Night had thickened into something almost viscous as the jeep rolled over the concrete road and slowly stopped before the iron gates of the military compound.
An armed sentry stepped forward to check their passes. He glanced into the vehicle, his eyes pausing briefly on Lin Yuqiu’s face. After asking a few routine questions, he gave a crisp military salute and waved them through.
Lin Yuqiu looked at the camphor trees lining both sides of the road. The dampness in the air carried a scent that made memories ferment.
The last time she had come here was two years ago, when her elder brother had a blind date.
The woman had been a dancer in the military district’s cultural troupe. Busy with work, she had only met her brother once in the cafeteria during his home leave.
Afraid he would be too tongue-tied, her brother had even brought his little sister along.
That day, she saw a side of him she had never seen before.
The heroic, capable eldest brother who had always seemed invincible in front of his siblings stood before that sweetly smiling young woman with his hands not knowing where to rest. Words curved away just as they reached his lips. He stammered for ages, unable to form a complete sentence.
After that, they kept in touch by letters and had even begun discussing marriage.
Whenever he mentioned his future wife, that iron-boned, upright man would blush red to the tips of his ears.
Now that her brother had sacrificed his life, the woman must have received the news as well.
As her thoughts drifted, the car stopped in front of a spacious Soviet-style red brick building. Posters promoting support for the army and love for the people were pasted on the bulletin board outside, alongside the cafeteria’s weekly menu.
Following behind Zhou Runqing, Lin Yuqiu stepped into the dining hall. A cook in a white coat and cap hurried over.
“Commander Zhou! Logistics just delivered a basket of fresh tripe and offal this morning. We’ve also got fresh napa cabbage from the government vegetable garden crisp and tender.”
Zhou Runqing gave a slight nod. “Make a pot of hot soup. Set up a small hotpot. More meat. Put it on my tab I’ll settle it later.”
Military cadres often worked overnight, trained in the field, or returned late from missions. To maintain their health, the cafeteria provided special meals according to regulations.
Though Zhou Runqing was stationed on an island rather than in Rongcheng’s military district, he had grown up in this compound. Thanks to his family’s connections, he had a few extra conveniences here.
The cook led them into a small private dining room and went back to prepare the food.
The room was modest, barely over ten square meters, with a square table in the center. Because it was often used to host leaders, a large coarse porcelain washbasin and enamel kettle stood by the wall, with several clean towels hanging neatly.
Xiao Liu carried the kettle out to fetch hot water. His footsteps faded, and the room suddenly fell quiet.
Then came a soft scraping sound the legs of a wooden chair dragging across the cement floor.
Before Lin Yuqiu could react, her wrist was gently but firmly grasped by a warm hand.
The grip wasn’t tight, but it carried an unmistakable authority as he guided her toward the chair.
“Sit for a while.”
His low voice, wrapped in warm breath, brushed her ear with a faint husky resonance.
Her cheeks flared instantly. The sensation at her wrist felt like a current of electricity, racing along her veins to her heart. Her heartbeat skipped, then pounded wildly like a drum.
She turned her head to watch him walk out of the room. His stride was steady, shoulders straight, his entire bearing honed with the hard edge of military life.
Whenever he drew close, even without looking, she could feel that sharp yet burning masculine presence so intense it made her breathing grow lighter.
She sat down, rubbing her slightly tingling wrist and touching her flushed cheek, oddly annoyed at herself.
Soon, he returned with the cook.
The cook placed a palm-sized cast-iron charcoal stove in the middle of the table. Smokeless coal burned inside. After the flames caught, he set a deep iron pot filled with broth on top. Before long, the soup bubbled vigorously.
To save time, Zhou Runqing had already added sliced meat, tripe, and assorted offal to cook thoroughly. The pot was brimming. Nearby, bamboo trays held freshly washed and cut napa cabbage, white radish, and glass noodles.
The cook explained that the vegetables were picked that day from the government garden, and the noodles were sweet potato vermicelli made by the logistics department.
Lin Yuqiu hadn’t expected a regimental commander to roll up his sleeves and cook. Surprise was evident on her face.
