Volume One, Chapter 20: I Just Feel Hot
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Huo Tingxiao turned around and headed toward the restroom. There, Shen Qingran was leaning against the wall. The dim lighting obscured her expression, but he could sense her pain. Soldiers were highly sensitive to the scent of blood, and the faint metallic tang lingered in the air. Huo Tingxiao’s lips pressed into a firm line.
After a brief hesitation, he asked quietly, “Are you hurt?”
He reached out to turn on the light but found it wouldn’t illuminate. It seemed the thunderstorm had caused a power outage.
Shen Qingran glanced toward Huo Tingxiao standing at the door, casually tugging at her lips. “It’s nothing, a small problem. Sorry for disturbing your sleep. Do you need to use the restroom? I’ll move aside.”
With that, she casually grabbed a towel from the washbasin stand, wrapped it around her injured hand, and started to walk out. But Huo Tingxiao blocked her way.
In the black rainy night, every sound was amplified except for the rain itself. Shen Qingran could even hear his steady, short breaths, indicating his calm state.
“Can you move aside?” she asked.
His eyes gleamed darkly as he examined the towel wrapped around her hand. After a moment, he stepped aside to let her pass.
As her soft body brushed past him, a familiar fragrance reached his nose, causing a slight shiver.
Turning, his gaze flickered to the closed door, and his face darkened briefly.
Outside, the thunder slowly faded, and the rain lightened.
Huo Tingxiao opened an umbrella and walked toward the circuit breaker outside. Sure enough, the thunderstorm had tripped the power. He flipped the switch back on and watched as the light in Shen Qingran’s room came on.
He was momentarily stunned.
Shen Qingran had dozed off by the window, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, cherry-red lips parted unconsciously. Her pale white dress was mottled with blotches of red, like dried blood.
She held a basin pressed beneath the window frame. It was already half full of rainwater.
Perhaps the light had awakened her, as her previously hazy expression tightened into a frown. She shifted uncomfortably and muttered softly.
“Is the power back on?”
Shen Qingran hadn’t noticed the situation outside. She lazily stretched, placed the double-happiness basin aside, and casually drew the curtain.
Huo Tingxiao withdrew his gaze and turned to enter the room. He retrieved sterilized cotton swabs and ointment from a drawer, then lightly knocked on her door.
“Knock knock knock.”
Startled while tending to her wound, Shen Qingran slipped on her shoes and cracked the door open.
A beam of light from the doorway fell across Huo Tingxiao’s face, highlighting the sharp contours of his already striking features, making them even more sculpted and arresting.
Unable to resist, she glanced at him again.
“Captain Huo, is there something you need?”
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Expressionless, Huo Tingxiao handed over the items. “Here.”
Shen Qingran looked down at the sterilizing supplies in his hand, momentarily stunned before accepting them.
Her soft voice trailed with a gentle note, “Thank you, Captain Huo.”
“No need,” he replied curtly.
Watching the man’s indifferent retreating figure, Shen Qingran’s lips twitched slightly.
—
The next morning, Shen Qingran woke to find Huo Tingxiao already gone. She stepped out to buy some medicinal herbs to help the old master’s health.
Yesterday, Qin Xiangbei had slipped a thank-you letter and two hundred yuan for medicinal soup under her door.
Taking money naturally meant there were duties to fulfill.
Today, besides buying ingredients, she planned to see if she could find a set of silver needles for acupuncture to help regulate the old master’s qi flow.
Perhaps due to the incident with Zhao Cuifang, the leadership had issued a public admonition.
Her outings had improved significantly; no one now gave her strange looks. Only the whispered gossip behind her back was beyond her control.
A few days ago, she had a coconut; today she bought an old hen to make white peony coconut chicken soup.
After purchasing the ingredients, Shen Qingran headed to the herbal medicine shop.
Unfortunately, they didn’t stock silver needles but directed her to a store in the city center.
She noted the address and store name and stepped outside.
Right then, she saw Lu Jiajia standing with a group of people in military green performance uniforms—likely just returned from a troupe performance.
