"Actually, we could have given President Zhou an answer just now. Why wait three days?"
"Sweetheart, do you want to take on this project?"
Jiang Si nodded without denying it.
Just as she had said before marriage, she wouldn’t work for mere pennies—there was no need.
The assets she currently held were enough to sustain herself comfortably and even raise future children well.
But painting was the only hobby she had persistently maintained over the years.
She didn’t want to let down all the effort she had poured into it.
Moreover, if this project were completed successfully, it would become a defining highlight of her artistic career.
Naturally, Jiang Si wanted to take it.
Huo Tingzhou knew this well, which was why he had said what he did earlier.
He replied, "If you want to do it, then take it—but only if it doesn’t exhaust you. I’ll handle the scheduling."
Jiang Si paused at his words. "How will you manage that?"
Could it be that after his debriefing, he would return to Qiongzhou Island first, and once she finished her work, they’d reunite in Hu City?
That didn’t sound impossible, but still—"Would you really be okay going back alone?"
Huo Tingzhou pressed his thin lips together, this time answering honestly.
No, he wouldn’t be okay!
And he wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone in Capital City either.
A six-meter-high mural was at least two and a half stories tall.
Even with safety measures in place, he worried about her well-being.
Taking out the scarf he had brought, he tied it around her neck into a neat bow before speaking again.
"Before this mission, I already submitted a request for recuperation leave."
"Originally, I planned to take you to a retreat after my debriefing."
Knowing how much she loved soaking in baths, he had specifically chosen a recuperation center with hot springs.
But plans often changed, and this would have to wait for another time.
"Recuperation?"
Hearing this, Jiang Si suddenly remembered.
Pilots were required to undergo a month of mandatory recuperation every year, just like their physical exams—it was a strict regulation.
All major military districts across the country had their own recuperation centers.
Pilots could choose any of them, with the best facilities located in places like Hangcheng. Family members could join, though they’d have to cover their own expenses.
If she factored in the debriefing period, they’d have a month and a half of leave.
That was more than enough time.
Thinking of this, Jiang Si’s eyes brightened.
Seeing her smile, Huo Tingzhou felt the small regret in his heart fade.
As long as she was happy.
Of course Jiang Si was happy—but she couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy.
She remembered from the original novel that Huo Tingzhou had been sent on a secret mission to the border region at the end of this month.
Yet this new assignment seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Now she wasn’t even sure if his name would appear on the mission roster in a few days.
Hesitantly, she asked, "If you stay in Capital City for recuperation this time, will you end up being sent on another mission like last time, barely staying two days?"
Jiang Si didn’t mean anything by the question, but Huo Tingzhou seemed to misunderstand.
He thought she was worried about being left behind again, as before.
Immediately, he reassured her, "No. Under normal circumstances, the same person isn’t assigned multiple missions in a short period."
"But last time, they still sent you?"
"That was because of special circumstances."
As for the exact reason, the military hadn’t released an official statement yet, so Huo Tingzhou could only share what he was allowed to.
"Don’t worry. My recuperation request has already been approved. No emergency assignments will be given to me after this."
With his reassurance, Jiang Si could finally set her mind at ease—for now.
What she didn’t know was that Huo Tingzhou’s recent border mission had actually been influenced, in part, by her own actions.
Seeing that they had settled the matter, Jiang Si checked the competition schedule. The men’s track and field events were currently underway.
After watching the races, they could take a quick look around the spectator stands.
That would wrap up the morning.
"Let’s grab lunch nearby, then come back early in the afternoon to finish up."
Huo Tingzhou had no objections to her plan.
His only condition remained the same: "Just don’t push yourself too hard."
Jiang Si chuckled—she wasn’t foolish.
But as she smiled, her gaze landed on the dark circles under Huo Tingzhou’s eyes, and her heart clenched.
Knowing him, he had probably pulled at least two all-nighters, showered, changed, and come straight here without rest.
Going days without sleep—was he trying to kill himself?
He might not care, but Jiang Si wasn’t about to become a widow so young!
"Azhou—"
Hearing her call him by that name softened Huo Tingzhou’s heart instantly.
"What is it? I’m here."
"Let’s go home now."
"Right now?"
Huo Tingzhou was momentarily thrown off. Hadn’t she just said they’d eat nearby and continue in the afternoon?
"Yes, now." Jiang Si nodded firmly.
If she didn’t insist, Huo Tingzhou’s stubbornness would keep him here even if nine oxen tried dragging him away.
The event lasted three days—they could always come back tomorrow.
Taking the water bottle hanging from his shoulder, she added, "Tell those two officers from earlier that I’m tired and want to rest early. They should head back too."
"Alright."
Once Huo Tingzhou was out of sight, Jiang Si unscrewed the bottle and discreetly added a few drops of spiritual spring water.
Meanwhile, Huo Tingzhou noticed upon leaving the lounge that the group of college students was still lingering nearby.
He spared them only a glance before looking away.
As a man, he recognized the way they looked at his wife—he had seen the same expression on his own face before.
But Huo Tingzhou was nearly a decade older than them, so he didn’t dwell on it—until one of them called out to him.
Jiang Si had been facing away earlier and didn’t see who had hailed her as "comrade."
But Huo Tingzhou recognized the young man immediately—the same one who had stopped her before.
"What is it?" he asked.
The student hesitated before mustering his courage. "Uh… Mister…"
Mister?
The term made Huo Tingzhou stiffen. He raised a brow, staring back.
Though he couldn’t see his own expression, he knew it must have darkened, because the young man immediately stumbled over his words.
"Sorry—I mean, brother…"
After several awkward apologies, the flustered student finally got to the point.
"Is Comrade Jiang here? There’s something I’d like to ask her."
Sensing nothing good, Huo Tingzhou was about to clarify his relationship when the young man barreled on.
"If she’s not around, could you pass on a message for me?"
"My name is Xiao Gang, 21 years old, a student in the 65th class of the Fine Arts Academy’s sketching department."
"My parents are both employees of the electric machinery factory, our family background is impeccable, and my academic performance is outstanding..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the students at the art academy gaped in shock.
Was Xiao Gang being a bit too bold?
Though the man did look about ten years older than the young woman, it wasn’t certain he was her elder brother.
And for some reason, they couldn’t shake the feeling that his expression had frozen the moment he heard Xiao Gang’s words.
Yet, Xiao Gang remained completely unaware.
With his head lowered, he blurted out the words he’d been most eager to say.
"I don’t mean anything by it—I just deeply admire and respect Comrade Jiang Si. I was wondering if she’d be willing to..."
Before he could finish, Huo Tingzhou cut him off.
His face tense and expressionless, he said, "Thank you for your admiration and respect for my wife, but she’s not interested. Also, I’d like to remind you that interfering with..."
He wanted to say that interfering with a military marriage was tantamount to a crime.
But at that point, Huo Tingzhou laughed at himself in frustration.
Forget it—what was he, a man pushing thirty, doing picking a fight with a kid?
How childish.
Besides, wasn’t he the one who knew his wife best?
She’d never be interested in some impulsive young fool.
That’s what he told himself, but when he caught sight of his wife’s radiant, peach-blossom smile, Huo Tingzhou finally lost his composure.
On the way back, he slammed on the brakes and parked the car right in front of the department store—
