The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 39

Heh, men.

Before, he would avoid her after a few lingering glances; now, he learned how to initiate hugs and closeness remarkably fast. Still, Mingyue didn’t mind getting close to a handsome guy.

She wrapped her arms around his neck but pouted playfully. “Let me down. I haven’t showered in days.”

Chen Che held her even tighter, leaning his face close to the crook of her neck. His voice was husky. “I don’t mind.”

“Comrade Chen Che, are you changing the subject?” Mingyue teased. “You haven’t answered me yet. Were those things in your letter really just ‘written randomly’?”

Chen Che carried her toward the bed. “No.”

But he wouldn’t say another word on the matter. Looking exhausted, he whispered, “I haven’t rested properly in so many days. Let’s sleep for a while.”

“Wait, isn’t your room over there?”

Chen Che held her, his gaze burning with honest intensity. “Mingyue, I want to sleep here. Is that okay?”

If he had made an excuse, she could have argued. But his sheer sincerity made it impossible to say no. She wiggled out of his arms just enough to lie down first, facing the wall. She closed her eyes and said lazily, “I’m sleeping first.”

“Mm.”

Chen Che lay down beside her with a faint smile, leaving a small, polite distance between them.

Mingyue wasn’t actually asleep. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to stay on his side of the “border” forever. Yet, deep down, she liked this about him. She didn’t like flighty or overbearing men; someone like Chen Che was just right.

Lying on the comfortable Simmons mattress he had bought her, the exhaustion of the journey finally caught up to her. Within moments, she drifted off.

When Mingyue woke up, the room was dark. She moved slightly and her arm brushed against a warm body. She remembered—Chen Che was sleeping next to her.

She had shifted from facing the wall to facing him. Her leg was even draped over his calf in a very bold sleeping posture. He, however, remained perfectly composed, his breathing steady. In the darkness, she could only see the clean, cold silhouette of his profile. She propped her head on her hand and watched him quietly.

A breeze from the open window ruffled his brow. This was the first time she had seen him so relaxed. Usually, though he was a man of few words, he exuded a sense of absolute security. In S County, people had told her that even when panic was high, Chen Che’s calm voice could quiet a crowd instantly.

He had that kind of charisma. But watching him now, she realized this man got tired too. He could sleep as deeply as anyone else.

After a long while, her arm felt numb. She tried to get up quietly, mostly because her stomach was growling—she hadn’t eaten since noon. As she tried to step over him, he suddenly woke up and grabbed her.

In a heartbeat, the positions reversed. Chen Che was looming over her, and the atmosphere in the room turned thick with tension. Mingyue’s face flushed. She wasn’t usually sensitive to these things, but the darkness, the proximity, and the sound of his breathing—magnified in her ears—made her mind wander to all sorts of vivid places.

“Chen Che, let me go first,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Chen Che had been in a deep sleep, and his soldier’s instincts had kicked in the moment he felt movement, pinning the “intruder” down. Now that he was awake, he felt a flash of awkwardness. He had pinned the wrong person. But the skin of her hands beneath his felt incredibly delicate—a sensation like an electric current that made him feel weak yet electrified.

Despite his reluctance, he let her go. “I’m sorry.”

Why are you apologizing?

The moment the words left his mouth, Mingyue couldn’t take it anymore. She hooked her leg around his, pulled him back down, tilted her head, and kissed him.

That kiss was like a switch. Chen Che quickly took the lead, his initial hesitation melting into intensity. The air in the room grew heavy with their quickened breathing. Her lips were soft and sweet, and he found himself becoming instantly addicted.

Minutes passed before Mingyue pulled back, laughing softly. “Chen Che, your kissing technique is average. You don’t even know how to catch your breath.”

Chen Che’s face turned scarlet. He didn’t want to admit it was his first kiss. Aside from Mingyue, he had never even held a girl’s hand, let alone kissed one. Being called out on it made him incredibly shy.

Mingyue reached out and switched on the light. The sudden brightness made Chen Che even more uncomfortable; if the light had been on, he might not have lost control like that. Now that she could see him clearly, Mingyue saw the blush on his ears. Gone was the “ice prince” persona.

