Officer Wang was in a foul mood and, at that moment, just wanted to throw a tantrum like an unreasonable woman.
He had been having an affair with a woman from the cultural troupe. When the organization found out, he lost his job.
That woman had ruined his child and claimed she disliked Yun Ruo, wanting to drag Yun Ruo into it. She said, “Brother Wang, help me deal with Yun Ruo. Once it’s done, I’ll have the baby. The fortune teller said this belly is round it’s definitely a boy…”
Wang had been childless with his wife for many years. Feeling regretful, he had strayed.
He thought, since he was already leaving the compound anyway, he might as well go all out, get Yun Ruo too, and have a son a double gain.
Yun Ruo clenched her fists and sneered: “Nonsense.”
“Nonsense?” Wang snickered. “Then Yun Ruo, dare you say where you were last Wednesday night?”
At that moment, a female soldier from Yun Ruo’s dorm spoke up: “Last Wednesday night, Yu Ruo didn’t return home at all!”
The surrounding crowd erupted into murmurs…
Yun Ruo couldn’t respond.
Because last Wednesday night, she had been practicing on the dark training platform all night.
Wang grinned, licking his lips: “Oh, you won’t speak now? Feeling guilty?”
Yun Ruo’s face turned bright red with anger. She grabbed Wang by the neck, about to strike…
“I can prove it.”
Su Huai stepped forward.
Wang froze. “Who are you?”
Su Huai stood tall. “I’m a new recruit in Reconnaissance Company 2 Su Huai. Last Wednesday, I was doing pull ups in the small grove behind the logistics department all night.”
Wang’s eyes widened, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Yun Ruo released her grip and turned to look at Su Huai.
He continued, “But I never saw Comrade Yun Ruo there. It was you, Officer Wang… the green leaves of the poplar grove couldn’t even hide your ”
“Oh my gosh, what news!”
“Bodhisattva Tianyin… and Officer Wang, bare bottomed…”
“Hahahahaha!”
The crowd erupted in laughter.
Wang’s face turned dark liver colored. “Who do you think you are, daring to slander me?”
“Slander?” Su Huai calmly said, “If you don’t believe me, we can go right now to the poplar grove behind the logistics department. There’s the thickest tree; you can see the handprints from my pull ups.”
“Adulterer and harlot!”
At that moment, Wang’s wife, at some point, rushed out.
“You rascal! You sleep around with that Wang Ying, fine but now you’re spreading lies about Yun Ruo!”
A hush spread through the crowd.
After Wang’s wife dragged him away by the ear, the spectators dispersed.
Some even glanced back at Yun Ruo, walking away awkwardly…
Yun Ruo blew on her fists, smiling as she walked toward Su Huai. “Today I saved myself from hitting someone. Little brother, thank you.”
She smiled, as if spring had arrived early.
Su Huai tilted his head, staring at Yun Ruo. “You’re so calm… doesn’t it hurt, being falsely accused?”
Yun Ruo shrugged and said, “I’m used to it.”
For a moment, Su Huai felt struck partly sad, partly elated.
Then his heartbeat skipped a beat.
“Little brother… did you just say your name is Su Huai?”
“Yes.”
“And you said you did pull ups all night?” Yun Ruo asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
Su Huai scratched his head. “Yeah… I just enlisted, so my fitness is a bit behind.”
Yun Ruo batted her long lashes. “Then next time you train in the poplar grove, take me along.”
“Huh?”
Su Huai felt his heart soar. “You… want to train too?”
“I know Sanda. I want to be friends with you, and also work on my arm strength,” Yun Ruo said plainly.
Su Huai looked at this woman several years older than him, and his heartbeat went out of rhythm.
“Why the pause, little brother? Will you come or not?”
At the Su residence, Su Yemang was still locked in a standoff with Xiao Ye.
Xiao Ye had already finished a book, then snapped it shut with a clap!
“Time to say it, Su Yemang. Why exactly did you stuff my clothes in your pillow?”
“It was just… randomly stuffed in there.” Su Yemang only had her hands hidden in her sleeves, fidgeting.
