Chapter 25: She came on her own initiative, and I surrendered automatically.

When Huo Changzheng left, he hadn’t said when he’d be back. Lin Suisui had been so busy lately that she’d nearly forgotten about him. Seeing him standing at the door now, she was momentarily dazed before she managed to squeeze out a single sentence: “You’re back!”

“Mm.” Huo Changzheng walked in carrying his duffel bag. As he got closer, she noticed the stubble on his face and how tired he looked—he must have been through a lot these past few days.

“Have you eaten yet?” Lin Suisui asked. “If not, I can make you a bowl of noodles.”

“Okay.”

Lin Suisui went to the kitchen to get started, while Huo Changzheng went to take a shower. She hadn’t been cooking much recently, but there were some dried noodles and eggs at home, so she whipped up a simple bowl of egg drop noodle soup. The vegetables in the yard were only seedlings, so there wasn’t even a single leaf to garnish with.

When she brought the steaming bowl of noodles into the room, Huo Changzheng had already finished his shower. Dressed in shorts and a tank top, his muscular frame was clearly visible.

“You can eat now,” Lin Suisui said as she set the bowl down on the table, lowering her gaze to avoid looking at him.

“Thanks.” Huo Changzheng sat down and started eating.

Since coming to join the army family compound, aside from the chiffon cake she learned to make at Fang Qianqian’s place, this was the first thing she had cooked for him. She wasn’t sure if he would like it or not.

“There’s not much in the kitchen, and it’s probably a bit bland. Hope it’s okay.”

“It tastes great,” Huo Changzheng said sincerely, looking up at her.

…Clear broth and plain noodles—besides the taste of salt and the three fried eggs, there really wasn’t much flavor. Lin Suisui found it hard to believe the compliment, but since he was being gracious, she just nodded and said, “Alright then, enjoy. I’m going to bed.”

She turned to leave but was stopped by his voice.

“Can you stay and keep me company while I eat?”

She looked back and met his slightly aggrieved eyes. It was as if saying no would make her a bad person. With no choice, she nodded and sat down across from him.

“Looks like the house is all set up. When did you get it done?” Huo Changzheng broke the silence first.

“Just finished today.”

“Good timing for my return then.”

“Yeah,” Lin Suisui nodded, looking at his slightly thinner face and asked, “Was this mission tough? You look like you’ve lost weight.”

“It was tough. You’ll have to cook well and help me get my strength back.”

…She had only asked to break the awkward silence, not expecting him to be so direct. But with Aunt Huang Shuilan coming back soon, she’d be cooking more anyway. Might as well consider it “nursing” him back to health.

“Alright,” she replied.

“How have things been for you here these past few days? Nothing bad happen?” Huo Changzheng asked.

That question made her think of the day Song Xiao came to give her a hard time. But she had no intention of telling him—after all, Song Xiao was the one he’d spend the rest of his life with. She didn’t want to mess things up between them. So she shook her head and said, “Nope. Everything’s been fine.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Lin Suisui said firmly.

“Alright, that’s good.”

“Mm, I’m tired. You’ve eaten enough—I’m going to bed.” Lin Suisui felt a bit guilty and was afraid he’d ask more, so she quickly made her escape.

Huo Changzheng: “…”

Shouldn’t have asked.

The next morning, Lin Suisui got up for work as usual. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw that Huo Changzheng was already up too.

“You going back to the base today?” she asked, thinking he might have a day off.

“I’m off today.”

“Then why are you up so early?”

“Couldn’t sleep.”

…Lin Suisui didn’t know why he’d be so tired yet unable to sleep, but she instinctively felt this wasn’t something she should ask about. So she ignored it and simply said, “Then help drop Doubao off at daycare later.”

“Okay.”

Lin Suisui finished washing up and headed out. The sky was still gray and the weather was getting colder by the day. Good thing she wore a jacket, or the early morning chill would’ve been unbearable.

At home, with sweet potatoes and eggs in the kitchen, Huo Changzheng made breakfast with them. After taking Doubao to the daycare center, he went straight to the base.

Even though he was technically off, he had to see Gu Cheng.

Gu Cheng already knew their unit had returned the night before and was surprised to see Huo Changzheng show up on his day off. “You’re here to gloat about your latest medal?”

“Just a minor commendation, nothing worth bragging about,” Huo said casually.

“Tsk tsk, Captain Huo really is stacking up the accolades—guess even first-class merits don’t impress you anymore.”

“Cut it out,” Huo interrupted him, then fixed his eyes on Gu Cheng and asked, “Did Song Xiao cause any trouble for Suisui while I was gone?”

…Gu Cheng knew it. His old buddy wasn’t here to hang out—he was worried about Lin Suisui. That annoyed him. “Huo Changzheng, are you seriously this worked up over Lin Suisui?”

“Stop deflecting. Just tell me—yes or no.”

“Yes.” Gu Cheng didn’t bother hiding it. With how intense Huo looked, he figured he already suspected something. He admitted honestly, “She stopped Lin Suisui on the road and said a bunch of stuff, then even went to your house. But I showed up and warned her. After that, she behaved.”

“What did she say?” Huo asked, face darkening.

“That, I really don’t know,” Gu Cheng replied. “Why don’t you ask Lin Suisui?”

“If she’d tell me, I wouldn’t have to come to you,” Huo said with a bitter laugh.

Gu Cheng couldn’t stand seeing him like this—so helpless when it came to Lin Suisui. Huo was a golden boy, someone all the higher-ups wanted to marry into their families, yet he was hung up on this manipulative woman. Even knowing she’d schemed against him in the beginning, he still clung to her like a fool.

Sometimes, Gu Cheng just wanted to punch him awake.

“I thought you were doing fine all these years,” Gu Cheng said, frustrated. “Unless it was urgent, you hardly went home. You kept her in the countryside, basically on ice. So why can’t you hold out anymore?”

Huo Changzheng looked at him in silence for a while, then finally replied, “What can I do? She came to me of her own will—I surrendered immediately.”