
With reddened eyes, Lu Chengmao said, “Dad, you can’t be so irresponsible. If not for me, what about Tangtang? She’s still a minor.”
Seated in his chair, Lu Junting rubbed his temples and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I just don’t have the will anymore. If she’s gone, I won’t care about anything else.”
She had even suggested he find someone else to spend his life with. She truly had a way of thinking far ahead. Yet during this time, as she lay unconscious, he had already prepared for the worst.
Forget finding someone new—he doubted he’d even have the courage to go on living.
Over the years, the two of them had become one. If forced apart, he would be left utterly broken. Everyone has a pain they cannot bear, a threshold they cannot cross. While he could endure everything else, parting from her through death was a pain he couldn’t withstand.
As long as she was alive, he could endure any hardship. But if she were gone, he would lose all interest in everything else.
----------
If you like my translation, please support me by buying me a coffee:
0 comments: