Qin Lie hadn’t even stepped into the house when he saw a smiling face at the doorway.
Shen Ran stood there, almond-shaped eyes curved into crescent moons, her tear moles at the corners slightly raised.
The dim light caught the strands of her black hair, giving them a soft sheen, and her skin looked porcelain-like.
In her hands was a steaming plate of meatballs, her voice light and cheerful:
“Back? Come try the meatballs Aunt Xu made—they’re really tasty!”
The scene looked like a devoted wife waiting for her husband to come home.
Qin Lie’s chest thudded unexpectedly.
For the first time, he felt a little defeated.
As a soldier, he was invincible on the battlefield, ruthless and cold.
But in real life, he was just a man—blooded and ordinary.
Faced with such a gentle, endearing expression, he couldn’t help but be stirred.
He shouldn’t feel anything like this.
He had long been disappointed and disgusted with her.
So why did her small gesture move him?
Qin Lie suddenly remembered a childhood memory—returning from play, his mother would stand at the doorway, smiling, holding a plate of food.
Even after she passed away, that warm image sometimes appeared in his dreams.
Now, Shen Ran at the doorway overlapped with that memory…
So, it must be the longing for his mother that made him restless.
He could not possibly be attracted to Shen Ran!
Convinced of this, Qin Lie relaxed his furrowed brows.
He handed her the lunchbox he held, his voice calm:
“I already got food from the mess hall. This is yours—eat it yourself.”
Shen Ran paused mid-smile.
Apparently, he still didn’t want to eat with her.
No matter, she thought. If she didn’t finish it, she could store it in her space for herself or the little white cat.
Opening the lunchbox, the aroma of freshly cooked food hit her.
On the left, a mound of fluffy rice; on the right, pickled egg with cabbage and green pepper pork stir-fry—very appetizing.
“Thanks,” she said, sitting down and digging in.
Qin Lie lingered for a moment before leaving to the kitchen to heat water.
Shen Ran, meticulous about cleanliness, always needed plenty of hot water for her baths—he had to prepare enough.
Of course, this didn’t mean he had any romantic thoughts.
They hadn’t divorced yet; as long as they were husband and wife, he had to fulfill his responsibilities.
He always handled cooking and water whenever he had time.
Hearing the kitchen noises, Shen Ran’s eating paused for a moment.
In truth, Qin Lie was a great husband material.
Orphaned, free of meddling in-laws, a regiment commander with a bright future, handsome, disciplined, strong, hardworking, and dutiful with his pay—he was a golden catch.
Unfortunately, the original Shen Ran had been too stubborn, obsessed with competing with the fake rich daughter, unable to see his value, and had ruined their otherwise solid marriage.
She had come through time to try to fix things, but Qin Lie’s aversion was too strong—she could do nothing.
With a frustrated bite of a meatball, she watched the eight-pack abs slip further away, feeling a pang of regret.
Unable to touch the abs, she made up for it by eating delicious meatballs instead.
Shen Ran turned her frustration into appetite, devouring plate after plate.
In no time, she had finished all the meatballs, even most of the food Qin Lie had packed for her.
Too much food left her stomach stuffed.
She patted her round belly and decided to change clothes, then take a stroll in the small courtyard to digest, maybe do some light exercises.
She couldn’t let such a perfect body go to waste!
Qin Lie, after finishing with the hot water, noticed the living room empty.
Turning, he saw a spirited figure moving oddly in the courtyard.
“One, two, three, four; two, two, three, four; three, two, three, four; four, two, three, four…”
Shen Ran, in her white shirt and black pants, counted quietly while doing burpees, panting heavily.
Qin Lie stood at the door, watching as if she were crazy.
Had the impending divorce driven her slightly mad, jumping around like this at night?
He pursed his lips.
He wanted to tell her to keep it down so as not to disturb neighbors, but the words never left his mouth.
Let her be wild for one more night.
After tonight, they’d have no ties at all.
He collected the plates and lunchbox from the table, then went to the kitchen.
After tidying up, he brought the hot and cold water into the bedroom’s wooden bath bucket.
Shen Ran returned, drenched in sweat, her chest heaving, wet strands sticking to her neck, sweat trickling along her collarbone…
Qin Lie averted his gaze, voice hard:
“The hot water’s ready. Take a bath and rest early. Tomorrow morning, we finalize the divorce.”
“Got it, thanks!”
After exercising, Shen Ran felt exhilarated.
Unaware of the complex emotions in Qin Lie’s eyes, she hummed a little tune and went inside.
After washing up, she quickly got into bed.
In the heat, the only relief was the electric fan blowing directly on the bed.
The buzz of mosquitoes filled the room.
Muttering a few words, she sent the annoying insects fleeing from the window.
Qin Lie, after bathing, entered the room to find her asleep.
She sprawled openly, arms and legs exposed, utterly defenseless.
He glanced once, then silently moved his cot into the living room.
One more night of compromise—tomorrow, he could sleep on the bed, cool and comfortable.
Normally a good sleeper, he now found himself restless.
Perhaps it was the excitement over the impending divorce.
This was the moment he had waited for.
Sleep would have to wait.
Hours later, in a drowsy haze, someone knocked vigorously on the courtyard door:
“Regiment Commander Qin! Regiment Commander Qin! Open up! A mission just came in—we need to depart immediately!”
Mini Scene:
Shen Ran wakes up in the morning: Wait, weren’t we divorcing? Where’s he gone?
Qin Lie: “Wife, I’ve changed my mind!”