Font Size:
That night, the whole family sat down together for dinner.
After getting their marriage certificate, Jiang Zhi Ning and Song Yuzhou had discussed it and decided to return to the military compound the next day.
After all, there were still three children waiting back there—it wasn’t appropriate to stay away too long.
Lin Chunmei and Shen Guochao kept piling food onto Jiang Zhi Ning’s plate. She looked at the mountain of food in front of her, her eyes filled with amusement.
“Zhi Ning, once you get to the military compound, you’ll need to get along well with the neighbors,” Lin Chunmei advised. “That way, if anything comes up, you can help each other out.”
Jiang Zhi Ning smiled a little awkwardly. “We’ll see. As long as no one messes with me, I’m easy to get along with. But I really don’t like being pushed around.”
This was the 1980s, after all—just like in the original book. In that story, Shen An’an married Sheng Hao and also lived in the military compound.
She remembered that there were quite a few nosy neighbors and gossip-loving military wives.
Whether or not she clashed with Shen An’an in the future, she definitely wasn’t going to let herself be bullied by those aunties.
“You won’t have to be,” Song Yuzhou said calmly.
Jiang Zhi Ning turned to look at him and teased playfully, “Comrade Yuzhou, I might cause you some trouble in the future. Don’t regret it.”
“I won’t,” he replied seriously.
From the moment she went straight to the public security bureau to report a crime, Song Yuzhou knew that even though Jiang Zhi Ning seemed gentle on the outside, deep down, she wasn’t the kind of woman who would let others walk all over her.
Hearing their exchange, Lin Chunmei grew even more fond of Song Yuzhou and said warmly, “With Commander Song taking care of you, we feel at ease.”
“Yes, and if you have time, come back and visit,” Shen Guochao added slowly.
“I will. You can also come visit us anytime,” Jiang Zhi Ning said with a grin. “I’ll have Comrade Yuzhou give you a proper welcome.”
Mentioned by name, Song Yuzhou nodded. “Alright. You’re Zhi Ning’s parents, so you’re my parents too.”
“Good, good. Now eat before the food gets cold.”
After dinner, Shen Yueyue went to do the dishes while Jiang Zhi Ning stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the night sky.
In the countryside of the 1980s, the air was cool at night—but her heart felt warm.
“What are you thinking about?” a deep, rich voice came from behind her.
She turned to see Song Yuzhou. “Nothing much. Just thinking.”
He looked at her quietly.
“Comrade Yuzhou,” she said, “I once had a dream. In that dream, I lived in another world. I was an orphan and grew up in an orphanage. I had no family, no friends—just me, living alone.”
As she spoke, she lifted her gaze to the bright moon in the sky.
Song Yuzhou stared at her side profile, sensing the sorrow in her eyes.
“In the dream, I thought I was used to being alone. I thought I didn’t feel sadness, didn’t crave anything. But in truth, I wasn’t unaffected—I was just so disappointed with life that I stopped hoping,” Jiang Zhi Ning said, lowering her eyes.
Suddenly, a cool palm took hold of hers.
She turned and saw that Song Yuzhou was holding her hand.
“That was just a dream,” he said gently.
Jiang Zhi Ning gave him a soft smile. “Mm.”
Since the version of her in that world had already died, she might as well live this life to the fullest.
“It’s getting chilly. Let’s go inside,” she said with a laugh, skipping toward the house.
Back inside, she turned to talk to Song Yuzhou and was surprised to find that his shirt was torn.
“Comrade Yuzhou, your shirt’s ripped. Want me to patch it for you?” she offered with a smile.
“I can do it myself,” he replied.
She lifted her chin proudly. “No way. You’re a married man now—you’ve got a wife to help you.”
Before he could protest, she started undressing him.
Since he was only wearing a shirt, he ended up bare-chested once she took it off.
Song Yuzhou looked a little embarrassed.
“Don’t be shy, Comrade Yuzhou,” Jiang Zhi Ning teased. “Forget just your chest—one day I’ll be seeing your butt too.”
His face flushed bright red.
Jiang Zhi Ning giggled and ran off to borrow a sewing kit from Lin Chunmei.
Once everything was ready, she entered her “dutiful wife” mode.
Sitting at the small table, she lowered her head and threaded the needle with concentration.
Song Yuzhou stood nearby, silently watching her beautiful face.
Ten minutes later, Jiang Zhi Ning frowned. “Why does this look… off?”
Song Yuzhou glanced down at the shirt.
It was covered in uneven, messy stitches.
“Does it look ugly?” she asked, covering her face.
Even though she had studied fashion design, she hadn’t mastered the skill of sewing by hand. And after entering the workforce, she had even fewer chances to practice.
“Yeah… it’s pretty ugly,” Song Yuzhou said honestly.
Jiang Zhi Ning twitched. “Then I’ll undo it.”
“No need,” he stopped her.
“But it’s so ugly! People will laugh at you.”
“It’s fine,” he said, putting the shirt back on.
She looked at his expression and joked, “You look pretty happy.”
“It’s the first time anyone’s ever sewn something for me,” he said truthfully.
“Huh? What about your mom?” she asked in surprise.
“My mom was in poor health. She passed away when I was very young. My dad died during the famine. After that, my older brother took me to the army,” Song Yuzhou explained simply.
Hearing him speak so calmly about his past made her heart ache.
She opened her arms and hugged him. “You’re not alone anymore. You have me. And the kids.”
Feeling the warmth of her embrace, Song Yuzhou slowly lifted his hand and gently placed it on the back of her head. “Okay.”
Two once-cold hearts were now warming each other.
“But next time, I’ll do it myself,” he suddenly said.
Jiang Zhi Ning looked up. “What, you don’t trust my skills?”
“You never had to do these things growing up. Now that you’re married to me, you still don’t have to. Just taking care of the kids is already more than enough,” he said sincerely.
He didn’t marry her to have a live-in maid.
Thinking about it, she realized her practical skills were indeed kind of lacking.
“Alright then. I’ll work on being a qualified stepmom,” she said with a smile.
“Okay.”
Under the soft, amber glow of the lamp, the warmth between them turned intimate.
Jiang Zhi Ning blinked her long eyelashes, gazing up at him.
Song Yuzhou’s heartbeat suddenly quickened as the light flickered across her face.
Her already-beautiful features now looked even more enchanting. Her captivating eyes were full of emotion, drawing him in irresistibly.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. Suddenly, he had the urge to kiss her.
And with that thought, he slowly leaned in—inch by inch—toward her lips.