Marrying My Bestie's Ferocious Brother - He Calls Me His Baby!-Chapter 63: Everyone Except My Wife Is an Outsider!

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Everyone Except My Wife Is an Outsider!

Gu Yanshen stared at the heap of bright red fruits in the enamel bowl, motionless.

His breathing came to a halt.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze as well.

Lin Wan Yi pushed the bowl forward another inch, almost touching his chin.

"Want to try?"

He didn’t move, his gaze shifting from the fruits to her face.

"Where did this come from?"

"I told you, I performed a magic trick."

"Lin Wan Yi."

He called her by her full name.

"I’m not joking."

His voice was deep.

"In the border defense military district, in winter, things like this don’t exist."

Lin Wan Yi withdrew the bowl and took one, putting it in her mouth.

She bit into it, and juice flooded out.

"Hmm... so delicious."

She looked at him, her eyes curved into crescents.

"If you don’t eat, I’ll finish them all myself."

Gu Yanshen grabbed her wrist.

The strawberries in the bowl wobbled.

"Answer my question."

"Is this safe?"

Lin Wan Yi understood.

He wasn’t probing about the source, he was worried about her.

Her heart softened.

"It’s safe."

"I washed them myself, see, there are still water droplets on them."

She held the largest one to his lips.

"You take a bite first, if there’s a problem, you’ll be the first to know."

Gu Yanshen looked into her bright eyes.

He opened his mouth and took the fruit in.

A rich, sweet, and sour flavor burst instantly in his mouth.

It was a taste he had never experienced.

It was something he hadn’t found even after searching all night.

"Is it good?"

"..."

He didn’t answer.

He picked up another one from the bowl and brought it to Lin Wan Yi’s lips.

Lin Wan Yi opened her mouth and took half a bite.

"Sweet."

She mumbled indistinctly.

He put the other half into his own mouth.

"Yes, sweet."

The bowl of strawberries quickly emptied.

Lin Wan Yi yawned contentedly, fatigue from morning sickness washing over her again.

Gu Yanshen scooped her up in his arms, laying her back in bed and carefully tucking her in.

"Sleep."

"Where are you going?"

Lin Wan Yi tugged at the corner of his coat.

"To the canteen, to the commendation meeting for the cultural performance. The commander called for me, I have to go."

"Oh."

She let go of his hand.

"What would you like to eat? I’ll bring it back for you."

Lin Wan Yi thought for a moment.

"I want meat buns."

"Anything else?"

"And the scrambled eggs from your lunchbox."

"Okay."

He turned to leave.

"Wait."

Lin Wan Yi stopped him again.

"What’s wrong? Want something else?"

"No."

Lin Wan Yi sat up.

"Gu Yanshen, the strawberries are my secret."

"Can you, not ask anymore?"

Gu Yanshen looked at her for a long time in silence.

"Okay."

He only said one word.

"Lock the door."

"Mm."

"If you feel uncomfortable in any way, have the orderly find me at the canteen. Don’t shoulder it yourself."

"Got it, you should go, don’t be late."

He got to the door and looked back.

"I’ll be back soon."

The door closed gently.

In the military district canteen, it was bustling.

Today, there was an extra meal, plenty of steamed white buns, and a large pot of steaming braised pork.

A few young officers gathered at a table.

"Did you hear? Mr. Gu got a week’s leave."

"I heard, specially approved by the commander, so he can go home and take care of his wife."

"Tsk tsk, even the living Yama has days like these. He used to say that dying on the training field is the best ending for a soldier."

"It depends on who it’s for. That wife of his is carrying twins, the military district’s number one treasure."

Before the voice had finished speaking, a tall figure appeared at the entrance of the cafeteria.

It was Gu Yanshen.

The discussions came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone watched as he walked straight to the food counter.

"Comrade, two meat buns, a serving of scrambled eggs, and an extra two ounces of rice, separately packed."

The cook, upon seeing him, quickly packed the food.

Gu Yanshen carried his meal tray, without finding his seat, went directly to an empty table in the corner and sat down.

Then, under everyone’s incredulous gaze, he opened his aluminum meal box.

He slowly transferred the scrambled eggs onto another clean meal box.

One by one, he picked the lean meat pieces from the braised pork, leaving the fatty bits to the side.

His actions were focused, as if executing some precise task.

