Meanwhile, at Pei Zhengnian's home, it was a completely different, heartwarming scene.
Under the soft, yellowish lamplight, the husband and wife sat around the small table.
Pei Zhengnian had just made Shen Nanchu a bowl of cold shredded chicken noodles. The noodles were topped with fine shreds of chicken, cucumber, and carrot, all drizzled with fragrant sesame sauce.
Shen Nanchu was eating with great relish, while Pei Zhengnian sat beside her, meticulously peeling a peach.
His technique was professional; the fruit knife spun deftly in his hand. In no time, he had cut the peach into eight neat segments, arranging them in a small bowl like a blooming peach blossom.
"How was the family meeting today?"
Pei Zhengnian asked as he wiped his hands.
"It was alright! Heard quite a bit of gossip."
Shen Nanchu picked up a strand of noodles, squinting her eyes in satisfaction,
"Sister-in-law Niu and Sister-in-law Yao are practically the military base's know-it-alls. They even know exactly how many puppies each family's dog has had."
Pei Zhengnian chuckled,
"Did Lin Yining get on stage to apologize?"
Shen Nanchu put down her chopsticks and shook her head,
"No, she ran off halfway through."
She paused,
"Probably too ashamed to face everyone."
"I'll go talk to Political Commissar Liao about this again tomorrow."
Pei Zhengnian's eyes turned sharp.
Shen Nanchu waved her hand dismissively,
"No need. You should do Zhang Zhengye a favor instead. Isn't there a military exercise coming up soon?"
"As for Lin Yining's matter, don't worry about it. I have my own plan."
Pei Zhengnian raised an eyebrow, understanding her meaning, and nodded,
"That works too."
He picked up a piece of peach and fed it to Shen Nanchu.
"By the way, I'll be going back with Fourth Brother the day after tomorrow."
Shen Nanchu's words made Pei Zhengnian's hand still mid-air,
"Are you uncomfortable staying here?"
"No."
Shen Nanchu shook her head, swallowing the peach,
"There are still some things in Wang Family Village I need to go back and arrange."
"Moving to the base, I also need to go back and get our household affairs in order, especially Dad's."
"Also, I need to bring Mom over, pack up my things, and don't forget my coal briquettes."
...
Listening to Shen Nanchu chattering on about arranging household matters, Pei Zhengnian felt a pang of something unpleasant in his heart.
Although Shen Nanchu had only been here for a few short days, Pei Zhengnian now had something to look forward to every day when he came home.
And now, after just a couple of days, she was leaving again.
Pei Zhengnian was deeply reluctant to let her go.
But he was a tough, iron-willed soldier. He couldn't possibly act like some clingy young man, tugging at Shen Nanchu's sleeve and saying "Don't go," could he?
That would be utterly unbecoming!
Pei Zhengnian fell silent. Shen Nanchu, unusually, glanced at him a few times.
He looked... awkward, no matter how you looked at it.
System: "Host, the male lead is reluctant to see you go."
The system, having recently binge-watched TV dramas, saw it at a glance.
Shen Nanchu: "Really?"
System: "Absolutely. Trust me, Host."
Shen Nanchu: "Alright then."
...
After Shen Nanchu finished eating, Pei Zhengnian cleared the dishes, his movements as slow and careful as if he were defusing a bomb.
Shen Nanchu raised an eyebrow,
“Regiment Commander Pei, is that bowl gilded with gold tonight? Washing it so meticulously?”
Pei Zhengnian's ears grew warm. He kept a straight face,
"The grease is hard to clean."
Shen Nanchu let out an "Oh," remembering what the system had said. She deliberately drew out her tone,
"Then before I leave tomorrow, I should wash all the bowls at home, so you don't have trouble cleaning them."
Pei Zhengnian's hand jerked, nearly dropping the enamel bowl.
After her late-night snack, Shen Nanchu wasn't very tired, so she simply started packing her clothes.
