Lin Shuyao looked at Lu Chengjing’s tightly furrowed brows and knew he didn’t believe her at all. Anxiety churned in her chest, but she dared not show a trace of panic. She could only brace herself and continue.
“I know you don’t believe me. If I were you, I wouldn’t believe it either. But it’s the truth. I was blinded before, but now I’ve completely come to my senses.”
“Mhm.”
What kind of answer was that?
Softening her tone once more, Lin Shuyao let a hint of guilt show in her eyes.
“Really. I regret it more than anything! If you’re still worried, we can make an agreement. You live your life, and I’ll live mine. I won’t interfere with your private affairs at all. I only ask for a place to settle down here in the Southwest. Once my job is stable, if you still want a divorce, I won’t object.”
Lin Shuyao rattled on for quite a while, but Lu Chengjing remained silent, his deep eyes fixed on her.
The way he stared made her scalp tingle. She forced herself not to look away, her eyes filled with nervousness. She genuinely looked like someone sincerely repentant.
Lu Chengjing lightly tapped his fingers against his knee twice. After a moment, he finally withdrew his gaze.
“Focus on recovering first. We’ll talk about it once you’re able to get out of bed.”
Lin Shuyao instantly let out a sigh of relief. The weight hanging over her heart finally settled.
“Thank you, Battalion Commander Lu! Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t cause you any trouble!”
That afternoon, the results of her follow-up examination came out.
The doctor said her altitude sickness had improved significantly. She could return home to rest, but she needed a few days to adjust to the plateau environment and avoid overexertion.
Lu Chengjing went to complete the discharge procedures and returned carrying several packets of medicine prescribed by the hospital.
“Let’s go.”
As always, he kept his words brief. Carrying the luggage, he headed out first.
Lin Shuyao hurried after him, taking quick little steps just to keep up with his long stride.
The hospital was not particularly close to the military compound. Lu Chengjing pushed an old bicycle, letting Lin Shuyao sit on the back seat while the luggage was tied to the front rack. Keeping a noticeable distance from her, he pushed the bicycle all the way back.
Neither of them spoke during the journey. The only sounds were the bicycle wheels rumbling over the dirt road and the occasional gust of wind.
Sitting on the back seat, Lin Shuyao secretly observed his broad, upright back. He looked like a pine tree rooted firmly on the plateau.
That physique…
Absolutely top-tier.
After about half an hour, the gates of the military compound finally came into view.
The sentry at the entrance stood straight as a rod. The moment he saw Lu Chengjing, he immediately saluted.
“Good day, Battalion Commander Lu!”
“Good day.”
Returning the salute, Lu Chengjing parked the bicycle to the side, picked up the luggage, and led Lin Shuyao inside.
Lin Shuyao secretly marveled. The luggage she could barely drag around looked weightless in his hands.
The military compound was neatly laid out, with rows of brick houses arranged in orderly lines. Here and there, military family members could be seen washing clothes or preparing vegetables outside their homes. Whenever they spotted Lu Chengjing, they greeted him warmly.
Many curious eyes soon landed on Lin Shuyao.
Most military spouses were straightforward people. They stared openly without trying to hide it. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under their scrutiny, Lin Shuyao instinctively moved a little closer to Lu Chengjing.
He seemed to notice. His steps paused briefly before he calmly addressed the neighbors.
“This is my wife, Lin Shuyao. She just arrived from Kyoto.”
A simple sentence.
Yet it relieved Lin Shuyao’s awkwardness and firmly established her identity.
Wife?
Could this man actually be one of those people who said one thing but meant another?
Blinking rapidly, Lin Shuyao quickly smiled and nodded in greeting.
In truth, she was overthinking things.
Everyone in the Southwest Military Region already knew that Lu Chengjing was married. In fact, it was precisely because of his married status that his superiors had entrusted him with command of the nation’s elite 233 Special Operations Battalion.
