Chapter 67.2

Jiang Nian awkwardly sat on the cabinet, her legs hanging unnaturally, her fingers curling as she pushed against Lu Yu’s firm chest. She used all her strength but couldn’t budge him, tiring herself out instead. She sighed, “What’s wrong with you?”

Lu Yu had gone out and returned differently.

He had gone out with Song Bai. Could it be that they had a disagreement?

Thinking of the injury on his face, Jiang Nian hesitated before asking, “Did you fight with Song Bai?”

After she asked, she felt Lu Yu’s breath grow heavier, and the arms holding her waist tightened. She thought he might break her waist if he held on any tighter.

After a long silence, Lu Yu’s low, hoarse voice answered: “Yes.”

He had drunk quite a bit at noon, his body smelling of alcohol, and Jiang Nian could taste it on her own lips. She pursed her lips and asked, “Why did you fight again?”

Could it be like Zhu Jun said, that they always sparred after drinking?

Lu Yu grabbed her collar and pulled it aside, planting a mark on her smooth shoulder. Jiang Nian froze for a moment before pushing him away. But he let go first, looking at the mark on her shoulder with dark, intense eyes. “We’re leaving tomorrow. Song Bai didn’t want to part, so he sparred with me one last time.”

Jiang Nian: …

Their way of saying goodbye was indeed unique.

Jiang Nian pushed Lu Yu’s shoulders with both hands, bent her small waist, and leaned back. Her eyelashes were wet from being bullied, and her voice was soft: “Let me go first, it would be bad if someone sees us.”

The more she pushed, the more Lu Yu was reluctant to let go.

Seeing her flushed face, Lu Yu finally relented, lifting her off the cabinet and placing her on the ground. As soon as her feet touched the floor, she darted out from under his arm, gathered the fallen books, and ran out.

She was faster than a rabbit.

Lu Yu watched her disappear through the door, lowering his head with a smile. He rubbed his temples, inadvertently touching his bruised brow, wincing at the pain.

Song Bai had hit hard this time.

He hadn’t held back.

Jiang Nian stayed in her room, packing her things. She patted her flushed cheeks, closed the door, and walked to the mirror on the wall. She pulled her collar aside and saw the purple marks on her fair skin.

Jiang Nian: …

Knock knock—

“Jiang Nian.”

Lu Yu’s voice startled her. She quickly pulled up her collar and buttoned it, grabbing the edge of the cabinet, her heart racing. “W-What is it?”

Through the door, Lu Yu’s deep, pleasant voice replied, “The bathwater is ready. I brought it over.”

Jiang Nian swallowed and opened the door. Lu Yu was carrying a bucket of water and a washbasin. He poured the water into the basin, glanced at her flushed face, and smiled. “Add some more wood to the fire so you don’t catch a cold.”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Mm.”

After Lu Yu left, Jiang Nian quickly locked the door. She washed up, changed into clean clothes, and looked at the mark on her shoulder again. Even after bathing, Lu Yu’s scent seemed to linger.

She sighed, dressed, and went outside.

Lu Yu had organized everything. Seeing her come out, he went to her room to pour out the bathwater and cleaned the yard. They ate a simple dinner, and Lu Yu said, “I’ll head back to the dormitory. We leave tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Nian replied, “Mm.”

She followed Lu Yu out, and when they reached the door, Lu Yu grabbed the back of her neck, kissed her on the lips, and then turned and left.

Jiang Nian closed the door, leaning against the cold wood, her hand touching her warm lips. She smiled.

She had just returned to the room and fallen asleep when there was a knock on the door.

Jiang Nian thought Lu Yu had forgotten something. She ran to open the gate and found Chen Fang standing there. Surprised, she asked, “Sister Chen, what brings you here?”

Chen Fang smiled and said, “I heard you are leaving with Deputy Commander Lu tomorrow. I just returned from my parents’ house this afternoon, so I came to see you before you left.”

Jiang Nian was a bit surprised and opened the courtyard gate wider. “Come in, Sister Chen.”

Chen Fang entered, holding a bag of brown sugar and a can of malted milk. Jiang Nian frowned slightly in confusion. “Sister Chen, what’s this for?”

Chen Fang placed the brown sugar and malted milk on the table, smiling. “I heard from Old Tang that Deputy Commander Lu is being transferred to Yuan City. Do you remember the last time I introduced my sister to you, the one who helped me move things? Her name is Chen Ping, and you called her Sister Ping. Do you remember?”

Jiang Nian thought back to the day Tang Ze and Sun Ying moved to the neighboring courtyard. Indeed, there was a woman named Chen Ping. Chen Fang had introduced her as her elder sister, saying Chen Ping was visiting from Yuan City.

Jiang Nian’s heart skipped a beat. She had thought no one there would know about her and Lu Yu’s relationship, but now it seemed Chen Fang’s sister did.

She pursed her lips, her smile a bit stiff. “I remember.”

Chen Fang laughed. “That’s good. My sister told me that her husband’s unit is getting a new leader surnamed Lu. I guessed it must be your brother-in-law. Once you get to Yuan city, you and my sister will be neighbors, so you can look out for each other. These are just a little something from me and my sister for you.”

In those days, accepting gifts was highly discouraged, especially in the military, where it could lead to accusations of bribery. Lu Yu hadn’t even started his new position yet, and accepting these gifts could get him into trouble. Jiang Nian handed the items back to Chen Fang, speaking politely, “Sister Chen, there’s no need for this. I’m already happy to be neighbors with Sister Ping. How can I accept these gifts?”

Seeing Chen Fang insist, Jiang Nian deliberately put on a stern face. “Sister Chen, I genuinely see you as my sister. If you continue with this, I’ll really get upset. It feels like you’re distancing yourself from me.”

