After distributing the wedding candy, Qin Yao boarded the shuttle to the family compound after work. There were a few other family members on the bus, and several ambulances formed a small convoy as they left the military hospital.

Each ambulance had a military doctor on board, frequently traveling between the military hospital and the base to transport injured soldiers and patients.

Qin Yao had taken this route a few times before when visiting Chen Baozhen at the family compound, so she was familiar with the journey. But this time, she felt dizzy and weak, her body floating like she was on a cloud, heading towards an unknown journey.

When the bus arrived at the family compound, Chen Baozhen was waiting at the entrance. Qin Yao felt relieved. She got off the bus, about to give her best friend a warm hug, when suddenly, an enormous hand grabbed her shoulder like an iron clamp and yanked her aside.

Gu Cheng stood between them, like a towering river separating the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

“Yaoyao!” Chen Baozhen stomped her foot in frustration. Oh, it was so infuriating.

Qin Yao wanted to reach out to grab her hand. “Baozhen!”

Gu Cheng grabbed his little mushroom’s hand firmly, determined not to let any other mushrooms take advantage. He coldly said, “Teacher Chen, I’m taking my wife home. The house isn’t tidied up today, so we’re not receiving guests.”

Chen Baozhen widened her eyes. “Yaoyao, tonight Old Gao is on duty and won’t be home. I want to sleep with you.”

Qin Yao replied, “I want to sleep with you too!”

Gu Cheng sneered, his face expressionless. “I don’t want to.”

The few sisters-in-law nearby, seeing the three of them, burst out laughing, with one teasing, “When Old Gao and Commander Gu aren’t home, you two best friends can sleep together.”

“Even if the men are away for a long time, there’s no shortage of people to keep the bed warm.”

…

When Chen Baozhen heard this, she laughed. She adopted a roundabout approach: “Yaoyao, when Commander Gu isn’t home, I’ll come sleep at your place, or you can come sleep at mine.”

Qin Yao nodded. “Sure, we can even eat together.”

Gu Cheng couldn’t listen to this anymore. He grabbed Qin Yao and led her toward their new home, almost carrying her like a little chick. Chen Baozhen followed behind, bidding them farewell.

“Yaoyao, we’ll be able to meet often now…” Chen Baozhen dreamed of a happy future.

Qin Yao cooperated and said, “How’s the garlic and onion at your place growing?”

Chen Baozhen shamelessly replied, “If there’s no garlic at my place, I’ll come over to pick some from yours.”

Gu Cheng’s face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. “I will never allow anyone to touch a single thread in my house.”

Qin Yao laughed at Gu Cheng’s reaction.

She thought to herself that they had just moved into their new home, and it was still a “wasteland.” Where would they have garlic and onions for someone to pick?

It wasn’t until Gu Cheng brought her to a lush green yard that she saw several small vegetables growing. There were tomatoes and eggplants bearing fruit, and a few pots of flowers hanging under the eaves, all full of vitality.

“Commander Gu, you’re back?” Standing in the yard next door was Political Commissar Zhou’s wife, Zaohua. Zaohua was a petite, withered woman who smiled kindly. She was a very capable, traditional woman, who took care of household affairs. She was a child bride chosen by Political Commissar Zhou’s mother.

“Thank you, Sister Zaohua,” Gu Cheng nodded and introduced her to Qin Yao.

The house’s previous owner had only moved out recently, so the vegetables were still growing in the yard. Zaohua helped manage everything, and the plants thrived under her care.

Zaohua praised Qin Yao several times. But when her gaze turned to Chen Baozhen, her smile faltered, and a hint of wariness appeared in her eyes.

Chen Baozhen was the music teacher of Zaohua’s daughter, Jia Jia. Since Chen Baozhen married into the compound, Jia Jia often mentioned her teacher’s name, even performing harmonica tunes for the family while mentioning how Teacher Chen praised her musical talent…

At first, Zaohua didn’t think much of it, but as Jia Jia brought it up more often, she grew uncomfortable. Why did a girl need to learn music? An instrument? It didn’t sound proper.

Girls should be diligent, take care of the housework, and be ready for marriage.

Chen Baozhen wasn’t well-regarded in the compound. Zaohua forbade her daughter from mentioning Chen Baozhen at home, worried that she might pick up bad habits.

When Gu Cheng married and moved next door, Zaohua was initially happy. But now, seeing Qin Yao with this “troublemaker” beside her, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Would this dangerous teacher frequently come over?

*

Chen Baozhen didn’t stay long. Qin Yao and Gu Cheng continued unpacking in their new home. Gu Cheng had arranged for a bunch of wooden furniture to be delivered, which was piled up in the living room. The two of them began by setting up the master bedroom, placing the bed, a desk, a vanity, a wardrobe, and two tall cabinets.

