Chapter 28.2

Once in the car, it would be another hour and a half to the base.

I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Sitting next to Xie Yanzhao, Xu Zhu couldn’t hold back his questions.

“Sister-in-law, what exactly is your relationship with the Lu family?”

There was no point in hiding anything about this matter, so Ruan Mingfu explained everything, including what Gu Yilin had told her about Lu Yan marrying someone else.

“It’s too much!” Xu Zhu pounded the seat angrily. “But… since the Lu family never mentioned the engagement, it means they regret it. You…”

Ruan Mingfu was well aware of the implication of Xu Zhu’s words.

“I just can’t swallow this!”

The Lu family clung to them when they were down, and now that they had risen, they discarded their old acquaintances.

Such behavior deserved to be condemned wherever it was seen.

Ruan Mingfu considered herself not very forgiving, and it would be truly absurd for her to let Lu Yan off the hook so easily.

But Lu Yan was different from Lu Yang.

He was young and accomplished, handsome, and not as intimidating as Xie Yanzhao, which made him quite popular among female colleagues.

Xu Zhu didn’t worry about Ruan Mingfu. He was concerned about Lu Yang.

At the station, it was clear to him that Lu Yang’s offer to marry her was genuine, not some temporary measure.

He glanced at Xie Yanzhao.

But Xie Yanzhao remained as inscrutable as before, leaving Xu Zhu unsure of his thoughts.

Xu Zhu sighed.

As time passed, the area on both sides of the road grew increasingly desolate. After passing through a forest and driving for another half hour, they finally saw the entrance to the military base.

Xie Yanzhao had previously taken Ruan Mingfu to the guesthouse at the military base to check in.

Xu Zhu grumbled, “Old Xie, why don’t we just let Ruan Mingfu stay at my place? There’s an empty room there. I’ll have my wife set up a bed for her. Why go through all this trouble and stay at a guesthouse?”

“That’s not the same,” Xie Yanzhao replied.

“What’s the difference?” Xu Zhu glared at him. “Do you still think we’re not brothers?”

“It’s more convenient at the guesthouse.”

Ruan Mingfu didn’t want to stay at someone else’s home; it wasn’t convenient. Although Xu Zhu was friendly, she hadn’t met his wife, so she had no idea if they would get along.

If they didn’t, it could cause a lot of trouble.

Even Xu Zhu and Xie Yanzhao’s relationship could be affected.

She understood this well.

“Alright,” Xu Zhu said, seeing that Ruan Mingfu had made up her mind, “Then tonight, I’ll have my wife prepare a few more good dishes. You and Old Xie can come over for dinner.”

Ruan Mingfu looked at Xie Yanzhao.

The latter nodded, “I’ll come to pick her up later.”

Xu Zhu accompanied them to the door. “I won’t keep you. I’ll head back now.”

Having spent so much time with Xie Yanzhao outside, Xu Zhu missed his wife and children at home.

After getting the room sorted, Xie Yanzhao took Ruan Mingfu upstairs.

The room was very clean. From the window, you could see the guesthouse sign below. The room faced south, allowing ample sunlight, and the contents were not damp.

Xie Yanzhao put down their belongings and picked up the kettle.

“Wait here while I go get some water,” he said in a deep voice.

Ruan Mingfu nodded.

The room was quite plain.

Besides a wardrobe, a table, and a few stools, there was only the bed.

Ruan Mingfu took a seat on one of the stools.

She was exhausted after sitting on the train for a whole day and night.

“Have something to eat first.”

Xie Yanzhao not only went to get water but also brought back a few buns.

“They’re still warm,” Ruan Mingfu said, taking the buns and feeling their warmth. “Does the guesthouse sell buns?”

Xie Yanzhao took out a lunchbox and poured some water into it.

“The guesthouse provides simple meals three times a day,” he explained. “If you don’t have time to eat, you can go to the second floor to eat.”

“Got it.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded.

Since boarding the train, although the man had helped her with things, he had been indifferent in conversation. She felt that if not necessary, he probably wouldn’t want to talk to her at all.

Ruan Mingfu bit into the bun with frustration.

That dog of a man, once he got her, he ignored her!

Hmph!

She decided not to speak to him.

Ruan Mingfu quietly finished her bun and turned to see that Xie Yanzhao had already made the bed.

He stood up and said, “Rest well. I’ll come to pick you up in the evening.”

“Mm.”

Ruan Mingfu replied.

Seeing that Xie Yanzhao didn’t move immediately, Ruan Mingfu looked up and met his dark eyes.

She swallowed nervously, “W-what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Xie Yanzhao said, giving her one last deep look before turning to leave. “Remember to lock the door when I’m gone. If someone knocks, make sure to ask who it is before opening.”

The guesthouse at the military base was very secure, and there wouldn’t be any miscellaneous people coming in.

