Chapter 26.2

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Xu Yan and Feng Mei both went back to their parents’ homes and returned before eight o’clock in the afternoon. They took their children and Jiang Nian to the training ground. They arrived at seven-thirty and there were already many people sitting inside. Feng Mei took them to squeeze into the fourth row and sit down.

As Jiang Nian watched the film, the period setting overlapped with her current reality, causing a moment of disorientation. She wondered if she was in the movie or truly living in this era. 

As the movie neared its end, Jiang Nian told Feng Mei, “I need to go to the restroom.”

Feng Mei responded, “Hurry back. The movie is really good, you’d regret missing the ending.”

Feeling down, Jiang Nian left. The crowd included both families and soldiers, seated separately. As she walked through the middle, she overheard men talking quietly.

“Where’s Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law going?”

“She didn’t look well. Is she sick?”

The whispers reached Zhu Jun, who quickly informed Lu Yu, interrupting his conversation with other officers. Lu Yu asked, “What’s wrong?”

Curious, Commander Song also looked over.

Zhu Jun saluted and hurried to Lu Yu, whispering, “Deputy Commander Lu, someone saw your sister-in-law run out crying.”

Lu Yu’s expression hardened as he swiftly exited the training ground.

The other officers, including Captain Liu and Captain Lu, were baffled. Captain Liu asked, “What happened? Why did Deputy Commander Lu leave?”

Commander Song, frustrated, asked, “What’s going on?”

Zhu Jun scratched his head, reluctantly explaining, “It’s about Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law.”

This silenced everyone.

The Mid-Autumn moon was full, the night air chilly.

Walking along the tree-lined path, Jiang Nian rubbed her arms for warmth, staring at her shadow on the ground. Tears welled up in her eyes, dampening her lashes, as she struggled to keep from crying.

It should have been a great Mid-Autumn Festival, with the family reuniting and watching a movie together, but it was not the case for her.

Her home is not here, and she is spending the Mid-Autumn Festival alone.

Thinking about the scene she saw after hitting the wall, she was covered with a white cloth and pushed out of the operating room. Her parents, grandparents were all there. How are they now?

In the real world, is she really dead?

Walking alone under the moonlight, all the loneliness and negative emotions surged into her heart. Jiang Nian tightly pressed her lips, walking on tiptoes, stepping on shadows one by one, letting tears roll down from her eyes.

“Sister-in-law—”

Suddenly, Lu Yu’s voice came from behind, usually steady and strong, now with a bit of urgency.

Jiang Nian was startled by the sudden voice, her just-landing toes slipped, and she heard a light cracking sound, followed by a sharp pain from her ankle. She hopped on tiptoe twice, and a strong hand steadied her arm.

That hand was warm, its heat seeping through her skin.

Jiang Nian felt her arm heating up. She was about to look up at Lu Yu when he quickly grabbed her hand and placed it on his shoulder, then squatted down to hold her sprained ankle.

“Ah, it hurts…”

Jiang Nian frowned in pain, holding Lu Yu’s shoulder and then gripping it tightly. But the man’s muscles were taut, causing her fingers to ache. Her voice, tinged with a sob, carried a hint of plea and coquettishness.

Lu Yu’s hand stiffened for a moment. He felt the grip on his shoulder and heard her crying, releasing her ankle and supporting her arm. His eyes unintentionally met hers, moist with tears.

He cleared his throat, “It’s a sprain. It needs a good massage to reset the tendon.”

Seeing Jiang Nian’s teary eyes, Lu Yu averted his gaze, but still said firmly, “Resetting the tendon is painful, but it’ll pass. If left untreated, your ankle could have lasting issues.”

Remembering the sharp pain just now, Jiang Nian felt her scalp tingle.

She sniffed, lowered her head, and remained silent. Torn between enduring temporary pain and risking long-term issues.

Lu Yu released her hand, moved to her side, bent down, and lifted her in his arms. The sudden lift almost made Jiang Nian cry out. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Lu Yu looked ahead, his voice husky, “I’ll take you back first.”

Jiang Nian pursed her lips, let go of his neck, and brought her hands to her front, barely daring to breathe.

Honestly, that moment had made her forget about her ankle pain.

As she relaxed, the pain in her ankle returned, clear and sharp, making half her leg twitch. Fortunately, it was night, and everyone was at the training ground watching a movie, leaving the road deserted.

Lu Yu said, “Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Nian’s voice carried a nasal tone, “Yes?”

Lu Yu looked ahead, his hands holding her waist and knees, feeling the heat from his palms. He diverted his attention, asking, “Zhu Jun said you ran out of the training ground crying.”

He paused, “Why were you crying?”

Jiang Nian tightened her lips, her fingers clutching at her clothes. Her little movements were all noticed by Lu Yu out of the corner of his eye, “I just remembered last year, at this time, your brother was laughing and talking to me about you in the army. This year, we’re separated by life and death, so I wanted to take a walk alone to calm down.”

Lu Yu’s thin lips tightened, and he said no more.

Back home, Lu Yu placed Jiang Nian on the bed, squatted down, and removed her shoes and socks. Jiang Nian winced in pain, trying to stop him, but Lu Yu quickly held her foot. His fingers pressed on her ankle, and the sharp pain hit her brain. Her calf trembled, her toes tensed, and her hands gripped the bedsheet tightly, breaking out in a sweat.

Lu Yu placed her foot on his knee, massaging and pressing her ankle. Seeing her crying in pain, her bangs wet with sweat, he leaned forward, almost cradling her entire foot.

His dark eyes focused on Jiang Nian, pausing on her lips bitten in pain. His voice deepened, “Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Nian frowned, breathing heavily from the pain. She opened her eyes to see Lu Yu’s face close to hers, releasing her lip, her voice weak, “Is it… is it done?”

As she spoke, her breath brushed against Lu Yu’s nose.

His breathing tightened, looking at the tears on her eyelashes. His fingers pressed her ankle, voice low, “Can sister-in-law forget my brother?”