Chapter 5 – From Now On, I’ll Be the One Cooking at Home

Shen Liwu nodded and turned to follow Zhou Yanjing to the car.

She sat in the passenger seat. The scenery outside the window sped by, sunlight streaming through the glass, warm against her face. Her fingers absentmindedly rubbed the edge of her seatbelt, while her mind was busy calculating how the days ahead would go.

Zhou Yanjing gripped the steering wheel, eyes focused on the road. Every so often, he glanced sideways at Shen Liwu. Seeing her thoughtful expression, he wondered—was she regretting this?

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the military family housing complex. The sound of the engine shutting off was especially clear in the quiet air. Zhou Yanjing unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at her.

“We’re here,” he said softly.

“Oh!”

The two got out of the car. Zhou Yanjing walked around to the trunk and started taking out their things.

“Let me carry something too.”

Zhou Yanjing blocked her with his body. “No need. You go open the door.”

Shen Liwu didn’t argue. Someone had to open the door anyway.

She unlocked the door while Zhou Yanjing came in with several bags in hand. He walked steadily and set everything down in the living room one by one.

“I’ll carry the rest. You figure out where things should go.”

“Alright.”

With a clear division of labor, they had everything sorted in no time. Standing in the middle of the living room, Shen Liwu looked around. The once-empty house now carried a faint sense of life. A strange sense of contentment welled up in her chest, and her lips curved upward without her realizing it.

Zhou Yanjing walked out of the kitchen holding two glasses of warm water and handed one to her.

“Rest if you’re tired. I’ll take care of the rest.”

She took the glass, the warmth from it spreading through her fingertips and into her body.

Taking a small sip, she looked up and asked, “How’s that sister-in-law from yesterday?”

Zhou Yanjing knew she was talking about Sister Wu. He replied, “Thanks to your quick reaction and the timely surgery, she’s fine now. She should be able to leave the hospital once she recovers a bit more.”

“Good. Let’s visit her in a few days when we have time.”

“Mm, we’ll do as you say.” He nodded, his gaze softening, a trace of warmth flickering in his eyes.

If she cared about the people around him, it meant she really did want to live a proper life with him. That was a good sign.

He added, “You rest for a bit. I’ll go cook lunch. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”

Shen Liwu didn’t argue and went to the bedroom to unpack.

She walked to the wardrobe, pulled open a drawer, and started folding the new clothes she’d bought, placing them neatly inside.

Her hands stilled when her eyes landed on a photo frame on the nightstand. It was their wedding photo. Zhou Yanjing wore a neatly pressed military uniform in it, his expression serious but with a faint smile in his eyes. She, on the other hand, looked detached, even a little reluctant.

“If only I could go back to before the wedding,” Shen Liwu murmured. Back then, all she felt toward the marriage was resistance. But now, this photo had become something precious to her.

When she had time, she wanted to take more photos—lots and lots of them, each one filled with happy smiles.

After finishing tidying up the clothes, she stepped out of the bedroom. From the kitchen came the clanging of a spatula hitting the wok, and the aroma of food wafted through the air.

Leaning against the doorframe, she quietly watched Zhou Yanjing’s busy figure. His movements were quick and practiced, his shoulders broad and his posture tall—like a sturdy pine tree.

“Need any help?” she asked softly.

He turned his head and said, “No need, I’m almost done. You just wait.”

Shen Liwu stayed leaning by the door, her eyes resting on his back. Steam rose from the stove, the sizzling of oil echoed in the kitchen, and the scent of scallions filled the room, making her stomach rumble with hunger. Zhou Yanjing moved skillfully, stirring the food in the wok with one hand.

He’s handsome and a great cook—bonus points.

Zhou Yanjing placed the last dish on the table and turned to see Shen Liwu still leaning against the doorframe, her gaze soft as she looked at him.

“Time to eat,” he said gently, his voice carrying a trace of barely noticeable warmth.

He walked over and took Shen Liwu’s hand, guiding it into the basin of water. “I know you like things clean. Hands should be washed before meals.”

He gently rubbed her little finger, thinking to himself: She didn’t pull away.

Shen Liwu’s fingers trembled slightly in his palm. The water temperature was just right—warm, but not scalding. His fingers were rough, calloused from years of holding a gun, and the friction against her soft skin created an odd, tingling sensation. She looked down at their intertwined hands in the flowing water, and an inexplicable flutter rose in her chest.

“I’m not a child. I know how to wash my own hands.” She was already twenty-three—what adult needed someone to wash their hands for them?

But she still let Zhou Yanjing fuss over her.

“I might like cleanliness, but I can also endure harsh environments when I need to.”

In her past life, she had hidden away in the mountains and even on the front lines—terrible conditions, but she’d managed to survive.

When you have the means, take care of yourself. When you don’t, make do.

“Mm.”

Zhou Yanjing’s fingers lingered on hers a moment longer before he finally let go. He picked up a towel and carefully dried her hands, his movements tender, as if he were handling some fragile treasure.

“Come on, let’s eat,” he said softly.

Shen Liwu followed Zhou Yanjing to the dining table. The dishes were still steaming, their aroma filling the air. She sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and placed a piece of braised pork into her mouth. The meat was tender and juicy, melting the moment it touched her tongue.

“How is it?” Zhou Yanjing looked at her, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

“It’s delicious,” she nodded, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “Even better than what they serve in restaurants.”

Zhou Yanjing smiled, lowered his head, and took a bite of rice. As long as she likes it.

“When I first enlisted, I spent some time in the mess hall and learned from the head chef.”

“You worked in the mess hall?” Shen Liwu raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. “No wonder your cooking’s so good.”

Zhou Yanjing smiled and nodded, continuing to eat, clearly pleased by her praise.

“Back then, I was just a rookie, didn’t know a thing, so they stuck me in the kitchen to help out. Turns out, it was pretty interesting—I learned a lot.”

She set down her chopsticks and rested her chin in her hand, gazing at him with gentle eyes. “What else can you cook?”

“Most homestyle dishes, more or less.” He thought for a moment and added, “From now on, I’ll do the cooking. You just focus on doing whatever you enjoy.”

“Sure! I don’t like cooking anyway. Then I’ll leave it to you, Captain Zhou.” Shen Liwu picked up her chopsticks again and dug in happily.

Zhou Yanjing quietly took note—she doesn’t like cooking.

“With pleasure.” A faint smile appeared on Zhou Yanjing’s lips, a trace of doting flickering in his eyes.

After lunch, Zhou Yanjing headed to the unit for some business. Shen Liwu, with nothing better to do, strolled around the residential compound.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden light over the brick walls of the family housing area, bathing everything in a warm glow.

As she walked, she suddenly heard the high-pitched voices of children arguing:

“I’m not some unwanted piece of trash!”