Chapter 36.2

It finally dawned on her what day it was.

Her heart fluttered with nervousness.

Was the dog man really going to… do that to her?

She recalled the jokes the wives in the family compound had made when she first arrived. Gulping, Ruan Mingfu found herself both anxious and expectant.

But after waiting for a while, with half her body already on edge, there was still no movement from the dog man.

Unable to resist, she shifted slightly.

Immediately, a large hand tightened around her waist, pressing her firmly against his chest. His low, husky voice sounded in her ear.

“Sleep!”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Confused and slightly dazed, she eventually drifted off. Even as sleep claimed her, there was no further action from him. She gritted her teeth, not sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

The next morning, when she woke, her sense of disappointment reached its peak.

When Ruan Mingfu opened her eyes, the space next to her was already cold.

She stared blankly at the ceiling.

So… they had spent their wedding night purely and innocently, just sleeping together?

What the heck!

Who spends their wedding night like that?

Thinking of Xie Yanzhao’s sturdy six-foot-something frame, she couldn’t understand it.

Besides, she was a stunning beauty lying right next to him—how could he have resisted? Even a wooden log would have felt something, right?

Where had that fierceness gone when he bit her?

Ruan Mingfu sat up abruptly.

She hadn’t married the dog man just to live like a widow! She had already prepared herself mentally, and yet… this was it?

Could it be that the dog man was all show and no substance?

If that were the case… wouldn’t she end up living like a widow for the rest of her life?

As the thought crossed her mind, Ruan Mingfu’s face turned pale, then green.

When Xie Yanzhao entered the room, this was the sight that greeted him.

“Breakfast is ready. Get up and wash.”

She glanced at the clock on the bedside table.

It was a little after six, nearing seven.

The dog man had clearly been up for a while.

He had not only prepared breakfast but had even come to wake her up. Where else could one find such a considerate husband?

Her thoughts of divorce were momentarily suppressed.

Ruan Mingfu figured Old Xie could still be salvaged.

There were so many medical experts across the country—surely one of them, whether Chinese or Western, would be able to help.

Having figured things out, Ruan Mingfu no longer felt despondent. However, when she looked at Xie Yanzhao, her eyes held a trace of pity.

Noticing this, Xie Yanzhao unconsciously reached up to touch his face, a rare look of confusion crossing his features. “What is it? Is there something on my face?”

“It’s nothing,” Ruan Mingfu said, slipping into her slippers. She patted his arm sympathetically, then stood on tiptoes to plant a kiss on his head. “You’re the best.”

She had heard that patients needed encouragement, and their confidence shouldn’t be undermined.

She didn’t know if her approach would work, but she didn’t dwell on it. After giving Xie Yanzhao a kiss, she walked off.

Xie Yanzhao: “…”

What had happened overnight to make her so affectionate all of a sudden?

He squinted slightly, watching her retreating figure with a dangerous glint in his eyes. After holding himself back for quite a while, he finally managed to suppress the rising desire within him.

Breakfast consisted of plain congee and steamed buns, accompanied by a small dish of pickles from Hu Wanning.

After dinner, Ruan Mingfu changed into the green skirt she had just bought.

When Xie Yanzhao saw this, the darkness in his eyes deepened.

…..

Xie Yanzhao was unusually well-dressed today, looking much more spirited than usual.

The two of them—one petite and the other tall—looked exceptionally well-matched.

Xie Yanzhao held a bottle of liquor in his hand and headed out with Ruan Mingfu.

Today, they were visiting his mentor.

Instead of driving, Xie Yanzhao chose to walk with Ruan Mingfu. His mentor didn’t live far, only a ten-minute walk away.

Luckily, today’s sky was overcast. If it had been like the day before, with the sun scorching down so fiercely, Ruan Mingfu would have certainly kicked Xie Yanzhao for making her walk this long.

Xie Yanzhao’s mentor was also a leader in the military, having taken him under his wing since he was sixteen.

In Xie Yanzhao’s heart, this mentor was like a father figure.

Perhaps knowing that Xie Yanzhao was coming, Commander Li’s entire family was at home, with the door wide open, waiting for them.

When they spotted the couple, their eyes lit up.

Commander Li eagerly stood up, but then, as if catching himself, sat back down with a serious expression. His smile faded, and he composed himself, sitting properly as he waited for them to approach.

The middle-aged woman sitting beside him couldn’t help but glare at him.

Wu Yunhua, however, stood up and walked to the door to greet the two.

“Come in, come in.”

When she saw Ruan Mingfu, her eyes brightened even more. “This must be Comrade Ruan. Please, come in.”

Commander Li was not young, and neither was Wu Yunhua.

Perhaps it was the hardships of their youth, but they both appeared older than their actual ages. Wu Yunhua looked similar to Lin Shu, with her hair completely silver. However, her complexion was rosy, and she wore a kind smile as she looked at Ruan Mingfu.

