Lu Zhiyan gazed at Ji Nanxi, who stood before him—petite in stature yet with an unusually stubborn and resolute gleam in her eyes. His fingers unconsciously clenched into fists, the knuckles turning faintly white.
For the first time, he felt that this marriage, which had begun out of duty, might not be so difficult to accept after all.
The pent-up gloom in his chest, born of having no expectations for this union, had unknowingly dissipated by more than half.
What Ji Nanxi had just said—the window glass, the chicken and duck coops, and that sewing machine—were like tiny keys gently unlocking the tightly shut door in his heart.
Lu Zhiyan suddenly recalled that during all these years in the military, he had grown accustomed to solitude.
He had never imagined that someone would be willing to join him in slowly transforming this desolate little courtyard into a real home.
Lu Zhiyan wanted to say something, but found that any words now felt thin and inadequate. His Adam’s apple bobbed, yet not a single word came out.
Seeing his silence, Ji Nanxi pursed her lips, lowered her lashes, and unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers.
The words about sleeping together had slipped out too quickly earlier. Ji Nanxi turned her face away, her voice dropping to a low murmur tinged with a barely noticeable shyness, “I… if you think it’s too soon for us to sleep together, we can do as you said and sleep separately for now.”
Lu Zhiyan looked at her slightly flushed earlobes, and that unfamiliar softness in his heart expanded a little more.
He shifted his gaze away, his voice noticeably gentler than before, even carrying a tone of negotiation he himself hadn’t realized, “About the glass, I’ll go to Gu Family Village tomorrow to ask around. There’s a tile-making workshop there; we might find ready-made pieces.”
“We’ll get the pots, pans, bowls, and utensils. As for the chicken and duck coops, once we’ve cleaned up the yard, we can see if we can bring back some chicks from Gu Family Village. Every household there raises chickens, ducks, and geese, so there’s no shortage.”
“As for the sewing machine… I’ll figure something out. I’ll get it done as soon as possible.”
With each item he mentioned, Ji Nanxi’s eyes brightened a little more.
By the time he finished speaking, she had already lifted her face again, the shyness replaced by delight, the curve of her smile like a crescent moon: “Really?”
“Mhm.”
Lu Zhiyan nodded, his gaze sweeping over her cheeks before shifting away, not daring to meet the light in her eyes again. “But supplies are scarce on the island. Some things can’t be bought immediately, even with money and ration coupons.”
“Especially the sewing machine. We’ll just have to try our luck at the Ya County department store.”
“I know!”
Ji Nanxi nodded emphatically. “We’ll take it slow. Things for the home have to be gathered bit by bit; there’s no rush.”
As she spoke, she picked up the broom leaning against the wall again. “Then… shall we continue cleaning?”
Lu Zhiyan gave an affirmative hum. He turned around and went back to sorting the discarded lumber, though his movements seemed a little lighter than before.
A sudden unease stirred within him. He had never imagined that because of Ji Nanxi, he would feel such a genuine sense of anticipation for the word “home.”
Ji Nanxi didn’t know his true identity—that he was, in fact, the Lu family’s illegitimate son.
His birth mother was the mistress kept by the head of the Lu family.
Three days after Lu Zhiyan was born, his birth mother took a large sum of money from his grandfather and left without a trace, abandoning him to his grandfather.
To avoid a scandal that would spread throughout the city, his grandfather had no choice but to persuade his daughter-in-law, Madam Lu, promising her considerable benefits.
Only then did Madam Lu agree to register Lu Zhiyan under her name, making him the Lu family’s second young master.
Since he was left behind by his grandfather, Lu Zhiyan grew up under the care of his grandparents.
His relationship with his biological father, Mrs. Lu, and his elder brother was limited to polite nods during festivals, nothing more.
He envied families where parents and siblings lived in harmony.
Every time the head of the Lu family saw him, he would be reminded of the woman who abandoned him for money, and his expression would turn sour;
Mrs. Lu, upon seeing him, would show disdain and mockery, sneering that he was merely a stepping stone used by his birth mother;
As for his elder brother, he was a gentle and refined person. He harbored no strange looks toward his half-brother, but since they had little contact, the two brothers couldn’t be said to share a deep bond.
His elder brother was fond of research. After graduating from university, under the guidance of his mentor, he eventually joined the National Research Institute.
Grandfather inquired about Lu Zhiyan’s aspirations and, learning that he wished to join the military, promptly sent him off to the military district as soon as he turned sixteen.
Lu Zhiyan is now twenty-four and has been in the military district for eight years.
Over these eight years, he had grown accustomed to the taste of solitude.
If not for his grandfather’s sudden order a month ago, commanding him to marry Ji Nanxi, Lu Zhiyan had never planned to marry in this lifetime.
While working, Ji Nanxi stole a glance at Lu Zhiyan’s broad, straight back and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Lu Zhiyan hadn’t insisted on divorce. She couldn’t possibly ruin the original owner’s character and force herself on him, could she?
She crouched down and began scrubbing the last stubborn stain in the corner of the wall. Her fingertips turned slightly red from the rough grime, but she hardly noticed.
After assembling the bed boards and placing them against the wall in the inner room on the first floor, Lu Zhiyan rummaged through the bundle he had brought and pulled out an old bedsheet, washed so many times it had faded but was still clean. He shook it out and carefully spread it over the rough wooden boards.
Then, he went off to attend to other tasks.
After scrubbing the floor and washing her hands, Ji Nanxi finally returned to the living quarters.
She took out two military-green thin quilts from her luggage—these were issued by the military after they registered their marriage.
One was spread over the bedsheet, while the other was folded and placed in the middle of the bed.
The simple bedding, after her tidying, took on a somewhat homely appearance.
When Lu Zhiyan returned and saw it, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he ultimately said nothing.
Instead, he turned and went outside, drawing half a basin of clear water from the well and bringing it inside, placing it in an empty spot.
“Wipe your face. There’s dust on it.”
Ji Nanxi glanced at the basin of clear well water, then looked at Lu Zhiyan.
Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his cheeks were flushed with a healthy glow from the labor. A few strands of hair clung to his temples, giving him an uncharacteristically gentle appearance.
“Alright, thank you!”
Feeling a stir in her heart, Ji Nanxi quickly walked over, crouched down, and scooped up a handful of water.
The well water was cool and refreshing, washing away the dust and light sweat from her hands. She touched her face and found it indeed much cleaner.
After the two of them finished their simple washing, the sky had already darkened.
Lu Zhiyan said, “Let’s go, it’s time to eat at the cafeteria.”
Lu Zhiyan led Ji Nanxi out of the courtyard and headed toward the Base cafeteria.
As night deepened, the Base was not brightly lit, with only faint yellow light spilling from the distant barracks and cafeteria windows.
The wind carried a chill sharper than during the day, and Ji Nanxi couldn’t help but pull her collar tighter.
Noticing this, Lu Zhiyan instinctively reached out and gently enveloped her slightly trembling hand, his body warmth passing through their skin to the palm of her hand.
This was the first time he had taken the initiative to hold her hand!
Ji Nanxi was taken aback, looking up at him, but Lu Zhiyan averted his gaze, pretending to watch the road. “It’s dark, the path isn’t easy to walk. Be careful not to trip.”
This man!
Saying one thing but meaning another!
He was clearly worried she might be cold, yet he deliberately made it about the rough path.
Warmth blossomed in Ji Nanxi’s heart. She didn’t pull away, only gently returned the squeeze of his hand.