Chapter 9 We are all adults, stop pretending.

Lin Suisui couldn’t figure out what terrible, unforgivable mistake someone like Fang Weiguo—a thoughtful, well-rounded good guy—could have made to deserve such harsh punishment from Huo Changzheng. But these were matters within their unit, and as a military spouse, she knew her place—she kept her curiosity to herself.

At the canteen, she bought a steamed bun and a meat bun, one for herself and one for Doubao. They ate as they walked toward Fang Qianqian’s home. It was still early, and the streets were fairly empty. Some passersby, curious about her unfamiliar face, gave her a few looks; those who were friendlier even greeted her.

By the time they were almost done with breakfast, they were nearly at the Cheng family’s home. But before they even reached the door, a rich, delicious aroma wafted out and nearly made them dizzy. Whatever Fang Qianqian was cooking, it smelled amazing.

When Lin Suisui knocked and the door opened, she found out that Fang Qianqian had made a Western dessert called chiffon cake.

“Try my baking,” Fang Qianqian said as she handed a cake each to Lin Suisui and Doubao.

“Oh no, we just had buns,” Lin Suisui said, hurriedly waving her hands. They were only small cakes, but in times like these, when so many people struggled to get enough to eat, she couldn’t bring herself to accept such a treat for free.

Still, she was very curious about the chiffon cake. In her dreams of the prosperous future, she’d seen streets lined with Western-style dessert shops. Chiffon cake was one of the treats she remembered vividly.

“Even if you’ve eaten, you can still have this,” Fang Qianqian insisted. “It’s just a small cake, more like a snack. What, are you two turning your noses up at it?” she added, purposely putting on a hurt expression.

“Of course not,” Lin Suisui quickly denied. Since it was offered with such kindness, she decided to accept—and return the favor another time.

She and Doubao each took a cake, nibbling as they followed Fang Qianqian toward the bus station.

“This is so good,” Lin Suisui exclaimed after the first bite.

The chiffon cake was airy and soft, with a rich milky fragrance and a subtle sweetness that made her want another bite as soon as she finished the first.

“I think it’s pretty good too,” Fang Qianqian said, not bothering with false modesty, though she added a note of regret: “The tools and ingredients are a bit lacking though. It could’ve tasted even better otherwise.”

“It’s already delicious!” Lin Suisui asked curiously, “Where did you learn to make chiffon cake?”

“My relatives in Hong Kong taught me,” Fang Qianqian replied with a smile. “If you want to learn, I can teach you another day.”

“Really?” Lin Suisui’s eyes lit up with surprise and joy. To be honest, she really wanted to learn. She knew that once she and Huo Changzheng divorced, she would need a skill to support herself and Doubao.

She’d only gone to school for a few years. Even though the college entrance exam would resume in two years, she knew she didn’t have what it took to pass. But she had excellent hands-on skills. Back in the village, during the New Year preparations, the neighbors always wanted her help in making food. She could turn the most basic dish into something that tasted better than what others had been making for decades.

If she could learn to make Western-style desserts, maybe she could set up a food stall. If business went well, she might even save enough to open a shop of her own.

“Of course it’s true. Once you’ve finished setting up your home, I’ll start teaching you. We live just across the hall—it’ll be super convenient.”

“Qianqian, I’m really so grateful to you!”

“No need for that,” Fang Qianqian replied playfully. “Honestly, if it were someone else, I might not be so eager to teach. But you’re so beautiful—I just love making friends with pretty women.”

“No way, you’re the prettier one,” Lin Suisui said, cheeks flushing as she lowered her head. She wasn’t used to compliments; she’d hardly ever received any growing up.

“Anything else, I might not say, but when it comes to looks, I admit defeat. You’re prettier than me—my only edge is probably the clothes I wear.”

As she said that, Fang Qianqian gave Lin Suisui a once-over. Her face was lovely, and her figure was amazing—even a loose cotton coat couldn’t hide that.

“Did you bring your fabric ration tickets today?” Fang Qianqian suddenly asked.

“I did,” Lin Suisui nodded. Huo Changzheng had several in his drawer, and she’d brought them all.

“Then let’s buy some fabric later,” Fang Qianqian said. “In a few days, I’ll teach you how to make a beautiful dress for yourself.” She raised her eyebrows and added, “Let’s make sure your Vice Commander Huo’s eyes pop when he sees you.”

“I already have clothes. No need to make more,” Lin Suisui said. “I’m actually hoping to sew a couple of new outfits for Doubao. He’s been growing again lately.”

“Mom, I already have lots of clothes. You should make something new for yourself,” Doubao, still munching on his cake, suddenly chimed in.

“See how thoughtful Doubao is?” Fang Qianqian gave him a thumbs-up. Then she leaned closer to Lin Suisui and lowered her voice: “Don’t you know how popular your man is? Married or not, he’s got admirers everywhere. That Song Xiao? She’s the boldest—and the most shameless.”

Lin Suisui was momentarily speechless. From her reaction alone, Fang Qianqian could tell she already knew about Song Xiao.

Fang Qianqian sighed. “Well, at least you’re not clueless—you knew to follow him here. Don’t worry. With me around, I’ll help give you a full makeover. We’ll leave Song Xiao in the dust.”

Seeing how fired up Fang Qianqian looked, ready to go to war, Lin Suisui swallowed the words she’d been about to say.

The military compound was quite far from the county seat. The bus ride took an hour and a half. But with good company, time flew by.

Especially since Fang Qianqian seemed to know everything and understand everything—listening to her felt like stepping into an entirely new world.

Befriending Fang Qianqian, Lin Suisui thought, was probably the best decision she had made since coming to join the military family compound.

She used to live such a small and narrow life—limited to just the village, her tiny corner of the world, and raising her son. But now, she felt things were different. In the future, there was surely a much bigger world waiting for her.

The two women had endless things to talk about, and little Doubao was very well-behaved, leaning quietly against his mother without making a fuss, giving her the space she needed to socialize.

The hour-and-a-half bus ride passed quickly. Once they arrived in the county town, the first thing they did was look for a carpenter. Last time, Fang Qianqian had furniture made here, so the carpenter remembered her. This time, seeing her bring Lin Suisui, he welcomed them warmly and even promised to prioritize making Lin Suisui’s furniture.

Even though they’d only be living in the military compound for a year, the furniture still had to be properly arranged. Lin Suisui first ordered the pieces for the main hall, then moved on to what she needed in the bedrooms.

“Do you want two beds? What size?” the carpenter asked.

Lin Suisui thought for a moment. Since she and Doubao slept together, she’d need a 1.5-meter-wide double bed. As for Huo Changzheng, she hesitated. His dorm bed was 1.2 meters wide, which should be enough for him, but he was such a broad man that he’d probably sleep more comfortably on a 1.5-meter bed.

“I’ll order one 1.5-meter bed and one 1.2-meter bed,” she said.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Fang Qianqian quickly pulled her aside and whispered, “1.5 meters is too small. Just order a 1.8-meter bed. Otherwise, it’ll be too cramped and affect your Huo regiment commander’s performance.”

“Performance in what?”

“Oh come on, we’re all adults. Don’t play dumb.”

“…”

Lin Suisui genuinely wasn’t pretending, but when she met Fang Qianqian’s teasing gaze, she understood—and her face turned red all the way to her ears.