Xia Yuge’s gaze turned icy, and a powerful aura radiated from her entire being.
“Gu Nianchen, you’ve gone too far. Just because I’ve been easy to talk to lately doesn’t mean you can freely belittle me.
As the saying goes, even a Bodhisattva has a temper. If you’re in a mood, go take it out on your Lin Feifei. This is not your territory. If you dare run your mouth in front of me again, don’t blame me for being rude.
You know very well: the barefoot fear no one who wears shoes. Right now, I have nothing left to lose except my own life.
So don’t force my hand—or you’ll regret it. Get out!”
Every word Xia Yuge spoke was clear, firm, and etched sharply into Gu Nianchen’s mind.
“Xia Yuge… what did you just say? You told me to get out? How… how dare you? Aren’t you afraid I’ll have you expelled from the army?” Gu Nianchen was furious.
“Oh? Expel me? Go ahead and try. And Lieutenant Gu—let me make this perfectly clear: I want nothing to do with whatever is going on between you two. I have no interest in getting involved.
From now on, stop coming to see me. If you do, I, Xia Yuge, will make sure you learn exactly what happens when you cross me.”
Had this been before she arrived at the army camp, Xia Yuge might have held back. But now that she was here—and with Xiao Jiu by her side—she had absolutely nothing to fear.
Gu Nianchen had never expected her to snap like this. For all his talk of getting her kicked out, he knew full well he could never actually do it.
He stood there stunned, staring at her for a long time. His mouth opened and closed, but in the end, he said nothing at all. Without even stepping foot inside the room, he turned and left, thoroughly humiliated.
Once Gu Nianchen was gone, Xia Yuge shut the door, sat back down at the table, and continued enjoying her braised pork—rich, tender, and perfectly fatty. Her mind raced: Honestly… what an arrogant, self-absorbed headache this Gu Nianchen is. He actually thinks I’m still unwilling to let him go?
But then she remembered the look on Lin Feifei’s face—ugly, confused, and utterly thrown—and she couldn’t help but chuckle mischievously.
Days passed. Each morning, Xia Yuge went into the hills with the other military wives to gather firewood, foraging for herbs, wild vegetables, and mushrooms along the way. Back at the guest house, she cooked nourishing congee and listened to all the gossip floating around the military compound.
As for Gu Nianchen’s mention of the Political Commissar’s wife, Sister Ma—she did indeed come by. One look at Xia Yuge’s appearance and her requirements for a husband, however, left her standing speechless for quite some time. Still, she did introduce a few prospects, though none met Xia Yuge’s standards.
Before she knew it, a month and a half had gone by. With the three-month deadline fast approaching its halfway mark, Xia Yuge’s future husband was still nowhere to be found.
She, however, wasn’t the slightest bit worried. Good food, decent company, plenty of gossip—life was downright comfortable.
Thanks to Xiao Jiu’s tireless care, her skin finally began to improve. It no longer resembled dry, rough pine bark. Even her brittle hair grew softer and smoother. The one thing that hadn’t changed, though, was her figure—still far too slender, as if a strong gust of wind might carry her away.
That, in particular, frustrated her.
Everyone says early to bed, early to rise makes one healthy. What Xia Yuge needed most was to gain weight—and beauty. So she resolved to stick strictly to that principle.
As soon as dusk fell, she washed up, climbed into bed, and prepared to sleep soundly.
Just as she was drifting off, Xiao Jiu’s voice rang out, urgent and alarmed.
【Master! Hurry—pack quickly and come with me!】
“Ugh, Xiao Jiu, quit it. I need my sleep to gain weight and become beautiful. Otherwise, looking like this… I’ll never get married. Do you really want to drag me back to the Gu family village in three months just to wash old lady Gu’s feet?” Xia Yuge murmured, not even bothering to open her eyes.
【Wake up, Master! I’ve found him—a peerlessly handsome man! Get up and come see him!】
The little fox spirit, bound to her soul, was truly going gray from all the worry over her hopelessly unhurried master.
“What? Xiao Jiu—are you serious? You actually found a peerlessly handsome man? Where is he? Take me to him—quickly!”
At those words, Xia Yuge snapped fully awake in an instant.
【He’s in a cave in the back mountains. I’m taking you there now—hold on tight!】
“Alright, I’m ready. Let’s go!”
A flash of white light later, master and fox had already left the guest house.
Xiao Jiu was truly an extraordinary spirit beast. Though because of his bond with Xia Yuge he hadn’t yet regrown all his tails, even with just two, his speed remained breathtaking.
Ten minutes passed. Half an hour. Still Xiao Jiu wove swiftly through the forest.
“Xiao Jiu! Where on earth are you taking me? We’ve been running for half an hour! Are you trying to send me back to the village? Don’t forget—we share a soul contract. If I suffer, so do you!” Xia Yuge complained, thoroughly displeased.
Waking her in the middle of the night, ruining her beauty sleep, ruining her chances of gaining weight… and still not a single glimpse of this supposed handsome man.
How outrageous!
That settles it, she thought darkly. Tonight’s supper is going to be roasted fox legs.
【Master, fox meat tastes terrible anyway! And… we’re almost there. The cave is just ahead. Please trust me—he really is breathtakingly handsome. It’s just…】
“Just what? Go on, say it!” Xia Yuge demanded.
【Well… here we are. You go inside and see for yourself. I’ll… I’ll go find some things. Here—take this.】
The little fox spoke evasively. He quickly pulled a small cloth pouch from his spirit space and pressed it into her hands. Then, in a blur, he was gone.
“Hey! Xiao Jiu—come back here! What on earth are you playing at?” Xia Yuge shouted after him.
【Go inside quickly, Master! If you wait, he’ll be gone! And don’t worry—I’ll bring you something delicious for supper—far better than fox meat!】 Xiao Jiu’s voice drifted back from far away.
Run now while you can—that was his plan. There was no way he was sticking around to get roasted by an angry master.
Realizing Xiao Jiu really had fled, Xia Yuge sighed and opened the cloth pouch. It was the same one she’d had made in Qingtuo Town earlier. Inside were matches, a soft blanket, seasonings… and most surprisingly, an elegant, old wooden box.
By the light of the moon, she opened it to find everything carefully prepared—especially a set of silver acupuncture needles that looked remarkably expensive. She took to them instantly; exactly what she’d been wondering how to get hold of.
Xiao Jiu never did anything without reason. Suddenly, she began to suspect what this “peerlessly handsome man” might actually be like.
Could it be… had she misheard? Perhaps Xiao Jiu hadn’t said peerless handsome man at all… but rather peerless unlucky man.