Chapter 66.3

During the meal, Jiang Nian said very little and basically listened to Sun Yuan. Sun Yuan said that her husband had been sentenced, Sun Ying and Wu Youshan had gone to a place where no one knew them, and Ding Hua’s position as a team leader in the factory had also begun to be affected. All of this was instigated by Sun Yuan.

Jiang Nian couldn’t help but sigh. She hadn’t expected Sun Yuan to be such an active person.

In just over twenty days, she had done so much.

As the two walked out of the state-run restaurant, Sun Yuan smiled and said. “Jiang Nian, can I come to see you in the future?”

Jiang Nian looked at Sun Yuan, a faint smile on her face. “I’m leaving. I might not come to this area again.”

“Oh, I see.”

A touch of melancholy appeared on Sun Yuan’s face, but then she smiled again. “Then maybe we’ll meet again someday.”

Jiang Nian nodded and smiled. “Until we meet again.”

Leaving the state-run restaurant, as Jiang Nian hurried back to the military base, she heard footsteps coming quickly behind her. Jiang Nian was startled. Before she could turn around, her wrist was held tightly, and her body was forced to turn into a sturdy embrace. The man’s chest was as firm as iron, making Jiang Nian’s nose tingle painfully.

“Where have you been?”

Lu Yu’s urgent voice came from above her head. The man’s hand gripped her waist tightly, almost embedding her into his bones.

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment before she reacted. She had forgotten to tell Lu Yu that she had gone out with Sun Yuan.

She looked up at Lu Yu and saw the tension in his neck veins. Knowing he was worried, she whispered, “Sun Yuan came to the base to see me. We went to the state-run restaurant. She thanked me for taking her to the hospital last time.”

Upon hearing Sun Yuan’s name, Lu Yu’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Without asking about her matters, he simply said, “Let’s go back.”

He went back home at noon and didn’t see Jiang Nian, so he went to the military guard office to ask. The military guard only knew that she had gone with a woman and hadn’t come back at this time, so he couldn’t help but start to worry.

There were people passing by on the street from time to time. Reluctantly, Lu Yu let go of Jiang Nian, rubbed her head, and said, “Next time, remember to tell the guard where you’re going.”

Jiang Nian pursed her lips and smiled, “Okay.”

They returned to the army, and as they passed by the military guard office, Lu Yu brought all the things Jiang Nian had bought back with him. Jiang Nian asked, “Have you not eaten yet?”

Lu Yu replied, “I just had something quick. I still need to go back to the regiment later. I’ll be busy until tonight.”

Even though Lu Yu said he had already eaten, Jiang Nian didn’t want him to just make do. She made noodles for him, and after quickly finishing their meal, Lu Yu left. Tomorrow at noon, Lu Yu’s comrades were coming over for a meal, so Jiang Nian packed everything early. She waited until it was dark, but Lu Yu still hadn’t returned.

Jiang Nian reheated the dinner bowls in the pot and waited in the room for over an hour, but Lu Yu still didn’t come back. Worried, she went to the entrance of the regiment.

It had been fine during the day, but the wind had picked up at night. Jiang Nian wore a red scarf around her neck as she ran to the regiment’s entrance. Inside, most of the soldiers had already left, and only a few stragglers remained. They saw Jiang Nian and asked, “Are you waiting for Deputy Commander Lu?”

Jiang Nian nodded gently, “Has he finished his work?”

The soldier said, “Deputy Commander Lu has been with the regiment commander all afternoon. I haven’t seen him.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Thank you, I understand.”

After the few soldiers left, Jiang Nian continued to wait outside.

The lights inside the regiment were dim. Some soldiers from the Third Group came out, and one of them tapped Song Bai’s arm, “Hey, isn’t that Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law?”

Song Bai turned to look, and saw Jiang Nian stood alone outside the regiment, the cold wind blowing on her, her bangs fluttering. She stomped her feet, hands covering her mouth to warm them, visibly chilled.

Seeing Jiang Nian craning her neck to look inside, Song Bai hurried out, “Sister-in-law, why are you here?”

Jiang Nian shivered from the cold, her cheeks red, “Has Lu Yu finished his work?”

Song Bai said, “He’s not here. He went to the headquarters with the regiment commander. He probably won’t be back until later. Come, let me take you back.”

“No need, no need.”

Jiang Nian rubbed her hands, “You go on with your business. I’ll go back first.”

After saying this, she hurried forward. She ran fast, but Song Bai kept pace easily. He unbuttoned his coat and draped it over Jiang Nian. Startled, Jiang Nan said. “I’m not cold.”

Struggling, Jiang Nian was held back by Song Bai. She found his strength to be similar to Lu Yu’s. Once he exerted force, she had no room to resist. Looking at Song Bai’s thin cloth, Jiang Nian felt her eyelids twitch, “I’m really not cold. Please keep your coat on.”

Song Bai smiled, “Come on, sister-in-law. Don’t refuse me. Your face is as red as an apple.”