"Oh my, did I see that right? Is Mr. Gu picking through his food?"

"The meticulousness, even more serious than defusing a landmine."

At that moment, a sweet female voice sounded beside him.

"Mr. Gu, are you eating alone?"

A young female soldier in a cultural troupe uniform stood at the table holding her meal tray.

It was Zhao Xuerou, the best performer in this literary show.

Gu Yanshen did not look up.

"Yes."

His hands didn’t pause.

Zhao Xuerou’s smile froze briefly, but she still sat opposite him.

"Mr. Gu, did you hear the commendation meeting earlier? I spoke as a representative and felt quite nervous."

Gu Yanshen still didn’t look up, placing the final piece of lean meat on the scrambled eggs.

"It was dark below the stage, couldn’t tell who was who. I just thought, it would be nice if you were watching too."

Zhao Xuerou’s voice softened.

"Seeing you, I wouldn’t be nervous."

Gu Yanshen finally paused his chopsticks.

He looked up.

Zhao Xuerou felt a rush of joy, immediately displaying her gentlest smile.

"Comrade Zhao."

Gu Yanshen looked at her.

"Yes."

Zhao Xuerou straightened her back.

"As a representative of the military district’s cultural troupe, your speech represents the image of the whole troupe."

"..."

"You should focus on all the soldiers below the stage, not just one person."

Zhao Xuerou’s smile completely solidified on her face.

She bit her lip, forcibly changed the topic, adopting an understanding expression.

"Mr. Gu is right. I... I was just too nervous."

She lowered her head, revealing a stretch of fair neck, her voice carrying a trace of grievance.

"Mr. Gu truly takes care of the family. Mrs. Gu is exhausted by pregnancy, and you work hard too."

She paused, her voice growing even softer.

"Unlike us, eating alone means the whole family isn’t hungry, freedom is free, but a bit lonely."

Gu Yanshen closed the lid of the packed meal box with a "click."

"The hardship of military families is a soldier’s badge of honor."

He stood up, looking down at her.

"Comrade Zhao could spend less time concerning herself with others’ family matters and focus more on professional training."

Zhao Xuerou’s face suddenly turned pale.

The officers at the surrounding tables looked over, their eyes filled with schadenfreude.

Gu Yanshen didn’t look at her again.

He picked up the packed meal box, along with the two meat buns, and turned to leave.

From start to finish, he didn’t eat a bite or drink a sip in the cafeteria.

His tall silhouette disappeared at the doorway.

Inside the cafeteria, after a deathly silence, there was an outburst of suppressed whispering.

"Oh my god, that was ruthless, no face given at all."

"Doesn’t she see who that is, that’s Gu Yama! All his gentleness is reserved for his family."

"Serves her right! Trying to climb the social ladder without assessing where she stands!"

Zhao Xuerou sat there still holding the meal tray.

Those words, like red-hot needles, pierced her ears.

She recalled the rumors from the courtyard.

The woman named Lin Wan Yi, a capitalist’s pampered daughter, good for nothing but her looks.

Why?

Why does she deserve a hero like Gu Yanshen?

Why can she hide at home, doing nothing, while enjoying her husband’s meticulous care?

While she, though glorious when speaking onstage, must endure such humiliation beneath it!

Zhao Xuerou suddenly stood up, holding the untouched food, and swiftly walked out of the cafeteria under everyone’s gaze.

She didn’t return to the family quarters.

She stood under a big tree in the yard for a long time, the cold wind stinging her cheeks.

She spotted a familiar figure carrying a large wooden basin, wobbling towards the washroom.

It was Li.

Zhao Xuerou’s eyes lit up, and she immediately ran over.

She put on a sweet, innocent smile again, her voice kind and enthusiastic.

"Li, let me help you!"

She reached out to take the wooden basin.

Li was startled, turning back to see it was her, squeezed out a smile.

"Oh, it’s Xiao Zhao, you shouldn’t, these are all menial tasks."

"What are you saying, we military family members, helping each other is natural."

While saying this, Zhao Xuerou helped to steady the basin’s edge, lowering her voice.

"Li, it’s so cold out, washing so many clothes alone, it’s too tiring."

"Unlike some people, born lucky, just lying at home is enough."

Li’s face indeed darkened.

"Isn’t that right, people are different."