Zhao Qiang wasn’t necessarily trying to speak up for He Yuan. To be honest, having been comrades with him for so many years, this was the first time he’d seen He Yuan fight so hard for someone.
Back then, He Yuan could have married someone better—the daughter of one of their leaders. The old leader was about to retire and had only this one daughter, whom he doted on immensely. If He Yuan had married her, he might have risen straight to the top and probably wouldn’t even be on the island anymore.
Everyone felt sorry for He Yuan, but He Yuan believed that a person couldn’t lack integrity. The marriage had been arranged by both sets of parents, and he couldn’t renege just because the other party no longer had a mother.
After marriage, He Yuan did his utmost to support Ji Shuyu. To get her to join him as a military dependent, he pushed himself day and night, striving to earn merits and promotions early so he could qualify for family accompaniment.
But Ji Shuyu, on the other hand, refused to come because she looked down on life on the island.
Zhao Qiang held a bit of a grudge against Ji Shuyu over this. But when it came to marriage, it took two to tango. If He Yuan was willing, as a comrade, he couldn’t say much.
Yet, actually meeting Ji Shuyu, he felt she wasn’t as… unpleasant as he had imagined. She was hardy, polite, and knew how to handle herself. Zhao Qiang had expected a delicate, spoiled young lady, but she never complained and remained quiet and composed. Sometimes, she even initiated conversation with him, which he found somewhat unexpected.
“I didn’t see things clearly before and thought this place wasn’t good. But later, I realized that as long as husband and wife can be together, that outweighs everything else in the world,” Ji Shuyu said, a slight smile curling her lips.
Encouraged by her words, Zhao Qiang opened up like a sluice gate, pouring out stories about He Yuan. He wanted to help mend their relationship and, even more, make Ji Shuyu understand how much He Yuan had done to bring her here.
Ji Shuyu, who had been listless from seasickness, felt a flicker of curiosity. This He Yuan sounded different from the vague, aloof figure in the original host’s memories—a husband who, every time they met, seemed only focused on burying himself in work (or rather, in bed). In the original host’s memory, He Yuan spoke very little during their encounters. Her memories consisted mainly of his sweat dripping down when he leaned over and his low, husky voice.
Ji Shuyu quickly stopped herself from dwelling on it further. This train of thought was heading into NSFW territory…
“He turned down the leader’s daughter?” Ji Shuyu raised an eyebrow slightly. This was the first time she’d heard of it. As the cannon-fodder couple, she had died early, and He Yuan naturally hadn’t appeared again afterward. How would she know about his past?
“He… has quite strong principles,” she said, and she meant it. Regardless of anything else, such integrity and sense of responsibility were rare anywhere. Gems are easy to find, but sincerity is precious. In this world, staying true to oneself is the hardest thing.
“Of course!” Zhao Qiang immediately perked up hearing her tone. “Commander He is stubborn. Once he sets his mind on something, not even eight horses can pull him back. Take getting you to join him—he really pushed himself to the limit.”
“Sis, you have no idea—the naval training ground is brutal. In summer, you shed three layers of skin from the sun; in winter, you shiver so hard you can’t stop trembling. Everyone else rests after finishing the required drills, but Commander He always pushes himself harder.”
“The political commissar got worried sick, but Commander He said he had to earn enough qualifications to bring his wife over. That left the commissar speechless—too exasperated to be angry, too amused to laugh.”
Ji Shuyu pictured the scene: a stern, stubborn man pushing himself to the limit in the sea, all for a wife who didn’t even want to come. She felt a complicated, indescribable emotion.
Original host, oh original host, how could you have been so foolish? To be manipulated by Lin Xiumei into becoming a fool and ultimately jumping to your death? All you had to do was say one word to He Yuan. No matter how difficult, he would have surely rescued you.
Zhao Qiang sighed and shook his head as he spoke. “Sis, I’m not saying all this to complain on his behalf. I just want you to know that Commander He might not be good with sweet words and may seem cold, but his heart is sincere. Once he’s set on you, it’s for life. He’ll give you his all and treat you with everything he has.”
“He’s been truly hoping for your arrival for a long, long time.”
Ji Shuyu gazed at the distant horizon where the sea and sky merged and softly replied, “Hmm.”
The sea breeze brushed through her hair as she thought to herself that He Yuan seemed to be a genuinely sincere man.
