Chapter 20: Missing You

Lin Yiqiao bent down slightly, smiling. “I came to hang out with him.”

She didn’t wait to see Zhao Xinxin’s reaction and turned to leave.

She couldn’t afford to get involved in the Zhao family’s mess right now. She still didn’t know how much weight Zhao Hui carried in Qi Jun’s heart. She had to fully lock him down in the next few days before dealing with that.

On her way back, she ran into a few military family members. Lin Yiqiao just greeted them all warmly. For now, she didn’t plan on revealing her relationship with Qi Jun.

Today had honestly been a moment of impulsiveness—she had kind of forced Qi Jun into dating her. But then again, if he didn’t want to, who could actually force him?

The urgent task now was to get close to him—once she figured him out, everything would be under her control.

She walked quickly home. Qian Ru had already finished cooking.

“Auntie, didn’t we agree I’d make dinner today?” Lin Yiqiao rushed to help serve.

“It doesn’t matter who cooks,” Qian Ru said as she untied her apron, smiling.

Zhang Guoqiang wasn’t home that night, so it was just the two of them eating together.

Qian Ru had made stir-fried spicy pork, Lin Yiqiao’s favorite—spicy and flavorful. She paired it with a big steamed bun and ate with great appetite.

Qian Ru glanced at her, then cautiously opened her mouth. “Yiyi, I saw you went to Commander Qi’s house today.”

Lin Yiqiao nearly choked. She quickly swallowed her mouthful of stir-fry. “Auntie, actually… I’m dating Qi Jun now.”

“What?!”

Although Qian Ru had her suspicions, she hadn’t expected that Lin Yiqiao had already started a relationship with him.

“What exactly happened? Tell me clearly.”

Qian Ru looked serious, and Lin Yiqiao could guess what she was thinking.

“Auntie, don’t worry. I haven’t done anything improper. We’re just dating, like normal.”

Qian Ru still looked a little skeptical. “Then how did it even happen between you two?”

Lin Yiqiao didn’t like people pressing her for details—not even close family.

She gave a vague explanation to brush Qian Ru off. When she couldn’t fend her off anymore, she ran straight upstairs.

Lying on the clean, soft bed, Lin Yiqiao finally felt relaxed.

She knew what she was doing, and she knew exactly what she wanted.

Truthfully, she did quite like Qi Jun. And when she liked something, she got it—that was her life philosophy.

She understood what her aunt meant: she had nothing—no background, no money. What could she possibly use to be with someone like Qi Jun? In Qian Ru’s eyes, she didn’t deserve him.

But so what? What’s this talk about being worthy or not? All men are the same—Lin Yiqiao understood them too well.

Whether Qi Jun was just momentarily caught up or just having fun, she wasn’t going to let him off easy.

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The next morning, Lin Yiqiao got up early and packed her bags. Her vacation was almost over—she had to return to the army today.

She didn’t know how long Qi Jun would be injured, so she needed to go “warm things up” while she still could.

She avoided people on her way to Qi Jun’s house.

She knocked, and to her surprise, Qi Jun opened the door himself.

She immediately stepped forward. “Why are you up? Go lie back down!”

“I’m injured, not crippled.”

“Don’t say that! Knock on wood!” Lin Yiqiao glared at him, looking like a puffed-up little kitten.

“Alright, I won’t say it again,” Qi Jun replied, eyes dark as ink, fixed on her.

He put his arm around her shoulders. Lin Yiqiao glanced up at him—his expression was calm. They walked into the little building together.

“Are you alone here today?”

She looked at the empty living room. The television was on—in color.

“Yeah, the others went back for now.” Qi Jun sat on the sofa.

Lin Yiqiao followed and sat beside him. “This is a color TV!” Her bright eyes lit up as she stared at the screen in wonder.

Qi Jun looked at her in profile and smiled. “Come here to watch whenever you want.”

“Okay.” She linked arms with his strong, muscular one and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m going back to the army soon,” she paused for a few seconds, then looked up at him, her slim nose brushing his cheek, “Will you miss me?”

Qi Jun looked at her. “Yes.”

Lin Yiqiao stared at him for a moment, then turned away, softly huffing, “Hmph.”

“I’ll miss you too,” she muttered after a long pause, face flushed red with embarrassment.