First Night with the Army: The Stoic Big Shot Is Done Pretending

Wen Ci slurped a mouthful of noodles. "I’m fine with anything."

After they finished their noodles, Huo Jingyuan gathered the dishes to wash them, but Wen Ci stopped him, declaring, "I’ll wash the bowls. You cook, I wash—that’s the rule!"

Wen Ci was from Sichuan and Chongqing.

Among married couples there, if one person cooked, the other was responsible for washing the dishes.

That was how Wen Ci had been raised.

-

That evening, an unexpected guest arrived at the Huo family’s home.

Wen Ci was home watching the black-and-white television. Huo Jingyuan was out handling the paperwork for the house, leaving Wen Ci all by herself.

A knock sounded at the door.

Wen Ci went to open the door. Her visitor was Jiang Zhenjun.

The original body’s biological father.

"Where is Huo Jingyuan?" Jiang Zhenjun’s brow furrowed slightly when he saw Wen Ci. He carried the intimidating aura of a man in power. "Are you home alone?"

Wen Ci shrugged. "What does it look like?"

Wen Ci was unfazed by the aura of a man in power.

In her past life, she had killed countless infected humans on the battlefield.

She possessed a formidable killing intent, but she simply kept it suppressed.

Seeing her indifferent attitude, Jiang Zhenjun’s eyes narrowed. He demanded, "I’m your father. What is this tone you’re using with me?"

Wen Ci smiled, meeting his gaze. "Did you ever raise me?" she asked coolly.

That single sentence made the atmosphere drop to a freezing point.

Jiang Zhenjun’s anger dissipated at her words. He softened his stern expression slightly and asked again, "Where is Huo Jingyuan?"

"I don’t know," Wen Ci replied languidly.

"I heard you jumped into the sea today?"

Wen Ci chuckled. "That’s called swimming."

Suddenly, Wen Ci spotted Huo Jingyuan talking to someone in the distance. She pointed in his direction. "There, Huo Jingyuan is over there. Go find him yourself."

With that, Wen Ci shut the door.

’Hah. My so-called biological father shows up just to put on airs. I’d rather be watching the black-and-white TV than wasting time chatting with him.’

Wen Ci returned to the living room, happily watching the television. The number of channels available in this era was minuscule, but the quality of the programming was extremely high.

A moment later, Wen Ci heard a key turning in the lock.

Judging by the footsteps in the courtyard, there were two people. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The corner of Wen Ci’s mouth twitched. ’So my so-called father came in too.’

"Uncle Jiang, would you like some water? I’ll pour you a glass."

"No need. I just heard Wen Ci jumped into the sea, so I came to check on her. Tonight, I’d like to treat you to dinner at the state-run restaurant."

Huo Jingyuan was just about to refuse.

"I want to go." Wen Ci’s voice cut in. She walked to the doorway and looked at the two men in the courtyard, saying unhurriedly, "I’ve been in Beijing for so long and still haven’t eaten at a state-run restaurant."

The original owner of this body had eaten nothing but bland, unappetizing food her entire life. Even after the Jiang Family took her in, she’d never once eaten at a state-run restaurant.

Huo Jingyuan agreed. "Alright then, Uncle Jiang. We’ll see you tonight."

Jiang Zhenjun glanced at Wen Ci. He felt that his biological daughter seemed different now. When they had first brought her back, she was cautious, timid, and weak.

But now, all of that was gone.

-

The military compound in Beijing was in a prime location. Right outside was a main street, and the city’s state-run restaurant was only a six or seven-minute walk away.

As Wen Ci walked out of the compound, she couldn’t help but look all around. Beijing was a true Capital City, just not the one she was used to seeing.

There was no bustling traffic on the main street, nor were there any skyscrapers.

The buildings on both sides of the road were all red-brick-and-tile houses, most of them only one or two stories high. Tall trees were planted every few meters along the roadside, but the only ones Wen Ci recognized were the willows.