Song Yuntang’s arm was raised high, ready to strike, but when she saw Fu Weicheng’s excessively handsome face, the wooden stick froze midair.
With Fu Weicheng’s physical ability and the training he had received in the military, he had already sensed Song Yuntang’s move. He could have reacted instantly in the dark, turning the situation from defense to offense, and stopped the ambush.
Yet Fu Weicheng didn’t do so. Afraid of scaring Song Yuntang, he merely called out to warn her.
Now, with the lights on, the two of them, in a pseudo-marital relationship, faced each other.
Song Yuntang awkwardly lowered her arm, frowning at Fu Weicheng. “Weren’t you gone already? Why are you back?”
Her tone carried obvious displeasure, since “not crossing boundaries” had been Fu Weicheng’s recent promise.
Fu Weicheng explained, “Even though it’s early winter, the north is colder than the south. There’s only one blanket in this room, and I worried you’d feel cold at night, so I brought another.”
Only then did Song Yuntang notice the blanket in his arms—fluffy, soft, new cotton, looking extremely comfortable.
Especially with Fu Weicheng speaking so seriously, she realized she had misjudged him.
“I see… Niannian and An’an are asleep. I don’t want to wake them. Give me the blanket first; I’ll take it inside.”
As she spoke, she stepped closer to take the blanket from him.
At the same time, Fu Weicheng smelled a sweet fragrance as she approached—it came from her.
So fragrant. She had just taken a bath.
His gaze silently deepened, obscured and complex, as it landed on the pale, snow-white neck.
Song Yuntang was radiant and lovely, her skin as fair as snow, her neck slender and long. Her damp black hair clung to her, making her look even more delicate and tender.
The wet hair had dampened her thin nightgown.
The fabric, now soaked, became almost see-through, clinging like a second skin over the most delicate part of her chest, revealing the rounded curves beneath.
A memory from years ago flashed through Fu Weicheng’s mind—his only intimate encounter with a woman.
A surge of heat rushed to his nose, his chest felt suffocatingly warm, and his neck and earlobes flushed red.
He hurriedly looked away, afraid of embarrassing himself in front of Song Yuntang.
The blanket was soon passed into Song Yuntang’s arms. She was slightly surprised at Fu Weicheng’s sudden agitation. When she looked up, she saw his ears flushed red.
Hadn’t he just said he was worried about the cold? Why was he blushing?
Song Yuntang finally understood. This man was not at all proper!
…
Night fell.
Lin Xiangbei lay in the military dormitory, hands under his pillow, ready to dream, when he suddenly heard a door open. He squinted and saw Fu Weicheng.
Wait, Fu Weicheng!
Lin Xiangdong sat up, wide awake. “Colonel Fu, why are you back? Weren’t you just delivering a blanket to your wife? The kids are here too—why aren’t you warming up a bed for your wife and children, and instead come sleep in this cold dorm?”
His tone was teasing, mocking Fu Weicheng, but after entering, Fu Weicheng walked to the other single bed and lay down.
Ah!
Lin Xiangdong was completely shocked.
He asked, stunned, “Have you and your wife still not sorted things out? You’re planning to divorce? The kids are already so big, and you’re an eligible bachelor—why would your wife still reject you?”
His words carried both confusion and a hint of gloating, as if saying, “Even the dazzling Fu Weicheng has a day like this.”
Fu Weicheng’s biggest frustration was here. Back in the village, he was a blacklisted category, poor and without a house. Song Yuntang had been willing to live with him. Now, with his military rank, his conditions, his very self before her, why would Song Yuntang refuse him?
He furrowed his brows, a deep line forming between them.
Seeing Fu Weicheng silent and brooding, Lin Xiangdong immediately realized he was right—this couple hadn’t reconciled.
He teased further, “Colonel Fu, arranging the family quarters, delivering meals and blankets—you clearly still can’t bear to let your wife go, right? If I were you, I wouldn’t either. She’s beautiful, and the two kids are smart and lively. Want me to help you think of a way to win her back?”
Fu Weicheng, annoyed by Lin Xiangdong’s gloating, picked up a pillow and threw it.
“Shut up! You, an old bachelor, can’t come up with anything useful anyway.”
The words “old bachelor” were a knockout.
Lin Xiangdong sulked and immediately shut up.
Lights out, time to sleep.
Fu Weicheng’s day of emotional turmoil finally ended. Before falling asleep, the last image flashing in his mind was still that patch of snow-white skin.
…
The next day.
Song Yuntang and the children, exhausted from the long journey and the first chance to sleep in such comfort, slept past sunrise, unaware of the spectacle unfolding outside the family compound.
Fang Siyue, newly dressed, entered the compound. Her usual haughty expression softened slightly, as she was accompanied by a middle-aged couple.
The couple appeared in their fifties or sixties, with distinguished demeanors that still hinted at their youthful elegance.
The man was tall and upright, showing no signs of age. His posture, disciplined and commanding, marked him as a former military officer no less imposing than Commander He.
The woman was graceful and elegant, wearing a modified qipao that enhanced her refined temperament, exuding nobility.
They were Fu Weicheng’s parents: Fu Zhenshan and Jiang Yuyin.
Fang Siyue clutched Jiang Yuyin’s arm intimately, complaining indignantly.
“Aunt Jiang, the matchmaking between Brother Weicheng and me was arranged by you and my parents. You all agreed I would be his fiancée. I worried about Brother Weicheng working hard yesterday, so I went to deliver soup—and saw a woman in his office claiming to be his wife! How is that possible? Brother Weicheng’s wife is clearly dead! This must be some random woman who appeared out of nowhere.”
“Brother Weicheng must have been tricked by that woman, and he even let her stay in the family quarters! How can this happen?”
“You all know I like Brother Weicheng. Aunt Jiang, you must intervene and kick that woman out!”
Fang Siyue grew increasingly agitated, only restrained from swearing by her upbringing—otherwise, Song Yuntang would have been verbally shredded.
Jiang Yuyin patted Fang Siyue’s hand gently, consoling her. “Siyue, we really didn’t know about this. Don’t be angry. If she really is a fraud, we’ll stand with you.”
Hearing this, Fang Siyue thought she had someone to rely on.
Fu Zhenshan and Jiang Yuyin were deliberately brought as her support, to remove Song Yuntang.
Yesterday, Song Yuntang had driven her out of the office; today, she wanted Song Yuntang out of the Family Quarters.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Fu Weicheng could only belong to her!
In Fang Siyue’s triumph, she didn’t notice Jiang Yuyin exchanging a glance with Fu Zhenshan.
The day before, Fu Zhenshan had received a call from Commander He and knew about the incident. But regarding the “Fu Weicheng’s wife” woman, they had to meet her in person before making any judgment.