Chapter 80: Her Frailty Was All an Act

Look at that tone, that expression, those little eyes—so aggrieved. Her eyes were red, as if she were about to cry.

Lu Yunzhou’s brows furrowed, and he immediately spoke in a deep voice, “No.”

But as soon as he finished, he realized his reply had been too abrupt, his attitude too cold.

The girl’s lashes were damp as she gazed at him.

Lu Yunzhou pressed his thin lips together, his voice softening unconsciously. “I’m not disgusted by you.”

His voice was rarely so gentle. “Are you still feeling unwell?”

He looked at her pale face, his expression easing somewhat as he asked.

The girl stared at him and shook her head. “I don’t want to stay there.”

That’s what she meant to say, though she wasn’t quite sure why.

Lu Yunzhou looked at her reddened eyes, his brows drawn together. Suddenly, a heaviness settled in his heart, and even his gaze grew colder.

“Were you bullied?”

He couldn’t help but imagine something unpleasant.

She shook her head again.

Lu Yunzhou’s frown deepened.

He was convinced she was hiding something from him.

The man’s gaze met hers as he spoke in his low voice, “I’ll have someone pack your things and bring them over.”

Lu Yunzhou’s dark eyes, pressed lips, and cold voice carried an undertone of comfort.

Shen Chaoxi asked, “So, I don’t have to stand in punishment anymore?”

Her yearning gaze rested on him.

Clearly, he’d been too harsh in abandoning her. She was frightened.

Thinking this, Lu Yunzhou lifted his dark eyes and replied calmly and slowly, “No one will make you stand in punishment.”

He sat on the chair beside the bed, his long legs bent, slender pale fingers tapping his knee.

A hint of a smile played on his lips, his demeanor lazy and indifferent, his dark eyes locked on her.

“Besides, who would punish you?”

Wasn’t this her way of complaining to him, as if he’d thrown her aside as punishment?

Did he really intend to punish her?

He would never think of such a thing.

Lu Yunzhou’s lips curled as he suddenly stood and leaned down.

“When things here are settled, I’ll take you home.”

She didn’t like it here—Lu Yunzhou could see that.

But for these ten days, he had training duties to attend to.

So she could only stay by his side until everything was finished, and then he’d take her home.

It was just that Lu Fifteen wasn’t here.

If he were—

If he saw their always aloof, unapproachable captain lowering himself to soothe a girl on the verge of tears, he’d be shocked beyond measure.

Lu Yunzhou tucked the blanket around the girl.

As the man bent, his tall, slender figure carried a hint of cool fragrance that brushed her nose.

Sunlight streamed through the military green curtains, casting delicate shadows across his face—his features handsome and deep, tinged with a rare softness.

Shen Chaoxi looked up at him.

She’d meant to act timid and frightened, to provoke his impatience.

But why was this man instead growing anxious for her?

He didn’t seem impatient at all.

Shen Chaoxi frowned slightly.

Perhaps she hadn’t pushed enough?

Suddenly, as the man leaned down, his body was hugged tightly, his handsome face caught in the play of light and shadow.

His eyes darkened, body stiff.

Fine strands of hair lifted by the breeze, feathering his chin, yet he didn’t pull away.

His Adam’s apple lowered, the girl’s cheek pressed against his chest.

Her arms wrapped around his waist—not too tightly, but with a presence impossible to ignore.

“I don’t want to be alone here.”

Lu Yunzhou’s Adam’s apple shifted.

Shen Chaoxi’s lips curved ever so slightly.

“Captain, reporting!”

Suddenly, a strong male voice outside the dormitory door shattered the afternoon’s quiet.

The girl’s hands trembled.

Lu Yunzhou noticed.

Was she startled?

“Uh…” It was obvious—seeing the two figures in such close proximity inside the dormitory, the young man in military uniform from the training ground froze, his steps faltering in shock.

Should he leave?

His face was written with awkwardness, but he dared not move.

“Captain, reporting—I didn’t know the captain’s wife was here!”

He paused, then looked up at the ceiling, raising his voice to report.

The girl shrank deeper into Lu Yunzhou’s embrace, hiding.

Lu Yunzhou’s gaze was deep and cold as he turned toward the reporting young man.

“What is it?” he asked in a low voice.

“Captain, Groups One, Two, and Three have completed their training and request further instructions.”

“Return to your posts and await orders.”

“Yes, sir!” With that, the young man saluted and marched away.

The dormitory door was open.

A gentle afternoon breeze drifted in, dispersing any lingering tension in the air.

Shen Chaoxi slowly withdrew from his arms, watching him carefully.

“Are you going to be busy now?” she asked in a small voice.

Lu Yunzhou pressed his lips together and straightened, his gaze dark and fathomless.

“Mm.”

“I’ll have Lu Fifteen cancel his afternoon training—he’ll come keep you company.”

Perhaps worried she’d be afraid, Lu Yunzhou decided to assign someone to stay with her.

That way, he could feel at ease.

“Get some more rest, all right?”

After tucking her in, his cold, handsome eyes lingered on her pale face, his voice crisp and pleasant.

The girl nodded obediently.

She lay down.

A sweltering summer afternoon—being able to nap in an air-conditioned room was utterly relaxing.

In the afternoon, Lu Yunzhou had training duties at the military base.

So he asked Lu Fifteen to pack her things and bring them over, then headed to the training grounds.

He left her to rest in his dormitory.

Lu Fifteen was genuinely shocked.

Ever since the last time he saw their captain rescue this girl in Blackwater City—

She’d been carried in his arms, personally escorted back.

And now, here again.

Was this still their usually stone-faced, unsmiling captain?

Why did he act so differently with Miss Shen?

Just what was their relationship?

Lu Fifteen, fond of gossip, scratched his head in confusion.

But he was too embarrassed to ask, and it gnawed at him.

The military base, from training ground to the dormitory’s greenery, was all strictly regimented.

Everything arranged in neat order.

Yet it felt cold and desolate.

Lush leaves shielded the harsh afternoon sun.

After her nap, Shen Chaoxi could still hear the sounds from the distant training field, whistles and shouts in the air.

The frailty—she was pretending.

But the nap was real.

When she woke, she looked much more refreshed.

Climbing out of Lu Yunzhou’s bed, she could smell the faint scent of laundry powder and sunshine lingering on the blanket.

Clearly, he didn’t sleep here often.

If he did, the blanket had only recently been changed.

Shen Chaoxi wondered.

What could she do to make him grow weary of her?

A man like him—

Always unsmiling, cold to the extreme.

He never showed pity to women.

Shouldn’t he be most irritated by a delicate little flower like herself?