Chapter 751: Chapter 500: Sweet Return
It was the second watch of the night.
-----------------
As the dumplings were being taken out of the pot, Lin Yanqiu received a call from Zhu Xinqin. After listening to what the other party said, Lin Yanqiu was utterly stunned. Today was Little New Year, with only seven days until the New Year, and then, the two children were going to get married before the New Year...
When she sat down at the table, Lin Yanqiu was still doubting the authenticity of the news. However, whether it was true or not, since Zhu Xinqin had called, she had to pass on the message. Otherwise, she’d certainly be accused of hiding it out of jealousy.
Although she didn’t know what there was to be jealous of, she just couldn’t afford to have that reputation.
Clearing her throat, Lin Yanqiu announced, "I have some good news to share first. Jing Zhe is about to get married. Zhu Xinqin just called to tell me this news."
Old Madam Zhou chuckled, "Xiao Zhe and Xiaomi are the same age; it makes sense that he should get married now too. This is good news indeed."
Old Master Zhou smiled in agreement, "Correct, correct. Now Old Man Jing and Old Madam Jing won’t have to envy us anymore, haha. Hearing this news today is really great."
Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe’s affection for Jing Zhe was only slightly less than for Zhou Mikang, so upon hearing this news, they were also extremely delighted...
After everyone expressed their happiness about the occasion, Chuxia asked the most crucial question, "Mom, did Aunt Zhu say when big brother is getting married?"
"That’s exactly what I’m questioning," Lin Yanqiu counted on her fingers, "Look, in just these few days, how can she manage it?"
"Could it be that you heard ’engagement’ as ’marriage’?" Old Madam Zhou asked.
"Not at all..." After a pause, Lin Yanqiu became somewhat uncertain, "It could also be that what Zhu Xinqin had in mind was ’engagement,’ but she misspoke and said ’marriage’."
"That time big brother and Sister Meili invited the whole family out to eat, didn’t they say it counted as an engagement?" Chuxia once again expressed her doubts.
This time, the Zhou family members were a bit embarrassed, and Lin Yanqiu had to explain, "Around here, there’s a custom before marriage called ’setting the date,’ which we now directly refer to as getting engaged.
To put it simply, the first engagement is actually setting the relationship, which means fixing the match between the two people. This time’s engagement is actually about setting the date for the dowry.
Once this process is finished, you can set a date to get married. When you and Xiaomi got married, it was so rushed that we didn’t follow all these protocols," Lin Yanqiu explained.
"Oh, oh, oh..." Chuxia nodded in sudden understanding, "Mom, I won’t take it the wrong way. Sister Meili is local, so it’s convenient no matter what. Our family is so far away, and there were some special reasons; if we really followed that procedure, we would indeed have been very worried."
Zhao Yulan realized this and quickly agreed with her daughter.
Old Master Wan was watching from the side, chuckling heartily and couldn’t help but join the conversation,"You folks always like to worry about yourselves. You’re just not the sort to fuss over details. Why explain so much?"
"Fine, no more explanations. Today’s Little New Year, and it’s also the day Jing Zhe’s marriage is set. It’s a double blessing. Let’s all drink to that."
With only Zhou Jingping and Zhou Mikang father and son missing, everyone in the household heeded Old Master Zhou’s call to raise their cups — the ladies drank sweet grape wine.
This was also Wang Lei’s first New Year with the Zhou family since she had married into it. She couldn’t leave Wang Jing alone for the New Year, so, with her insistence, Wang Jing was brought over to the Zhou family to celebrate Little New Year.
Initially resistant to spending New Year’s in an unfamiliar family home, Wang Jing’s aversion disappeared instantly when she was seated next to Luo Xiaoqiong and Chuxia. As the elders chatted, the three of them engaged in casual conversation, just as they would at the hospital.
Chuxia felt a hint of regret about Zhou Mikang not being able to come home, so even though she wore a smile, those who knew her well could tell her mood wasn’t high.
"Still worried?" Luo Xiaoqiong took the chance when Wang Jing went to the restroom to quietly console Chuxia, "Didn’t I tell you? Your brother wrote to me. Commander Zhou definitely won’t have any problems; otherwise, he surely would have mentioned it in his letter."
"I know. I’m not worried anymore; it’s just a little regret. After all, this is our first New Year’s since getting married. I’m now a bit worried about if he can’t make it back for the New Year. That would be such a disappointment," Chuxia said with an embarrassed smile, "Am I being a bit melodramatic?"
"Not at all," said Luo Xiaoqiong. "If I were married, I’d also look forward to spending New Year’s with my husband. Besides, customs vary by region, and anyway, traditions are there to be believed in or not. Stop worrying. Be happy. If you’re not, Uncle Baohe and Aunt Yulan won’t be either. I can see it, and how could they not?"
Hearing Luo Xiaoqiong say this, Chuxia hurriedly adjusted her mood to prevent herself from feeling down any longer.
