Chapter 41.2

There were too many things, and to top it off, some of it was food.

Ruan Mingfu picked out a few items, planning to find time to deliver them to Hu Wanning.

She noticed the milk powder off to the side and said, “Xie Yanzhao, take these packets of milk powder over to sister-in-law. I heard her say a while ago that the fat boy’s milk powder was all gone, and she was thinking of asking someone to buy some…”

“As you wish.”

Xie Yanzhao swiftly sorted the items into categories and tidied up the mess on the floor.

Ruan Mingfu stood by, watching him work.

She frowned slightly… What’s wrong with this guy today? Why is he acting so weird?

The strange feeling only grew stronger as the day went on.

Because… the guy didn’t hold her while sleeping!

Ruan Mingfu lay in bed, questioning life.

Before, this man would insist on snuggling with her even when she wasn’t willing, always locking her in his arms.

But now?

They lay side by side, with a clear distance of several centimeters between them.

Ruan Mingfu blinked a few times.

Did she lose her charm?

Had she not taken good care of her skin recently, making her beauty less striking?

As Ruan Mingfu’s thoughts wandered, she eventually drifted off to sleep.

Once she was fast asleep, the man beside her suddenly turned and pulled her into his arms. His rough fingertips gently brushed her face, yet she didn’t notice. She merely shifted into a comfortable sleeping position in Xie Yanzhao’s arms and fell back into slumber.

Seeing this, Xie Yanzhao chuckled softly.

He then brushed away the stray hair on her forehead and gently kissed her smooth forehead.

…

The next morning, the spot next to Ruan Mingfu was already cold when she woke up.

She didn’t care either.

After getting dressed and walking out, she found Xie Yanzhao waiting for her in the living room with breakfast ready. Curious, Ruan Mingfu walked over and glanced at the table.

“Old Xie, what’s for breakfast today?”

Hearing this nickname, Xie Yanzhao’s mouth twitched slightly.

“You said you wanted to try stir-fried noodles, didn’t you?” he responded patiently. “Hurry and eat. It’s still hot.”

Ruan Mingfu touched the side of the lunchbox.

“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”

Stir-fried noodles are best eaten hot.

Xie Yanzhao didn’t respond.

Ruan Mingfu had her own internal clock, waking up at the same time every day. Knowing this, Xie Yanzhao always timed breakfast perfectly.

“Hurry and eat.”

She took a bite.

The food from the military cafeteria chef was excellent. It was said that his ancestors had once been imperial chefs, but they had joined the army to avoid trouble.

Though there weren’t as many seasonings as in the 50s and 60s, the dishes made from simple ingredients still tasted far better than anything artificial from later times.

The white noodles were coated in a rich sauce, garnished with chopped green onions. The chef didn’t seem to use much, but the aroma made her mouth water.

Ruan Mingfu’s eyes lit up as she took a bite.

The noodles were chewy, with some crispy pickled radish mixed in, making it absolutely delicious.

She didn’t have a big appetite, but she cleaned her plate.

After taking a sip of water, Ruan Mingfu rubbed her stomach.

Bad food was troublesome. But too much good food? That was also a problem.

Ah, what a sweet burden.

After eating her fill, Ruan Mingfu felt drowsy. When she saw Xie Yanzhao grabbing his clothes to leave, she suddenly remembered something important.

“By the way, do you know where Lu Yang is?”

The man raised an eyebrow.

“Lu Yang?”

Caught under his direct gaze, Ruan Mingfu averted her eyes like someone guilty of doing something wrong.

“I’m going to settle accounts with him.”

Thinking about what Gu Yilin had told her, Ruan Mingfu’s anger flared up again, rising from her feet straight to her head.

With a scowl, she asked, “So, where is he?”

Bastard!

The whole Lu family was no good.

Xie Yanzhao frowned slightly. Though he didn’t know what her goal was, he still explained, “He doesn’t live in the family compound, so you won’t find him there. And you can’t enter his regiment’s compound.”

Ruan Mingfu frowned at this.

Finding this bastard was proving to be a real hassle.

As she thought it over, an idea suddenly popped into her head.

Since the Lu family spread rumors about her, making the Ruan family infamous across Haicheng, she would make the Lu family famous nationwide.

An eye for an eye, especially when she already had the dirt on them.

Now she just had to figure out how to write the story and which publication would run it…

Once the idea was in her head, she was ready to act.

Just as Ruan Mingfu was about to head to the study to draft the article, Xie Yanzhao stopped her.

“What’s going on?”

Xie Yanzhao knew well about the bad blood between Ruan Mingfu and the two Lu brothers. The moment she mentioned Lu Yang, his first thought was that one of the Lu family had upset her again.

Ruan Mingfu waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing.”

Her brilliant plan was just taking shape.

Once this article was published, it would strip the Lu family of their dignity.

Just thinking about Lu Yan crying his eyes out filled Ruan Mingfu with satisfaction, like drinking ice water on a scorching summer day.

