It was finally the tenth day after the floodwaters receded when Qiu Chengyue and the others returned.
The women in the family compound burst into tears of excitement when they saw their husbands coming home.
A large group of medical personnel also returned with the men.
These medical workers had accompanied the flood-control teams to the front lines. Among them was one particularly notable young woman.
She was about twenty-two years old and had only recently graduated from a medical school.
For some unknown reason, she had gone with the military personnel to the front lines to help with the flood-relief efforts.
Rumor had it that she had even distinguished herself there.
When Shen Shuyue went downstairs for a walk, she overheard some of the women talking.
Zhao Pandi was particularly well-informed. Seeing Shen Shuyue approaching, she deliberately raised her voice as she spoke to the woman beside her.
“I heard that woman was brought back by Battalion Commander Qiu. He’s even planning to arrange a job for her at the medical clinic.”
“It’s obvious that the two of them are very close. They must have known each other before.”
Shen Shuyue raised an eyebrow when she heard this.
“Oh? Really?”
She was actually quite curious about who this woman was.
From the memories the original Shen Shuyue had left behind, she knew that Qiu Chengyue had a female friend with whom he was extremely close.
The two of them had sat at the same desk in elementary school and had been seated one in front of the other in middle school.
Before Qiu Chengyue’s parents moved away, the two of them often went to and from school together and even brought each other breakfast.
Later, Qiu Chengyue joined the military, while the girl continued her studies.
She had apparently been quite impressive—a university student with excellent grades.
So why had she graduated from a medical school now?
Well, graduating from a medical school was pretty impressive too.
At least she could get a stable job right after graduation.
Unlike Shen Shuyue, who didn’t even have a job.
Zhao Pandi rolled her eyes at Shen Shuyue.
“Of course it’s true.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can ask Battalion Commander Qiu yourself.”
“I think her name is Jiang Xinmei. Even her name sounds nice.”
Shen Shuyue understood immediately.
So Qiu Chengyue’s childhood sweetheart was named Jiang Xinmei.
They could indeed be considered childhood sweethearts, since they had known each other since they were young.
And they had been extremely close.
Because of the nature of Qiu Chengyue’s work, even though all the other men from the military had returned, he didn’t come home until evening.
Shen Shuyue didn’t know when Qiu Chengyue would return, or whether he would come home for dinner, so she only cooked one dish.
She hadn’t even finished eating when Qiu Chengyue returned.
He was still wearing his military uniform, which was somewhat dirty, and he looked quite exhausted.
He probably hadn’t slept well these past few days.
As soon as he entered the house, a woman hurried after him from outside.
“Chengyue.”
“You forgot to take your clothes.”
Shen Shuyue looked toward the doorway and saw a slender, youthful-looking girl running in from outside.
She looked very pure and pretty, with delicate features. She had the appearance of a sweet girl next door.
So this was the type Qiu Chengyue liked—pure and innocent girls.
But Shen Shuyue didn’t like that type.
Because she certainly wasn’t the pure and innocent type herself.
Qiu Chengyue stopped and turned toward the doorway, but he showed no intention of saying anything.
Shen Shuyue raised an eyebrow and smiled sweetly.
“This is… Jiang Xinmei, right?”
“Come in and sit down.”
Qiu Chengyue looked at Shen Shuyue again, his brows slightly furrowed.
After taking the things from Jiang Xinmei, he said, “It’s getting late. You should go back first.”
His tone was surprisingly gentle.
Shen Shuyue noticed that Jiang Xinmei’s expression stiffened for a brief moment.
Was she unhappy?
Seriously?
Even the actual wife wasn’t unhappy, yet this childhood sweetheart was already displeased.
Was she really that petty?
She wasn’t nearly as generous as Shen Shuyue.
Shen Shuyue continued smiling sweetly, showing no sign of displeasure whatsoever.
Jiang Xinmei didn’t look at Shen Shuyue. Instead, she looked at Qiu Chengyue, her eyes filled with reluctance.
