Chapter 31: His past, she quietly inquired

That cold military badge weighed like a heavy stone on Su Wanqing's heart and on her bedroom dresser. She had left it there since the charity dinner, never to be touched again. Huo Tingxiao hadn't asked, and she hadn't mentioned it again. That evening, filled with contrasts, misunderstandings, and silent confrontations, had been like a deep scar, tearing through the façade of rapprochement between them and pushing their relationship back to its freezing point.

Huo Tingxiao's shoulder injury gradually improved, and the bandage was removed, but the movement of his right arm was still somewhat limited. He resumed his early morning and late evening routine, even busier than before. At home, he became increasingly silent, his surroundings so subdued that people dared not approach him. When they occasionally shared a meal at the same table, they remained silent, as if returning to the cold and distant atmosphere of the past.

The tenderness and throbbing in Su Wanqing's heart, fueled by his hurt, were completely frozen by the awkwardness and coldness of that night. She no longer tried to fathom the meaning behind his contradictory behavior, nor did she expect even a tiny bit of warmth. She devoted more energy to her own affairs: continuing her design studies, taking better care of the household, and even taking up a daily morning jog to exercise.

But when the night was quiet, those images would always rush into her mind uncontrollably - his instinct when he rescued her, his painful mumbling in his dream, his indifference when he paid a high price for the badge but threw it to her casually... Especially the dream talk about "Chen Feng" that was full of despair and fear, which was like a thorn, deeply piercing her heart.

Chen Feng. The young officer with the bright smile in the photo. Who was he? What was his relationship with Huo Tingxiao? What had happened? "Ambush," "Quick retreat"—these words were chilling. Could Huo Tingxiao's injury, his aloof personality, be related to this?

An intense, irrepressible urge grew within her. She wanted to know. It wasn't out of gossip or prying, but out of a desperate need that even she couldn't fully explain—she wanted to understand the pain and darkness frozen beneath that iceberg. It seemed that only by understanding that could she truly comprehend his occasional contradictions, truly...find a way to get along with him, or rather, to find her own place in this dysfunctional marriage.

She could no longer stay so passively and ignorantly under his huge shadow.

This opportunity came soon.

That day, Assistant Chen came to deliver some documents as usual. Huo Tingxiao was not at home, so Su Wanqing signed for them. She casually asked, "Assistant Chen, the chief seems very busy lately. Is this a follow-up to the previous mission?"

Assistant Chen was stunned for a moment, then replied cautiously, "Yes, ma'am. There are still some... memorial and compensation matters to be handled."

Commemoration and condolences?

Su Wanqing's heart sank slightly. She remained expressionless and sighed, "That mission sounded very dangerous. The commander was injured, but luckily he's alright. I hope the other comrades are safe too."

Assistant Chen's eyes flickered, revealing a subtle hint of heaviness and regret. He whispered, "Casualties...are always unavoidable. Especially...on a high-risk mission like 'Thunderbolt'."

Thunder! Su Wanqing remembered that on the wedding day, the officer who came to report mentioned this code name!

She suppressed the shock in her heart and spoke with just the right amount of concern and curiosity: "The 'Thunder' mission? I think I've heard someone mention it. Is it a very special mission?"

Assistant Chen seemed to realize his slip of the tongue and immediately calmed down, returning to a businesslike attitude. "Madam, these are all military secrets, so I can't discuss them further. The documents have been delivered, and I'll take my leave."

Even after seeing Assistant Chen off, Su Wanqing's heart lingered. Mission "Thunder," casualties, memorial compensation... these words, taken together, pointed to a disturbing possibility.

She hesitated for a long time before finally picking up her phone and calling Xia Xiaoran. There were some things she couldn't ask Assistant Chen about, but she might be able to find out through other channels. Xia Xiaoran had a wide network of contacts, a lively personality, and was absolutely reliable.

"Xiao Ran, there is something... I would like to trouble you to find out for me quietly." Su Wanqing lowered her voice.

"What's the matter? Why are you so mysterious? Did that ice-faced guy bully you again?" Xia Xiaoran immediately became alert.

"No. It's about...his past." Su Wanqing chose her words carefully. "Do you know...did he have a close comrade named...Chen Feng?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds, and Xia Xiaoran's voice became serious: "Chen Feng? How do you know this name?"

"I... happened to see an old photo." Su Wanqing said vaguely, "They seemed to have a good relationship. Then... did something happen?"

Xia Xiaoran took a deep breath and lowered her voice. "Qingqing, this matter... is a semi-public taboo in the compound. I've only heard my parents mention it occasionally before, but I don't know the specific details. I only know that Chen Feng seemed to be Huo Tingxiao's best friend in military school. Later, they joined the special forces together. It seems that they died in a joint operation abroad. It was said that the scene was tragic, and Huo Tingxiao seemed to be seriously injured and almost died... After that, his temper became even colder. This incident was a huge blow to him, and no one dared to mention it in front of him."

Joint Operation Abroad! Sacrifice! Serious Injury!

Xia Xiaoran's words were like thunder, striking Su Wanqing's heart! It was exactly the same as her previous guess!

No wonder he had such nightmares! No wonder he was so cold to that injured puppy! No wonder he always seemed so distant and indifferent to everything! The immense trauma and the remorse over losing his best friend must have haunted him like a nightmare!

"Then... that operation, was the code name called 'Thunder'?" Su Wanqing's voice trembled slightly.

"...I think it's called this. How do you even know the code name?" Xia Xiaoran was even more surprised. "Qingqing, why are you asking about this? The Huo family's affairs are very complicated, especially this kind of mission involving sacrifice and secrets. Don't ask around and get into trouble!"

"I know, I just... want to understand." Su Wanqing's voice was a little weak. "Xiao Ran, thank you. Don't tell anyone else about this."

After hanging up the phone, Su Wanqing leaned against the wall, feeling cold all over.

The puzzle pieces finally came together, revealing an incredibly heavy and bloody picture.

Young Huo Tingxiao fought alongside his best friend Chen Feng, but in a brutal operation codenamed "Thunder", he witnessed his friend's sacrifice and was seriously injured and on the verge of death... This trauma is enough to completely change a person.

She suddenly thought of his mother's blood-stained relics. Could his mother's sacrifice have been linked to these things? Was that why he had brought them back with such cherished, yet painful, possessions?

Therefore, he was not born indifferent, but he used a thick layer of ice to seal up his already broken and traumatized heart, refusing anyone to approach and touch him, because that would cause unbearable pain.

And she, the wife who suddenly broke into his life and was labeled as a "substitute bride", was perhaps just an unnecessary trouble in his eyes, an external interference that needed to be dealt with, and might even... make him think of loss and pain?

That's why he was so resistant and indifferent to her.

That badge… She glanced sharply at the dresser. That badge he'd paid so much for, then casually tossed to her… Could it be connected to Chen Feng? To that mission? That's why, when he saw Lin Weiwei bidding, he'd lost control and snatched it away? And his subsequent cold reaction, a reminder of a pain he didn't want to recall?

The dull ache in my heart gave way to a more complex, bitter, and heavy emotion. It was no longer simply a feeling of grievance and embarrassment, but a mixture of understanding, shock, and even... a subtle pain.

She quietly inquired and got a glimpse of his bloody and heavy past.

The darkness in this corner suffocated her, and she finally understood that what she was facing was not just an iceberg, but a soul wrapped in endless pain and heavy responsibilities, struggling alone in the darkness.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

Knowing this, how should she face him?