Chapter 98: Time Alone Together...

Wang Baoguo came into the yard carrying the same style of bag as Lin You’s, looking around curiously. In a glance he spotted Firework lying there, and went over at once to scoop it up and tease it in his arms.

“Well, well, you even keep a wolfhound. Big brother, you and my sister-in-law are living quite the comfortable life. This dog reminds me of my glorious days in the military district.”

Firework had been basking in the sun, only to be interrupted by this stranger. Its mood soured at once, and it barked furiously at Wang Baoguo.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lin You launched straight into a relentless barrage: “Even the dog can’t stand you.”

“If you’ve got nothing to do, hurry up and leave. Don’t linger here and get in the way...”

“Did you tidy up the dormitory?”

“Have you been to the regimental commander’s place?”

And so on and so forth.

The string of words left not only Wang Baoguo stunned, but even Xia Yan was taken aback. Was this still the Lin You who was usually so sparing with words, so cold and merciless? At this moment he was like a machine gun with no pause at all.

After standing there dumbly for quite a while, Wang Baoguo could only change targets and said to Xia Yan, “Sister-in-law, I haven’t eaten yet.”

“You little brat, now you’re ordering my wife around? If you want food, go make it yourself.”

Seeing the two of them, Xia Yan found them genuinely amusing. “Come inside. There’s still some noodles left from this morning’s kneading. Just have something simple.”

“Sister-in-law is still the best. Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Under Lin You’s murderous glare, Wang Baoguo strode into the house.

Xia Yan went to Lin You and picked up the luggage from the ground for him. “Let’s go home.”

During the meal, Xia Yan told Lin You about Li Yong’s visit the previous night. Lin You did not show any special reaction after hearing it, only saying lightly, “I’ve said before that Zhu Yan was in the wrong about this. Still, Li Yong’s reaction surprised me. He’s usually such a stubborn ox that I thought he’d overturn the table.”

“He’d better not!”

Xia Yan tossed the cloth in her hand onto the table, looking fierce as a little lion in a temper. But in Lin You’s eyes, she had no real bite at all; on the contrary, she only seemed more amusing and adorable...

Amusing as it was, Lin You still said sternly, “Stay out of things like this from now on.”

Xia Yan stuck out her tongue. “How can you blame me for this? I didn’t know Li Yong would come all the way to the house.”

“Exactly, big brother. You can’t blame sister-in-law for this. She meant well, she just ended up doing a bad thing,” Wang Baoguo said.

The first part of his words pleased Xia Yan, but the sentence that followed somehow sounded awkward no matter how she heard it.

The married couple turned to Wang Baoguo together and said in unison, “Eat your noodles.”

***

After the meal, Wang Baoguo went to the regiment office to report to Regimental Commander Sun Sheng.

Lin You went to the room instead. The moment he opened the door, a faint scent of soap drifted toward him, very pleasant...

Only a few days had passed since he’d been back, yet the room looked even more refined than before.

Lin You pulled out the chair in front of the desk and sat down. On the notebook on the desk, densely packed notes were written, many of which he could not understand.

“Is this English?” Lin You asked, looking toward Xia Yan who stood by the door.

“Mm. When I teach Xiao Zhuo on ordinary days, I write some things down and try to study them myself.”

Lin You was a little bewildered.

Xia Yan thought for a moment and said, “Lin You, I want to take the college entrance exam next year.”

At that, Lin You nodded. “That’s great. I support you.”

Seeing him nod, Xia Yan was very happy. “You’re going to get better and better in the future, so I have to work hard too. Otherwise, if the gap gets too wide and we don’t have anything in common to talk about, the relationship won’t be harmonious.”

“Sit down and rest for a while too. You were cooking and then cleaning the kitchen just now. You must be tired.”

Perhaps because she had been standing too long, the moment Xia Yan shifted her foot, a needle-like numbness began to spread upward from the sole. She didn’t even dare put down the leg she had just lifted.

She could only stand on one leg, and her body began to sway involuntarily.

Just then, a pair of large hands, like iron tongs, reached out and caught her.

Only after she had steadied herself did Lin You silently withdraw his hands.

Although the two of them had already been intimate before, touching her hand again still stirred something within him. That soft touch sent his heartbeat racing.

“Did your leg go numb?” Lin You forced down the strange stirring in his chest and asked with a calm expression.

Xia Yan nodded, but the tingling in her calf still made her draw in several cold breaths.

Seeing her like this, Lin You crouched down, lifted her up, and placed her on the bed. Then he crouched again, resting her leg across his own. “Relax.”

When he first joined the army, they had to stand for long periods during training. At the beginning, his legs would go numb too, and every time their squad leader would teach them how to massage the legs.

The moment Lin You’s hands gently closed around Xia Yan’s leg, her whole body stiffened. How could she possibly relax like this...

But the tingling in her calf made her unconsciously grip Lin You’s arm.

Looking at those pale hands, Lin You’s body also tensed imperceptibly, and his hands accidentally pressed a little too hard.

The numbness made Xia Yan cry out.

That soft, delicate sound was like a feather, brushing at Lin You’s heart again and again.

His ears turned red at a visible speed.

Fortunately, after a while of pressing and rubbing, Xia Yan’s leg was much better.

“I... I’m much better.”

Hearing her own soft cry just now, Xia Yan was also terribly embarrassed. Right now she wanted nothing more than to pull the quilt over her head. That sound... how mortifying.

After finishing the massage, Xia Yan noticed that there was actually a thin layer of sweat on Lin You’s forehead.

This man... he must have really been restraining himself just now.

Lin You walked out of the room and went to the yard outside. At that moment a cool breeze drifted by, and the heat within him finally eased somewhat.

“小林, you’re back!”

Wang Guilan had just returned from the vegetable plot and greeted him warmly, having not seen Lin You for a long time.

Lin You nodded with a smile. “Auntie, thank you for looking after the home during this time.”

“What’s there to be polite about? We’re neighbors, and in this garrison everyone is family. Don’t say such distant things again. You’re feeling better now, I hope? Tonight Auntie’s making dumplings. Bring Xia and the kids over.”

“That would be too much trouble...”

Thinking of his family of five, with the two boys having hearty appetites, Lin You felt a little embarrassed at the idea of all of them going to someone else’s house for dinner.

“What trouble? Just a few more pairs of chopsticks. Besides, Xia often brings over dishes now and then. My Erdan has been eating at your place every now and then thanks to Warm Warm, and he’s put on quite a bit of weight. Don’t stand on ceremony. Remember to come tonight. Your Brother Ruan brought back two bottles of fine liquor a few days ago, and the two of you brothers can have a drink together then.”

With Wang Guilan putting it that way, Lin You could only smile and agree...

Ding-ling-ling...

Just then, the ringing of a bicycle bell sounded from not far away, drawing Lin You’s attention.