If that was the case, life wouldn’t be too difficult for her once she arrived on the island.
It was certainly much better than dealing with that wretched bunch from the Ji family.
She gently touched her lower abdomen, feeling a faint, vague sense of anticipation for the island life that awaited her—the first such feeling she’d had.
After her conversation with Zhao Qiang, Ji Shuyu felt much better.
In the days that followed, she would occasionally go out on the deck to enjoy the scenery.
On the second-to-last day before arriving at the island, Ji Shuyu gazed at the distant, hazy archipelago and couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
She hadn’t even felt this nervous when dealing with the troublemakers in the Ji family.
Two days later.
Ji Shuyu held onto the ship’s railing, the churning waves making her stomach roll once again.
If she didn’t get off this ship soon, she was going to collapse right then and there.
“Hang in there just a little longer, Sister-in-law. We’re almost there,” Zhao Qiang encouraged.
Ji Shuyu managed a weak smile, her face still pale.
During these days on the ship, she had relied heavily on Zhao Qiang’s help.
Through their conversations, Ji Shuyu had gained a completely new understanding of He Yuan.
Thinking of He Yuan, an idea popped into her mind.
With a thought, the points mall interface—visible only to her—appeared before her eyes.
She hadn’t been idle during the voyage.
Using supplies from the mall, she had not only taken good care of herself and Zhao Qiang but also selected gifts for He Yuan’s parents, his elder brother and his wife, his younger brother, and his younger sister—all of whom she would soon meet.
Using intelligence points, she had purchased information on the He family members’ identities and simple preferences.
Cigarettes, alcohol, silk scarves, snow cream, rare snacks…
Each gift was thoughtful and practical, costing her a fair number of points.
“Wait… did I forget someone?”
Ji Shuyu had been so focused on the He family that she realized she hadn’t prepared a gift for He Yuan himself.
But what to buy for He Yuan? Ji Shuyu was stumped.
In the original host’s memory, He Yuan was little more than a blurry figure.
She quickly browsed through the mall interface.
After scrolling for a while, an inconspicuous product caught her eye: [Premium Protective Moisturizer].
The description stated it offered strong sun protection and repair, was waterproof and sweat-resistant.
Especially suitable for outdoor workers in high-temperature, high-humidity environments with intense UV exposure.
Ji Shuyu’s eyes lit up. Seeing the price was 150 points, she immediately exchanged for it.
The light screen flashed, and a simple, dark blue metal tin appeared in her carry-on bag.
“Seems like something’s still missing,” she mused, continuing to browse.
Soon, another product caught her attention: [Custom-Made Wear-Resistant Breathable High-Top Military Boots].
Mall products were guaranteed to be top quality.
Lightweight, anti-slip, and breathable—especially suitable for long treks over the island’s rugged terrain.
She seemed to recall Zhao Qiang mentioning that He Yuan had worn out several pairs of shoes during inspections. These would be perfect. 300 points—done!
Looking at the tin of cream and the pair of sturdy, durable boots now in her bag, Ji Shuyu breathed a sigh of relief.
Practical, thoughtful—surely she couldn’t go wrong with these?
She still had 3095 points left—more than enough.
It felt really good to have resources~
The ship finally docked.
The small island’s pier was crowded with people welcoming friends and family, bustling with noise and excitement.
Ji Shuyu took a deep breath. With one hand protecting her abdomen and the other carrying her luggage, she followed Zhao Qiang down the gangway.
Her eyes scanned the crowd until Zhao Qiang’s reminder sounded beside her.
“Sis, the one in the white military uniform—that’s him.”
With Zhao Qiang’s guidance, Ji Shuyu spotted the man almost immediately.
He stood slightly apart from the crowd, his posture tall and straight like a spear.
The white military uniform emphasized his broad shoulders and back.
His bronze skin glowed healthily under the intense island sun.
He Yuan’s face showed little expression, his thin lips pressed together, his demeanor serious.
But his eyes were scanning the disembarking passengers, clearly searching for Ji Shuyu.
It had been a long time since their last meeting, and he felt somewhat uneasy about this reunion.
The last time he went to Shanghai to see her, she had again brought up divorce.
Was she here now to join him as a military dependent, or had she come personally to deliver the eighth divorce letter?
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