“Okay. I’ll go back first.”
“I’ve moved into the dormitory at the medical clinic now. From now on, we’ll be able to see each other often.”
Only then did Jiang Xinmei glance at Shen Shuyue.
Shen Shuyue raised an eyebrow and smiled.
“Oh, if you want to see him often, that’s easy.”
“Why don’t you just move in here? There are plenty of rooms. One more person wouldn’t make much difference.”
This time, Qiu Chengyue finally spoke to Shen Shuyue.
“Can you stop talking?”
Jiang Xinmei: “…”
When Shen Shuyue said she could move in, Jiang Xinmei was actually quite pleased.
She was willing to move here.
Living here would certainly be better than staying in the dormitory.
But Qiu Chengyue seemed unwilling.
And he had even told Shen Shuyue to stop talking?
Did that mean he didn’t want Jiang Xinmei to move in?
Shen Shuyue’s smile didn’t fade.
“Okay, okay, I won’t disturb you two anymore.”
“I’m going to eat. Make yourselves comfortable.”
Shen Shuyue went to eat.
She didn’t invite Jiang Xinmei to join her either.
Only after Shen Shuyue had gone to eat did Qiu Chengyue speak to Jiang Xinmei again.
“Xinmei, you should go back first.”
“It’s getting dark. It won’t be safe if you go back too late.”
Hearing that from where she was sitting, Shen Shuyue couldn’t help wanting to laugh.
Oh my, Qiu Chengyue really knew how to talk.
As expected, men were always especially patient when they were around the woman they liked.
Even their tone of voice became unusually gentle.
He even knew to worry about Jiang Xinmei getting home late and being unsafe.
Oh, please.
Jiang Xinmei lowered her head, her eyes slightly red.
“Okay, then… I’ll go back first.”
“What would you like for breakfast tomorrow? I’ll bring it to you.”
Shen Shuyue clicked her tongue twice.
As she ate, she casually remarked, “What a pair of star-crossed lovers.”
Qiu Chengyue turned his head and glared at her.
“Shen Shuyue, will you die if you don’t say anything?”
Shen Shuyue smiled.
“I’m just feeling sorry for the two of you.”
Jiang Xinmei: “…”
Her face reddened.
“I’m going back.”
She decided that she would never come here again.
Shen Shuyue continued eating peacefully.
After Jiang Xinmei left, Qiu Chengyue glanced at Shen Shuyue before taking his belongings into his room.
When he came back out, he took his clothes and went straight into the bathroom.
Shen Shuyue ignored him.
Downstairs, someone started talking to Jiang Xinmei.
“Comrade, you’re Battalion Commander Qiu’s friend, right?”
“Oh my, you’re so pretty. You’re so gentle and quiet. You look like such a nice girl from a good family.”
“I just saw you go upstairs. How come you came back down so quickly? Battalion Commander Qiu didn’t ask you to stay for dinner?”
Jiang Xinmei’s voice floated up to Shen Shuyue’s ears.
“Battalion Commander Qiu is married. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go into his home.”
“I just delivered the things to the door and came back downstairs.”
The military wife talking to Jiang Xinmei immediately said, “Oh my, you’re friends. Why would it be inappropriate to go inside?”
Jiang Xinmei lowered her head.
“I don’t know.”
You don’t know?
Upstairs, Shen Shuyue listened to Jiang Xinmei’s words and nodded in complete agreement.
Now this is what you call a white lotus.
A woman who was too fierce could never pull off the innocent-and-fragile act of a white lotus.
Shen Shuyue continued eating.
Perhaps because she was in such a good mood, while Qiu Chengyue was still in the bathroom, she finished all the rice.
There wasn’t much food left either.
The consequence of overeating was that her stomach became painfully bloated.
When Qiu Chengyue came out after taking a shower, he looked at the completely empty rice cooker and the nearly empty plate.
He seemed utterly speechless.
Shen Shuyue hadn’t left him any food.