A charming widow in her 70s married a factory manager and raised his children.

Chapter 226: Fake or Real?

After jumping rope for a while, the two went inside and saw Lu Congyue hanging a photo frame in the main room.

Dai Hongying and Xiao Qianyue enthusiastically went over to ask if they needed any help.

Lu Congyue said no, it was already hung up.

Dai Hongying and Xiao Qianyue looked up at the same time. Xiao Qianyue didn't understand, but Dai Hongying did, and exclaimed in surprise, "A marriage certificate?"

Lu Congyue picked up Xiao Qianyue and showed her: "Yueyue, you'll be calling me Dad from now on."

At this moment, Zhuang Qingxiang heard the noise and ran out of the bedroom. When she saw the marriage certificate hanging on the wall, her face turned red instantly, as if she wanted to blush from head to toe.

"Why did you hang this up?!"

What kind person would hang their marriage certificate in the main room for everyone to see?

Besides, didn't you say you only got the marriage certificate for work purposes? Shouldn't you hide it? As long as your personal file shows you're married, that's fine.

Dai Hongying exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Zhuang, you two just got your marriage certificate? Congratulations! When are you treating us to a meal?"

"No, no..." Zhuang Qingxiang stammered.

Lu Congyue quickly said, "We won't invite her for now, your Sister Zhuang is shy."

"Then I'll go buy something nice first thing tomorrow morning, and we'll have a good meal at home. Yueyue and I will celebrate with you," Dai Hongying said immediately.

Little Qian Yue finally understood, her eyes widening in disbelief: "Mom, did you and Uncle Lu get married?"

"Yes, but you can't call me Uncle Lu anymore," Lu Congyue reminded her.

Little Qian Yue jumped up and down happily in Lu Congyue's arms, shouting, "Daddy! Daddy!"

He called out "Dad" countless times in one breath, and Lu Congyue responded to each one.

Overly excited, Xiao Qianyue kept asking Lu Congyue to hold her, then Zhuang Qingxiang to hold her, calling for her father and mother, and she couldn't fall asleep until nightfall.

Dai Hongying couldn't stay awake any longer and went to sleep, but Xiao Qianyue still wouldn't let go of Lu Congyue's hand.

"Mom, does this mean we're a family now and can sleep on the same kang (heated brick bed)? I want Dad to hold me while we sleep!"

"Okay, Dad will hold Yueyue to sleep tonight." Lu Congyue replied with a smile, his eyes fixed on Zhuang Qingxiang as he smiled.

Zhuang Qingxiang felt her heart burning under his gaze, yet she was also annoyed that he was talking nonsense.

After finally getting through to the point where Xiao Qianyue fell asleep, Zhuang Qingxiang heard rustling noises coming from Lu Congyue's side. She sat up abruptly and glared at him warily.

Lu Congyue paused for a moment, then continued walking around the child to stand in front of her.

"What? Can't sleep? Waiting for me?"

The teasing laughter in his tone made Zhuang Qingxiang both embarrassed and annoyed. She lowered her voice and asked unhappily, "Didn't we agree it was fake? Why did you still post it? And you even told Yueyue that..."

How am I going to explain this to my child in the future? Should I tell her that "Dad" is a fake and that there's a time limit to it?

I simply can't bring myself to say it.

Zhuang Qingxiang felt distressed thinking about how Qian Yue would be heartbroken and confused upon hearing this explanation.

"But I hope it's true," Lu Congyue said softly. "You have no idea how happy I was when I got our marriage certificate today, Qingxiang. We are now a legally married couple, a real family."

Her voice grew softer, her breaths closer, but Zhuang Qingxiang shoved him away, furious: "You lied to me?!"

"No," Lu Congyue denied outright. "Everything was exactly as we discussed last night, following the procedures outlined by the organization. Everything went smoothly. But it's no different from the truth. I'm your husband now, the children's father. If Yueyue continues to call me 'Uncle,' wouldn't it give us away if someone overheard?"

Zhuang Qingxiang looked at him with suspicion and uncertainty: "Are you kidding me again? Do you know how much trouble this will cause later?"

"No trouble at all." Lu Congyue leaned closer, and just as Zhuang Qingxiang was about to push him away, he took her hand and pulled her into his arms. "We'll talk about the future later. Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."

Lu Congyue raised his hand and pulled the light cord, plunging the room into darkness, and then he pinned the person down.

Zhuang Qingxiang kicked him angrily: "Go back to your room! Our marriage is fake!"

Lu Congyue easily subdued her: "We've been a real couple for a long time. Even if it's a fake marriage, the certificate is real, and it's legal for us to sleep on the same bed."

Lu Congyue became happier as he talked, hugged her and kissed her twice: "Sweet... I just wanted to legally hold you and the child while we slept, and now my wish has finally come true. Whether it's true or not, just let me be happy for a few days."

He kissed her while squeezing her, and his hand went to lift her clothes. Zhuang Qingxiang couldn't stop him and angrily cursed him in a low voice for being shameless.

Lu Congyue guessed that she wanted to scold him for being shameless.

It's alright. Only those with thick skin can get married. His skin is already thicker than a city wall; she just hasn't realized it yet.

Seeing that everything was falling apart, Zhuang Qingxiang's eyes reddened, and she pleaded with him in a low voice.

There's a stranger living in the house, and he's trained. What if he wakes them up?

"Then bite me." Lu Congyue's self-control was utterly worthless in front of her. "Just don't make a sound."

Zhuang Qingxiang was so angry that she bit him several times. In the end, she didn't dare to cry out loud. She covered herself with the blanket and whimpered, telling him to get away.

Lu Congyue was completely satisfied.

My sweet and soft wife, my legally wedded wife, the wife I'll spend my whole life with, the wife he's made happy so she'll never resist his touch again...

That's great. The days ahead will be more and more enjoyable. The days before were such miserable.

Lu Congyue finally got his wish and slept with Zhuang Qingxiang in his arms all night, no longer having to sneak away in the middle of the night for fear of being discovered by the child.

When I woke up, it was just getting light. My wife was still fast asleep in my arms, while the three children, one big and two small, were lying on the other side, sleeping like three little pigs.

Lu Congyue's eyes felt slightly warm.

With a wife, children, and a warm bed, he finally has a proper family.

When Zhuang Qingxiang woke up groggily, she felt the man holding her trembling slightly.

She paused, wanting to turn her head to look at him, but the man blocked her way.

"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"It's nothing." The man's voice was muffled and choked with emotion.

Zhuang Qingxiang: "..." Crying?

She didn't quite understand; men cry too?

"Lu Congyue..."

"It's alright," Lu Congyue replied, letting go of her and quickly getting up, dressing, and getting out of bed.

Zhuang Qingxiang propped herself up and called out again, but she couldn't stop Lu Congyue. Instead, she woke up Xiao Qianyue.

The little girl groggily got up: "Mother..."

Then her eyes widened: "Where's Dad?"

She looked around frantically, crying out, "Father!!"

Lu Congyue rushed in again and picked up the little girl, saying, "She's here."

"Dad, why aren't you sleeping on the kang?" the little girl asked anxiously.

"Dad's just woken up and is going to wash his face," Lu Congyue said with a smile.

The little girl asked in surprise, "Dad, why are your eyes red?"

Lu Congyue immediately turned his head away, saying, "No!"