Chapter 60: Dress Up Nicely and Shock Them All!

The letter to Grandpa and Grandma Sang wasn’t as long, but it was full of warm greetings and little stories from their daily life.

That evening, Sheng Zexi came in carrying food, his clothes dusted with snow. He didn’t see his young wife in the living room, but he did spot the two letters on the table.

When he noticed that one of them was addressed to his own grandparents, a soft warmth spread through his heart, and his gaze grew gentle.

“You’re back.”

That familiar, sweet voice made Sheng Zexi turn around. He saw his lovely, slender wife walk in.

“Yeah, I brought back some food. I’ll make a meat dish in a bit.”

“You wrote letters?”

“Mhm. Since we’ve arrived safely, I thought I should let everyone know. But I’m planning to wait until after we visit the big market in a couple of days, buy some local specialties, and send them along with the letters as New Year’s gifts.”

After all, the New Year was just over a month away, and with how long mail takes, there wouldn’t be time for many letters.

“Sounds good. Whatever you want to buy is fine. I just didn’t expect you’d write to my grandparents too.”

Gu Jianing shot him a sidelong glance. “We’re married now. They’re not just your grandparents—they’re mine too. Besides, they’ve always been good to both of us. It’s only right to write to them.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Sheng Zexi pulled her into a tight hug. “Ningning, thank you. I know you’re doing this for me.”

Her grandparents loved Ningning because of him, and Ningning cared for them in return.

“They really have always treated me well. I just haven’t paid them enough attention before.”

Gu Jianing leaned against his chest and sighed softly. “You have your training and missions. I’m sure they understand. But now that we’re married, as your wife, it’s my duty to show them more care.”

Of course, there was something Gu Jianing didn’t say: Grandpa and Grandma Sang were truly wonderful people. If they’d been the difficult type, she wouldn’t have bothered. Like Sheng Zexi’s father and stepmother—she didn’t interact with them at all.

“All right, let’s eat.”

“Okay. By the way, did you get lunch from the canteen today?”

...

Inside the small house, the couple chatted away, the atmosphere warm and cozy. Gu Jianing told him about asking Sister Shu Wan about the housewarming, and the solution they’d come up with.

“How about we set the date for the day after the big market?” Sheng Zexi asked.

“Sounds good.”

After dinner, Gu Jianing continued Sheng Zexi’s acupuncture treatment. On the stove, a pot of herbal medicine simmered—the supply Sheng Zexi had brought back, enough for half a month.

“For the housewarming, I’m thinking of checking everyone’s pulse. What do you think?” Gu Jianing asked as she worked.

She’d prepared ingredients for the meal, but Sister Shu Wan would be doing the cooking. Gu Jianing felt she had to show some real skills—she couldn’t let Sheng Zexi lose face.

The guests would all be Sheng Zexi’s close comrades and their families. She wanted them to know he’d married a capable wife.

She didn’t have many talents, but her ability to diagnose any illness at a glance was something she could rely on.

So, she’d offer everyone a free checkup.

And if she found any issues, she could register them as patients. If they let her treat them and she succeeded, she’d earn points and rewards.

Two birds with one stone—perfect.

Sheng Zexi thought: Inviting people over for a housewarming and then checking their pulses? That’s… a bit odd.

But when he caught sight of Ningning’s eager, excited expression, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

“All right, let’s do it.” At most, he’d give his friends and their families a heads-up in advance.

Just let Ningning check their pulse and go through the motions.

Sheng Zexi didn’t really expect Gu Jianing to find anything. Sure, she was treating him now, and she’d helped his sister-in-law with infertility before, but he figured the chances of success were slim.

After all, he’d seen plenty of specialists about his own health, and none of them could help.

Ningning was just too young.

If she really could cure his and his sister-in-law’s infertility, she’d be a miracle doctor.

But Sheng Zexi still thought it was unlikely.

He was only letting her try so she wouldn’t be disappointed. After all, how would you know if something would fail unless you tried?

Gu Jianing had no idea what Sheng Zexi was really thinking. If she did, she might have jabbed the needle into a painful spot just to teach him a lesson for underestimating her.

Before bed, the herbal medicine was ready.

Sheng Zexi obediently drank it, then boiled some water to help Gu Jianing wash up.

They couldn’t take a full bath, but Gu Jianing insisted on wiping down with a towel every day—otherwise, she really couldn’t stand it.

Once they’d washed up, they lay down together on the heated brick bed, holding each other as they fell asleep.

Maybe because he remembered last night was Gu Jianing’s first time, and she’d complained about oversleeping and her aching waist, Sheng Zexi suppressed his urges. His warm, dry hands gently massaged her waist, and when he saw her drift off in his arms, he finally fell asleep too…

—

The next morning, Sheng Zexi was already gone when Gu Jianing woke up.

She didn’t mind. She was a bit of a homebody, not great at socializing, and didn’t know many people here, so she was perfectly happy staying home alone.

That is, until Zhang Shuwan knocked on her door, looking furious as she told Gu Jianing about the rumors going around the military compound.

People were saying she’d schemed to latch onto Sheng Zexi, and that she was ugly as sin.

“…What are those people thinking? If you’re ugly, then there’s no such thing as beauty in this world! Are they blind?” Zhang Shuwan fumed.

After all, she knew Gu Jianing was truly beautiful—the prettiest person she’d ever met.

And Captain Sheng was absolutely in love with her. Otherwise, what man would cook for his wife himself? Every time she saw the way he looked at Gu Jianing, his eyes were so full of tenderness they could melt.

Gu Jianing had been angry at first when she heard people were calling her ugly.

But seeing how worked up Zhang Shuwan was on her behalf, her anger faded.

Why get upset over people who don’t matter?

“Jianing, it’s just because you don’t like going out. If you did, you’d stun them all. Tomorrow’s the big market—dress up nicely and shock them all!”

Gu Jianing giggled and agreed.

She was a beauty, after all—she couldn’t let people call her ugly!

“I wonder who’s spreading these ridiculous rumors,” Zhang Shuwan muttered."