Chapter 68: Lu Chuan’s Impossible Affection

No wonder Fang Yuan didn’t give her sister-in-law any face when she came back this time—turns out there’s a whole mess behind the scenes.

Lu Chuan really hadn’t known about this. So even his eldest and third brothers aren’t getting along quietly.

He couldn’t help but feel relieved—thank goodness he got out early. Otherwise, if things blew up later, it would’ve been even uglier.

If he’d gotten mixed up with his brother-in-law’s wife’s family, he’d be stuck in the middle too.

Now he finally understood why his sharp mother-in-law hadn’t said a word about the brothers splitting up. She’d seen right through it all.

Speaking of which, her older brother seemed to treat his wife’s brother better than he treated Fang Yuan. Lu Chuan felt a bit upset on Fang Yuan’s behalf—his own wife was being slighted.

Fang Yuan said, “If my sister-in-law hadn’t been scheming behind the scenes, do you think he could’ve pulled this off? Don’t just say I gave her a hard time—if I cursed her out, she’d have to take it too.”

Lu Chuan almost blurted out, “Big brother really didn’t handle this well,” but swallowed the words.

Good thing he didn’t say it. Look at that—when it comes to siblings, anything bad is always someone else’s fault, never Fang Yuan’s own brother.

Fang Yuan said, “Our sibling business is none of your concern. Don’t get involved. Am I, his own sister, not as close as his brother-in-law? He can accept his wife’s brother but not his own sister? Even my useless fourth brother knows this isn’t right.”

Lu Chuan wasn’t sure if she was criticizing or praising her fourth brother.

But Fang Yuan was right about one thing: outsiders shouldn’t meddle in family matters. He should just listen more and talk less. Otherwise, he’d end up pleasing no one—just like his sister-in-law.

Fang Yuan, still fuming, muttered, “Just because of his brother-in-law, I’m not letting him use my machines. I’d rather let them sit idle.”

Lu Chuan tried not to laugh and teased, “You’d let five men go without work? Can you really bear that?”

Fang Yuan gritted her teeth and admitted, “Honestly, I can’t. You’d better find more jobs for me, so my machines don’t sit idle.”

Lu Chuan couldn’t hold back his laughter. This really was a heavy responsibility—thanks to Fang Yuan for trusting him.

Fang Yuan snapped, “What are you laughing at? I’m telling you, if I sit around for two days, I get anxious. And this rain—what terrible timing.”

Listening to her grumble, Lu Chuan couldn’t help but say, “How are you going to get through the three winter months?”

That was like a bucket of cold water. Fang Yuan’s face turned green. “You really know how to say the worst things, don’t you?”

In winter, there’s no work, and her mixer has to rest.

Just thinking about it made Fang Yuan’s heart ache. Five men sitting idle—if they actually had to eat and drink, she’d go broke.

Lu Chuan glanced at Fang Yuan, his eyes full of meaning. “So what do you like? What do you want me to say?”

There was a hint of flirtation in his words, but Fang Yuan didn’t pick up on it at all. “I want you to congratulate me on getting rich. I want my mixer to have work every day.”

Lu Chuan sighed as he rode his bike, looking ahead. “You really have simple wishes.”

Fang Yuan replied, “Then say it.”

Lu Chuan took a deep breath and went along with her, “Congratulations on getting rich.”

Fang Yuan burst out laughing. “I’ve got six men making money for me—if I don’t get rich, who will?”

Lu Chuan sighed inwardly and asked, “How is it six?”

Fang Yuan said, “You, of course. Can’t I count you as one?”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, “It’s rare that I even make the list. Should I be proud?”

A wife can’t always be so dense. They’d been married a month—it was time to nurture some feelings. Lu Chuan wanted a lasting marriage.

He casually said, “Have you ever heard the saying, ‘It’s easy to find priceless treasures…’?”

Fang Yuan hadn’t. “Is it easy? Who said that? Nonsense. I look for treasures every day and haven’t found any.”

Lu Chuan ignored her and continued, “The second half is, ‘…but hard to find a true lover.’”

Fang Yuan muttered, “Even more nonsense. I’m a decent person.” Whoever said that must have had too much time on their hands.

Did that matter? Lu Chuan was a bit lost and echoed, “I’m a decent person too.”

Fang Yuan said, “Just focus on your studies, learn something useful and proper. All this idle talk—can you eat it? Can you drink it? And let me tell you, if you go around having this feeling or that feeling outside, I’ll get my brother to deal with you.”

Lu Chuan was at his wit’s end. He wanted to talk poetry and romance with his wife, but why was it so hard? “Did you even go to school?”

Fang Yuan said proudly, “I graduated from junior high. If the teacher hadn’t refused to keep me, my dad would’ve let me go to high school.”

Lu Chuan felt bad for the teacher. With her level, high school wouldn’t have made much difference. No wonder the teacher didn’t want her.

This was his wife—if they couldn’t connect, he’d be the one suffering.

Lu Chuan really wasn’t a playboy. There were things about Fang Yuan he genuinely liked, so he wanted to keep nurturing their relationship.

Lu Chuan said, “I’m telling you this because I want you to know—I’m harder to find than a priceless treasure.” He almost said, “I’m the man who truly loves you.”

Fang Yuan glanced at Lu Chuan, clearly weighing her options. Honestly, if she had to choose between a mixer (even a regular one) and Lu Chuan, she might not pick him.

Lu Chuan knew exactly what she was thinking from that look.

His face darkened. This woman really didn’t value him at all. He made good money too—was he really worse than a mixer?

Fang Yuan said, “It’s not that you don’t make enough money—it’s just that money isn’t the point.”

That explanation only made it worse. It meant he still couldn’t compare to a mixer. Lu Chuan said, “Just wait, Fang Yuan. You’ll regret this.”

As soon as he said it, he regretted it himself. Why was he thinking like Fang Yuan now?

But Fang Yuan just laughed. “Regret what? Am I supposed to be afraid you’ll earn more money, or that you’ll become successful?”

Lu Chuan was suddenly speechless, because Fang Yuan was right—he really wasn’t the sharp one here.

Fang Yuan added, “Or are you thinking that once you’re successful, I’ll be out of the picture?”

As she spoke, she clenched her fists, making cracking sounds—ready to fight at the drop of a hat. Who would dare mess with her?

Lu Chuan figured that, for Fang Yuan, this probably counted as a love confession. It was her way of saying she wanted to be with him forever—which wasn’t easy for her.

In fact, Lu Chuan took it as her saying she couldn’t do without him. She must really value him.

He blushed, embarrassed. “I’ll always treat you well.”

All of Lu Chuan’s emotional nurturing relied on his own imagination—he’d never hear a word of romance from Fang Yuan herself.

Fang Yuan said, “Why are you blushing? Are you holding something in? Pretty boys are always scheming. I just know you’re not reliable.”

Lu Chuan’s face darkened. “Would I dare? Just think about your brothers, think about our dad.”

Fang Yuan nodded. “That’s true.” She trusted her brothers’ strength more than Lu Chuan’s loyalty.

So much for romance. He really was overthinking it.

Lu Chuan was left frustrated. He just wanted to hurry home. The whole way back, he didn’t say a word.

This infuriating woman—she wouldn’t even let him have a moment of sweet daydreams for the two of them.

(End of Chapter 68. Please vote and recommend. Thank you for your support.)"