Xu Xi actually detected a hint of concern in his cold tone.
She blinked and said, “Don’t worry, I value my life a lot. I won’t do such dangerous things in the future. If anything happens, I’ll come find you first, okay?”
Zhou Yue coughed lightly, his ears slightly flushed.
“If I’m not around, you can look for other soldier comrades.”
Xu Xi curved her lips into a smile. “Understood, Battalion Commander Zhou.”
Her voice was sweet, and the words “Battalion Commander Zhou” coming from her lips felt like feathers gently brushing against Zhou Yue’s heart.
Zhou Yue suddenly felt an itch in his heart, wishing he could reach in and scratch it a few times.
When they returned to the family quarters,
Zhou Yue voluntarily went to the kitchen to boil bathwater for Xu Xi.
Their battalion had public bathhouses, but with the hot weather now, people needed to bathe frequently. No one wanted to wait in line, so those living in the family quarters basically bathed at home.
After walking from the battalion canteen back to the family quarters, both Xu Xi and Zhou Yue had broken into a light sweat.
Xu Xi was particular about cleanliness and insisted on bathing every day; she couldn’t even get into bed at night without washing up.
Having lived under the same roof with Xu Xi for a few days, Zhou Yue had already figured out her habits. Every evening, he would boil the bathwater and then pour it into the wooden tub in the bathroom.
Xu Xi would add Spirit Spring Water to the tub, mixing it in for her bath. It did wonders for her skin.
Suddenly, she thought of Zhou Yue—perhaps she could let him try drinking the Spirit Spring Water.
Having served in the military for many years, Zhou Yue must have accumulated various minor ailments. Drinking Spirit Spring Water could help treat hidden ailments and strengthen his body.
…
After finishing her bath, Xu Xi poured some cooled boiled water into Zhou Yue’s cup and added two drops of Spirit Spring Water.
Zhou Yue was tinkering with something in the yard. When Xu Xi approached with the enamel cup, she saw he was assembling a bamboo clothes-drying rack.
She eagerly walked up to him. “You must be tired. Have some water before continuing.”
Before he even turned around, Zhou Yue’s senses were filled with the fresh fragrance from her after-bath scent. He didn’t know what brand of soap she used, but she always smelled so nice.
After finishing the clothes rack, he finally turned to look at her.
His dark gaze fell on the loose floral-print camisole she was wearing, and his breathing unconsciously grew heavier.
The weather was hot, and many girls wore floral camisoles to sleep at night.
But Xu Xi was pregnant, her abdomen slightly swollen, making the camisole fit snugly. Her arms were round and slender like jade, and her curves were fuller where they should be.
Zhou Yue suddenly felt his throat go dry. He snatched the enamel cup from her hand and gulped down the water in two mouthfuls.
Not long after drinking it, a faint warmth began to spread from his lower abdomen, followed by a sudden, strange sensation of heaviness and swelling.
His expression changed slightly. Without thinking further, he quickly headed for the bathroom.
Xu Xi stood there, somewhat puzzled. Could it be that the Spirit Spring Water was taking effect?
After expelling all the impurities from his body, Zhou Yue stepped out of the bathroom feeling an indescribable sense of lightness and refreshment, as if he were more energetic overall.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. What was going on?
Seeing this, Xu Xi pursed her lips guiltily and said, “It must be something you ate that gave you diarrhea.”
Zhou Yue thought it made sense. Sometimes, eating at the military canteen could indeed cause stomach issues. But this time, after relieving himself, he felt unusually light and full of energy.
Strangely enough, as he looked at Xu Xi standing before him, a restless stirring began in his lower abdomen. His body grew inexplicably hot, reminiscent of that night when he had been drugged.
But no, he hadn’t taken any medicine.
Zhou Yue took a sip of water to cover his expression and asked her, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
If Xu Xi hadn’t been pacing around in front of him, perhaps he wouldn’t have felt this way.
Xu Xi replied, “I’m going to bed right now!”
Back in her room, she entered the Spatial Dimension.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but the thick fog seemed to have thinned a little, though it still blocked her way.
The vegetables in the field were all ripe. Xu Xi actually knew how to cook, but she wasn’t very familiar with using a traditional clay stove, and she didn’t like cooking for the Zhou family either.
The next time Zhou Yue cooked, Xu Xi thought she’d ask him to teach her how to use firewood for cooking.
…
At the cultural troupe’s rehearsal hall.
While the others were still rehearsing, Lin Xiuman suddenly walked off the stage in a fit of irritation.
In the past, she always fought to stand in the front row, her dance steps sharp and flamboyant, making her the most eye-catching member of the troupe. Today, however, she lacked enthusiasm.
She had taken the initiative to approach Zhou Yue twice, and both times he had turned her down.
How could someone as proud as Lin Xiuman bear this?
The troupe leader came over to check on her. Lin Xiuman lifted her chin and declared confidently, “Leader, I’m not feeling well. I’d like to go back and rest.”
The troupe leader glanced at the other comrades still waiting to rehearse and sighed. “Alright, go rest up. Just remember to come for rehearsal tomorrow.”
After Lin Xiuman gathered her things and left, the female comrades began whispering among themselves.
“She slacks off all the time just because her father is a brigade commander. Who isn’t tired? But she’s the only one complaining about feeling unwell every day.”
“Exactly! With her gone, how are we supposed to rehearse this dance?”
Lin Xiuman was holding back their entire team, but no one dared to speak up openly, only gossiping behind her back.
“Xiao Fen saw her talking to Battalion Commander Zhou yesterday—she couldn’t take her eyes off him.”
“Isn’t Battalion Commander Zhou already married? It seems like she’s trying to stir up trouble.”
The troupe leader said sternly, “Enough! Focus on rehearsing. We’re all part of the same troupe, so don’t accuse our comrades without evidence.”
The female comrades pursed their lips and fell silent, returning to their rehearsal.
As soon as Lin Xiuman stepped out of the rehearsal hall, she saw Qin Xiaomei walking toward her with an excited look.
“Manman, I have good news!”
Lin Xiuman asked, “What is it?”
Qin Xiaomei glanced toward the distant sea and said excitedly, “I heard Xu Xi jumped into the sea to save a child at noon today!”
“That’s the ocean. Even when the officers went in to rescue people before, they came back half-dead. How could a pregnant woman fare any better?”
Lin Xiuman’s eyes lit up, but she maintained her kind persona and feigned concern. “Oh? Is she alright?”
Qin Xiaomei replied, “I heard she saved the child, and Battalion Commander Zhou took her to the hospital for a checkup.”
No one knew the results of the examination or whether the baby in Xu Xi’s belly was alright.
But Qin Xiaomei speculated that her baby wouldn’t survive—a miscarriage was inevitable sooner or later.
“If she loses the baby, Battalion Commander Zhou will definitely divorce her! Then, Manman, you can comfort him and maybe he’ll turn his attention back to you.”
Qin Xiaomei believed Zhou Yue had no feelings for Xu Xi and was only taking responsibility because of the child.
Lin Xiuman grew more and more tempted by Qin Xiaomei’s words.
She lowered her eyelids, thinking carefully. If Xu Xi really lost the baby, Battalion Commander Zhou might indeed divorce her.
Then she could seize the opportunity and make him fall in love with her.
Lin Xiuman grew more hopeful the more she thought about it. Even if Xu Xi’s rescue in the sea didn’t harm the child in her womb this time, it wasn’t impossible for something to go wrong accidentally, causing Xu Xi to suddenly miscarry.