Hu Lili’s older brother, Hu Jianjun, flushed red with anger in an instant and reached out to snatch the paper and pen from Su Tang’s hands.  

“Stop making a fuss over nothing. Are you really trying to steal food from the soldiers?”  

“Put away your spoiled young lady act—this isn’t Shanghai!”  

As soon as he finished speaking, the gazes of the other family members in the cafeteria turned toward them, and hushed whispers spread like a rising tide.  

At first, no one had known Su Tang’s background, but with Hu Jianjun’s loud outburst, everyone knew now.  

Su Tang felt the eyes on her from all directions and tightened her grip on the pen.  

Just because she came from a questionable background, did that mean she deserved to be bullied?  

Did that mean she didn’t even deserve a proper meal?  

With that thought, she nimbly sidestepped Hu Jianjun’s grab, the tip of her pen scratching swiftly across the paper.  

“Comrade Hu, abusing your authority to withhold food rations is a serious disciplinary violation.”  

Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear.  

Carrying the soft, delicate lilt typical of a Shanghai girl, her tone was now icy enough to freeze.  

Su Tang’s amber eyes burned with fury.  

“Lu Xiao defends our country. If his own family can’t even get a hot meal, how do you think that would make people feel?”  

“The fact that I could marry Lu Xiao proves there’s nothing wrong with me. I’ve submitted my monthly ideological reports on time, and the leadership hasn’t raised any objections. Who are you to bully me here?”  

Her words struck like a hammer, silencing everyone present.  

A few of the older soldiers’ wives exchanged glances, their faces showing hints of guilt.  

Hu Jianjun, stung by her words, slammed his hand against the serving window in anger. “Don’t you dare use Lu Xiao to pressure me! He’s just a—”  

“Just a what?”  

A deep, cold voice suddenly came from the cafeteria entrance.  

Lu Xiao had returned at some point, his clothes dust-covered and sweat beading at his temples, but he stood tall and straight, his presence so icy it could freeze the air.  

Hu Jianjun’s voice immediately weakened. “C-Captain Lu, I was just following the rules…”  

“Following the rules?”  

Lu Xiao strode forward, his gaze sweeping over the meager bun in Su Tang’s bowl and the tightly shut pot lid.  

“Su Tang paid with her ration coupons, yet you withheld her food. What kind of rule is that?”  

“Aren’t you afraid the leadership will find out about this?”  

Hu Jianjun froze, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.  

Only then did Su Tang notice that Lu Xiao’s right hand was clenched into a fist, his knuckles white—he was restraining his fury.  

The family members around them began murmuring, and a few wives who had been bullied by the Hu siblings before subtly gave Su Tang a thumbs-up.  

Who would’ve thought this delicate, fair-skinned young lady could hold her own like this?  

Not only did she argue logically, but her words were also undeniably justified.  

“Captain Lu, I was wrong. I—I’ll apologize to Comrade Su…”  

Hu Jianjun didn’t want to lose his job over this.  

This job had been earned with his parents’ lives—if he lost it, he’d truly have nothing left.  

Trembling, Hu Jianjun lifted the pot lid and scooped a bowl of stewed cabbage for Su Tang.  

But Su Tang didn’t take it. Instead, she turned to Lu Xiao. “Should we report this to the leadership?”  

She deliberately emphasized the words “report to the leadership,” catching the way Hu Jianjun’s face paled in her peripheral vision.  

Lu Xiao paused, his eyes scanning Hu Jianjun’s panicked expression before finally shaking his head. “Don’t let it happen again.”  

He tucked the ration coupons back into his pocket and took Su Tang’s bowl. “Let’s eat first.”

Only then did Su Tang notice the dried bloodstains on his sleeve cuffs, which made her heart clench despite their faded appearance.  

After bidding farewell to Zhang Cui, Su Tang followed Lu Xiao back to their quarters.  

Along the way, she hesitated several times to ask about the wound on his hand, afraid of prying into his private matters.  

“Just a scratch. It’s nothing.”  

As if sensing her lingering gaze, he turned his head slightly and spoke to her.  

“About the canteen incident… you were wronged.”  

Su Tang lowered her head and said softly, “I should be the one apologizing. I caused you trouble.”  

Earlier at the entrance, Hu Lili had warned her—if she came to the family quarters, she’d only bring Lu Xiao trouble.  

Because no one here liked her.  

Yet Lu Xiao hadn’t treated her as a burden. Instead, he’d given her a shelter from the storm.  

“Let me treat your wound.”  

Su Tang turned to fetch the first aid kit. Seeing Lu Xiao still seated, she quickly added, “I studied clinical medicine in England. Don’t worry.”  

“It’s best not to mention things like that in the future.”  

As Su Tang unwrapped the cotton balls and iodine, preparing to clean the wound, Lu Xiao’s words made her pause.  

A beat later, she realized what he meant and nodded lightly.  

“I understand.”  

He was referring to her overseas education.  

She reached out and took his hand, examining the gash.  

“You call this a scratch?”  

His pain tolerance was astonishing. If left untreated, this wound would surely get infected.  

“Just a minor injury.”  

Lu Xiao replied indifferently, then turned his face away, visibly uncomfortable.  

Especially with Su Tang sitting on the chair, leaning forward to inspect his wound.  

He didn’t know what she wore, but there was always a faint, elusive fragrance about her—  

A scent that inexplicably unsettled him, muddling his thoughts.  

“All done. Try not to get it wet these next few days.”  

After bandaging his hand, Su Tang packed up the supplies.  

From the books she’d read, she knew Lu Xiao had participated in the events of 1950—back then, he was only eleven.  

In her modern life, she’d read books, watched films and dramas.  

So she knew just how harsh the conditions had been back then.  

Lu Xiao’s hands and arms bore numerous scars.  

And… traces of frostbite.  

As she returned the first aid kit to the cabinet, Su Tang caught a glimpse of Lu Xiao absently rubbing the faded red string around his wrist—its knot clumsy, as if tied by a child.  

She suddenly remembered the original host’s snide remark about Lu Xiao being “uncouth,” and her chest tightened.  

“That red string on your wrist…”  

The words slipped out before she realized their impropriety. Flustered, she busied herself with organizing the medical supplies.  

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”  

Lu Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as his calloused fingers brushed the knot. “Picked it up in Hanchong when I was a kid. The day I found it was the first time I touched that steel beast.”  

“Back then, I thought as long as I had this red string, even the King of Hell wouldn’t dare claim me.”  

He rarely shared this part of his past. He’d been young then, but tall for his age, so he lied about his age to enlist.  

He’d dreamed of becoming a hero, but when the moment came, he was terrified.  

And it was his cowardice that got the kindest squad leader killed.  

Ever since, Lu Xiao had lived by his squad leader’s final words:  

“Think thrice before you act.”

Hearing this rough, stoic man speak of such memories with unexpected softness eased Su Tang’s nervousness.  

“Lu Xiao, you are a hero.”  

“The food will get cold if we don’t eat soon.”  

Lu Xiao met Su Tang’s smiling eyes, her praise sending an inexplicable flutter through his chest.  

Even the tips of his ears turned faintly pink.  

It was just an ordinary compliment—so why did it fill him with such foolish pride?