The rugged mountain road roared under the wheels of an army-green jeep, its tires screeching sharply against the gravel.
"Ma’am, you can drive?" A young soldier in the backseat blurted out reflexively.
"Obviously. Ma’am’s skills look like they could give our company commander a run for his money," Xiong Lei said, his face alight with excitement.
"It’s been years since I last drove. I’m a bit rusty—just need to get the feel back," Shen Nanchu replied.
Xiong Lei and the two soldiers instinctively tightened their grip on the handholds.
From the driver’s seat, Shen Nanchu caught their reactions in the rearview mirror.
A sharp curve loomed ahead.
Her red lips curled slightly.
"Hold on tight."
In the next instant, Shen Nanchu’s beautiful eyes sharpened like blades. With one hand, she wrenched the steering wheel hard, sending the jeep skidding sideways through the turn. Xiong Lei and the two soldiers clung to the handholds, their faces pale.
"Ma’am! Slow down! I’m gonna puke!"
Xiong Lei barely finished shouting before another sharp turn slammed his face against the window, squishing it into a comically flat shape.
"Puke in the jeep, and I’ll tell your company commander—two hundred push-ups for each of you."
Shen Nanchu didn’t even glance back, flooring the accelerator as the engine roared like a furious beast.
Xiong Lei and the others immediately shut their mouths, bracing themselves with all their might.
……
Elsewhere on the mountain road, an old bus crawled laboriously uphill, its passengers drowsy and sluggish.
Suddenly, a flash of army green streaked into the rearview mirror, closing in at terrifying speed. Before the bus driver could react, the jeep had already swerved into the opposite lane and shot past, its tires kicking up gravel with a piercing screech.
"Holy smokes! What maniac from which unit is that?!" The bus driver’s eyes bulged.
The passengers jolted awake, pressing against the windows to watch as the jeep executed a perfect drift around the next bend before roaring away into the distance.
"Was that… a woman driving?!" someone gasped.
"No way—am I seeing things?"
"I saw her too. Definitely a woman."
……
Xiong Lei and his comrades had always assumed their company commander’s wife was a delicate, refined beauty. Never had they imagined she could not only drive—but drive like a demon unleashed.
"Ma’am! P-please, slow down a little!"
"Relax, I’m already driving slowly."
Shen Nanchu calmly glanced at the speedometer—the needle was already at 125, just shy of 130.
If not for the risk of blowing the engine, she could’ve gone even faster.
"Ma’am, there’s a turn up ahead!"
The young soldier in the back yelped in panic.
A turn? Child’s play.
Shen Nanchu smirked, yanking the handbrake and spinning the wheel hard left. The jeep slid sideways through the curve, sending the three men tumbling like ragdolls again.
……
By the end of the ride, Xiong Lei and the others had gained a newfound appreciation for their company commander Pei Zhengnian’s gentleness.
Compared to Shen Nanchu, Pei Zhengnian’s driving was downright soothing.
┭┮﹏┭┮
The three clung to the handholds, not daring to even breathe too hard.
What should’ve been an hour-long journey was cut down to just thirty minutes under Shen Nanchu’s ruthless handling.
Now, only one straight stretch remained before the military base’s gates.
Xiong Lei and the others finally exhaled in relief.
At last, no more being thrown around.
But their relief was premature.
As the gates drew closer, Shen Nanchu showed no signs of slowing down.
Xiong Lei hastily spoke up, "M-ma’am, we’re here!"
"Hmm."
His answer was Shen Nanchu stomping on the accelerator.
The sentries at the gate had already spotted the speeding jeep from afar.
"Company Commander! Trouble—Xiong Lei’s jeep is out of control!"
What?!
Pei Zhengnian, who happened to be in the guardhouse, rushed outside.
The army-green jeep showed no intention of braking—if anything, it was accelerating, charging straight for the gates.
This was no out-of-control vehicle.
This was a deliberate stunt.
Realization dawned on Pei Zhengnian, and he erupted in fury.
"Xiong Lei, you little bastard! Who told you to drive like a maniac?!"
"Stop that damn jeep right now!"
The jeep didn’t stop. At ten meters from the gates, Shen Nanchu jerked the wheel and pulled the handbrake in one fluid motion. The jeep spun sideways, tires shrieking against the asphalt, before sliding to a perfect stop right at the entrance.
Cough, cough—
Pei Zhengnian, now coated in a faceful of exhaust, gritted his teeth and stormed toward the driver’s side, ready to unleash hell.
"You—"
"Me, what?"
A bright, achingly familiar face filled his vision.
None other than his wife—Shen Nanchu.
Pei Zhengnian blinked, disbelief written all over his face.
Shen Nanchu pushed the door open and stepped out.
She waved cheerfully at the sentry. "Hello there."
The sentry’s face instantly flushed crimson.
"H-hi."
Xiong Lei and the other two stumbled out of the jeep, legs wobbling. One leaned against the vehicle, dry-heaving, while the other two stared blankly, as if they’d just survived a live combat drill.
"R-reporting, Company Commander! Ma’am got us back… safely."
Pei Zhengnian finally snapped out of his daze, his expression darkening like a thundercloud.
Right now, his scowl was ten times more terrifying than during new recruit training.
"Shen Nanchu, who gave you permission to drive that fast?"
The company commander was furious. Ma’am was in trouble.
Xiong Lei and the others quickly bowed their heads, praying they wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.
"I just wanted to see you sooner."
Shen Nanchu’s red lips curved into a bewitching smile.
"You—"
Pei Zhengnian’s anger hit a wall, stuck between fuming and melting.
Was he still mad? A little.
Damn it, but his heart was also flooding with sweetness.
He clenched his jaw, fighting to keep his traitorous lips from twitching upward.
"Cut the sweet talk. Behave yourself."
Shen Nanchu batted her long lashes, mischief dancing in her eyes.
"And if I don’t behave… Company Commander Pei, what will you do to me?"
She stepped closer, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.
The distance between them was so small that if Pei Zhengnian lowered his head just a fraction, he’d brush against those soft, tempting lips.
For a heartbeat, Pei Zhengnian nearly succumbed to the allure.
Instead, he glared past her at the gawking Xiong Lei and the others—anywhere but at Shen Nanchu.
"What are you all staring at? Get that jeep back to the garage now!"
"Yes, Company Commander!"
Then he seized Shen Nanchu’s wrist.
"Come to my office! I’m giving you a proper lesson today!"
Shen Nanchu arched a brow, her fingers teasingly tracing his palm.
"Oh? And how exactly will you… educate me, Company Commander Pei?"
Pei Zhengnian’s face burned scarlet.
"Shen! Nan! Chu!"
"Behave yourself!"
……