Pei Zhengnian "happened" to pass by Shen Nanchu's luggage and frowned,
"You're bringing so much stuff. It'll be inconvenient on the road."
Shen Nanchu blinked, "It's not much, just a few pieces of clothing."
Besides, Pei Yunzhou would be carrying it, not her.
Pei Zhengnian nodded seriously,
"Hmm. I see some of your clothes look a bit old."
"Why don't you wait a few days? I'll find time to take you to the county town to buy some new ones, then you can go back?"
Shen Nanchu held back a laugh,
"These clothes are all new, made by Aunt Lanhua."
Pei Zhengnian was stumped. After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out,
"...Hmm."
Once they were settled in bed,
Pei Zhengnian "casually" brought up,
"I might have a mission the day after tomorrow. I might not be able to drive you."
Shen Nanchu wasn't too concerned,
"Then I'll take the bus."
Pei Zhengnian's frown deepened,
"The bus is crowded, not safe."
Shen Nanchu tilted her head to look at him,
"Then what should I do? You can't expect me to walk back, can you?"
Pei Zhengnian's Adam's apple bobbed. Finally, he forced out the words,
"...Actually, you could stay a few more days. Wait until I finish my work and have some free time, then I can drive you."
Shen Nanchu almost laughed out loud but pretended to be calm,
"Oh, but that would interfere with your work too much."
Pei Zhengnian grew anxious,
"It wouldn't!"
Shen Nanchu finally couldn't hold it in anymore, her shoulders shaking with laughter,
"Pei Zhengnian, are you reluctant to let me go?"
Pei Zhengnian's face flushed crimson. He stubbornly insisted,
"Nonsense! I'm just worried you might have an accident on the road!"
Shen Nanchu leaned closer, her eyes sparkling,
"Really? Not because you'll miss me?"
Exposed, Pei Zhengnian's handsome face instantly turned bright red.
Shen Nanchu leaned over Pei Zhengnian, resting her chin on her hands, which were placed on his chest, looking utterly pleased with herself,
"If you'll miss me, just say so!"
"I could actually stay a few more days."
If Pei Zhengnian still didn't realize Shen Nanchu was teasing him now, he'd be an idiot.
The embarrassed and flustered man pinned Shen Nanchu beneath him. His movements were somewhat urgent, yet very gentle.
Pei Zhengnian said through slightly gritted teeth,
"Shen Nanchu, you did that on purpose?"
"You guess!"
Before Shen Nanchu could revel in her triumph, Pei Zhengnian lowered his head and kissed her mouth, blocking all her teasing words.
After a long while, Pei Zhengnian finally released Shen Nanchu.
His breathing was slightly uneven, but he still tried to act composed, "So, are you still leaving?"
Shen Nanchu licked her reddened lips, smiling like a cat that got the cream,
"Leaving, of course!"
Pei Zhengnian: "..."
His eyes filled with disappointment.
Shen Nanchu smiled slyly, wrapping her arms around Pei Zhengnian's neck,
"But... I could leave a few days later."
Pei Zhengnian's eyes immediately lit up,
"Alright!"
"How many days later?"
Shen Nanchu pretended to think,
"That depends on your performance."
What performance?
Wasn't his performance good enough already?
Pei Zhengnian pondered this.
Seeing the man half-lying on top of her lost in thought, Shen Nanchu grew impatient.
He stirred up her interest, then left her hanging.
This infuriating man, always doing things like this.
Well, what could she do?
If you want something done right, do it yourself!
Shen Nanchu pulled Pei Zhengnian's head down,
initiating another deep kiss.
...
A long time later,
only when both were breathless did the kiss end.
Pei Zhengnian looked at Shen Nanchu lying on the bed, her eyes hazy and alluring. The small flame in his eyes had become a blaze,
"How's this for performance?"
His low, magnetic voice sounded by Shen Nanchu's ear.
"You could perform even better."
"Alright."
The night was still long.
...
