Chapter 11

He Bingning timed everything just right. As soon as she had set the food out on the table, only ten minutes later, Gu Huai returned home.

She threw herself into his arms, giving him a big hug, and called out sweetly:

“Hubby~”

Half of Gu Huai’s body went soft at that, but he held himself steady and changed the subject. “Wife, what smells so good?”

He Bingning lifted her little hand to cover his eyes, her voice playful. “I cooked for you. Guess what it is~”

“This fragrance… is it chicken?” Gu Huai asked with a smile.

“Yes! Hubby, you’re so smart. I made chicken drumsticks for you. Am I amazing or what?” He Bingning lifted her face, waiting for praise like a child.

Gu Huai chuckled indulgently and pinched her nose. “Mm, my wife is the best.”

“Heehee~” He Bingning blushed shyly. Even though they were long married and already had two children, the feeling between them was like being in the early days of romance—sweet and fluttery.

“Did you also buy milk?” Gu Huai asked.

Her eyes sparkled. “Milk? No, I didn’t. Hubby, do you want milk?”

“No, it’s just… I smell a milky fragrance.” He grinned.

“Huh? A milky fragrance?” she repeated softly, her face instantly flushing red. She suddenly realized where the scent came from…

She stuck out her tongue, her voice soft and sticky. “Hubby, that smell isn’t milk. It’s from me… I… I…”

Seeing her stammer, Gu Huai thought something was wrong. He grew serious immediately. “What’s the matter?”

“I… it’s just…” She dove into his chest, burying her face there before she dared to continue: “Hubby, the babies don’t need formula anymore. My milk is back.”

Gu Huai froze, then quickly caught on. “How could that be? Are you okay?”

Shaking her head against him, she whispered sweetly: “I only gave birth recently, so I’m still in the nursing period. I think it’s normal…”

Relief washed over him. “That’s good, then.”

“Mm~” She lifted her head, gazing at him. Her husband looked so handsome, and he was so caring—she liked him more with every glance.

“Hubby, I really love our life now. Every night I get to see you, eat dinner together, fall asleep together… I want to stay with you like this forever.”

Gu Huai slipped an arm around her waist, kissed her gently on the forehead, and murmured, “Silly girl.”

“Hubby~” She bit her lip, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “I’m feeling sore from the swelling. Do you… want to check for me~?”

“Where does it hurt?” he asked.

She unfastened the buttons of her blouse. “Here…”

Gu Huai’s breath grew heavy. He was already tired from training all day, but with his delicate little wife teasing him like this, his whole body surged with strength again.

The next moment, He Bingning was pulled into a fierce kiss and pressed onto the bed…

Fortunately, the food wouldn’t spoil.

And if it cooled, so what? It could always be reheated. After a whole day apart, “serious business” with her husband came first—cough, cough.

The two were completely absorbed in each other, unaware of what was happening outside.

Meanwhile, Li Juanjuan had run home crying. Her mother, Auntie Li, thought her daughter had been terribly wronged and quickly asked who had bullied her. Through her sobs, Li Juanjuan only said it was He Bingning.

At that, Auntie Li’s temper flared. She had never liked He Bingning, and now hearing she had bullied her daughter—well, this was something she absolutely could not swallow!

With Officer Li away on duty for several days, Auntie Li took Li Juanjuan by the hand and stormed off to confront her. The military family compound was close-knit; everyone knew everyone’s business. With Auntie Li’s booming voice, plenty of people came out to see what was going on.

The more people gathered, the louder Auntie Li became. Hands on her hips, she shouted:

“Everyone come and judge for yourselves! Look how my poor daughter has been bullied!”

Li Juanjuan had grown up in the compound, and everyone knew her. In their eyes, she was a well-behaved girl who never caused trouble. The Li family had a good reputation too. So with Auntie Li making such a scene, many assumed she must be in the right and wanted to stand up for her.

“Auntie Li, who bullied your girl? Tell us—we’ll all back you up!”

“That’s right! Military families aren’t to be pushed around!”

With people taking her side, Auntie Li’s voice grew even bolder. She jabbed her finger at the air and declared: “It was that He Bingning! She made my daughter cry!”

“He Bingning?” The crowd exchanged looks. True, He Bingning was aloof, not mixing much with the other wives, but no one had ever heard of her picking on anyone.

Besides, she and Li Juanjuan—one a young wife, the other an unmarried girl—barely interacted. How could they have clashed?

Yet Auntie Li sounded so certain, and with Li Juanjuan sobbing beside her, everyone was confused.

At that moment, a middle-aged woman stepped forward and shouted: “It must be He Bingning! Sweet Juanjuan wouldn’t lie. And look at He Bingning—ever since she moved in, has there been a day without drama? Why, just earlier, she was threatening to write a report to the leaders about us! She’s nothing but a troublemaker!”

That set the others off. Jealousy they had long bottled up spilled out in harsh words.

“Oh my! How awful she is! Just because she married well, she struts around so smug. And to think she’d actually report us? Has she gone mad?”

“I heard she comes from a bad background—some capitalist’s daughter! I’m telling you, people like that can’t be trusted. Scheming, restless… She should be grateful she even got to marry a soldier and live here!”

“That’s exactly right!” Auntie Li slapped her thigh. “I’m going to settle this with her right now!”

So, led by Auntie Li, a crowd marched to Gu Huai and He Bingning’s door, shouting for her to come out.

“He Bingning! Come out here!”

“Don’t you dare do wrong and then deny it!”

The noise outside was deafening. Gu Huai moved to get up, but He Bingning’s soft little hand curled around his neck, her voice sticky and coaxing:

“Hubby~ don’t go~”

That one line was lethal. Distracted as he was, Gu Huai instantly sank back into her embrace again. Only after the two were thoroughly spent did they slowly get dressed.

He Bingning went to open the door. Her cheeks were still flushed pink, her eyes dewy and alluring, her whole face glowing like a ripe cherry. Just leaning against the doorframe, she was breathtaking.

The other wives, being married women themselves, instantly guessed what had just happened. A sour sting rose in their hearts. Her husband had barely stepped through the door and she already had him doing that kind of thing—what kind of woman was this? A seductress!

Such a straight-laced young man like Gu Huai, and now he was being led astray by this vixen!

Of course, they didn’t dare say it aloud. After all, He Bingning and Gu Huai were legally married.

“Hello, sisters,” He Bingning greeted them sweetly. “May I ask what business brings you here?”

Auntie Li gave a cold snort. “I don’t care about anything else. I just want to ask—why did you bully my daughter Juanjuan?”