Chapter 69.3

The three of them chatted briefly before falling asleep. In the middle of the night, Jiang Nian vaguely heard Wu Youshan’s voice from the next room. The dormitory walls were indeed thin. Wu Youshan was comforting Sun Ying, treating her like a treasure.

Jiang Nian fell asleep again, her last thought being that Sun Ying was ungrateful. Tang Ze was a good man, and she didn’t cherish him for doing such things before marriage. Regardless of Wu Youshan’s character, he treated Sun Ying like a precious gem.

The next morning, after breakfast, Jiang Nian went to the embroidery shop. Near lunchtime, she heard a familiar voice outside.

“Is Jiang Nian here?”

It was Song Bai’s voice.

Jiang Nian was surprised. How did Song Bai come to Yuan City?

Yu Xia and Dong Shu were leaving with their lunchboxes. Seeing Song Bai at the counter, tall and handsome in his military uniform, they paused. Jia Yuan and Fan Shan also came out, equally stunned.

Su Na said, “She’s inside.”

Just then, Jiang Nian emerged, her hair in two braids and her bangs framing her bright eyes. She smiled, “Song Bai, what brings you here?”

Her smile was as beautiful as ever.

Song Bai’s heart pounded. Even though he knew she belonged to someone else, he couldn’t help but want to be near her, to see her more.

Suppressing his feelings, he smiled, “I came to see you.”

After the train station incident, Jiang Nian felt a bit awkward around Song Bai but managed to maintain her composure, smiling, “Does Lu Yu know you’re here?”

Song Bai replied, “He knows. He’ll meet us at the Red Star Hotel later. I’ll take you there first.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Okay.”

She told Shu Xue and Su Na, “You two go to the cafeteria. I have some things to do.”

“Deputy Commander Song.”

“Sister-in-law.”

The shop door opened, and Zhu Jun entered. Seeing Jiang Nian, he grinned, “Sister-in-law, how are you settling in here?”

Jiang Nian smiled, “I’m fine. Didn’t Zhang Xiao come?”

Zhu Jun said, “Her belly was big, so we let her rest at home and didn’t let her run back and forth.”

Tang Ze was also there, looking a bit haggard in his uniform. He greeted Jiang Nian, “Younger sister, long time no see.”

Jiang Nian felt a pang of sympathy for Tang Ze, recalling Sun Ying and Wu Youshan. She smiled lightly. “Why are you here?”

Tang Ze replied, “I’m training troops here this month and will return next month.”

Yu Xia and the others heard Zhu Jun and Tang Ze calling Jiang Nian “Sister-in-law” and were puzzled. She wasn’t married to the commander yet, so why were they already calling her that?

Jia Yuan, feeling envious, snorted and left. Before Jiang Nian arrived, she had been the most well-regarded in the shop, with a deputy director as a mother-in-law and a team leader husband. But ever since Jiang Nian came, it felt like all the attention was on her.

Jia Yuan had seen Jiang Nian’s embroidery skills, and though she disliked Jiang Nian, she couldn’t deny her talent.

Song Bai noticed the tension in the shop and then turned to Jiang Nian, “Sister-in-law, I heard Lu Yu is applying for family housing. You might be moving to the base soon.”

Jiang Nian nodded. “Yes.”

Zhu Jun laughed, “That’s great! Having the commander take care of you himself will put his mind more at ease.”

Tang Ze said, “Younger sister, let’s go. Lu Yu will be here soon.”

Jiang Nian nodded. “Okay.”

As she left with Song Bai and the others, Yu Xia and the rest were left speechless.

Yu Xia had thought the commander was just playing around, but it seemed serious. Even though they weren’t officially married yet, everyone was already calling her sister-in-law, and the commander has also applied for a family housing unit.

Dong Shu realized what was happening and sneered, “What’s she so smug about?”

Despite her words, she couldn’t help but be impressed. A young girl like Jiang Nian, valued by Director Ge for her embroidery skills and marrying such a young and handsome regiment commander, had a bright future ahead. Even without her embroidery, she wouldn’t have to worry about her future, living a life many could only dream of.

