Zhou Yan’s figure disappeared at the mess hall doorway. Su Wanqing looked up, blinking her apricot-colored eyes.
Was it just her imagination?
Why did Chief of Staff Zhou’s gaze feel… strange?
Beside her, Director Li was still pleading with the inspection team, and Su Weiwei was leaning against the wall, crying.
The chaotic scene slowly quieted down only when the mess hall closed.
Su Wanqing cleaned the workbench, waved to Uncle Zhang, and carried her cloth bag out.
The sun had already tilted westward, and the sea breeze carried the damp scent of the ocean, lifting the stray strands of hair at her forehead.
She tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing the fair tip of her ear and delicate jawline. Her light-colored short sleeve glowed warmly in the sunset, making her skin look radiant.
Back at the staff quarters, as soon as she pushed the door open, she saw Lu Zhengming sprawled across the sofa like a lifeless fish.
His shirt was wrinkled, pants rolled up to his knees, exposing a patch of sun-darkened calves. Normally boisterous, he now looked completely dejected, not even reacting to the sound of her opening the door.
“Lu Zhengming, are you lying here like a corpse?” Su Wanqing set her bag on the coffee table and gently nudged the sofa leg.
Lu Zhengming slowly lifted his head, his eyes still red, his usual arrogance gone, his voice weak: “Sister-in-law, I’m about to be beaten to death by my parents. I don’t have the energy to move.”
Su Wanqing raised an eyebrow, sitting beside the sofa and casually picking through a bunch of greens. “What? Your parents found out about you being expelled for fighting?”
At this, Lu Zhengming suddenly sprang upright, eyes wide. “Sister-in-law! You’re joking at a time like this! Quick, help me think of what to do!”
“My mom said this weekend she and my dad are coming to the island—not just to deal with me, but they’re taking me back to Nancheng as an apprentice!”
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something, leaning closer to lower his voice, a hint of surprise in it: “Oh, and my mom said it’s mainly for my brother!”
Su Wanqing raised an eyebrow.
Lu Zhengming continued: “My uncle somehow found out that my brother’s anorexia is much better now, that he can eat normally!”
Su Wanqing’s hands froze mid-preparation.
Lu Yan’s anorexia was indeed slowly improving, but to say he was fully recovered…
That was still far from the truth.
Lu Zhengming looked completely desperate. “When my father heard this, he immediately got excited, slammed the table, and said he had to come to the island himself to see my brother!”
“Now I’m doomed. Even though they’re coming for my brother, if they find out what I did… they’ll skin me alive!”
Su Wanqing frowned slightly.
So where did Lu Yan’s family get this news?
Lu Zhengming suddenly sat up again, eyes bulging. “Sister-in-law! What do you think I should do?”
“Wear more clothes.”
Lu Zhengming was dumbfounded. “Huh?”
“Dress warmly. When your parents come to deal with you, it’ll hurt less if you’re padded up.”
Su Wanqing glanced at him, a trace of amusement in her eyes.
Lu Zhengming’s face fell. He slumped like all his bones had been pulled out, wailing: “Sister-in-law! You’re just rubbing salt in the wound! My parents’ temper… no matter how padded I am, I’m still going to get it!”
Su Wanqing didn’t stop her movements, neatly arranging the washed greens in a bamboo basket, shaking her head: “Then I can’t help you.”
Lu Zhengming collapsed back on the sofa. “I’m finished!”
“Sister-in-law, can you ask my brother to plead for me? I don’t want to go to the factory, and I don’t want my parents to hit me!”
Su Wanqing looked at him, her apricot eyes showing mild exasperation: “I can’t help you with that. You got expelled for fighting, which broke school rules. You have to face the consequences yourself.”
Lu Zhengming hung his head like a frostbitten eggplant. “Even you won’t help me… I might as well die…”
Su Wanqing shook her head, walked into the kitchen, soaked the pork belly in water, washed the greens, and was just about to take out the clay pot for soup.
