Although she still had no idea what married life would be like, it had to be better than her current life, where she had to endure everything while living under someone else’s roof.
From the corner of his eye, Lu Changzheng glanced at Ji Wanning and noticed the absent look on her face.
He couldn’t help growing uneasy.
Could Comrade Ji be regretting this already?
What should he do?
Should he just tell her outright that a military marriage couldn’t be dissolved?
After all, Comrade Ji was the first woman he had ever met with whom he could build a family.
Besides, marrying her would finally put an end to his superiors’ constant pressure for him to get married.
Yes! That was exactly it.
“Comrade Lu…”
Just as Ji Wanning spoke, the man’s deep, mellow voice cut in hurriedly.
“I won’t agree!”
Ji Wanning blinked her beautiful eyes in confusion as she looked at him.
For some reason, the usually cold and restrained man now wore an expression filled with solemnity and determination.
She became a little flustered.
Had…
Had she done something wrong?
“Huh? You won’t agree to what?”
Lu Changzheng answered gravely,
“Comrade Ji, a military marriage cannot be dissolved.”
Ji Wanning blinked a few more times before instantly understanding what he meant.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
Her beautiful eyes curved into crescents as her laughter flowed like a clear stream.
“Comrade Lu, I know that.”
Tilting her head, she teased him with amused exasperation.
“Don’t tell me you thought I’d ask for a divorce on the very day we got married? I’m not that kind of person. Comrade Lu, how could you think that of me?”
Her sweet voice carried an unconscious note of soft coquettishness.
For some reason, Lu Changzheng felt as though someone had tucked a piece of candy into his heart.
Everything suddenly felt wonderfully sweet.
Only after speaking did Ji Wanning freeze.
She bit her lip, feeling embarrassed.
She had actually…
Acted spoiled toward a man she had only known for one day.
No…
Toward her husband.
A trace of bitterness welled up inside her.
Ever since her father had sacrificed his life, she had never acted spoiled again.
Perhaps…
Because the person she could once rely on was gone.
And now…
Ji Wanning looked straight at the man before her.
An indescribable emotion slowly spread through her heart.
“Comrade Ji, let me walk you back to the family housing compound. As for our marriage certificate, I’ll keep it.”
“All right.”
Now that they were husband and wife, there seemed to be nothing inappropriate about letting him escort her home.
Ji Wanning’s agreement made Lu Changzheng quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
His fingers tightened around the marriage certificate.
“Comrade Ji, let me keep it. It probably isn’t very convenient for you.”
Ji Wanning thought it over and found that he was right.
It wasn’t convenient to keep it at the Lin family home.
Even after moving into temporary family housing, it probably still wouldn’t be.
“Okay.”
The only problem was that the marriage certificate, which resembled an award certificate, was rather large.
It wouldn’t fit into his pocket or inside his jacket.
Left with no choice, Lu Changzheng carefully folded it.
His dark eyes were filled with such seriousness and concentration that it looked as though he were handling something of immense importance.
After folding it neatly, he carefully tucked it inside his jacket over his chest and gently patted it.
He planned to put it safely inside his storage trunk as soon as he got back.
After returning to the military district, they passed both the elementary school and the kindergarten on their way toward the family housing compound.
Ji Wanning was one of the childcare workers for the senior kindergarten class.
There was another childcare worker as well, and they alternated shifts every half month.
Occasionally, children whose parents were both away from the military district overnight would sleep in the kindergarten dormitory, and the childcare worker on duty would stay to watch over them.
However, that didn’t happen very often.
Today had originally been Ji Wanning’s turn, but because of the blind date, she had asked the other childcare worker to cover for her for the day.
As they walked past the kindergarten, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
After sitting through an entire lesson, the children immediately burst outside, running around energetically.
The moment they saw Ji Wanning, their eyes lit up.
“Sister Ji! Sister Ji! Why didn’t you come today?”
“Sister Ji, are you feeling sick?”
“Sister Ji, I missed you so much! I even brought the cookies my mom made for you!”
“…”
One after another, the children surrounded Ji Wanning, chattering excitedly.
She bent down slightly, gently rubbing one child’s head before squeezing another’s chubby little hand.
Her smile was bright and warm as she said gently,
“I’m not sick. Sister just had something important to do today, so I took a day off. I didn’t tell you beforehand. I’m sorry for making everyone worry.”
“I told you! Sister Ji would never stop coming!”
A sturdy little boy with slightly dark skin and large, round eyes lifted his chin proudly.
He looked immensely pleased with himself for having guessed correctly.
“Yeah! Zhuangzhuang was right!”
“We should’ve listened to Zhuangzhuang! He’s so smart!”
Ji Wanning couldn’t help laughing.
“That’s right. I think Zhuangzhuang is very smart too.”
Hearing everyone praise him, especially Sister Ji, Zhuangzhuang puffed out his chest even more proudly.
He rubbed his nose awkwardly, his cheeks flushing slightly red.
“I… I’m only a little smart.”
Standing nearby, Lu Changzheng silently watched the scene unfold.
Everything else around him seemed to disappear.
All he could see was Comrade Ji surrounded by children, patiently and gently talking with every one of them.
Long forgotten memories surfaced within him.
He had thought his heart had long since become numb.
Yet watching this scene left him standing there in a daze.
A crack quietly appeared in that hardened, numb heart.
It was as though a beam of light had finally shone inside.
At that moment, Lu Changzheng became even more certain that marrying Comrade Ji had been the right choice.
But in the very next moment…
He no longer felt that way.
The little dark skinned boy called Zhuangzhuang squeezed past the other children and waddled over to Ji Wanning.
Wrapped up in thick clothes, he looked even chubbier than usual.
Blinking his bright black eyes, he said,
“Sister Ji, come to my house after school today! My big brother came home today, and he said he’s making delicious braised pork for me.”
As he spoke, the chubby little boy edged even closer to Ji Wanning.
Although he acted as though he were whispering a secret in her ear, everyone nearby could hear him perfectly.
“I know my brother isn’t really making it for me. He only knows how to beat me. He’s definitely making it for Sister Ji.”
Then he grabbed Ji Wanning’s hand and gently swayed it from side to side as he acted spoiled.
“Please? Please? Come home with me later.”
Ji Wanning pressed a hand to her forehead, torn between laughter and exasperation.
“Zhuangzhuang, I think you’ve misunderstood your brother. Didn’t you say he’s on leave? Of course it’s normal for him to pick you up and cook something nice for you.”
Ji Wanning certainly didn’t believe everyone adored her.
Especially not a five year old like Zhuangzhuang.
How could a child that young possibly understand romantic feelings?
Still, he was always finding one excuse after another to invite her to his house.
She had never accepted before.
Naturally, she wasn’t about to start now.
“Oh, Sister Ji, just come…”
Before Zhuangzhuang could finish speaking, he suddenly felt his feet leave the ground.
A large hand reached beneath his arms from behind and effortlessly lifted him into the air.
At the same time, a deep, resonant voice sounded through gritted teeth…