Chapter 1: Rebirth, Joining the Army

The green train clattered along the tracks.

Shen Liwu jolted awake. Wasn’t she already dead?

In her past life, she had believed the slanderous words of her stepsister, who claimed that Zhou Yanjing was a terrible person and badmouthed him constantly.

She and Zhou Yanjing were childhood betrothed—their marriage arranged by their grandfathers. After they got married, she devoted herself entirely to her medical career. Because she disliked Zhou Yanjing, she did her best to avoid him. If he was in the south, she would go north. If he went north, she would head west.

In the end, she went to a battlefield hospital. The conditions at the front were terrible—war raging, smoke and dust everywhere, and the air thick with the stench of gunpowder. In the instant a bomb exploded, a tall figure pounced on her and shielded her with his body.

At that moment, the entire world seemed to fall silent. Only the two of them remained—his steady breathing close to her ear.

Amidst the thick smoke, he used the last of his strength to speak:

“Wu Wu, how could you treat me like this… I never did anything wrong…

Please, just like me once… Just once, okay? Stop hiding from me… please!”

His mouth was full of blood, yet he was still pleading.

Dust and tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but she could feel the sorrow and despair in his voice.

“Wu Wu… This time… I probably won’t get another chance. I never even got to call you my wife…”

Shen Liwu finally found her voice through the shock and softly cried, “Zhou Yanjing?”

Her voice trembled with sobs. Before she could react again, another bomb exploded, sending them flying. She watched as Zhou Yanjing was blasted far from her—

And after that, she saw nothing.

She had been reborn!

Shen Liwu stared out the train window at the scenery rushing past. She remembered now—this was the first day she married Zhou Yanjing. Back then, she had believed her stepsister’s words and thought Zhou Yanjing was hypocritical and two-faced. She wore a sour expression throughout the wedding, full of unwillingness.

She had lied to her family, claiming she was going to join the army, when in fact, she went to work up north—just to avoid Zhou Yanjing.

But it had only taken two months before he caught up with her. Despite his special position and how hard it was to get a transfer, he still managed to follow her.

Thinking of that moment when the bomb sent them flying, Shen Liwu closed her eyes and made a decision in her heart.

At the next stop, she got off the train and bought a ticket to Wenshan Garrison.

In her past life, she’d been biased against Zhou Yanjing because of her stepsister’s lies. This time, she wanted to see with her own eyes, to listen with her own ears.

She also wanted to give herself and Zhou Yanjing a chance. If nothing else, to repay him—for his protection.

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Wenshan Garrison

After getting off the train, Shen Liwu went straight to the military camp. At the entrance, she was stopped by a soldier on duty:

“Hello, may I ask what your business is?”

“I’m here to see Zhou Yanjing. I’m his… wife, Shen Liwu. I’ve come to join him as a military spouse.”

She handed over her identification.

The soldier glanced at it, then looked again in surprise and delight. So this is the Captain’s wife? She’s even prettier than the rumors said!

“Ah, so you’re the Captain’s wife! I’m one of the soldiers under Captain Zhou. He’s currently at the training field. How about I take you to the family housing area and send someone to call him back?”

“Alright.” Shen Liwu nodded politely.

“I’m Xu Hu, ma’am. You can just call me Huzi.” Xu Hu led her to the family compound. “This is your home now. The door’s not locked—go on in. The Captain will be back soon.”

Shen Liwu looked around at the little house that now belonged to her and Zhou Yanjing and thanked Xu Hu, “Thank you for bringing me. I didn’t bring much with me, but I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

Xu Hu scratched his head with a big grin. “No need for that, ma’am! It’s my honor to escort you here—others didn’t even get the chance!”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shen Liwu waited until Xu Hu left, then pushed the door open and stepped into the courtyard.

The house was a single-story building with a small yard, freshly renovated and looking almost new.

The soil in the yard had been turned over, leaving a neat path paved with small stones. It had a homey, lived-in feel.

She stepped inside. The living room held a new sofa set, tiled floors, and a painting on the wall in a style she liked. It all seemed to reflect her preferences.

There were two rooms: a secondary bedroom and the master. The guest room had a bookshelf with only a few books, and two desks placed side by side—one with an old chair, the other with a nicer one and a cushion.

The master bedroom had a large bed, a vanity, and a wardrobe.

On the nightstand stood their wedding photo.

Shen Liwu felt a wave of emotion. In her past life, she had left under the pretense of joining the army, only to flee up north. How must Zhou Yanjing have felt, putting this home together and learning that she had gone north?

At that moment, a slightly breathless male voice called out:

“Liwu!”

She turned toward the sound. A man stood at the doorway in a green military uniform, his cropped hair revealing a strong, handsome face with sharp features. His arms hung at his sides, long legs standing straight and tall.

This was her husband, Zhou Yanjing.

This was him in his youth—a man both handsome and resolute.

“Yanjing.”

Shen Liwu looked up at him. He was tall—at least 185 cm.

“You came a day late. I waited for you at the station all day yesterday. How did you get here? Are you tired? Want some water? I finished renovating the house. I was saving the furniture shopping to do together—wanted to see what you liked.”

Zhou Yanjing rattled off his concerns in one breath. He’d waited all day at the train station the day before, but she never showed. He’d been deeply disappointed.

Especially when he learned she’d changed her ticket and gone north—it had made him feel even worse.

He knew she didn’t like him. On their wedding night, she’d locked him out. After the wedding, she stayed at her family home and avoided all contact with him.

She had kept her distance from the very beginning. Zhou Yanjing had felt helpless and defeated.

Shen Liwu forced a small smile—one that looked more like she was about to cry.

“Sorry, I boarded late and missed the train, so I arrived a day late.”

In her past life, he had waited in vain. She didn’t know if he’d been angry.

Zhou Yanjing saw how pale she looked and reached out to touch her face. But remembering she didn’t like being touched by him, he stopped his hand mid-air and slowly pulled it back.

He didn’t call out her lie, assuming she was just tired. His voice softened. “It’s alright. You’re here now—that’s what matters.”