The two-story house had a simple frame, not many rooms, but each room was spacious. The master bedroom was the largest. Even after placing the furniture, there was still plenty of open space, and they could even add a bamboo bed.

At this time, most families had many children, and each family had different circumstances. That’s why large rooms were popular, allowing families to make their own divisions. The master bedroom where Qin Yao stood could be divided into three or even four rooms in the capital.

The capital was crowded, and some newlywed couples could make a home with just a couple of square meters. People fought for every inch of space.

Her older brother and sister-in-law, as well as her second brother and his wife, all lived in small, partitioned spaces.

While making the bed, Qin Yao’s mind wandered. She wasn’t very hungry that night, barely eating anything. Gu Cheng, on the other hand, had a good appetite and finished an entire pot of rice. Sister Zaohua from next door was worried that they wouldn’t be able to cook after moving into their new home, so she sent over some food. Gu Cheng was not picky and ate it all.

After tidying up the house, Qin Yao changed into her cotton pajamas. She sat on the edge of the bed, with the master bedroom window open. The night breeze was cool and refreshing. The autumn and winter weather on the island wasn’t cold, and there was no need for a fan at night. A thin blanket made her feel incredibly comfortable.

Gu Cheng pushed the door open, took off his military uniform, and wore shorts and a white vest. In those days, men of all ages seemed to wear this outfit at home—white vests or undershirts, thin and see-through, subtly revealing the lines of their skin.

Qin Yao knew these white vests cost only 60 cents each, which was extremely cheap. She had been stunned when she saw the price in the department store.

So, she bought Gu Cheng a dozen, ten pieces for six yuan without any discount. It cost nearly a third of her monthly salary. After buying them, she couldn’t stop laughing. The clothes were the perfect “old man” style.

But when Gu Cheng wore them, they gave off a tight, sexy look.

His muscles were well-proportioned—not too skinny nor too bulky like a bodybuilder—just smooth, flowing lines that reminded Qin Yao of fish she saw at sea, with delicate flesh… Uh, no, no, no.

“Tonight, I’ll sleep in the bed, and you’ll sleep on the floor,” Qin Yao said.

Gu Cheng glanced at the mat on the ground, raising an eyebrow. He didn’t complain, sitting down on the mat. Seeing Qin Yao completely relax, he couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

It wouldn’t be so easy to let you go.

“Well, good night then.” Qin Yao saw that he was sitting obediently on the mat, and her previously tense heart relaxed. Once a person lets their guard down, it’s like a balloon that’s been popped—there’s no getting it back up.

She happily flopped onto the bed, rolling a few times like a mischievous little sea otter. She wrapped herself in the blanket, making it look like a spring roll.

This carefree way of covering herself was a secret skill she’d perfected since childhood.

With her face resting in the pillow, Qin Yao closed her eyes, waiting for the man to turn off the light. Back in the dorm, it was always Zhang Yufei who turned off the light.

She waited for a while, but the light didn’t go out. She couldn’t help but open her eyes and saw Gu Cheng squatting at the edge of the bed, staring at her without blinking.

Qin Yao, feeling a bit awkward, asked, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Gu Cheng blew out a breath and glared at her. “Is this how you’re sleeping?”

“You’ve wrapped yourself up like this, are you guarding against thieves?”

Gu Cheng glanced at the large bundle of blankets on the bed, both amused and exasperated. He wondered if he was going to have to sleep with a spring roll from now on.

“Today, we can take it easy, I won’t rush you. But Yaoyao, we need to clarify something. When will we become a real couple? Do you know what I mean?” Gu Cheng sat beside the bed and leaned down to talk to her. Qin Yao didn’t dare look him in the eyes and instead tilted her head to study his arm.

Qin Yao poked her head out of the blanket and shook it, causing the spring roll to unfold. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and in the soft light, her skin looked delicate, almost like cream. She lowered her gaze, thinking over his words.

“Let’s wait until we get home. We’ll meet our parents first, then have the wedding, and after that, we can move forward.”

Gu Cheng’s eyes were deep, his voice low. “My family is big, and the room is small. After the wedding, can we go to your place and stay in your room?”

“No, no, no,” Qin Yao’s eyes widened. She sat up straight with full energy, remembering the discomfort her sisters-in-law felt, and recalling why she had moved south.

Anyone who’s lived in a partitioned room knows how poor the soundproofing is. When her two sisters-in-law spent time with their husbands at night, the whole family could hear. The noises got louder and louder, but no one dared to speak up.

At most, when things got too extreme, her mother Shen Guixiang would shout, while her father, Qin Chuanrong, slept like a log, snoring louder than the sounds coming from the other room.

Qin Yao didn’t want to experience that kind of awkwardness.

Her house was tiny, and even though Gu Cheng’s house was larger, his parents were there too, which would still be uncomfortable. She was afraid of people eavesdropping.