Seeing that Yu Xia hadn’t moved, she called out, “Come on, let’s go to the cafeteria.”

Yu Xia snapped out of her thoughts, frowning deeply. How could all the good things happen to Jiang Nian as if she were heaven’s favorite?

Meanwhile, Song Bai and his group had just arrived at the Red Star Hotel when Lu Yu and Chen Yao also arrived.

Lu Yu sat next to Jiang Nian, ordering plenty of meat dishes and not forgetting to serve her, ensuring she ate her fill.

Jiang Nian: …

She looked up at Lu Yu and said, “I really can’t eat anymore.”

Lu Yu patted her head, “If you can’t eat, I’ll eat.”

He then took Jiang Nian’s bowl and chopsticks and ate heartily. Song Bai glanced at Jiang Nian, saying nothing, while Zhu Jun and Tang Ze were stunned, surprised by the intimacy between Lu Yu and Jiang Nian that went beyond what was appropriate for a brother and sister-in-law.

Their behavior was more like a couple than anything else.

Chen Yao was used to this and knew that Lu Yu and Jiang Nian weren’t blood-related, thinking it would be nice if they could be together.

Zhu Jun and Tang Ze withdrew their gazes. Tang Ze recalled how last year his sister-in-law had tried to set up a match between him and Jiang Nian and how Lu Yu had been furious. He raised an eyebrow, looking at the natural interaction between Lu Yu and Jiang Nian.

Had they already been involved last year?

The conversation at the table revolved around military affairs, and Jiang Nian didn’t pay much attention, lost in thoughts about her embroidery designs. She only snapped out of it when she heard Song Bai mention he was going to the frontier. She looked at him in surprise, a beat slow to react. “Where are you going?”

Her slow, disbelieving reaction caught the attention of both Lu Yu and Song Bai.

Lu Yu looked down at Jiang Nian, a faint hint of displeasure in his dark eyes. Jiang Nian, sensing his gaze, glanced at him briefly before looking back at Song Bai, as if that glance was a mere concession.

Lu Yu: …

His lips pressed into a hard line, and he said nothing more.

Song Bai’s heart raced as he gazed at Jiang Nian, unsure of his feelings. He repeated slowly, “I applied to go to the frontier.”

He thought if Jiang Nian would say a word to make him stay, he would do anything to withdraw his application.

Jiang Nian pursed her lips. “The conditions there are quite harsh.”

Song Bai was silent for a moment. Seeing that Jiang Nian said nothing more, he lowered his eyes, a trace of self-mockery passing through them.

He knew the outcome but still deceived himself.

Having known Song Bai for nearly a decade, Tang Ze understood his thoughts. He patted Song Bai’s shoulder. “I’m thinking of applying to go to the frontier too.”

He had stayed here long enough and seen through many things over the years.

Song Bai was startled, looking at Tang Ze with a frown. “Are you crazy?”

Tang Ze: …

“Damn it, you can go to the frontier, but I can’t?”

Song Bai: …

After lunch, as they left the embroidery shop, Song Bai turned to Jiang Nian before leaving, “Sister-in-law, let’s meet again if fate allows.”

This journey to the frontier might mean many years before he could return.

Jiang Nian felt her eyes suddenly heat up, a strange wetness at the corners. She waved at Song Bai, saying, “Until we meet again.”

Song Bai’s eyes were filled with a smile. “Until we meet again.”

Tang Ze and Zhu Jun also waved goodbye. Song Bai looked at Lu Yu and said, “I’m leaving.”

Lu Yu nodded, fist-bumping Song Bai, “Take care of yourself. If you can’t adapt, come back.”

Song Bai smiled and walked away briskly.

Jiang Nian watched as Tang Ze and Zhu Jun also left, feeling a sudden sense of loss. Her wrist was suddenly grabbed, causing a slight pain, and Lu Yu’s deep voice sounded in her ear. “Why were you watching so intently?”

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Ayalee: Whoops! someone’s jealous.. (˵ ꒡﹏꒡˵)