After saying that, he held Jiang Nian’s shoulders and turned her around. Even through the thick coat, his fingertips felt her slim shoulders. Song Bai thought Jiang Nian was delicate and small, and if she were his soldier, she would fall with just a single move.

Seeing Song Bai insist on escorting her, Jiang Nian couldn’t refuse and had to wear Song Bai’s coat, trying her best to run home to return it early. She ran a short distance and found Song Bai following steadily, making her feel like a turtle.

Jiang Nian: …

The dark night and strong wind distracted Jiang Nian, causing her to not pay attention to her steps. She stumbled into a small pit, and Song Bai reached out to steady her. His long fingers inadvertently exerted a bit of force. He chuckled, “Sister-in-law, slow down.”

Jiang Nian awkwardly smiled, trying to free her arm. Song Bai’s gaze lingered on her misty eyelashes, feeling her arm in his hand. He suddenly felt reluctant to let go. Sensing her resistance, Song Bai sighed and released her hand, “Sister-in-law, watch your step. Don’t fall again.”

Jiang Nian: …

She didn’t want to fall again.

If she fell and made a fool of herself, she’d lose all her dignity.

Back at the door, Jiang Nian handed the coat to Song Bai. When he took it, his fingers inadvertently touched Jiang Nian’s icy-cold fingers, and an inexplicable tingling sensation surged to his heart, making his chest tight and sour. He clenched the coat tightly, looking at Jiang Nian with a smile. After a few throaty rolls, his head suddenly felt hot, and he blurted out, “Sister-in-law, have you ever thought about remarrying?”

Jiang Nian: ?!?!?

Seeing Jiang Nian stunned, Song Bai’s face suddenly turned red. He quickly put on his coat, “I’m going back.”

After saying this, he turned and ran.

He ran very fast, almost disappearing into the night in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Nian snapped out of her daze, not understanding the meaning behind Song Bai’s words. She was awakened by the sound of the bugle call the next day. She yawned, hearing footsteps outside, realizing it was Lu Yu. She quickly put on her clothes and ran out. Lu Yu was carrying water and heading to the kitchen. When he saw Jiang Nian, a smile appeared on his cold, handsome face, “There’s hot water in the thermos. Wash up and come eat.”

“Okay.”

After washing up, Jiang Nian went to the kitchen. Lu Yu had eaten the dinner she had left last night. What she was eating now was freshly made by Lu Yu this morning, along with a bowl of steamed eggs. As Jiang Nian sat down to eat, Lu Yu said, “Did you go to look for me last night?”

Jiang Nian took a sip of the warm porridge, “Yes, Song Bai said you went to the headquarters with the regiment commander.”

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, his deep black eyes falling on Jiang Nian’s bright eyes, “Did he escort you back last night?”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Yes.”

“Eat more.”

Lu Yu scooped some meat into her bowl and said, “Today at noon, several captains and commanders are coming, as well as Zhu Jun and Song Bai, and Xu Yan and their family. After eating, I’ll help you prepare lunch.”

Jiang Nian looked up at him, “Are you not busy today?”

Lu Yu said, “Not busy. Today I’m gathering with my comrades for the last time. The train leaves at 7:00 tomorrow afternoon, and we’ll be there before 5:00 in the morning.”

Thinking of what Ge Mei had said about the Yuan city, Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment. Just as she didn’t know how to speak, Lu Yu said, “When we get to Yuan city, you stay with Director Ge first. I’ll report as soon as I arrive and apply for family housing. Once all the procedures are done, I’ll come pick you up.”

Jiang Nian was taken aback, not expecting that Lu Yu and Ge Mei had discussed something together.

Seeing the surprise in Jiang Nian’s eyes, Lu Yu reached out and ruffled her hair, “What are you thinking about?”

Jiang Nian pursed her lips and smiled, “Nothing much.”

She hadn’t eaten much in the morning, just half a bowl of porridge and half a bowl of egg soup. The rest of the leftovers went into Lu Yu’s stomach. Lu Yu washed the dishes, and Jiang Nian ran back to her room to pack all the clean clothes into a large bundle. Then she went to Lu Yu’s room to tidy up his clothes as well.

At noon, Xu Yan came over to help. There weren’t enough tables and chairs at home, so Lu Yu brought over tables and chairs from Xu Yan and Captain Lu’s homes. Jiang Nian prepared dishes for three tables and even made several types of pastries. By noon, voices and footsteps gradually came from outside the courtyard.

The first to arrive was Song Bai, dressed in military uniform and carrying a big bag of things.

Lu Yu carried the dishes to the table and glanced at the piled-up things in Song Bai’s hands, his brow slightly furrowed. Jiang Nian came out of the kitchen and saw Song Bai placing a pile of things on the table. She was momentarily surprised, “Why did you buy so many things?”

Looking at Jiang Nian’s sparkling eyes, Song Bai glanced at Lu Yu and said to Jiang Nian, “I need to talk to Lu Yu.”

Lu Yu’s deep black eyes narrowed slightly, almost guessing what Song Bai was about to say.