Chapter 8

Seeing He Bingning offer her a lipstick, Wang Jiahui’s already-small eyes widened in shock. She quickly waved her hands.

“This is far too expensive—I can’t accept it. Besides, I’m just a country woman. Even if I put something on my lips, it won’t look good.”

He Bingning pressed the lipstick into her hand.

“Just take it. You and I are already good sisters now. I accepted your gift—if you don’t take mine, you’ll make me lose face.”

Wang Jiahui’s eyes burned hot; she nearly burst into tears. She knew her background was humble, her man wasn’t around, and the other wives in the compound all looked down on her. She also knew that many were jealous of He Bingning, saying she was arrogant. But to her, Bingning was truly beautiful and kindhearted—none of the others could compare.

“Alright then, I’ll keep this gift for now. When my husband comes back, I’ll wear it.” Wang Jiahui said, her gaze full of longing, full of yearning.

Many women lived only for their men. Wang Jiahui was one of them.

But her man didn’t truly care for her—in fact, he hurt her deeply.

In He Bingning’s memory, before long Wang Jiahui’s husband would bring another woman back. Because military marriages could not be easily dissolved, as long as Wang Jiahui refused to divorce, the mistress couldn’t take her place. Her husband would also face disciplinary action.

For this reason, he treated her with cold indifference, emotional abuse, pressuring her to leave. Meanwhile, the mistress would kneel before her day after day, begging. The compound swirled with endless gossip. In the end, Wang Jiahui couldn’t bear it—she took her own life.

Because of her suicide, the scumbag and the mistress were able to be together openly, marrying without consequence. They even twisted the truth, claiming the mistress had only been “taking care” of him—at Wang Jiahui’s own dying request.

Once dead, she could no longer defend herself. The living always had the final word.

At that time, He Bingning had already left the military compound. She only heard about it afterward. She had felt heartache for Wang Jiahui, but had been powerless.

Her own life back then had been in shambles too, her health broken by illness.

Perhaps only after enduring real suffering could she truly empathize with Wang Jiahui.

But now—she had been reborn. Her fate was already different. Perhaps Wang Jiahui’s fate could change too.

All things begin from a single thought…

He Bingning smiled.

“Jiahui, let me do your makeup now. You’re actually very pretty—once you have makeup on, you’ll be even more beautiful.”

Wang Jiahui hesitated, but Bingning pulled her to sit at the vanity and, without giving her a chance to refuse, began to apply makeup.

Since Jiahui had never worn makeup before, Bingning chose a light touch—mainly to brighten her complexion—before finally applying lipstick.

The moment the soft red touched her lips, Wang Jiahui’s whole face lit up with radiance.

When she looked in the mirror, she was stunned. She had never imagined that she could look this beautiful.

She was smiling, but suddenly a thought struck her. She turned to Bingning.

“Bingning… my husband isn’t home right now. For me to be painting my face like this—doesn’t it seem improper?”

In many people’s minds, a woman dressed up only for a man. In fact, a woman’s whole life was supposed to revolve around a man. For someone like Wang Jiahui, born in the countryside, such beliefs ran even deeper.

Bingning shook her head with a warm smile.

“Dressing up is for yourself. As for men—when they’re good, they’re your husband. When they’re not… they’re just someone else’s husband.”

Meanwhile, here was Jiahui, pinching and scraping to get by, while her own husband? Likely spending every night wrapped around another woman.

According to the timeline, those things had already happened—just not yet come to light.

Wang Jiahui didn’t catch the hidden meaning in Bingning’s words. At this moment, she still fully trusted her man, still dreaming that once his assignment ended, they would reunite happily.

“Bingning, you mustn’t say that. The law protects military marriages. Once you’re married, it’s for life. A husband is ours, and that never changes.” She smiled, firmly believing every word.

Bingning only nodded, saying no more.

It was true, military marriages couldn’t be dissolved easily. But Wang Jiahui hadn’t divorced—she had broken down and taken her own life.

Women often tried to stir a man’s conscience by destroying themselves. But not every man had a conscience.

Thinking this, Bingning’s thoughts drifted to Gu Huai.

Gu Huai was a good man. In her last life, the one who had been wrong was her, not him. His life had no stain, no flaw. He was too perfect—so perfect that Bingning felt she hadn’t deserved him.

He was the man her grandfather had chosen for her. And time had proven her grandfather’s judgment.

“Jiahui, tonight I want to cook for Gu Huai. Is there a market nearby? Would you come with me to take a look?” Bingning asked.

Jiahui had moved into the compound earlier than her and knew the area better.

“The nearest market… isn’t that close. Walking would take about twenty minutes. By bike it’s quicker—just a few minutes.”

“Is that so?” Bingning smiled. “Then never mind. I don’t know how to ride a bicycle anyway.”

Jiahui let out a quiet sigh of relief. If Bingning had asked her to ride bikes together, she wouldn’t know what to do. She didn’t have one—no money to buy, and borrowing wasn’t so simple.

A bicycle was considered a valuable possession. People didn’t lend them easily. And if something happened—repairing it would cost dearly.

“How about buying a little from the cafeteria instead? I’ve heard people have done that,” Jiahui suggested.

Bingning’s eyes lit up. “Really? That’s possible?”

“Once in a while, it should be fine. The cafeteria surely has extras,” Jiahui explained. “And you’re only making one meal—you don’t need much.”

“That’s true!” Bingning said happily. “I just need some vegetables and meat. I still have rice at home.”

“Mhm.” Jiahui smiled too.

Bingning was beautiful, but her gentle playfulness made her even more approachable. She was captivating—and Jiahui didn’t feel jealous at all. From her heart, she treated Bingning as a sister.

“I’ll carry the two babies out, and we’ll go buy food together at the cafeteria,” Bingning said cheerfully.

The babies were perfectly safe at home, but she wanted to take them out for some sunlight.

Jiahui’s cheeks flushed as she nodded. Among the wives in the compound in the past couple of years, only Bingning had gotten pregnant—and she’d even had twins, a boy and a girl.

Jiahui thought to herself: if only some of that fortune could rub off on her. Once her husband returned, she’d strive to have a child too—then her marriage would feel more secure.

“Let me carry one of the babies,” Jiahui said, her eyes full of eager longing.

The two pink, tender infants were irresistible.

“Alright,” Bingning said generously. “Thank you. In a few days, I’ll buy a baby stroller—then I won’t have to carry them all the time.”

“What’s a baby stroller?” Jiahui asked curiously.