Entering the house, a mixture of faint soapberry scent and the musty smell of long-unventilated air greeted her.
Lu Zhanting tossed Su Wanqing’s small luggage bag into the corner near the door, then strode straight to the window.
Swish—
He pulled open the heavy curtains with one swift motion.
Afternoon sunlight suddenly flooded in like a dam breaking, illuminating every corner of the room and exposing every speck of dust floating in the air.
Su Wanqing stood quietly at the doorway, taking in this place that would soon become her “home.”
It was a standard cadre apartment—two rooms and a living area.
The cement floor was swept clean, the walls freshly painted white. In the center of the living room stood a simple square wooden table, surrounded by four long wooden benches.
Nothing else.
Everything was neat and orderly but cold and empty, like a temporary barracks, not a warm home.
The house was filled with Lu Zhanting’s presence—simple, sturdy, and even somewhat rough.
“Master bedroom on the left, study on the right. You stay in the study.”
Lu Zhanting’s voice broke the silence in the spacious room.
Su Wanqing looked up at him.
He stood by the window, backlit by sunlight that traced a sharp golden outline around his tall figure, his face hidden in shadow, indistinct.
His words were blunt, almost a command, but they completely eased the tight knot in Su Wanqing’s heart.
She had been worrying how to handle the awkwardness of sharing a room tonight.
“Okay,” she replied softly, accepting the arrangement.
Lu Zhanting seemed unsurprised by her calmness. He walked to the wall and pointed at a brand-new army green water bottle and several enamel cups.
“Pour your own water.”
“The kitchen is over there. Pots, pans, and utensils are all there. Make your own dinner—I’m not picky.”
After that, he glanced at his watch: “I’m going back to the barracks to cancel my leave. I’ll be back before dinner.”
Having said all this, he didn’t look at Su Wanqing again but turned and strode out.
Bang.
The heavy wooden door closed, completely cutting off the noise outside and the silence inside.
Only when Lu Zhanting’s footsteps faded away outside did Su Wanqing feel her tense body relax.
She walked to the door of her room and peeked inside.
The study was small and just as simple. A standard military wooden bed rested against the wall, covered only with a bare straw mat. Opposite the bed was a worn wooden wardrobe, and next to it a small desk.
This was her new life, a new beginning.
Su Wanqing didn’t rush to unpack but instead carefully inspected the entire house.
The living room connected to a small balcony, outside which was a yard overgrown with weeds. The kitchen stove was clean, and a few mess kits and a set of enamel bowls and chopsticks were neatly arranged, though it was obvious no cooking had happened here for a long time.
The master bedroom door was closed, and Su Wanqing didn’t peek inside.
Standing in the empty house, her emotions were no longer as panicked as when she first arrived.
Although simple, this place was a shelter from the wind and rain, a brand-new start.
A thought sprouted in her heart: she would turn this place into a real home.
With that thought, she sank her awareness into her personal space.
Inside the space, life thrived. Vegetables grew healthily on the black soil, spring water bubbled gently, and in a corner lay many supplies she had accumulated in her previous life and added after rebirth.
Su Wanqing’s eyes lingered over the supplies.
She couldn’t bring out anything too outlandish, but small items that could improve life without raising suspicion were allowed.
Her gaze quickly fixed on some bolts of cloth.
They were imperfect fabric pieces she had exchanged for cloth tickets at the county supply and marketing cooperative. One piece of light blue cotton cloth, with barely noticeable flaws, was just right for curtains and tablecloths.
There was also some soft cotton fabric suitable for making two comfortable seat cushions.
She also found some dried mugwort brought from home to fumigate the house and dispel dampness and odors.
The kitchen was too empty, so she took out a new set of ceramic bowls and plates from the space, along with basic seasonings like salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
All these could be explained as dowry from her family.
After finishing all this, Su Wanqing withdrew from the space.
Looking at the fabric and scattered items now on the living room floor, she began to work.
She first grabbed a broom and rag and cleaned every corner of the house again.
Then she lit the mugwort, placing it in a broken bowl, letting the herbal smoke slowly fill the room and dispel the long-standing stale air.
After this, she took scissors and needle and thread to cut the light blue cotton cloth to the size of the window.
Her movements were skillful, and soon two simple curtains took shape.
Once hung, they softened the bare windows instantly. The harsh sunlight filtered through the thin cotton, casting mottled and gentle patterns on the floor.
She then cut a tablecloth quickly from the remaining fabric and spread it over the cold wooden table.
The table’s edges were covered, making the whole living room feel much warmer.
Next, she filled the cotton fabric with stuffing brought in her luggage and sewed two thick square cushions, placing them on two wooden benches.
This way, sitting wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
She went into her room and took out a brand-new quilt and bedsheet prepared by her mother Liu Lan.
