Chapter 20.1

Lu Cheng, fearless and indomitable, couldn’t comprehend anyone being afraid of thunder and lightning.

If any of his soldiers or even his own siblings had made such a request, he would have dismissed them without hesitation. Who could be so delicate?

But Wen Ning clung to his sleeve, never uttering the words “I’m scared.” Instead, she gazed at him with those dewy eyes, as if peering into the depths of his soul.

Pulling his sleeve from her grasp, Lu Cheng turned to the gray flagstone floor. Its smooth surface bore fine, intricate patterns. “Bring your pillow and quilt here yourself,” he muttered.

“Okay!” Wen Ning’s eyes brightened slightly, her heart calming. She turned and hurried back to her room to fetch her bedding.

Lu Cheng’s quarters were Spartan, a kang bed, a wardrobe, and a long table with wooden chairs.

The dim glow of a kerosene lamp pierced the heavy darkness. Lu Cheng extinguished the match, listening to the rustling sounds behind him. Without turning, he knew Wen Ning was spreading her quilt and pillow on the kang.

The sounds inside gradually faded, leaving only the heart-wrenching clamor outside. Thunder and lightning intertwined with howling winds, ravaging the heavens and earth.

Lu Cheng turned to see Wen Ning already lying on the kang, occupying the spot against the wall.

A newly made blue floral cotton quilt was neatly tucked around her, leaving only her head exposed. Her bright, clear eyes flickered, signaling that the remaining half of the space was reserved for him.

Lu Cheng’s quilt had been hastily pushed aside, crumpled into a lump beside his pillow, waiting forlornly for its owner’s return.

“Hurry and put out the lamp, or I won’t be able to sleep,” Wen Ning’s voice was barely audible above the thunder.

Lu Cheng blew out the kerosene lamp, covered it with its shade, and glanced at the floor as he climbed onto the kang. He finally lowered his gaze.

This was the first time he had shared a bed with a woman. An unfamiliar fragrance permeated the air, wafting in waves of delicate sweetness. Lu Cheng felt a rare sense of awkwardness.

Lying stiffly beneath the quilt, Lu Cheng’s body was rigid, as if he were undergoing military training—straight, silent, and still.

Only the woman beside him was restless. In the short time since they had settled in, she had already tossed twice, turned her head once, her movements strangely distinct amidst the chaotic sounds of the storm.

“Lu Cheng, are you asleep?” Wen Ning closed her eyes, and it felt as if she were transported back to her sixth year, watching the lantern festival.

She had gotten separated from her wet nurse in the crowded streets and found herself alone in a small, dilapidated house. Outside, the same thunderous storm raged, each deafening clap of thunder seemed to strike directly above her, exploding in her ears, leaving her with a lifelong fear.

Back then, a young boy had passed by and escorted her back to the manor. Now, she had someone by her side who made her feel safe.

She gently turned closer, her soft hair brushing against Lu Cheng’s quilt, as if inviting a heart-to-heart. “Are you afraid of thunder?”

Lu Cheng sensed danger approaching. Without opening his eyes, he replied coldly, “No.”

He couldn’t understand how any adult could still fear something like that.

“Alright, you’ve never been afraid of anything,” Wen Ning murmured, finding even his icy tone reassuring.

She settled back down, drifting into a peaceful sleep beside Lu Cheng. The thunder outside no longer seemed frightening, and the quilt felt warm and comforting.

With her defenses down, Wen Ning sank into a deep slumber. In her dreams, the terror of that childhood night faded away.

Outside Duke Zhenguo’s Manor, the young boy watched her reunite with her mother before letting go of her hand. Wen Ning, tears brimming in her eyes, returned to her mother’s side. Only later, when she glanced back, did she realize the boy had vanished.

In an instant, she dreamed again of boating with her family in the rain. Raindrops dotted the lake’s surface, rippling into gentle waves. The delicate lotus blossoms in the water resembled a beautiful painting.

Listening to the soft breathing in the room, Lu Cheng, who usually fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, found himself unusually restless.

Desperate to ignore the woman beside him and her shallow breaths, Lu Cheng, with his remarkable self-control, mentally steeled himself.

Just as he was about to drift into undisturbed sleep, a leg suddenly draped across his, pressing against his own through the quilt.

