The irritation simmering inside Lu Jingheng rose again.
He walked over to her and glanced at the medical text filled with traditional Chinese characters and diagrams.
Searching for something—anything—to say, he asked, “What are you reading?”
“Jingui Yaolue (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet).”
“Oh.”
Lu Jingheng quickly realized he had absolutely nothing to add to that conversation.
At the dinner table, Qin Lan couldn’t stop praising Ruan Wen’s cooking, while Lu Yongjie enthusiastically recounted how she had used herbs to stop a neighbor child’s bleeding that afternoon.
“Jingheng, you really married the right woman! She’s elegant in public, skilled in the kitchen, and can even save lives. Our ancestors must be blessing us from above!” Lu Yongjie concluded.
Lu Jingheng ate quietly.
The braised pork in his bowl was tender and flavorful—better than anything he’d ever had at a state-run restaurant.
Unable to resist, he glanced across the table at Ruan Wen.
She was sipping her soup in small, graceful mouthfuls, quiet and composed.
Suddenly, their three-part agreement felt like a joke.
And he was the biggest joke of all.
After dinner, the irritation in Lu Jingheng’s chest only intensified.
He watched Ruan Wen finish washing the dishes before calmly returning to her desk and picking up that incomprehensible medical book again.
For some reason, it annoyed him.
They were husband and wife.
A contractual marriage, yes—but surely they shouldn’t live like roommates who exchanged fewer than three sentences a day.
As Qin Lan cleared the table, she suddenly remembered something.
“Oh right, Jingheng. Isn’t there a family social event at the military shooting range this Saturday? Bring Ruan Wen along. She should meet the families of your comrades. It’ll help her settle into the compound.”
Lu Jingheng’s eyes lit up.
The opportunity had practically fallen into his lap.
Before he could speak, however, Ruan Wen looked up.
“Auntie, I don’t think I’ll go. I’m not good at those kinds of activities, and crowds aren’t really my thing.”
“How can that be?”
Qin Lan immediately objected.
“You’re now part of the Lu family and Battalion Commander Lu’s wife. These are exactly the kinds of events you should attend. Otherwise people will think our family doesn’t treat you well—or that you’re looking down on everyone.”
Ruan Wen opened her mouth to protest again.
But Lu Jingheng had already walked over.
Standing beside her, he looked down at her and lowered his voice.
“Rule number one. In public, we’re husband and wife. This is one of your obligations.”
He deliberately emphasized the word obligations.
Ruan Wen looked up and met his deep gaze.
There was determination there.
Authority.
And something she couldn’t quite identify.
…Was that anticipation?
After a moment of silence, she finally nodded.
“Alright.”
An inexplicable sense of relief washed over Lu Jingheng.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly before he quickly returned to his usual cold expression and headed back to his room.
Saturday morning arrived.
Qin Lan proudly presented a set of clothes.
A white shirt paired with fitted blue work pants.
The tapered pant legs gave the outfit a practical yet stylish look.
“Ruan Wen, try these on. I had someone alter them for you. They’ll be easier to move around in.”
After changing, Ruan Wen studied herself in the mirror.
The outfit diminished some of her usual softness and highlighted a sharper, more spirited elegance.
At that moment, Lu Jingheng stepped out of his room.
And froze.
Her waist appeared impossibly slender beneath the fitted pants.
Her legs looked long and straight.
The outfit itself was simple, but on her, it was more eye-catching than any dress.
“Let’s go.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Avoiding her gaze, he spoke with a slight tightness in his voice.
The military shooting range was bustling with activity.
The moment Lu Jingheng and Ruan Wen arrived together, they became the center of attention.
“Good heavens, that’s Battalion Commander Lu’s wife?”
“She’s gorgeous!”
“Look at her bearing. She’s completely different from the rest of us wives around here.”
Liu Qiang spotted them first.
“Commander Lu! Sister-in-law! Over here!”
His booming voice immediately drew every nearby gaze.
Faced with countless curious and probing looks, Ruan Wen remained calm and composed.
She merely nodded politely toward the group.
Then came the familiar voice.
“Brother Jingheng, Sister Ruan, you came too.”
Gu Qingyu’s voice cut through the air like a needle.
Today she was dressed in military-green trousers and had her hair tied into a high ponytail, giving her a spirited appearance.
She quickly approached the pair.
Her gaze swept over Ruan Wen, and a flash of jealousy flickered in her eyes before being replaced by a bright smile.
“Sister Ruan, are you joining the shooting competition too?”
She laughed.
“Oh dear, I almost forgot. A wealthy young lady like you has probably never even touched a gun before, right?”
“Don’t be nervous. The recoil is pretty strong. Just don’t end up crying when it knocks you around. Brother Jingheng would be heartbroken.”
Though her tone sounded friendly, the mockery beneath it was obvious.
Before Ruan Wen could respond, Lu Jingheng’s expression had already turned cold.
“Gu Qingyu, mind your own business.”
“I’m just concerned about Sister Ruan.”
Gu Qingyu pouted innocently before turning toward the event organizer.
“Officer Wang, let’s get started! I can’t wait anymore!”
The rules were simple.
Five bullets per participant.
Highest score wins.
As the compound’s well-known sharpshooter, Gu Qingyu went first.
Her stance was textbook perfect.
Amid cheers and applause, she scored an impressive forty-five rings.
Lowering her rifle proudly, she shot a provocative look toward Ruan Wen.
“Sister-in-law, you’re up!” Liu Qiang shouted encouragingly.
Ruan Wen stepped into the shooting lane.
Lu Jingheng followed her.
Standing behind her, he reached out and adjusted her posture.
His palms were broad and warm.
Even through the thin fabric of her clothing, she could feel the heat of his touch.
Ruan Wen stiffened slightly.
The scent of clean soap mixed with a faint trace of sweat filled her senses.
A distinctly masculine presence.
“Don’t be nervous.”
His voice was low.
“Press the stock firmly against your shoulder. Line up the sights.”
Warm breath brushed against her ear, sending an unexpected shiver through her.
Then he added:
“Just shoot however you want. Even if you miss the target entirely, nobody will laugh at you.”
Ruan Wen steadied herself and took the rifle from him.
The cold metal instantly cleared her mind.
She raised the weapon.
Closed one eye.
And aimed at the distant bullseye.
In her previous life, she had learned a little bit of everything while training with the old master’s spirit inside her space.
That included shooting.
The rifle might be old-fashioned, but the fundamentals were the same.
Around her, everyone watched expectantly.
Most were simply curious.
Gu Qingyu, meanwhile, was eagerly waiting for her to embarrass herself.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five crisp shots rang out in rapid succession.
The range fell silent.
Then the scorekeeper’s voice echoed across the field, trembling with disbelief.
“Ten!”
“Ten!”
“Ten!”
“Nine!”
“Ten!”
“Total score: Forty-nine rings!”
Dead silence.
Every person present stared at the woman who calmly lowered her rifle as though the result had nothing to do with her.
Gu Qingyu’s face instantly transformed from smug triumph to the color of liver.
Then from liver-red to ghostly pale.
Her lips trembled.
Not a single word came out.