Wen Ci slurped up a mouthful of noodles. “I’m fine with anything.”

After finishing the noodles, Huo Jingyuan began clearing the dishes to wash them. Wen Ci declared firmly, “I’ll wash the dishes. You cooked, so I’ll clean—that’s the rule!”

Wen Ci was from Sichuan and Chongqing.

In her upbringing, it was customary that if one spouse cooked, the other would handle the dishes.

This was the principle Wen Ci had been taught since childhood.

In the evening, an unexpected guest arrived at the Huo household.

Wen Ci was at home watching a black-and-white television. Huo Jingyuan was out handling matters related to the house, leaving Wen Ci alone.

A knock sounded at the door.

Wen Ci went to open it and found Jiang Zhenjun standing there.

He was the biological father of the original host.

“Where’s Huo Jingyuan?” Jiang Zhenjun frowned slightly upon seeing Wen Ci. His entire demeanor exuded the intimidating aura of someone in a position of power. “Are you home alone?”

Wen Ci shrugged. “What else?”

She was unfazed by the authoritative presence of someone like Jiang Zhenjun.

In her past life, she had fought countless infected humans on the battlefield.

Her killing intent was fierce, though now it was well concealed.

Jiang Zhenjun narrowed his eyes at her indifferent attitude and demanded, “I’m your father. What kind of tone and attitude is this?”

Wen Ci smiled, meeting his gaze calmly. “Did you raise me?”

With that one sentence, the atmosphere plummeted to freezing point.

Jiang Zhenjun’s anger dissipated instantly. He softened his stern expression slightly and asked again, “Where’s Huo Jingyuan?”

“No idea,” Wen Ci replied lazily.

“I heard you jumped into the sea during the day?”

Wen Ci grinned. “I call that swimming.”

Suddenly, Wen Ci spotted Huo Jingyuan in the distance, talking to someone. She pointed in that direction. “There, Huo Jingyuan’s over there. Go find him yourself.”

With that, she closed the door.

Hmph. Her so-called father came to put on airs. She’d rather go back to watching the black-and-white TV than waste time chatting with him.

Wen Ci returned to the living room, happily watching the television. In this era, there were very few TV programs available, but the quality was exceptionally high.

Not long after, Wen Ci heard the sound of a key turning in the lock.

From the footsteps in the yard, it sounded like two people.

Wen Ci’s lips twitched. Her so-called father was here too.

“Uncle Jiang, would you like some water? Let me pour you a glass.”

“No need. I just heard that Xiao Ci jumped into the sea, so I came to check on her. Tonight, I’ll treat you to a meal at the state-owned restaurant.”

Huo Jingyuan was about to decline.

“I’d like to go,” Wen Ci’s voice chimed in. She walked to the doorway and looked at the two men in the yard, speaking unhurriedly. “I’ve been in the capital for a while now, but I’ve never eaten at a state-owned restaurant.”

The original host had grown up eating bland, unappetizing meals with little nutritional value. Even after being brought back to the Jiang family, she had never dined at a state-owned restaurant.

Huo Jingyuan agreed. “Then, Uncle Jiang, we’ll see you tonight.”

Jiang Zhenjun glanced at Wen Ci. He felt that his biological daughter had changed somehow. When she was first brought back, she had been cautious, timid, and weak.

But now, all of that was gone.

---

The military compound in the capital was in an extremely prime location. Just outside was a main street, and a six- or seven-minute walk would take them to the city’s state-owned restaurant.

After leaving the compound, Wen Ci couldn’t help but look around. The capital was a true metropolis, though it was different from what she had seen before.

The streets weren’t bustling with traffic, and there were no skyscrapers.

The buildings on either side of the road were mostly red-brick houses, one or two stories tall. Tall trees were planted every few meters along the roadside, though Wen Ci only recognized the willow trees among them.