“Jiajia, is that Captain Huo’s wife? She’s pretty good-looking!” someone remarked.
Lu Jiajia, one of the top beauties of the troupe, had long taken pride in her appearance.
She had been shocked for days by Shen Qingran’s stunning face, even doubting herself.
Having just regained her composure, seeing Shen Qingran’s breathtaking beauty again stirred her jealousy.
Her companions scoffed, “What’s so great about her? Can she compare to our Jiajia?”
“Right? Jiajia’s an all-rounder—singing and dancing. Everyone knows she’s the troupe’s star!”
Shen Qingran heard these words but didn’t want to waste time with these girls. She turned to leave.
Suddenly, Lu Jiajia called out loudly, “Comrade Shen Qingran!”
Shen Qingran turned; Lu Jiajia and several others approached briskly, smiling.
“Hello, Comrade Lu,” Shen Qingran greeted calmly.
Seeing her composed gaze, Lu Jiajia grew quite friendly.
“Comrade Shen, remember I invited you and Brother Tingxiao to the performance tomorrow at noon? Don’t forget. I’ve reserved seats for you.”
Shen Qingran smiled faintly. “Okay, I’ll tell him.”
“Anything else?”
Lu Jiajia was surprised by Shen Qingran’s straightforwardness and shook her head blankly.
“Well, I’ll be going then, Comrade Lu.”
As Shen Qingran walked away, a round-faced girl nearby rolled her eyes. “Who does she think she is? Acting like the captain’s wife makes her so special.”
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Lu Jiajia glanced sideways at the girl and quickly realized she didn’t measure up to the status.
Shen Qingran returned home, carrying her purchases, then went to Qin Dahai’s house.
Upon arrival, she found Qin Dahai sitting in a rocking chair, listening to the radio.
Below the chair was a mess of bones.
A black curly-haired dog was gnawing on the bones.
Life looked enviably peaceful.
“Grandpa Qin, your stomach isn’t good—you shouldn’t eat too much greasy food.”
Qin Dahai chuckled as he kicked the dog lightly. “I told you to eat faster, and look, you got caught!”
The black dog wasn’t angry, instead affectionately rubbing against Shen Qingran’s leg, making her smile and forget her irritation.
“All right, next time don’t team up with Grandpa Qin to commit crimes. I’ll cook you some big bones separately.”
The dog wagged its tail even more happily.
Annoyed, Qin Dahai kicked it again.
“You greedy thing.”
Shen Qingran’s eyes crinkled with laughter.
“Grandpa Qin, drink the soup as usual today. Tomorrow I’ll go into the city to buy a set of silver needles and do acupuncture for you.”
Hearing she was going to the city, Qin Dahai sat up. “I’ll go with you?”
Shen Qingran replied casually, “No, I can’t accompany you. I’m going to look for a job.”
“A job?”
Qin Dahai glanced at her. “What, doesn’t Huo give you money?”
Shen Qingran answered calmly, “It’s better to have a job of my own.”
Qin Dahai nodded and didn’t press further.
The summer sun warmed the scene—a grandfather, a young woman, and a dog enjoying a quiet moment.
After finishing her tasks there, Shen Qingran covered the sleeping Qin Dahai with a small blanket and returned home.
At the door, she saw Huo Tingxiao carrying a wooden plank and hammer, working on her window.
The muscles on his arm bulged with effort, a perfect balance of strength and grace.
Was he fixing her window?
Huo Tingxiao looked back, his voice deep. “Hold this here for me.”
Startled, Shen Qingran hurried over.
“Oh, okay.”
She pressed the small wooden board as he instructed, feeling the warmth radiating from his tall figure behind her.
Her body stiffened, and she shifted inward, trying to avoid touching him.
Noticing her unease, Huo Tingxiao’s cold, detached gaze met hers. “Don’t overthink it.”
Shen Qingran smiled lightly. “Captain Huo, I’m just feeling hot.”
At her words, his movements visibly faltered.
The sound of hammering echoed faintly in the evening courtyard.
“Oh, by the way, I ran into Comrade Lu Jiajia today. She invited you to watch the performance.”