Su Weiwei realized what was happening and hurriedly forced out a tearful tone as she stepped forward. “Commander Lu, what are you doing here? Wanqing and I just had a little misunderstanding—please don’t misjudge her…”
Before she could finish, Lu Yan raised a hand in a gesture.
His aura was unbearably cold, and the air seemed to thicken around him.
The two officers in the room immediately stood at attention. Seeing him enter, they raised their hands in a crisp military salute, their voices booming: “Greetings, Commander Lu!”
Without wasting time, they quickly explained the whole story of the pufferfish incident.
Officer Li summarized: “The matter has been thoroughly investigated. It has nothing to do with Comrade Su.”
Officer Wang glanced at Su Wanqing—her eyes were still red, the red mark on her fair cheek hadn’t faded, and she stood there pitifully, a far cry from the defiant figure from moments before.
Then he looked at Lu Yan, expression impassive, brows slightly furrowed, and immediately understood.
He hurriedly added for clarity: “Comrade Su Wanqing requested that Comrades Su Hua and Su Weiwei apologize publicly during next week’s flag-raising. We will supervise to ensure they fulfill their promise.”
Su Wanqing widened her eyes slightly, looking at the two officers whose attitudes had suddenly turned respectful, then at Su Hua and Su Weiwei, whose faces were twisted in anger.
Her husband was really that powerful?!
Without a word, the situation had completely turned…
The door of the Military Affairs Office closed behind her, and Su Hua immediately exploded.
Pointing at Su Wanqing’s nose, his gaze sharp enough to devour her, he growled, “Su Wanqing, don’t get cocky! You think you can walk around the military district just because Lu Yan is backing you?”
Su Wanqing rubbed her still slightly sore cheek, her fingers brushing over the red mark as her brows lightly furrowed. She cast a casual glance at Su Hua.
The faint pink at the corners of her eyes made her almond-shaped eyes shine even brighter. She sneered, “Whether I walk tall or not isn’t your business. But you—remember your apology for next Monday. Don’t stand under the flag and get so nervous that you can’t even speak properly, embarrassing your Su family.”
“You—!” Su Hua’s temple veins bulged as he raised his hand to strike again.
Su Weiwei hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing him, her eyes red as she pleaded softly, “Second brother, don’t act rashly. This is the military district, it won’t look good.”
She turned to Su Wanqing, her voice soft enough to wring water from it. “Wanqing, I know you’re angry, but Second brother just worries too much. Now that Commander Lu is protecting you, you have nothing to fear, but for us…”
Was she really saying she had been bullying people and acting arrogantly?
Su Wanqing let out a cold laugh and cut her off. “Worry? Worrying is slapping me without reason and accusing me of poisoning! Su Weiwei, your talent for twisting facts—what a waste not to tell stories professionally.”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice so only the three of them could hear: “And stop using ‘we.’ You, who have occupied twenty years of my life as a foster daughter, really think of yourself as the head of the Su family?”
“Next time you dare to pull sneaky tricks, I won’t hesitate to let the entire military district know just how dirty this so-called ‘kind’ fake heiress really is.”
Su Weiwei’s face went pale in an instant, her fingers clutching her clothes tightly. The composed expression she was trying to maintain was almost gone.
Su Wanqing ignored their sour expressions and turned to leave.
She didn’t go back to the family quarters; instead, she stopped under the old locust tree across from the Military Affairs Office.
The area had a clear view of the office’s main gate.
Leaning against the tree trunk, her mind raced.
Back in the office, Lu Yan hadn’t said a word, nor had he made any dramatic moves.
Yet his very presence was like holding up the sturdiest umbrella, instantly calming the entire scene.
This was the confidence that came with being “Commander Lu’s wife,” and the authority that Lu Yan carried naturally.
Su Wanqing’s resolve hardened.
She had to hold on tight to Lu Yan!
Not just to protect her current life, but to break the stalemate of living under the same roof as a stranger.
But how could she get closer to him?
Lu Yan was cold and distant, leaving early and returning late. They barely saw each other.
Gifts?
Given his position, he probably lacked nothing, and giving gifts recklessly might seem forced.
Figuring out his preferences?
Even communicating was difficult—they had no way to start.
Su Wanqing frowned, her fingers unconsciously picking at the tree bark, her almond-shaped eyes full of worry.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up—
She remembered the description from the original book: Lu Yan often carried out grueling missions, with irregular meals and sleep, which had led to a mild aversion to food.
He usually ate little, showing no interest in meals.
Su Wanqing was confident in her cooking skills.
If her dishes happened to suit Lu Yan’s palate…
Food is the foundation of the people.
Lu Yan spent his days training and handling military affairs, expending huge amounts of energy. He couldn’t survive on bland food alone.
If she could make colorful, flavorful, nutritious, and delicious dishes to win over his appetite, would it still be hard to get closer to him?
Moreover, cooking for him, waiting for him to eat, preparing his next-day lunchbox—all would naturally increase opportunities to interact without seeming forced.
The more Su Wanqing thought, the more feasible the idea seemed.
Outside the Military Affairs Office, Lu Yan’s upright figure appeared.
Su Wanqing’s eyes brightened; she immediately straightened and briskly walked up to him. Her previous worries vanished, her tone light: “Lu Yan! You’re out! Done for the day?”
She looked up at him, her gaze sincere and warm. “I just finished my work too—shall we go home together?”
Lu Yan paused, his dark eyes falling on her face.
A faint blush colored her cheeks, like they were bathed in warm light. Her already delicate features now seemed even more lively.
This sudden warmth made a few strands of confusion flicker in his normally calm eyes.
He silently studied her, as if probing the reason behind this sudden change.
His gaze was deep, carrying a cold scrutiny.
Su Wanqing’s smile stiffened for a moment; inwardly she thought: as expected, he’s not easy to approach…
After a moment, Lu Yan took out the familiar small notebook and pen from his pocket, quickly wrote a line, and handed it to her.
The handwriting was neat and firm, exuding an unapproachable detachment: “On duty tonight, returning late.”
Su Wanqing’s heart sank.
She looked up at Lu Yan. His gaze had already shifted, fixed on the distant training field.
His profile was sharp and emotionless, as if simply conveying a matter of business.
Not a word of inquiry, not a hint of hesitation or wavering, just cold and indifferent.
Su Wanqing pursed her lips. “Oh, okay. But even on duty, remember to rest a bit.”
Lu Yan nodded in acknowledgment.
Then he strode toward the office building, his steps steady, without pause.
The broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted back looked tall and commanding in the sunlight, yet impossibly distant.
Su Wanqing stayed where she was, watching him disappear, letting out a soft sigh.
She recalled Lu Yan’s expressionless eyes from just now.
Breaking this “stranger under the same roof” barrier and getting closer to her cold husband would be a formidable challenge.
But giving up had never been her style.
She turned, heading toward the seaside.
Since she had decided to start from his “stomach,” the first “pledge of loyalty” had to be her true skill.