Zhou Yue watched her little gesture, and a faint, almost imperceptible trace of amusement flickered in his otherwise calm eyes.
He patted Yang Weiguo on the shoulder. “Alright, Old Yang, you all head back first. I still need to take her to the hospital for a check-up.”
Yang Weiguo quickly agreed, “Right, right, you should hurry and take your wife to the hospital.”
If anything happened to the child in Xu Xi’s belly, he and his wife would feel terribly guilty.
…
Arriving at the island hospital, the doctor gave Xu Xi a brief physical examination and listened to the fetal heartbeat with a stethoscope.
“The baby’s heartbeat sounds quite good too, so there probably isn’t any major issue…”
As the doctor spoke, he suddenly paused.
Seeing the doctor’s expression turn serious, as if he had discovered something, Xu Xi and Zhou Yue’s hearts inexplicably tightened.
Zhou Yue couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor, what’s wrong?”
The doctor adjusted the stethoscope again, listening carefully to the fetal heartbeat, then looked up at Zhou Yue in surprise.
“Oh my, Battalion Commander Zhou, your wife’s pregnancy is extraordinary—it’s twins!”
Xu Xi and Zhou Yue: “…”
The doctor had merely announced a secret that everyone already knew.
Zhou Yue still felt a faint sense of joy deep down. Twins were rare, and for his wife to be carrying two at once was already quite impressive.
But why was the doctor only talking about the babies and not mentioning anything about Xu Xi’s health?
Zhou Yue asked again, “Doctor, is she alright?”
The doctor chuckled cheerfully, “She’s fine. Your wife is in great health. Both she and the babies are very healthy.”
In this era of food scarcity, pregnant women carrying twins often suffered from malnutrition. Yet even with twins, this young woman’s belly was only slightly larger than that of an ordinary pregnant woman.
Her complexion remained rosy and radiant, with little swelling in her hands and feet, and she was full of energy.
It was clear that Xu Xi was being well taken care of. Who would have thought that Battalion Commander Zhou, who seemed so cold and aloof, was actually quite doting on his wife?
Xu Xi pursed her lips. Her good health was all thanks to the Spirit Spring Water.
But it was true that Zhou Yue did all the household chores. Every day, she just waited to eat and sleep, which made her feel no different from a pig.
…
In less than half a day, the entire island and the family quarters had heard about how Xu Xi had jumped into the sea to save a child.
“She’s still pregnant, isn’t she? How dare she jump into the sea to save someone? Wasn’t she afraid of risking herself and the baby?”
“The situation was urgent at the time. If Comrade Xu hadn’t jumped in to save the child, that kid would have been gone! It seems she’s actually quite a good person. It’s just that drugging Battalion Commander Zhou wasn’t a decent thing to do.”
“You still dare bring up the drugging incident? Be careful Battalion Commander Zhou drags your husbands off for training! Battalion Commander Zhou has already clarified that Comrade Xu didn’t drug him. The young couple just fell for each other and got married.”
Sun Cuihua listened to their discussions about Xu Xi, which were mostly filled with praise, and immediately felt a sense of imbalance.
Before Xu Xi arrived at the family quarters, Sun Cuihua had been one of the most eye-catching figures in the compound.
She had a pleasant appearance, charming eyes, a good figure, always kept herself neat and tidy, and worked as a clerk in the propaganda department.
Ever since Xu Xi came to the family quarters, everyone’s conversations had revolved around her, leaving Sun Cuihua struggling to get a word in. She could only keep bringing up the drugging incident.
But now, after Zhou Yue’s warning, she didn’t dare mention it anymore.
That evening, when her husband, Company Commander Hu, returned from his patrol and tried to embrace her, Sun Cuihua pushed him away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Company Commander Hu was a bit confused. “Wife, I didn’t upset you today, did I?”
Sun Cuihua glared at him. “Didn’t you say you’re from the same village as that Xu Xi? How come you don’t even know whether the drugging incident is true or not?”
