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

"When I was helping my husband home, we ran into one of his comrades. I accidentally let it slip about the prize for winning Devil’s Week—a 28-inch bicycle."

Wen Ci, who had thought something serious had happened, smiled calmly. "What’s there to apologize for? That bicycle is meant to be given away as a prize."

Zhu Jing sighed in relief.

She had wanted to stop her husband from saying anything, but she was a step too slow and couldn’t cover his mouth in time. She licked her lips and added:

"But that man is the biggest gossip in the military district. I bet by now the entire Northwest knows about it..."

Wen Ci shrugged, completely unconcerned. "So what if they know? What’s the big deal?"

Seeing Wen Ci’s relaxed attitude, Zhu Jing changed the subject. "So, is Mr. Huo coming back for dinner tonight?"

Wen Ci shook her head. "I don’t know."

She had only asked Huo Jingyuan if he was coming back tonight.

Not if he was coming back for dinner.

"Let’s go ahead and eat without him."

The sun sank in the west, its romantic glow filling the sky. There were no lights in the courtyard, so they had to finish their meal before sunset.

Amidst their cheerful laughter, the last of the sunlight faded away.

Zhu Jing rolled up her sleeves and started helping clear the finished bowls and chopsticks from the table. Seeing Wen Ci stand up as well, she said, "Let the rest of us handle the dishes."

"No, no." Wen Ci shook her head emphatically. Sister Jing and the others had already done the dishes at lunch; it wouldn’t be right to let them do it again. "You’re the birthday girl, you can’t wash dishes. Let me do it."

’In her mind, the birthday girl wasn’t supposed to do any chores on her birthday. She just had to sit back and enjoy herself. It had been that way ever since she was little.’

"Don’t be silly about this ’birthday girl’ stuff."

In the end, Wen Ci couldn’t win against the other women. She only helped clear the table before the sky grew dark and everyone headed home.

The once-lively courtyard fell silent after everyone left.

-

「Deep in the night.」

Huo Jingyuan returned from the barracks to find only a single kerosene lamp lit in the living room.

Wen Ci was on the sofa watching an old TV show from the eighties. Hearing the door open, she looked over at him. "Have you eaten?"

"I have."

As he spoke, Huo Jingyuan unhurriedly took off his jacket, revealing a powerful chest. The faint outline of his abs was visible at his waist.

Wen Ci’s eyes widened. "Getting straight to it?"

"I thought we were going until tomorrow morning?"

Wen Ci curled into a corner of the sofa, hugging herself tightly in a defensive posture. Her voice was frantic. "No, wait, I have to work tomorrow!"

Huo Jingyuan closed the distance step by step. With his powerful arms, he scooped her right off the sofa. His deep eyes gazed down at the woman in his embrace.

"Running your mouth last night while I was exhausted, were you?"

The man’s voice was a low, seductive rumble. The pads of his fingers traced paths up and down her back as he chuckled. "Well, I’m all recovered today. Let’s see if you’ll still dare to run your mouth in the future."

Wen Ci immediately begged for mercy. "I was wrong, Mr. Huo! I’ll never run my mouth like that again."

"If you were wrong, there must be a punishment."

Wen Ci gritted her teeth. "And what if I wasn’t wrong?"

"Then I’ll just have to teach you a harsh lesson."

Wen Ci: "..."

’So, either way...’

’...there was no escaping a ’lesson’ tonight.’

Wen Ci sighed softly, deciding to give up the struggle. "Only once!" she declared firmly.

"Not enough."

-

The night was long, and Wen Ci’s body grew tired and drowsy.

By the time morning came, Huo Jingyuan saw his wife still showed no signs of waking. Looking at Wen Ci’s peaceful face, he couldn’t help but gently stroke her brow.

His touch was so light it didn’t wake her.

Before getting out of bed, Huo Jingyuan pulled the blanket up a little higher for her, then went to the living room. He used the landline to call the hospital and request a day of marriage leave for Wen Ci.