The night wind cut across the open concrete ground of the compound like knives.
Bai Luoluo ran all the way back to that shabby single-story house.
Her tears had long been dried by the wind, leaving only a tight, stinging pain on her cheeks.
She rushed inside and slammed the mottled wooden door shut with a loud bang, as if trying to shut all the malice of the world outside.
Leaning back against the door, she gulped in air.
Her heart was pounding as if it might explode—not from running, but from humiliation.
Lei Li, that bastard.
That look in his eyes—treating her like something filthy—hurt more than killing her outright.
The room was still pitch-black. The coal stove had long gone out, leaving only a pile of blackened residue that gave off a choking smell of smoke.
That bone-deep cold crept up again from the soles of her feet.
She hadn’t borrowed the coat.
Nor had she managed to “borrow any yang energy.”
Bai Luoluo felt her head growing heavy, her throat burning painfully—clear signs of an oncoming cold.
Just then, the emotionless mechanical voice in her mind rang out again, colder than the night wind outside.
【Warning! Mission failed.】
【Detected that the host failed to obtain a personal item from the Child of Fortune.】
【Punishment sequence initiated: Taste deprivation countdown 3… 2… 1…】
Bai Luoluo felt a numb jolt at the tip of her tongue, like a current of electricity running through it.
She subconsciously licked her lips. The faint metallic taste still lingering in her mouth—from biting her lip earlier—vanished instantly.
There was no taste at all.
Like chewing on wax.
“You’re serious?!” Bai Luoluo screamed inwardly.
The system ignored her breakdown and immediately issued an even deadlier red alert.
【Warning! Detected that the host’s vital signs are rapidly declining, and the relationship with the Child of Fortune has dropped to freezing point.】
【Family fortune value deducted: 500 points.】
【Mandatory salvage mission issued: Within 24 hours, the host must achieve the ‘sharing a bed’ milestone with the Child of Fortune (physical distance less than 10 cm, sustained for over 6 hours).】
【Failure penalty: Level-One electric shock (220V for three seconds), followed by forced unconsciousness for 24 hours.】
【Note: Given the host’s current physical condition, a Level-One electric shock carries a high probability of cardiac arrest.】
Bai Luoluo’s legs gave out, and she slid down the door to the floor.
Cardiac arrest?
That was basically a direct execution.
“System, are you insane? Lei Li wants to strangle me right now, and you want me to sleep with him? You might as well just electrocute me to death!”
Bai Luoluo clutched her hair in despair.
She’d already been humiliated like that in his office—now she was supposed to go begging him to sleep with her?
She, Bai Luoluo, would rather starve to death, freeze to death, or jump off this place than ever go looking for that pig-headed bastard again!
【Beep—23 hours and 55 minutes remaining until mission deadline.】
【Please cherish your life—for the Bai family, for your future litter of seven babies.】
Bai Luoluo clenched her teeth, tears swirling in her eyes.
For the Bai family.
Those four words were like a tightening curse.
She thought of her father’s aged, stooped back before she went abroad; the account books that had been confiscated; the miserable fate awaiting the Bai family—sweeping streets, living in cattle sheds—if she failed.
No. She couldn’t die.
And she absolutely couldn’t give up.
Bai Luoluo took a deep breath and, by the moonlight filtering through the window, looked toward the corner where her suitcase still sat unpacked.
If hard tactics didn’t work, then she’d go soft.
If Lei Li was impervious to both threats and coaxing, then she’d find someone who could control him.
In this compound, aside from Lei Li, the highest-ranking official was the political commissar.
And she had heard her father mention that Commissar Zhang was a good old man who valued family harmony and military–civilian unity above all else.
Bai Luoluo crawled over to the suitcase and rummaged through it under the weak beam of a flashlight.
Soon, her hand touched a delicate little metal box.
English letters were printed on it.
Penicillin.
She had brought it back from overseas. In this era, it was worth more than gold—a true life-saving medicine.
She had planned to keep it for emergencies. But now, it seemed she’d have to use it first to buy herself a “bed ticket.”
