Chapter 128: On the Eve of Departure

Nanming City. Twilight was deepening.

"Look at that handsome man ahead, healthy and dashing! Look at his hairstyle, fresh and stylish! Piaoying hair styling gel, with Piaoying, you’re more confident!..."

Lu Kun watched as Liu Liping irritably changed the channel, his hands trembling slightly as he held the newspaper.

"Nothing but brain-dead commercials!"

Liu Liping had sent their two children back to their room to do their homework, monopolizing the television for herself, and was currently venting her frustration at the mindless ads on the screen.

"Dig a hole, bury some soil, count one-two-three-four-five, your own soil, your own land, whatever you plant grows into RMB..."

Lu Kun: "..."

"Bang!"

Liu Liping had just changed the channel only to find another advertisement, and she gave the television a fierce smack.

Lu Kun’s mouth twitched. Fortunately, televisions these days were quite durable, unlike those delicate ones of the future.

"Take it easy. If you break the channel knob, we’ll have to use pliers to change it later," Lu Kun warned.

Regrettably, Liu Liping treated his words as wind blowing past her ears, continuing to do as she pleased.

"Shifeng, Shifeng, roads are clear, Shifeng farm vehicles are simply the best."

Liu Liping and Lu Kun exchanged a look. What more was there to say? She decisively changed the channel again!

"Pagoda sugar, kills worms fast..."

"Righteous Laifuling, righteous Laifuling, must kill the pests, kill them!..."

...

Brain-dead commercials, clearly not limited to the "Brain Platinum" of the future!

At this time, the most popular advertisements were undoubtedly those for pesticides, fertilizers, farm vehicles, and animal feed. However, for city dwellers, besides poisoning their ears, these ads were completely useless. After all, who was still farming in the city?

"Finally, not an ad?" Liu Liping’s face brightened with a smile.

*Fishermen’s Song at Dusk*...

Liu Liping’s expression immediately froze. "..."

Damn! At this hour, if it isn't an advertisement, it's the weather forecast. I’m truly impressed!

Liu Liping sat back on the sofa, looking dejected.

...

"What’s wrong?" Seeing Liu Liping, who had just been fighting with the television, quietly scoot over and tuck her arm into his, Lu Kun asked with a puzzled look.

"Honey, do you think I’m carrying a boy or a girl?" Liu Liping whispered, resting her head on Lu Kun’s shoulder.

"It’s definitely a boy!" Lu Kun brushed the fine hair from her forehead and said with certainty.

"How do you know? What if it’s a girl?" Liu Liping bit her lip, speaking hesitantly.

"It’s definitely a boy!" Lu Kun replied firmly.

"How do you know? What if..."

"It’s definitely a boy!"

"How do you..."

"I’m the one who shot it in there, of course I know!..."

...

"Pfft! You’re annoying! You’re so overbearing!" Amused by Lu Kun’s deadpan expression, Liu Liping lightly tapped his arm, acting coy.

"How am I overbearing? Last time, you were clearly on top," Lu Kun said with a straight face, suppressing a laugh.

Liu Liping: "..."

"Don’t worry so much. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, it doesn’t matter. If it’s a son, it’s a cause for celebration. But if it’s a daughter, Big Ya and Little Ya will have a little sister. Given our family’s situation, are you worried your husband can’t afford the fine for an extra child? We’re still young. If we don’t have a son this time, we’ll just try again next time—we’ll keep trying until the end of time! I don’t believe we won’t have a son eventually!"

By the end, even Lu Kun was amused by his own words.

"Then you’ll have to work hard in the future," Liu Liping said with a smile and a proud tilt of her head.

"I need to work hard in the future, and I need to work hard right now," Lu Kun said, putting down the newspaper and carrying her back to the bedroom amidst her soft gasp of surprise.

Inside the bedroom, a joyous melody played. Nothing could stop the yearning for pleasure. Towards that land in the heart, there was a constant, driving rhythm. Retreating only to better advance, advance.

Reaching the end of the dark, mysterious passage, a gushing stream seemed to nourish the towering, dark pillar of heaven. The trunk of the great pillar grew even more vigorous, nourished by the moisture.

...

"Can you really not wait until our child is born before you leave?" Liu Liping hugged Lu Kun’s neck, whispering in his ear.

Lu Kun was silent.

After a long while, he lifted his head, took a deep breath, and said, "I promise you, I will definitely return before the baby is born. Don’t worry, Liping."

"You have to keep your word." Liu Liping opened her mouth and bit his shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Lu Kun hissed softly, enduring the pain and letting her do as she pleased.

...

After a long time, Liu Liping let go, lifting her head with blurred, teary eyes. "Okay, remember, I’ve left a mark on you. No one else is allowed to touch you; you belong only to me!"

Lu Kun pulled her closer and sang to her:

"Once, in the dim and repetitive questioning, I realized that the plain and calm is the truth. Looking back, it all seems like a dream; looking back, my heart remains the same..."

The next morning. Early.

"You must come back early. The children and I will be at home waiting for you," Liu Liping said, straightening his collar and leaning close to his ear.

"Don’t worry. We’ve been together for so many years, don’t you know what kind of person I am?" Lu Kun raised an eyebrow.

"It’s precisely because we’ve been together so many years that I’m even more curious about how you honed your skills," Liu Liping shot him a sidelong glance.

"Ahem!" Lu Kun coughed awkwardly. This question was truly impossible to answer; he couldn't exactly say he’d practiced them in a past life. As for saying he learned from movies, his wife wasn't a fool. Positions could be learned, but technique came only with practice.

"Take care of yourself out there. Remember to call home as soon as you arrive to let us know you’re safe," Liu Liping said, lowering her head as she smoothed the fabric on his chest.

"I will. You must be very careful at home. Don’t do any heavy work... If anything happens, call me."

...

"Daddy, when will you be back? Will you bring a gift for Er Ya?" Er Ya asked cutely, clutching a fluffy panda plushie.

"I will bring a gift for Er Ya. Be a good girl at home, and don’t make Mommy angry anymore. Remember, don’t run around, and keep a good watch on the little brother in Mommy’s tummy..." Lu Kun crouched down, patted Er Ya’s head, and instructed.

"Mmhmm, I know, I know. You’ve said that so many times, Daddy, you’re so naggy," Er Ya wrinkled her nose, looking slightly annoyed. She was grown up now, sensible, and not as prone to causing trouble as before—Daddy was still looking at her with old eyes. Hmph!

Lu Kun: "..."

As for Big Ya, Lu Kun felt significantly more at ease.

"I’m not home, so help your mother more. When Daddy comes back, I’ll bring you a gift," Lu Kun patted Big Ya’s small shoulder.

"Okay."

Big Ya nodded heavily, as if she had accepted the weight of responsibility.

...

"Let’s go," Lu Kun instructed the driver.