Company Commander Hu replied with certainty, “Of course it’s true!”
This matter was absolutely true. At the time, it had spread throughout the village, and everyone in their village and the neighboring village knew about the dirty deeds of the Xu family.
If Mother Xu and the three Xu brothers hadn’t drugged Zhou Yue, how could Zhou Yue have possibly married that woman?
Sun Cuihua was taken aback for a moment, then asked, “Then why did Battalion Commander Zhou say that Xu Xi didn’t drug him?”
Company Commander Hu gave her a somewhat speechless look.
What else could it be? He’s just protecting his wife.
With them gossiping about Xu Xi like this every day, it would also affect Zhou Yue’s reputation. Husband and wife are one; it’s only natural for Zhou Yue to speak up for Xu Xi.
Sun Cuihua gritted her teeth in frustration. “Battalion Commander Zhou is really something, protecting a woman like that.”
Company Commander Hu hugged her and said, “Wife, let’s not worry about Battalion Commander Zhou’s business. It’s getting late, let’s finish up and go to bed.”
Sun Cuihua pushed him away and lay down on the bed with her back to him.
“I’m not in the mood tonight.”
Company Commander Hu couldn’t just let her sleep like that. With a mix of coaxing and force, they still ended up doing their bedtime exercise.
Afterward, Company Commander Hu fell fast asleep, leaving Sun Cuihua alone and ignored.
Seeing the man beside her sleeping like a log, Sun Cuihua felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Her husband was two years older than Zhou Yue, yet Zhou Yue was already a battalion commander. With Zhou Yue’s abilities, he might even be promoted to deputy regiment commander in a while.
Her own Old Hu was still just a lowly company commander, with no hope of promotion in sight.
Feeling depressed, Sun Cuihua tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
…
After leaving the island hospital, Xu Xi and Zhou Yue had dinner at the military canteen before taking a stroll back to the family quarters.
It was already evening, and the sea breeze, carrying a chill, tousled the stray hairs at Xu Xi’s temples.
She instinctively tucked her hair behind her ear before withdrawing her hand.
As her hand dropped, her movement shifted slightly, and her fingers accidentally brushed against the back of Zhou Yue’s hand.
It was just a brief, soft touch, but both of them paused for a moment.
Xu Xi clearly remembered that Zhou Yue didn’t like being touched by her, so she quickly pulled her hand back.
She even explained, “Don’t misunderstand, I just accidentally touched you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the man beside her didn’t relax; instead, his expression darkened further, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.
Zhou Yue couldn’t quite figure Xu Xi out.
Sometimes she would tease him, and other times she would quickly distance herself from their relationship. What exactly did she take him for?
Xu Xi didn’t understand either. She had already said it wasn’t intentional, yet he was still giving her the cold shoulder.
Was he really that strict about male virtue?
She changed the subject. “Zhou Yue, I heard from the wives that everyone who moves into the family quarters holds a housewarming party. Why didn’t we have one?”
Zhou Yue looked down at her. “Can you cook?”
Xu Xi replied, “…Only a little.”
Although Zhou Yue could cook, he didn’t have the time. A housewarming party would require inviting quite a few people, and he alone couldn’t manage all the preparations.
So the idea of a housewarming party was dropped. Besides, Xu Xi’s reputation in the family quarters was already in ruins, and there weren’t many military wives who could get along with her.
Zhou Yue was still thinking about Xu Xi’s act of jumping into the sea to save the child.
The sea surface might look calm, but dangerous undercurrents lurked beneath. The slightest misstep could turn a rescue attempt into a tragedy.
Despite being pregnant, Xu Xi had managed to save the child safely. Her swimming skills were surprisingly good.
Zhou Yue looked at her with a serious expression: “If you encounter this kind of situation again, call for help immediately. Protecting the public is our responsibility—don’t gamble with your own life.”