Chapter 94: First Arrival at the Military Base, Tenderness Towards Beauty

The two went to a traditional breakfast shop renowned for its authentic capital-style morning delicacies.

Lu Yunzheng thoughtfully selected dishes based on Luo Qianyun’s preferences, choosing items she was likely to enjoy.

He picked options like sugar oil cakes, tofu pudding, fried pastries, and braised stew with baked buns.

Of course, there were also peculiar offerings like mung bean milk with fried dough rings, which Luo Qianyun tried out of curiosity but only managed a bite or two.

The fried dough rings were acceptable, but the mung bean milk proved too much for Luo Qianyun, who handed it over to Lu Yunzheng after just one sip.

After breakfast, Lu Yunzheng took her to catch a bus.

There was only one bus serving the military base, primarily used to transport supplies. Family members visiting soldiers or military personnel traveling back and forth had to rely on this bus.

That day, there weren’t many passengers headed to the base, so the bus was only half full.

Lu Yunzheng chose seats near the front for himself and Luo Qianyun. The driver, evidently familiar with Lu Yunzheng, was surprised to see the stunning woman accompanying him.

After all, being a soldier was no ordinary profession, and a beautiful wife could invite temptations during long absences.

Luo Qianyun, unaccustomed to rural buses, found the enclosed space slightly uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Lu Yunzheng seated her by the window and promptly opened it to let in some fresh air, making her feel better.

As she played with Lu Yunzheng’s large hand, Luo Qianyun softly asked, “How long will this ride take?”

“About four hours,” Lu Yunzheng replied.

“Four hours?!” Luo Qianyun exclaimed in surprise, thinking it would take at most two hours.

“The base is in a remote area, so the trip from the city takes longer. If we were driving, it’d be about three hours. The bus takes a bit longer,” Lu Yunzheng explained.

“Then why don’t we drive?” Luo Qianyun asked, puzzled.

“Next time you can drive yourself. But when it comes to visiting the base, the bus is the way to go,” Lu Yunzheng said, helplessly.

With that, Luo Qianyun leaned against him, chatting intermittently, but soon she felt drowsy.

“Go ahead and nap,” Lu Yunzheng said gently.

“Mm…” She rested her head on his shoulder and dozed off, vaguely hearing him talking to someone in her half-sleep.

When she woke up, she found herself nestled in Lu Yunzheng’s arms. The comforting familiarity of his scent explained why she had slept so soundly.

Still groggy, Luo Qianyun stretched lazily in his arms. Seeing this, Lu Yunzheng asked with concern, “Have you been very tired lately?”

“Maybe just a little sleep-deprived…” she admitted, yawning.

She didn’t mention that her sleep had been disrupted by a late-night call from her best friend the night before.

Looking down at her, Lu Yunzheng softly brushed her ear with his fingers, which made her squirm. “Ticklish,” she muttered.

Two heads suddenly peeked out from the seats behind them.

Qian Hu and Bai Minghui exchanged glances and attempted to communicate with hand gestures.

However, their improvised sign language wasn’t exactly effective. Exasperated, Bai Minghui eventually blurted out, “Can’t you understand? I meant—”

He froze mid-sentence, realizing Luo Qianyun was now looking directly at him.

Smiling sheepishly, he raised his hand and said, “Hello, Sister-in-law!”

“What are you guys doing here?” Luo Qianyun asked, puzzled as she sat up straight.

Bai Minghui turned to Lu Yunzheng. “Captain, can we explain?”

“Are you hiding something from me?” Luo Qianyun asked, suspicion rising.

“Not exactly,” Bai Minghui said quickly. “It’s just that when we got on the bus, the captain told me and Hu Zito keep quiet.”

“He was worried we’d disturb your rest,” Qian Hu added.

“The captain is so considerate and protective,” Bai Minghui teased.

“He only dotes on you,” Qian Hu chimed in again.

“I feel bad now, keeping you from chatting,” Luo Qianyun said with a laugh.

“It’s no problem. I’ve been talking so much lately my throat needed a break,” Bai Minghui said.

“Right, he’s been drinking tea all day to soothe his throat,” Qian Hu teased, handing him a thermos.

Taking the thermos, Bai Minghui gulped down a sip, only to nearly choke as the hot water scalded him.

“Qian Hu! Were you trying to burn me alive?!” Bai Minghui sputtered, teary-eyed from the heat.

The group burst into laughter at their antics, and the journey became much livelier.

Thanks to Bai Minghui’s stash of card games like Three Kingdoms Kill, the long bus ride passed quickly.

As they neared the military base, Lu Yunzheng stopped the games and reminded everyone to prepare.

Feeling nervous about visiting such a disciplined place for the first time, Luo Qianyun whispered, “Let me know if there’s anything I shouldn’t do.”

When they finally arrived, she reached for her luggage, but Bai Minghui grabbed it first. “No need, Sister-in-law. We’ve got it covered.”

Lu Yunzheng took her hand and led her off the bus.

The moment her feet touched the ground, a group of soldiers saluted and shouted in unison, “Hello, Sister-in-law!”

Startled by the booming voices, Luo Qianyun froze momentarily.

“Who told you to wait here?” Lu Yunzheng barked. “Back to training, all of you!”

The soldiers groaned in protest but quickly dispersed.

“Why did you punish them?” Luo Qianyun whispered, tugging at his hand.

“They just wanted to see Sister-in-law,” Bai Minghui chimed in with a grin.