Chapter 32 – Just Watching You Work Gives Me Motivation

“Nanzhi, just answer my questions,” Shen Hongmei commanded assertively.

Gu Nanzhi sounded a bit displeased. “If it’s the girl Zhiyuan likes, then we like her too.”

“Anything else, I’ll talk to you about later.”

Shen Hongmei was shocked. “Nanzhi, don’t tell me Zhiyuan just found some random girl on his own?”

“Watch your mouth,” Gu Nanzhi snapped. “Her grandparents fought on the battlefield against the Japanese. She comes from a proper revolutionary background. Our whole family is very satisfied with her!”

“I’ve got things to do. I’m hanging up.” With a dark expression, Gu Nanzhi ended the call.

Hearing the dial tone, Shen Hongmei widened her eyes. “Gu Nanzhi, did you seriously hang up on me?!”

Fuming, she rolled her eyes and quickly called Shen Yunyun. “Yunyun, bad news!”

“Ning Zhiyuan’s family is very happy with that woman.”

“They say she’s a third-generation revolutionary!”

“A textbook model of a good background!”

Shen Yunyun felt her heart sink to rock bottom.

Did she have no chance anymore?

No!

As long as they weren’t married yet, she still had a shot!

With that thought, she felt a bit better.

“Aunt, I understand. Please keep helping me find out more. If you hear anything, call me.”

“Of course. Just give me a little more time, and I’ll dig up everything about that woman!”

After hanging up, Shen Yunyun couldn’t resist walking over to Ning Zhiyuan and Sang Feiyu’s dorm in the family compound.

It was the only building with a vacant unit, and sure enough, a door that was usually tightly shut was wide open today. Laughter drifted out—pleasant to most ears but irritating to hers.

She hesitated for a moment, then finally gathered her courage and walked in.

“What are you doing here?” Ning Zhiyuan was the first to notice her, his expression clearly spelling out: Not Welcome.

Wu Xiufen was confused. Ning Zhiyuan wasn’t usually warm, but he was at least polite. What was going on today?

Sang Feiyu was the one who calmly asked, “Do you need something from us?”

Shen Yunyun, pretending all was normal, smiled and stepped in. “I heard Zhiyuan-ge applied for a place in the compound, so I came to take a look.”

She looked around the room with fake interest, but her expression froze the moment she saw the festively decorated bed in the bedroom—it was hard to keep up the smile.

As if deliberately, Sang Feiyu invited her in for a better look.

“Aren’t the bedsheets and pillowcases beautiful?”

“Especially that pair of mandarin ducks—so lifelike, the embroidery is top-notch!”

Shen Yunyun’s face turned grim. “They’re… okay.”

“I’ve seen better ones.”

After a pause, she criticized, “Isn’t the bed and wardrobe old? Looks like Zhiyuan-ge doesn’t care much about this marriage.”

Before Sang Feiyu could reply, Wu Xiufen couldn’t take it anymore. “Zhiyuan already arranged for a custom bed and wardrobe—these are just temporary. They’ll be returned to the base later.”

She wanted to add that Ning Zhiyuan even had a custom vanity made but decided it wasn’t her place to say more.

A glint of malice flashed through Shen Yunyun’s eyes but quickly disappeared.

“Really?”

“I’ll come back and check next time.”

Then she changed the topic. “You two haven’t registered your marriage yet. Technically, you shouldn’t be living together, right?”

Sang Feiyu folded her arms and stared at her with amusement. “That’s right. And what exactly is your point?”

“Not trying to lecture,” Shen Yunyun replied with a soft voice. “I just thought—you might be scared to live here alone. Want me to move in temporarily and keep you company?”

She wasn’t being kind. She just wanted an excuse to stay and keep an eye on Sang Feiyu.

Ning Zhiyuan immediately stepped in to decline on Sang Feiyu’s behalf. “No need.”

He didn’t even bother explaining and bluntly showed her the door. “If there’s nothing else, then go. We’re busy and don’t have time to entertain guests.”

Guest Wu Xiufen silently glanced at the glass of water in front of her: …

Even with her thick skin, Shen Yunyun couldn’t stay any longer.

“I’ll come visit another time.”

As soon as she left, Ning Zhiyuan walked out and shut the courtyard gate behind her with obvious irritation—he clearly wanted her gone.

Wu Xiufen finally spoke up. “Comrade Sang, what’s going on?”

Sang Feiyu gave her a concise rundown of everything—how Shen Yunyun tried to swap beds, misunderstood Ning Zhiyuan for tucking her in, and the private things she’d said to her.

After hearing it all, Wu Xiufen’s mouth dropped so wide it could fit an egg. “She’s that kind of person?!”

She originally wanted to ask if Shen Yunyun liked Ning Zhiyuan, but she decided against stirring up trouble between the young couple.

“I’m not sure either,” Sang Feiyu replied.

Just then, Ning Zhiyuan added, “Ignore her.”

“When I’m not home, don’t let her in.”

“Someone like her is likely to harbor bad intentions.”

Wu Xiufen nodded. “Comrade Sang, it’s best if you keep your distance. Don’t let her drag you down.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Sang Feiyu thought, Let’s see who ends up dragging down who.

Wu Xiufen checked the time and stood up. “I need to go cook. Do you two want to eat at my place tonight?”

“No need. Once we finish tidying up, we’ll invite you over for dinner,” Sang Feiyu said with a smile.

“Alright then!”

After seeing her out, Sang Feiyu turned to Ning Zhiyuan. “That Shen Yunyun came here for you.”

“You better be careful when you go out.”

“Especially since we haven’t gotten our marriage certificate yet—I don’t want any nasty rumors going around.”

Ning Zhiyuan promised, “Xiaoyu, don’t worry. I’ll walk the other way when I see her!”

He needed to speed up the marriage process.

Suddenly, he thought of something. “Tomorrow, let’s go to the military hospital for the premarital checkup?”

“And we need to call your grandparents to let them know we’re okay.”

Sang Feiyu replied, “Grandpa and Grandma are probably still on the road to Shanghai. You’d better send a telegram—no need to call.”

“And don’t you have to fast for the checkup?”

Ning Zhiyuan nodded. “We’ll go early in the morning so we won’t be too hungry.”

“Alright.”

Ning Zhiyuan then got busy cleaning the house, wiping down every corner, even the tiny cracks in the windows.

A clean home makes for a happy life.

He was doing his best to make Sang Feiyu’s life better.

Sang Feiyu tried to help, but he gently pressed her into a chair and said, “Just watch me work—it really gives me motivation.”

Resting her chin on one hand, Sang Feiyu was surprised to find Ning Zhiyuan’s little sweet talk even better than the lines from the romance novels.

“Fine, then I’ll be in charge of watching, and you’ll be in charge of working.”

Ning Zhiyuan didn’t hesitate, “Deal!”

“A life like this—just thinking about it gives me hope.”

At that moment, someone called from outside: “Commander Ning, you have a call! Please come quickly!”

Ning Zhiyuan’s face froze. Could something have happened?

“Xiaoyu, I’ll be right back. Stay safe while I’m gone.”

After a quick reminder, he hurried out the door—