Chapter 45

Seeing Bai Xinmei’s reaction was like… seeing a ghost…
Qin Yuanzheng had a ridiculous thought: Meimei wouldn’t think it was his ghost, would she?
This speculation was laughably absurd. Her life hadn’t been easy these years.
Thinking of this, his heart ached with guilt and sorrow. While recuperating in the hospital, he had wondered how he would explain his “fake death” to her.
“Meimei, I… didn’t die.”
His throat was dry; why had he faked his death all these years?
Bai Xinmei still had tear-streaked cheeks, sobbing in shock. She was still charming, but her figure had slimmed.
Qin Yuanzheng was heartbroken, grasping her hand and placing it on his face. “Feel me. I’m not dead. I’m back, Meimei. Look, I cast a shadow.”
The bright midday sun cast his shadow on the ground, a small dark patch. Bai Xinmei felt reassured; the warmth of his skin under her hand confirmed he was real.
“Yuanzheng? Yuanzheng! You really didn’t die!”
“Qin Yuanzheng! You liar! You came to Bai’s family and swore to give me a good life! Do you know how hard I’ve had it these years?! I carried water, cooked, raised a child alone! When the baby cried at night, I woke up to nurse her, never sleeping well, still working by day! And yet people spread rumors my child was illegitimate! Waaa… Qin Yuanzheng! How will you make it up to me?!”
She finally cried fully, collapsing into his arms, pounding him with her tiny fists, which to a battle-hardened soldier was like a kitten scratching.
He hugged her back, voice hoarse, eyes red, apologizing repeatedly, soothing her quietly. Had his soldiers seen this, they might have been dumbstruck, was this really their commander?
Hearing that someone said their child was illegitimate, Qin Yuanzheng’s eyes darkened; he already began plotting how to deal with those people. Yet his beloved wife was in his arms, still unsettled, so he couldn’t act immediately.
“Four years ago, I received an order regarding a high-priority international human trafficking case, which involved many people… and I still didn’t get promoted…”
He paused for a moment.
“If I hadn’t had this opportunity, normally a battalion-level officer would retire at forty, and field unit officers even earlier. I feared I wouldn’t be able to give you a better life in the future, so I had to get promoted. That order was both my mission and my chance.”
No matter his reason, he had left. After all these years, it was still his fault. If he never came back, was she supposed to wait for him her whole life?
In The West Chamber, Cui Yingying and Zhang Sheng privately pledged themselves, and Yingying waited in her chamber through slander, gossip, and family opposition until Zhang Sheng returned after his official examinations to marry her.
Qin Yuanzheng also returned after a promotion to find her, but she was not Cui Yingying. She did not like waiting for a man…
After crying her fill, Bai Xinmei pushed Qin Yuanzheng away, sniffling, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes swollen with tears, and said something that pierced his heart:
“Qin Yuanzheng, I’d rather you were really dead.”
“Meimei… I’m sorry…”
Qin Yuanzheng couldn’t help shedding tears. A man’s tears are not shed lightly, only when the heart is truly wounded. He had imagined Meimei’s life over the years might be difficult, but with the generous “compensation” he had left and her title as a martyr’s widow, it shouldn’t have been this hard.
The compensation allowed her to live comfortably; the widow’s title protected her from social discrimination. When he had left in haste, he could only make rough arrangements.
Before leaving, he had planned everything, except for one child.
Even with the child, it shouldn’t… Based on what Meimei said, over the years, besides the rumors, she had faced material shortages. How could that be? His salary during missions had also been included in the “compensation.”
Though it wasn’t extravagant, it certainly wasn’t as meager as she described, surviving on plain meals all year without meat. How could this happen?
Both husband and wife cried. This was the first time Bai Xinmei had seen him cry, silent, restrained. When he and his parents came to the Bai family years ago to ask for her hand, he hadn’t shed a single tear, only played on sympathy.
Realizing she had gone too far, Bai Xinmei remembered: Qin Yuanzheng was a soldier. Obedience is a soldier’s duty. He was not only her husband but also a guardian of the nation. She shouldn’t have said things like “I’d rather you were dead.”
It wasn’t appropriate.
She couldn’t even recall what she had felt for him four years ago.
