Living with My Aloof Ex-Wife After the Apocalypse - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: I Think I Know You.

In the blink of an eye, it had already been half a month since Jiang Ping’an and Xiao Yu arrived.

During these two weeks, despite her vocal insistence that she would never sleep in the same room as Xiao Yu, Jiang Ping’an eventually moved a long bench into the officer’s quarters. After all, Xiao Yu had been injured saving her; taking care of her was only right. As long as they didn’t share a bed, she wasn’t violating her principles as a “top-tier beauty.”

Under Xing He’s instructions, Chen Yun prepared a variety of nutritious meals every day. Xiao Yu’s wound gradually healed, and she was now able to walk short distances without much trouble. Fan Hua and Chen Xia were living comfortably as well. Generally speaking, everything was moving in a positive direction.

Except for Xing He, who was troubled.

She thought that after her “olive branch” that night, their relationship would at least stabilize, if not steadily improve. Instead, Qing Meng began avoiding her the next morning, darting away like a mouse seeing a cat. Even when communication was strictly necessary, she wouldn’t say a word more than required. Whenever Xing He tried to initiate a talk, Qing Meng adopted an evasive attitude. Worst of all, this wasn’t just a fleeting mood; it had persisted for half a month.

Xing He pondered it day and night but remained clueless. Today, she finally sought out Fan Hua, as she seemed the most reliable in matters of the heart. In a sense, she had found the right person.

“You’re saying… you hugged her, and she’s been avoiding you ever since?”

Xing He nodded firmly. “Yes, I’m certain.”

Seeing Fan Hua looking hesitant, Xing He asked humbly, “Teacher Fan, please speak freely. I can take the criticism.”

Fan Hua gave an awkward laugh. “It’s not about criticizing you. It’s just… I lean more towards being a ‘0,’ so my experience might not be very useful for you.”

Xing He was confused. “What is a ‘0’?”

Fan Hua’s jaw dropped. “You don’t know what a ‘0’ is?”

Xing He looked puzzled. “Should I know?”

Fan Hua’s expression turned complex. “You…” She sighed. Usually, Fan Hua was extroverted and lively, but today she felt uncharacteristically introverted. “In simple terms, a ‘1’ is more active, and a ‘0’ is more passive. For the rest, you’d have to use a search engine.”

As if there’s an internet left to search for ‘educational’ materials, Fan Hua thought. She apologized silently to Qing Meng: Sorry, Sister Qing, I couldn’t protect your happiness, but I just can’t say it out loud.

Xing He, believing she understood the terms, asked, “If I want to be the active one, what should I do?”

Fan Hua felt a headache coming on. “What stage are you two at?”

Xing He answered sincerely, “In terms of life stages? We should be at the divorce stage.”

Fan Hua: “…” Fine, I get it, you’re divorced. “I mean: confession, hand-holding, pure love, kissing, sleeping together.”

Xing He thought for a moment. “We’ve slept together.”

In the distance, Qing Meng, who was reading, sneezed. Strange, who’s talking behind my back?

“Not ‘sharing a bed’ sleeping together. I mean sleeping together,” Fan Hua clarified.

“Oh.”

Fan Hua felt like she was playing the lute to a cow. “Forget the ‘ten thousand whys.’ Just do as I say.”

Xing He looked expectant. “How?”

Fan Hua offered the age-old advice: “Create opportunities for physical contact, then hold her hand.”

“Why create opportunities for contact?”

Fan Hua taught the “blockhead” patiently: “Because physical contact is the most direct way to express affection.”

Xing He looked thoughtful. “I understand.”

The following day was an ordeal for Qing Meng.

When Qing Meng served a dish, Xing He would “casually” take the plate from her, making sure their hands touched. When Qing Meng swept the floor, Xing He would bend down to pick something up and “accidentally” bump into her.

When Qing Meng sat by the door reading, Xing He walked in and out a dozen times, her clothes brushing against Qing Meng’s trousers so often the fabric started to pill. And when they slept, Xing He “unintentionally” crossed the “38th Parallel” made of quilts, resting her leg naturally over Qing Meng’s waist.

Qing Meng didn’t understand what kind of “medicine” the woman had taken. Xing He didn’t understand why, despite following Master Fan’s instructions, Qing Meng’s attitude remained unchanged.

Today, for the sake of sustainability, the courtyard’s grand planting project began. Everyone turned out to contribute to the agricultural cause. Even the patient, Xiao Yu, stood guard with her rifle.

