Chen: “…”

She could clearly feel that she was being brushed off, but what could she do? The other woman was right. With an awkward smile, she said,
“True, I should go back and start cooking. My husband’s not exactly the patient type.”

Her man, Old Chen, always came home from work starving. If dinner wasn’t ready, he’d blow up, either glaring or outright losing his temper. And what choice did she have? She still depended on him to get by, so she had to placate his moods.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the exploration team began wrapping up their work and heading back to dormitory. As always, Bai Yichen, the team captain, stayed behind to ensure everyone had descended safely before making his way down the mountain.

When he passed by the same small peak from the morning, he stopped deliberately, his sharp gaze fixed on the road leading back to the village. After a few minutes of observation, seeing that the path was still empty, he picked up his things and continued down.

The atmosphere in the dormitory was unusually lively that evening. As Bai Yichen approached, he noticed his team gathered in the courtyard, their eyes frequently darting toward the family quarters.

When they spotted him, someone called out:
“The captain’s back!”

At that announcement, every gaze turned to the gate. There, under the glow of the setting sun, stood their tall and commanding captain, his weariness trailing behind him like dust.

As Bai Yichen walked into the yard, he was struck by the strange way everyone was staring at him—like they were waiting for something. It reminded him of how they looked on payday.

At this time, wages weren’t transferred directly to bank accounts like in modern systems. Instead, a leader would collect the wages from a higher office, write down the payroll details, and then distribute the money to each person by hand. Everyone had to sign after receiving their wages, making payday an event everyone eagerly anticipated.

Today wasn’t payday, nor was it a holiday when extra rations or gifts might be distributed. Yet the team stared at him with the same intense anticipation, leaving him confused.

“What’s going on? Why’s everyone gathered here staring at me like this?”

The way they looked at him reminded him of a pack of wolves eyeing a juicy piece of meat.

Normally, after work, the team would scatter—some washing up, others doing laundry before heading to the mess hall for dinner. Their current behavior was entirely out of the ordinary.

The group fell silent until Wang Aiguo hesitantly spoke up:
“Captain, you should head home. Your wife’s cooking something incredible—smells so good it’s driving everyone crazy!”

The men had caught a whiff of the tantalizing aroma as soon as they returned from work. Following their noses, they discovered the source was Bai Yichen’s house. Though none of them knew exactly what was cooking, the smell alone was enough to make their mouths water.

Mrs. Chen, always one to stir the pot, had sourly declared to the gathering crowd:
“Hey, everyone, please stop gathering here. Captain Bai’s wife is stewing meat.”

It was not surprising that these people came here to smell the scent as they had just returned from work. Mrs. Chen, however, had spent the entire afternoon inhaling the aroma and was at her wit’s end.

She grumbled to herself about how Anxin remained completely unbothered by the crowd outside, busying herself inside the house as if none of it concerned her. Not even a simple greeting!

“Hm?”

Hearing Wang Aiguo’s explanation, Bai Yichen paused, finally noticing the rich, savory scent wafting through the air. The aroma of cooked meat filled the camp, stirring his appetite. With a frown, he waved a hand dismissively at the group.

“Alright, disperse. Go about your business!”

He finally understood why they had been staring at him. They were all drawn in by the scent of his wife’s cooking.

Shaking his head, he strode toward his house, curious about what Anxin had made. He suspected she was the type to enjoy indulging in good food. It’s a pity that she is a little too high-profile in doing things. Cooking meat like this had managed to grab the attention of the entire dormitory.

Inside the house, Anxin was busy organizing. She had taken a simple cabinet from her space to neatly store pots, bowls, and utensils. Essentials like toiletries were placed in the tiny bathroom. As for food supplies—meat, rice, eggs, oil—she discreetly stored them in metal containers.

She also brought out a small wooden table and matching stools, arranging them in the center of the room. For the first time, the space felt like a proper home.

Surveying her work, she let out a soft sigh of satisfaction.
“Back in my previous life, I wasn’t wealthy, but I never lived like this. Now, with a magical warehouse at my disposal, I still can’t live lavishly or freely use what I have. Everything feels so constrained.”

When Bai Yichen entered the house, the first thing he saw was Anxin sitting quietly, lost in thought. The room, now filled with the basic necessities of life, looked cozy and inviting. The neat arrangement made the space feel like home.

For a brief moment, an unfamiliar emotion stirred in his chest. “Maybe this is what a home should feel like,” he thought. A place of simplicity, comfort, and the quiet rhythm of daily life.

Anxin, sensing his presence, looked up. In the doorway, he stood tall, silhouetted by the fading light, dust and fatigue clinging to him like a cloak.

“Oh, you’re back,” she said, quickly standing. “Go take a bath. Dinner’s almost ready.”

The water for his bath had already been heated and poured into a bucket in the bathroom. Though she’d used her warehouse’s hot water heater, she had taken care to avoid arousing suspicion by preparing everything in advance.