Lu Cheng’s eyes snapped open. Before he could react, Wen Ning, still asleep, rolled closer, half her body resting on his shoulder. Her right hand settled on his arm, as if she had found a comfortable position, and then she stilled.

Lu Cheng’s rigid body instantly tensed. Wen Ning’s gentle breath sprayed into the hollow of his neck, tickling him with each exhale.

His large hands clenched into fists, then relaxed, then tightened again. Just as he was about to push her away, Wen Ning murmured in her sleep, “Mother… I miss you so much…”

His hand froze mid-motion, finally clenching into a fist before retreating. Lu Cheng lowered his gaze to Wen Ning, sleeping soundly beside him, and ultimately remained still.

---

After a night of wind and rain, the world felt freshly washed, the mountains and forests gleaming with a clear, vibrant light.

Blue flagstones embedded in the muddy ground bore the footprints of passersby. Many military wives were busy salvaging vegetables from their kitchen gardens, their hands moving frantically.

When Wen Ning woke up, she found herself alone on the kang. Lu Cheng had long since disappeared, leaving only a neatly folded quilt on his side of the bed, its sharp edges mirroring his own angular presence.

Today was a day off, with no special duties. Lu Cheng had risen early to inspect the mountain paths with his unit’s soldiers.

The torrential rain had caused significant damage, snapping trees that could easily fall on passersby.

When he returned home after finishing his work, the house was empty.

The courtyard gate stood ajar. Lu Cheng pushed it open and stepped inside, finding the place deserted, with no sign of Wen Ning.

His gaze instinctively swept the room before he suddenly snapped out of it. What am I looking for? he thought. How could a grown woman get lost in her own home?

Regaining his composure, he chopped firewood, boiled water, filled both thermos flasks, and took down the tea canister from the chest of drawers. A few scattered tea leaves unfurled in the boiling water, revealing their vibrant green forms.

Taking a rare break, Lu Cheng sipped his tea. Tea leaves swirled in the enamel mug, their fresh aroma filling the air, yet they couldn’t soothe the restlessness in his heart.

Setting down the mug, Lu Cheng rose and headed next door. Yes, he needed to speak with Brother Huang.

---

“Ningning, have you ever pulled radishes before? This is how you do it!”

“Wow, Sister-in-law Chen, you’re amazing! You pulled one out in one go!” Wen Ning was squatting in the vegetable garden, her braids tied together and her hair completely covered by a blue floral headscarf, leaving only her small, unadorned face visible.

She wore unusually practical clothing: a dark gray long-sleeved jacket paired with black trousers and waterproof boots.

Lu Cheng had passed the garden without noticing Wen Ning until he heard her voice. Surprised, he scanned the crowd of military wives until he spotted her.

“Xiao Wen, Regimental Commander Lu is here. Did he come to help you?”

“Newlyweds are different! Unlike my Lao Wang, who never lifts a finger!”

Hearing that Lu Cheng had arrived, Wen Ning quickly looked up. Seeing him standing by the field’s edge, she waved enthusiastically. “Over here, Commander Lu! I’m here! Come help me carry these radishes back!”

Lu Cheng stared in astonishment. Wen Ning, who was usually so concerned about her appearance and constantly complained about being tired, was actually in the field, her face smeared with mud, pulling up radishes!

The vegetable garden, battered by rain and wind, had been mostly harvested. Wen Ning returned home with her arms full of four or five large white radishes, while Lu Cheng followed behind, carrying seven radishes and a huge pile of cabbages.

“Why were you pulling radishes in the field?” Lu Cheng, usually so calm and composed from his military training, couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

Who was Wen Ning? A delicate, lazy woman who exuded an aura of indolence, especially when it came to manual labor.

Had the sun risen in the west today?

No, wait—there wasn’t even any sun today.

“Director Yang said the heavy rain had damaged some of the crops, so he told everyone to divide them up and harvest them ourselves,” Wen Ning explained.

She had been visiting Sister Luo next door when she heard the news. She hadn’t initially planned to get her hands dirty, but the other military wives had rushed to the field with lightning speed, their enthusiasm for harvesting the vegetables burning like wildfire.

Watching them, she couldn’t help but feel tempted. She couldn’t let everyone else have fresh produce while her own family went without.

She hurried home to change into her darkest clothes, wrapped a headscarf around her head, and joined the fray.

