Chapter 56.1

The scalding heat of his breath tickled her ears, making them tingle. Jiang Nian’s body trembled uncontrollably. Her head tilted sideways, trying to avoid Lu Yu. However, her chin was gripped by coarse fingers, forcing her to turn. Her slender neck was forced to arch upwards.

“Mm…”

Lu Yu’s lips carried an irresistible dominance, intertwining with her breath. Jiang Nian’s face flushed instantly, his stubble slightly prickling her, almost feeling oppressive to her.

Lu Yu flipped her over, his strong arms holding her against a nearby cabinet. Then, forcefully, he intruded between her knees. His large hand slipped through her hair and grasped the back of her neck. Watching Jiang Nian’s eyes moistened by arousal, Lu Yu felt a moment of wanting to go further.

He wanted to see her cry, hear her whimpering cries, and hear her calling his name.

But he knew it would scare Jiang Nian.

Lu Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times. He asked her, “Do you miss me?”

Jiang Nian was limp in Lu Yu’s arms, her legs dangling over the edge of the cabinet. She had never imagined sitting on a cabinet in this position one day.

“Do you miss me?” Lu Yu asked again.

There was a dangerous thickness in Jiang Nian’s eyes.

Jiang Nian dared not look into Lu Yu’s eyes, whispering softly with her head bowed, “I do.”

A deep chuckle rumbled in Lu Yu’s throat. He gripped the back of her neck heavily, as if trying to make up for the past month’s absence at this moment.

Jiang Nian gasped for breath, her fingers tightly clutching Lu Yu’s clothes. Suddenly, her hand was held by Lu Yu, who lifted the hem of his shirt to his waist and abdomen, her palm touching his firm abs. Startled, Jiang Nian curled her fingers, and Lu Yu moved away from her lips, whispering in her ear, “Be a little bolder.”

“You can look and touch here.”

Jiang Nian’s face instantly burned with heat.

She didn’t expect that her previous disguise had been completely seen through by Lu Yu, and she was even more surprised that he would openly say it. Jiang Nian had the courage to think but not to act. She wanted to curl her fingers tightly to push Lu Yu away, but his strength was not something she could resist.

“Jiang Nian—”

“Are you home? I’m here to pick up the curtains.”

The window was open, and Chen Fang’s voice came in from outside the courtyard gate. Jiang Nian was startled, quickly trying to pull away from Lu Yu’s grasp.

“Sister Chen is here. Please let go of me first.”

Lu Yu, seeing her struggling fiercely, restrained himself and let her go.

As soon as Jiang Nian’s feet touched the ground, she grabbed the curtains from the bed and dashed out. Her demeanor seemed as if she were fleeing from a wolf behind her. When she reached the courtyard gate, she saw that Lu Yu had propped it shut. She breathed a sigh of relief and opened the gate latch. She saw Sister Chen about to knock on the gate, so she handed over the curtains and smiled, “Sister Chen, I’ve finished embroidering them.”

Chen Fang had been anxious for two days. Now, as she received the curtains and shook them open, she saw a pair of Mandarin ducks embroidered on both sides. The ducks were vividly portrayed, and many people in the quarters had heard that Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law was skilled at embroidery, but no one had truly seen it until today. Chen Fang lovingly stroked the Mandarin ducks and said, “They’re beautiful. You’re very skilled.”

She looked up at Jiang Nian. “Let me tell you, Song Bai shouldn’t just be talking about you as a potential match. He should hurry up and marry you. Your hands are so skillful.”

Jiang Nian: ???

What does she have to do with Song Bai?

How did Song Bai get involved?

Jiang Nian subconsciously turned her head and saw Lu Yu walking out of the house. His brows furrowed like towering mountains. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked Chen Fang in front of Lu Yu, “Sister Chen, where did you hear that I’m dating Deputy Commander Song? You shouldn’t spread such rumors.”

She had feelings for Lu Yu and had already agreed to marry him when the time was right.

Jiang Nian didn’t want to be unjustly labeled as a bad woman for no reason.

Chen Fang paused, looking puzzled at Jiang Nian. “You two aren’t dating?”

“No!.”

She frowned. “Didn’t Song Bai buy you clothes the other day?”

“Mom, Dad is urging you to come home.”

Chen Fang’s eldest son, Tang Yong, ran over holding his sister Tang Fen’s hand. The two children were panting as they ran. “Dad said the Second Uncle is waiting anxiously at home. He wants you to come back quickly.”

“I’m coming.”

Chen Fang said to Jiang Nian, “Thank you for the embroidered curtain. I’ll head back now.”

Jiang Nian: …

Why did she come if she’s just going to make things up?!

For the first time, Jiang Nian felt the urge to curse someone. She closed the courtyard gate in anger and turned around to see Lu Yu standing by the well. His gaze was fixed on her the whole time, making Jiang Nian feel uncomfortable all over. She pursed her lips, about to explain, when Feng Mei peeked over the wall. “Jiang Nian, what did Sister Chen say? Are you dating Song Bai??”

