Before long, Sister Wang came over carrying a bowl of dumplings.
“Wanwan, thank you! I really owe you today. Otherwise, I…”
As she spoke, Sister Wang began crying softly again. Seeing this, the two children beside her hurried over and hugged their mother.
“Mom!”
Sister Wang wrapped her arms around the two children, overcome with emotion once more.
Xiang Wanwan took out some tissues and handed them to her.
“Sister, this is Chen De’s problem. You absolutely must not back down. Even for the sake of the two children, you have to stand firm.”
Sister Wang wiped her tears with the tissue, then looked up at Xiang Wanwan and nodded vigorously.
“I know. I already told Chen De—if he insists on keeping that woman, I’ll go make trouble with their superior officers. I want to see if he can still act so smug then.”
“Yes! I support you—this is exactly how it should be.”
No matter what, Chen De was a regiment commander. If his reputation went bad, he likely wouldn’t be able to keep his position.
He had worked in the army for so many years and only just managed to climb up—there was no way he’d throw it all away for a woman.
What’s more, Sister Wang had already come to the island with two children. Plenty of people had seen her.
As long as Sister Wang didn’t give in, he’d have no choice!
After chatting with Xiang Wanwan for a bit longer, Sister Wang took the children and went back.
After eating the dumplings, Xiang Wanwan got ready to wash up.
There were electric lights in the room, but during the day there seemed to be no power—no matter how she pressed the switch, it wouldn’t turn on.
At seven in the evening, the electricity suddenly came on.
Xiang Wanwan felt relieved—thank goodness there was power at night!
Otherwise, with everything pitch-black, being home alone would’ve been pretty scary.
Once the power was on, Xiang Wanwan washed up. Since there was no firewood at home and she didn’t know how to light a stove anyway, she had no choice but to use cold water and wash up quickly.
By the time she was done, Lu Jingnian still hadn’t returned.
Lying on the bed in the master bedroom, Xiang Wanwan breathed in the scent that belonged to that man and found herself lost in thought.
She recalled Lu Jingnian’s coldness toward her during the day. From now on, she’d just treat him like an NPC. As long as he didn’t go too far, she could still cook for him and take care of things at home.
Just as she was thinking, the room suddenly went dark—the power was cut!
Using the moonlight, she checked the time. Nine o’clock.
Very good. So electricity here was only supplied from seven to nine at night.
Xiang Wanwan thought she’d have trouble sleeping on her first night on the island, but surrounded by Lu Jingnian’s scent, she actually fell asleep.
When Lu Jingnian returned, it was already ten o’clock at night.
Instinctively, he softened his footsteps. Pushing open the bedroom door, pale moonlight slanted into the room, illuminating the woman on the bed.
Lu Jingnian looked at her curled up under the covers, her skin fair and delicate, like a porcelain doll.
He stood there staring for a moment, momentarily dazed, before finally snapping out of it.
Suddenly, Xiang Wanwan turned over and kicked the blanket off her body.
Lu Jingnian walked over quietly and carefully pulled the blanket back up to cover her.
His feelings toward this wife of his were actually quite complicated.
They had married three years ago due to family matchmaking and his mother’s urging. After the wedding, he came to the island, and the two of them had barely seen each other since.
His impression of Xiang Wanwan was still stuck three years ago—he remembered her as temperamental and spoiled.
But seeing her today, she seemed different from before.
He watched her for a bit longer, when suddenly Xiang Wanwan kicked the blanket off again.
Since it was summer, she was wearing a silk nightgown. With that kick, her snow-white thigh was completely exposed.
Looking at the pale sight before him, Lu Jingnian’s throat tightened suddenly.
He pulled the blanket back over her gently. While covering her, his fingers accidentally brushed against her skin, and he jerked his hand back at once.
By the time he finished, a thin sheen of sweat had formed on his forehead. His lips curved slightly as he let out a self-mocking smile.
He had always prided himself on his self-control—who would’ve thought he’d nearly lose it here?
Lu Jingnian changed out of his clothes and then turned to go into the bathroom.
Cold water poured over him, and only then did the earlier heat finally subside completely.
After washing up, he quietly returned to the room and got into bed.
No sooner had he settled in than the restless Xiang Wanwan kicked her blanket aside again, draping her arms and legs all over him.
That single movement sent Lu Jingnian’s heart racing again, heat surging through his body.
He moved her arms and legs away, but she promptly put them back again. After several rounds of this, Lu Jingnian gave up.
Forget it—so be it.
He pulled the blanket over her and fell asleep like that.
In the morning, Xiang Wanwan was woken by the horn sounds on the island.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and slowly opened them. When she saw herself clinging to Lu Jingnian like an octopus, she jolted upright in bed.
What had she done?!
Was she really that desperate? It was only the first night and she already—
Xiang Wanwan looked at the still-sleeping Lu Jingnian, her thoughts starting to wander again.
Her gaze traced down from his face to his abdomen. Even though he was wearing pajamas, the fabric clung to his body, clearly outlining his eight-pack abs.
Xiang Wanwan couldn’t help swallowing.
“Have you seen enough?”
“Ah—no.” She answered instinctively.
Lu Jingnian let out a soft laugh.
Xiang Wanwan lifted her head and realized he’d been awake all along.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
“Y-you… what time did you come back last night?”
“Ten.”
“Oh. Are you hungry? I’ll go make breakfast.”
As she spoke, Xiang Wanwan prepared to get out of bed. But she moved too abruptly, stepped on her nightgown, and toppled headfirst toward the floor.
Lu Jingnian reacted instantly, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her back.
He let out a sigh. Who would’ve thought his little wife was so uncoordinated?
Feeling a large hand firmly pressed against her waist, Xiang Wanwan’s face flushed red again.
“Um…”
“I’ll go.”
Lu Jingnian released her waist, got out of bed neatly, and stripped off his sleepwear—baring his upper body right in front of her.
This time, Xiang Wanwan saw his abs clearly—defined muscles, broad shoulders, narrow waist. It was lethal.
She flopped back onto the bed immediately, shut her eyes, and pretended to be asleep.
Lu Jingnian took a white shirt and a pair of trousers from the wardrobe and put them on. He glanced at Xiang Wanwan, who was curled up like an ostrich burying its head, and found it amusing.
Moments later, he left the room.
When he’d come back last night, the power had already been out, so he hadn’t had time to look around.
Now, seeing the house clearly, warmth filled his heart.
He’d been busy with work and had no time to manage things before. In just one day since Xiang Wanwan arrived, the entire place was brighter and much tidier.
Lu Jingnian suddenly felt that her arrival didn’t seem so bad after all.
He went into the kitchen and looked around. Compared to before, it now felt more lived-in.
There was no firewood under the stove, so cooking was obviously impossible.
Lu Jingnian decided to head out to the mess hall to get some food. After breakfast, he’d pick up some firewood and daily necessities.
He’d also fill up the water jar.
Just as he walked out of the kitchen, Xiang Wanwan came out dressed.
“I forgot to tell you—we don’t have any firewood at home, so we can’t cook.”
“Mm. I’ll go get some later. Stay home and wait for me. I’ll bring some food back from the mess hall.”
“Oh.”
As soon as Lu Jingnian stepped outside, Xiang Wanwan heard a woman calling out.
“Brother Jingnian, I brought you breakfast! You haven’t eaten yet, right?”