Gu Qingyu walked in carrying a thermos lunch box, her eyes red from crying. The moment she saw Ruan Wen sitting at the dining table, the grievance on her face instantly turned into jealousy and resentment.
She set the lunch box down on the table a little too forcefully, causing a soft thud.
“Brother Jingheng is here too?”
As if she had only just noticed Lu Jingheng, her voice became sickly sweet.
“I didn’t know you were eating. Sorry for disturbing you.”
The moment Qin Lan saw Gu Qingyu, a genuine smile appeared on her face.
“Qingyu, you’re here. Come sit down. What disturbance? You’re being far too polite.”
Then she shot Lu Jingheng a glare.
“Why aren’t you getting your Qingyu sister a bowl and chopsticks?”
Lu Jingheng didn’t move. His voice was cold as ice.
“Didn’t she come to deliver soup? She can leave after dropping it off.”
The remark was a direct slap to the face.
Gu Qingyu’s complexion immediately turned pale. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him pitifully.
“Brother Jingheng, how can you say that? I was only worried about Grandpa’s health…”
“Our family’s affairs are none of your concern.”
Lu Jingheng cut her off, his impatience undisguised.
“Leave the soup and go home.”
“I…”
Rendered speechless, Gu Qingyu looked to Qin Lan for help.
Qin Lan took her hand sympathetically.
“Don’t mind him. He’s always had a terrible temper. Come sit beside Auntie. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Join us.”
Gu Qingyu sat down immediately. However, she shot Ruan Wen a venomous glance before saying in a sarcastic tone:
“Of course. Brother Jingheng has a new wife now, so naturally he doesn’t care about a childhood friend like me anymore. I just wonder whether Miss Ruan, a pampered young lady, can properly take care of Brother Jingheng. Hopefully she won’t embarrass our military compound.”
On the surface, she sounded like she was joking and complaining.
In reality, she was implying that only a girl raised in the military compound was worthy of Lu Jingheng, while a former capitalist heiress like Ruan Wen was not.
Ruan Wen leisurely sipped her soup, set down her spoon, and looked at her.
Then she smiled.
“Sister Gu, you must be joking. I’ve only just arrived, so there’s certainly a lot for me to learn. For example, I don’t quite understand why a guest seems more comfortable here than the hostess herself. And you seem awfully concerned about Battalion Commander Lu’s daily life. Someone who didn’t know better might think he has two wives.”
“You!”
Gu Qingyu slammed her hand on the table and sprang to her feet.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I’m only expressing my confusion.”
Ruan Wen looked innocent.
“Was I wrong?”
“You—”
“Enough!”
Lu Yongjie’s face darkened as he slammed the table.
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut long enough to eat a meal? Qingyu, if you’re here to eat, then eat properly. If you’re here to cause trouble, get out right now!”
With Lu Yongjie losing his temper, Gu Qingyu immediately stopped making a scene. She bit her lip and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Qin Lan wiped her tears while trying to smooth things over.
“Alright, alright. We’re all family here. It was only a few jokes. Why take them so seriously? Ruan Wen is new and doesn’t understand the rules yet. Qingyu, be patient with her.”
It sounded like mediation, but in reality she was clearly taking sides.
Ruan Wen didn’t get angry. She merely smiled faintly.
“Auntie is right. I truly didn’t know there was a rule allowing guests to freely comment on the host family’s affairs. It seems I’ll have to learn more from Sister Gu in the future.”
With a single sentence, she tossed the problem right back.
For the first time, Qin Lan’s expression became somewhat strained.
She had not expected the seemingly gentle and delicate Ruan Wen to be so sharp-tongued.
The meal eventually ended in an awkward atmosphere.
Still sniffling, Gu Qingyu was escorted out by Qin Lan.
Looking at his son and then at his calm and composed daughter-in-law, Lu Yongjie felt for the first time that perhaps this marriage had truly been the right choice.
That night, after washing up, Ruan Wen was preparing to enter her space and continue studying medicine when a knock sounded at the door.
She opened it to find Lu Jingheng standing outside.
He was holding a brand-new army-green quilt.
“The weather’s getting colder. Here’s an extra blanket.”
“Thank you.”
Ruan Wen accepted it.
“About today…”
Lu Jingheng paused, as though choosing his words carefully.
“You handled it well.”
Was that praise?
Ruan Wen raised an eyebrow.
“I was only following our agreement. Clause Three: handle your personal relationship issues properly.”
In other words, Lu Jingheng had performed reasonably well too.
Lu Jingheng choked on his response.
Looking at her calm, expressionless face, that strange feeling in his chest surfaced again.
Without saying anything further, he turned and returned to his own room.
Listening to the sound of the neighboring door closing, a faint smile tugged at Ruan Wen’s lips.
This ally seemed more reliable than she had expected.
Late that night, Ruan Wen lay on the unfamiliar wooden bed beneath the brand-new army-green quilt. The clean scent of soap lingered faintly in the air—a scent that seemed uniquely military.
It smelled infinitely better than the room in the Huo family from her previous life, which had always reeked of sweat and mildew.
Closing her eyes, she focused her thoughts, and her soul sank into the jade pendant space.
Before the thatched cottage, medicinal fragrances drifted through the air. The old man’s phantom figure was already waiting.
Without wasting any time, Ruan Wen opened an ancient medical text on chronic deficiency disorders and lingering illnesses and began reading carefully.
The old master’s illness had left Western medicine helpless. Most likely, it was a chronic condition accumulated over many years—precisely the kind of illness traditional Chinese medicine excelled at treating.
What she wanted was not merely self-preservation.
She wanted to truly establish herself within the Lu family.
…
The next morning, Ruan Wen was awakened by the sound of shouted training chants coming from the courtyard.
She pushed open the window and saw Lu Jingheng practicing military boxing in the yard.
The morning sunlight outlined his smooth, powerful muscles. Sweat slid down his sharply defined face, radiating strength and vitality.
Sensing her gaze from upstairs, Lu Jingheng paused and looked up.
Their eyes met.
Ruan Wen calmly nodded in greeting, then closed the window without changing her expression.
Lu Jingheng rubbed his nose.
For some reason, he felt a strange emotion he couldn’t quite describe.
This woman really was unusually bold.
At breakfast, the atmosphere was noticeably better than the day before.
Lu Yongjie seemed increasingly pleased with his daughter-in-law. Cheerfully, he placed a white steamed bun into her bowl.
“Ruan Wen, did you sleep well last night? After breakfast, could I trouble you to take a look at Grandpa upstairs?”
“Dad.”
Lu Jingheng immediately interrupted.
Qin Lan also put down her chopsticks. Though she was smiling, there was a pointed meaning behind her words.
“Old Lu, stop making trouble. Ruan Wen is still young. Maybe she can handle a cold or fever, but Grandpa’s illness has already been examined by specialists from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. They couldn’t find a solution. Aren’t you just putting the child in a difficult position?”
The implication was clear—Ruan Wen was overestimating herself.
Ruan Wen remained unbothered.
After swallowing her mouthful of porridge, she spoke calmly.
“Auntie is right. My experience is indeed limited. However, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse diagnosis. I’d like to take Grandpa’s pulse and better understand his condition. Perhaps I can offer some alternative ideas for managing his health. There’s no harm in trying.”
“Well… then go ahead and have a look.”
Her words were humble and appropriate—neither arrogant nor timid.
As a result, Qin Lan found all her prepared arguments rendered useless and could only respond stiffly.