In another line stood a woman wearing a green military uniform. She had a slender figure and a delicate face, though her skin wasn't particularly fair. Her eyes kept glancing toward Lu Tingzhou, brimming with admiration and reverence.
She was Liang Wanyi from the Cultural Troupe, who had liked Lu Tingzhou for a long time. Looking at the man before her—tall and straight-backed, with broad shoulders, sharp features, and an aura of military charisma—she couldn't help but admire him. At such a young age, he had already become a regiment commander, making him the object of affection for many young women. She was no exception; she had admired him since their first meeting.
Unfortunately, he was already married at the time, so she could only silently adore him from afar. But now, she had heard that his wife was both spoiled and wasteful, difficult to get along with. Her thoughts immediately grew restless. She believed Lu Tingzhou couldn't possibly have married her out of love; it must have been an arranged marriage by their parents, a reluctant union.
In her mind, a woman with the airs of a capitalist's daughter was unworthy of Lu Tingzhou, a heroic and upright man. She was determined to rescue him from his predicament.
Whether it was family background or appearance, she was superior in every way to that country girl. She was confident she could win Lu Tingzhou's favor. Having made up her mind, it was finally her turn to get her meal.
Meanwhile, Lu Tingzhou took three steamed buns, a serving of stewed potatoes with cabbage, a bowl of steamed egg custard, and a plate of stir-fried green beans. Carrying the food, he hurried back, afraid that Meng Ying might be hungry.
Meng Ying was tidying up the bed. The bedsheet had been washed so many times it had faded, old and worn-out. She didn't like it at all. Having just bought a new bedsheet, she immediately replaced it.
Then, she busied herself with her seeds. As an agricultural student, seeds represented hope and sustenance to her. Although she hadn't pursued this field in her previous life, she had never abandoned her expertise.
However, the plot of land in the yard needed tilling, and she lacked the strength for such a task. It would have to be Lu Tingzhou's job.
During the meal, Meng Ying didn't eat much. It wasn't that she wasn't hungry, but mainly because the cafeteria food didn't taste good. She knew food was precious in this era, but having enjoyed delicacies from land and sea as a food blogger in her previous life and being skilled in cooking herself, she found it hard to swallow for now. Meng Ying planned to make some chili sauce and pickled vegetables to pair with meals when there wasn't enough time to cook.
After eating, Meng Ying leaned over the table, sketching a planting layout for the yard, when she saw Lu Tingzhou place a cup of malted milk on the table. She looked up at him, surprised by his thoughtfulness. He must have noticed she hadn't eaten much and was worried she might be hungry.
She smiled, her face blooming like a flower.
For a moment, Lu Tingzhou was stunned. The next second, he saw her lips part as she said, "Thank you."
Meng Ying stood up and moved closer to Lu Tingzhou. As she drew near, he could catch the faint, sweet fragrance unique to her—something he had never experienced before.
His Adam's apple bobbed. The next moment, a soft sensation brushed against his cheek. He was momentarily dazed, his pupils contracting as he stood frozen in place.
Meng Ying didn't pull away immediately after the kiss. Instead, she tilted her head to observe his reaction. Seeing him unmoved, she pouted, thinking of trying again, but the man immediately blocked her. His voice was hoarse to the extreme, "Don't mess around—"
Feeling her movement hindered, Meng Ying frowned. "You don't like it?"
Her gaze burned into the man. If he said no, she was ready to slap him.
Lu Tingzhou restrained the expression on his face. It wasn't that he rejected such intimate behavior; in fact, his body had reacted strongly, a faint heat stirring in that area. He feared losing control.
“No—”
“Then you like it.”
“Hmph—” Meng Ying’s furrowed brows relaxed. “Such an unromantic man.”
Lu Tingzhou’s expression turned slightly awkward. He wanted to explain something, but seeing the displeasure on her face, he ultimately kept his mouth shut.
“What are you standing there for? Go to sleep!”
Even after getting into bed, Meng Ying remained sulky, turning to face the wall without speaking to him. She felt stifled, doubting the charm of her own body for the first time.
She quite liked Lu Tingzhou. Although much of it was due to his looks, what mattered more was that his character seemed decent—otherwise, she would have packed up and left long ago.
On the other side of the bed, a small lump formed under the covers. Lu Tingzhou felt a headache coming on. Lying flat on his back, he turned slightly to look at her silhouette. He reached out a hand, pausing mid-air for a moment before finally withdrawing it.
He let out an almost imperceptible sigh. He truly had no experience dealing with women.
The next second, Meng Ying suddenly turned around, their eyes meeting.
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?” she asked.
Lu Tingzhou pursed his lips. “Sorry.”
Meng Ying: “Is that all you know how to say?”
Lu Tingzhou: “My apologies.”
Meng Ying bit her lip, torn between anger and laughter. “Lu Tingzhou, are you out of your mind?”
“Huh?”
Meng Ying: “I’m your wife, you know that, right?”
Lu Tingzhou: “I know.”
Meng Ying: “Then why won’t you be intimate with me? Do you look down on me?”
The air instantly froze.
Lu Tingzhou hadn’t expected her to ask such a blunt question. In truth, he had thought about it last night. As a thirty-year-old man in his prime, desires and passions were only natural.
But considering her exhaustion from the journey, and more importantly, he assumed Meng Ying wouldn’t stay here for long. Life in the military wasn’t as simple as she imagined—every day meant enduring wind and sun. She was as delicate as a flower; how could she bear it?
After a long pause, Lu Tingzhou spoke: “Are you sure you want to stay with the army? This isn’t a simple decision.”
Meng Ying frowned at his words. Wasn’t her attitude clear enough?
“Yes, I’m sure.”
Lu Tingzhou: “I understand. As for intimacy… I’m just not used to it, but I don’t look down on you.”
He explained with such earnestness that Meng Ying’s anger dissipated. When he asked if she was staying with the army, she realized he probably thought she’d leave sooner or later, which was why he hadn’t dared to entertain such thoughts.
Meng Ying snorted. “Then kiss me now.”
Lu Tingzhou froze, his eyes filled with hesitation.
“Hah—I knew it, you’re just…”
The next second, her lips were sealed. The sensation was cool, tinged with caution. His touch was light, like a feather brushing past, as if testing her. Sensing her compliance, Lu Tingzhou grew bolder, gradually deepening the kiss.
Meng Ying couldn’t help but let out a soft moan. After all, this was her first kiss across two lifetimes—both thrilling and intoxicating. His mouth carried the faint, refreshing scent of mint toothpaste, intertwining with her breath.
After a while, Meng Ying pushed him away, lying down, pulling up the covers, and turning away in one fluid motion. It was simply too overwhelming; her cheeks felt as if they were on fire.
Meanwhile, Lu Tingzhou remained rooted to the spot, savoring the lingering sensation of the kiss—so tender it set his soul ablaze.
He lowered his gaze to Meng Ying, who had turned her back to him, and pressed his lips together, understanding her shyness. After three years of marriage, they were little more than strangers, still in the process of getting to know each other. He was aware of his own quiet nature.
But now that his wife had come to his side, willing to build a life together, he knew he must shoulder the responsibility—to shield her from storms and protect her with all his might.
With these thoughts in mind, he settled back onto the bed, this time not lying flat but turning onto his side, facing her direction.