In those days of scarcity, White Rabbit milk candies were a rare luxury—usually used to soothe crying children or given as gifts to save face.
Who would be extravagant enough to toss candy into porridge?
All because of a single complaint from this woman of unknown origin—“it has no taste”?
The White Rabbit candy melted quickly in the steaming millet porridge, releasing a rich milky aroma.
Lin Wanwan took a deep breath, forcing down the surge of bitterness in her chest.
She was an attending physician at the base hospital, and the daughter of Chief Engineer Liu’s old comrade. At Base 031, wherever she went, soldiers respectfully addressed her as “Doctor Lin.”
When had she ever been treated so coldly?
“Captain Xiao.”
Lin Wanwan adjusted her posture. Though her white coat was loose, she had tailored it slightly at the waist, giving her figure a neat, capable look.
“Since this comrade was brought here by you, it’s not really my place to interfere. But the base has its rules.”
Her gaze swept over the table piled high with food—five large steamed buns, ten meat buns, a whole basin of minced meat vermicelli, and the five eggs that had already disappeared.
That amount of food could feed three grown men.
“The country is advocating frugality. Even though our base has relatively sufficient supplies, it’s not meant to be… wasted like this.”
Her words carried a pointed undertone as she looked at Su Yun, her tone turning earnest.
“And from what I see, this comrade looks rather weak—not someone who does heavy labor. Eating so much oily and sugary food can cause indigestion. It’s not good for your health.”
Her speech was flawless.
She stood on moral high ground to criticize waste, used her authority as a doctor to show concern, and subtly mocked Su Yun as nothing more than a glutton.
The soldiers eavesdropping nearby nodded in agreement.
Doctor Lin had a point.
Everyone was tightening their belts these days. How could this delicate-looking woman eat more than a pig?
Yet Su Yun, the person in question, didn’t even lift her eyelids.
In her world, there were only three words: carbohydrates, fats, proteins.
Warning lifted: Blood sugar has returned to normal.
Energy reserve: 35%.
Logical processing module: rebooting…
Su Yun mechanically scooped a spoonful of the milky porridge into her mouth.
Sweet.
She picked up some minced meat vermicelli and chewed.
As for Lin Wanwan’s long speech, she treated it like the buzzing of an annoying fly.
This kind of indifference hurt more than any direct insult.
Lin Wanwan’s smile froze.
It felt like punching cotton—soft, ineffective, and making her look like a clown performing a solo act.
“Comrade, I’m talking to you.”
Her voice rose, tinged with sternness. “This is basic respect for food.”
Su Yun finally paused.
She slowly swallowed, licked the sauce from the corner of her lips, then turned her head.
Her clear black-and-white eyes didn’t look at Lin Wanwan, but fixed directly on Xiao Zhan.
“Xiao Zhan.”
Her voice was soft and slightly lazy from being full, making it almost ticklish to hear.
Xiao Zhan, who was wiping sauce off his plate with half a bun, twitched his eyelid. “What now? Still not full?”
“Too salty.”
Su Yun pointed at the now-empty vermicelli bowl, frowning slightly with a delicate air. “My throat’s dry. I want water.”
Lin Wanwan: “…”
Onlookers: “…”
So after all that speech, she hadn’t listened at all—and was now complaining the food was too salty?
And ordering Xiao, the “King of Hell,” to get her water?
Everyone held their breath, waiting for him to explode.
Everyone knew Captain Xiao hated pampered types—and even more, being ordered around.
His face did darken.
He stuffed the bun into his mouth, chewing angrily.
“Troublesome.”
He muttered in a low, hoarse voice.
But he didn’t flip the table. He didn’t pull a gun.
To everyone’s shock, this so-called “Northwest Wolf King” grabbed Su Yun’s chipped enamel mug and strode to the hot water barrel.
With a splash, he filled it halfway with hot water, then added cold water from a jug.
Returning, he slammed the mug down in front of her.
“Drink! Hope you drown!”
Su Yun didn’t get angry. She took a sip—the temperature was just right.
“Thank you, Captain.”
Her eyes curved into a smile, the final word drawn out in a tone that sounded both coquettish and provocative.
Lin Wanwan’s nails dug into her palms.
The scene was unbearable to watch.
When had Xiao Zhan ever been so patient with a woman?
Jealousy grew wildly in her heart.
“Captain Xiao!”
She could no longer maintain her composure, her voice sharp.
“What are you doing? Who is this woman? Base 031 is a classified facility—not a place for just anyone! If the political commissar finds out she’s wasting state resources like this—”
“Smack.”
A sharp sound cut her off.
Xiao Zhan slammed his chopsticks onto the table.
The killing aura of someone forged in bloodshed spread instantly.
He slowly raised his head.
The helpless irritation he’d shown toward Su Yun was gone, replaced by blade-like sharpness.
“Doctor Lin.”
“You’re a doctor. Just focus on your scalpel and stethoscope.”
Startled, Lin Wanwan stepped back, her face pale. “I… I’m just thinking of the base…”
“For the base?”
Xiao Zhan sneered. “She’s eating with my allowance—double rations. I’m happy to feed her. What’s it to you?”
“As for her identity…”
He stood up, his 1.9-meter height pressing down like a mountain.
Adjusting his collar, he looked down at her and enunciated four words:
“Military. Classified.”
Those simple words hit like a hammer.
In this era, in this secret base, “military classified” was absolute authority.
It meant a red line not to be crossed—don’t ask, don’t look.
Lin Wanwan’s face flushed, then turned pale.
She hadn’t expected him to go this far for a stranger—even invoking secrecy regulations.
“I won’t ask… I won’t ask anymore…”
Her voice trembled, tears welling up.
She felt both wronged and afraid.
“And one more thing.”
Xiao Zhan wasn’t done.
He pointed at Su Yun. “Stay away from her in the future. She’s timid—can’t handle being startled. If you scare her and mess up the base’s mission…”
He paused, eyes dark. “I’ll hold you responsible.”
Lin Wanwan couldn’t stay any longer.
Clutching her fallen lunchbox, she fled the cafeteria like she was escaping.
Silence fell.
Everyone lowered their heads, eating quietly, not daring to provoke Xiao “King of Hell.”
Su Yun sipped water from her mug.
She seemed completely unfazed—almost amused.
This man… bad temper, sharp tongue—but useful when it mattered.
Protective.
A good trait.
“What are you staring at? Done drinking?”
Xiao Zhan sat back down, his aura gone, returning to his impatient self. “Finish up and go! I’ve got training!”
Su Yun set the mug down.
The hollow hunger inside her had finally vanished.
Computational power restored: 45%.
Basic modeling function: unlocked.
Material database: ready.
Enough.
Still far from her peak—but more than enough for the “primitive technology” of this era.
She stood up.
The soft, delicate act she’d put on for food faded slightly.
Instead of answering, she looked out the cafeteria window—toward the research building.
“Let’s go, Captain Xiao.”
She smiled faintly.
This time, there was no trace of submission—only confidence and arrogance.
Xiao Zhan noticed the change instantly.
He narrowed his eyes.
Was it his imagination?
She felt… different. Like a blade that hadn’t been sharpened—suddenly flashing cold light.
“Where?” he asked instinctively.
Su Yun brushed her messy hair back.
“To give your chief engineer a lesson.”
She stepped forward—her frail body somehow carrying momentum.
“And let him see what ‘doubling the range’ really means.”