Lu Weidong immediately understood her worry.
“The guest room has been prepared,” he paused, then added, “It’s just for you.”
Ye Wenxi’s shoulders visibly relaxed at his words.
Seeing her secretly let out a sigh, Lu Weidong felt an odd pang in his chest.
As if he were some fearsome beast she was trying to avoid.
They packed their belongings simply and prepared to return to the Lu family home.
Noticing Ye Wenxi carefully folding the newspaper and holding it, Lu Weidong said,
“My family has plenty of books and papers—you won’t be bored.”
She smiled faintly. “It’s fine. I like this one.”
In another similar building of the military housing compound, the Xu family was having dinner.
Xu Chenggang shoveled food into his mouth while talking non-stop.
“Hey, guess who I saw after school today?”
No one responded at the table, each focused on eating.
Seeing this, Xu Chenggang couldn’t hold back and added,
“My sister will definitely be interested.”
Xu father’s heart skipped—he knew exactly who his son meant.
Sure enough, Xu Chenggang lowered his voice, excitement spilling:
“When Lu Xiaojun and I were heading home from school, we saw his second uncle back!”
“Lu Weidong! And he brought a girl with him—they went into the guesthouse across the street together.”
Clatter.
A utensil dropped from Xu Miao’s hand.
The table went silent instantly.
Xu father frowned, glaring at his son, silently scolding him for speaking out of turn.
Xu mother also stopped, worriedly glancing at her daughter.
“It’s none of our business. Eat your meal,” Xu father said sternly, trying to steer the conversation back.
But Xu Miao couldn’t eat a bite.
Xu Miao, daughter of Xu Jianguo, had moved into this compound a few years ago after her father’s promotion.
At that time, Xu Jianguo and Lu Weidong’s eldest brother, Lu Weiguo, were in the same department.
They got along well professionally and privately.
During the move, Lu Weidong came home on leave, clad in his military uniform, tall and stern—he caught Xu Miao’s eye.
The young girl’s heart skipped a beat. From that moment, no one else could occupy her thoughts.
Xu Miao was a nurse—her job respectable and stable—but she refused to date.
Her family knew her heart belonged to Lu Weidong and had tried to subtly inquire, advise, and nudge her away from obsessing.
No luck. Lu Weidong’s high standards and cold demeanor were well-known in the compound.
A forced romance wouldn’t be sweet. They often advised Xu Miao not to be stubborn.
Yet every time she saw Lu Weidong returning on leave—even from afar—her heart raced for a long while.
Having glimpsed the highest peaks, the small hills of others no longer mattered.
She had hoped to “accidentally meet” him this time, even thinking of having her father arrange a meal together.
But hearing he had returned early to the army, she was disappointed—until her brother dropped this bombshell.
Xu Miao felt a cold, heavy stone in her chest, suffocating her.
She set down her chopsticks hurriedly. “I’m done eating.”
Grabbing her coat, she rushed out.
“What are you doing?” Xu father shouted from the living room, stern.
“I’m just going for a walk…” Xu Miao’s voice choked slightly.
“Get back here! Don’t go embarrass yourself at their place!” Xu father bellowed.
A loud slam! followed.
Xu Miao stomped through the compound, her feet seemingly with a mind of their own, moving toward Lu Weidong’s building.
The sky had darkened early—it was just past five, but autumn nights in the northeast come quickly.
Street lamps flickered on, casting small circles of warm light in the deepening dusk.
A few people pedaled bikes or carried shopping nets, hurrying home.
Suddenly, Xu Miao’s gaze locked onto a familiar tall silhouette near a lamplight.
It was Lu Weidong! Her heart skipped violently.
Then she saw a scene that made her entire being tremble:
He swiftly removed his jacket and draped it over a woman walking a few steps behind him.
Underneath, he wore a simple white short-sleeve T-shirt.
In the chilly autumn wind, he looked striking.
He had given his jacket to someone else—wasn’t he cold?
Who was this woman?!
Xu Miao froze, blood running cold.
A few steps behind, Ye Wenxi kept a careful distance, following Lu Weidong without straying or being isolated.
As they entered the compound, her eyes subtly scanned the surroundings.
She was looking for one person.
A minor yet pivotal character from the original story—Xu Miao.
Ye Wenxi remembered her—a girl whose infatuation with Lu Weidong had become borderline obsessive.
With the families having some connection, Xu Miao frequently appeared around the Lu household, occasionally exchanging casual words with Lu Weidong.
All normal neighborly and social pleasantries.
Yet the original protagonist, lacking security, had perceived Xu Miao’s underlying desire.
And Lu Weidong, oblivious, interacted politely, unaware of the tension.
This had become a sharp thorn in the protagonist’s heart—a spark for later overreactions.
Ye Wenxi calculated the timing—pretty close to the original storyline.
A “chance encounter” with Xu Miao seemed inevitable.
She planned: if she spotted a girl with the right look and suspicious gaze, she would immediately distance herself from Lu Weidong.
Avoid direct contact, nip any potential conflict in the bud.
Sure enough, she spotted her.
Under a nearby street lamp stood a girl with two braided pigtails, wearing a plaid shirt popular at the time.
Her eyes locked on Lu Weidong, emotions swirling vividly.
Lu Weidong ahead seemed unaware of her presence.
As Ye Wenxi prepared to subtly move to the other side of the street, creating space,
Lu Weidong suddenly spun around, faster than she could react.
He efficiently removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
The jacket still carried his warmth, the fresh scent of soap enveloping her.
“You’re underdressed. It’s cold,” he said softly, concern in his tone.
Click!
Ye Wenxi could almost hear Xu Miao’s fragile heart shattering.
She glanced quickly—Xu Miao’s face had gone pale, lips slightly parted.
Frozen as if struck by lightning, disbelief and heartbreak written in her eyes.
Oh no…
Ye Wenxi internally groaned.
She’s here. She’s here. And she’s bringing all the drama with her.