Chapter 45 Come in and sleep.

A nearby older woman saw that she was going too far and quickly covered her mouth. She whispered, “Hey, Aunt Gao, you’re saying too much! That young comrade Jiang is still so young, you shouldn’t be spreading this around! This is her privacy!”

“I know, I know, but we’re all women here—what’s there to be afraid of when we discuss… But tell me, do you think that delicate little Jiang can handle Battalion Commander Fu?”

“Commander Fu’s all muscle and knots, hahaha… strong like a tiger…”

The voices of the women faded away as they walked off. Standing under the tree, Fu Jingchuan felt a buzzing in his head. He didn’t know which part of his body suddenly flared up with heat that rushed through his limbs and bones. His throat felt dry, and his scalp tingled.

His Adam’s apple bobbed twice as a vivid image flashed through his mind: the girl’s graceful and slender figure, wearing only a pure white cotton camisole dress, curled up on the bed, clutching her own arms in her sleep.

Fu Jingchuan’s rough fingertips twitched abruptly. He quickly shut his eyes and silently cursed. What nonsense was he thinking? Could it be what those kids were saying? That he was so pent up he was going crazy?

Jiang Wan finally finished her bath, changed into fresh clothes, and carried her small bundle out. Her damp black hair dripped water at the temples.

She looked up and immediately spotted that tall, majestic figure standing under the dark tree. Blushing, she walked over softly and said, “Fu Jingchuan, I’m done now.”

“Let’s go home.”

Jiang Wan guessed he’d been waiting for her a long time and felt a little shy. Her voice was soft and tender, slightly nasal after the bath.

That little spark of fire inside Fu Jingchuan flared up again.

His dark eyes, deeper than the night, turned as he answered with a low “Mm.”

He lifted his leg and strode forward.

“Let’s go.”

He lowered his thick, black lashes, restraining himself from looking at Jiang Wan, deliberately slowing his pace so she wouldn’t fall behind.

After getting home, Jiang Wan felt tired. That hot bath was incredibly comforting. All she wanted now was to crawl into bed and have a good sleep.

Fu Jingchuan’s mind was a mess; he’d forgotten that Fu Chen was still in the woodshed.

After locking the door, he went to push the woodshed door.

He pushed once—no luck. The bolt was still latched inside.

His brows furrowed sharply. He raised a hand and knocked on the door.

“… Chenchen, are you asleep?”

“… No!”

Fu Chen wanted to pretend he was asleep, but he feared that if he said nothing, Fu Jingchuan would just go back to the army and sleep there. After all, Fu Jingchuan hardly came home and mostly slept at the barracks.

If that happened, Fu Chen and Xiao Yan’s plan would be ruined. The barracks isn’t Dad’s home!

“Not asleep—open the door,” Fu Jingchuan stood waiting at the door.

“No, I want to sleep alone tonight! I’m mad and in a bad mood!”

“…”

Fu Jingchuan moved his lips, helplessly: “Chenchen, stop it. Your sister will be scared sleeping alone.”

“I’m not scared!”

From inside, Xiao Yan squatted behind the door and shouted, “I’m not scared—big brother is!”

She frowned, thinking hard about what Fu Chen had taught her earlier:

“He said he still feels weak—that he’s not fully recovered!”

“Hmph, I don’t care! Let him suffer!”

“…”

Fu Jingchuan’s face tightened, his thin lips pressed together. He’d never been so troubled before, no matter how complex the situation.

Two kids quarreling. Fu Chen not feeling well, refusing to sleep.

He couldn’t just go back to the army and leave them.

What to do?

Fu Jingchuan sighed silently, looked around the spacious courtyard, and after a moment’s thought, decided to find a straw mat in the kitchen to sleep on the ground.

Fu Chen, hearing the yard fall silent, grew nervous.

He quietly slipped out a window, peeked through the door crack, afraid Fu Jingchuan would just return to the army!

Instead, he saw Fu Jingchuan carrying out a straw mat from the kitchen, preparing to sleep on the floor!

Fu Chen’s heart raced as he called out in a childish voice, “Hey! Dad! Why are you sleeping on the floor?”

“You go sleep with Aunt Jiang! Aunt Zhao sleeps with Uncle Gao!”

“Fu Chen!”

Fu Jingchuan just crouched down and suddenly stiffened.

His ears burned hot as he frowned deeply and angrily snapped, his voice tight and throat dry.

Meanwhile, in the main house, Jiang Wan heard all of this.

She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly opened the door.

“…”

Fu Jingchuan crouched on the ground, his strong and majestic figure bowed under the moonlight like a dangerous, wild beast hidden in the forest.

His narrow, dark phoenix eyes caught a streak of silver moonlight but were quickly swallowed by darkness.

“Come in and sleep.”

Jiang Wan wasn’t sure how much courage it took to say that.

She remembered what Sister Yulan said and couldn’t help but agree.

They were married, after all—living apart wasn’t right.

But even though she’d planned to take the initiative to ‘conquer’ him, actually speaking those words to sleep together was really hard.

Tonight’s situation could be seen as an opportunity. As his wife, she definitely couldn’t just watch her own man sleep out in the yard.

“…”

Having said those words, Jiang Wan felt like steam was rising from her head. After forcing out that sentence, her pale cherry-colored lips pressed tightly together. Her delicate hand gripped the door frame, unconsciously tightening until her slender fingertips turned white.

Fu Jingchuan stared at her for a long moment. Naturally, he noticed her embarrassment and awkwardness now. The pounding of his heartbeat echoed loudly in his chest, but he understood that if he still refused in this situation, it would just make the young lady lose face.

Fine. At worst, he’d sleep on the sofa.

Fu Jingchuan slowly got up and stepped toward Jiang Wan without a word, his throat feeling tight.

Once inside, he glanced at the sofa and then lay down on it by himself.

“Close the door.”

There was hardly any light in the room; the bedroom was better, with some moonlight shining in, but the little living room was truly dim.

Fu Jingchuan’s voice sounded especially rough and hoarse just then.

Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment, then closed the door.

She glanced over and saw that Fu Jingchuan, nearly 1.9 meters tall with a strong, muscular body, looked really cramped lying on the little sofa that was barely over 1.5 meters long.

She couldn’t help but furrow her delicate brows.

Jiang Wan was shy, but she couldn’t help thinking this rough man was a bit too gentlemanly. She was his legally wedded wife — officially his. Yet he would rather squeeze uncomfortably on this small sofa than sleep next to her?

Her long lashes trembled as she suddenly remembered how she had cried that day and made him flustered.

In the darkness, she silently curled her lips into a smile, then pretended to sob softly twice.

“Fu Jingchuan… do you have some kind of grievance against me?”