They knew Huo Jingyuan was married and that the young girl sitting beside him was his newlywed wife. They continued to tease, “The young lady’s cooking skills are quite impressive.”
Wen Ci blushed shyly.
Huo Jingyuan introduced Wen Ci, “This is Regimental Commander Meng, Regimental Commander Zhou, and Regimental Commander Xie.” Then, with a calm gaze, he looked at the rough men and said indifferently:
“My wife, Wen Ci.”
Meng Ran’s eyes widened, and he looked at Huo Jingyuan with confusion. “Isn’t your wife the daughter of Minister Jiang from the capital? Why is her surname Wen?”
Wen Ci hadn’t expected that someone in the Northwest Military District would also know her biological parents.
Before Wen Ci could speak, Huo Jingyuan explained unhurriedly, “Wen Ci, she follows her mother’s surname.”
Meng Ran frowned. In his memory, Minister Jiang’s wife from the capital didn’t seem to have the surname Wen either.
Then, seeing Huo Jingyuan’s stern expression, he decided not to press further.
Wen Ci changed the subject, “I don’t know how to cook. These dishes were made by the new chef at the canteen, Sister Zhu Jing.”
“No wonder! I thought today’s lunch tasted different from the past few days. So, Chef Zhu was on leave.”
Whether Zhu Jing would pass the test to become the head chef had been witnessed by several regimental commanders. Since the change in chefs, they had been eating at the canteen every day.
Wen Ci’s eyes curved into a smile.
The regimental commanders appeared slightly older, their skin tanned from the Northwest climate. Huo Jingyuan was a bit fairer than them.
Huo Jingyuan’s gaze fell on the men, his eyelids slightly lowered. His calm voice, unhurried and steady, seemed to urge them, “Aren’t you going to take a nap after lunch?”
The men were perceptive and even closed the door on their way out.
In the corridor, Meng Ran suddenly remembered the name of Minister Jiang’s wife—Su Guilan.
Like his mother, her name included the character “Lan,” and the two knew each other.
“What’s wrong?” Zhou Xun asked beside him.
Meng Ran shook his head, “Nothing.”
In the office:
Wen Ci urged Huo Jingyuan, “Regimental Commander Huo, why are you still dawdling? If you don’t eat soon, the food will get cold.”
Huo Jingyuan’s eyes shifted as he ate while looking at Wen Ci.
The previously silent corridor suddenly echoed with several brisk footsteps. Wen Ci’s ears twitched, and she slowly said, “I’ll head back now.”
She paused, “Will you be coming back tonight?”
“Yes.” Huo Jingyuan’s dark, ink-like eyes met Wen Ci’s, a faint glimmer in his gaze. The corners of his lips curled slightly, “I have a day off tomorrow. Let’s see if A Ci will still be so bold.”
The man’s voice was low, his words implying that he intended to ‘teach her a lesson’ tonight.
Wen Ci lowered her head.
Huo Jingyuan deliberately leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Until tomorrow morning.”
Wen Ci: “…”
The dog man was deliberately repeating what she had said.
The man continued, “Don’t worry, I’ll be considerate.”
The office door opened. There were over a dozen regimental commanders in the entire Northwest Military District. Wen Ci stood up from her seat and shot Huo Jingyuan a big glare:
“Wash up after eating. Bring the lunchbox back when you’re off work.”
With those words, Wen Ci, her face flushed, ran out of the office, brushing past several regimental commanders.
“Is that your wife?” someone asked.
“Yes.”
“She seems a bit fiery.”
“Not really.” Huo Jingyuan’s lips curled into a faint smile as he explained lightly, “I just said a few suggestive words, and she got flustered.”
“You really are something!”
They had witnessed Huo Jingyuan’s transformation from a boy to a dependable man in the Northwest. He had been single for so many years.
They had thought he might be incapable.
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