Seeing that Xie Yanzhao was still watching her, she pushed him toward the door.

“Don’t you have something to do? Hurry up and go.”

Don’t disturb her creative flow!

Xie Yanzhao let himself be pushed out, reminding her as he left, “Stay at home and don’t cook by yourself. I’ll bring lunch back.”

“Got it, go ahead.”

Ruan Mingfu waved him off impatiently.

Once he had left, Ruan Mingfu quickly closed the door behind him.

Having been unceremoniously pushed out, and seeing her indifferent expression, Xie Yanzhao felt a pang of frustration.

Ruan Mingfu, however, was unaware of his feelings at that moment.

She sat at the desk, pen in hand, and began to write fervently.

The words flowed smoothly and effortlessly…

The conflict between the two families was rooted in the Lu family’s lack of decency. Ruan Mingfu wrote with ease, focusing on depicting the Lu family’s despicable behavior.

The Lu couple, who were disdainful and snobbish…

The second Lu brother, who looked down on her and resorted to insults and mockery…

And the eldest Lu brother, who wielded money to oppress her…

She had also considered sending a report to the military.

Though Lu Yang would be investigated, since the issue involved his parents and younger brother, and he wasn’t the main instigator, he would eventually be released. Given the Lu family’s vindictive nature, retaliation was to be expected.

She didn’t care about herself, but Xie Yanzhao was still in the military.

Besides, Miss Ruan always believed in confronting those directly responsible for her grievances!

Lu Yan was the most detestable.

He was the one who should never be let off the hook!

Ruan Mingfu’s inspiration was flowing, and she soon completed her draft.

After reading through it, she was nearly moved to tears by the vivid depiction of the despicable characters.

She felt so proud of herself for crafting such a perfect piece.

After correcting a few typos, she sealed the letter.

She was about to get up when she decided to take the letter with her.

Submitting it promptly was crucial.

She couldn’t rest easy until the Lu family was exposed.

…

Meanwhile, Xie Yanzhao cast a final glance at the closed door before leaving.

As he passed the military gate, recalling Ruan Mingfu’s angry expression, he turned and walked inside.

When he emerged, his face was grim, his eyes burning with anger, and his demeanor exuded a fierce and menacing aura.

His intimidating presence made people on the street hesitate to approach him, sensing his volatile mood. Those who had intended to greet him quickly withdrew, opting to keep their distance.

He was heading to a training base, where Lu Yang was addressing the soldiers.

Upon seeing Xie Yanzhao, Lu Yang approached him, curious about his visit.

“Commander Xie, is there something you need?”

Lu Yang sized him up as he spoke.

Though tall and commanding, Lu Yang was still shorter than Xie Yanzhao. Disliking the feeling of looking up, he took a slight step back.

“I’m here to see you,” Xie Yanzhao said tersely, his gaze intense and menacing.

Lu Yang, not one to be easily intimidated, met his gaze squarely.

The tension between them was palpable.

The soldiers training nearby could no longer focus on their drills, their attention fixated on the standoff. They strained their ears but couldn’t hear the conversation, though the atmosphere suggested a serious confrontation.

“Hiss—”

“Who do you think is stronger, Commander Xie or Deputy Commander Lu?”

“There’s no question, it’s definitely Commander Xie.”

“Exactly, it’s obvious…”

Others nodded in agreement.

Xie Yanzhao’s abilities were well-regarded throughout the unit.

Although Lu Yang held a regimental commander position, it was a deputy regiment commander role. Comparatively, Xie Yanzhao’s rank surpassed his.

Yet Lu Yang was no slouch.

Otherwise, he would not have become the second person to reach the regimental level after Xie Yanzhao.

In the art troupe, Lu Yang was more popular.

Despite his cold demeanor, he was handsome and well-built, unlike Xie Yanzhao’s imposing figure, which could be intimidating at first glance.

Rumor had it that several female colleagues were interested in Lu Yang.

Lu Yang looked surprised by the unexpected visit.

Though he had heard of Xie Yanzhao, they hadn’t interacted much, and he couldn’t guess the reason for Xie Yanzhao’s visit.

“Commander Xie, if you have something to say, please go ahead.”

“Manage your family properly,” Xie Yanzhao said, his tone stern and authoritative.

“Commander Xie, is there a misunderstanding?” Lu Yang asked, puzzled. “My younger brother hasn’t caused any trouble for Comrade Ruan recently.”

He was well aware of Lu Yan’s character and kept a close watch on him.

There was no way Lu Yan would cause trouble at the family compound.

Lu Yang suspected that Xie Yanzhao was here to take the opportunity to reprimand them.

However, such assumptions were not constructive.

“Don’t worry, Commander Xie,” Lu Yang said, his attitude conciliatory. “I’ll make sure to discipline him properly and have him apologize to Comrade Ruan later.”

“No need, my wife doesn’t want to see you.”