With a creak, the door was pushed open from outside. As soon as Xie Jingzhou entered, he saw his wife looking drowsy.
He slowly curved his lips and quietly walked over to sit beside her.
Song Siyi caught a faint whiff of alcohol and immediately opened her eyes.
“Tired?” His voice was low and clear.
“You’re back. Are you done with work?”
Xie Jingzhou nodded and smiled faintly at her, showing slight signs of tipsiness.
“Yes, it should have ended much earlier, but Zhou Xun and the others wouldn’t let me leave.”
Song Siyi felt inexplicably nervous and said somewhat stiffly, “Did you drink a lot, then?”
“Not too much. Is my face red? Here, touch it and see if it’s hot.”
As he spoke, he casually took her hand and placed it against his cheek.
The gesture felt entirely natural.
Song Siyi felt the warmth radiating from his cheek—it was indeed quite hot.
Fortunately, he released her hand after just a moment. Song Siyi’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She couldn’t help but chide herself—having lived a whole lifetime, she still got nervous.
They were already husband and wife, and besides, he wasn’t capable in that regard anyway.
Just as she was thinking this, Xie Jingzhou wrapped an arm around her waist, scooted closer, and sat pressed against her.
Under the lamplight, the two sat side by side.
Xie Jingzhou lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on his wife beside him.
Today, she had filled in her eyebrows and applied lipstick, looking completely different from the girl who had been fighting that day.
But she was just as beautiful—bright-eyed, with gleaming teeth, stunning and captivating—making his heart flutter.
Song Siyi let him look his fill, and she too openly examined her new husband.
He was tall and robust, with handsome features and a high nose bridge. Because of the alcohol, his face was tinged with a faint blush, and his slightly narrowed phoenix eyes gave him an added air of distinction.
Just as Song Siyi was lost in thought while looking at him, Xie Jingzhou released her and walked toward the desk.
Under Song Siyi’s puzzled gaze, Xie Jingzhou returned.
In his hands were a bankbook and a stack of Great Unity notes.
“Wife, this is the money I’ve saved over the years. I’m giving it all to you now.”
He placed both the bankbook and the cash into Song Siyi’s hands.
Song Siyi was surprised. “For me?”
Xie Jingzhou looked as though it were only natural. “You’re my wife, so of course my money goes to you.”
Song Siyi naturally placed the cash back into his hand and opened the bankbook. She exclaimed in astonishment, “So much!”
There was a full three thousand yuan in the bankbook, not to mention the cash in Xie Jingzhou’s hand, which had to amount to eight hundred or even a thousand yuan.
Xie Jingzhou found her little money-loving expression utterly adorable.
He nodded. “It’s all from my subsistence allowance and mission bonuses over the years. Living alone in the military unit, I hardly spent anything. Aside from the ten yuan I sent home each month, I basically saved everything else.”
Song Siyi looked at him with newfound admiration. She remembered that Xie Jingzhou was currently at the deputy regiment level.
To have achieved so much by the age of 25 spoke volumes about his capabilities—and by extension, the dangerous missions he must have undertaken.
A trace of heartache flickered in Song Siyi’s eyes as she looked at him.
Xie Jingzhou naturally didn’t miss the heartache in her gaze, and warmth spread through his heart.
Song Siyi didn’t refuse. She accepted the bankbook.
When Xie Jingzhou handed her the cash again, Song Siyi counted out three hundred yuan and gave it to him.
“Since you’re entrusting me with managing the money, I should give you some pocket money too.”
A faint curve lifted the corner of Xie Jingzhou's lips. "Thank you, wife, but isn't this too much?"
Song Siyi gave him a look that clearly said, "Are you stupid?" Who in the world would complain about having too much pocket money?
Song Siyi said, "Just take it. You might need it someday."
Xie Jingzhou, of course, listened to her and obediently put the money away.
Song Siyi placed the money and the bankbook into her bag—or rather, into her space.
After handing over the bankbook, neither spoke for a moment, and the room fell quiet.
Xie Jingzhou asked softly, "Are you hungry? I'll go find you something to eat."
Song Siyi shook her head. "I finished all the food Zhaozhao brought. I'm still a bit full."
Song Siyi also tried to show concern for him. "What about you? Do you want me to make you some sobering soup?"
"No need."
He wasn't that drunk to begin with, and he didn't want to waste any time.
So he said, "I'll go fetch water for your bath."
Song Siyi had come straight to the bridal chamber and wasn't yet familiar with the Xie household, so she didn't refuse.
"Alright."
Xie Jingzhou let go of her hand and strode away, seeming to be in a hurry.
Song Siyi wondered if it was because he felt awkward.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Although they were in the same brigade, they had never interacted before.
All in all, they had only spent two days together.
The Xie family had already gone to bed. Xie Jingzhou carried hot water to the specially partitioned bathroom.
He brought in the newly made large wooden tub, adjusted the water temperature, and then returned to the bridal chamber to call Song Siyi.
Song Siyi had already picked out the clothes she wanted to wear.
As soon as Xie Jingzhou came in to call her, she took her clothes and followed him out.
Xie Jingzhou, worried she might be afraid, said, "I'll wait right outside the door for you. Call me if you need anything."
Song Siyi nodded obediently.
Upon entering the bathroom, she realized Xie Jingzhou had prepared everything for her.
The washbasin, slippers, towels, and soap were all new. Even the large wooden tub for bathing looked brand new.
Song Siyi felt a slight stir in her heart. She had grown up in the Hongqi Brigade and had always used hand-me-downs in the Song family.
Yet Xie Jingzhou had prepared new things for her, instantly increasing her fondness for him.
Xie Jingzhou leaned against the doorframe. Hearing the sound of water inside, he unconsciously swallowed, and his body began to grow warm.
Song Siyi didn't take long to bathe and soon came out. After all, she had been washing in her space every day these past few days and wasn't dirty.
Song Siyi asked softly, "Do you want to bathe?"
Xie Jingzhou nodded. "I'll be quick."
With that, he turned and entered the bathroom. Song Siyi reached out a hand, wanting to say something but hesitating—that was the water she had just used.
But considering how difficult it was to heat water and carry it, she swallowed her words.
Xie Jingzhou was true to his word and finished quickly. Just as Song Siyi finished applying snowflake cream to her face, he walked in, drying his hair.
Song Siyi immediately noticed his well-built upper body, with eight distinct abdominal muscles. A drop of water slid down his Adam's apple, and her gaze followed it downward until it disappeared into his waist.
Song Siyi stared, transfixed.
Seeing this, a smile spread across Xie Jingzhou's eyes and brows.
Noticing the smile on his face, her cheeks flushed bright red.
She stood up and hurriedly climbed into bed.
Xie Jingzhou covered his mouth with a light chuckle and lay down beside her.
Song Siyi immediately felt a wave of warmth.
She couldn't help but wonder—hadn't he just finished bathing?
Xie Jingzhou turned his head to look at her and said slowly, "Siyi, you know about my condition, right? Not long ago, I was injured during a mission, damaging my meridians. The military unit has been helping me search for a good doctor."
"If we can't find someone capable of performing the surgery for me, I may have to transfer to civilian work. But don't worry, even if I retire from the military, I can still support you."
Song Siyi had been wanting to ask. She turned over to face him. "Does it still hurt now? I see you usually walk without any issues."
Xie Jingzhou turned to face her. "It's manageable. I can walk, but not for too long, and I can't perform overly strenuous movements. Otherwise, if it ruptures, I could end up paralyzed."