He had just finished showering, wearing a freshly changed military-green tank top underneath his uniform trousers. His broad shoulders and wide back made his physique even more obvious, and the water droplets still clinging to him looked extremely alluring.
The tight tank top pressed against his waist and abdomen, faintly outlining his abs. They weren’t the exaggerated bulky kind, but lean and powerful—each muscle carrying the aura of a hardened soldier.
Shen Ruanruan couldn’t help but steal a couple more glances before turning away, her ears turning red.
Both men present noticed it.
While she wasn’t paying attention, Wen Yan gave Lu Mingye a “you’ve got skills” look with a slightly sleazy grin.
Then he answered the question seriously, “What are you talking about? This is my dorm too, why can’t I come back? Besides, I was just chatting a bit more with my little sister-in-law. What, you jealous?”
“Get lost!” Lu Mingye said as he had already pulled on his short-sleeved shirt and kicked him lightly.
Wen Yan didn’t mind at all and just laughed.
“Alright, I won’t disturb you two. I’ll go check if those boys are slacking off in training.”
After he left, the atmosphere became a little awkward.
Shen Ruanruan’s mind was in chaos—both from her guilt over touching his things and from the embarrassment of seeing him just after his shower like that.
She also thought about what Wen Yan had said about him being a domineering troublemaker when he was young, and the fact that he had waited for her at the train station for several days even though they weren’t that familiar.
She really couldn’t figure this man out.
“Lu Mingye, did you really wait for me at the train station for five days?”
The man stiffened slightly. He probably guessed what Wen Yan had told her, but he didn’t look at her.
“What? Feeling guilty?” he said coldly. “Don’t misunderstand. I just didn’t want a spoiled young lady like you dragging her luggage and crying. That’s all.”
For someone like her, unused to hard labor, that suitcase must’ve been exhausting.
He had seen the sweat on her forehead.
Shen Ruanruan froze. Even though his words didn’t sound nice, she couldn’t help but think—was he secretly just worried she’d struggle with her luggage?
“What are you spacing out for? Not hungry?” he said, bending his finger and lightly tapping her forehead.
“Ah—!” she hissed, rubbing her head and glaring at him with wide eyes. “Why did you hit me?”
She looked like a little kitten robbed of its dried fish, angry but not daring to fully lash out.
A faint red mark quickly appeared where he tapped her. Lu Mingye frowned.
So soft?
A hint of guilt flashed through him, followed by an undeniable twinge of concern. Why had he used so much force?
He scratched his nose awkwardly. “Cough… I’ll be lighter next time.”
“Next time?”
Shen Ruanruan looked at him in disbelief. “Do you have violent tendencies or something?”
A man who had just meant to casually show closeness by lightly tapping her suddenly found himself accused of domestic violence: “……”
Forget it. End it all.
He quickly pulled out a White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and before she could react, popped it into her mouth.
“Mm?” Shen Ruanruan froze. She was about to spit it out before realizing what it was.
Her eyes lit up.
Her favorite candy.
All her anger vanished instantly.
Before she could even ask how he had it, he gently pushed her forward, guiding her out.
At the cafeteria entrance, they happened to meet soldiers finishing training and singing loudly in formation. The sound was deafening.
The moment Lu Mingye and Shen Ruanruan appeared, the singing abruptly stopped.
Everyone stared.
The rumors had already spread through the entire military district—a woman had come to marry Deputy Battalion Commander Lu. Everyone wanted to see what kind of girl could take down the “living Yama.”
Now that they saw her, it was as if the noise had been paused.
She stood under the sunlight, bright and delicate like a freshly watered sunflower, glowing against the sea of military green.
Lu Mingye’s gaze swept coldly across the crowd.
“Are you all mute? Turn around and keep singing!”
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers snapped back to attention and turned away immediately, continuing to sing, though their eyes still kept sneaking glances.
Lu Mingye stood slightly in front of her, deliberately blocking her from view.
The soldiers internally complained: So stingy!
For the first time, they realized the “living Yama” could act like this.
Shen Ruanruan’s face flushed bright red under all those stares. Feeling nervous, she instinctively grabbed the hem of his clothes.
Lu Mingye paused.
That small gesture felt strangely familiar.
As if many years ago, she had done the exact same thing.
“Tch… still the same little liar,” he thought, though his expression softened slightly.
“Want to eat something?” he asked.
“What do you want to eat?” he added.
“Meat,” she said softly.
The aunt serving food smiled knowingly. She already guessed their relationship.
“Spicy stir-fried pork, braised pork, potatoes with pork, chicken—”
“Wait,” Shen Ruanruan quickly stopped him in a whisper. “I like meat, but we can’t finish that much. Two meat dishes and one vegetable is enough. It’s wasteful.”
Lu Mingye glanced at her.
“Spicy pork. Braised pork.”
Coincidentally, both were her favorites.
Then he asked, “Rice, noodles, or steamed buns?”
“Rice.”
The aunt smiled even more warmly while serving them.
After the food was prepared, Lu Mingye carried both trays over with one hand each. His forearm muscles tensed, extremely attractive.
Everything was normal—until Shen Ruanruan saw the portion of rice and widened her eyes.
So much?
“Lu Mingye,” she called softly.
Her voice was small and sweet, like a feather brushing against his heart.
It made something inside him itch.
Little liar. Even her voice sounds like she’s acting spoiled.