The sea breeze carried tiny waves, brushing against Su Wanqing’s ankles with a slight chill.
She had just bent down to pick up a green crab hiding in the crevice of a rock when that particularly irritating voice came from behind her.
“Wanqing, what a coincidence! You’re here to see the sea too?”
Su Weiwei stepped onto the sand, her white dacron shirt tucked neatly into her army green pants.
She leaned close to Su Wanqing, a worried expression on her face. “I just heard that Chief Lu’s childhood friend is in the military district.”
Su Wanqing lifted her eyes, her gaze cold, her tone sharp. “You came all the way here just to say that?”
Su Weiwei’s eyes flickered, and she spoke earnestly, “You don’t know, do you? She and Chief Lu grew up together. Back then, their families almost exchanged betrothal contracts.”
She paused deliberately, staring at Su Wanqing’s face, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. “Honestly, Wanqing, if you hadn’t suddenly intervened, would their decades-long bond have been broken? What you did—it’s really unfair.”
“Su Weiwei, stop spouting nonsense,” Su Wanqing said, straightening up, her eyes full of contempt. “My marriage with Lu Yan was arranged by both our elders. It’s perfectly proper. There’s no ‘intervention’ here.”
“Save your little schemes of provocation for someone else,” she added.
Su Wanqing was already troubled enough by Lu Yan’s aloofness and inaccessibility. And now this insufferable green tea was barging right into her path.
Su Weiwei smirked. “Whether what I said is true or not, you know it yourself. Oh, and there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”
She straightened up, her face openly challenging. “I’ve already talked to Director Li in the cafeteria. Three days from now, we’ll have a cook-off in the back kitchen, just regular home-style dishes. The chefs and military leaders will serve as judges.”
“If you lose, or if you chicken out—”
Su Weiwei dragged the words, “—then you just leave the cafeteria on your own.”
Su Wanqing raised an eyebrow. “I never agreed to compete with you.”
“Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter anymore,” Su Weiwei said smugly. “Director Li has already spread the word. Now everyone in the cafeteria knows about our cook-off.”
“If you don’t show up, everyone will just think you’re afraid of losing and embarrassed. You won’t even be able to stay in the cafeteria without me saying a word.”
With that, Su Weiwei left, her steps light and confident.
Su Wanqing watched her retreating figure, a flash of cold light in her eyes.
A cook-off?
She snorted softly.
Su Weiwei, three days from now, I hope you’re still as smug in front of me.
…
The sea breeze carried the night into the window, and the wall clock quietly slid past eleven.
Su Wanqing lay on the wooden desk in her bedroom, elbows propped up, resting her face in her hands. Her eyelids felt as heavy as if weighted with lead.
The bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup on the desk had long since cooled, a faint ring of condensation clinging to the rim.
Her fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the bowl.
During the day, Su Weiwei’s provocative face, Lin Man’s meaningful glances, and Lu Yan’s avoidance regarding his old injury—all of it flooded her mind.
In the end, Su Wanqing hadn’t waited for Lu Yan to return.
This was the first time he had come home this late.
Never before…
When the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, Su Wanqing was woken by the ticking of the wall clock.
She got up and went into the kitchen, looking at the yam and lotus seeds prepped the night before.
She had planned to make the white fungus and lotus seed soup again that morning, to help nourish Lu Yan’s stomach.
But thinking about waiting last night and his leaving without a word, her annoyance flared up again.
Su Wanqing exhaled and, in a huff, shoved everything into the cupboard.
Not doing it!
Soon, there was a faint sound from the bedroom.
Lu Yan came out, his military hat still speckled with morning dew. His shoulders were straight, and his eyes carried a faint dark circle, showing fatigue.
He instinctively glanced at the dining table, but didn’t see the usual warm breakfast.
His gaze swept over the empty kitchen, finally landing on Su Wanqing’s tense profile.
She was wearing a light-colored short-sleeve shirt, her hair in a bun, neck pale and exposed, back turned to him, without a single glance his way.
Su Wanqing didn’t look at him, busy straightening her sleeves.
She thought he would at least ask, “No breakfast today?”
But after a long wait, all she heard was the sound of him changing shoes, then turning toward the door.
“I’m going to training,” he wrote in his notebook, sliding it toward her.
His expression and demeanor were calm as usual.
No questions, no extra emotions.
Su Wanqing looked at the neat handwriting and felt a surge of irritation.
She snorted coldly.
Lu Yan’s fingertips paused, he glanced at her pouting face, frowning just slightly.
He lowered his gaze for a moment, withdrew his notebook, and turned to leave.
The instant the door closed, Su Wanqing couldn’t help muttering under her breath.
Damn it!
You didn’t even ask me a single thing?!
Does he not care, or is he really unable to notice such an obvious mood of mine?
Pouting or not, she couldn’t delay work.
Su Wanqing wiped her face and composed herself before heading out.
Lu Zhengming, still sound asleep on the living room couch, wasn’t woken by the delicious breakfast this morning.
It wasn’t until late morning that he groggily opened his eyes and headed to the kitchen.
Seeing the empty table and cupboards, he looked utterly confused.
Where’s breakfast?
Is this house really falling apart?
…
Su Wanqing had just arrived at the military district gate when she saw two figures standing not far off.
Lu Yan stood tall, head slightly lowered.
Beside him was a woman, also in uniform, her shoulder stars conspicuous.
Her short hair was neat, her features delicate, and she smiled as she patted Lu Yan’s arm, speaking happily, “Haven’t seen you in years, but you’re just the same.”
Su Wanqing froze.
This woman… the “childhood friend” Su Weiwei mentioned yesterday?
Lu Yan slightly nodded, responding in sign language.
They interacted smoothly and naturally, the exchange of glances filled with years of familiarity, a softness that Su Wanqing had never seen in him.
She instinctively touched the sign language notebook in her pocket, scribbled with basic gestures taught by Lu Zhengming, awkward and rough.
Compared to the silent, intimate interaction before her, a strong sense of frustration welled up inside her.
Shen Xing seemed to notice her gaze and turned to look, her eyes carrying a hint of appraisal.
Then she turned back to Lu Yan, signing something quickly.
Su Wanqing didn’t understand, only saw Lu Yan shake his head slightly, his fingertips pausing, as if explaining.
After seeing this, Shen Xing smiled with squinted eyes, nudging Lu Yan with her elbow.
In the next moment, Lu Yan followed her gaze.
The morning light fell perfectly on his profile, casting a thin golden layer over his sharp features.
He immediately saw Su Wanqing standing a short distance away, her expression calm, and seemed momentarily paused.
As if he hadn’t expected to see her here.
Lu Yan’s deep black eyes flickered with surprise.
They looked at each other.
Su Wanqing pursed her lips and turned away.
She was still angry!
So she decided not to talk to him all day!
Lu Yan watched her stubborn back, the “I don’t want to deal with you” attitude clear, his eyes flickering, eyelids lowering.
He could tell she was angry.
From the empty breakfast table that morning to her cold snort as she left, every detail made it clear—
She was sulking.
But… how was he supposed to coax her?