Shen Nanchu's eyes narrowed, a flicker of murderous intent flashing in their depths.
Her voice was terrifyingly soft, like the calm before a storm.
If this man had done something that stupid, she would have taken care of him immediately.
Trading military merits for a house? Only someone with a "love-addled brain" would do such a foolish thing!
"No."
Pei Zhengnian hurriedly explained, his voice tight with nervousness,
"I got promoted. This is what I applied for."
Fine beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead, glistening in the sunlight.
Only then did the murderous intent in Shen Nanchu's eyes recede, but her gaze remained sharp as a knife.
She walked into the courtyard, her small leather shoes making crisp sounds on the bluestone slabs.
She paced slowly, like a queen inspecting her territory, carefully examining every corner.
The courtyard was larger than she had imagined. A small vegetable plot had been carved out in one corner, planted with a few tomato and pepper plants. They must have been recently transplanted and still looked a bit wilted.
"Such a big courtyard, and you got promoted?"
Shen Nanchu stopped walking and turned to look directly at Pei Zhengnian.
The sunlight shone from behind her, casting a golden halo around her and making her seem to glow.
Pei Zhengnian knew he couldn't escape Shen Nanchu's sharp eyes.
He took a deep breath and straightened his back,
"Yes, the military district promoted me to regiment commander of the Fifth Regiment."
His voice held unconcealed pride, but he quickly grew tense again because of Shen Nanchu's reaction.
A trace of disdain flashed in Shen Nanchu's eyes, her red lips pouting slightly,
"After such a great achievement, you only got your old rank back?"
Her tone carried some dissatisfaction,
"That's rather stingy."
If that was the case, she would just hoard any future discoveries for herself.
She could keep them to take to her grave, rather than letting those shortsighted, miserly old fogies benefit.
Pei Zhengnian quickly shook his head and took two steps forward,
"That's not it, there are further arrangements later..."
He hesitated, as if holding something back.
The sunlight fell on his profile, outlining his resolute features. His thick eyelashes cast a small shadow on his cheek.
Shen Nanchu nodded, reluctantly accepting this explanation,
"That's more like it."
She turned and walked towards the house, her skirt swaying gently in the breeze. Pei Zhengnian hurried to follow, like a loyal guard.
Pei Yunzhou watched from the side, utterly bewildered.
He finally understood now.
His second brother, who usually acted like a tiger, turned into a paper tiger in front of his second sister-in-law.
In this household, it would be Second Sister-in-law who called the shots from now on.
Pei Yunzhou decided that henceforth, he would listen more to Shen Nanchu.
The house had a living room and three bedrooms, with a square, straightforward layout—nothing to complain about.
Pushing the door open, the smell of freshly whitewashed walls mixed with the fragrance of wood greeted them.
The living room was furnished with a simple set of wooden furniture, plain but well-crafted.
It was just that the walls were plain white, bare, with nothing on them.
Shen Nanchu's gaze swept across the room, finally landing on the door to the master bedroom.
She pushed it open, and a wide double bed with brand new sheets came into view.
When she saw the master bedroom had an attached bathroom, Shen Nanchu was taken aback.
The bathroom door was half-open, revealing brand new marble tiles and gleaming faucets.
Could it be that Pei Yunxi's late-night brainstorming session about her ideal future house a while back was also Pei Zhengnian's doing?
Shen Nanchu recalled that night when Pei Yunxi had pestered her with all sorts of questions, from preferred furniture to ideal bathroom layouts.
At the time, she thought it was just a young girl's sudden whim. But now it seemed...
Seeing Shen Nanchu remain silent, Pei Zhengnian's heart rose to his throat.
He stood at the doorway like a prisoner awaiting sentencing, even his breathing grew quiet.
"How is it?"
He asked cautiously, his voice dry,
"Is there anything you don't like?"
His fingers unconsciously rubbed against his trouser seam, betraying his inner tension.
Shen Nanchu remained quiet for a long while, her gaze slowly moving around the room.
Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft patches of light on the floor.
On the nightstand sat a photo frame containing a picture of her and Pei Zhengnian, taken when they registered their marriage.
A strange feeling stirred in her heart.
Finally, she turned her gaze to Pei Zhengnian's face.
Anxious, Pei Zhengnian already had beads of sweat forming on his forehead, sliding down his sharply defined cheeks.
Was he really that afraid she wouldn't like it? This realization stirred an inexplicable emotion in Shen Nanchu's heart.
Shen Nanchu smiled, a somewhat wicked smile, like a cat toying with a mouse.
"What if I don't like it?"
She deliberately drew out her words, enjoying the sight of Pei Zhengnian's instantly stiffened expression.
Pei Zhengnian: ...
His Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
Gritting his teeth, Pei Zhengnian steeled himself,
"If you don't like it, I'll change it."
His voice was low and firm,
"If you prefer an apartment building, I'll exchange it for you."
Even though it meant he might have to spend a considerable amount to swap with someone, and all the money spent on this renovation would be wasted... but if that's what Shen Nanchu wanted...
Seeing Pei Zhengnian's expression of grim determination, Shen Nanchu suddenly found it amusing.
She walked slowly towards him. When she was just a step away, she stopped and looked up at this tall man.
"Silly."
Shen Nanchu said softly, reaching out to smooth the frown on Pei Zhengnian's brow,
"I like it very much."
Her voice was light, but it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples through Pei Zhengnian's heart.
Pei Zhengnian's eyes instantly lit up, as if two small lanterns had been ignited.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by Shen Nanchu's next words.
"However,"
Shen Nanchu turned and walked to the window, pointing at the bare little tree in the courtyard,
"What's that? Is it dying?"
Pei Zhengnian hurriedly explained,
"That's an osmanthus tree. It was just transplanted and hasn't acclimated yet."
He walked to Shen Nanchu's side and asked cautiously,
"You don't like it? I could replace it with a fruit tree..."
Shen Nanchu shook her head,
"No need. When it blooms, it must smell wonderful."
She imagined the scene of the courtyard filled with the fragrance of osmanthus in autumn, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned to look at Pei Zhengnian,
"Oh, right, you just said you could exchange it for an apartment building?"
Pei Zhengnian's heart leaped into his throat again, and he stammered,
"Y-yes, if you prefer that..."
"No need."
Shen Nanchu waved her hand,
"This place is quite nice."
She paused, then added,
"But you have to promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
Pei Zhengnian asked immediately, his gaze focused.
Shen Nanchu smiled slyly,
"Next time you plan a surprise like this, give me a heads-up."
She pointed to her stomach,
"A pregnant woman can't handle such shocks."
Pei Zhengnian was stunned for a moment, then nodded emphatically, a brilliant smile spreading across his face like a child who had just received candy.
Shen Nanchu looked at Pei Zhengnian's expression, feeling both amused and touched. She turned and walked to the window, pushing it open to let the summer breeze drift in. "But..." she deliberately drew out her words, watching as Pei Zhengnian immediately tensed up again before leisurely continuing, "this courtyard is too bare. We need to plant some flowers and greenery."
Pei Zhengnian let out a long sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing. "Plant whatever you like." His voice regained its usual steadiness, but the tenderness in his eyes was impossible to hide. "I'll listen to you in everything."
Shen Nanchu nodded in satisfaction, already beginning to plan the future of their little home in her mind.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting their shadows onto the floor, where they intertwined.
...