Chuxia had to be in surgery the next day. After eating and chatting with everyone for a while, she went back to her room to sleep. Waking up feeling thirsty, she took a cup and went downstairs to get some water, still half-asleep.
Suddenly, her waist was tightly grasped, and before she realized what was happening, she was being carried horizontally. Startled, she was about to scream when a hand covered her mouth, "It’s me," Zhou Mikang’s voice whispered in her ear.
Her panicked heart calmed down, and Chuxia pinched him, mumbling unclearly, "Let go."
Zhou Mikang quickly removed the hand that covered her mouth, "I didn’t want to wake everyone up, hehe..."
Hehe my ass! Chuxia rolled her eyes at him, "Did you really not write, not send a telegram, not call, just to surprise me by returning all of a sudden?"
"Yeah, so, surprised or what?"
"Not pleased, just shocked!"
"Really not pleased?"
"Of course!"
Muttering, they entered the room, and Mikang set Chuxia on the bed before snatching the cup from her hand, "I’ll go get you some water."
"Pfft!" Chuxia rolled her eyes, "Dumbass!" He obviously could have just brought the water up earlier, but he had to make an extra trip—what else could that be if not being a dumbass?
"Has everyone arrived?" When Mikang came back, Chuxia hurriedly asked, "I mean, has my brother and the others come back too?"
"No, the main force should take another two days to arrive."
"Did you get special treatment again?" Chuxia scornfully flipped him off, "Your comrades must look down on you for sure, and Hanliang must look down on you especially."
"If I hadn’t asked for special treatment, wouldn’t you have worried yourself sick?" Mikang reached out to lift her chin, sizing her up, "Tell me, did you worry about me these past days?"
"You’re way too full of yourself, what’s there to worry about?" Chuxia denied stiffly.
"Really didn’t worry?"
Did she really not worry? Thinking about her own emotions over the last few days, Chuxia suddenly jumped on him and bit his face, "Don’t you ever pull this stunt again, got it?"
"..."
"Are you listening to me?!" Chuxia, growing aggravated, jabbed at the grinning Mikang, "What’s with that expression? What kind of attitude is that?"
"Haha..." Mikang just laughed, "I’m considering if you’re finally willing to openly admit that you’ve fallen for me. You’re not being so tough now, are you?"
"Yeah!" Chuxia raised her eyebrows at him, "Let me tell you, don’t think this is a good thing. From now on, you’re branded as mine. Outside of work, no jokes with other women except relatives, no fond feelings for any woman but me, no gifts for any woman besides family members. Can you do that?"
"That’s what I’ve always done."
"That was then, this is now. Whether it’s in three years, seven years, or ten, you still have to hold yourself to this standard, or else I’ll cut off your lil’ JJ!"
Mikang with a face of disbelief: "Chuxia, can’t we talk about something else?"
"Hmph, that’s what I think, so why shouldn’t I say it?" Chuxia reached out to pinch his face, "Xiaomi, you’ll get meat if you listen to me, okay?"
"Then I want some meat right now." Mikang said as he flipped himself to pin her down on the bed.
It was only then that someone realized the double entendre in what she had just said, hastily clarifying: "No, no, by meat I meant the kind you eat with meals, I’m saying if you listen to me, I won’t withhold your living expenses. You misunderstood, really... "
"Then let’s carry on with the misunderstanding..."
At this time, can you really clear up a misunderstanding with a man?
"Mikang, I must get some good rest... tomorrow... tomorrow I have to perform surgery by myself... my first solo surgery..." Even amidst the heated moment, Chuxia hadn’t forgotten her mission and breathlessly "reported" to him.
Mikang chuckled in her ear: "No worries, just once, and not only will you not be tired, but you’ll also feel more refreshed..."
As it turned out, he really was a man with incredible self-control, stopping at just once and always paying attention to Chuxia’s responses. When she reached her climax, he quickly brought himself to the peak as well.
Chuxia felt moved by his consideration but didn’t know how to express her gratitude.
Usually, he’d need about an hour, but today, it took him only twenty minutes. She wanted to say that he shouldn’t control his body that way, as it would be too damaging, yet that might sound like she wasn’t satisfied and wanted more. If she didn’t say anything, though, it felt quite unfair to him...
In such a dilemma, she had no idea when she fell asleep.
Exceptionally, when she woke up in the early morning, he was still beside her. Chuxia glanced at the time; it was already six o’clock, so she looked at him with some confusion, "Why didn’t you go for morning training?"
"I waited so I could talk to you after you woke up." Mikang pulled her into his arms, "Actually, I came back last night because the mission had ended, and I could leave. I wasn’t intentionally keeping it from you to create a surprise because I knew it would worry you."
"You mean, other than stationing at the border, you took on another mission?" Chuxia sat up promptly, "I know there are some things I shouldn’t ask, so I’ll just ask you this: was it dangerous? Can you tell me the nature of it?"
(To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to come to Qidian () to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please go to to read.)