But seeing Ruan Mingfu sitting there so obediently, Xie Yanzhao couldn’t help but give her a few extra reminders.

Ruan Mingfu, however, was somewhat impatient. “I understand.”

He was so tedious, his nagging was reminiscent of her own father.

Xie Yanzhao closed the door but didn’t leave immediately.

He stood at the door for a while before finally turning and walking away.

Ruan Mingfu ate only one of the buns Xie Yanzhao brought and couldn’t eat more. After drinking the warm water, she felt her stomach.

She changed into her pajamas and went to the bathroom.

After thoroughly washing herself, Ruan Mingfu got into bed and prepared to sleep.

Heaven knew how she had managed on the train.

She didn’t dare drink too much water, fearing she might need to use the bathroom halfway.

She found the train’s toilets quite unsatisfactory.

She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

…..

Meanwhile, Xie Yanzhao left the guesthouse and headed into the military base.

He needed to report to the regiment.

But before that, he had to go back to his dorm.

Since he wasn’t married, Xie Yanzhao was still living in the single dorm. As soon as he opened the door, several men gathered around him.

“Old Xie, I heard that my sister-in-law is here. Where is she? Why didn’t you bring her along?”

“Old Xie, I heard my sister-in-law is really pretty. Is it true?”

“Come on, come on, what kind of talk is that?” One person pushed through the crowd. “Old Xie, tell us, is my sister-in-law really that beautiful?”

Xie Yanzhao’s personal matters had always been the top priority for the entire unit. Everyone was eagerly waiting, wondering which remarkable woman could have captured Xie Yanzhao’s heart.

Especially after hearing the two brats who went to pick up the person, everyone was as anxious as monkeys on Mount Emei, jumping up and down.

They couldn’t stay put and rushed to the dormitory to confront him.

Xie Yanzhao looked at these gossip-hungry comrades, their enthusiasm rivaling that of village gossips, and his face darkened, making him look even more intimidating.

“Old Xie, don’t be stingy, tell us about our sister-in-law.”

“Yeah.”

“Old Xie, you can’t keep secrets from your brothers…”

“Get lost,” Xie Yanzhao pushed them aside. “Is my wife someone you can just gossip about?”

As soon as he said that, the group of men became even more excited.

“Oh, oh, oh, so now you’re protective?”

“Looks like our sister-in-law has a way with taming her husband, seeing how Old Xie is defending her.”

“Wow, Old Xie looks so scary. I’d rather he just growled at me…”

Xie Yanzhao: “…”

He went to his bed, took out his clothes, and headed to the bathroom.

“You guys chat slowly, I’m going first.”

“Don’t…”

The rest of the conversation was muffled as Xie Yanzhao shut the door.

When he returned from his shower, the nosy people were still there. Xie Yanzhao’s eyes flashed with exasperation.

Gossipy men were even harder to deal with than women.

As soon as he walked in, the crowd adopted an interrogative stance.

“Old Xie, aren’t you being unfair? Look at how your brothers have treated you. Now that we’re asking about our sister-in-law’s appearance, you won’t even tell us.”

Xie Yanzhao: “…”

Several pairs of eyes were fixated on him, and there were four guards at the door.

They were clearly determined not to let him leave until he said something.

Xie Yanzhao: “… She’s very beautiful, with long hair…”

Her skin is very fair, and her hands are very soft… Ruan Mingfu’s hands are truly beautiful, with evenly proportioned bones, slender and delicate, soft as if without bones…

Recalling the sensation of touching her hand yesterday.

Xie Yanzhao suddenly felt the weather growing warmer, and the surrounding space seemed a bit stifling, making it hard for him to breathe. He couldn’t help but bite his lip and suddenly remembered he had passionately kissed her… twice.

He felt even hotter.

These experienced men quickly understood Xie Yanzhao’s reaction.

They became even more excited!

Some of them started to make a fuss.

“Old Xie, when will you bring sister-in-law to meet us?”

“Meeting can wait, but there’s something very important that needs to be done.”

Seeing everyone’s curious gazes, the speaker continued.

“Old Xie and sister-in-law haven’t officially registered their marriage yet. You need to get that done quickly. If you wait too long, other guys in the unit might start vying for her.”

Everyone also remembered the rumors about Xie Yanzhao in the unit and laughed.

Xie Yanzhao suddenly smiled, “Seeing you all so enthusiastic, you must have trained hard recently. Let’s go and practice, see if you can keep up.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd scattered as if they had seen a ghost.

Soon, the room was empty.

Xie Yanzhao chuckled lightly.

Thinking about what happened at the train station this morning, his smile quickly faded, and a dark look appeared in his eyes.

Ruan Mingfu slept soundly.

She glanced at the watch on the bedside and saw it was already four o’clock.

She had slept for six hours!

Ruan Mingfu stretched lazily before getting out of bed. After her nap, her hair fell softly down her back, with the ends slightly curled.