Chapter 21: The Captain Is So Stingy

“Hello,” Ye Muqi greeted with a smile from inside the vehicle.

Just moments ago, from afar, she had thought the two of them looked a bit intimidating, but now that she saw them up close looking all dumbfounded, they actually seemed kind of cute.

Even though they were soldiers, they were just young guys in their early twenties.

“H-hello, hi…” Lin Zihua quickly responded, sitting in the driver’s seat. He stole several glances at Ye Muqi through the rearview mirror, his whole face turning red.

This young lady was really pretty. When she smiled, her eyes sparkled, and her curved brows and bright expression made it impossible to look away.

Yin Daquan, in the passenger seat, kept turning around now and then to sneak glances at her as well.

A girl who came along with the Captain couldn’t possibly be ordinary!

“My name is Ye Muqi.”

“I-I’m Lin Zihua, a soldier under Captain Rong!” Lin Zihua introduced himself shyly from the driver’s seat, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid of scaring the delicate fairy sitting behind him.

She looked like someone who could be knocked out with a single punch. He even worried that speaking too loudly might make her cry.

“I’m Yin Daquan, also under the Captain’s leadership,” Yin Daquan said softly too.

In the military, they were always surrounded by men. When they weren’t training, they were en route to training. The few women they encountered were either female soldiers—who were all rather rough, like the guys—or military family members, all of whom were already taken.

They had never seen a girl as stunning as Ye Muqi.

And she smiled at them! That alone made both young men blush in embarrassment.

“Do you guys want some tangerines?” Ye Muqi thought for a moment, then offered them the bag she had left.

Since they were Rong Jingchen’s soldiers, she wanted to leave a good impression.

“Uh…”

Tangerines from the little fairy!

Of course they wanted them—but…

They weren’t sure if Captain Rong would approve.

“Don’t be shy,” Ye Muqi said as she reached out to hand a few to Yin Daquan in the front seat. Her fair, delicate hand formed a stark contrast against their sun-darkened skin.

“Thank you.” Yin Daquan carefully reached out, making sure not to touch her hand.

Tangerines from a fairy must be the sweetest!

Rong Jingchen: “……”

He was sitting right next to Ye Muqi, glancing toward the front seat, his eyes fixed on her outstretched hand as she passed the fruit.

He hadn’t paid much attention before, but when he saw Yin Daquan’s hand next to hers, he realized just how fair her skin was.

But that made sense—her parents had always pampered her.

“Rong Jingchen, do you want more tangerines or would you prefer a peach?” Ye Muqi asked, noticing his gaze.

Back on the train, she had noticed he seemed to prefer the fruit she took from her space, especially the peaches.

“Peach,” Rong Jingchen answered without hesitation.

“Okay.” Ye Muqi smiled knowingly and handed him a peach—washed with the spring water from the tap in her space.

When Rong Jingchen took it, their hands brushed briefly before pulling away like lightning.

The two other guys silently exchanged glances. Suddenly, the tangerines in their hands didn’t taste so sweet anymore…

“Still feeling car sick?” Rong Jingchen asked as he saw Ye Muqi peeling another tangerine.

After a whole day together, he had started to think she was indeed as delicate as she looked, someone who needed to be carefully looked after.

“I’m fine now.” Ye Muqi shook her head.

Rong Jingchen was reassured and quietly ate his peach beside her.

Meanwhile, Lin Zihua kept watching them through the rearview mirror, and things started to click in his mind.

Even if the two looked a bit distant, their subtle interactions made it clear their relationship wasn’t simple.

And knowing their Captain’s personality—there’s no way he’d bring a random woman to the base!

Everyone in the unit knew Rong Jingchen was married. After all, he had submitted a report before registering the marriage. At the time, everyone was shocked—the always stern Captain had suddenly gotten married.

After the surprise wore off, they waited eagerly for wedding candies… which never came!

He didn’t even mention the marriage again.

In fact, ever since that report, he had stayed on base all year, not taking a single leave or going home once—nothing like a married man.

Naturally, the guys began to wonder: Was the woman he married unattractive or something? Why else would Captain Rong never talk about her, let alone bring her back?

And honestly, what kind of man gets married and just stays on base for a whole year?

“Are you the wife our Captain married last year?” Lin Zihua finally couldn’t resist asking.

“……”

Ye Muqi glanced at Rong Jingchen beside her.

Since he had brought her to the military base and they’d be living in the family compound, she was clearly here as his spouse.

“Yes,” Ye Muqi nodded.

Both Lin Zihua and Yin Daquan lit up with excitement after hearing the fairy confirm it.

“Captain, no wonder you never said anything—you’ve got such a gorgeous wife, of course you’d keep her hidden,” Lin Zihua said, thrilled.

Thank goodness they came to pick him up today, or they wouldn’t have gotten to witness this juicy gossip!

“Exactly! If you’d brought her earlier, no one would’ve kept saying you married someone ugly!” Yin Daquan blurted out, saying exactly what he was thinking.

“Now that you’ve brought her here, the guys are going to be stunned. Who would’ve thought our Captain married a beautiful little fairy!” Yin Daquan chuckled, eager to get back to the base.

“You guys don’t have to say it like that (ω)…” Ye Muqi blushed from the compliments.

Seeing the fairy’s pink cheeks, Yin Daquan was dumbfounded, and Lin Zihua couldn’t stop staring at her in the rearview mirror. If he weren’t driving, he’d probably be acting just like Yin Daquan.

Even her blushing was adorable!

Damn, so jealous of the Captain!

Where did he find such a stunning little wife? Could he introduce someone to them, too?

“Ahem.” Rong Jingchen cleared his throat, clearly displeased with the way the two were staring at Ye Muqi. His gaze sharpened. “Xiao Lin, focus on driving.”

“……” Sensing their Captain’s warning, Yin Daquan quietly turned his head back around and didn’t look at Ye Muqi again.

The car fell silent after that single sentence from Rong Jingchen.

Lin Zihua kept driving, silently thinking to himself:

Turns out the Captain is this stingy. They were just talking to his wife, geez!