The letter wasn’t sealed in an envelope—she probably didn’t have one.
Although Gu Beiting was curious about what she had written, he didn’t open it. Still, her handwriting faintly showed through the back of the paper—it must be beautiful, just like her.
For dinner, Mu Youyou cooked stir-fried cured meat with green beans she bought from villagers, shredded sour and spicy potatoes, a cold tomato dish, and rice. It was refreshing for summer.
While helping her tend the fire, Gu Beiting watched her busy in the kitchen and suddenly felt that this kind of life wasn’t bad at all.
He had joined the army at seventeen. For the past ten years, it had been nothing but training and missions. He had never experienced such a warm, everyday life.
“What kind of life do you want in two years?” Gu Beiting asked casually.
“Hm?” Mu Youyou didn’t expect him to bring that up. In truth, she hadn’t thought about it much.
The college entrance exam would likely be reinstated around 1977. Maybe she would take it, maybe not.
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll just take things one step at a time,” Mu Youyou said with a smile. With Caicai around, her future wouldn’t be too difficult.
“Why set the time at two years?” Gu Beiting looked at her.
“If two people spend every day together for two years and still can’t develop feelings, then more time won’t help either.”
Although Mu Youyou had never been in a relationship, she had seen plenty of her friends and classmates date.
Gu Beiting looked at her, feeling that she was far too rational for a nineteen-year-old—not like the delicate girl people in the capital military district described.
That was one of the reasons he had resisted this arranged marriage.
First, marrying someone he barely knew felt absurd.
Second, the rumors about her—being the only child, doted on and fragile.
How could someone like that endure the hardships of military life?
If not for his grandfather forcing him, even filing the marriage application himself, he would never have agreed.
After dinner, Gu Beiting cleaned the kitchen and even heated water for her bath.
“I’ll carry it to the bath area,” he said before she could.
“Thank you!” Mu Youyou felt that although he looked cold, he was actually quite considerate.
She wasn’t used to bathing with buckets, so she went into her space to shower.
She avoided strongly scented soap, using only a light gardenia fragrance—easy to explain if noticed.
When she came out, Gu Beiting was bathing in the yard.
His physique was perfectly proportioned—broad shoulders, narrow waist, well-defined abs, and strong muscles radiating masculine energy.
Mu Youyou froze for a moment, then fled back to her room.
Gu Beiting also froze. After chopping wood all afternoon, he just wanted a quick rinse and hadn’t expected her to come out at that moment.
Did she think he was being inappropriate?
Inside her room, Mu Youyou flopped onto the bed, hugging her blanket.
Oh my—too handsome! That body! Even better than models in magazines!
“Sister, your affection level toward Gu Beiting has reached 50,” Caicai announced.
Just as she was about to respond, there was a knock on the door.
Gu Beiting stood outside, slightly uneasy, feeling he should explain.
When the door opened, Mu Youyou’s face was red, not daring to look at him. Seeing her like that, he thought of a ripe apple.
“Ahem, just now I—”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” She waved her hands. “I’m going to sleep. Good night.”
Bang—the door shut, cutting him off.
With no choice, he returned to his room.
“Honestly, this straight-laced man—couldn’t he just let it go? Why come explain?” Mu Youyou said while lying on the bed in her space, enjoying grapes Caicai bought.
“Sister, look at the data,” Caicai reminded.
She glanced over—60.
“Well… with his looks, body, and position… investing in him isn’t a loss,” Mu Youyou justified herself.
Heh, humans… Caicai silently judged.
Meanwhile, Gu Beiting lay awake, troubled. Was she angry?
It wasn’t until midnight that he finally fell asleep.
Mu Youyou, however, was kicked out of the space by Caicai and forced to sleep in the real world.
Struggling with the unfamiliar bed, she had Caicai play a lullaby in her mind and counted sheep before finally drifting off.
She even dreamed of Gu Beiting’s abs.
“Gu Beiting, can I touch your abs?”
“Crazy!” Gu Beiting woke up feeling tortured—the dream had replayed that line all night.
When he got up, Mu Youyou was already in the kitchen making breakfast.
“You’re up? Go wash up, breakfast will be ready soon,” she said with a smile.
The moment he saw her, that dream line resurfaced in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, he went to splash cold water on his face.
Breakfast was chive and egg buns, along with pickled vegetables she had prepared.
She had used spirit spring water in the dough, hoping it might improve his health after years of training.
Since he had noticed the sweetness last time, she didn’t dare mix it into his drinking water again.
“You don’t have to wake up early to cook for me. I can eat at the mess hall,” he said.
Training started at 7 a.m.—she would have to wake up at 6, or even 5:30 for buns.
“It’s fine. I’m used to it,” she replied. Back then, she used to wake at 5 a.m. just to save money.
He looked at her but said nothing.
“I’m going to the city later. I’ll be back in time to cook lunch,” she added.
The bus left at 7 a.m. and returned at 10:30. His training ended at noon—just enough time.
“Mm.” He nodded, knowing she was going shopping.