Chapter 15

Cheng Yue froze for a moment, then realized it was his stomach growling. He immediately covered it, but the “grr” noises persisted. He hadn’t eaten dinner, and the sight of the meat buns made him even hungrier.  

“Still hungry? Have a meat bun,” Su Qianqian said, pretending not to notice his embarrassment and handed one over.  

“I just grabbed a quick bite earlier,” he mumbled, clearly feeling a bit humiliated by how quickly his lie had been exposed.  

He took the bun and bit into it. *Delicious!*  

“If you’re not full, have some noodles too,” Su Qianqian offered after seeing that the bun clearly hadn’t been enough. For a man his size, one bun wouldn’t suffice.  

Though feeling slightly awkward, he figured there was no reason to refuse after already eating the bun.  

*Why is it so good? Has Su Qianqian’s cooking improved this much?*  

In the end, he polished off a bowl of noodles and three meat buns. Not just full—he was stuffed. It had been ages since he’d had such a satisfying meal.  

“Now that you’re full, let me introduce the kids,” Su Qianqian said. “They don’t have formal names yet. This is the eldest, Daya. The second is Erbao, and the youngest is Sanya. They’re just over four years old.”  

“They don’t know you well yet, so they probably won’t call you ‘Dad’ right away. Once they get used to you, they might,” she added. Su Qianqian didn’t want to force the children into saying something they weren’t comfortable with, especially since it’s hard to call someone “Dad” when you’re not familiar with them.  

Cheng Yue, with his imposing aura honed from battlefield experiences, seemed intimidating to the kids. They were too nervous even to speak, let alone call him “Dad.”  

“Oh, and here’s a letter from home,” she said, handing him an envelope.  

Cheng Yue opened it and read through the contents. The beginning mostly talked about family matters, asking him to return home once he was fully recovered because everyone missed him. Then, the letter mentioned Su Qianqian and the children:  

*“The three kids are definitely yours. The timeline matches, and they even resemble you. While Su Qianqian’s behavior in the past was disgraceful, she didn’t cheat on you.”*  

Reading this, Cheng Yue couldn’t help but glance at Su Qianqian, who was tidying up nearby. Her lowered gaze and gentle profile were so different from how he remembered her.  

Sensing his gaze, Su Qianqian looked up. “What’s wrong?”  

“Nothing.” He quickly turned away and continued reading the letter.  

The letter went on to mention that Su Qianqian had recently changed. Since her head injury, she seemed different. The family advised him to observe her closely: *“If things can work out, then stay together. If not, get a divorce.”*  

After tidying up, Su Qianqian glanced over at Cheng Yue, who was still reading the letter. His slightly lowered head and furrowed brows gave him a sharp and commanding presence.  

There was no denying that his features were striking—especially his high-bridged nose. Words like “sword-like brows and starry eyes” suited him perfectly. No wonder the original Su Qianqian had clung to him so desperately. In the countryside, marrying such a handsome man was rare indeed.  

“How did you get that head injury?” Cheng Yue asked. The letter had only mentioned it briefly.  

“Oh, just a small incident. A kid threw something at me, but it’s all resolved now.” She walked over, lifted her bangs, and pointed to the spot. “It’s almost healed—just a small scar left.”  

As she stepped closer, Cheng Yue caught a faint whiff of her subtle fragrance. Startled, he leaned to the side to put some distance between them, his ears tinged with red. He wasn’t used to being so close to a woman, even if she was technically his wife.  

“I’ll take the kids out for a walk to help them digest. You’ll be okay on your own, right?” Su Qianqian asked.  

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”  

With that, she took the three children for a stroll around the hospital. She wanted to familiarize herself with the layout and discreetly inquire about Cheng Yue’s injuries.  

“Doctor, I’m Su Qianqian, Cheng Yue’s wife. I’m here to ask about his condition,” Su Qianqian said.  

“The other injuries on Captain Cheng aren’t too serious, but his leg injury is more severe,” the doctor replied regretfully. “There’s a certain probability it could affect his ability to walk normally in the future. However, with active rehabilitation, there’s still a chance for a full recovery.”  

“Alright, I understand. Thank you, Doctor,” Su Qianqian said.  

*So, there’s a possibility he might become crippled?* For a soldier, that must be hard to accept. She wondered if the spiritual spring she had access to could help him recover.  

Setting aside the personal grievances between the original Su Qianqian and Cheng Yue, the fact that he was a soldier who served and protected the country made her determined to help him heal.  

As she was walking, she saw Zhou Yun approaching from the opposite direction, carrying a thermal container. Her graceful and elegant demeanor radiated refinement, from her head to her toes.  

*Hmm. Honestly, if Zhou Yun didn’t stir up trouble, I’d be happy to let them be together. They do look quite compatible.*  

“Why are you outside? Shouldn’t you be taking care of Cheng Yue?” Zhou Yun asked, her tone tinged with reproach.  

*Huh?* Su Qianqian raised an eyebrow. *Is she acting like she’s the wife while I’m just the caregiver?*  

She smiled faintly and glanced at Zhou Yun with calm eyes. “And what position are you speaking to me from?”  

Zhou Yun was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a retort. Embarrassed, she frowned. “Cheng Yue is injured and has limited mobility. Isn’t it your duty to take care of him?”  

“It is my duty,” Su Qianqian acknowledged with a nod, but then a sarcastic smile curved her lips. “But what about you? Is it your duty to visit him twice a day? Have you forgotten he has a wife?”  

Suddenly, she no longer felt like letting Cheng Yue and this woman end up together—it was unsettling.  

Moreover, if they divorced, taking all three kids with her would likely be a challenge. Letting the children face a stepmother like Zhou Yun could lead to disastrous consequences.  

Zhou Yun’s expression shifted but quickly recovered. “Oh, I forgot,” she said lightly. “After all, I hadn’t seen his wife in five years. And since he’s injured with no one to properly care for him, my parents made some pig’s feet soup for him and asked me to bring it over.”  

*Oh wow,* Su Qianqian thought, amused. Every word Zhou Yun spoke seemed pointed.  

She was subtly implying Su Qianqian was unfit to be Cheng Yue’s wife and suggesting that Zhou Yun’s parents also favored Cheng Yue, just waiting for them to divorce.  

“Funny how even educated people have poor memories,” Su Qianqian said mockingly. “We just met a few hours ago. No worries—go ahead and see him.”  

After delivering her jab, she stepped aside to let Zhou Yun pass.  

Zhou Yun opened the door to the hospital room and walked in. Cheng Yue was reading a book.  

“I brought some pig’s feet soup and vegetables for you. You should eat while it’s hot,” Zhou Yun said warmly, walking over and placing the thermal container on the table, ready to serve.  

“I’ve already eaten,” Cheng Yue replied. “Why are you here so late?”  

Zhou Yun was clearly displeased by his indifferent attitude but suppressed her frustration. After all, Cheng Yue was handsome and accomplished.  

“My parents were worried you weren’t eating well in the hospital, so they cooked and asked me to bring it over,” she said, sighing. “This pig’s feet soup took a while to prepare. You should have some, or they’ll feel bad.”  

Cheng Yue frowned slightly. “I’m really full. I can’t eat anymore.”  

“What did you eat to get so full?” she asked reflexively, her tone sharp. Realizing her mistake, she quickly softened. “The hospital food isn’t great. How could you possibly feel full?”  

Outside the door, Su Qianqian had heard enough. She walked in with a bright smile and said, “Oh, I fed him.”