Early the next morning.
Lin Shuyao set off with a heavy bundle on her back.
The late autumn morning already carried a chill, the wind cutting against her face like tiny knives. Plane tree leaves covered the roadside, rustling underfoot and coating her trouser cuffs with fine golden fragments.
The train station buzzed with noise, filled everywhere with people carrying luggage and bundles.
“Dad, you should head back now.”
“Alright~ Take care of yourself, remember to keep your valuables safe, and don’t be careless. Once you arrive, get along well with your husband. There’s nothing between a couple that can’t be resolved through talking—don’t be willful. If you encounter any difficulties you can’t handle, call the institute, and remember to write to your eldest and second brothers.”
“I know!”
The train slowly began to move, its wheels clattering rhythmically over the tracks with a dull, drawn-out sound, gradually pulling away from the capital.
Only after her father’s figure had completely vanished from sight did Lin Shuyao make her way to her seat.
It was a simple hard sleeper berth—a ticket her father had secured through several layers of connections. Though not particularly spacious, it was far more comfortable than a hard seat, at least sparing her the ordeal of squeezing among crowds for the entire journey.
The distance from the capital to the southwest was vast, requiring three days by train.
For most of the trip, Lin Shuyao leaned against her berth, reading to understand the local customs and conditions or jotting down notes on agriculture. Occasionally, she nibbled on the dry rations and pickles her mother had packed, sipped some cold boiled water, and rested her eyes when tired.
But the air inside the train was stagnant, thick with the mingled smells of sweat, smoke, and food, making her feel stifled and uneasy. Coupled with the constant jolting of the wheels, she gradually grew dizzy and fatigued, her appetite waning significantly. The rosy glow faded from her cheeks, replaced by weariness.
Even at night, the noise was relentless—neighboring berths echoed with snores, and children’s cries filled the air, making it nearly impossible to get a restful sleep.
By the time the train arrived in the southwest, Lin Shuyao had to steady herself as she disembarked. Not only were her legs numb, but her head throbbed with dizziness, leaving her with barely enough strength to lift her luggage.
“Comrade, be careful!”
“Comrade… Comrade…”
When she opened her eyes again, Lin Shuyao found herself lying in a hospital bed, an IV drip in her arm and an oxygen tube at her nose.
Turning her head slightly, she met a face both familiar and unfamiliar!
Lu Chengjing?
It was a strikingly impactful face—deep, sharp contours as if carved by knife and axe, with distinct angles. His eyes were as profound and dark as a cold pool, gleaming with intensity. Beneath a tall, straight nose, his thin lips were pressed into a tight line. His skin bore a healthy, robust wheat tone, and his military uniform was impeccably crisp, clearly reflecting the discipline of a lifelong soldier.
Lin Shuyao’s heart skipped a beat.
Was this her husband of convenience?
He was far too handsome!
The book had only briefly described Lu Chengjing as upright, brave, and an outstanding officer who tragically died young, never detailing his appearance. The original host’s memory of him was faint.
Now, seeing him in person, Lin Shuyao truly felt the powerful aura this man carried.
It was the steadiness and sharpness forged through years of rigorous military training and weathering storms—a stark contrast to the gentle yet hypocritical and selfish Chen Zhiheng.
The unfamiliarity was indeed real.
She was not the original owner of this body, harboring none of the original’s disdain and disgust for Lu Chengjing, nor any of the familiarity that should exist between husband and wife. To her, this tall, rugged man before her was merely a stranger whose name she had only seen on a marriage certificate, someone she had never met in person.
Even knowing they were legally married, Lin Shuyao still felt deeply uncomfortable all over.
Lu Chengjing noticed Lin Shuyao waking up. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly as his deep eyes fell upon her pale face. His tone was indifferent. “Awake?”
Lin Shuyao pursed her lips, her expression tinged with awkwardness. “I… I’m still a bit dizzy.”
As she finished speaking, a nurse happened to enter to change Lin Shuyao’s IV drip. “Good, you’re awake! You had acute altitude sickness. You mustn’t be careless about it again. Thankfully, your husband arrived promptly. Your condition back then… was truly frightening.”
“Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s fine, no need to be polite.”
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Lin Shuyao instinctively avoided Lu Chengjing’s gaze, turning to look out the window instead.
Outside, the autumn scenery was bleak. The distant mountains were shrouded in mist, exuding the vast, desolate atmosphere unique to the highlands.
Lu Chengjing’s expression was grave. He had been in the middle of training when he received the call. Learning that Lin Shuyao had arrived in Xinan and had fainted and been hospitalized, he was surprised, but he had rushed over immediately.
He and Lin Shuyao were indeed as rumored—they had only met twice before he was dispatched to Xinan Junqu. They had almost no interaction afterward, not even exchanging a proper conversation.
He knew about the situation between Lin Shuyao and Chen Zhiheng and understood that her coming to Xinan was most likely to get a divorce.
“The divorce application was submitted after I received your letter. You really didn’t need to make the trip.”
“Huh?”
Lin Shuyao jerked her head up, the awkwardness on her face instantly replaced by panic. Even the lingering dizziness in her head faded somewhat. “What did you say? Divorce? I’m not divorcing!”
She instinctively sat up straight, causing the IV tube on the back of her hand to tug and sway slightly. The pain made her suck in a sharp breath.
She couldn’t get a divorce!
Absolutely could not get a divorce!
She hadn’t come to Xinan to finalize a divorce with Lu Chengjing.
That damned divorce application was practically cutting off her escape route!
“Be careful.”
Seeing Lin Shuyao’s flustered movements, Lu Chengjing quickly pressed her hand down, signaling her not to move recklessly.
“Um… Battalion Commander Lu, have you misunderstood? I didn’t come here for a divorce!”
“Not for a divorce? Then why did you come?”
Pressed by his question, Lin Shuyao’s face flushed red with anxiety. A jumble of explanations finally condensed into one sentence. “I came to join the army as a dependent!”
She couldn’t afford to offend this husband of convenience now. Otherwise, if her job transfer wasn’t approved, she’d have to hurry back to the capital and repeat the original owner’s tragic fate as cannon fodder.
Once the words were out, continuing became less difficult.
Lin Shuyao cleared her throat lightly, her expression earnest. “Comrade Lu Chengjing, I admit, in the past I was young and reckless, unable to see people clearly, and did many foolish things. Now I sincerely repent, dare to face my mistakes, and correct them!
To express my sincerity, I have already applied to the organization for a transfer, to come to Xinan, and voluntarily support the Xinan Liangzhong Shiyan Zhan. As long as you sign, my job will be transferred here! From now on, we, husband and wife, will be united in heart, working together to contribute to the development of our motherland.”
This statement was half-truth, half-fabrication, but it did convey the core purpose of her coming to Xinan.
However, Lin Shuyao’s main point was the job transfer.
Lu Chengjing’s focus, however, was on… she wanted to live a good life with him?
Lu Chengjing’s brows furrowed even tighter.
How could this woman, who had been so determined to break free from him, suddenly change her mind—not only refusing to divorce but also wanting to stand by his side and fight alongside him?
Lu Chengjing simply couldn’t believe it.
Those dozen or so letters urging him to divorce were still sitting on the bedside table, each word cold and heartless.