If not for Xie Changning’s current condition, she had no doubt that the force of Yue Yihan’s charge would have sent her flying.

He simply hadn’t dared to, that was all.

"You’re on leave?" Xie Changning asked, tilting her head.

Yue Yihan’s recent mission had been demanding, so the two hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so ecstatic.

The guesthouse staff watched Yue Yihan, who was practically wagging his tail at Xie Changning like a puppy, and couldn’t help but smile.

But being laughed at by the staff didn’t make Yue Yihan feel the least bit self-conscious.

’What’s wrong with a husband getting a little excited when he sees his wife after they were separated so soon after their wedding?’

Xie Changning’s room was the innermost one on the second floor. It was spacious and had a window that let in plenty of light, which showed how well the guesthouse staff were taking care of her.

Seeing that her living environment was decent, Yue Yihan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I did a great job on my mission this time, so the brigade commander gave me three days off. I’ll spend these three days with you." Yue Yihan helped Xie Changning into the room, guided her to the edge of the bed, and then started to unpack her things for her.

Yue Yihan was a natural when it came to taking care of Xie Changning.

He knew her routines.

The first thing Xie Changning would do upon returning was wash her face, then change into her pajamas...

He busied himself around the room, preparing everything for Xie Changning. Only then did he go to her and help her stand.

He supported Xie Changning with one hand, his other arm bent with her cream-colored pajamas draped over his forearm.

The pajamas were made of a soft, skin-friendly material and were a custom-made maternity style, so they wouldn’t feel tight or restrictive on Xie Changning at all.

"I’ll wait for you at the door. Please be careful!"

"You’re exaggerating."

Xie Changning smiled at Yue Yihan, then closed the bathroom door.

Not long after the door closed, Yue Yihan heard Xie Changning cry out. He frantically prepared to kick the door in. "Honey, what’s wrong? Wait for me, I’m com—"

Before he could finish, Xie Changning opened the bathroom door and gave Yue Yihan a mischievous smile.

"Nothing’s wrong," she said, making a face at Yue Yihan.

When Xie Changning opened the bathroom door, Yue Yihan carefully looked her over to see if anything was amiss. After confirming that she was really just joking with him, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters."

Rather than being upset, he was mostly just relieved.

’If she had fallen or felt unwell, he would have worried himself to death.’

Xie Changning had already changed and handed her dirty clothes to Yue Yihan. "Put these back in the suitcase."

"Okay."

Back by Xie Changning’s side, Yue Yihan was like a mother hen, constantly bustling around her, not letting her lift a finger.

In the evening, Yue Yihan went out to buy dinner and brought it back for them to eat in the guesthouse.

After Yue Yihan had thrown out all the trash, he and Xie Changning got ready for bed.

When it came to the sleeping arrangements, a blush appeared on Yue Yihan’s face, which was already a shade tanner than before. "I... I’ll go get another room."

"Why waste the money?" Xie Changning looked up at him.

Their eyes met. Xie Changning saw a hint of awkwardness in his gaze, and then it dawned on her.

"Yue Yihan, you’re not actually getting shy, are you?"

Faced with Xie Changning’s teasing, the tips of Yue Yihan’s ears turned so red they looked like they could bleed. "I... I’m just afraid I’ll disturb you in my sleep."

Yue Yihan tried to defend himself.

Unfortunately, Xie Changning didn’t buy it for a second and just continued to tease him mercilessly.

In the end, an exasperated Yue Yihan gave up on getting another room and instead lay down next to Xie Changning like a stiff board, not daring to move an inch.

This earned him another round of teasing from Xie Changning that went on for a good while.

But compared to Xie Changning’s teasing, being able to sleep next to his wife made Yue Yihan’s shyness vanish, replaced by excitement and joy.

’Hehe, my wife is letting me sleep next to her!’

’This is great! I get to sleep next to my wife!’

This was the only thought in his mind. Late into the night, his eyes were still wide open like saucers, refusing to close in the slightest.

He was buzzing with excitement.

While he was buzzing, Xie Changning had already fallen asleep next to him.

Just as when he’d first lain down, he stayed cautiously beside Xie Changning, not daring to move at all. He didn’t move an inch the entire night, not even getting a wink of sleep.

Staring with his two saucer-like... wait, no, his eyes, he gazed at Xie Changning’s sleeping face in the darkness.

As if sensing Yue Yihan’s gaze, Xie Changning mumbled something unhappily in her sleep, then her hand came over and smacked him on the face.

A sharp SMACK echoed in the quiet room.

Xie Changning rolled over and went back to sleep. Yue Yihan, his face still stinging from the slap, broke into a brilliant smile. ’This is great! It’s not a dream! This is all real!’

If Xie Changning had been awake, she definitely would have thought Yue Yihan had gone mad!

「The next day」

When Xie Changning woke up, Yue Yihan was already gone. She assumed he had been suddenly recalled to the base and didn’t think much of it.

She got up to wash and tidy herself up. Just as she was about finished, she heard the doorknob turn.

Xie Changning looked over and saw Yue Yihan appear at the door, carrying breakfast.

"You’re awake, honey? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere, honey?" The moment he saw Xie Changning, he began to interrogate her, terrified that she might be feeling unwell.

Xie Changning shook her head. "No, I slept especially well last night."

’Even though I dreamed I got into a fight, I won, so it was a very happy dream!’

"Then let’s eat first." Yue Yihan placed everything on the nightstand and opened the containers one by one.

After breakfast, Xie Changning and Yue Yihan met with the people at the plastic factory one more time before boarding the vehicle back to Anong County.

The jarring noise made Yue Yihan’s brow furrow tighter and tighter.

’This noise is so loud. I wonder if it’s making my wife uncomfortable.’

All sorts of thoughts raced through his mind.

When it was finally time to get off, Yue Yihan hurriedly exited the vehicle, took Xie Changning’s hand, and carefully helped her down. "That was a bumpy ride. Do you feel carsick? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Their voices faded into the distance, leaving the other passengers on the bus to exchange glances for a moment before they burst out laughing.

"Kids these days, they’re really something else, hahaha!"

"Doting on your wife is a virtue!"

"Look at that young man, his posture is so upright. You can tell he’s a soldier at a glance. Not bad!"

Everyone had a positive impression of Yue Yihan; they all thought he was a great guy.

At that moment, Xie Changning, currently being escorted by the highly-praised Yue Yihan, wore an expression of pure exasperation. "You’re being a little too careful. I’m really fine."

But Yue Yihan paid no heed. In his eyes, Xie Changning was the most important thing in the world.

’I have to be careful.’

’My wife comes first!’

The two slowly made their way back to the family courtyard, where everyone greeted them with cheerful laughter.

"The Director’s husband is back?"