“When I was helping my husband home, I ran into a comrade and accidentally let slip that the winner of Hell Week would be rewarded with a 28-inch bicycle.”
Wen Ci thought something major had happened, but she smiled calmly and said, “What’s there to apologize for? That bicycle is meant to be given away as a prize anyway.”
Zhu Jing breathed a sigh of relief.
She had wanted to stop her husband from saying anything, but she was too slow and couldn’t cover his mouth in time. She licked her lips and said:
“But that person is known throughout the military district as a gossip. I’m afraid the whole Northwest probably knows by now…”
Wen Ci shrugged, completely unfazed. “So what if they know? It’s fine.”
Seeing Wen Ci’s relaxed attitude, Zhu Jing changed the subject and asked, “Will Regimental Commander Huo be back for dinner tonight?”
Wen Ci shook her head. “I don’t know.”
She had only asked Huo Jingyuan if he would be back tonight.
She hadn’t asked if he would be back for dinner.
“Let’s eat first and not worry about him.”
As the sun set in the west, the sky was filled with the romantic hues of sunset. The yard had no lights, so they had to eat before it got completely dark.
Amid laughter and chatter, the sunset gradually faded.
Zhu Jing rolled up her sleeves and started clearing the dishes from the table. Seeing Wen Ci also stand up, she said, “Let us handle the dishes.”
“No, no,” Wen Ci shook her head vigorously. The sisters had already washed the dishes at noon. It wouldn’t be right to have them do it again in the evening. “You’re the birthday girl—you shouldn’t be washing dishes. Let me do it.”
In her understanding, the birthday girl shouldn’t have to do any work on her birthday. She should just sit back and enjoy. That’s how it had always been since she was a child.
“What birthday girl or not…”
In the end, Wen Ci couldn’t win against the sisters and only helped clear the table. As the sky grew darker, they all went back to their homes.
The once lively yard fell quiet after everyone left.
Late at night.
Huo Jingyuan returned from the barracks and saw that only an oil lamp was lit in the living room.
Wen Ci was sitting on the sofa watching an old 1980s TV drama. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she looked at him and asked, “Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
As he spoke, Huo Jingyuan unhurriedly took off his coat, revealing his muscular chest. The outline of his abs was faintly visible below his waist.
Wen Ci’s eyes widened. “So direct?”
“Didn’t you say until tomorrow morning?”
Wen Ci curled up in the corner of the sofa, hugging herself tightly in a defensive posture, her voice urgent. “No, I have to work tomorrow!”
Huo Jingyuan stepped closer, his strong arms lifting her off the sofa. His deep eyes looked down at the person in his arms.
“Last night, when I was exhausted, you were bold with your words, weren’t you?”
The man’s voice was low and mesmerizing, his fingertips gently stroking her back as he chuckled softly. “Today, I’ve regained my energy. Let’s see if you’ll dare to be so bold again.”
Wen Ci quickly pleaded, “I was wrong, Regimental Commander Huo. I’ll never talk big again.”
“If you’re wrong, there has to be punishment.”
Wen Ci gritted her teeth. “And if I wasn’t wrong?”
“Then I’ll have to teach you a lesson.”
Wen Ci: “…”
So, whether she was wrong or not, she couldn’t escape being “taught a lesson” tonight.
Wen Ci sighed softly and decided to give up resisting. She said firmly, “Only once!”
“Not enough.”
The night was still long, and Wen Ci’s body grew weary as she drifted toward sleep.
By dawn, Huo Jingyuan noticed his wife still hadn’t woken up. Looking at Wen Ci’s peaceful sleeping face, he gently brushed her brow.
His movements were so light that they didn’t wake her.
Before getting out of bed, Huo Jingyuan pulled the blanket up over her. Then he went to the living room and used the landline to call the hospital, requesting a day of marital leave for Wen Ci.
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