Just then Xiao Liu came in with a basin of hot water. “Comrade Lin, here’s the hot water.” He handed her a bar of scented soap.
“Thank you.”
As she washed her hands, she glanced at Zhou Runqing stirring the bubbling soup.
Seeing this, Xiao Liu grinned and leaned over to boost his commander’s image. “Comrade Lin, once you follow our commander to his post, you’ll know. He can go to the battlefield and into the kitchen.”
“He’s been saving grain and meat coupons for months. Finally gets to use them today.”
Lin Yuqiu’s gaze paused slightly. She smiled faintly at Xiao Liu and returned to her seat.
Her eyes drifted to Zhou Runqing as he filled bowls and picked up food for her. She was momentarily immersed in his meticulous care but Xiao Liu’s words rang alarm bells in her heart.
Did Zhou Runqing expect her to follow the army after marriage?
Wasn’t this marriage only nominal just repayment of gratitude?
If she followed him, how could she care for her mother?
Her thoughts tangled; so did her heart.
Zhou Runqing used serving chopsticks to fill an entire bowl with tripe and sliced meat, placing it before her.
“Try it. See how it tastes.”
Then he pulled the chair beside her and sat down.
She noticed how openly he sat close to her and glanced at the cafeteria staff. No one looked surprised. Clearly, they already knew about their relationship.
Lowering her head, she picked up a slice of meat. The moment it touched her tongue, the rich aroma of bone broth exploded in her mouth. It was so hot her tongue went numb, yet she couldn’t bear to spit it out.
Such a beautiful taste felt like something from another lifetime.
She hadn’t eaten meat like this in so long.
Ever since her family’s downfall and their ration books were confiscated, she couldn’t even buy rice or flour that required grain coupons let alone meat. She had spent extra money begging cafeteria workers for leftover vegetable porridge.
She didn’t even know how she had endured those days.
Perhaps thinking she had burned herself, Zhou Runqing suddenly reached over, holding her chin gently and prying her mouth open. His thumb brushed faintly against her soft lips an impossible sensation to ignore.
She froze for half a second. After the flush, she realized belatedly that she didn’t dislike it at all.
She only noticed how clean his fingers were and how good they smelled.
Sandalwood soap.
Her ears grew hot as she heard his low voice say calmly, “If it’s too hot, spit it out.”
Looking at his serious, handsome face, she realized she might have overthought things. Blushing, she spat the food out and he caught it in his palm without a hint of disgust.
He wiped his hand with a handkerchief and reminded her gently, “Eat slowly. Don’t burn yourself again.”
She responded softly and bent her head, eating without regard for manners, as though trying to make up for half a month without meat.
The entire pot of meat and offal was nearly finished by her alone.
Zhou Runqing barely took a few bites, focusing instead on serving her.
“A refined young lady, yet you can eat this much.”
Her face heated again this time from embarrassment at his teasing.
She had indeed been raised with strict decorum. But now, what “Miss Lin” was left?
After starving for half a month, who could care about etiquette?
She looked up at him and retorted boldly, “Can’t you afford to feed me?”
There was even a hint of spoiled pride at the corners of her eyes, as though her once-hidden temperament had surfaced.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze. The tone was exactly like when her father and brothers were still alive when she had been pampered and willful.
Now that she had no one to rely on, that willfulness should have been worn away. Yet in front of him, she hadn’t restrained it at all.
She saw a teasing curve form at his lips and realized what she had said, wishing she could bite her tongue.
His gaze settled unabashedly on her face, hooking like a barb. “Why wouldn’t I afford it?”
Then he added with confident arrogance, “I could raise half a platoon.”
Her ears burned fiercely. She lowered her head quickly, wishing she could cover them and pretend she hadn’t heard.
Suddenly, voices drifted in from outside indignant and protective.
“Shiyun-jie, don’t worry. We won’t let that woman enter the family.”
“You didn’t eat all evening. Mom and I came to have a bite with you.”
The next second, an angry voice burst from the doorway:
“Big brother! Why are you here? Is this the marriage partner you’ve been hiding from the family?”