After finishing the IV, it was already getting late.
Qi Huaiye personally escorted Jiang Lai to the mess hall for dinner.
Her sudden appearance in the dining hall caused quite a stir.
Because of Qi Huaiye’s perpetually cold, unreadable expression, a vacuum seemed to follow him wherever he went.
All the soldiers quietly followed the two figures with their eyes.
“Holy crap! The iron tree is blooming! Isn’t that the Black-Faced King of Regiment Nine?”
“Even the top brass dares to set him up on a blind date? My god, which unit is this female comrade from? She’s fearless! Old Madam Qi is amazing.”
“Maybe she’s Battalion Commander Chen’s fiancée—after all, the King seems to have failed every match he’s been set up with.”
“Is this comrade a new star from the performance troupe? Her skin is so fair and she’s stunningly beautiful. I hope she hasn’t made a mistake picking the King—otherwise, tears are guaranteed.”
…
The crowd whispered excitedly, until Qi Huaiye suddenly turned his head. They froze instantly.
When it was their turn to get food, Qi Huaiye asked Jiang Lai what she wanted.
In that instant, dozens of intense gazes swept over them.
Jiang Lai had been considered beautiful in her previous life and was long accustomed to being stared at. She calmly looked through the window and noticed the tray had both meat and vegetables—much more plentiful than the meat processing plant canteen.
“I’ll have a bowl of steamed egg and scallion-braised tofu,” she said.
For dinner, it was best to eat lightly, so as not to overburden digestion. She hesitated only at the staple food.
The northern and southern cuisine differences were significant—mostly buns, steamed bread, or fried cakes and noodles.
In the end, she chose a boiled corn cob.
Eating so little? No wonder she was so skinny.
Seeing this, Qi Huaiye frowned slightly and ordered an extra portion of braised pork and two meat buns.
When it came time to pay, he quickly covered the bill. Since others were watching outside, Jiang Lai didn’t argue, but in her mind, she silently planned to buy some food for him when she went to the supply store the next day.
Once seated, Qi Huaiye pushed the braised pork and meat buns to her side, while he went to another counter to get the standard three dishes and a soup, quietly eating his meal.
It took Jiang Lai a while to realize the braised pork and buns had originally been for him alone.
“You can’t finish all of this by yourself—eat some too.”
She placed the braised pork in the center.
Qi Huaiye nibbled at his vegetable dumplings, not lifting his head. “The military doctor said you’re weak. You need to supplement more.”
At that point, Jiang Lai couldn’t refuse his kindness.
The braised pork at the military canteen was generous and rich, each piece about two fingers thick, fatty but not greasy, tender and flavorful. The scallion-braised tofu included dried shrimp, adding a subtle umami taste. And the corn was in season, sweet and tender.
For a large-quantity meal, this quality was impressive—credit to the skilled chefs.
Jiang Lai gradually began to look forward to life in the military district.
As she ate slowly, Qi Huaiye devoured his meal at a war-like pace and finished in minutes.
He soon realized he’d made a mistake.
Seeing him finish so fast, Jiang Lai sped up her own pace, nearly choking several times.
Qi Huaiye’s thin lips pressed tightly, his jawline rigid. “Don’t rush. Eat more slowly.”
His expression alone, combined with the pressure radiating from him, made the air even colder.
“Old Qi!”
Chen Jianguo called out anxiously from a distance.
Qi Huaiye’s sharp eyes swept over him. Chen Jianguo’s steps were unusually conspicuous, and his beaming smile looked like a peacock displaying its feathers.
“Aren’t you supposed to be home?”
The implication was clear: if it wasn’t important, scram.
Seeing Qi Huaiye’s stiff face and Jiang Lai’s pale expression, Chen Jianguo felt lucky he had arrived in time. Any later, and Comrade Jiang might have been scolded to tears.
“Commander Chen ordered you to report immediately.”
Qi Huaiye found this odd. “Now?”
It wasn’t an urgent mission. He had already called to report before returning to the military district. Normally, submitting a written summary would suffice.
But.
A soldier’s duty was to follow orders. Perhaps headquarters had discovered a new lead or had other important instructions.
“The military comes first. Go quickly.” Jiang Lai’s lips curved, her bright eyes sparkling.
Her thoughtfulness and consideration made Qi Huaiye feel guilty.
She had just arrived and should have been able to stay longer, yet not even a full meal together.
Chen Jianguo slapped his chest and laughed. “Yeah, Old Qi, go ahead. I’ll take Comrade Jiang to the guesthouse afterward.”
Then he met Qi Huaiye’s cold glare.
Chen Jianguo’s scalp nearly exploded. His friend’s mood was getting more unpredictable, and he felt deep sympathy for Jiang Lai.
Half a minute later, Qi Huaiye withdrew his gaze and strode out.
Once outside the canteen, Chen Jianguo finally exhaled, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted. Still, he couldn’t resist defending his friend: “Haha… Old Qi’s naturally got a stern face, but he’s really a good guy.”
He said it with such guilt he didn’t dare look at Jiang Lai.
But…
“Yes, Commander Qi is really kind and helpful,” Jiang Lai said with a smile, agreeing.
Chen Jianguo: ?
He cautiously asked, “Comrade Jiang, are you a little short-sighted? How could you miss that at your age?”
Guesthouse
The northern military district’s conditions were surprisingly good—each room had a private bathroom.
Not only that, Chen Jianguo had brought fresh toiletries and a set of spare clothes for her.
His explanation was solid: “Sister-in-law, Old Qi said you didn’t have any spare clothes, so I brought over a set of my wife’s for you to use for now.”
Naturally, this wasn’t arranged by Qi Huaiye himself. He was still busy reporting at the office and couldn’t leave.
The Chen family had gone to great lengths to facilitate the two of them.
Jiang Lai gratefully said, “Thank you, Comrade Chen. These are exactly what I need right now. Please thank Commander Qi for me.”
For some reason, Chen Jianguo felt her tone carried a slight teasing, but he gave up trying to figure it out and cheerfully asked, “By the way, my third aunt is going shopping in the city tomorrow. Want to come along?”
Jiang Lai nodded slightly. “Yes.”
“Good. My wife will pick you up tomorrow morning.”
With everything arranged, Chen Jianguo left with perfect timing.
Jiang Lai closed the door, looked down at the pile of toiletries, and couldn’t help but laugh.
This military district seemed quite fun. They had gone to great lengths to make sure she wouldn’t be scared off—truly meticulous.
Had she not met Qi Huaiye a few days ago and realized he was a genuinely helpful and principled officer, she might have been intimidated by all this attention.
She even wondered if the military district feared he might mess things up if left to his own devices.