Chapter 96 : Fragrant and Soft

“Liu Hong! What nonsense are you talking about?” Yan Yixing looked extremely embarrassed.  

Both were wives, but Su Ranran was not only beautiful and sensible, but also highly capable. She had already gained recognition for growing chrysanthemums, and now she was about to cultivate water spinach using hydroponics. If successful, it would cause a huge sensation.  

And his own wife?  

All she did was urge him to abuse his privileges, and when he refused, she resorted to tears.  

Now, she was being even more unreasonable and speaking nonsense.  

Liu Hong, already feeling wronged due to her injury and Yan Yixing’s scolding, was further enraged upon hearing him praise another woman while harshly reprimanding her. She couldn’t suppress the anger boiling inside her.  

“Am I wrong? Don’t you just think Su Ranran is beautiful? Her husband is right here, and you’re still praising her…”  

Before she could finish, Shen He cut her off.  

“Sister-in-law, watch your words!”  

His voice was sharp, and his eyes were chillingly cold.  

The term “sister-in-law” was uttered without the slightest hint of courtesy, only undisguised disgust.  

Liu Hong was taken aback.  

Shen He had been on the battlefield, and the imposing aura of his cold demeanor made her shiver involuntarily.  

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words got stuck in her throat.  

Shen He continued to look at her icily and spoke again.  

“Everyone in the army knows that Commander Yan is the most upright person. Your words not only insult my wife but also your own husband. If you’re a wise person, you should know what to say and what not to say.”  

Su Ranran was the person he cherished the most, and Shen He wouldn’t tolerate any words that tarnished her reputation.  

His words made Yan Yixing feel even more ashamed.  

As a commander, having a wife like this made him feel humiliated.  

Even so, he still had to protect her dignity in front of others.  

With a face full of embarrassment and apology, Yan Yixing quickly pulled Shen He aside, trying to defuse the situation.  

“Old Shen, I’m really sorry. My wife was frightened by the typhoon yesterday, and she’s been talking nonsense today. You should head back first, I’ll come find you later.”  

While apologizing, Yan Yixing ushered Shen He out.  

Liu Hong stood frozen, staring at their retreating figures, her expression twisted in resentment.  

—

When Shen He returned home, his face appeared calm, but Su Ranran immediately sensed that something was off.  

“What’s wrong? Didn’t they approve the report? Do you need me to write a more detailed technical report and try again?”  

Su Ranran had just finished eating and showering, and she was drying her long, thick, wet hair.  

Shen He noticed that she was wiping it inefficiently, as if her hands were too tired, so he stepped forward and reached for the towel.  

“I’ll do it.”  

Hearing this, Su Ranran didn’t refuse and handed the towel over without hesitation.  

Shen He took the towel and began drying her hair clumsily. Her black, silky hair slipped through his fingers, releasing a unique fragrance that instantly calmed him down.  

The lingering frustration in his heart slowly melted away.  

“There’s no issue with the report. You can start soaking the seeds in advance.”

The seeds need to be soaked overnight and then wrapped in a wet cloth to soften their outer shell.  

Su Ranran planned to carry out the germination process directly in her special space.  

In fact, while Shen He was out earlier, she had already soaked the seeds in water.  

As for the source of the water spinach seeds, it was easy to explain. After all, she was studying this technology herself, and water spinach was abundant in the Shuiqiao Brigade. It was perfectly reasonable for her to have prepared vegetable seeds in advance.  

Listening to her soft voice, excitedly talking about her plans, Shen He’s eyes were incredibly gentle.  

Under his fingertips, her silky hair slipped through like a flowing stream, fragrant and soft, tangling itself around his heart.  

Su Ranran’s pajamas were quite ordinary today, but the fabric was soft and smooth, subtly outlining her delicate figure with every movement.  

Especially from his angle, the faint curve of her collarbone was barely visible, making his hands feel clumsy and stiff.  

“Hiss!”  

Su Ranran couldn’t help but suck in a breath as a sharp pain shot through her scalp.  

Shen He tensed up immediately.  

“Did I hurt you?”  

Seeing her scrunched-up face, Shen He felt a pang of guilt. He had been trying to be as gentle as possible, afraid of using too much force, yet he still ended up hurting her.  

Su Ranran shook her head. “You’re doing just fine.”  

She understood that he was naturally strong and had never dried such long hair before, so it was inevitable that he couldn’t control his strength well. How could she blame him?  

Feeling bad for accidentally hurting her, Shen He became even more cautious, gradually getting the hang of it.  

Whether it was exhaustion from cleaning the house earlier or the comfort of his touch, Su Ranran soon felt drowsy. Eventually, she leaned into him without hesitation.  

With her eyes closed, she allowed him to continue tending to her hair.  

Shen He: …  

The woman in his arms smelled sweet and felt soft, completely relying on him.  

Who could resist such a moment?  

Yet she seemed completely unaware, simply leaning against him obediently.  

As he continued drying her hair, her entire body unconsciously pressed against him.  

Shen He’s breathing grew heavier.  

“Ranran?”  

He called softly, but the only response he got was her sleepy mumbling and a gentle nuzzle against his chest.  

His heart melted instantly.  

After a moment’s pause, he adjusted her position slightly, half-embracing her, and continued drying her hair patiently.  

The person leaning against him had already fallen asleep.  

Looking down at her rosy, sleeping face, Shen He felt a surge of warmth but had nowhere to release it.  

A trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes. In the end, he lowered his head, planted a soft kiss on her forehead, and carefully carried her to the bed.  

Just as he tucked her in under the blanket, an excited voice sounded from outside.  

“Old Shen, are you here?”  

Hearing Cao Zhifang’s voice, Shen He instinctively glanced at Su Ranran. Seeing that she was still sound asleep, he breathed a sigh of relief.  

Quietly closing the door, he walked towards the entrance.  

As soon as he stepped outside, Cao Zhifang said with envy, “Old Shen, I never expected your wife to be so capable!”  

Cao Zhifang had initially thought that Su Ranran was just a pretty educated youth, but who knew she had so much talent?  

Just the fact that she managed to grow chrysanthemums on the island was impressive enough.  

Shen He smiled without saying anything, but the pride on his face was undeniable.  

Yan Yixing, who had come along with Cao Zhifang, remained uncharacteristically silent.