The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 86

Chen Che asked Old Yu if he had gone to the shop, but Old Yu seemed completely distracted.

It took a moment for Old Yu to process the question before he replied, “It’s that shop they’re opening, right? I’m not going there. Are you actually going, Battalion Commander Chen?”

Chen Che disliked Old Yu’s arrogant attitude; there was an unmistakable tone of disdain in his voice when he mentioned the shop. However, Chen Che said nothing further, simply nodding. “I’m planning to head over there now.”

“Oh. Well, go ahead then.” Old Yu didn’t want to engage further, privately scoffing to himself. What a weak man. His own wife is out all day and night, yet he still chases after her. So what if he’s a Battalion Commander? He has absolutely no backbone. Old Yu was different. While he had previously been angry about Zhang Jingjing staying away from home, he was now completely preoccupied with a new comfort, paying little attention to his own wife.

By the time Chen Che arrived, the final preparations for the shop were nearly complete.

That night, Zhang Jingjing and Pei Xiaoyu were staying at the shop, having laid out simple floor mats to sleep on. They had urged Song Mingyue to return home; as a pregnant woman, her situation was different, and the cold floor could pose a serious health risk.

Song Mingyue didn’t mind, even suggesting she could sleep on the table if necessary, but the table was too small to turn around on. Furthermore, it was late, and she was too exhausted to make the trek home. They were currently strapped for cash; otherwise, she would have preferred to book a decent guesthouse in the city.

But that was just a wish.

Just as she was debating whether to leave, Chen Che appeared.

Despite a long, tiring day, his face still held that restrained, gentle smile. He knocked on the shop door and called out, “Yueyue.”

Song Mingyue turned and saw his remarkably handsome face.

Before she could speak, Zhang Jingjing stepped forward to invite him in. “Battalion Commander Chen, your timing is perfect. We were just discussing how Mingyue should get home.”

“Mn. I’m here to take her back.”

“Mingyue has been exhausted all day. You must make sure to help her recover when you get home,” Zhang Jingjing urged.

Chen Che nodded. Seeing her reminded him of his encounter with Old Yu earlier, but he was not a man to gossip. Even if he felt something was strange, he kept it to himself.

It was past 10:00 PM. In the 1980s, there was no real nightlife, and most people were already asleep. Only the city center had a few dim streetlights; the road ahead was pitch black, and one could hardly see their own fingers in the dark.

Fortunately, Chen Che had brought a flashlight, which Song Mingyue held for him from behind. The air grew chilly in the late hours. Song Mingyue leaned against Chen Che, one hand tucked into his pocket and the other holding the flashlight.

After a day of busy negotiations and coordination, the silence allowed fatigue to settle in. Her eyelids began to flutter. She leaned her entire body against Chen Che’s back and murmured drowsily, “I’m so sleepy. I think I’m going to fall asleep right here.”

Chen Che reached back for the flashlight. “Give it to me. You just lean back and sleep.”

“No, I want to keep you company.”

Chen Che didn’t press the issue, instead picking up his pace, telling her to hold on just a little longer until they reached home.

Passing an intersection, Song Mingyue was so drowsy she felt as though she would fall asleep at any moment. Trying to stay awake, she forced a conversation: “Can you sing? Sing me a song. Maybe I won’t be as tired if I listen to music.”

Chen Che didn’t hold back. “I know a little. I recently learned a new one.”

“What? You learned a new song even with how busy you are?” Song Mingyue teased.

“I learned it in my spare time. You’ve heard it before.”

“Which song?”

He began to sing, the first line being: “Worry and sorrow cannot be cast away; why does my heart feel so empty…” It was I Only Care About You. Song Mingyue was astonished. “How did you learn this song?” And he sang it quite well, too.

Chen Che replied, “I just thought it sounded nice, so I learned it.”

Listening to him, her drowsiness faded significantly, and she listened intently. Finally, she offered a critique: “Apart from being much less skilled than me, it was overall not bad.”

“Understood. Thank you for the compliment, Comrade Mingyue.”

With that banter, they reached home quickly, and Song Mingyue’s sleepiness had largely vanished.