Then she heard the door’s lock turning—
Unlike the usual calm, this time the sound carried urgency.
Su Wanqing looked up.
Lu Yan was already at the doorway, holding his military cap casually in his hand. A little sand from the sea breeze clung to his temple, his uniform jacket’s collar slightly open, sleeves still damp.
It seemed he had rushed straight from training, radiating a sharp urgency.
The eyes that were usually calm as a deep pool now held a chilling intensity.
Lu Yan strode quickly into the room, pulling out a pre-written note from his pocket and handing it to Su Wanqing; his fingertips were still cool from the rush.
She hurriedly took it, her apricot eyes narrowing as she read:
“Temporary mission tonight, expected to be away for five days.”
Su Wanqing didn’t have time to ask questions.
Lu Yan withdrew his gaze, frowning slightly, paused for a moment, and simply nodded lightly to Su Wanqing.
A farewell.
Then he grabbed his military cap and jacket from the entryway cabinet, stepping out briskly. His boots struck the cement floor with crisp sounds.
Soon, a “bang” sounded from the gate as it closed, and all motion ceased.
Su Wanqing clutched the note, still warm from Lu Yan’s body heat, standing frozen for a long time.
So urgent?
Lu Zhengming, at some point, had nervously crept over.
He glanced at the note in her hand.
“My brother must be going on a military exercise…”
Su Wanqing asked, turning to him: “How do you know?”
“There are frequent drills in our military district. I’m guessing.” Lu Zhengming shrugged.
Su Wanqing recalled Lu Yan’s dark, intense gaze.
A sense of foreboding settled in her heart.
Something about this didn’t feel simple.
That night, the wind suddenly roared outside, and the crashing waves struck the window like muffled thunder, hammering against the panes.
Su Wanqing woke with a start.
She threw on clothes and stepped to the window, when a flash of lightning tore across the night sky, illuminating the chaos outside.
Torrential rain pounded the glass, splashing upward, the distant sea dark and stormy, with only the high waves brushing over nearby rocks visible.
The usually calm sea now resembled a raging beast, exuding a terrifying intensity.
Su Wanqing gripped the windowsill, knuckles white, worry deepening in her apricot eyes.
Lu Yan was on a sudden mission—and in such severe weather.
With the island’s rough seas, could he be in danger?
She paced back and forth inside, the wind, rain, and waves keeping her awake all night.
The next morning, the sky was still overcast, the low leaden clouds pressing down. The sea breeze, still carrying rain, made the branches outside the wall moan and sway.
Su Wanqing had only managed a light sleep late into the night and overslept in the morning.
Half-awake, she was suddenly interrupted by knocking at the door—“bang, bang, bang” repeatedly.
“Chief Lu! Chief Lu, are you home?”
The urgent, loud voice yanked her fully awake.
Rubbing her groggy head, she threw on a coat and walked to the door, her hair messy over her shoulders, red-rimmed eyes from lack of sleep.
“Chief Lu! Chief Lu…”
The voice was familiar.
Su Wanqing rubbed her head and opened the door. Cold wind and rain rushed in, whipping her stray hair around.
Outside stood Lin Man, her white coat soaked by the rain, clinging stiffly to her body. The once artificially gentle brows were now furrowed with urgency, full of anxiety.
Lu Zhengming, just sitting up on the sofa, immediately slumped back half upon hearing Lin Man’s voice.
He shouted: “Teacher Lin, you’re looking for my brother? He went on a temporary mission last night, will be gone for five days!”
“A mission?”
Lin Man looked as if struck by lightning, stepping back half a step. Rainwater dripped from her coat onto the threshold, splashing tiny droplets.
“How did you let him go! The military district broadcast yesterday afternoon said a strong typhoon of over ten levels would hit in the next three days. The sea waves could overturn fishing boats—how could he go on a mission at a time like this!”