Is this really the time for explanations?
Si Nian felt somewhat helpless and awkwardly glanced at the row of men standing nearby, who were staring at them in a daze.
Her face was flushed crimson.
She hurriedly patted the man's arm, which was wrapped around her waist, and said, "Zhou Yueshen, you have guests right now. Let's talk tonight."
Zhou Yueshen loosened his hold slightly but didn't let go completely. Instead, he moved to face her, scrutinizing her expression.
Seeing that her face didn't seem to show anger, his heart eased a little.
When he first came in and saw Si Nian sitting at his desk, holding an envelope, he hadn't reacted immediately. By the time he came to his senses and saw Si Nian getting up to leave, panic had seized him.
He thought Si Nian was angry after seeing the envelope.
These men had just come to see him today, and suddenly there was an envelope on his desk. Who could be writing to him now? Zhou Yueshen didn't need to guess.
The last time they ran into that woman in town, Si Nian got angry when they returned home.
He had explained once already, stating that he had absolutely nothing to do with her.
If Si Nian saw this now and misunderstood that he was corresponding with her, how disappointed would she be in him?
Just the thought made Zhou Yueshen feel utterly wretched.
He shot a cold glance at the men beside them. Meeting his gaze, they all lowered their heads sheepishly.
Clearly, they knew how that letter got there.
Zhou Yueshen withdrew his gaze and looked down at Si Nian. He had little experience with women and wasn't very perceptive.
Last time Si Nian was angry, he only realized it after they got home.
This time, he didn't want her to go back home holding in her anger. With a grave and stubborn expression, he insisted, "We'll talk now."
Si Nian looked at him, saw his serious expression, then glanced at the other men.
To be honest, she really didn't want outsiders to witness such private matters between a husband and wife.
But this older man seemed determined not to let her leave without an explanation.
She never knew he could be so stubborn.
Was he afraid she was angry?
The men weren't completely tactless either. Hearing Zhou Yueshen's words and realizing they had caused trouble in the couple's relationship, they sensibly said, "Brother Zhou, you two talk first. We're in no hurry."
"We'll wait for you outside."
After speaking, they offered Si Nian an awkward smile and filed out of the office one by one.
Si Nian breathed a slight sigh of relief and looked at Zhou Yueshen, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "What are you doing? There were so many people watching."
Zhou Yueshen's arm was still around her waist. Hearing this, he looked down at her.
Unaccustomed to such intimacy in front of outsiders, Si Nian's cheeks were flushed, like peach blossoms in March, utterly charming.
She glared at him reproachfully.
He studied her expression carefully, his voice deep as he said, "They are from my old unit. Remember the five-year commitment I told you about before?"
Si Nian was taken aback. She had thought those men had an extraordinary bearing, unlike ordinary people. So they were from the military district.
Remembering that Zhou Yueshen had said he was able to return due to severe injuries and because of the children, but that after five years, if the country called, duty demanded an answer, her expression tightened.
"Are they here to urge you to go back?"
Would she be left alone so soon after getting married?
This was the first thought that popped into Si Nian's mind.
Zhou Yueshen said, "Not exactly. They came to persuade me."
When he served before, times weren't as peaceful as now.
They often carried out very dangerous missions.
Back then, his superiors pressured him not to leave. For the sake of the children, Zhou Yueshen had chosen this compromise.
But since he was determined to retire, there was nothing they could do.
Now the country is prosperous and peaceful, he's older, and he has a wife and children. Zhou Yueshen wants to devote the rest of his life to Si Nian and the kids.
So he had sent a letter to the military district.
That's precisely why these men had come now.
And that's also why there was an extra letter in his office.
It didn't take a genius to guess that Yang Yujie must have known they were coming and had written him the letter.
Zhou Yueshen had already submitted a report about his marriage and received approval.
Given Yang Yujie's position, she shouldn't be unaware of this.
Yet even knowing, she still had the audacity to send him a letter. If he had seen it alone, it would have been one thing—he never opened them anyway.
But this time, Si Nian had seen it.
A married man corresponding with an unmarried woman—anyone would think twice and misunderstand.
Zhou Yueshen didn't want Si Nian to misunderstand.
Especially not because of such an insignificant person.
"Did you agree?" Si Nian felt nervous now. On one hand, she was proud that her husband was a soldier who protected the country, but on the other, she selfishly wanted him to stay.
Their life now was stable and happy.
To be honest, she didn't really want him to leave either.
Zhou Yueshen shook his head. "Unless it's something critically important, I don't plan to go back. I made it very clear to my superiors back then."
Zhou Yueshen was long weary of that life lived on the knife's edge. He had no power, no connections, no backing. Even so, he had risen to a high position.
That alone had already threatened some people's interests.
The last mission where he was injured was due to a leak of information, which led to deaths and injuries in his team.
Although the mission was ultimately accomplished, Zhou Yueshen completely lost trust in his superiors.
He knew that for someone like him to reach a high position meant facing the darkness and suppression of officialdom.
At that level, there was no longer any pure dedication to the country.
Everyone was scrambling for power.
His very existence became a stumbling block for these people.
How could they possibly want to keep him?
Zhou Yueshen had no desire to fight for power and influence with these people. He didn't care for such things, which is why he withdrew to his hometown.
Now, he was even less likely to return to support someone and plunge himself back into the vortex of power struggles.
So no matter what benefits or favorable treatment they offered now, Zhou Yueshen would not go back.
Si Nian breathed a sigh of relief, then heard the older man continue, "This letter was probably entrusted to these men to deliver. I was busy outside earlier and had them wait here for a while."
Perhaps afraid he would be angry, they didn't dare to give him the envelope openly and chose this method instead.
Yang Yujie was their contemporary from the same period, and they were close. They couldn't refuse her request.
Zhou Yueshen's voice was low. "Yang Yujie has written to me before. I never replied."
After saying this, he looked intently at Si Nian and said earnestly, "Nian Nian, I'm not that kind of fickle man."
Si Nian said, "Just for this? You wouldn't let me leave?"
Zhou Yueshen's stern face showed a rare hint of unease.
He was very busy now. He was afraid that if he got tied up, by the time he returned home, Si Nian would already be asleep, still holding onto her anger and unhappiness.
He didn't want her to be unhappy, so he stopped her.
So the man nodded slightly and said yes.
Hearing this, Si Nian smiled.
She reached out and touched the older man's tense face.
How strange. This man seemed so steady, not like someone who would lose his composure over matters of love.
Yet at this moment, in his heart, I seemed to surpass everything.
