Chapter 32

When Yu Xiangnian got home, she saw two bunches of loquats on the table and asked Xiao Jie, “Where did these loquats come from?”

Xiao Jie, who had been playing inside, turned his head without saying a word and went outside to the yard to play.

Yu Xiangnian found this a bit baffling.

Xiao Jie’s attitude was colder than it had been when she first arrived!

But hadn’t their relationship improved over the past few days?

Yu Xiangnian walked into the kitchen and asked, “Cheng Jingmo, why did you come back so early today?”

Cheng Jingmo replied as usual, “The unit asked me to come home and pack up. We’re heading to the mountains to hunt wolves tomorrow morning.”

Yu Xiangnian was delighted. “Does that mean you won’t be punished?”

“Still don’t know yet.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“I’ll come back once we’re done hunting the wolves.”

“How many of you are going? Is Yu Xiangyang going too?”

“Yes, five of us.”

“Then be careful.”

Cheng Jingmo prepared three dishes: fried green beans, stewed eggplant, and braised pumpkin, along with a spinach soup.

At the dinner table, Xiao Jie continued to ignore Yu Xiangnian. She asked, “Xiao Jie, did I do something to upset you?”

Xiao Jie didn’t answer.

Yu Xiangnian continued, “You’re a young man now. If something’s bothering you, speak up. It’s hard for both of us if you keep it bottled up.”

Xiao Jie remained silent, so Cheng Jingmo explained on his behalf, “Xiao Jie picked loquats to give you but couldn’t find you.”

Cheng Jingmo’s vague explanation led Yu Xiangnian to think Xiao Jie was simply upset about not finding her, not realizing he had seen her with Ding Yunfei.

Yu Xiangnian smiled, “I see. Thank you, Xiao Jie. Auntie loves fruit. Next time, just bring them home, and we’ll eat together.”

Cheng Jingmo changed the topic, “I’m not sure how many days I’ll be gone this time. Could I trouble you to take care of Xiao Jie?”

Usually, he would have asked his comrade Dong Minghao’s family to look after Xiao Jie, but considering Yu Xiangnian’s recent actions, he wondered if she would be upset if he asked someone else.

“Do you even need to ask? If you’re not home, of course I’ll take care of him!” Yu Xiangnian paused, then added a bit shyly, “Could you make extra steamed buns tomorrow? I’m afraid I won’t have time to make breakfast. We can just heat up the buns.”

“Okay, I’ll make enough for three days. Any longer, and they might spoil. In the morning, just open the damper on the stove, put the buns on to steam. By the time you’re done washing up, they’ll be ready. For the following days, you can either eat at the canteen or cook noodles.”

Cheng Jingmo added, “Xiao Jie doesn’t need to change clothes every day. Every two or three days is fine. I’ll wash everything when I get back. You don’t need to do any laundry either.”

Xiao Jie had four sets of clothes. Changing every two or three days would last a week.

A week should be enough time for him to complete the mission and return home.

Cheng Jingmo placed all his money and tickets on the table, “Buy whatever you need. If there’s an issue, you can ask Captain Xiao next door for help. The other comrades and their families will also help if you ask.”

It was the first time Yu Xiangnian had heard Cheng Jingmo say so much. The usually taciturn man suddenly became very meticulous and it amused her.

She laughed, “Cheng Jingmo, do you think I can’t take care of myself? I’m just lazy, not incapable. When I do get around to it, I can do quite a lot! And keep your money. I told you, if I need any, I’ll ask you for it.”

Cheng Jingmo found her smile too dazzling, so he avoided her gaze and continued eating.

At night, when Yu Xiangnian went to the main room for a drink of water, she saw Cheng Jingmo still busy in the yard, likely loosening the soil in the vegetable garden.

At that moment, she noticed the halo above his head again.

After disappearing for a week, the halo reappeared above his head.

Yu Xiangnian still couldn’t understand what was going on. As she drank her water, she stared at the halo, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a fierce wolf appeared above the halo, baring its fangs and leaping towards her.

With a loud crash, the mug fell from her hand to the floor in fright.

The scene was so realistic, like watching a 3D movie; it seemed as if the wolf was truly lunging at her.

Cheng Jingmo, hearing the noise, quickly came into the room.

Seeing Yu Xiangnian standing there pale and rigid, still in the position of drinking water, he hurriedly asked, “What happened?”

Yu Xiangnian snapped back to reality upon seeing Cheng Jingmo, and the halo disappeared again.

But how could she explain this?

She couldn’t tell him about seeing the halo and the wolf; Cheng Jingmo would think she was losing her mind.

Seeing her dazed look, Cheng Jingmo, thinking she was scared, put his hand on her shoulder, “Yu Xiangnian, what happened?”

Yu Xiangnian quickly turned and stumbled back to the bedroom.

Sitting on the bed, her mind was in turmoil.

Would that scene really happen? How could she tell Cheng Jingmo? Would he believe her?

What if it was just her imagination? If she said something, would she mislead him?

She barely slept that night and appeared before Cheng Jingmo the next day with dark circles under her eyes.

Cheng Jingmo noticed she hadn’t slept well. He had spent the whole night wondering what could have scared her at home.

After much thought, Yu Xiangnian decided to tell him so he could be more cautious.

“Cheng Jingmo, last night I had a dream about you guys hunting wolves.”

Cheng Jingmo looked at her in confusion.

Yu Xiangnian shared her knowledge about wolves, “A wolf pack usually consists of four to eight wolves, led by an alpha pair. It’s late May, so there might be young pups. They typically nest in dens. Wolves are very smart, with keen senses of smell that can detect you from kilometers away. In the dense forests of the mountains, it’s hard for you to spot them, but they can easily detect you.”

Cheng Jingmo was surprised that this pampered young lady knew so much about wolves.

Then he realized she might be worried about him?

No way, Yu Xiangnian wouldn’t worry about him!

“I grew up in the mountains and know wolves’ habits. We’re going in a group of five; we’ll be fine.” He paused and then added.

“I dreamt that one wolf had a missing left ear. Be cautious of that wolf!”

When the wolf had lunged at her, she clearly saw that its left ear was missing a chunk.

Yu Xiangnian’s first sentence was serious, and the next was half-joking, “Keep an eye out for a wolf with a missing ear; I want to see if my dream was accurate.”

After breakfast, they each headed to work.

Before parting, Yu Xiangnian said, “Cheng Jingmo, be careful.”

In the six times Cheng Jingmo had gone on missions since they got married, this was the first time Yu Xiangnian had told him to be careful.

A strange feeling washed over him, like a giant hand had squeezed his heart, causing a mix of pain and warmth.

“Mm.” He responded softly.

“I’ll take good care of Xiao Jie. Don’t worry.”