Xiao Ye’s fingertip still pressed against the shirt, his sharply defined fingers rubbing over the scorched yellow burn marks, again and again.
He suddenly stood up. “Lying again?”
Su Yemang feigned calm. “Not lying… I just grabbed it casually to use as a pillow.”
“So my shirt got all burned, and you didn’t throw it away?”
His voice was low, resonant, as if coming from deep within his chest.
Hearing that, Su Yemang’s heart raced even faster.
“It would be a waste to throw it away,” she said, clutching the corner of the pillow.
“What an insincere woman.”
Xiao Ye’s dark red lips murmured the words.
Su Yemang raised her right eyebrow. “So what if I accidentally used your shirt as a pillow? I’ll tell you, Xiao Ye I’m not interested in you. I can use anyone’s clothes as a pillow.”
Xiao Ye’s Adam’s apple moved, and he suddenly said softly, “Your ex husband’s clothes… are they in your pillow too?”
There was no emotion in his tone.
Su Yemang’s hands trembled as she wrapped them around her chest. “Naturally.”
“Mom, I’m home!”
That’s when Su Yixin suddenly burst in from outside, heading straight for Su Yemang’s bedroom, bringing a wave of stench with him.
Su Yemang jumped up anxiously. “Xinxin, you…”
Su Yixin immediately noticed the pillow on the bed. “Hey Mom, after five years, you finally took the pillow stuffing out!”
Her sleepy breath caught, and she turned to grab a peach. “Ah, Xinxin… you stink so bad.”
“Su Yemang.” Xiao Ye called her from behind.
That one call, each syllable deliberate, heavy with intent.
Was it casual? Like divine intervention, Su Yu Xin was quickly dragged back, “I told you not to go play in cow dung! Take off your clothes quickly and get in the shower.”
Su Yixin pouted, “Mom, it wasn’t cow dung, it was human waste.”
Su Yemang was stunned for a moment, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said, “Forget it, I’m too lazy to argue. Hurry to the bathroom and get ready…”
She turned and saw Xiao Ye had already gone to her own home, grabbed four hot water kettles, and was heading straight for Su’s bathroom…
He measured the water, adjusted the temperature, and even sprayed Su Yixin with some floral water from the Su household…
Xiao Ye said sternly, “Su Yemang.”
Su Yemang pursed her lips politely. “About that pillow… I’ll get Xinxin washed first, then I’ll talk to you.”
“Fine.”
After that, Xiao Ye silently took over, helping with the chores…
Splash! Splash! Water poured into the large wooden tub, steam filling the bathroom.
Su Yemang put Su Yixin into the bath. “Come, Xinxin, Mommy will wash you.”
Xiao Ye said coldly, “Su Yemang, are you done yet?”
Su Yemang didn’t want to talk about the pillow with him, so she pretended to be busy. “No, I still have to wash Xinxin, I don’t have time to chat with you right now.”
Su Yixin sat in the tub and pushed her mother away with tiny hands. “Mom, I’m four and a half. I’m a big kid now. You don’t need to wash me anymore.”
Su Yemang couldn’t help laughing, holding the soap. “What are you talking about… this kid.”
Su Yixin said firmly, “No, I don’t need you to wash me.”
“Mom, didn’t you say you wanted to train me? Look how good I am in the bath this time. I don’t even need treats from you.”
Su Yemang sighed. “Fine. Okay.”
“Then take your time washing. Mommy will wait in the living room…”
Living room.
Su Yemang closed her legs and looked at Xiao Ye anxiously. “What do you want to do now?”
Xiao Ye stood and said, “Su Yemang, you don’t know… when you lie, your right eyelid twitches upward.”
Su Yemang’s shoulders stiffened.
He leaned close to her, his dark, captivating eyes half smiling.
“Keeping my old shirt as a pillow, sleeping on it, and then telling me you’re not interested in me?”
“I…” Su Yemang tried to explain.
But Xiao Ye went into the bedroom, twisted the pillow, and came back.
Su Yemang stood up. “What are you doing?”
Xiao Ye walked out of Su’s house. “Why keep using this rag as a pillow anyway?”