In the kitchen, Chen Che had stewed a whole chicken. He asked if she wanted some. Having only eaten in the afternoon, Song Mingyue hungrily requested a bowl: “I don’t really want the soup; I want the meat. Give me plenty of meat!”

Chen Che ladled a large bowl containing the essence of the chicken, including two large, meaty legs with very little bone.

As she took it, she teased, “Do you think you’re fattening a pig? How can I eat such a big bowl of meat?”

“It doesn’t matter if you can’t finish it. Just make sure you’re full.”

Song Mingyue took a bite. The flavor was good. She asked curiously, “You didn’t make this, did you?”

“I did. I asked Auntie Xiumei for tips. How is it?”

When a person is hungry, everything tastes good—and in this case, the flavor was genuinely decent. Seeing Song Mingyue enjoy the meal, a smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of Chen Che’s mouth. He made a mental note: Yueyue likes this flavor. After eating, knowing how tired she was, Chen Che washed the dishes himself. When he went to the bedroom, he found Song Mingyue already asleep on the bed, her clothes still on.

How did she wear herself out like this? Chen Che felt a surge of tenderness as he watched her sleep. He quietly undressed her and tucked her into bed. As he moved to leave, she instinctively reached out and grabbed his arm. Chen Che didn’t dare move until she was deep in sleep again. He then gently removed her hand and kissed her forehead—a silent blessing for her new shop to be a great success tomorrow. She truly deserved it after such long hours of hard work.

Once a person has something on their mind, their internal clock acts like an alarm. At 4:00 AM, Song Mingyue jolted awake. She turned on the light and saw the old-fashioned clock showed exactly 4:25 AM.

Time to get up.

She tried to move quietly, but as soon as she stirred, Chen Che woke up and rubbed his eyes.

“Did I disturb you? Go back to sleep, I’ll be quiet,” she whispered, feeling guilty that he had gotten so little rest before his demanding day ahead.

Chen Che didn’t go back to sleep. He climbed out of bed, saying, “I’ll heat up some breakfast, then I’ll go to the shop with you.”

He couldn’t ask for time off, as he had important work, but he insisted on helping.

In the kitchen, Chen Che cooked a bowl of noodles for Song Mingyue with two eggs. There was a local custom where, for special occasions, one ate noodles and eggs in the morning. While he worked, Song Mingyue freshened up.

She chose a pink dress and applied a simple, elegant makeup look, appearing fresh and graceful.

When Chen Che stepped out, Song Mingyue spun around. “Does this look good?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Very good.”

Perhaps his “filter” is just too strong, she thought.

She wanted to head straight to the shop, but Chen Che had already set the table. She sat down to eat, finding that a warm bowl of noodle soup in the early morning was incredibly comforting.

Seeing her eating alone, she asked, “What about your breakfast? Aren’t you eating?”

“It’s fine. I’ll pick up a couple of steamed buns from the canteen later.”

This bowl was huge, and he knew she couldn’t finish it all. So, they sat on opposite sides, sharing the bowl. Song Mingyue felt her spirits lift.

Though it was still dark, the sky was beginning to glow with a hazy, morning light. As she sat on the back of his bicycle, she began to worry about the business. They were introducing a new concept, and she wasn’t sure if the public would accept it.

Sensing her anxiety, Chen Che said from the front, “Yueyue, don’t worry. No matter what you do, I’ve got your back.”

That made sense. Song Mingyue felt a sense of relief. That’s right. Even if it fails, one of us has a stable income. As long as Chen Che was there, they wouldn’t fall into poverty. Success didn’t come easily, but she was prepared to put in her best effort.

By the time they arrived, the sun had risen, bathing the world in a thin mist. Zhang Jingjing and Pei Xiaoyu were already up. Despite having slept on the floor, they were brimming with energy.

Since no breakfast stalls were open yet, Song Mingyue gave them the large pancakes she had brought from home. “Just eat these for now. We’ll get some buns later when the shop opens.”

They weren’t picky people. However, Zhang Jingjing looked a bit uneasy and asked Chen Che, “Battalion Commander Chen, my Old Yu hasn’t come looking for me, has he?”

Chen Che shook his head; he didn’t know how to describe Old Yu’s state to her.

But none of that mattered today. As the sky began to brighten, the first customers arrived to make inquiries, leaving the women feeling pleasantly surprised.