Before Wen Ci could speak, Xue Li waved his hand generously and said, “Doctor Yu, what would you like to eat? I’ll get you a serving.”
Yu Qing shook her head and politely declined, “No need.”
As she spoke, Xue Li stood up from his chair and strode toward the serving window, pointing at the pork stew with vermicelli and the sweet and sour spare ribs.
The sweet and sour spare ribs were a Friday special and very popular.
Yu Qing whispered, “This soldier is so enthusiastic.”
Wen Ci watched Xue Li’s back as he went to get the food and couldn’t help but smile. She teased, “Xue Li is indeed very enthusiastic, and he’s still single.”
She didn’t mean anything else by it.
A moment later, Xue Li returned with a generous tray of food. The cafeteria lady, thinking it was for the soldier himself, had piled on a large portion of rice—enough for half a kilogram.
Yu Qing was slightly stunned. Did he think she was some kind of eating champion?!
“You…” Yu Qing hesitated, glancing at Xue Li. Seeing his enthusiastic demeanor, she held back her words and forced a faint smile. “Thank you. I’ll pay you back tomorrow.”
“No need.”
Wen Ci looked at the overflowing tray of food and resisted the urge to facepalm. She shook her head repeatedly. Xue Li seemed quite sharp, but why did he act like such a clueless young man when it came to this?
Wen Ci sighed softly. She decided not to intervene and took a sip of the vermicelli. If she delayed any longer, the pork stew with vermicelli would get cold. The addition of pickled cabbage elevated the flavor even further.
“Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve had Northeastern cuisine. This tastes so authentic!”
“I’m homesick too.”
Zhu Jing, being from the Northeast herself, had mastered Northeastern cuisine to a high level, leaving the soldiers teary-eyed with nostalgia.
Xue Li smiled and said, “Doctor Yu, why don’t you try it? How does it taste?”
“It’s really good!”
…
Late at night.
Wen Ci was just about to lie down and sleep when she heard a rustling sound. She narrowed her eyes and walked straight to the living room, glancing at the clock on the wall.
It was almost 1 a.m.
Unable to sleep, she had been reading a philosophy book in Huo Jingyuan’s study and had lost track of time.
In the darkness, Wen Ci hid behind the door of the inner room, listening to the chaotic footsteps. She frowned slightly, and then the door to the inner room was pushed open.
Wen Ci was about to kick toward the door when she recognized Huo Jingyuan in the dim light and quickly pulled her foot back. She had used enough force to potentially break a rib.
Wen Ci breathed a sigh of relief, then reached out and hugged Huo Jingyuan. His body was cold, and she could feel the stubble on his chin.
Do men’s beards grow that fast?!
“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back?”
“I said I might not come back.”
Wen Ci keenly noticed the exhaustion in Huo Jingyuan’s eyes and said with heartfelt concern, “Even if the mission is done, you didn’t have to rush back just to be with me.”
“Mm.”
She wasn’t scolding Huo Jingyuan; she just wanted him to think more about himself. His current state suggested he hadn’t rested for at least 36 hours.
The cold wind from outside seeped into the room. Wen Ci reached out to close the door, and Huo Jingyuan’s body gradually warmed up. His rough hand slipped around her waist.
“Did you miss me?”
“Not really.” Wen Ci pushed his hand away and pinched his ear, giving it a gentle tug. “What are you doing? Aren’t you tired?”
“I’m not tired once I’m home.” Huo Jingyuan smiled, his ear still in Wen Ci’s grip, but a sweet feeling blossomed in his heart.
As the old saying goes, “Hitting is affection, scolding is love.”
He and Wen Ci had an arranged marriage, and occasionally exchanging playful banter was a normal part of their marital fun. But this kind of intimate “hitting” was something new.
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