Jiang Nian’s slight show of displeasure made Chen Fang believe she had indeed upset Jiang Nian with the gifts. She laughed, “Alright, alright. I’ll take them back. Since you see me as your sister, I’ll give you some sincere advice. It was wrong of me to try to match you with Tang Ze before. I was too hasty. But I do think Song Bai is a good person. If you think so too, I can help set you up. Good men shouldn’t be missed.”

Jiang Nian: …

She smiled. “Thank you for your kindness, Sister Chen, but I’m not in a hurry right now.”

Seeing that Chen Fang wanted to say more, Jiang Nian continued, “It’s getting late, and I have to get up early tomorrow. Let’s chat more another time.”

Since Jiang Nian had said this, Chen Fang had no choice but to leave with her items.

Walking back, Chen Fang couldn’t help but glance back at Jiang Nian’s courtyard, then down at the items in her hands. The brown sugar and malted milk had cost her a good amount of money, but it was money her sister had given her to help get closer to Jiang Nian.

Chen Ping had said that her husband’s unit was getting a new leader surnamed Lu.

She needed to make connections early.

However, she hadn’t expected Jiang Nian to be so understanding. She went back and told Old Tang about it. Tang Ze was soaking his feet on the kang when he heard her story and snorted inwardly: ‘What understanding? It’s Lu Yu’s sister-in-law being smart and not leaving any evidence. Only his straightforward sister-in-law thought they were genuinely treating her like a sister.’

But he didn’t tell Chen Fang this, otherwise, with her straightforward nature, she might go to ask Lu Yu’s sister-in-law directly.

Which would only cause more trouble.

The next morning, Jiang Nian got up early.

She thought she was early enough, but she didn’t expect Lu Yu to be even earlier. When she opened the door, she saw that he had already prepared breakfast and was carrying a bucket of water to the kitchen. When he saw her coming out, he smiled and said, “There’s hot water in the thermos. Come and have breakfast after you wash up.”

Remembering Lu Yu’s near loss of control last night, Jiang Nian’s eyelashes trembled, and she averted her gaze. “Okay.”

She took the thermos inside to wash up and braided her hair before heading out.

They had breakfast in the kitchen. Lu Yu had steamed a bowl of egg custard for her, and he kept giving her food. When he tried to add more, Jiang Nian covered her bowl, her mouth full, shaking her head vigorously. “I’m full.”

Lu Yu was amused by her.

He reached out and ruffled her hair. “Eat up.”

Jiang Nian: …

She felt something was off with Lu Yu last night and this morning. She sipped half a bowl of soup, glanced at him, and met his dark eyes. She choked a little and quickly looked down, hearing his deep voice, “What do you want to say?”

Jiang Nian coughed lightly and couldn’t help but ask, “What happened to you last night and this morning?” He seemed a bit off.

She didn’t dare say the last part aloud.

Lu Yu looked at her lowered head, smiling. “I’m happy.”

Jiang Nian was puzzled. “Huh?”

Lu Yu: “We’re getting married soon.”

Jiang Nian’s face flushed red. She quickly lowered her head and softly replied, “Mm.”

After breakfast, Lu Yu washed the dishes. Jiang Nian sat by the stove, warming herself, and told him about Chen Fang’s visit. “According to Sister Chen, her sister’s husband should be someone in your unit.”

Lu Yu’s brows furrowed slightly. “Don’t worry about them.”

Seeing Jiang Nian’s lowered head, he added, “Even if they know, it’s okay. Once we’re married, I’ll find a chance to come back.”

Jiang Nian looked up sharply. “Come back?!”

Lu Yu laughed. “Yes, we’ll come back as a family in a different way.”

Jiang Nian: …

But then she thought, since Lu Yu would no longer be staying here and would soon take up his post in Yuan city, even if they returned in the future, they wouldn’t care what others said about them.

By that time, they would have left, and whatever others said, she and Lu Yu wouldn’t hear it.

After finishing up, Lu Yu carried several bags, while Jiang Nian quietly followed him with her small cloth bag. Xu Yan and her two children came out to see them off, along with several military wives from the family quarters. Lu Zhijun and his grandmother were there, as were Commander Tang and his family. This time, Song Bai and Zhu Jun were driving them to the city.

A group of people escorted Lu Yu and Jiang Nian out of the army compound. Xu Yan had red, tear-filled eyes, the impending separation making her feel choked with emotion.

Liu Jianye also wiped his moist eyes and said, “Aunt Jiang, we will miss you.”

Jiang Nian patted his head and gently instructed, “Aunt Jiang will come back to see you when she has time. Spend more time with your mother.”

Liu Jianye nodded. “I know.”

“Sister-in-law, we’re leaving.”

Zhu Jun called out, and Jiang Nian responded, “Coming.”

She waved goodbye to Commander Tang and Chen Fang before turning to get in the car with her small cloth bag. Lu Yu sat in the back, Zhu Jun sat in the passenger seat, and Song Bai drove. Jiang Nian saw the bruises on Song Bai’s face through the rearview mirror.

Jiang Nian: …

Alright, it seemed Lu Yu had indeed sparred with Song Bai yesterday afternoon.

The journey to the city took four hours. Jiang Nian dozed off against the car seat, occasionally opening her eyes and meeting Song Bai’s gaze in the rearview mirror. After several such encounters, Jiang Nian could no longer sleep. She felt that Song Bai’s gaze held an inexplicable complexity. She suddenly remembered what Xu Yan had said yesterday.

——I think Deputy Commander Song likes you.

Jiang Nian: …

She must be crazy to have taken Xu Yan’s words to heart.

“What’s wrong?”

Lu Yu leaned close, his breath tickling Jiang Nian’s forehead.

Jiang Nian shook her head lightly and smiled up at Lu Yu. “Nothing.”