She teased him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “What? Are you upset? If it’s not good, it’s not good. I can teach you later.”

She turned to get up, truly hungry now. But he suddenly pulled her back. His voice was low and deep. “No need to wait for ‘later.’ Can you teach me now?”

He didn’t wait for an answer before leaning back in. Since he was being so proactive, Mingyue was happy to provide a “live simulation.” It was two hours before he finally let her go.

Mingyue didn’t want to get out of bed anymore, so Chen Che went to the kitchen and cooked two bowls of noodles. After eating, he “knocked” on her heart again, and Mingyue politely and kindly continued her teaching session.

By the end of the night, his technique had shown visible improvement. He was a very good student.

The next day, the military gave him a day off. It was the day before the wedding, and they were incredibly busy.

Mingyue’s feeling about this wedding was that as long as everyone was happy, she was fine. She hadn’t expected much, but seeing everyone in the compound genuinely working hard for them changed her mind.

Early that morning, Yin Xiumei arrived with a group of women. They divided the tasks: Zhang Jingjing and Zhao Xing helped Mingyue try on her dress, while others prepared the food. Chen Che had hired two chefs from a state-owned restaurant, but the neighbors still helped with the prep and the grocery shopping. Others decorated the house with “Double Happiness” stickers.

The news of Mingyue driving a thousand miles to find her husband had changed everyone’s opinion of her. Combined with Chen Che’s heroics in S County, the compound was more than happy to help.

Mingyue’s bridal outfit was a modified Chinese qipao she had designed herself. She had always wanted a traditional wedding, and now she was making it happen.

When she stepped out in the red dress, Zhang Jingjing and Zhao Xing were speechless. They had never seen a bride look so breathtaking.

“Wow, Mingyue, you are so beautiful today!” Jingjing exclaimed.

Zhao Xing added grudgingly, “Fine, I admit your taste is good. When I get married, you have to help me design an outfit like this.”

Mingyue laughed. “That depends on our relationship then. I only design for my sisters.”

Zhao Xing went quiet, but it was clear their friendship had reached a turning point.

As they chatted, Chen Che returned from running errands. Jingjing and Zhao Xing immediately blocked his view. “Commander Chen! Out! You and Mingyue can’t see each other today!”

The usual coldness in Chen Che’s eyes was gone, replaced by a rare tenderness. He chuckled. “I’m not coming in. I just wanted to drop these off.”

“Leave them on the floor! Now go!”

He turned to leave, his curiosity about how she looked only growing stronger.

Because their parents weren’t there, the wedding was a bit different from the norm. That night, Chen Che stayed in the military dorms with Wang Bing and the others.

The next morning, the “groom’s squad” arrived. As Mingyue stepped out in her red qipao, anyone passing by couldn’t help but gasp. She looked like a lotus flower emerging from water—so beautiful it felt like no one in the world was quite worthy of her.

The older ladies whispered among themselves, realizing they had been wrong about her. Mingyue is beautiful and capable. Look at Commander Chen—he’s handsome and has a good job, but he’s so stoic. Mingyue is actually the catch here!

The feast consisted of sixteen tables. Everyone who knew Chen Che showed up, and the compound hadn’t been this lively in ages.

Yin Xiumei greeted guests while Jingjing and Zhao Xing stayed with Mingyue in the room. They peeked through the window to see who was bringing what gifts and reported back to Mingyue.

Mingyue didn’t care about the gifts. She had always been well-off, and even after transmigrating, she was luckier than most. She took out two pieces of silver jewelry. “Here, these are for you. My ‘hand-accompanying’ gifts.”

“What’s a ‘hand-accompanying’ gift?” Jingjing asked.

“Basically, bridesmaid gifts.”

Both girls tried to refuse, but Mingyue insisted. Amidst their laughter, Wang Bing poked his head into the room. He still felt a bit intimidated by his “Sister-in-law,” but he mustered his courage and asked:

“Sister-in-law, can we ‘disturb the bridal chamber’ tonight?