The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 38

The weather was finally clear and beautiful. As the old truck left the boundaries of S County, a heavy silence fell over the cabin. Exhausted from days of little sleep, the men began to doze off.

But Song Mingyue wasn’t sleepy at all.

On the journey there, she had been fueled by a desperate need for an answer, her willpower keeping her from collapsing. Now, on the return trip, her heart was a whirlpool of complex emotions. She sat beside the man she loved, surrounded by people covered in grime and bone-tired. Yet, despite their fatigue, no one complained. There was a sincerity and purity in them that came from the bottom of their hearts.

This was entirely different from the life she had known for over twenty years. She used to be someone who feared hardship above all else. Now, she had endured things she never thought possible: sleeping in straw huts, eating coarse meals that barely filled her stomach, and going days without a bath.

She didn’t feel resentful. For the first time, her body was exhausted, but her spirit felt fulfilled.

She looked at Chen Che. He was brilliant and came from a privileged background; it wouldn’t have been hard for him to find a stable, comfortable job. Yet, he chose the most difficult, “foolish” path. What sustained him was a deep internal conviction.

The old Song Mingyue would never have understood why someone would give up comfort to work so hard. Now, she was beginning to get it. If you want a life that truly shines, there are many things worth caring about more than comfort.

As the truck moved further from S County, a seed was planted in Mingyue’s heart.

The truck jolted along the unpaved roads. Chen Che kept Mingyue tucked into the innermost corner of the truck bed. Worried the wooden benches were too hard, he found a thick winter cotton coat for her to sit on, making the ride a bit more bearable.

Since their reunion and the mutual confession of their feelings, they hadn’t had a moment alone. Seeing everyone else asleep, Mingyue grew bold. She leaned her entire weight against him, rubbing her cheek against his sleeve before pretending to close her eyes. “I’m tired. I’m going to rest now.”

Chen Che let her cling to him like a little koala. On the surface, he sat bolt upright, face expressionless. But beneath the layers of clothing, his hand found hers, his thumb gently caressing her fingers.

Mingyue enjoyed his touch while peeking around the cabin, terrified they’d be caught—especially by Wang Bing, who had a knack for ruining their moments. She found it slightly ridiculous; they were a legally married couple, yet here they were acting like they were having a secret affair, afraid of every little movement being noticed.

Fine, let it be an affair then, she thought, snuggling closer. He’s handsome enough that I’m not the one losing out.

They traveled for two days and two nights, enduring a minor breakdown midway, before finally arriving back in Mocheng.

Commander Zhao Hongwei had received a telegram saying they were safe, but he didn’t know exactly when they would arrive. When the truck finally pulled up to the compound, a lone figure jumped up from a stone bench and began waving frantically.

It was Zhang Jingjing.

As the truck stopped, Jingjing rushed over to the front. “Is Comrade Mingyue back with you?”

“She is! Sister-in-law, someone’s looking for you!”

Unlike the soldiers, Mingyue wasn’t used to such long trips. Her body felt like it was falling apart, and her legs were so numb she could barely stand. Chen Che helped her up. She tried to climb down the side of the truck, calling out excitedly, “Jingjing! Why are you here?”

Jingjing moved to catch her, but Chen Che vaulted over the side of the truck first. He landed gracefully and opened his arms, inviting her to jump. Without a second’s hesitation, Mingyue leaned into him and jumped down.

She immediately grabbed Jingjing’s hands. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Of course!” Jingjing hugged her, crying. “Mingyue, you scared me to death! I thought you weren’t coming back.”

Jingjing had spent every day since Mingyue left sitting on that stone bench, watching the road. A few days ago, Zhao Hongwei had shared the news that Chen Che and his team had stayed behind to help the locals, which made everyone in the compound proud.

“Auntie Xiumei said she’s throwing a welcome feast for you!” Jingjing announced loudly. Then, she leaned in and whispered, “Something is definitely different between you and Commander Chen.”

Mingyue played dumb. “What’s different? We’re husband and wife. Absence makes the heart grow fonder—you know how it is.”

Jingjing’s face turned bright red. She hadn’t expected Mingyue to be so shameless about it. What she really meant was the way their eyes seemed glued to each other, but she figured after a brush with death, a little extra affection was only natural.

The neighbors crowded around, offering warm welcomes. Those who had previously looked down on Mingyue now viewed her with newfound respect—after all, she had driven a thousand miles into a disaster zone to find her husband.

Wang Bing eventually shooed everyone away. “Everyone, we appreciate the concern, but we are exhausted. Let us go home and sleep. We’ll talk once we’ve rested!”

Before going home, the men had to report to the base. Mingyue went home alone with the luggage.

As soon as she entered the house, she tore into her bundle. At the very bottom sat the envelope given to her by the village chief’s wife. Her heart began to race. It was already stamped and sealed with glue.

She peeled it open. Inside were three pages of red-lined stationery covered in ink. From the crisp, sharp handwriting, she knew it was Chen Che’s.

Mingyue, seeing this is like seeing me.

Forgive me for not being able to apologize in person. I may have to break my promises to you… You are a good girl; I hope I haven’t held you back. Our marriage was a ‘fake’ arrangement to begin with. If something happens to me, you don’t need to worry or blame yourself. Just forget me and live a good life… My life has been simple, but in these few decades, I feel satisfied. My only regret is that I can no longer contribute to my country. But do not worry; there are countless others like me. Our country will never lack those who strive for its strength.

Mingyue, I am actually a little selfish. You can just read these next words; you don’t have to take them to heart. But if I don’t write them today, I may never have the chance again.

I still remember the first time I saw you. It was a wonderful misunderstanding. I saw you lying in my bed, your eyes as startled as a deer’s. Perhaps from that moment, you crashed into my heart. You followed me to the compound, and I’m sorry that I couldn’t always be by your side because of my work. I know you missed home, and not everyone in the compound was friendly. But I was selfish. I thought about how happy I would be if you were the first thing I saw when I opened the door after work. For the sake of this happy dream, I didn’t dare mention that you could go back home if you missed it.

Every lyric of that song you sang, “Just Happens to Like You,” I remember. I just happen to like you, too. I wish you eternal peace and joy, and that you remain a passionate, bright girl forever…

What a fool.

Mingyue felt a stinging in her nose. If he hadn’t thought he was going to die, would he have ever told her? She could picture him sitting somewhere in the dark, writing these words line by line.

It was such a waste. They had liked each other for so long, yet hadn’t said a word. If he had truly died, reading this letter would have been a soul-crushing despair. Fortunately, they were lucky.

As she held the letter, Chen Che walked through the door. Wang Bing and the others had wanted to come over for dinner, but Chen Che had rejected them without hesitation. He only wanted to get home.

He found her sitting on a stool, staring intensely at the papers in her hand.

“What are you reading?” he asked curiously.

Mingyue looked up, a playful smile on her lips as she waved the pages. “I’m reading a certain someone’s farewell letter.”

Chen Che realized it was the letter he had written in haste and desperation. His ears turned a deep shade of crimson. He didn’t dare look at her, but he didn’t try to take the letter away either. He simply defended himself coolly: “Don’t read it. It doesn’t count. I just wrote whatever was on my mind at the time.”

Mingyue hid the letter behind her back and walked up to him. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, “Wrote whatever was on your mind? Does that mean all those things about liking me weren’t true?”

Chen Che could no longer maintain his composure. The emotions he had suppressed for twenty-seven years surged forward. Being much taller than her, he hooked his arm around her waist and lifted her off the floor.