Shen Qingqing hadn't slept for long before being awakened by a knock on the door.
Perhaps to avoid disturbing others, the person outside only knocked three times and then stopped.
Shen Qingqing turned over, her eyelids sticking together once more.
In a daze, she heard someone calling her name.
"Shen Qingqing, open the door."
The room's soundproofing wasn't great, and Jiang Zhixun's voice clearly reached her ears.
Shen Qingqing was usually easygoing, except when being disturbed from sleep.
Especially by Jiang Zhixun.
In an instant, a fire ignited in her heart.
What was he here for again? By his standards, shouldn't he be avoiding her these days?
After all, before in the cafeteria, Jiang Zhixun didn't even give her a chance to speak privately.
The fire in her heart burned fiercer.
Shen Qingqing pulled the quilt over her head, pretending she hadn't heard anything.
The man outside the door was getting anxious.
Could Shen Qingqing really have fainted?
Just the thought alone made Jiang Zhixun uneasy.
"Shen Qingqing?"
Still, no response from inside.
Without hesitation, Jiang Zhixun quickly went downstairs, and when he reappeared, he had a key in hand.
Xiao Li was aware of Shen Qingqing's state.
Thinking that the couple was having a quarrel and Miss Shen was deliberately not opening the door for Jiang Zhixun, he didn't follow.
As the door opened, the room's layout was immediately visible.
Jiang Zhixun rushed to the bedside and saw the person on the bed lying motionless, his heart leaping to his throat.
Without a second thought, he lifted the quilt, ready to take Shen Qingqing to the hospital.
The change happened too quickly; Shen Qingqing, who had been playing deaf, couldn't help but let out a gasp.
She was wearing a nightdress, and as he lifted the quilt, the hem was drawn up to her thighs.
Revealing her fair, slender legs.
The sky hadn't yet brightened, and the room was shrouded in darkness. Jiang Zhixun maintained a posture of bending over to carry someone.
One hand already under Shen Qingqing's back, the other touching her smooth, warm thigh.
His ears were assaulted by Shen Qingqing's gasp.
Looking down.
His vision was so sharp that the darkness did not hinder his sight.
He was suddenly taken aback.
Before he could regain his senses, he was pushed away, and Shen Qingqing wrapped herself tightly.
She glared angrily at Jiang Zhixun, "How can you just come in suddenly?"
The man silently turned around and first closed the bedroom door.
Shen Qingqing sat up nervously.
She backed away until her back was against the wall.
At this time, she couldn't grasp why Jiang Zhixun would come.
He had just held her...
Did he really take his mother's words to heart and intend to have children with her?
Her throat tightened, "You, you turn on the light first."
Jiang Zhixun hadn't yet recovered from the earlier shock. Although they were married, he hadn't seen anything he wasn't supposed to see.
He closed his eyes, trying to shake off the earlier scene from his mind.
But it was in vain.
In the dimly lit room, the only sounds were their breathing and Shen Qingqing's rapidly pounding heart.
With a click.
Jiang Zhixun turned on the light.
The silent spread of emotions dissipated.
He glanced at the curtains and put his hands in his pockets, "Why didn't you respond earlier?"
Shen Qingqing countered, "Why are you here so early? Is there something urgent?"
Jiang Zhixun had nothing urgent.
He had just had a dream, felt uneasy, so he came to check on Shen Qingqing.
After all, she was his wife in name; he couldn't just ignore her wellbeing.
Facing the confusion in her eyes, he swallowed.
In the end, he left without saying a word.
Not forgetting to gently close the door behind him.
The room returned to its usual tranquility.
If it weren't for the light still being on, Shen Qingqing might have doubted that everything just now was a dream.
Jiang Zhixun really had come.
He left without a word.
Reaching over for the watch on the table, she checked the time and saw it was only four in the morning.
Shen Qingqing angrily slammed her fist into the pillow.
"Is something wrong with him? If he can't sleep, does he not allow others to sleep either!"
Threw the watch back on the table, then got out of bed to turn off the light.
It's very cold.
A layer of goosebumps immediately appeared on her skin.
Shen Qingqing hurriedly ducked back into the covers, finally feeling alive again.
She cursed Jiang Zhixun thoroughly.
He's a bully, three years ago and still is now!
Once they're divorced, she'll definitely stay far away from him.
No more giving him the chance to bully her!
Jiang Zhixun left the guesthouse, and the further he walked, the faster his heart raced.
