“Chengjing, that’s aged ham. It was saved for you to nourish your health. Comrade Lin is a genuine Kyoto native—what good things hasn’t she seen before…”
“Hm?”
Seeing Lu Chengjing frown, Bai Qiaolan quickly changed her tone.
“Sister-in-law knows you’re kind-hearted and always think the best of people. I don’t know what Comrade Lin told you, but you absolutely mustn’t be confused!
With the little schemes Lin Shuyao has, you should have seen through them long ago. Even if you’re getting divorced, you can’t let others look down on you. You haven’t done a single thing wrong to her.”
“ Sister-in-law!” Lu Chengjing said sharply.
Bai Qiaolan choked on her words. Seeing him scold her, her eyes immediately reddened.
In her opinion, Lin Shuyao’s usual behavior was outrageous enough to be labeled hooliganism. If she had lived in ancient times, she would have been thrown into a pig cage and drowned.
Given Lin Shuyao’s attitude toward Chengjing, would she really come all the way here to accompany him? Obviously she was lying. She was just using a retreat to advance, finding another way to get divorced so she could live happily with that pretty-boy professor.
What angered Bai Qiaolan even more was Lu Chengjing’s attitude—a completely worthless, eager-to-please appearance.
From instinctively defending her earlier, personally cleaning her room, and even offering up all the valuable household items…
A man usually so cold and distant became completely different whenever he faced Lin Shuyao.
“Chengjing, some losses only need to be suffered once!”
Lu Chengjing remained silent for a moment before giving Bai Qiaolan a deep look.
“Since Sister-in-law thinks it’s inappropriate, then forget it. I’ll go check the canteen.”
“There’s no need. The canteen’s supplies are tight too. I’ll just make some porridge.”
Bai Qiaolan felt even worse.
The meat dishes in the military canteen were distributed according to headcount. Lu Chengjing had never used his position for personal benefit. Yet for a woman like Lin Shuyao, he was actually considering breaking his own principles?
“She was just discharged after suffering altitude sickness. She needs nourishment.”
After speaking, Lu Chengjing turned and walked straight toward the compound gate.
His attitude was firm and left no room for argument.
As soon as his figure disappeared, Bai Qiaolan could no longer suppress her grievance.
Biting her lip, she entered the kitchen and began tending the fire, all the while stewing in frustration.
Chengjing was usually clear-headed. Why was he so muddled whenever it came to Lin Shuyao?
The more she thought about it, the more unwilling she became to let it go.
Finally, she extinguished the stove, picked up a cup of freshly boiled water, and headed straight for Lin Shuyao’s room.
At that moment, Lin Shuyao was sitting on the bed, reading through her agricultural research notes.
She looked focused, with a faint smile on her lips.
“Comrade Lin, have some hot water.”
Bai Qiaolan pushed open the door.
Her tone sounded gentle, but there was a trace of coldness hidden in her eyes as she handed over the cup.
Lin Shuyao immediately looked up and accepted it with a smile.
“Thank you, Sister-in-law. Sorry for the trouble.”
Bai Qiaolan didn’t leave.
Her gaze swept across the room, taking in the brand-new cotton quilts and enamelware.
Seemingly casual, she said,
“Comrade Lin, you’re truly blessed. These two cotton quilts were only issued to Chengjing by the army last month. He couldn’t even bear to use them himself and kept them stored away. And those enamel basins and towels—around here, they’re rare treasures. You can’t buy them even if you have money.”
Lin Shuyao glanced around the room and smiled.
“Comrade Lu is indeed very considerate. These items are all extremely practical. I’ll make sure to thank him properly.”
By “thank him,” Lin Shuyao meant compensating him with money and ration coupons, or repaying him with something of equal value.
In her view, that was only proper.
After all, they were barely more familiar than strangers. There was no reason for her to take advantage of him for free.
But in Bai Qiaolan’s eyes, Lin Shuyao was simply greedy and shameless.
Those valuable things, and a simple thank-you was enough to settle the matter?
The dissatisfaction in Bai Qiaolan’s eyes deepened.
“Comrade Lin certainly speaks more pleasantly than before. Back then… ah… Chengjing is an honest man. Even when you repeatedly wrote letters demanding a divorce, saying he wasn’t worthy of you, saying you only wanted to be with Professor Chen, he never once spoke badly about you. Yet now he still treats you with wholehearted sincerity.”
The implication was obvious.
Lin Shuyao’s smile faded.
She looked at Bai Qiaolan suspiciously.
The woman looked refined and gentle enough.
So why was she attacking her so directly?
Still, the original owner of this body had indeed done those things.
There was no point arguing when the circumstances were against her.
Lowering her head a little was acceptable.
“Sister-in-law, I was foolish before. I misjudged people and made many mistakes. This time, I came here because I’ve faced my past errors. From now on, I’ll get along properly with Comrade Lu.”
Did Bai Qiaolan believe that?
She let out a sneer.
“Comrade Lin, spare us these insincere words. Everyone knows your real reason for coming to the Southwest. There’s no need to put on an act.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Back then, in front of so many people, you openly said Chengjing was a crude man who wasn’t worthy of a college graduate like you. You said Professor Chen was your ideal partner. Those words aren’t so easily forgotten.”
Lin Shuyao’s expression completely darkened.
Bai Qiaolan stepped closer and lowered her voice, as though sharing a secret.
Yet every word carried a barb.
“Chengjing has already submitted a divorce application. If you want a divorce, there’s really no need to go through all this trouble.”
“I already said I’m not getting divorced! I sincerely came here to join him!”
“Oh?”
Bai Qiaolan narrowed her eyes as though a new thought had occurred to her.
“Could it be that you and Professor Chen had a falling out, and with nowhere else to go, you came to seek refuge with Chengjing? Or perhaps you heard he earned great merit and has a bright future ahead, so now you want him back?”
“That’s enough!”
Lin Shuyao spent her life immersed in laboratories and research institutes.
Years of work had smoothed out her temper, and she was usually emotionally stable.
That didn’t mean she had no limits.
She could accept Bai Qiaolan’s dissatisfaction.
She could even acknowledge the mistakes of the original owner.
But she could not accept such slander.
“I came to the Southwest for two reasons. First, to support grain cultivation research here. Second, to build a proper life with Lu Chengjing. I have none of the motives you’re imagining. We’ve already discussed and settled the matters of the past, so there’s no need for Sister-in-law to worry about them.”
“A proper life together? You’re used to being pampered in Kyoto. You probably can’t even wash clothes or cook, let alone endure hardship on this barren plateau. Give it a few days, and you’ll start complaining about the conditions, crying to return to Kyoto. When that happens, the one who loses face will still be Chengjing.”
Lin Shuyao laughed in exasperation.
This woman was relentless.
The moment one accusation was explained, another was immediately thrown at her.
She was simply looking for excuses to bully her.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the courtyard entrance.
Lu Chengjing returned carrying a lunch box.
From afar, he noticed the strange expressions on both women’s faces.
His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Quickening his pace, he entered the room.
“What happened?”
The moment Bai Qiaolan saw him, she immediately put on a wronged expression.
Her eyes reddened slightly as she stepped forward.
“Chengjing, I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just chatting with Comrade Lin and reminding her that conditions here are difficult so she could be mentally prepared. But Comrade Lin seems rather unhappy about it…”
Every word implied that Lin Shuyao was delicate, arrogant, unable to take advice, and still the same spoiled and willful woman as before.