The festive red peony-patterned bedding covered the bare wooden bed, immediately adding a bright splash of color to the dull room.
By the time she finished, evening had begun to fall.
Su Wanqing straightened her slightly sore waist and looked around.
The house was still the same, the furniture the same.
But now, it had completely changed.
The light blue curtains and tablecloth, the soft cushions, the red inside the room, and the lingering mugwort fragrance—all these details made this originally cold, barracks-like space begin to have the warmth and atmosphere of a “home.”
A smile appeared on her face—the first since arriving here.
This was not just a transformation of her environment but a way to take control of her future life.
She walked into the kitchen, washed the bowls and plates she brought, then took out from her space a small piece of cured meat and a few greens.
This would be her first dinner to celebrate moving in.
The sun was setting, and the training ground’s shouts slowly faded.
Lu Zhanting returned home in the last rays of sunset.
He habitually took out his keys, but as his hand touched the door handle, he paused.
The door was unlocked.
His brow furrowed slightly as he pushed the door open.
The cold scene he had expected was replaced by the smell of cooking mixed with faint herbal fragrance.
Lu Zhanting’s footsteps stopped at the entrance.
The lights were on inside. Under the dim yellow light, the previously empty living room was now freshly arranged.
Light blue curtains hung on the windows, matching tablecloth on the dining table. On the table’s center was an enamel cup holding a few wildflowers picked from somewhere.
The house that had felt like an empty shell that afternoon was now filled with warm and gentle life.
His gaze slowly swept the room, finally resting at the kitchen door.
Su Wanqing was carrying a plate of food out of the kitchen.
She wore a temporary apron; sweat dampened the strands of hair on her forehead, sticking them to her smooth brow. Her cheeks were flushed from the stove’s heat, shining enticingly under the light.
Seeing him come back, she paused briefly before saying, “You’re back. Dinner’s just ready. Wash up and eat.”
Her tone was natural, as if they had been married for years.
Lu Zhanting looked at her, then glanced around the dramatically changed house, his Adam’s apple moving once as he made a low sound.
“Mm.”
He went to the basin by the wall, rolled up his sleeves, revealing a bronze-colored forearm. The muscles were corded and covered in scars of various sizes, full of explosive power.
He washed his hands and face with cold water, the chill calming his chaotic thoughts somewhat.
When he sat down at the dining table, Su Wanqing had already set out the food.
Three dishes and one soup.
A plate of fresh green stir-fried vegetables, a plate of translucent cured meat stir-fried with garlic sprouts, and a plate of golden scrambled eggs. The soup was a simple seaweed and egg drop soup.
The dishes were simple, home-style cooking. But in this era of relative scarcity, having so much oil and green vegetables in one meal was considered quite lavish.
Lu Zhanting’s eyes lingered on the plate of stir-fried vegetables for a couple of seconds.
He remembered that the military supply store had already sold out of vegetables for this season.
Su Wanqing served him a bowl of rice, placing it in front of him.
“I didn’t know your taste, so I just made a little something,” she said.
Lu Zhanting said nothing, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite of the vegetables.
Fresh, crisp, with a natural sweetness.
He had never tasted anything like this before.
He took another bite of the cured meat. The cured meat was salty and fragrant, fatty but not greasy. The rice was steamed perfectly by the stove fire, each grain distinct with a chewy texture.
He ate quickly—a habit formed in the military—but not rudely.
Bite after bite, he said nothing.
Su Wanqing ate quietly, observing him out of the corner of her eye.
Seeing that he made no comment about the food or the changes in the house, she wasn’t sure what he was thinking.
The meal ended in this quiet yet somewhat subtle atmosphere.
Lu Zhanting ate three full large bowls of rice, and nearly two-thirds of the dishes on the table were wiped clean by him.
It was the most satisfying meal he had eaten in years.
He put down his chopsticks, leaned back in his chair, and watched Su Wanqing efficiently clear the tableware.
“The food was good,” he suddenly said, his voice a bit hoarse.
Su Wanqing paused in her cleaning, looked up at him, somewhat surprised.
She thought he would remain silent.
“Thank you,” she replied politely.
“Where did those things come from?” Lu Zhanting’s gaze swept over the curtains and tablecloth in the room as he asked directly.
Su Wanqing’s breath caught for a moment but she remained composed, “I brought them from home. My mother was worried I wouldn’t get used to it here, so she prepared some fabrics and daily necessities for me.”
She had long prepared this reasonable excuse.
Lu Zhanting looked at her deeply but didn’t press further.
He nodded, accepting her explanation.
“After you finish cleaning, we need to talk.”
He stood, walked to the window in the living room, took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, but didn’t smoke—just let the smoke curl between his fingers.
Su Wanqing’s heart suddenly tightened.
The main topic had arrived.
She sped up, took the dishes to the kitchen to wash, and when she returned to the living room, Lu Zhanting had already stubbed out the cigarette.
