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

A smile spread across Wen Ci’s face at Huo Jingyuan’s confirmation. She watched him quietly as he ate his noodles, and after he finished, she said, "The pavilion is all yours, then."

"I’ll go to Sea City this weekend to buy the materials."

"Okay." Wen Ci stood up from her chair, picked up the bowl Huo Jingyuan had finished with, and asked him, "So are you leaving tonight?"

"I have to."

The field training was located at a training ground in the Gobi Desert. He had taken three hours of leave and had to rush back immediately after applying Wen Ci’s ointment.

Huo Jingyuan walked over to Wen Ci, took her slender wrist, and narrowed his eyes. His voice was alluring, tinged with a soft, lingering tenderness.

"Don’t worry about the dishes just yet. Let me help you with the ointment first."

Hearing Huo Jingyuan’s voice, Wen Ci’s heart began to race. Her ears flushed bright red, and she bit her lip shyly. "It doesn’t need ointment."

"Still shy?"

"N-no, I’m not shy." Wen Ci looked up at him and spoke slowly, "The swelling and redness in that area are already gone. It doesn’t need any more ointment."

At her words, Huo Jingyuan raised his eyebrows in surprise. The army doctor at the hospital had told him she would need to apply it continuously for several days for the swelling to go down, and that they were to abstain from intercourse during that time.

He’d had to restrain himself over and over last night.

"What’s with that look?"

"It’s nothing." Huo Jingyuan lowered his gaze. ’It seems my wife’s constitution is out of the ordinary.’ He let go of Wen Ci’s wrist. "I’ll do the dishes, and then I’ll head back."

"Alright," Wen Ci said agreeably.

-

「Two days later.」

「A firing range in the Gobi Desert, Northwest Military Region.」

Huo Jingyuan held a rifle, his tall frame clad in a camouflage spring training uniform. As he pulled the trigger, a series of gunshots rang out.

Every bullet found the ten-ring.

Xue Li walked up behind Huo Jingyuan, a set of car keys in his hand. "Brother Huo, your application was approved. These are the keys to a small to medium-sized military truck."

Huo Jingyuan’s clearance only allowed him to drive a pickup truck at most.

But long wooden planks wouldn’t fit in a pickup truck, so Huo Jingyuan had specifically applied for a small to medium-sized military truck. Not only could it haul the planks, but he could also bring back some equipment.

"What’d you apply for this truck for?"

Huo Jingyuan spoke slowly, "To haul wooden planks."

As his voice faded, he seemed to think of something. He placed the rifle back in its rack, glanced sideways at Xue Li, and said flatly, "I’ll need you to come and help then."

"Help?" Xue Li didn’t understand. "Help with what?"

"You’ll find out when the time comes."

As evening approached, Huo Jingyuan returned to the family residences. He had handed over all his salary and savings, and he needed money to go to Hai City to buy materials for the pavilion.

"I need to make a trip to Sea City tonight."

Wen Ci looked at the sky outside. The sun had already set, and darkness was gradually falling. She frowned and asked, "Is it for a mission? Or...?"

"It counts as a mission, and I’ll buy the planks while I’m at it."

Huo Jingyuan held out his calloused palm, his gaze fixed on Wen Ci. His thin lips moved. "I’ve already handed my savings over to my wife. I’m broke."

The man deliberately emphasized the word "wife."

Wen Ci: "..."

She rolled her eyes at him, then went back inside to get him some money. Placing it in his palm, she urged, "Be careful on the road. Drive slowly."

「The next day.」

Wen Ci was sitting in the courtyard, a nursing guide held in her hands. Today was Saturday, and she would be starting her job as a nurse at the hospital the next day.

She wanted to study up beforehand on what a nurse was expected to do.

Suddenly, she heard a car pull up to the gate, followed by a knock. It was accompanied by Xue Li’s voice. "Sister-in-law, open up!"

Wen Ci put down her book and hurried to open the door.

As she opened it, she saw several young men in civilian clothes standing outside. Next to them was a small to medium-sized truck loaded with wooden planks.