That night, Bai Luoluo wrapped herself in every piece of clothing she had and shivered beneath the blanket.
She didn’t sleep.
She cursed Lei Li ten thousand times in her heart and rehearsed tomorrow’s lines another ten thousand times in her head.
…
Early the next morning.
As soon as the reveille sounded in the compound,
Bai Luoluo went out, dark circles under her eyes and her face deathly pale.
She didn’t put on makeup. She even deliberately messed up her hair a little to make herself look more haggard and pitiful.
Clutching the small metal box tightly in her hand, she headed straight for the political commissar’s office.
Commissar Zhang was inside, drinking tea and reading the newspaper. Hearing a knock, he called out, “Come in.”
The door opened.
A frail figure staggered inside.
“Commissar Zhang…”
Before she could say another word, tears started falling.
Like pear blossoms in the rain—so pitiful it tugged at the heart.
Commissar Zhang was startled and nearly dropped his teacup.
“Oh my—aren’t you… Comrade Bai? What’s wrong? Who bullied you?”
As for this newly arrived “capitalist young lady,” Commissar Zhang had actually found her rather troublesome.
But seeing the young woman crying like this, his heart softened by half as an elder.
Bai Luoluo sobbed softly, her voice hoarse.
“Commissar… I—I’ve come to cause trouble for the organization.”
“I… I want to apply to change where I live.”
Political Commissar Zhang froze. “Change places? Didn’t that bungalow just get assigned to Lei Li? The conditions are a bit tough, but—”
“It’s not that I mind the hardship.”
Bai Luoluo lifted her head. Those big eyes of hers were filled with fear, like a startled little deer.
“It’s because… because I’m scared.”
“Last night, there were rats in the room… huge rats. They were running right next to my pillow…”
“And… and Lei Li doesn’t come back either.”
“I was all alone in that empty house. Even the light was broken. I was really, really scared…”
As she spoke, her body trembled, as if she were about to faint.
Political Commissar Zhang quickly supported her and helped her sit down.
“That Lei Li! This is outrageous! Newlyweds, and he leaves his wife at home alone—what kind of behavior is that?!”
He slapped the table, his anger flaring.
Even if it was a political marriage, once you’re married, you’re responsible.
Lei Li leaving her hanging like this was a fundamental mistake!
Seeing the moment was just right, Bai Luoluo gently placed the small metal box in her hand onto the table.
“Commissar, I know Lei Li is busy. I don’t blame him.”
“This is anti-inflammatory medicine I brought back from abroad. I heard our medical unit is short on this, so I wanted to donate it to the organization.”
“I don’t have any other requests. I just… I just want to ask if Lei Li could come back at night to keep me company.”
“Even if he sleeps on the floor, that’s fine. As long as there’s someone in the room, I won’t be scared.”
Political Commissar Zhang stared at the penicillin on the table, his eyes going wide.
This was good stuff!
So many soldiers at the front lost their lives because infected wounds couldn’t be treated. These few vials could save several lives at a critical moment!
This girl—her political awareness was high!
Even after suffering such grievances, she was still thinking of donating medicine to the organization.
Then look at Lei Li, that little bastard—what kind of things had he been doing?!
Deeply moved, Political Commissar Zhang made the decision on the spot.
“Comrade Xiao Bai, don’t worry!”
“I’ll accept this medicine on behalf of the soldiers. And your difficulties— the organization will definitely resolve them!”
“If Lei Li dares not to go home, I’ll tie him up and drag him back myself!”
…
At noon.
Lei Li was on the training ground, scowling as he barked orders.
A communications soldier came running over, panting. “Report, Chief! The Political Commissar requests your presence in his office! Immediately! Right now!”
Lei Li frowned.
The Commissar wanted to see him?
Nothing good ever came of that.
He took off his cap and strode toward the office building.
The moment he walked in, he saw Political Commissar Zhang sitting there with a dark expression, and beside him was that familiar little metal box.
“Lei Li! You’ve really grown capable, haven’t you!”