This place was much better. At least in this small building, only the two of them were here, and no matter how much noise they made, the neighbors wouldn’t hear it clearly.

“It’s better here,” Qin Yao resigned herself.

Gu Cheng suppressed a smile. “Then let’s take advantage of the situation.”

Qin Yao reached up and pinched his handsome face, silently agreeing to his words. Now that they were legally married, there was no point in holding back anymore.

“Be gentle,” she muttered as she slipped under the covers.

Gu Cheng blinked. “I promise.”

With that, he slipped under the blanket too. Soon, the orchid-patterned blanket was tossed to the floor. Qin Yao, embarrassed, reached for the blanket, feeling that it was better to keep covered.

“What do you need a blanket for? As long as you have me, I’ll be your blanket and make sure you don’t catch a cold.”

“Hiss—you bite me.”

…

The next morning, Qin Yao was groggy. Her body felt like it was soaking in a hot spring pool. It was extremely comfortable. She even felt like a little capybara in the hot spring pool, with fresh and fragrant oranges floating around her and an orange on her head, soaking in the hot spring leisurely.

This kind of comfort was addictive.

When she opened her eyes, she realized she was in a warm embrace. The events of last night replayed in her mind, and Qin Yao’s face flushed. She couldn’t help but savor the moment. And there was something she had to admit—Gu Cheng’s legs were very attractive, long and straight.

It was the first time in her life she had seen legs so long. She almost wanted to measure them with a ruler. All three legs were very long.

“You’re awake? Why not sleep a little longer?” Gu Cheng opened his eyes and smiled gently at her.

“I’m hungry,” Qin Yao replied.

Though a literature student, she had the inquisitive nature of an engineering student. She rummaged through the low cabinets and pulled out a red soft tape measure. She asked him to lie down while she measured beside him.

Gu Cheng blinked in confusion.

As a man, he was very open-minded. He leaned back against the bed and let her measure without saying a word.

He didn’t tell Qin Yao that when it came to measurements, he was a professional. His eyes were sharper than a ruler. He had an idea of the size but didn’t expect it to be so soft.

Softer than fresh tofu.

Qin Yao, being his wife, couldn’t help but think—she hadn’t expected it to be this soft.

It felt like a balloon filled with water, soft and squishy, like jelly. It was a little amusing.

She mumbled, “It doesn’t seem as long as I thought. It’s not that big either.”

Gu Cheng, without changing his expression, replied, “Try again.”

The little sponge swelled instantly.

Qin Yao: “!”

Don’t be so wild.

The newlywed couple playfully wrestled in bed for a while. Qin Yao was truly impressed by him. He was so bold in showing off his charm, but she couldn’t do the same. Maybe men were naturally thick-skinned.

After changing clothes, she was hugged from behind. Qin Yao reached up and touched his cheek, and once again, the favorability prompt popped up again, but Qin Yao chose not to look at it as usual.

The favorability system was always fluctuating. Knowing the exact numbers could be troubling. Qin Yao didn’t want to worry about the fluctuating numbers, especially with the person closest to her.

However, after spending twenty-four hours with Chen Baozhen, the favorability rewards were mostly “X-ray vision” skills. But with Gu Cheng, his favorability reward was the “photographic memory” skill.

From this, it can be concluded that Gu Cheng has an incredible memory.

She wasn’t sure if it was the influence of the favorability system, but when she was with Gu Cheng, not only did it not feel uncomfortable, it was actually incredibly pleasant. She woke up this morning without any of the soreness or stiffness that is often described in novels.

Had she known this earlier, she wouldn’t have spent so much time worrying. For her, it only brought benefits, no downsides at all. It could even be described as a blissful paradise.

This could be considered an alternative golden finger, and Qin Yao was thankful that she wasn’t the typical shameless heroine in a romance novel, but rather just an exceptional female supporting character in a period novel.

Qin Yao wasn’t someone who liked to dwell on things, so once she had made up her mind, she wasn’t shy about it. She turned to look at the man behind her, sensing his “little sponge” wasn’t cooperating, and held back the teasing words she was about to say: “Should we do it again?”

After thinking about it, she decided against it. After all, indulging too much wasn’t good, and she wasn’t following a little yellow drama script.

The two of them got up in the morning. Gu Cheng made two bowls of egg noodles. Qin Yao ate half, but couldn’t eat any more. Gu Cheng persuaded her: “Yaoyao, eat more. You’re too thin right now.”

Qin Yao countered: “You’re the one who needs to eat more. If you don’t, when we go home for the New Year, my parents will definitely say you’re too thin. Just a whole rib, how are you supposed to be my husband in the Qin family?”

Gu Cheng took her bowl of noodles and continued eating, amused. “I’m still a rib? They don’t know, but you surely do.”

Qin Yao replied dryly: “My mom thinks you weigh at least two hundred pounds.”

Gu Cheng: “…”