Marrying My Bestie's Ferocious Brother - He Calls Me His Baby!-Chapter 10: Picking a Fight? I’ll Make Your Punch Land on Cotton!
Gu Yanshen’s body went rigid as a faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils, igniting something within him.
Almost as if fleeing, he grabbed the keys from Lin Wan Yi’s hand and strode purposefully towards the counter.
"Change the room."
He slammed the keys on the counter, his voice so cold it could drop icicles.
Li Changfu had long been scared out of his wits by Lin Wan Yi’s words and dared not say a word of ’no.’ He quickly scrambled for another set of keys and offered them with both hands, "Captain, sister-in-law, this is the best room we have here—facing south, and clean!"
Gu Yanshen took the keys without even sparing him a glance, pulled Lin Wan Yi by the wrist, and headed upstairs.
His palm was dry and hot, with such strength that Lin Wan Yi felt her bones might shatter.
It wasn’t until they entered the room and he slammed the door shut that he released her.
This room was indeed much better than the previous one, clean and tidy, with new bedding on the bed.
Gu Yanshen didn’t look at any of this; with his back turned to Lin Wan Yi, his tall figure seemed tense in the light.
"If something happens in the future, I’ll handle it," he said sullenly, his voice hoarse, "No need for you... to stand up for me."
Lin Wan Yi walked behind him and gently poked his rock-hard back with her finger.
"But I’m your wife," her voice was soft, with a hint of laughter, "Your problems are my problems. I can’t just stand by and watch others bully you, can I?"
Gu Yanshen’s back grew even more tense.
He let out a low "mm," unable to say anything else, before quickly heading into the bathroom, where the sound of water splashing echoed.
Lin Wan Yi looked at the closed door, her eyes curved with a smile.
This man was even more innocent than she had imagined.
After another two days and nights of bumping along, the green truck finally drove into a desolate expanse of the desert steppe.
The wind and sand whipped the dry grass against the truck windows, making a crackling sound. In the distance, the horizon was filled with undulating, earthy yellow mountains, devoid of a hint of green.
"We’re here."
Gu Yanshen’s voice roused Lin Wan Yi from her bumpy slumber.
The truck stopped in front of a row of low bungalows, which served as the family compound for Gu Yanshen’s border regiment.
Gu Yanshen jumped off the truck first, then turned and naturally extended his hand to Lin Wan Yi. Placing her hand in his broad palm, he easily lifted her down.
He picked up two heavy luggage bags and strode towards one of the most remote and shabby-looking houses.
"Here it is." He unlocked the weathered wooden door with a key.
A musty, dusty smell hit them in the face. The room was bare except for a wooden bed and a table with a missing corner. The walls were bare mud, with a thick layer of dust covering the floor.
Gu Yanshen set down the luggage, his brows furrowing with frustration. He turned to look at Lin Wan Yi, seeing her quietly observing her surroundings without crying or complaining, her bright face betraying no disdain.
Adam’s apple moving, he turned and left, leaving behind a single phrase: "Wait for me."
Before Lin Wan Yi could react, he had already walked away.
As she was about to roll up her sleeves to clean, the sound of chatter came from the entrance to the courtyard. Several plainly dressed women were approaching, led by a robust woman in her thirties whose eyes twinkled shrewdly.
They were here to "watch the fun."
"Oh wow, is this Captain Gu’s recently married city wife?" Sister in law Wang shouted loudly, her eyes unabashedly scrutinizing Lin Wan Yi, "She’s really pretty, her skin looks so tender it might drip with water. But I wonder... can her delicate body withstand our wind and sand here?"
A tall, slender woman beside her chimed in, "That’s right, it’s not like the city here. When we first arrived, we cried every day!"
The women egged each other on, their remarks filled with exclusion and scrutiny, nothing hidden.
Lin Wan Yi was about to speak when a tall figure stepped in front of her.
Gu Yanshen had returned.
With a paper packet in hand, he ignored the women and walked straight to Lin Wan Yi, pushing the packet into her hands. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Take it." His tone was still brusque, like he was issuing an order, "I bought it on the way. If you miss home... eat one."
Only then did he turn his gaze to the women, his eyes as cold as Beijiang’s winter ice.
The military wives shrank back at his glance, forcing awkward smiles.
Gu Yanshen said nothing, but his imposing presence communicated everything: This is my person, now shut up.
"I have to report to the regiment," he said to Lin Wan Yi, his tone unconsciously softening, "You... stay put."
With that, he turned and walked away with long strides.
Once Gu Yanshen had left, the women surrounded her again. Sister in law Wang’s gaze fell on the packet in Lin Wan Yi’s hands, and she sneered.
"Oh, White Rabbit candies, huh? Captain Gu sure spoils his wife." she said sarcastically, "Sister, you’re so delicate, can you get used to living in this shabby house? Don’t cry to go back to the city in less than three days."
Lin Wan Yi listened without getting angry. Instead, she lowered her eyelids, her long lashes fluttering, and her eyes turned red all of a sudden.
Clutching the packet tightly, she spoke softly and hesitantly, with a hint of grievance, "Sister Wang... you’re right. I... I can’t do anything, can’t carry or lift things, and I’ll surely hold Old Gu back."
She lifted her watery eyes, helplessly looking at the surrounding military wives, "Sisters, please help me a lot. I’m new here and so scared, please don’t mind if I mess up."
Those words changed the atmosphere instantly.
One of the military wives, who was ready to watch a good show, showed a sympathetic expression, nudging Sister in law Wang, "Alright, she just got here. Why scare her?"
"That’s right," Another quickly mediated, "Xiao Lin, don’t be afraid. Everyone here is kind-hearted. Let us know if you need anything."
Sister in law Wang’s expression alternated between angry and embarrassed. Her prepared repertoire of sharp words was blocked by Lin Wan Yi’s "soft response to hard" tactic, leaving her speechless. It felt like she had punched into cotton, with nowhere to exert her strength.
"Hmph!" she huffed and turned to leave, but not without tossing a parting shot, "This house is the worst in the courtyard. It leaks in winter and summer. Good luck!"
Once everyone had left, the courtyard returned to silence.
Lin Wan Yi closed the door, the fragility and helplessness on her face vanishing instantly.
She surveyed the bare room, not a hint of distress in sight, and her lips instead curled into a sly smile.
Beijiang bitter and cold? Resources sparse?
For others, maybe. But for her, it was not.
With a thought, the scene before her changed, and she found herself in the mist-shrouded Spiritual Spring Space.
The black soil was rich and shiny, as the spring gurgled with spiritual energy-laden water.
Under a fruit tree, Lin Wan Yi reached out and picked a shiny, apple-sized fruit.
Returning to reality, she stood in the dusty, musty room and took a big bite of the apple with a crisp sound.
The sound was notably clear in the silent room.
Sweet juice instantly exploded between her lips and teeth.