He sat on the wooden bench; his tall frame made the bench look small. He patted the seat across from him, signaling her to sit.
Su Wanqing sat opposite him, separated by the wooden table covered with a blue tablecloth.
Under the light, his facial features appeared even sharper. His deep eyes looked at her, no longer sharp as during the day, but with a calm, oppressive feeling.
“Su Wanqing,” he started, saying her full name, “I know this marriage came to you suddenly. We agreed to a contract marriage, and we both understand that.”
Su Wanqing nodded silently, waiting for him to continue.
“I married you because I need you to play the role of a military wife well, to handle the home front so I have no worries. In exchange, I will keep my promise to protect you and your family. In the army, no one dares to bully Lu Zhanting’s wife.”
His words were simple and direct, like reading an unchallengeable order.
“I understand,” Su Wanqing said.
“But,” Lu Zhanting shifted tone, “marriage is not a game. Since we have the certificate and live under one roof, there need to be rules.”
This was exactly what Su Wanqing wanted.
She raised her head, met his gaze, and spoke more seriously than ever before.
“Captain Lu, I also have a few things I want to discuss with you. Since you brought it up, let me say them first. Is that okay?”
Lu Zhanting hadn’t expected her to make requests first; he raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
Su Wanqing clenched her clothes nervously and spoke the thoughts she had mulled over all afternoon.
“I want to make three rules with you.”
Her voice was soft but each word was crystal clear in the quiet night.
“First, mutual respect. I won’t ask about your army matters, and you please don’t pry into my past or private affairs. We are husband and wife, but should also be two independent individuals.”
This was her bottom line, the absolute barrier to protect the secret of her space.
Lu Zhanting listened silently, expressionless, unreadable.
Su Wanqing steadied her heart and continued, “Second, financial independence. The living expenses you give, I will account for and use for household costs. But at the same time, I want to keep the right to earn my own money—I don’t want to be completely dependent on you.”
She didn’t want to be a caged golden bird. Having her own income meant real confidence.
“Third,” Su Wanqing’s cheeks flushed, but her gaze was even firmer, “about our… relationship. We are in a contract marriage without feelings. So I hope before real feelings develop, we keep sleeping in separate rooms. Any… physical contact must be based on mutual consent.”
After saying these three, Su Wanqing felt her heart pounding almost out of her chest.
She nervously looked at Lu Zhanting, waiting for his judgment.
She didn’t know how he would react, whether he’d think she was ungrateful or unrealistic. In this era, these requests—especially the third—were almost rebellious.
Lu Zhanting was silent for a long time.
His deep eyes roamed over her face, as if reassessing her.
The air in the room seemed sucked dry, pressing down so heavily it was hard to breathe.
Just when Su Wanqing was about to break, he slowly nodded.
“Okay.”
He spoke those two words clearly and steadily.
Su Wanqing suddenly raised her head, eyes full of undisguised surprise.
Lu Zhanting saw her stunned expression and a faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He continued, “Your three rules are reasonable. I agree to all of them.”
Leaning back in his chair, relaxing his body, he added, “First, I respect your privacy. Second, I will continue giving living expenses. If you want to earn money yourself, as long as it doesn’t break rules, I have no objection.”
He paused, his gaze turning especially serious.
“Third, Su Wanqing, although I’m a rough man, I know that forced things aren’t sweet. I married you because I want a partner to live peacefully with, not a tool to satisfy physical needs. Before you truly accept me, I won’t touch you.”
His words were so open and honest they shocked Su Wanqing.
She had thought this strong, domineering man would see her three rules as an offense. Instead, he accepted them all and even gave a more direct, powerful guarantee than she had.
This man was very different from the “Devil Commander” rumor.
Behind his rough exterior was an unexpected respect and depth.
Su Wanqing’s heart felt as if something gently struck it, sending ripples through.
“Thank you,” she said softly, this time sincerely.
“There’s no need to thank between us,” Lu Zhanting repeated what he said earlier, but his tone seemed softer, “From today on, we are comrades. Eating from the same pot, sleeping under the same roof, facing problems together. If there’s an issue, put it on the table. I don’t like guessing.”
Comrades.
This word instantly clarified how Su Wanqing defined their relationship.
Yes, they were not lovers, more like allies united in a common front.
Same goal, shared responsibility.
This definition brought her unprecedented peace of mind.
“I understand,” she nodded solemnly.
Outside the window, night deepened, and the clear sound of the lights-out whistle came from afar.
The warm and bright indoor light shone.
A negotiation that decided how the two would get along in the future was reached smoothly on this quiet night.
Looking at the man who had just become her husband, the biggest stone in Su Wanqing’s heart finally fell.
Maybe this marriage that began as a contract wouldn’t be as difficult as she had imagined.