She glanced at the toothbrushes and towels on the sink.
Both towels were slightly yellowed, and the two toothbrushes were placed far apart.
The original owner’s toothbrush was already frayed, and Xie Ci’s was even more worn out…
Cheng Zi simply threw them all away and replaced them with new ones based on memory.
These were actually prepared by the original owner for Gu Yechen…
Why would someone keep Gu Yechen’s toiletries at home??
Don’t ask—normal people wouldn’t understand!!!
The original owner really knew how to care for people, even buying branded items from the department store.
Cheng Zi quickly finished washing up.
The mirror at home was somewhat worn and yellowed, making reflections look hazy and unclear.
Last night’s shower had felt like a battle, and the dim light bulb hadn’t allowed her to see her appearance clearly—only a vague sense of familiarity.
Now, with the sunlight just right and her mood improved, Cheng Zi finally looked directly at her face…
Cheng Zi: ???
Wasn’t this exactly what she looked like at 21?
The author of that book was probably someone she knew.
“Are you done?” Xie Ci’s voice came again.
“Almost,” she replied.
Smiling, Cheng Zi shook her head and pushed the thought aside. She rinsed both towels, hung them neatly, and placed the two toothbrush cups side by side.
“I’m coming.”
Only then did things feel right.
Xie Ci had changed out of his military green short-sleeved shirt into a white dress shirt. He looked less stern now and carried a more relaxed aura.
“Good morning.”
Xie Ci didn’t even look up, only gave a faint “mm” as he pushed a bottle of goat milk in front of her.
“Fresh goat milk.”
“You even have this kind of good stuff?”
Cheng Zi picked it up and drank, then curved her brows slightly. “It doesn’t taste the least bit gamey.”
“If you like it, I’ll get you more.”
Goat milk in the 1990s was a premium item and definitely not cheap.
In a pre-industrialized setting like this, it was rare to get such a clean taste. “Where did you buy it?”
“Across from the compound.”
“Ah.”
Xie Ci then peeled two boiled eggs for her and pushed them together with some bread.
“The bread is for you. I don’t eat this.”
He usually ate steamed buns and drank soy milk.
Meat floss bread wasn’t cheap either.
Cheng Zi felt that although he looked fierce, he actually had a gentle side deep down.
After breakfast, they prepared to go out.
Cheng Zi held a list in her hand and immediately ran into a dilemma…
The list had been written overnight, densely packed with things to buy.
But there was no money!!!
There were only 12 yuan in the passbook. What was she supposed to do?
She hesitated.
Xie Ci had already put on his shoes. “Aren’t you changing clothes?”
Cheng Zi looked at him pitifully, opening her mouth but unable to ask.
Xie Ci frowned slightly, as if he had already seen through her thoughts. “I have money.”
Cheng Zi quickly calculated in her mind, and a smile immediately appeared on her face. “I’ll change right now.”
Seeing her obvious change in expression, a faint smile appeared on Xie Ci’s usually cold face.
As the original owner was a designer at the Tongcheng garment factory, her wardrobe was actually quite stylish.
Fashion really is cyclical. Cheng Zi looked left and right—every piece felt surprisingly trendy.
It was just that styling in this era was still somewhat limited.
Her eyes shifted slightly.
She took out a bright floral shirt, paired it with slim flared jeans, and small heels. She wrapped a silk ribbon into her hair and tied it into a low Korean-style ponytail.
Very “Hong Kong” style.
Cheng Zi was already naturally beautiful, with soft, glowing skin in her best age—she didn’t even need makeup.
“Let’s go, hubby~”
She casually picked a small shoulder bag.
When Xie Ci looked at her, he froze slightly, almost lost in thought.
The face was still the same face, but it felt more vivid now.
For a moment, Xie Ci even felt like he had never truly known Cheng Zi in the past two years. The bright, charming woman in front of him seemed like her real self…
Beautiful in a way that was hard to describe.
“What are you looking at? Do I look good?”
Cheng Zi leaned in front of him, pulling him out of his thoughts.
Xie Ci naturally looked away. “Wait at the gate. I borrowed a bicycle from Hu Jin.”
“Okay.”
…
Cheng Zi walked out holding a parasol.
The military compound was already lively in the early morning.
It was the weekend—some people were out buying groceries, some were exercising, some elderly residents were chatting under the shade, and children were running around in groups. The atmosphere was full of life.
Cheng Zi’s eyes lit up. She had never seen such a compound lifestyle before.
But wherever she went, it was as if she carried some kind of spell—people would fall silent the moment she passed.
Only after she walked away did they start talking again, and the topic was always about her…
“See that? She dresses like a seductress every day, trying to attract attention. Those pants show everything clearly. Xie Ci is such a good man—how did he end up marrying someone like that?”
“Exactly. I don’t even know who she’s dressing up for.”
“Who else? My daughter told me Xie Ci was away once, and she was fooling around with an old classmate.”
“Xie Ci is really pitiful. His parents were such good people, gone too early. Now no one is even here to stand up for him.”
“If she were my daughter-in-law, I would’ve made my son divorce her long ago. A wife should be virtuous.”
“They say Winter Mei is the best. Her husband died two years ago, and she’s been supporting the whole family alone—such strength.”
“I still think Qin Lan is better. She and Xie Ci… what a pity…”
The voices behind her gradually faded.
The smile on Cheng Zi’s face had already disappeared. She let out a soft breath, feeling a tightness in her chest…
What kind of mess is this???
She stopped at the gate. The guard, an old man sitting on a bamboo chair fanning himself, frowned as soon as he saw her and simply closed his eyes, pretending not to notice.
At that moment, two middle-aged women were walking back. The slightly plump one snorted coldly and turned away.
The taller, thinner one paused and waved at her. “Cheng Zi, going out?”
Cheng Zi pointed at herself.
Surprisingly, someone was actually being polite to her?
She quickly matched the name. “Yes, going out. Aunt Chen, just came back?”
Aunt Chen was known to be warm and well-liked in the compound.
But the original owner wasn’t familiar with her at all.
Aunt Chen looked around, then pulled Cheng Zi aside. “I just wanted to ask you—do you have nylon fabric at your factory? The brighter colors.”
Cheng Zi raised her brows slightly. Wasn’t that obvious? Nylon fabric was one of the most popular materials in the early 1990s—of course a large garment factory in Tongcheng would have it.
Seeing her silence, Aunt Chen continued on her own. “Can you get some for me? I’ll pay you. I won’t take advantage of you.”