When it came to farm work, Chen Yun was the undisputed expert. She had endured many hardships in her youth and knew everything about tilling, sowing, irrigation, and pest control. This was expected, but what surprised everyone was that Qing Meng—who looked like she had never dirtied her hands—was the second most knowledgeable person. To prevent Chen Yun from overexerting herself, the group only let her provide guidance while she watched Dou Dou.

The heavy tilling was assigned to Chen Xia and Xing He—the two with “endless strength,” as Fan Hua put it. Qing Meng silently agreed as she sowed seeds. Xing He had indeed been acting like she was on stimulants lately, possessing inexhaustible energy.

Watching Qing Meng’s practiced movements, Fan Hua said admiringly, “Sister Qing Meng, you’re amazing. You even know how to do this.”

Qing Meng shook her head. “I just read a few books on agriculture in my spare time. I’m no professional.”

Jiang Ping’an chimed in with unearned pride. “Of course! Qing Meng loves reading everything, from textbooks to the most obscure topics. And you know, in our integrated bachelor-master program, she was ranked first in the major for seven consecutive years.”

Qing Meng shot her a glance. “Don’t talk nonsense. They weren’t obscure books.”

Fan Hua’s eyes widened, clearly smitten. “Sister Qing Meng, are you a doctor too?”

Qing Meng shook her head. “No.”

Jiang Ping’an feigned a look of sorrow. “Because she was more brilliant than me, she chose theoretical research. She’s a researcher now, while I’m just a poor frontline doctor in a small hospital.”

Qing Meng was helpless. Jiang Ping’an wasn’t one to belittle herself. She mentioned Qing Meng was always first, but omitted the fact that she herself had been the runner-up for those same seven years.

Fan Hua, being simple-minded, comforted her: “It’s okay, Sister An! Research and surgery are both great careers! I’ve respected doctors since I was a kid.”

Chen Xia watched their joined hands from the corner of her eye and frowned. “I’m a bit tired. Dr. Jiang, could you help me till this patch?”

Jiang Ping’an, suddenly called upon, took the hoe blankly. “Oh… sure, coming.”

Xiao Yu, who had been silent, spoke up. “As far as I know, Dr. Jiang is the only one in many years to become a chief physician at the First People’s Hospital at such a young age. Hardly a ‘minor’ doctor.”

Qing Meng added, “Indeed. When I first came to C City after graduation, the waitlist for Dr. Jiang’s specialist appointments was three months long.”

Jiang Ping’an: Why do I feel like I’m being targeted?

Fan Hua’s eyes sparkled. “Sister Ping’an is so cool! What about Sister Xiao Yu? You look so elite. I heard there are very few women in the military, only the best can get in.”

Xiao Yu shook her head. “There are many better than me. I’m just average.”

Jiang Ping’an couldn’t help herself. “Wrong, wrong! Hua, do you know Xiao Yu is actually—” She stopped, looking warily at everyone, including Qing Meng. “This might be classified. Come here, Hua, I’ll tell only you.”

Fan Hua leaned in, and after the whisper, her eyes widened further. “So powerful? G-Greetings, Chief!” She didn’t really know which rank “Chief” applied to, but she had seen it on TV.

Xing He smiled, guessing what they were discussing. For Xiao Yu to be a Lieutenant at her age was indeed impressive. Seeing Fan Hua’s nervous “Chief” greeting reminded Xing He of herself when she first met Qing Baishu as a recruit.

Xiao Yu accepted the greeting calmly. “Greetings, Comrade Fan Hua.” Still wearing her combat fatigues, her simple nod exuded military discipline.

Jiang Ping’an’s chatter continued. “Hua, let me tell you, when two hundred of us were trapped by zombies in the hospital, it was your Sister Xiao Yu who fought her way through alone to save us. Like… a ‘Green Flower of the Army’ version of a supreme hero.”

Fan Hua’s “romance radar” pinged. A beauty-saves-beauty story?

Xiao Yu, however, didn’t take credit where it wasn’t due. “It was also thanks to Xing He. I wouldn’t have found you without her.”

Fan Hua felt a bit disappointed. Another third wheel? Turning to the low-profile Xing He, she asked politely, “Sister Xing He, you’re so skilled. You must have been amazing in the military too, right?”

Xing He smiled. “I might disappoint you. I was just an ordinary person.”

While it sounded like humility, the others didn’t react much, especially with Xiao Yu as a comparison. Only Xiao Yu wore a thoughtful expression. A year ago, there was a Major in an Army Special Ops unit who had received a First-Class Merit… also named Xing He.

She looked up at Xing He. “I think I know you.”

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