Chapter 21: Swatting a Mosquito!

Looking at the three dishes and one soup on the table, a faint smile tugged at the corners of He Yunshen’s lips.

Ning Wanwan looked particularly good in that green dress today. He Yunshen found himself staring at her delicate face, momentarily distracted.

Ning Wanwan glanced up, her gaze lingering briefly on the box in He Yunshen’s hand.

“Commander He, you’re back. Sit down and eat. I’ll go get the bowls.”

Xu Cuihua spoke as she briskly made her way into the kitchen.

Once she’d set the table, Xu Cuihua tactfully retreated to eat in the kitchen.

The warm aroma of the food filled the house, stirring an unfamiliar sense of comfort within He Yunshen.

He reached out and placed the box beside Ning Wanwan. “I bought you a porcelain cup. It’s a bit different from your old one. See if you like it.”

Ning Wanwan raised an elegant brow, a bit surprised this annoying man actually kept his word. She’d thought he’d already forgotten about it.

She had been using a large teacup to drink her spiritual spring water these past few days, and it felt like the effect had weakened because of it.

Opening the box, a pristine, translucent cup came into view. Though white, it wasn’t pure white—there was a light pink peach blossom delicately painted on the surface.

Ning Wanwan held the cup up to examine it closely, her eyes full of delight.

“Dad and Mom came by earlier to say goodbye. They said Lanlan’s injuries are quite serious and she needs to return to Beijing for treatment.”

Ning Wanwan merely nodded. She wasn’t the original Ning Wanwan, and she didn’t feel deeply for Fang Shaocheng and his wife. At times, she only tolerated them out of obligation to her identity.

So it was better they left. Otherwise, staying together would have just felt awkward.

“Thanks. I really like the cup.”

“Let’s eat. Try the food, see if it suits your taste, dear sponsor.”

Ning Wanwan carefully put the cup away, then held out her palm to He Yunshen—clearly asking for money.

He Yunshen narrowed his dark eyes slightly. The Ning Wanwan from before would never have asked him for money. Now, she seemed like a total money-grubber.

What was she hiding?

Still, he reached into his pocket and pulled out sixty yuan, placing it in her palm.

Ning Wanwan happily counted the bills.

Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “My parents and Fang Lanlan went back. Don’t you have any thoughts about it?”

He Yunshen took a bite of spicy shredded pork and chewed slowly, a hint of detachment in his eyes.

“They went back. What thoughts should I have?”

Ning Wanwan smiled faintly, putting the money away, her tone carrying the slightest trace of jealousy.

“Lanlan’s gone. Aren’t you sad? Didn’t you like her?”

At her words, He Yunshen suddenly choked and spat out the spinach and egg soup he was drinking.

Even Ning Wanwan didn’t escape unscathed—two bits of yellow egg flower landed on her apple green dress, and her chest was dotted with soup stains.

“He! Yun! Shen!”

Ning Wanwan was furious, gritting her teeth and glaring at the man beside her.

He Yunshen scratched his head apologetically, then quickly got up and fetched a clean towel, bending down to help clean the hem of her dress.

As he wiped, he explained, “What nonsense are you saying? How could I possibly like your sister?”

Ning Wanwan looked suspicious. In the novel, the two were madly in love. She didn’t believe for a second that He Yunshen had zero feelings for Fang Lanlan.

Thinking about the tragic ending of her character in the book, Ning Wanwan’s brows furrowed into a tight line.

“I’m not talking nonsense. You were so attentive and busy helping her—who would believe you didn’t like her?”

“You rescued her like a hero, even helped find her a guesthouse. I say we should just hurry up and get divorced. I don’t mind making it easy for you.”

He Yunshen’s hands paused slightly, a nearly undetectable smile flashing in his eyes.

Then he stood up and, completely oblivious, reached out to wipe Ning Wanwan’s chest.

“Ning Wanwan, are you jealous? She’s your sister. Isn’t it only natural for me to take care of her?”

Ning Wanwan looked down at the large hand on her chest, her eyes widening and her cheeks flushing crimson with shame and anger.

With a loud slap, a crisp mark appeared on He Yunshen’s face.

“Pervert!”

Xu Cuihua, hearing the commotion, walked in—only to be met with the awkward scene. She touched her nose and quickly backed out.

Oh my, what did I just walk in on?

Inside the room, He Yunshen was still dazed from the slap, his hand still hovering awkwardly where he had been cleaning her chest.

The soft, full sensation from earlier flashed through his mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

As Ning Wanwan glared at him, he finally snapped out of it and quickly withdrew his hand, his tanned cheeks instantly turning red.

“Uh… sorry, I really… really didn’t mean it, I…”

Ning Wanwan exhaled deeply, trying to calm her swirling emotions.

She knew He Yunshen probably hadn’t done it on purpose—she had just lashed out in a fit of anger.

“Let’s eat.”

At her words, He Yunshen cautiously glanced at her expression, then sat down like a scolded child, eating his food quietly.

The room was filled with an awkward, suffocating silence.

Ning Wanwan only ate a few bites before losing her appetite. She wheeled herself back to the bedroom and took out a bottle of homemade wound ointment from her space.

The ointment was excellent at reducing swelling and pain, the result of nearly a year of research by her medical team.

After finishing the meal, He Yunshen helped Xu Cuihua clean up. Once he was properly dressed, he got ready to return to the army. He hesitated for a long moment before walking to Ning Wanwan’s door.

“I’m heading back to the base. Call me if you need anything.”

Just then, Ning Wanwan opened the door and handed him the bottle of ointment.

“Apply this in the car. The swelling will go down quickly.”

Then she turned and went back inside.

He Yunshen looked at the small green bottle in his hand. His previously sour mood suddenly lifted, and even the corners of his lips curved up.

In the car, he used the rearview mirror to apply the ointment. The cool, medicinal scent of the green paste spread in the air—it felt cold and refreshing, incredibly soothing.

Commander He was in noticeably high spirits. When he returned to the base, he even canceled the afternoon’s endurance training.

Yang Xugang and the other company commanders were so moved they almost cried.

Back home, Xu Cuihua noticed Ning Wanwan looked like she wanted to say something.

After some hesitation, she asked, “Wanwan, did you and Commander He have a fight?”

Ning Wanwan fiddled casually with her acupuncture kit and shook her head.

“No, nothing like that. There was a mosquito on his face at lunch, and I was just swatting it.”

Then she turned to Xu Cuihua and asked, “Sister-in-law, how have you been feeling lately? Any more headaches after going home?”

At the mention of her headaches, Xu Cuihua’s face lit up with joy she could hardly conceal.

“No more, Wanwan. Ever since you treated me with those needles, I haven’t had a single headache. Your medical skills are truly amazing.”