Chapter 2 The Alluring Enchantress

Qin Lie's heart felt as if it had been squeezed by an invisible hand.

He stared at Jiang Wu's radiant yet eerie smile, his mind a complete mess.

Tear up the divorce papers?

They said they wanted to live a good life?

This didn't match any of the scenarios he had anticipated.

Shouldn't she have presented him with the divorce papers to force him to back down, or signed the papers, packed her bags, and left?

He looked at her silently, his sharp, hawk-like eyes filled with scrutiny and inquiry.

He wanted to find even the slightest trace of acting on her face.

But he failed.

Her eyes were crystal clear, reflecting his image, full of sincerity, and a kind of... fervor he couldn't understand.

"Jiang Wu, what exactly do you want to do?"

He finally regained his voice, but the wariness in his tone only increased.

Something unusual must be going on.

He didn't believe that a woman who was planning to elope with someone one moment could really change her mind the next.

Jiang Wu took another step forward, and the two were so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.

She could smell his pleasant masculine scent, a blend of sunshine and a faint scent of soapberry.

This aura caused the spiritual energy within her body to become active.

She raised her hand, her slender fingers touching his strong chest through the fabric of his military uniform.

"Can't you tell what I want to do?"

Her voice was very low, with a hint of breathiness, like the most intimate whisper between lovers.

"I want to be your good wife, my husband."

Qin Lie felt as if the spot where her finger touched him had been scorched by fire, burning hot.

The heat traveled through my veins and quickly spread throughout my body.

He had lived for twenty-six years and this was the first time he had ever experienced what it meant to be at a loss.

His body reacted faster than his brain, grabbing her hand that was groping against his chest.

Her hands were small and soft, enveloped by his large palms, as if they could be crushed with a little force.

"Don't touch me!"

He squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, but his ears began to burn uncontrollably.

Even though he grabbed her hand, Jiang Wu wasn't annoyed.

She leaned her entire weight against his arm, practically pressing herself against it.

Her soft body pressed against his hard, iron-like arm, and the amazing sensation made Qin Lie's muscles tense up.

"Honey, you're scratching me so hard."

She frowned, her beautiful brows furrowing, and her eyes quickly welled up with tears, making her look like she was about to cry.

If it were the original owner of this body, Qin Lie would only feel impatient.

But the same face, the same expression, when performed by Jiang Wu now, stirred something inexplicably in his heart.

He unconsciously loosened his grip.

Taking the opportunity, Jiang Wu pulled her hand back, rubbing her reddened wrist, and muttered a complaint: "Why are you being so fierce? It's not like I'm going to eat you."

She complained, but her eyes glanced at his palms, which were calloused from years of holding a gun.

What a powerful pair of hands.

Qin Lie's eyes darkened as he looked at the red marks he had left on her fair wrist.

He had never laid a hand on a woman before; this was the first time.

Even though he didn't use much force, her skin was too delicate, and it still left a mark.

"I'm not..."

He wanted to explain, but when the words reached his lips, he didn't know what to say.

"I know you didn't do it on purpose."

Jiang Wu kindly continued the conversation for him, then changed the subject, her gaze falling on his tightly pursed thin lips.

"Honey, you must be tired after coming back from the army. Are you hungry? I'll make you some food."

As she spoke, she turned to walk towards the kitchen.

After taking two steps, she stopped, turned back to look at Qin Lie, and showed a troubled expression on her face.

"But... the rice jar at home seems to be empty, and we've used up all our food coupons."

The original owner was a pampered young lady who never lifted a finger and spent money extravagantly. The food coupons and allowances she received at the beginning of the month were almost gone before the end of the month.

This family has long been on the verge of starvation because of her meddling.

Upon hearing this, Qin Lie frowned even more deeply.

He took out his wallet from his pocket, pulled out a few grain coupons and a few brand-new banknotes, and handed them over.

"Use it sparingly." His tone was still as harsh as ever.

Jiang Wu smiled and took it, her fingers lightly tracing a line across his palm.

Qin Lie seemed to be electrocuted and quickly withdrew his hand.

"I'll go to the military wives' canteen now and exchange it for some rice." Jiang Wu held the money, in a good mood.

With money and food, there's no need to panic.

The first step is to fill your stomach.

She opened the door and was about to go out when she bumped into several military wives carrying basins, who were heading to the washroom to wash up.

The leader was Aunt Zhang, who lived next door and was notoriously gossipy.

As soon as Zhang Sao saw Jiang Wu, her eyes lit up, and her fat face was filled with a malicious smile.

"Hey, isn't this Commander Qin's wife? Where are you headed? I thought you were long gone from the island by now."

Her words were sarcastic, and several military wives around her covered their mouths and chuckled.

Although the original owner's plan to elope hadn't become a big deal yet, rumors were already circulating in the camp.

Everyone was waiting to see Commander Qin make a fool of himself.

After all, Qin Lie was the youngest and most promising regimental commander in the entire military region. He came from a good family and was handsome, making him the dream lover of all unmarried young women and young wives.

Unfortunately, this outstanding man married a troublesome "drama queen" who caused chaos every day, and everyone had long since grown tired of her.

In the past, the original owner would have been so angry that she would have jumped up and down and started arguing with them.

Jiang Wu merely glanced at them indifferently.

"Aunt Zhang, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and cold, carrying an indescribable air of authority.

"I'm perfectly fine at home, where could I possibly go? But you, instead of staying home this late, you're gossiping everywhere. Aren't you afraid your husband will come home and make you kneel on a washboard?"

Aunt Zhang was stunned by her retort.

Why does Jiang Wu seem like a completely different person today?

Not only did he stop throwing a tantrum, but he also spoke eloquently and his eyes were sharp as knives, making her feel uneasy.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Aunt Zhang blushed and tried to defend herself.

"Whether I'm lying or not, you know in your heart."

Jiang Wu was too lazy to waste any more words with her, so she turned around and left, leaving behind a graceful silhouette.

Qin Lie saw everything from behind the door.

His gaze fell on Jiang Wu's slender yet upright back, and his expression became even more complicated.

In the past, when Jiang Wu suffered grievances outside, she would only come home and cry and throw a tantrum, blaming him for everything.

But just now, she acted like a wildcat that had just bared its claws, calmly deflecting the other party's provocation.

Neat, decisive, and even a bit...handsome?

Qin Lie was startled by the word that popped into his head.

He watched Jiang Wu's figure disappear around the corner, then looked down at his palm, which she had just touched.

There, it seemed, still lingered the slight tingling sensation from where her fingertips had brushed against it.

What exactly happened to this woman?

P.S.: Tomato-sensei is the only author I read novels!