Wen Ning’s first attempt at fieldwork was far from graceful. The other wives repeatedly corrected her technique, but eventually, she managed to pull up a few radishes.

“How’s that!” Wen Ning patted the big white radish, listening to the crisp sound of her hand against its skin. A rare look of accomplishment lit up her face. “Xiao Lu, Big Sister’s treating you to radish soup today.”

She mimicked the way the other military wives spoke, flashing Lu Cheng a sweet smile.

The sky remained a gloomy gray even after the rain had stopped, casting a shadow over the world. Lu Cheng listened to Wen Ning’s cheerful voice and watched her triumphant grin, as dazzling as the first rays of the morning sun, impossible to look away from.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Ning noticed Lu Cheng staring at her and, suspecting the old stick-in-the-mud was about to lecture her again, quickly spoke up. “You’re eating my radish soup, so you can’t say anything I don’t want to hear!”

I pulled these radishes myself!

Lu Cheng chuckled at her bold declaration, but Wen Ning remained utterly serious, not a hint of jest in her expression.

“You’ve certainly improved,” Lu Cheng said, offering his highest praise. “That’s exactly how it should be. People must strive to improve… by participating in labor, working diligently and conscientiously…”

“Ugh, stop with the lecture! It’s so annoying~ Save that for training the soldiers,” Wen Ning interrupted, unable to stand his sermonizing.

Lu Cheng: “…”

No one had ever dared to speak to him like that before.

---

Back home, Wen Ning treated her first self-harvested radishes with special care. She selected two plump, white ones to wash in a basin, storing the rest in the cellar.

The water was cold in early winter, but Wen Ning didn’t seem to notice as she scrubbed the radishes clean, determined to get every speck of dirt off. “We still have the cured pork, the one Mother smoked herself. Why don’t you cut off a piece and make some cured pork and radish soup?”

She might not know how to cook, but she certainly knew how to eat.

Seeing Lu Cheng nod in agreement, Wen Ning’s lips curled slightly as she lowered her head and continued working. The clear water reflected her pretty face, marred only by streaks of mud on both cheeks.

“Comrade Lu Cheng!” Wen Ning glared at her reflection and called out indignantly. “Why didn’t you tell me I looked like a clown?”

She had walked all the way home like this!

How embarrassing!

Lu Cheng had initially wanted to warn her, but Wen Ning had interrupted him, and he hadn’t found another chance to speak.

“Just wipe it off. All the military wives get muddy like this.” After all, the fields were bound to be muddy after the rain, and no one would think twice about it.

“Then wipe it off for me!” Wen Ning shook her dripping hands. “My hands are all wet.”

Lu Cheng, who had just taken the cured pork off the hook and placed it on the cutting board, didn’t move.

“Hurry up!” Wen Ning urged him again.

Lu Cheng turned to look at Wen Ning, who was standing by the sink. Her usually plain face was still lively, her features delicate, though smudged with mud on both cheeks—a minor imperfection that only added to her charm.

He approached her, lips pressed into a firm line, as she strained her neck to lean closer, closing the distance between them.

Her breath carried the delicate fragrance of orchids as she murmured, “Wipe it off properly. It looks awful.”

Lu Cheng raised his hand, his rough fingertips gently brushing against her cheek. It was the first time he had touched a girl’s face, and the sensation beneath his fingertips was unexpectedly smooth and tender—softer than a peeled egg.

Composing himself, Lu Cheng quickly wiped the mud away and moved to her other cheek.

In moments, Wen Ning’s face was clean, yet Lu Cheng found himself overwhelmed by unfamiliar emotions. His gaze drifted to the white radishes in the basin.

Yes, these radishes are exceptionally white—whiter than usual, almost blindingly so.

“Is it all gone? Look closely,” Wen Ning insisted, tilting her face from side to side to give him a better view. She worried that  Lu Cheng might be careless.

Lu Cheng hadn’t anticipated her sudden closeness. His eyes caught the soft glow of her fair skin, so clear he could almost see the fine downy hairs on her cheeks, like a misty halo.

“It’s clean. If you don’t believe me, go look in the mirror yourself,” Lu Cheng said, stepping back and avoiding her gaze. He washed his fingertips under the faucet, his voice slightly hoarse.

Though the dried mud had been washed away, the lingering sensation of soft, smooth skin refused to fade.