Chapter 203: Chapter 201: Who Dares to Bully My Sister?

The bits and pieces of news that reached Lu Cheng’an made him so angry his insides hurt.

’So, Huo Dongzhou is actually playing for keeps?’

’And he’s using his proximity to get a head start!’

He immediately called Lu Chenghuan, his voice dripping with resentment.

"Huanhuan, how have you been? Is that guy Huo Dongzhou always coming to see you? Let me tell you, stay away from him. That guy is up to no good!"

"He’s so much older than you, a sly old fox. You’re just a young girl, don’t let him fool you!"

Lu Chenghuan clutched the phone, her face instantly turning red as she stammered, "Brother... what are you talking about... Dongzhou just... he just stops by to see me when he’s in the area..."

"In the area? His office is on the east side of the city, and your school is on the west side! What kind of detour is that? A detour to the Pacific Ocean?!"

This made Lu Cheng’an even angrier. His sister’s reaction was a dead giveaway that something was going on.

He’d originally thought it was just a one-sided crush on Huo Dongzhou’s part. But now? It was clear the two of them were already getting cozy.

"I’m warning you, Lu Chenghuan, no dating! Especially not with Huo Dongzhou! You hear me? Just wait until I get back, I’ll deal with him!"

The moment he finished warning his sister, he was on the phone with Huo Dongzhou.

Lu Cheng’an couldn’t care less about their camaraderie; he just let him have it.

"H Huo Dongzhou! You dare go sneaking around with my sister again! I swear, I’ll file for leave right now, come back, and break both your legs so you can’t go anywhere!"

Holding the phone and listening to the furious shouting on the other end, Huo Dongzhou felt torn between amusement and helplessness.

He knew that getting past Cheng’an was the biggest volcano standing between him and Chenghuan, one that could erupt at any second.

But he was serious this time, so he could only bite the bullet and endure his friend’s fury. "Don’t get worked up. I’m just looking out for her, that’s all..."

"Bullshit! You think I don’t know what you’re scheming? I’m telling you, as long as I’m still breathing, you can forget about making a move on my sister!"

Lu Cheng’an had clearly forgotten that his little sister was a grown woman, a university student.

Besides, a grown daughter won’t stay with her parents forever. Sooner or later, Lu Chenghuan would get married.

And when that day came, could Lu Cheng’an really stop her from getting married?

Although Su Tang suspected something was going on, she didn’t show any particular concern.

Besides Lu Cheng’an, there was also the family’s other powder keg: Lu Xiao.

If Lu Xiao found out his daughter had a boyfriend, he would probably hit the roof even harder than Lu Cheng’an.

Su Tang was now a renowned doctor at the hospital and was very busy with work, so she couldn’t spare the energy for such matters.

It was perfectly normal for university students to date.

If they didn’t date now, they’d have to rely on their parents to set them up on blind dates after graduation.

As long as they were sensible and didn’t do anything inappropriate, Su Tang wouldn’t interfere.

In the end, Lu Cheng’an couldn’t take it anymore. Cashing in several months of leave and pulling a few strings, he managed to show up in Beijing a week early, dusty from his travels.

He hadn’t told anyone, wanting to launch a surprise attack to see just how that punk Huo Dongzhou was "looking after" his sister!

Luggage in hand, he first went back to the family home in the residential compound.

His parents were overjoyed and surprised to see him, pulling him aside and bombarding him with questions.

Lu Cheng’an answered them absently, his eyes darting around. "Dad, Mom, where’s Huanhuan?"

"Huanhuan?"

Su Tang smiled, handing him a piece of fruit. "It’s the weekend. She said she was going out with friends. I think she went to Beihai Park?"

’Friends?’ Alarm bells immediately went off in Lu Cheng’an’s head.

He immediately put down his things, made an excuse about meeting an old friend, and rushed straight to Beihai Park without even changing out of his uniform.

Watching her son rush out in such a tizzy, Su Tang knew exactly what was on his mind.

Lu Xiao started to get up, about to ask something, but Su Tang pulled him back down. "Have a bite of apple."

"Oh, honestly. It’s the kids’ business, what does it have to do with you? Just sit down and watch TV."

It was a rare quiet moment, with the four elders out for a walk and both their son and daughter out of the house.

Hearing this, Lu Xiao let himself be placated by Su Tang.

After more than half a lifetime together, Su Tang was the only one who truly knew how to handle Lu Xiao.

