Chapter 15

Qin Heng dropped Song Nian off at the gates of the compound. Looking up at the tall walls and red tiles, he asked tentatively,

“Your husband… is a soldier?”

Song Nian hummed in agreement, then couldn’t help reminding him again:
“About the paperwork for my family’s case…”

Qin Heng looked at her and said earnestly,
“I’ll do my best.”

Song Nian was silent for a moment, then nodded and thanked him once more.

Only after watching her walk inside did Qin Heng turn his car around and leave.

When Song Nian returned to the Xu household, Mother Xu was already resting. She greeted Aunt Zhou briefly and went upstairs.

Just as she was about to enter her room, the study door across the hall opened. Xu Jin stood there in his uniform shirt, looking down at her.

Song Nian asked,
“Finished with work?”

“Not yet.”

His reply was clipped, and he walked past her downstairs.

Was he giving her the cold shoulder? Song Nian wasn’t sure. She felt she had been nothing but cautious and obedient—there was no reason she could have offended him.

Or… was it because she hadn’t gone home with him that afternoon?

Later that night, after Xu Jin had showered and lay down in bed, Song Nian put her book aside and asked,
“Are you upset with me for not coming back with you earlier?”

Xu Jin paused, then raised his eyes at her.
“Where did you go?”

Song Nian frowned slightly.
“Didn’t I have Xiao Zhao tell you? I went to my aunt’s house.”

Xu Jin gave her a deep look but said nothing more. He lay down, turned off the light.

This time, Song Nian was certain: he was sulking. But he wouldn’t say why.

Really? A grown man expecting her to guess his feelings?

She pouted and decided not to bother humoring him.

These past few days had shown her that even if Xu Jin didn’t like her, his discipline and upbringing kept him from treating her badly. Since that was the case, why should she force herself to coax him? Better not let it become a habit.

But beside her, Xu Jin noticed that Song Nian wasn’t making the slightest attempt to explain. Instead, she simply turned over and fell asleep with her back to him. An icy anger welled up inside him, mixed with a strange, burning frustration.

He reached out to touch her—only for her to slap his hand away.

“I’m tired today. I don’t want to.” Her voice was cold.

Xu Jin froze, then gave a humorless laugh.
“Plenty of energy to sit in a café with an old classmate after work, but too tired for your own husband?”

Song Nian’s eyes snapped open. She turned to him.
“So that’s why you’re angry?”

She gave a sudden smile.
“What, did you see me with Qin Heng at the café?”

In the dim light, Xu Jin’s gaze was dark and heavy.

Song Nian pushed at him.
“Turn on the light when you talk.”

Otherwise she couldn’t even see his expression.

Xu Jin was silent for a beat, then switched on the desk lamp. Song Nian found herself staring into his calm, cold eyes.

“You should have said so earlier,” she chided lightly. “If I know what you’re upset about, I can explain it, right?”

Xu Jin said nothing, clearly waiting to hear her explanation.

Song Nian pinched at his shirt collar and softened her voice.
“I really did go to my aunt’s house today. She made a big pot of braised fish—I ate so much I was stuffed. If you don’t believe me, touch my stomach.”

She grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. His hand stiffened instantly.

“Don’t fool around,” Xu Jin warned.

Song Nian hid a laugh and continued,
“On my way back, I happened to run into Chief Qin. He said he’d found some leads about my parents’ case and wanted to tell me. So I sat with him at the café for a bit… With so many people coming and going there, if I had any improper intentions, I wouldn’t choose a place like that.”

Xu Jin’s expression eased, and he glanced at her.
“He does seem rather invested in your family’s matter.”

Song Nian’s eyes sparkled with amusement. She looked up at him.
“He once studied at my father’s private school. My father was his teacher… He’s repaying that kindness. If he’s willing to help bring my parents back, I have no reason to refuse.”

As she spoke, she slipped her arms around Xu Jin’s neck.
“But this is nothing more than old friendship. I have no other feelings for him. After all, I already liked someone else a long time ago.”

She didn’t say who, but the way she looked at Xu Jin made it perfectly clear.

Heat flared in Xu Jin’s chest. His lips parted with his usual three words:
“Have some restraint.”

