“Little Sister-in-law, what brings you to see our battalion commander so late?” Zhao Gang said, completely confused. He didn’t understand why his battalion commander clearly said he didn’t have a girlfriend, yet he didn’t stop him from calling this girl “little sister-in-law.”
And more importantly…
From his commander’s reaction…
He looked even happier than when he had earned military merit.
Even though his face still didn’t show much expression.
But when the battalion commander spoke to the little sister-in-law, his tone was a thousand times gentler than when he spoke to the military dogs!
Once again being compared, Mu Qinqin rubbed her itchy nose.
Zhao Gang glanced at his own commander, whose gaze had been fixed on the girl ever since she entered the room, and muttered inwardly.
His eyes were practically glued to her.
And he still says they’re not dating.
Moreover, when he called her “little sister-in-law,” the girl clearly smiled at him in approval.
Thinking of this—
He stood straight and suddenly gave Mu Qinqin a loud military salute.
“Hello, sister-in-law! I’m a soldier under the battalion commander! My name is Zhao Gang—you can call me Gangzi! Battalion Commander Gang has been talking about you, little sister-in-law!”
“Mm, I heard a bit,” Mu Qinqin said with a faint smile, nodding. She didn’t seem to notice the slight stiffening of the man beside her after she spoke.
Si Chengchen’s breathing became slightly disordered for a moment.
What did she hear?
He glanced sideways at her, but she didn’t respond.
Instead, she looked slightly surprised at the table beside them.
Earlier in the afternoon there had only been one stool by the table, but now there was an extra slightly shorter chair beside it. The wood looked fine, emitting a faint woody fragrance. The edges and seat had been carefully polished smooth.
On top of the seat was a neatly folded layer of colorful cloth.
It was thick and carefully arranged.
Mu Qinqin curved her lips.
How thoughtful.
She turned her head to look at the man, and just then their eyes met in midair. She blinked but said nothing, walking toward the chair.
Her hand brushed the seat—soft, not the cold hardness of wood.
It was easy to imagine how comfortable it would be to sit on it.
“When did you make this?” Mu Qinqin asked, smiling as she turned back.
Her happiness was impossible to hide.
And she had no intention of hiding it.
“This afternoon,” Si Chengchen replied in a slightly hoarse voice. He had gone to find suitable wood and made a simple chair based on designs he had seen in the city.
If not for his impaired eyesight, he might have carved patterns on the chair legs that girls would like.
His voice was low: “It’s a bit crude.”
“It’s not,” Mu Qinqin said, already sitting down. The height was just right, and it was soft. The edges were smooth, clearly sanded carefully to remove all splinters so as not to hurt whoever sat on it.
Si Chengchen couldn’t see her delighted expression, but he could hear the happiness in her voice.
Then came her soft, sweet words: “I like simple styles. Mm… other styles, you can make them for me in the future?”
In the future…
Si Chengchen’s cold brows moved slightly. Without speaking, he gave a faint nod in agreement.
On the side, Zhao Gang—who had been treated like a transparent person—felt his jaw drop again.
So their commander really was dating!
He had never even seen married soldiers in the compound act this clingy with their wives.
“Little, little sister-in-law, did you come to see the battalion commander for something tonight?” Zhao Gang looked between them, feeling even more stuffed than before. He hadn’t eaten all day, yet somehow he felt full.
“To deliver food,” Mu Qinqin replied.
Zhao Gang looked at her hands—and realized she wasn’t holding anything.
Instead, the commander was holding a basket.
When did he take it?
“Something came up and delayed me a bit tonight. Are you hungry?” Mu Qinqin waved at the man.
Then Zhao Gang saw his usually cold commander walk over to her like a military dog responding to a whistle from its handler.
While he was still stunned—
A rich aroma of food drifted over.
His eyes widened.
He quickly looked at the table.
A big bowl of soft, stewed potatoes with spare ribs, a plate of stir-fried chili pork with cabbage, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.
“!!!”
The commander really wasn’t lying!
The little sister-in-law really did bring food every day!
That smell…
Zhao Gang was practically drooling as he stared at the dishes.
If his future wife could cook like this, he’d hand over his entire savings book too!
Si Chengchen, however, wasn’t focused on the food. His brows furrowed slightly.
“Did someone from the educated youth compound bully you?”
“Huh?” Mu Qinqin had been busy unpacking the basket. She didn’t catch what he said at first. She blinked, then looked up at him.
Thinking for a moment—
She nodded heavily.
“Yes! Someone tried to steal our food!”
Actually, it was fruit she had taken out of her spatial storage. The cooked food had already been put away. Only the fruit she had just washed and forgotten to store had been seen by Tang Erya.
The other girl thought she wouldn’t notice if one or two were missing and quietly took one when Mu Qinqin wasn’t paying attention.
Mu Qinqin found it a bit funny.
As the ancients said:
When water is too clear, there are no fish; when people are too shameless, they are invincible.
Stealing fruit right in front of her.
“Hand it over,” she said directly, walking up to Tang Erya, who was already guilty and avoiding eye contact.
Tang Erya tried to deny it.
Mu Qinqin simply lifted her up and shook her.
Tang Erya was so scared her eyes widened, staring at her like she was some kind of monster, her lips turning pale.
Until footsteps came from outside.
Only then did Mu Qinqin drop her.
“Mu Qinqin! Do you have water?! Hurry, I’m dying of thirst!” Qiyue rushed in, fanning herself frantically.
“Here.”
Amused by her dramatic behavior, Mu Qinqin handed her a fruit from the table.
Qiyue didn’t hesitate and took a big bite.
The next second, her eyes widened. She took another bite, mumbling, “So good.”
She was extremely thirsty, and the fruit was sweet. In no time, she finished it.
After eating, she stared longingly at the remaining fruit.
But when she saw there were only four left, she forced herself to look away.
And that glance—
just happened to land on the bright red fruit in Tang Erya’s hand.
She immediately screamed, “Tang Erya, you stole Mu Qinqin’s fruit?!”
“I—” Tang Erya tried to explain.
Qiyue was faster. She snatched the fruit from her sleeve.
“If you didn’t steal it, then where did this come from?”
Qiyue put her hands on her hips, convinced Tang Erya had been bullying Mu Qinqin again.
Mu Qinqin was such a soft little bun!
The “soft little bun” Mu Qinqin blinked innocently.
“You you you! You don’t even know how many fruits you have? You got stolen from and didn’t even notice!” Qiyue scolded Tang Erya, then turned around and scolded Mu Qinqin as well, full of frustration.
“I was just about to take it back.”