On the other end of the phone, Lu Qi's voice came through, filled with laughter.
"Lu Hai, I need to tell you something, but you'd better sit down."
"The Old Man knows about Mingyu and that female celebrity."
Lu Hai's heart skipped a beat.
"What? He knows so soon? Did the Old Man get angry?"
He knew the Old Man's temper.
"Angry? He couldn't be happier!"
Lu Qi repeated what he had just told Zheng Qing to his younger brother.
Lu Hai listened, dumbfounded.
"No way? The Old Man agreed? And he said he'd protect Mingyu?"
"This... has the sun risen from the west?"
"Absolutely true."
Lu Qi laughed.
"And there's more explosive news."
"The Old Man said he's going to visit Cheetah Special Forces Brigade in a few days to see his future granddaughter-in-law with his own eyes."
Lu Hai couldn't sit still anymore.
He suddenly stood up from his chair, his expression changing from shock to solemnity.
"Big Brother, you're not joking, are you?"
"The Old Man is going to Cheetah Special Forces Brigade? Now?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
Lu Qi hadn't realized the seriousness of the problem yet.
Lu Hai rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
"My dear Big Brother, haven't you thought about the Old Man's identity?"
"He's the Air Force First Military Region Commander!"
"Him going to a Special Forces Brigade that's currently filming a nationwide variety show, is that a visit? That's an inspection!"
"And the production crew is still there, with cameras everywhere."
"If the Old Man gets filmed, how big of a sensation would that cause?"
The more Lu Hai thought about it, the more difficult the situation seemed.
"No, this matter must be arranged in advance."
"I need to contact the production crew immediately and give them a heads-up."
"All filming during the Old Man's visit must be avoided."
Lu Hai listened to his brother Lu Qi's words on the phone, still completely bewildered.
He felt like his ears might be malfunctioning.
"Big Brother, are you sure you heard correctly?"
Lu Hai's voice was full of disbelief.
"The Old Man... agreed?"
"Absolutely true."
Lu Qi's voice carried an irrepressible laugh.
"I just told your sister-in-law, and she had the same reaction as you."
Lu Hai paced back and forth in his office, feeling that the amount of information was too much and he needed to process it.
His hot-tempered father, whose prestige in the Military Region was unmatched.
He actually agreed to his grandson dating a female celebrity?
This was even more unbelievable than the enemy breaking through the First Military Region's defenses.
Lu Qi continued:
"The Old Man said that times are different, and one shouldn't judge people with old perspectives."
"As long as Mingyu likes her, and the girl has a clean background and good character, he has no objections."
"He even declared that anyone who dares to trip up Mingyu over this matter, he will be the first to not forgive them."
Lu Hai stopped pacing and took a deep breath.
He knew that once the Old Man made a decision, it was set in stone, and no one could change it.
Since the biggest obstacle had become the biggest driving force, the nature of the matter had completely changed.
"Since the Old Man has nodded, I think this matter should just be settled."
Lu Hai's mind raced.
"Once the filming ends, our family will find a time to formally go and propose."
Lu Qi on the other end of the phone was stunned for a moment.
"Propose? Isn't that a bit too fast?"
"Mingyu and that girl, they've only just started, haven't they?"
Lu Qi felt his brother's idea was a bit too jumpy.
"Fast?" Lu Hai retorted.
"My dear Big Brother, don't you know your son's temper?"
"That kid Mingyu even handed over his salary card."
"Isn't that clearly saying he's committed to her and wants to marry her?"
Lu Hai's tone was decisive.
"This matter is settled, the Old Man finally relented, and we need to strike while the iron is hot."
He had already started planning the subsequent steps.
"Alright, I'll contact the production crew tomorrow and make the arrangements."
"The day after tomorrow, we'll take the Old Man over there, let him see for himself, and make him happy."
"As long as that kid Mingyu also wants to marry her, once the show ends."
"Our Lu family will go to propose with great fanfare!"
Lu Qi was taken aback by his brother's string of arrangements.
He was originally just happy that his son's relationship was accepted.
He hadn't expected his brother to have already thought of marriage.
However, he reconsidered and felt that Lu Hai made a lot of sense.
"But... will her family agree?"
Lu Qi raised a new concern.
"Our family's situation, though it sounds glorious, can be a lot of pressure for ordinary families."
"And Mingyu's profession... would a female celebrity be willing to marry a soldier who might go to war at any time?"
Lu Hai scoffed on the other end of the phone.
"Big Brother, you're overthinking it."
"Our Lu family isn't some dragon's den or tiger's lair."
"Besides, Mingyu is handsome, has outstanding military achievements, and is young and promising."
"Looking across the country, how many young people can compare to him?"
"What reason would that girl's family have to disagree?"
Lu Hai paused, then made a joke.
"Besides, if they really don't agree, at worst, Mingyu can just abduct her and make her his bandit queen!"
"Nonsense!" Lu Qi immediately interjected, stopping him.
"I'm talking seriously with you, don't be so flippant!"
"Got it, got it."
Lu Hai responded with a smile.
"Don't worry, Big Brother, leave this to me. I guarantee I'll arrange everything perfectly, there will be no hitches."
"Alright, then you arrange it. Contact me anytime if anything comes up."
Lu Qi finally relaxed and hung up the phone.
Listening to the dial tone, the smile on Lu Hai's face grew even brighter.
He walked to the window, looking at the quiet night in the Military Region compound, feeling more at ease than ever before.
All this time, his biggest worry had been the Old Man's approval.
For Lu Mingyu's marriage, he even used his own connections.
He privately investigated Gu Lina Zha's family background, social connections.
And even all her experiences since her debut were thoroughly checked.
He had prepared countless arguments.
Ready to slowly fight for opportunities for his nephew and that female celebrity when the Old Man got angry.
But now, all those preparations were useless.
The Old Man not only agreed but was even more open-minded and supportive than he, the uncle, was.
Lu Hai felt that most of the investigations he had done before now seemed to be in vain.
As long as Gu Lina Zha and her family had clean backgrounds and no issues.
Then there would be no more obstacles to this marriage.
He was almost certain that Gu Lina Zha would marry Lu Mingyu.
From his understanding of his nephew, that kid either doesn't fall in love.
But once he does, it's for life.
Lu Hai picked up the internal phone on his desk and connected to his assistant's office.
"Xiao Wang, make a note."
"Tomorrow morning, you personally go to Cheetah Special Forces Brigade."
"Once there, go directly to the director of the 'if i were a female special forces soldier' production crew, who is currently filming there. His name is Ding Hui."
"Tell him I have something very important to discuss with him in person."
Lu Hai deliberately emphasized his tone.
"Remember, this matter must be kept confidential. Do not go through the base's guard platoon."
"And don't alarm anyone, contact him directly."
"Yes, Chief!"
The assistant's crisp and clear reply came from the other end of the phone.
...