Chapter 5: Different!

Just as Zhang Yun came out of the bedroom planning to help Ning Wanwan carry the noodles, she bumped into He Yunshen at the doorway.

“Xiao Ning, Commander He is back. I’ll leave you two now. Come find me for a chat when you’re free, okay…”

She gave He Yunshen a quick greeting, took off her apron, and headed out the door.

He Yunshen’s gaze briefly swept across Ning Wanwan’s forehead, then he strode off to see Zhang Yun out.

Although Ning Wanwan was curious why this dog of a man suddenly turned around and came back again, she didn’t dwell on it. Puffing her cheeks, she carried a bowl of noodles and laboriously made her way to the dining table.

She was practically starving. Before she transmigrated, she had been working overtime in the lab on an empty stomach. After transmigrating, she had spent the entire day running on empty. Her whole body was about to collapse.

Filled with resentment, Ning Wanwan thought: If He Yunshen hadn’t suddenly barged in, she and Sister Zhang Yun would already be enjoying those delicious egg noodles!

When He Yunshen returned to the room, he saw Ning Wanwan eating the egg noodles with a straight face, clearly not wanting to acknowledge his presence.

Smelling the aroma in the room, he secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

He had returned late to the military base at noon and missed lunch at the canteen. He had rushed back, worrying that Ning Wanwan might be hungry.

Yet it seemed like she didn’t need his concern at all and was eating quite contentedly on her own.

The problem was—he hadn’t eaten either…

He Yunshen turned and walked into the kitchen. Seeing there was still a bowl of egg noodles left on the stove, he felt quite pleased.

NingWanwan(internally): Wow, you’re so narcissistic. Don’t tell me you think that was left for you on purpose…

Noticing there was still some broth left in the pot, he didn’t waste it. He found a small bowl, poured the soup out, and brought everything over to the dining table.

Ning Wanwan glanced at him faintly but didn’t say a word. She continued eating slowly.

He Yunshen sat down and casually picked up a mouthful of noodles. A flash of surprise crossed his dark eyes.

He took another big bite, and the joy in his eyes visibly grew, his gaze narrowing slightly.

“Sister Zhang Yun’s cooking is really good. These noodles taste amazing.”

Ning Wanwan couldn’t be bothered to correct him. She gave a nonchalant “mm” and, not wanting to engage further, ate a few more bites before setting down her chopsticks.

Seeing her put down her chopsticks with half a bowl of noodles still left, He Yunshen hesitated for a second.

“Um… are you still eating that?”

Ning Wanwan raised her eyebrows slightly. This dog of a man isn’t thinking of eating her leftovers, is he?

But she didn’t really care. Whether it was feeding a person or a dog, there wasn’t much difference.

At most, the neighbor’s dog, Xiao Hei, would have to go a little hungrier today.

Thinking that, Ning Wanwan shook her head, then turned away from He Yunshen and wheeled herself back into the bedroom.

He Yunshen had been about to help her, but the rejection in her starry eyes stopped him in his tracks.

What on earth is going on with Ning Wanwan?

While pondering this, He Yunshen poured her leftover noodles into his own bowl and began eating heartily, the delicious aroma temporarily calming his jumbled thoughts.

He had to admit, these egg noodles were really good—possibly even tastier than the braised pork from the canteen. The only issue was that there wasn’t quite enough…

As a soldier, he trained hard every day and needed a large amount of food. This little bowl of noodles barely filled half his stomach.

Ning Wanwan (internally): It wasn’t even made for you—what are you being so picky for?

As for eating Ning Wanwan’s leftovers, He Yunshen didn’t think much of it.

Back when they were on missions with no food or water, soldiers had eaten tree bark and grass to survive. Eating someone else’s leftovers was really no big deal.

After wolfing down the food, He Yunshen even took the initiative to clean all the dishes.

Before heading back to the base, he stood by Ning Wanwan’s bedroom door. The bright and spotless room only deepened the puzzlement in his eyes.

In the past, her room had always been a chaotic mess. She’d even keep the curtains drawn in broad daylight.

Of course, given that she’d spent nearly twenty years as a pampered heiress, it was normal that she didn’t know how to manage a household.

After she became paralyzed, her temper worsened. It wasn’t unusual to find shattered glass all over the floor every few days. A clean and bright scene like today’s—he had never seen before.

He figured Zhang Yun must have cleaned up for her. It wouldn’t stay that way for long—she’d be back to her old ways in no time.

Inside the room, Ning Wanwan was completely unaware of the scrutiny. The soft midday sunlight spilled gently around her. A loose strand of hair framed her pale, flawless profile. She looked so languid and beautiful, like a painting.

She casually flipped through the original host’s medical books while thinking about her plans after divorce.

Unbeknownst to her, this serene scene was also being quietly observed by He Yunshen at the door. He stood there for a moment, reluctant to make a sound and disturb it.

He had always known Ning Wanwan was beautiful, but her crazy and dramatic antics had kept him from ever taking her seriously.

But this moment planted a small ripple in his heart.

She really did seem different now—but he couldn’t quite put his finger on how.

He Yunshen glanced at his watch, then quietly slipped out the door and drove back to the base.

Inside the room, Ning Wanwan wearily rubbed her aching temple. Then, with a thought, she entered the space again.

Thankfully, all her precious herbs were still thriving. With these, she could easily live a comfortable life in the 1980s.

She lifted a bottle of spiritual spring water and drank it all in one go. Instantly, the exhaustion in her body vanished. Even her completely numb legs began to feel a faint tingle of soreness.

It seemed the water’s effects were even better than she had anticipated. The day she would walk again was getting closer.

She picked a few rare herbs. With the spiritual water and traditional medicine, her legs would soon be able to run and jump again.

After exiting the space, Ning Wanwan planned to take a trip to the market. Some of the common herbs weren’t available in her space—she’d have to buy them.

While she was at it, she’d pick up some groceries. The original host had always relied on He Yunshen for everything—clothes and meals served without lifting a finger.

But Ning Wanwan wasn’t like that. She was picky about food, and home-cooked meals always tasted best to her.

Following her memory, Ning Wanwan found the original host’s “little treasure box” in the bottom of the wardrobe.

What a stash! Fake heiress or not, the original host had definitely been lucky.

Inside the small red wooden box was over 8,000 yuan in cash, a land deed, and a jade bracelet of decent quality.

The money included 3,600 yuan in dowry from the Fang family when she married, and 4,800 yuan in betrothal gifts from He Yunshen’s mother.

Even though the Fang couple knew Ning Wanwan wasn’t their biological daughter, they had raised her for nearly twenty years. The Fang family was well-off, and they had always doted on her.

They hadn’t even told outsiders about her not being their real daughter. To them, she was their beloved child.

Even when the real daughter, Fang Lanlan, was found, only close family knew. They were afraid Ning Wanwan would feel hurt if it became public.

And yet, even with all of this—the original host still hadn’t been satisfied.