But living and returning was a good thing, after all.
Qin Yuanzheng gently wiped her tears, “Let’s go home first. My parents don’t know yet.”
Bai Xinmei nodded. The couple remained silent all the way.
Back in the small courtyard of the Qin family, Bai Xinmei saw Song Jinping braiding Niuniu’s hair. She was struck dumb. Oh no! She had been so emotional earlier, forgetting she was dating Song Jinping. And now this ghost was alive, they were still married! Had she just betrayed her marriage? Heaven help her!
Sensing her piercing gaze, Song Jinping looked up and gave her a gentle smile.
Bai Xinmei instinctively stole a glance at Qin Yuanzheng’s expression, blank, unreadable.
A guilty feeling crept up. “Yuanzheng, it’s almost home. My parents haven’t returned yet. Maybe we can go out a little longer? The villagers have missed you all these years…”
After saying this, she felt something was off. Was this her line? No, it sounded like the village head’s line… but she hadn’t done anything wrong. Qin Yuanzheng was presumed dead; it was only natural for her to look for someone new.
Yet moments ago she had scolded Qin Yuanzheng, crying about her hardships, and now there was this stranger in the courtyard. Her reasoning seemed flimsy.
It was all Song Jinping’s fault, never coming, then showing up now, leaving her in a bind. And Qin Yuanzheng, who hadn’t come back until now, had no choice but to return. Still, she was blameless.
Song Jinping followed Bai Xinmei’s gaze and saw Qin Yuanzheng. He didn’t recognize him, only noticing a strange man standing next to the woman he loved.
Tall, imposing, angular features, handsome but scarred, was Meimei dissatisfied and looking for someone new?
This thought darkened Song Jinping’s mood. Another reckless man daring to make a move on Meimei, why were there always so many inexplicable men trying to steal her?
Qin Yuanzheng wasn’t blind. He saw Song Jinping but didn’t recognize him either. Just a stranger standing in the Qin courtyard, seemingly braiding a little girl’s hair.
As Niuniu turned, he saw her face bore a seven-to-eightfold resemblance to Bai Xinmei, his heart leapt.
Seeking confirmation, he asked, “Meimei, is she our daughter?”
His dark eyes reflected Bai Xinmei’s conflicted, forced calm expression.
Bai Xinmei’s mind raced, forcing herself to say, “Yes. Her name is Niuniu. Her full name is Qin Sisi.”
Qin… Si… Si.
The name made Qin Yuanzheng think, Meimei must have missed him terribly.
As he prepared to step inside, Bai Xinmei’s heart soared to her throat.
“Yuanzheng! Let’s… let’s go out for a walk first.”
She had no idea how to explain the three-way relationship, deciding to stall as long as possible.
“Let’s go, Meimei. Are there any wild beasts inside? Even if there are, it’s fine, I’m good with a gun. One or two wolves aren’t a problem.”
The last words carried a hint of warning.
He held Bai Xinmei’s hand and started walking inside. She almost couldn’t take a step.
Bai Xinmei: No, I don’t want to go in! (Help! Ah!)
“Meimei?”
“Ah?”
Reluctantly, she followed him in.
“Ma, look! Uncle Song braided my hair. Uncle Song is amazing!”
Niuniu ran over, shaking her little head, showing Bai Xinmei her two new braids, like tiny scorpions, creative and exquisite.
Bai Xinmei was impressed by Song Jinping’s skill, thinking to have him braid her hair next time.
But then the hand holding hers tightened, pulling her back from her daydream.
Niuniu noticed a strange uncle, tugging at her mother, blinking at him with wide eyes, glancing between the two men.
Pointing at her real dad, she asked:
“Ma, who’s this uncle? Is he going to be my little dad too?”
At that moment, both men, different yet equally outstanding, looked at her.
Bai Xinmei’s cheeks turned crimson. She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers, wishing she could disappear, or at least carve the house into three rooms so each man could stay separate.
Niuniu seemed conflicted, looking left and right. “Uncle Song braids my hair, buys me candy, and even kisses me…”
Before Niuniu could say anything more shocking, Bai Xinmei, red-faced, quickly covered her daughter’s mouth.