Political Commissar Zhang launched straight into a tirade.
“You leave your new wife alone in a rundown bungalow, don’t even fix the lights, and scare her so badly she doesn’t dare sleep all night!”
“And Comrade Xiao Bai not only didn’t complain, she even donated such precious medicine to us!”
“Look at her level of awareness! And then look at you!”
“This is a complete disgrace to our soldiers!”
Lei Li was scolded until he was completely stunned.
He glanced at the penicillin and instantly understood.
Oh, so that’s how it is.
Bai Luoluo.
Last night, the beauty trick didn’t work, so today she switched to the pitiful act—plus bribery?
She even went crying to the Political Commissar?
Afraid of rats?
When she was living in big villas abroad, why wasn’t she afraid then?
Anger surged violently in Lei Li’s chest. But he was a soldier—obedience to orders was his duty.
Especially when the Commissar slapped labels like “undermining military–civil unity” and “abusing a military family member” on him.
“You must go home tonight!”
Political Commissar Zhang issued a dead-serious order.
“If I find out you dare sneak back to the dorms again, you’ll go straight to solitary confinement to reflect!”
Lei Li clenched his molars and squeezed out one word through his teeth.
“Yes!”
When he walked out of the office, Lei Li felt like his lungs were about to explode from anger.
He looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds loomed, thunder rumbling.
Looks like there would be a torrential storm tonight.
Perfect.
Just as bad as his mood.
Bai Luoluo—since you insist on forcing me back—
Then don’t blame me for being rude.
You want to play?
I’ll play along with you to the very end!
…
Evening.
Rain poured down in sheets.
Bai Luoluo sat on the bed, listening to the pounding rain outside, her heart in turmoil.
The system countdown was still ticking.
【Time remaining: 3 hours.】
Heavy footsteps sounded outside the door.
Each step felt like it was stomping on her heart.
“Bang!”
The door was shoved open violently.
A tall figure burst in, carrying dampness and cold air.
Lei Li stood in the doorway, water dripping from him head to toe.
Those deep-set eyes locked onto Bai Luoluo on the bed. There was no warmth in them—only thick mockery and suppressed rage.
“Bai Luoluo, you win.”
He casually tossed his soaked cap onto the table, where it landed with a sharp .
“The Political Commissar gave the order. Told me to come back and keep you company.”
“Well? Satisfied now?”
Bai Luoluo shrank her neck.
She had achieved her goal, but this man’s presence was terrifying.
Like an enraged beast, ready to pounce and tear her apart at any moment.
“I… I was just afraid of rats…”
She muttered weakly in defense.
“Rats?”
Lei Li sneered, unfastening his uniform collar as he strode toward her.
“In my opinion, the biggest rat in this room is you.”
“Since you wanted me back so badly, then endure it.”
He walked to the corner, picked up a worn-out quilt, and flung it straight onto the cement floor.
The movement was rough, dust flying everywhere.
“Sleep.”
He didn’t even turn on the light. Still wearing his clothes, he lay down directly on the makeshift bedding on the floor.
With his back to Bai Luoluo, his entire body radiated an aura of keep strangers away.
Bai Luoluo looked at that cold, rigid silhouette. She let out a sigh of relief—yet at the same time felt a hint of disappointment.
At least… he came back.
But…
The system’s task was “sharing the same bed,” and it also required the “distance to be less than ten centimeters.”
He was sleeping on the floor, she was on the bed.
This distance—she could stretch her arm until it broke and still not reach him!
How was this task supposed to be completed?
Just as Bai Luoluo was getting so anxious she was almost scratching her head bald—
The system in her mind suddenly emitted a strange notification sound.
【Ding! The Child of Fortune has entered the designated range.】
【Given the host’s low level of initiative, the system will activate “Assisted Conception Mode.”】
【Releasing S-rank arousal factors…】
【Adjusting host body temperature…】
Before Bai Luoluo could even process what that meant—
Suddenly.
A strange wave of heat rose from her lower abdomen and instantly spread through her limbs and body.
So hot.