The door opened.
A gust of cold wind, mixed with the noisy commotion from the corridor, rushed inside instantly.
Lu Zhan’s tall figure blocked the doorway like an insurmountable mountain.
He was still bare-chested, casually toying with the key he had just used to unlock the door.
Facing the crowd outside, he showed no trace of panic.
Only extreme impatience at being disturbed.
“What’s all the noise?”
The voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried a chilling edge.
The boiling corridor fell silent as if someone had pressed pause.
Zhao Guihua, who had been shouting the loudest, shrank her neck when she saw Lu Zhan’s face — cold as the King of Hell.
This soldier’s aura was terrifying.
Especially those wet, muscular arms — they looked capable of punching a cow to death.
“C-Captain Lu…”
The security section chief wiped the sweat off his forehead and stepped forward bravely.
“This woman says her daughter-in-law ran into your room.”
“We’re just doing routine work. Please don’t mind.”
Lu Zhan glanced coldly at Zhao Guihua hiding behind him.
The look was like he was staring at garbage.
“Daughter-in-law?”
He sneered.
“In this room, aside from female mosquitoes, even the rats are male.”
“Which eye of yours saw me behaving improperly?”
Zhao Guihua’s scalp tingled under his gaze, but the thought of three hundred yuan overcame her fear.
She stuck her head out and pointed inside.
“I saw that wretched girl climb over the wall! I saw her enter this building!”
“Your room is the only one with lights on — if she’s not here, where is she?”
“You must be hiding her! I can even smell her poverty!”
She tried to rush inside.
“Let me search! If I find her, let’s see how you stay a captain!”
Neighbors stretched their necks to peek in.
In this era, scandals excited people the most.
Lu Zhan didn’t move.
He only shifted slightly aside, leaving a narrow gap.
Just as Zhao Guihua thought he was guilty and excitedly tried to squeeze in—
Bang!
A military boot slammed heavily against the doorframe.
Less than one centimeter from her nose.
Wood splinters flew.
Zhao Guihua screamed and fell on the ground, face pale.
“Search?”
Lu Zhan withdrew his leg and casually brushed dust from his pants.
His blade-like gaze slowly swept across everyone present.
“This is a military restricted area. My quarters contain classified documents.”
“Who gave you the guts to search an active officer’s dorm?”
“Planning to confiscate my gun too?”
No one could bear such an accusation.
The security chief’s face turned green.
Classified documents?If those were lost, heads would roll.
“Misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”
He hurriedly pulled Zhao Guihua up, wishing he could sew her mouth shut.
“You must have seen wrong! Captain Lu is a war hero — how could he do such a thing!”
“Leave! Stop causing trouble!”
But Zhao Guihua refused to give up.
Three hundred yuan!
Losing it hurt worse than losing flesh.
She rolled on the ground crying.
“No justice! Soldiers bullying civilians!”
“She’s inside! I heard movement!”
“You officials protect each other! I’ll report you!”
Lu Zhan’s disgust almost overflowed.
Then he spoke — not loudly, but clearly enough for everyone to hear.
“If you heard movement…”
“Call the military dog unit.”
“Let them smell whether that person is inside.”
“If not—”
He stepped forward, looking down at Zhao Guihua with a chilling tone.
“Slandering an active officer, sabotaging a military marriage, disturbing a restricted military zone.”
“Are those enough charges for life in prison?”
In those days, interfering with a military marriage was a serious crime.
Even Zhao Guihua understood prison’s terror.
Under his murderous gaze, she felt executed a hundred times already.
“I… I must have seen wrong…”
She scrambled up and fled downstairs.
“I’m not looking anymore! I’m not!”
The farce ended quickly under Lu Zhan’s overwhelming intimidation.
The security chief apologized repeatedly and withdrew with everyone else.
Silence returned to the corridor.
Lu Zhan stood at the door until the footsteps faded, then shut it.
Locked it.
He leaned against the door and let out a long breath.
The wound on his back had split open from the earlier movement; blood seeped out.
But he ignored it.
He strode to the bed and kicked aside the military coat.
Under the bed, Su Man was curled into a ball like a frightened quail.
Hearing movement, she looked up — meeting his unfathomable eyes.
“Come out.”
She crawled out, legs numb, almost falling again.
Before she steadied herself, Lu Zhan grabbed her collar and lifted her up like a kitten.
“The shrew’s gone.”
He tossed her onto a chair and sat on another, stretching his long legs.
The cold exterior he showed others faded slightly, revealing fatigue and laziness.
But his scrutiny deepened.
“Now fulfill your promise.”
He pointed at the wound under his ribs.
“If you can’t cure it, I’ll throw you out the window.”
Su Man stared at the bleeding wound, not very confident.
But she had no retreat.
Only by passing this trial could she stand firm in this cruel era.
She inhaled deeply and suppressed fear.
Her eyes scanned the room and stopped at the enamel mug on the table.
“Do you have alcohol?” she asked.
Lu Zhan raised a brow and took out a bottle of Erguotou liquor, slamming it on the table.
“Don’t try anything.”
Su Man bit open the cap and gulped a mouthful.
The burning liquid warmed her body.
She poured the rest over his wound and over the porcelain shard hidden in her sleeve — her only weapon when she was reborn.
Now, her scalpel.
“Endure it.”
Her gaze sharpened and steadied.
In her previous life she hadn’t been a doctor, but surviving in that cruel household taught her to treat livestock — and herself.
If the poison reached the bone, even gods couldn’t save him.
She gambled it hadn’t gone deep.
“It might hurt.”
Before the words finished — her hand moved.
The sharp shard sliced open the scabbed wound.
Black blood poured out.
Lu Zhan grunted; veins bulged on his forehead, but he didn’t move.
He looked at her in surprise.
Moments ago she was a pitiful weakling — now she was ruthless and precise like a veteran.
Interesting.
After the black blood drained, bright red blood followed.
Su Man exhaled in relief.
She won the gamble.
The toxin was still in the flesh.
She tore her clothing and skillfully bandaged him.
Finished, she collapsed weakly into the chair.
“Done.”
She smiled faintly, pale but breathtaking.
“Commander, your life is saved.”
“And mine?”
Lu Zhan watched her — bloodstained fingers, stubborn face.
Rain pattered outside.
After a long while, he took out a cigarette but didn’t light it.
“Tomorrow morning, report to the logistics department.”
“The mess hall needs a helper.”
Su Man’s eyes lit with overwhelming joy.
She could stay!
Even as a helper — this was the military compound. Zhao Guihua would never dare come again.
“Thank you, Commander!”
Lu Zhan ignored her gratitude and waved impatiently.
“Wash up.”
“You stink.”
“Sleep on the floor tonight.”
He turned onto the bed, back facing her.
Su Man looked at his broad back and finally smiled sincerely.
This life—
Her fate was finally in her own hands.
But it was only the beginning.
She knew Zhao Guihua wouldn’t give up.
And this seemingly cold man would become her greatest support in this era.
As long as she held onto him, no one could bully her again.
Curled on the floor in his warm military coat, she listened to the rain — feeling unprecedented peace.
Yet she didn’t know—
In the darkness, Lu Zhan wasn’t asleep.
Touching the neatly bandaged wound, a playful smile appeared on his lips.
This little wild cat who barged in—
Had sharp claws.
Life in the compound wouldn’t be boring anymore.