Not long ago, Lu Chengjing had rendered outstanding service. He had originally been in line for promotion to regiment commander, but a divorce application had derailed those prospects.
His willingness to openly acknowledge Lin Shuyao’s identity was not without his own motives.
He intended to observe the situation first. If the divorce could be postponed, he still wanted to fight for that promotion.
The husband and wife each had their own calculations.
Without realizing it, they were both making use of one another.
After turning into a narrow alley, Lu Chengjing stopped in front of a small south-facing courtyard.
“We’re here.”
Before he could even take out the key, the front door opened from the inside.
A woman wearing a dark blue jacket stood there.
She was petite, gentle in temperament, and undeniably attractive.
The moment she noticed Lin Shuyao behind Lu Chengjing, her smile froze slightly. A trace of scrutiny flashed through her eyes.
“You’re back, Chengjing. And this is…?”
“Sister-in-law, this is Lin Shuyao.”
The woman was Bai Qiaolan, Lu Chengjing’s widowed sister-in-law.
“Lin Shuyao? She’s your…”
The words caught in her throat. The scrutiny in her eyes instantly turned into surprise, along with a faint tension that was difficult to detect.
“So you’re Comrade Lin from Kyoto.”
Bai Qiaolan had been married into the Lu family for five years and had long heard of Lin Shuyao. Although they had never met, her impression of her was far from favorable.
She knew Lin Shuyao and Chengjing had entered an arranged marriage. She also knew of her poor reputation and fickle behavior. Recently, she had been making a huge fuss about divorce, repeatedly sending letters urging it forward without the slightest regard for Chengjing’s circumstances.
Naturally, Lu Chengjing noticed Bai Qiaolan’s reaction.
Taking a subtle step forward, he instinctively positioned himself in front of Lin Shuyao.
“She just arrived from Kyoto. The trip triggered severe altitude sickness. The doctor said she needs proper rest.”
The message was clear.
He did not want Bai Qiaolan saying anything further.
When Lin Shuyao first saw Bai Qiaolan, she had been momentarily stunned.
Why was there another woman living in Lu Chengjing’s courtyard?
But after learning she was his sister-in-law, she quickly greeted her.
“Hello, Sister-in-law. I’m Lin Shuyao. I’ll have to trouble you for your care in the future.”
Lin Shuyao could tell that the woman maintained a certain distance from her, perhaps even a touch of hostility. She likely knew about the original owner’s past behavior and felt indignant on Lu Chengjing’s behalf.
That was understandable.
Bai Qiaolan forced a smile and stepped aside.
“Come in. The wind outside is strong. There’s no need to be so polite, Comrade Lin. Since you’re here, you’re our guest. Chengjing is usually very busy. Looking after you on his behalf is only natural.”
Those words…
Why did they sound a little strange?
Lin Shuyao’s gaze moved back and forth between the two of them.
A charming widow paired with a cold, stoic tough guy.
The combination was strangely compelling.
Could they be involved in some kind of forbidden romance?
But the moment she thought about Lu Chengjing’s character, she dismissed the idea.
He was as upright as they came. A true soldier devoted to his country and people. A genuine man of integrity.
Her imagination was heading somewhere dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Quickly suppressing those wild thoughts, she smiled.
“Thank you, Sister-in-law. But I’m not here as a guest. I’ve come to join my husband.”
“Huh?”
Bai Qiaolan’s lips parted slightly in surprise.
Before she could ask anything else, Lu Chengjing pointed toward a room farther inside.
“You’ll stay in that room. I’ll take your luggage in.”
“Alright!”
Since Lu Chengjing had deliberately changed the subject, Bai Qiaolan wisely refrained from asking further questions despite her curiosity.
Lin Shuyao had no intention of explaining either.
Her purpose for coming to the Southwest was clear. She did not want to offend Lu Chengjing or his family, nor did she need to act overly enthusiastic and deepen existing misunderstandings.
After all, prejudice in people’s hearts was like a mountain.
It could only be worn away little by little.