In the autumn air of Beihai Park, the water sparkled, reflecting the White Pagoda in a beautiful scene. But Lu Cheng’an was in no mood to appreciate it. His eyes scanned the crowd like a radar.

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto two figures on a distant bench.

’Who else could it be but Huo Dongzhou and his precious little sister, Lu Chenghuan!’

Huo Dongzhou was turned toward Lu Chenghuan, smiling and saying something to her while holding a skewer of bright red candied hawthorns.

Lu Chenghuan had her head slightly bowed, a faint smile playing on her lips. She would nod occasionally, a blush on her cheeks.

It was the very picture of a shy young girl.

’And that punk Huo Dongzhou... the tenderness in his eyes was practically overflowing. He looked nothing like a brother-in-arms!’

Lu Cheng’an felt a rush of blood to his head, and his temper flared.

’That damn Huo Dongzhou! He really let my words go in one ear and out the other!’

’Candied hawthorns? Is he trying to win over a toddler?’

With a thunderous expression on his face, he stormed toward them like a meteor.

Huo Dongzhou was so focused on his conversation with Lu Chenghuan that he didn’t notice the murderous aura closing in.

Lu Chenghuan was the first to spot the familiar figure.

The smile on her face froze instantly. She shot to her feet like a child caught red-handed, her voice stammering, "Bro... Brother? W-Why are you back?"

Stunned, Huo Dongzhou turned his head and saw Lu Cheng’an standing before them, his face as black as a thundercloud.

He quickly stood up as well, instinctively moving to shield Lu Chenghuan behind him. "Cheng’an, you’re on leave?"

"If I hadn’t come back, I’d never have known you were running this little covert operation!"

Lu Cheng’an’s voice was tight with suppressed rage, his glare like daggers on Huo Dongzhou’s skin.

"Huo Dongzhou, what did I tell you on the phone? Did you think I was just spouting bullshit?"

He shoved Huo Dongzhou aside, grabbed his sister’s arm, and looked her up and down. "Huanhuan, did he bully you? Tell me!"

"Brother! What are you doing?!"

Mortified and panicked, Lu Chenghuan shook off his hand, her face beet red. "Dongzhou didn’t do anything to me! We just... we just ran into each other and decided to take a walk..."

"Ran into each other? You just ’ran into each other’ all the way out here in Beihai Park?"

Lu Cheng’an pointed a finger at the offensively red skewer in Huo Dongzhou’s hand, absolutely fuming.

"So you’ve learned to lie to me now, Lu Chenghuan?"

Seeing that Lu Chenghuan was on the verge of tears, Huo Dongzhou forgot his fear. He squared his shoulders, took a step forward to completely shield her, and looked Lu Cheng’an straight in the eye.

"Cheng’an, don’t take this out on Huanhuan. I was the one who sought her out. I like her, and I’m pursuing her. This has nothing to do with her. If you’re going to be angry, be angry with me."

"Hah! Getting bold, are we, Huo Dongzhou? You actually dare to admit it?"

Huo Dongzhou’s protective stance was the last straw for Lu Cheng’an. He cracked his knuckles, his fists clenched tight.

"So I should aim it at you, huh? Fine! I’ll aim everything I’ve got at you! Let’s go! Find a spot and we’ll ’practice’! I think you’ve forgotten what it feels like to get beaten down by me!"

The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife, and curious onlookers were starting to gather.

Furious and frantic, with tears welling in her eyes, Lu Chenghuan stomped her foot. "Lu Cheng’an! You’re a jerk! You come back and the first thing you do is yell at everyone! I’m ignoring you from now on!"

With that, she pushed past both of them and ran off in tears.

Her outburst left both men stunned.

Huo Dongzhou instinctively started to go after her, but Lu Cheng’an grabbed his arm.

"Let go! Huanhuan’s crying!"

Huo Dongzhou was frantic now, too.

Lu Cheng’an watched his sister’s retreating figure, his heart a painful, angry knot of conflicting emotions.

He shot Huo Dongzhou a venomous glare, yanked his arm free, and snarled through gritted teeth, "Huo Dongzhou, I’m telling you, this isn’t over! You just wait!"

After spitting out the words, his worry for his sister ultimately won out, and he took off after her.

Huo Dongzhou was left standing alone, looking particularly forlorn in the autumn wind.

Huo Dongzhou watched Lu Cheng’an’s retreating figure and let out a long sigh.

’What a terrible first impression to make on the family.’

’Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. He was all in now.’