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

Huo Jingyuan nodded.

He hadn’t actually given it any thought. On his way to the military region’s cafeteria that morning, he’d bumped into the Youth League Secretary, who asked him how his blissful night had gone.

The secretary was a married man, and he saw Huo Jingyuan’s triumphant expression.

He knew at once that Huo Jingyuan had broken his dry spell. As a man of experience, he advised him to buy some medicine from the base hospital. A soldier’s stamina was impressive, plus they had been separated for two years.

An encounter after so long was bound to be a marathon.

The Northwest Military Region Hospital even sold a special anti-swelling combination pack.

-

Wen Ci’s face flushed red again. The base hospital wasn’t far from the family housing quarters, so everyone would know exactly which husband had bought the medicine. And she was a prospective nurse who hadn’t even started her job there yet.

She was already so mortified she didn’t dare show her face at work!

’My first night on the base...’

"What’s wrong?" Huo Jingyuan asked.

Wen Ci puffed up her cheeks. "I’m not speaking to you right now!"

At the dinner table, Wen Ci gazed at the bowl of corn and pork rib soup, her mouth watering. Just from the vibrant color of the corn, she could tell it would be perfectly sweet.

She adored sweet corn.

Wen Ci lifted the bowl. A light sheen glistened on the broth. She took a delicate sip of the pork rib soup. It was still a bit hot, so she blew on it gently before taking a proper mouthful.

She closed her eyes in blissful satisfaction.

’This soup is heavenly. Not greasy at all.’

Wen Ci gave Huo Jingyuan a thumbs-up, her eyes crinkling into a smile as she praised him profusely. "Huo Jingyuan, your cooking is so good, you could be a professional chef!"

This was, without a doubt, the highest possible compliment one could pay a cook.

"Talk less, eat more."

The corn and pork rib soup Huo Jingyuan had made himself was incredible—not just the broth, but the ribs and corn were also first-rate. Wen Ci was thoroughly satisfied with the meal.

Suddenly, Huo Jingyuan seemed to remember something. His gaze locked onto Wen Ci as he asked, "Ah Ci, do you want to report for duty at the base hospital next Monday, or the Monday after?"

Wen Ci was gnawing on a pork rib when she heard him. She thought for a moment. Today was Wednesday, so there were still a full four days until next Monday.

And the Monday after that was eleven days away.

There was nothing to do at home besides watch TV. She figured she might as well start work at the hospital to kill time instead of just sitting around.

"I’ll go with next Monday," Wen Ci said.

"But..." The moment he said "next Monday," Huo Jingyuan regretted it. He paused, his expression turning serious. "Your... injury. Will it be better in four days?"

Wen Ci: "..."

’I’m just red and swollen!’

’It’s not some serious illness.’

’Forget four days; with my constitution, the swelling will be gone in two days, tops.’

Wen Ci decided to ignore him and eat in peace.

Half an hour later, Wen Ci had finished her meal. She rubbed her soft belly and sighed, "That was so satisfying."

"I’ll do the dishes, then," Huo Jingyuan volunteered.

Wen Ci didn’t object. ’He was the one who put in all the effort last night, after all,’ she thought.

By the time they finished eating, it was already past three in the afternoon. Not wanting to lie down right after a meal, Wen Ci grabbed a couple of throw pillows and propped them behind her back.

She watched Huo Jingyuan’s form in the kitchen as he washed the dishes.

A smile touched Wen Ci’s lips. ’Life is good.’

There were only a few dishes, and Huo Jingyuan made quick work of them. Once they were clean, he dried his hands on a clean towel.

He walked toward Wen Ci at an unhurried pace. Stopping in front of her, he bent down and scooped her up in a princess carry.

Wen Ci’s eyes went wide. "What do you think you’re doing?"

She could feel the searing heat of his large hands through her thin silk pajamas. She swallowed nervously. "Huo Jingyuan, you can’t be that much of an animal, can you?"

"What’s going on in that little head of yours?"

Huo Jingyuan looked down at the woman in his arms and chuckled.