"Alright, isn’t this why you contacted me? I’ll keep an eye on it."

"Thank you so much, then. When you visit our factory, I’ll treat you to a meal!"

"Can’t you just treat me when you come to Chuncheng?"

"Ha! Isn’t it because you always pay every time I go?"

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before hanging up.

After contacting Director Zhao, a call from the military district came to Xie Changning’s office. "Hello, this is Xie Changning."

"Hello, I’m the telephone operator for District 731..."

The person on the other end introduced himself, clarifying his military district identity.

Xie Changning assumed they were recalling Yue Yihan. "I’ll have someone inform him to go to Hui Chun City at once and rejoin his unit."

"Understood. Please come with him."

Xie Changning was surprised by the invitation.

However, she knew better than to ask too many questions in this situation, so she got up.

"Uncle Wang, something’s come up. I have to take a trip to Chuncheng with my partner. I’ll have to trouble you to handle things at the factory."

"Of course! Go on, hurry!"

Watching Xie Changning leave, Wang Guofu couldn’t help but say to the deputy technical director, "Look at that. Our director hasn’t had a moment’s rest since she started. It’s always one trip to Chuncheng after another."

’When will our factory finally get its chance to grow?’

-

Xie Changning arranged for a car and went to the family housing compound to pick up Yue Yihan.

After getting in the car, Yue Yihan turned to look at Xie Changning. "Did our district call you?"

"Yes."

Yue Yihan’s brow furrowed slightly.

He didn’t need to ask to know that since Xie Changning hadn’t gotten out of the car, she was probably returning to the military district with him.

Considering what happened last time, plus what the brigade commander’s goddaughter did, he was now doing his best to avoid any contact between his wife and the brigade commander or his family.

Now that they were being summoned, Yue Yihan’s mind raced, wondering what the brigade commander wanted from them.

Sensing Yue Yihan’s tension, Xie Changning glanced sideways at him.

"What’s wrong?"

Xie Changning’s question made Yue Yihan whip his head around to look at her.

When he realized she had noticed his anxiety, his worried mood instantly brightened.

"I’m fine." ’My wife noticed I was in a bad mood!’

’Does this mean she’s starting to accept me in her heart? That she’s not just putting up with me because of the pregnancy anymore?’

The more he thought about it, the more Yue Yihan felt his future was blindingly bright!

How wonderful! Everyone has a bright future. (Everyone: Our future is about our careers. Your future is about your love life. Don’t try to lump us in with you!)

On Yue Yihan’s usually upright, serious, and very reliable-looking face, a goofy grin appeared.

His row of pearly white teeth reminded Xie Changning of SpongeBob’s smile from her previous life.

’Kind of cute.’

The moment the word ’cute’ popped into her head, Xie Changning shook her head slightly. ’I must be going crazy.’ she thought.

’She was actually calling a dark-skinned, powerfully built, six-foot-two man ’cute’? HAHAHA! I really am losing my mind!’

Yue Yihan’s attention was fixed on Xie Changning. Seeing her shake her head one moment and stifle a laugh the next, he felt a bit bewildered.

’What’s wrong with my wife?’

’Is it really "pregnancy brain for three years"?’

’But that doesn’t seem right! My wife’s intelligence is leagues ahead of everyone else. She’s brilliant!’

’There’s nothing silly about her at all!’

’Could it be? Is she worried about being summoned to the military district?’

Yue Yihan stared at Xie Changning without blinking, afraid he would miss any sign of unease or anxiety on her face. He didn’t want her to be unhappy.

’If she doesn’t want to go, then we won’t go!’

"Darling, do you want to go?" As the thought crossed his mind, he voiced it aloud.

If she didn’t, he would go back by himself and explain things to the brigade commander.

"Huh? Why do you ask?" ’Did I look like I didn’t want to go?’

Xie Changning realized that Yue Yihan seemed to be paying much more attention to her than before. ’Could he... be starting to like me?’

As she thought this, a flicker of suspicion crossed her eyes.

When she looked at Yue Yihan, her gaze was tinged with scrutiny.

Sensing her gaze, Yue Yihan quickly blinked and sat up straight, trying not to let her see his inner nervousness. "I... I was just worried you were nervous."

"I’m not nervous."

’His superiors aren’t going to eat me, so why would I be nervous?’

Even if the brigade commander was the man who raised him, she lived in the factory’s family compound and rarely interacted with people from the military district, so Xie Changning wasn’t particularly concerned.

"Oh."

Seeing that Xie Changning truly wasn’t nervous, Yue Yihan nodded in understanding.

The atmosphere grew quiet.

But that didn’t stop Yue Yihan from staring at her.

His gaze was so intense that even the normally composed Xie Changning started to feel a bit flustered. She couldn’t help but touch her face. "Is there something on my face?"

"No."

"Then why are you staring at me?"

"Because you’re beautiful."

The blunt compliment made Xie Changning a little uncomfortable. She cleared her throat lightly. "Well, of course. I was the campus beauty, after all."

’In my past life and this one!’

Yue Yihan saw her discomfort and grinned. "Yep! I can tell!" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

’My wife is so cute! So beautiful!’

On the way to the military district, Yue Yihan might as well have been a statue whose only purpose was to gaze at his wife. He had eyes for no one but Xie Changning.

When they arrived at the military district, Xie Changning paid the driver.

"You can head back. I won’t be returning tonight."

"Okay."

As the car slowly drove away from the military district, Xie Changning turned to Yue Yihan. "Let’s go."

Many of the soldiers had attended their wedding, so the moment Xie Changning appeared at the gate of the military district, those who passed by quickly ran inside, spreading the news.

"The Yue family’s sister-in-law, who’s even prettier than the star of the Art Troupe, is here!"

"Commander Yue’s wife is here! She’s gorgeous! So beautiful even while pregnant!"

"Brothers, our sister-in-law is here! Let’s go welcome her!"

Some girls from the Art Troupe who were passing by were confused.

’Pretty is pretty, but what do they mean "prettier than the star of the Art Troupe"? Is Commander Yue’s wife really that beautiful?’

The curious girls from the Art Troupe walked past the military district gate together, wanting to see for themselves just how beautiful Commander Yue’s wife really was.

And as they passed, their eyes were instantly captivated.

So, they too fell into the loop— "Wow! Commander Yue’s wife is so beautiful! She’s pregnant and still looks that good!"

Of course, some people noticed different things.

"The dress Commander Yue’s wife is wearing is so pretty! But... it looks like a maternity dress, doesn’t it?"

As Xie Changning stood at the gate, she felt there were an unusual number of soldiers around, and even more of them were walking past her.

Xie Changning looked at Yue Yihan in confusion. "Your military district... is so lively..."

’It looks like no one has anything to do.’

"Mmm... they probably think they’ve discovered a new continent." Yue Yihan’s face darkened as he shot glares at the people running over to look at his wife.