Chapter 33 – Keep Your Distance

“Niannian, look at my hair—it’s so yellow and dry, and the ends are split. Do you have any way to fix it?”

He Meilan looked at Wen Nian’s thick, glossy black hair with undisguised envy.

Her own hair had always been yellowish, fine, and dry since she was a child. Even when it grew out, it would always get split ends and tangles. She’d eaten sesame seeds for years, practically to the point of nausea, but her hair was still sparse.

Having just gotten the fabric she wanted, Wen Nian was in a good mood and didn’t mind sharing a little treasure.

“That’s easy. I have a bottle of hair cream at home. I’ll have Xiuli bring it to you. Just rub some in while washing your hair—massage it a bit longer, and after a few times, you’ll see improvement.”

“Oh wow, Niannian, thank you so much! Don’t worry, next time I get any good fabric, I’ll save it all for you.”

He Meilan had only asked casually, not expecting to get a real answer. She beamed with joy and enthusiastically linked arms with Wen Nian, trying to get closer.

He Xiuli wasn’t having it. Clinging to Wen Nian’s arm, she rocked it back and forth, grumbling, “Niannian, you’re playing favorites. Why didn’t you bring it out earlier if you had something this good? I want some too!”

Wen Nian smiled.

“Look at your hair—it’s black, shiny, and thick. You don’t need hair cream at all.”

“Well, that’s true.”

He Xiuli proudly flicked her two thick braids, clearly delighted by the compliment.

She tugged Wen Nian along and hurried downstairs.

They came in a rush and left in a rush.

“Meilan, who was that girl?”

Next to the sewing machine counter, a middle-aged woman in a grayish-blue top squinted her triangular eyes and leaned over to ask.

The other clerks—men and women alike—also pricked up their ears.

That girl was so charming. Was she seeing anyone yet?

He Meilan curled her lips—don’t think she didn’t notice earlier.

When Wen Nian was upstairs, all those men were practically orbiting around her.

Their eyes were glued to her like they’d been stuck with glue—couldn’t peel them off.

“She’s a friend of my little sister. Came to buy some fabric from me.”

He Meilan casually brushed it off, already seeing through Aunt Qin’s little scheme.

As if her nephew was worthy—ugly, lazy, and a total freeloader. Not even close to being good enough for that girl.

Wen Nian brought all the fabric back to the tailor’s shop.

She made two sets of long-sleeved pajamas, and the rest went into making dresses.

Even though autumn was short, fall outfits were a must.

These past two days, the regiment had been organizing outdoor training. As regiment commander, Lu Hanzheng personally led the drills.

The autumn heat was unrelenting. Thousands of soldiers were hauling logs uphill, drenched in sweat like buckets being dumped.

Come nightfall, the mountain temperatures would suddenly plummet, and they’d be ordered to jump into cold water for more drills—shivering like leaves in the wind.

Still, not a single one dared to complain.

Lu Hanzheng followed the entire training process from start to finish.

His workload was even heavier than theirs, and yet his performance was still the best.

It couldn’t be helped—Lu Hanzheng had always been the benchmark in physical fitness, with a level of strength no one could match.

Some of the rookies were unwilling to accept it.

The 18th Regiment specialized in reconnaissance, and their training intensity was even higher than that of direct combat units. Was that really reasonable?

They tried pushing back a few times but got nowhere. The commander was simply too strong, his capabilities overwhelming.

They couldn’t keep up.

So they gave in and trained properly.

Wen Nian was a bit surprised when she saw him at the dinner table that night.

Wasn’t he supposed to be leading a closed training in the mountains?

Lu Hanzheng sat upright and proper, even while eating.

Didn’t he feel tired?

There were still a few small cuts on his handsome face, likely from the training in the mountains.

He quietly ate his meal, his expression calm and cold, not sparing her even a single glance.

Wen Nian kept her head down and ate her food obediently, no longer giving him any unnecessary attention.

After dinner, Lu Hanzheng didn’t go upstairs. Instead, he sat calmly on the sofa, leisurely picking up a newspaper to read.

Wen Nian slowly and deliberately tidied up the dining table.

Lin Siyun glanced at the two, who were clearly drawing lines in the sand, and understood immediately. She simply turned around and went back to her room.

When she came out again to get a glass of water from the living room, she was stunned.

Lu Hanzheng had rolled up his sleeves and was standing at the kitchen sink, bending over to wash the dishes.

Wen Nian stood beside him, holding a clean cloth, carefully drying each dish he had finished washing.

The two weren’t standing particularly close, and they hadn’t exchanged a single glance.

Yet Lin Siyun could still feel it—there were pink bubbles in the air.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. They aren’t even officially together yet, and he’s already spoiling her.

He wouldn’t even let her do the dishes.

Since she had entered the Lu family’s doors, she had never seen this young master step foot into the kitchen, let alone do housework.

A sour feeling rose in Lin Siyun’s chest.

Her marriage to Lu Binghuai had always been one of mutual interest, with no emotional foundation.

Back when she was young, she had loved Lu Binghuai deeply and refused to marry anyone else.

She thought she would never have a chance—until his ex-wife suddenly passed away.

The Lin family quickly seized the opportunity, offering an olive branch when the Lu family’s power was at its lowest.

That was how she managed to marry into the Lu family.

She knew Lu Binghuai’s heart belonged to his late wife.

She never expected anything from him—being able to coexist peacefully was already more than enough.

But now, seeing this scene, she couldn’t help feeling bitter.

No matter how she told herself not to care, deep down, she still felt a sting of resentment.

Wen Nian dried the dishes slowly and methodically, unhurried and meticulous.

One by one, she wiped them extra carefully.

Even after Lu Hanzheng had finished washing all the dishes and scrubbed the sink until it sparkled, she was still drying.

He frowned slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes.

Ever since he got home, something about Wen Nian had been off.

Normally, they’d sit next to each other during meals.

This time, Jiang Wenwen was between them.

When he came to help wash the dishes, Wen Nian seemed eager to keep three meters of distance between them.

She didn’t look at him, didn’t speak to him—everything about her screamed avoidance.

Lu Hanzheng’s gaze darkened. He silently withdrew his probing eyes and, without a word, moved closer to her.

He grabbed another clean cloth and quickly began drying the remaining dishes.

Wen Nian didn’t stop him. A boyfriend willing to help out was a good thing.

She turned and left the kitchen, starting to tidy up the living room.

There really wasn’t much to clean—she’d already wiped the place down earlier in the day.

Now she was just putting on a show.

This time, Lu Hanzheng didn’t follow her. He sat on the sofa, calmly watching her pretend to be busy.

Feeling his intense gaze burning into her back, Wen Nian hesitated slightly.

She’d been fussing around for quite a while and was starting to feel a bit tired.

She stole a quick glance over her shoulder—and met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

The man stared at her with a faint, teasing smile, his gaze like a predator’s locking onto its prey.

Wen Nian’s heart started pounding uncontrollably. She shot him an annoyed glare.

Then she threw down the cloth and stomped upstairs.

That man is dangerous.

Always tempting her, making her look but not letting her have anything.

Shameless.

After taking a shower, she felt fresh and relaxed.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Wen Nian began counting her money again—she’d made a small fortune selling face cream over the past few months.

She had enough for travel and living expenses now.