“You can just call me Grandma Wu, like Yanzhao does.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded. “Grandma Wu.”

After they entered the house, Wu Yunhua personally invited them to sit down.

“You didn’t have to bring anything,” Wu Yunhua said, taking the bottle of liquor Xie Yanzhao handed her. “I’ll accept it this time, but next time, don’t bring anything.”

Xie Yanzhao simply agreed.

No matter what Wu Yunhua said, he would bring what he wanted.

Commander Li shot a glare at Xie Yanzhao. “At least you still have some conscience.”

He knew the old man had a fondness for this drink.

Commander Li’s cloudy eyes fell on Ruan Mingfu, and he nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly. “Now that you’re married, live well together. Your grandfather and I can rest easy.”

Xie Yanzhao straightened his back, his eyes slightly lowered.

It was unclear whether he heard or not.

Commander Li, knowing Xie Yanzhao’s temperament all too well, wasn’t bothered. He stood up and said, “Come with me.”

And with that, Commander Li and Xie Yanzhao headed to the study on the second floor.

Wu Yunhua brought over some fruit and snacks, placing them in front of Ruan Mingfu.

“Don’t mind them,” she said, sitting down. “Those two always have some secrets to discuss. Let’s just chat.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded obediently. “Alright.”

“I’ll call you Mingfu. It feels more affectionate,” Wu Yunhua continued. “I’ve heard you’re your parents’ only child?”

As Commander Li’s wife, Wu Yunhua naturally knew quite a bit.

When Xie Yanzhao first mentioned marriage, Commander Li had people thoroughly investigate Ruan Mingfu.

What surprised them most was that the Ruan couple only had one daughter.

They weren’t infertile, but still, they had only chosen to have Ruan Mingfu, which was quite unconventional for the time.

Almost everyone who heard this couldn’t resist asking Ruan Mingfu about it again.

Ruan Mingfu nodded. “I think they were worried that having other siblings would mean they couldn’t give me enough attention.”

“Your parents love you very much,” Wu Yunhua said, her tone filled with emotion.

Ruan Mingfu felt a hint of pride.

She thought the same.

Before her time travel, she had an older brother. Now, she had become an only child—a fact that made her feel a bit closer to her newfound parents, even though they had never met.

Ruan Mingfu also felt a bit sentimental.

Having such parents who put her first—how lucky must the original Ruan Mingfu have been~

“Enough about that,” Wu Yunhua pushed the fruit and snacks closer to Ruan Mingfu with a smile. “By the way, how did you get to know that kid Xiao Xie?”

Her curiosity was understandable.

For someone like Xie Yanzhao, who had been rejected by nearly every woman in the military district, to end up with such a delicate wife—who wouldn’t be curious?

Ruan Mingfu opened her mouth to answer but quickly changed her response.

“He came to attend a comrade’s wedding, and I was there working in the countryside.”

Wu Yunhua suddenly understood.

“So that’s how it is,” she clapped her hands. “You two were fated to meet, despite the distance.”

As Xie Yanzhao got older, Wu Yunhua and her husband grew increasingly worried.

To find him a match, Wu Yunhua had gone through quite a few young women, to the point where people started avoiding her. Especially when rumors spread in the family quarters that Xie Yanzhao would remain a bachelor for life—it made her furious.

Wu Yunhua’s stubbornness flared up.

She refused to believe that with Xie Yanzhao’s rank as a regiment commander and his upright character, no woman would take a liking to him.

She had gathered information on many young women, just waiting for Xie Yanzhao to come back and meet them.

But before long, he called to announce he was getting married.

Now, the more Wu Yunhua looked at Ruan Mingfu, the more she liked her.

Thinking about those who had doubted Xie Yanzhao, she felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction—like drinking ice-cold soda on a scorching summer day.

She had been wandering outside frequently these days, all to observe the ugly faces of these people.

“Are you not afraid of Xiao Xie, Mingfu?” Wu Yunhua gossiped with Ruan Mingfu. “His reputation in the military district isn’t good.”

Ruan Mingfu blinked her beautiful almond-shaped eyes. “What’s there to be afraid of?”

That scoundrel of a man never even raised his voice at her. Even when she stirred up trouble, he would still indulge her.

Where else could you find someone like that?

Wu Yunhua felt a sense of relief. “Mingfu, tell Grandma Wu, how did you two end up together?”

Faced with the old lady’s curious expression, Ruan Mingfu suddenly froze.

Her eyes darted around before she finally said, “Well… one day, I was on my way to work, and he saw me. Xie Yanzhao insisted on pursuing me. I didn’t agree at first, but he kept pestering me. Seeing how sincere he was, I eventually said yes.”

Just as she finished speaking, footsteps sounded from behind her.

Ruan Mingfu turned around to see Xie Yanzhao standing there with an unreadable expression.