Chapter 18

Song Si’s limpid, jet-black eyes stared at Lu Yanchén.

[So fierce! Is he being fierce with me?]

[Hmph, just one phone call and he’s changed!]

Lu Yanchén paused.

That inner voice—could it sound any more aggrieved?

He remembered the last time she talked about her previous life, her inner voice had sounded exactly the same.

Their eyes met. Suddenly, he reached out, pulled her into his arms, wrapped her tightly in the quilt, and just stared at her quietly.

Song Si blinked. “???”

[What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?]
[He seems… kind of gentle? Am I imagining things?]
[Don’t do this. My heart’s thumping like crazy!]

As she thought this, she reached up to touch the spot over her heart.

Lu Yanchén looked down at her hand, and his gaze caught on the two small chest pockets of her army green shirt…

It was obvious—she wasn’t wearing a bra!

His eyes lingered for a moment, Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“From now on, only I get to see you like this.”

Song Si: “Oh.”

Her chest suddenly felt full, tight, and she didn’t know what to say—she was at a loss for words.

She looked up at Lu Yanchén, her gaze unusually quiet.

[What exactly is going on now?]
[Are we sure that phone call wasn’t something serious?]

Lu Yanchén touched her slightly cold calves and feet.
“That was just a call from Mom earlier—asking if we’re doing well. Nothing more.”

Song Si: “R-Really?”

[No way, Lu Yanchén is definitely not telling the truth!]
[If I were Lu Yanchén’s mom and had a daughter-in-law like me—treating her son like trash—no way would I care about some childhood engagement or life-saving debt. I’d have kicked her out long ago, maybe even cursed her into oblivion!]

Hearing this, Lu Yanchén couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Song Si was confused. “You… what are you laughing at?”

Lu Yanchén replied, “Nothing, just suddenly thought of something funny.”

He said it lightly, but his dark eyes on her face held a soft glow.

So, she did know how awful she used to be?
Well, at least she had some self-awareness.

He had been in a gloomy mood after arguing with his mother, but now, everything suddenly felt lighter.

Song Si asked, “What funny thing?”

Lu Yanchén replied, “Not telling you.”

He placed her—still wrapped in the quilt—against the headboard.
“I’ll go get a basin of hot water so you can soak your feet. Don’t want you catching a cold.”

Song Si couldn’t respond.

[He was just being so stern, and now he’s suddenly being all gentle?]
[Seriously? Even men are this moody these days? Flipping moods faster than flipping a book!]

“Lu Yanchén, did your mom really not say anything?”

Hearing both her inner voice and her question, Lu Yanchén froze as he picked up the basin.

That was the first time she’d called his mother “Mom.”
Before, she always called her “Aunt He.”

It wasn’t like how he called her “Aunt Li”—Song Si genuinely disliked his mom, clearly keeping her at a distance.

Standing up straight, Lu Yanchén said casually,
“Si Si, there’s a holiday during Qingming. I’ll ask my commander for leave—how about we go stay with my parents for a few days?”

Song Si nodded cheerfully. “Sure!”

Lu Yanchén froze reflexively.

She wasn’t the only one surprised—he wasn’t used to this new version of her either.

In the past, she would’ve flat-out refused and probably said something nasty.

Even though she had changed a lot lately, he hadn’t expected her to agree so quickly.

Noticing his expression, Song Si curled her toes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Lu Yanchén suddenly felt a peaceful warmth. He said softly, “Nothing. Just making sure we’re agreed.”

Carrying the washbasin, he stepped outside.

Only after he walked off did Song Si process what had just happened.

So, the original Song Si had never wanted to meet her in-laws? Not even lived with them after marriage?

This might be tough.
How should she go about winning over the in-laws?

The original host was so spoiled—it might be hell-level difficulty to turn her in-laws into allies!

Soon, Lu Yanchén came back, added cold water to the basin, then poured in hot water from a thermos, testing the temperature before setting it at her feet. He naturally took hold of her foot and started rubbing it.

“Back when I was deployed in the wild, I learned some acupressure techniques. Helps ward off the cold.”

Song Si: “Oh.”

[What do I do? I feel like I’m floating?]
[Lu Yanchén is seriously such a good man!]

After rubbing her feet, he placed them in the basin, letting the warm water cover her fair ankles.
“Soak for a bit.”

He stood up, dried his hands, and fetched a towel.

Song Si asked softly, “Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?”

Lu Yanchén countered, “Aren’t you my wife?”

Song Si: “……”

She couldn’t speak—but her heart skipped a beat.

[I didn’t date anyone in my last life and died tragically. Have I actually found true love after reincarnating?]

True love?

Lu Yanchén suddenly realized something:
Hearing her inner thoughts from time to time was unexpectedly entertaining.

Even if he didn’t fully understand everything, he figured he’d leave it to time.

Song Si said, “The water’s getting cold.”

Lu Yanchén sat on the bed, picked her up, set her to one side, and placed her legs over his.
“Since today was our first time, your legs probably feel sore, right? I’ll massage them.”

Song Si: “Yeah. You know how to do that too?”

Lu Yanchén: “Mm. It’s all part of survival training—essential skills.”

He began massaging her calves.

Song Si sat there quietly, watching him.

[So comfortable! His technique feels so professional!]
[Ugh! That system is totally unreliable. How could a man like this not be the male lead? Now it’s too late to switch! No way I’m giving the real female lead a chance!]

Lu Yanchén’s massage techniques grew even more refined and targeted.

About ten minutes later, he placed her legs aside.
“Time to brush your teeth?”

Song Si: “Mm.”

He fetched warm water and her toothbrush.
“Spit into the footbath—I’ll empty it later.”

Song Si: “Okay!”

The conditions were a bit rough, and brushing her teeth like this felt unfamiliar—but she actually felt a sense of happiness she’d never experienced in her previous life.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she cuddled under the quilt and looked at Lu Yanchén.
“Can you get me the almond cream I bought today?”

Lu Yanchén: “Mm.”

Seeing her applying it to her face, he stepped out to wash clothes.

Half an hour later, he came back to see Song Si still awake, staring at him with big eyes.
“I thought you said you were tired. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Song Si: “Waiting for you.”

Lu Yanchén looked at her and felt something different.

So this was what Vice Commander Zhang was always bragging about—“a warm bed, a wife, and a kid”?

Speaking of which, he was still missing a kid.

Commander Chen was right—he really should start putting in some effort.

He undressed and got into bed, pulling Song Si into his arms.
“The bed’s small—it’ll be a tight fit. We’ll have to sleep like this.”

Song Si: “Oh.”

She nestled into his chest, wrapping one arm around his waist.

Lu Yanchén reached for the light cord.

The next second, a soft pair of lips suddenly pressed against his.

His whole body tensed—and he tightened his arms around her waist.