Chapter 120: A Married Couple Sleeping in Separate Rooms (2)  

He Donglai took a step back, and Song Qingqian saw it clearly.  

Her pupils contracted slightly in an instant.  

The corners of her alluring eyes, which had initially drooped slightly, swiftly lifted again.  

The hesitation and struggle in Song Qingqian’s eyes vanished.  

In just a fleeting moment.  

She returned to being the proud and aloof heiress who always looked down at others with cold arrogance.  

She lifted her chin—no one could tarnish the wings of her self-esteem.  

Song Qingqian’s hand hung behind her back, her fingers tightly gripping a pencil.  

Beneath the seemingly calm surface,  

She was clenching her fingers so tightly that she was nearly breaking the pencil in half.  

Whether it was her exertion or the unease swelling in her chest, Song Qingqian’s fingertips trembled slightly as she held the pencil firmly.  

He Donglai could not see these subtle physical reactions of Song Qingqian.  

But he still noticed the sudden shift in her expression.  

His wife, who had always treated him like a stranger, had unexpectedly waited for him today and even taken the initiative to speak to him—yet… he had ruined it.  

Even with his genius mind, He Donglai could not find the words to describe the regret he felt at this moment.  

All he could do was try to explain as he quickly spoke.  

“I’m dirty, I smell bad.”  

Even so,  

He Donglai still did not tell the truth.  

His gaze flicked toward the lower left corner for a split second before quickly returning to Song Qingqian.  

This was a telltale sign of a guilty conscience.  

The biggest issue with He Donglai was not dirtiness—it was danger.  

Today, soldiers executing a mine-clearing operation had unearthed a bomb in the forest—one they had never seen before.  

The discovery had immediately frightened everyone into stillness, not daring to move recklessly.  

They had quickly dispatched someone to rush over and summon He Donglai.

When He Donglai arrived at the scene, he took one look at the bomb’s external structure and immediately ordered the soldiers to evacuate.  

That was no ordinary bomb.  

It was a biochemical weapon.  

The bomb was not filled with regular explosives but with unknown hazardous chemical substances.  

It could even contain viruses such as the plague, epidemic diseases, or smallpox.  

Even if the bomb were disassembled, without the expertise of a Chemistry Expert and a Pathology Expert, it would be impossible to determine its exact contents.  

But the bomb had already been discovered and unearthed—the vibration had already occurred.  

He Donglai could not just leave it there in the forest.  

If the bomb had sustained any damage or leakage, the harmful viral components could have already contaminated the island’s soil and water sources.  

Soil and water were directly connected to everyone’s survival.  

Thus, He Donglai had no choice but to risk dismantling the bomb’s external structure first, then inspecting the interior to ensure that no viral agents had leaked.  

This work had occupied him for an entire day.  

On his way back just now, the excessive strain on his eyes and brain had caused sharp waves of pain.  

It was only when he saw the lights on that he suddenly felt more alert.  

Because of what had happened during the day, He Donglai could not be certain whether there were still traces of hazardous chemicals on his body.  

Under such circumstances—  

How could he possibly allow Song Qingqian to come near him?  

Let alone touching his clothes—even standing too close and inhaling his scent could risk exposure to residual bacteria.  

If he had not been so reluctant, he would have stepped outside the house entirely.  

Had he known this would happen,  

He would have made sure to take a thorough shower in the Military Camp bathhouse before returning.  

He Donglai bit down in frustration, secretly grinding his teeth.  

Song Qingqian listened to He Donglai’s explanation with a cold expression, showing no visible reaction.  

It was impossible to tell whether she believed him or not.  

However, her gaze swept over his military uniform, scanning it up and down.  

She noticed that the collar of his white shirt was frayed, his sleeves had tiny burn holes—likely from exposure to flames—and the lower part of his pants was even shorter than before.  

Even if He Donglai’s rank was not particularly high, he was still a Company Commander.

Did he not even have a properly fitted military uniform?  

As Song Qingqian continued to observe him, her delicate brows furrowed tightly.  

He Donglai remained standing anxiously.  

The moment he felt Song Qingqian’s gaze land on him, his heartbeat pounded loudly in his chest.  

But before he could savor the brief moment of joy, he immediately noticed the irritation in her knitted brows.  

Had she seen through his lie?  

Perhaps… she despised him now.  

The “phantom” tail behind He Donglai, which had been standing tall, drooped in dejection.  

All because of a single change in Song Qingqian’s expression.  

Due to her upbringing and later career choices, Song Qingqian was particularly attentive to clothing and appearance—not just her own, but also those of the people around her.  

Seeing He Donglai in pants that were visibly too short was unbearable for someone with her level of obsessive precision.  

Forcing herself to look away from his ill-fitting military trousers, Song Qingqian shifted her gaze back to his face.  

He Donglai clearly had refined yet striking features, with a perfectly proportioned physique.  

If he wore gold-rimmed glasses and a custom-made suit from an old tailor in Shanghai City, he would undoubtedly resemble an aristocratic young master from the heart of the bustling metropolis.  

But as he was now…  

At best, he didn’t look bad.  

After all, Song Qingqian still had an appreciation for good looks.  

And—  

She had never forgotten the question buried deep in her heart.  

Did He Donglai truly give up a promising future just to marry her?  

After witnessing his step backward earlier, Song Qingqian no longer had the courage to ask.  

The room was engulfed in an eerie silence.  

In the end, it was Song Qingqian who broke it.  

“That’s for you. Thank you for bringing me the qingtuan before—this is my gift in return.”  

As she spoke—

Song Qingqian pointed to a silver lunchbox placed on the table.  

He Donglai followed the direction of her finger and saw the silver container, but he had no idea what was inside.  

He also did not feel it was appropriate to walk over and check.  

So he could only nod.  

“Alright, thank you.”  

A courteous return gift.  

A polite expression of gratitude.  

This married couple was so distant that they weren’t even friends.  

Perhaps… just tenants under the same roof?  

After speaking, Song Qingqian withdrew her gaze.  

She no longer looked at He Donglai. Instead, she gathered her scribbled-on letter paper and pencil, organizing them neatly before holding them against her chest.  

Then, she turned and headed back to her bedroom.  

Song Qingqian’s bedroom was on the right.  

She walked over in silence, not uttering another word, and gently closed the door behind her.  

That night—  

The brief interaction between He Donglai and Song Qingqian as husband and wife ended just like that.