She spoke with a surprised smile on her face.

Jiang Nian: …

She couldn’t contain her anger and turned to Feng Mei, saying, “No, no, no!”

With that, she walked away.

She really didn’t know who started this rumor.

From Feng Mei’s questioning look, it seemed like she had just found out too.

Feng Mei saw Lu Yu in the courtyard and smiled, “Deputy Commander Lu, have you eaten yet?”

Lu Yu’s voice was cold. “Not yet.”

“Meizi, get down from there! Why are you always eavesdropping?”

“I got it.”

Feng Mei turned and glanced at Commander Song, who was sitting by the courtyard, soaking his feet. She jumped off the wooden stump and sat down next to Commander Song. “Hey, did Song Bai really start dating Jiang Nian? Has Song Bai’s team been with you guys this past month? Did he tell you?”

Commander Song glanced sideways at Feng Mei and tutted, “Look at you. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were Song Bai’s real mother, the way you worry.”

Feng Mei: …

She mimicked Commander Song’s stern look and stared at him, “I just want to be Jiang Nian’s sister-in-law. What’s wrong with that? Is that not allowed?”

Commander Song waved his hand, “Go fetch me a footcloth.”

“Go get it yourself.”

Feng Mei went to the kitchen to cook, and she really didn’t bring it back for him. Commander Song raised an eyebrow. “Hey, you tiger lady, Xiangdong, bring me a footcloth!”

“Coming.”

Xiangdong ran out with a footcloth and handed it to Commander Song. Commander Song chuckled, “Missed me?”

Xiangdong nodded. “I did!”

“Hey, my good son, go call Xianghong over. Dad has something delicious for you two.”

Commander Song’s courtyard was lively, contrasting sharply with Jiang Nian’s quiet surroundings.

Jiang Nian went to the kitchen to fetch meat and vegetables. She heard the sound of water in the courtyard. She wanted to explain, but she was afraid that people outside the courtyard would hear about her relationship with Lu Yu. She absentmindedly chopped the vegetables and meat and prepared to light the fire at the stove when Lu Yu walked in.

“I’ll light the fire.”

Lu Yu sat down at the stove and swiftly kindled the fire. The orange flames flickered on his cold and handsome face. His brows were tightly knitted, and he wore a white shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a prominent Adam’s apple. His stubble added a hint of wildness to his cold demeanor.

“I’m not dating Song Bai.”

Jiang Nian explained quietly.

She bit her lip and lowered her head, pouring oil into the pot. “The clothes were bought for me by Sister Ge.”

Lu Yu lifted his gaze to Jiang Nian, who felt uneasy under his scrutiny. “I’m telling the truth. During the month you were away, I never met Song Bai once.”

Lu Yu lowered his eyes to add firewood to the stove. “I know. The Third Regiment has been with us the whole time.”

He just hadn’t expected Jiang Nian to feel the need to explain to him.

The eerie silence filled the kitchen, interrupted only by the sizzling sound when the meat hit the pan.

As Jiang Nian cooked, she glanced at Lu Yu’s expression.

She didn’t know if Lu Yu believed her, but she had explained everything she needed to.

Dinner was prepared quietly. Neither of them spoke until the meal was ready. Jiang Nian seemed to be holding onto some frustration, though she didn’t know exactly why she was so upset. She was inexplicably accused of dating someone else, and the more she thought about it, the more furious she became.

Jiang Nian walked out into the yard with a plate in hand, while Lu Yu brought out the remaining dishes, holding chopsticks.

The two sat in the yard eating. Jiang Nian ate with her head down. Suddenly, there were a few more pieces of meat in her bowl. When she looked up, she met Lu Yu’s gaze. “Eat more meat,” he said.

Jiang Nian felt her eyes welling up inexplicably.

She lowered her head to hide the moisture in her eyes and rice in her mouth, mumbling a vague “mm.”

Next door, Tang Ze knocked on the door. “Sister Feng, I’m getting married tomorrow. Your whole family is invited for dinner.”

Feng Mei smiled, “We won’t stand on ceremony then.”

“Sister-in-law.”

Lu Yu reached over and rubbed Jiang Nian’s head. “Look at me.”

Jiang Nian hesitated. Her eyes were red, and she didn’t want Lu Yu to see. She shook her head gently. “I’m eating.”

“Deputy Commander Lu—”

Tang Ze knocked on their door, and Lu Yu glanced at Jiang Nian, whose face was buried in her bowl. He got up to open the courtyard gate. Tang Ze smiled, “I’m getting married tomorrow. Bring your sister-in-law and come over for dinner. I still need to inform a few other comrades. I’ll take my leave.”

There weren’t many people he was informing for this wedding, just a few close comrades.

Lu Yu nodded. “Alright, we’ll come over tomorrow.”