Song Nian’s face fell. She rolled her eyes and began to turn away—but before she could, his hand suddenly gripped her lower back, right on the curve of her hip. Both of them froze.

Though they had done the most intimate things as husband and wife, Xu Jin had never touched her anywhere else.

The unexpected intimacy sent their pulses racing. Song Nian glanced up at this man who usually recited military codes even in bed, her lips curving into a mischievous smile.
“Comrade Commander, where are you putting your hand?”

Xu Jin’s throat bobbed. His grip tightened, pulling her flush against him—hard, urgent tension pressed between them.

Unlike their usual mechanical rhythm, this time they remained on their sides. Her nightdress slipped up, and soon both were drenched in sweat.

The intensity made her uneasy. When Xu Jin pushed too far, she instinctively tried to pull back. But his hand held her firmly in place, forcing her against him without a single chance to retreat…

Pinned by his blazing stare, Song Nian finally gasped out,
“Turn… turn off the light.”

But Xu Jin ignored her. His eyes never left her as he moved, relentless.

She wasn’t his match. Flushed and trembling, she bit down hard on her lip to stifle her voice—until soft sounds escaped despite her efforts.

Xu Jin’s gaze darkened further. Staring at her bitten lip, a dangerous thought surfaced: he wanted her to cry out.

After a long while, Song Nian was drowsy and limp, unwilling to move. When Xu Jin tugged the small pad from under her and tossed it aside, she stirred and opened her eyes weakly.
“I need to wash up.”

He answered with a low hum.

She climbed over him, got out of bed, and walked to the bathroom.

Lying on his back, Xu Jin watched her figure pass over him. His throat worked, and he quickly averted his eyes—only for them to fall on the pad tossed to the floor. Once neat and dry, it was now… beyond saving.

When Song Nian returned, Xu Jin picked it up, washed, and came back with it cleaned, leaving it draped casually over a chair.

Back in bed, he found her nearly asleep. He, however, couldn’t close his eyes.

“Your parents’ case isn’t that simple.”

His sudden words jolted Song Nian awake.
“What do you mean?”

Xu Jin lowered his eyes.
“For them to be cleared, they need to prove that the large sum sent abroad was indeed used to buy equipment for donation. But those documents are gone, aren’t they?”

Song Nian stared at him.
“How do you know?”

“I looked into it. The base records related to your family are missing too. If it were simply your family losing documents, there would still be traces in the archives. But I found nothing. No evidence of their innocence at all.”

His voice was calm.
“Someone erased it all.”

Song Nian’s heart sank.

Her father had once said the same—that someone had framed them. But her family had always lived with integrity; her parents were known for their kindness. They didn’t even know who could have borne such malice.

Grabbing at Xu Jin’s shirt, she asked anxiously,
“Then… is there no hope?”

Xu Jin shook his head.
“Not necessarily. If we can find the officials who handled the case back then, they might testify. And if we track down others involved, the documents could perhaps be reconstructed.”

But Song Nian instantly realized how impossible that sounded.

It had been so many years. Archiving had been sloppy then. With the records erased, finding witnesses was near hopeless.

She suddenly looked at Xu Jin, her voice soft, tentative.
“So… you are concerned about my family’s case too?”

His expression flickered. After a pause, he said,
“We’re married now.”

Then,
“There’s a garrison not far from where your parents are. I have contacts there. I’ve already asked them to look after your family.”

Song Nian froze, then warmth flooded her chest.

She had thought Xu Jin felt nothing for her, cared nothing for her family. Yet behind her back, he had quietly done so much.

With soldiers watching over them, her parents’ lives would surely be easier. They wouldn’t have to fear being bullied in that remote place.

“You’re still the same good man!”

She hugged his waist, burying herself against him, whispering thanks.
“Thank you, husband.”

Xu Jin stiffened, then after a beat, pushed her away.
“No clinging. Go to sleep.”

Song Nian: …

Fine. For the sake of his kindness toward her parents, she wouldn’t argue.

She murmured an obedient “Mm,” turned her back, and closed her eyes.

But soon, she felt his heated body pressing against her again.

Half-asleep, she mumbled,
“What is it?”

Xu Jin’s breathing deepened. After a moment, his hoarse voice said:
“Once more…”