His large hand clenched tightly.
Despite the cold weather, his hands were sweating.
He ran dozens of laps on the field, gradually calming his mood.
...
Jiang Zhixun and his comrades completed their mission and could take a two-day leave.
According to the original plan, Lin Zhidong was to invite his closest comrades home for a meal to celebrate his child's first birthday.
Now, he's in a dilemma.
If he invites Jiang Zhixun, he definitely can't leave out Shen Qingqing.
If he invites them over, he's afraid his sister might suddenly speak out of turn.
It's not just about an awkward atmosphere; it might even affect Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing's marital relationship.
Lin Zhidong's wife Zhou Xiaomei saw him worrying early in the morning and offered a suggestion.
"Tomorrow we can host them at the state-owned hotel. Let Xiao Mian stay home to take care of the child, so she won't run into Jiang Zhixun's wife."
Zhou Xiaomei works in the cultural troupe, doing clerical work.
But she knows a few single female comrades who sing and dance are interested in pursuing Jiang Zhixun.
Some bold ones have even confessed to him.
But all were rejected.
Zhou Xiaomei once heard someone complain that Jiang Zhixun was too hard to pursue, suspecting he wanted to be single forever.
Unexpectedly, he had quietly married three years ago.
Zhou Xiaomei was very curious about Shen Qingqing.
She wants to see what kind of woman could make Jiang Zhixun agree to marry her.
She also wants to find out more about their relationship.
If their relationship is good, why hasn't Jiang Zhixun returned home in three years?
Lin Zhidong immediately rejected Zhou Xiaomei's suggestion.
"Not taking Xiao Mian to the state-owned hotel, if she finds out, she'll blow the roof off."
Zhou Xiaomei is also a bit afraid of her sister-in-law; she can be quite a handful when she starts causing trouble.
Luckily, her sister-in-law is efficient and is genuinely good to the child, so Zhou Xiaomei doesn't fuss too much.
Since she helps take care of the child, it's somewhat ungrateful to nitpick.
Although she could get someone else to help, it's more reassuring to have family.
"We'll make it up to her by bringing back a bowl of braised pork and two meat buns."
"Isn't she reluctant to use her face cream? Only smearing it every two or three days, her face is almost cracking from the cold, we'll buy her a jar, let her use it as she pleases."
In different circumstances, these things could appease his sister.
But the situation is special now.
If she isn't taken to the state-owned hotel, she'll definitely feel they're favoring outsiders.
Deliberately preventing her from meeting Miss Shen.
She might even feel that they're embarrassed by her, otherwise why not let her join the table for a meal?
She might think the brought-back food is just leftovers…
Lin Zhidong knew his sister's temper and already envisioned her crying and fussing.
Found it increasingly headache-inducing.
"Whether to celebrate the birthday or not, maybe just don't invite anyone, which conveniently saves a few meal tickets."
Lin Zhidong treasures his son, and his comrades always bring supplements for the child whenever they visit.
Sometimes encountered outside, they eagerly want to hold the little baby.
Good relations made Lin Zhidong want to take the opportunity during his leave to invite good brothers home for a lively gathering.
Zhou Xiaomei, with a resentful tone, said, "Who told you to have a big mouth, announcing it early? Now that it's coming up, aren't you afraid of others gossiping if you suddenly cancel?"
"They aren't those kind of people."
On this, Lin Zhidong was sure, but backing out last minute indeed wasn't good.
Scratching his head, "How about we just cook at home? It's only three or four people, there's enough room at home, and with something to do, Xiao Mian won't have time to nitpick over details."
At least with so many people watching, she likely won't misbehave.
Zhou Xiaomei agreed, "Alright then. I'll go to the guesthouse after work at noon, personally invite Miss Shen, otherwise, it'll seem insincere."
Lin Zhidong nodded. "Makes sense, Xiao Mian offended Miss Shen yesterday and didn't properly apologize, so when you go, say something nice on her behalf, don't let Miss Shen bear a grudge."
Zhou Xiaomei pouted, "I've apologized on your sister's behalf so many times, she really needs to change her attitude!"
Lin Zhidong also wanted his sister to change her temperament.
But as she grew up, she's formed her own ideas, and he's truly at a loss.
"Take it slow, with you guiding her, she's improved a lot this past year."
With one sentence, he cheered up his wife.
Zhou Xiaomei snorted, "She's your own sister, so she's family to me too, how can I not care about her?"