Chapter 75 Sweet daily life, choking everyone

The high-profile appearance at the military region's New Year's party was like a thunderclap, completely awakening everyone still immersed in old impressions and rumors. Huo Tingxiao's unabashed defensive attitude and Su Wanqing's calm and appropriate performance made everyone clearly realize that the tide had completely turned! The cold-faced devil not only acknowledged this "substitute" wife, but also seemed to cherish her very much!

From that moment on, Su Wanqing's situation within the compound underwent a dramatic transformation. Gone were the inquiring, disdainful, or gloating looks she'd received before, replaced by courtesy, respect, and even a touch of cautious flattery. As she walked down the street, family members she encountered would greet her warmly, and the smiles of the salespeople at the service center became especially genuine. Even Assistant Chen, when reporting on work, quietly changed his address to Su Wanqing from the formal "Madam" to the more intimate "Sister-in-law."

The changes within the Huo family are more specific and... "infuriating".

The cold war period is a thing of the past, replaced by a daily, ever-warming, even somewhat cloying sweetness. This sweetness isn't the usual smarmy, sweet-talking kind of couple, but rather a distinctly "Huo" style of clumsy yet genuine doting that often catches the unsuspecting observer off guard and leaves them feeling overwhelmed with sweetness.

Scenario 1: Military feeding

Huo Tingxiao seemed to firmly believe that Su Wanqing's previous suffering and illness were all due to poor nutrition. So, a vigorous "militarized feeding" operation was launched.

The daily breakfast was no longer a simple porridge, but a nutritious meal prepared by a nutritionist (I don't know where he hired him from), with the amount of protein, vitamins and carbohydrates accurate to the gram. The combination of protein, vitamins and carbohydrates was comparable to the combat ration standard of special forces, and Su Wanqing had to be watched by him until she finished eating.

If he didn't come home for lunch, he would have the orderly deliver the meal to his home on time: three dishes and a soup, the thermal boxes stacked up to fill half the table, with a note written in his sharp handwriting: [Eat everything and come back for inspection.]

The most exaggerated thing was dinner. Unless he had urgent work to do, he would be home on time for dinner. At the table, he remained silent, but his eyes scanned Su Wanqing's chopsticks like radar. If she took an extra chopstick of a dish, the amount of that dish would be doubled the next day; if she didn't touch a dish, it would disappear the next day and be replaced with something she might like.

Su Wanqing was at a loss for words and protested several times: "I really can't eat so much..." "If I eat any more, I'll become fat as a ball..."

Upon hearing this, Chief Huo simply raised his eyelids, glanced at her still slender wrist, frowned slightly, and refuted her concisely: "Thin. Keep eating." Then he personally picked up a piece of stewed pig's trotter and put it into her bowl, his eyes filled with unquestionable persistence.

Xia Xiaoran, who came to eat for free, witnessed this "feeding" scene once and was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped. After returning, she grabbed Su Wanqing and complained furiously: "Oh my God! Chief Huo is raising pigs... No, raising soldiers?! Qingqing, it's not easy for you! But... hehe, looking at his nervous look and insisting that you eat more, he is inexplicably a little cute, how is it?!"

Scene 2: New model of study room coexistence

Huo Tingxiao was still busy, but he'd noticeably spent less time in his study. Even when he needed to work on documents, he preferred to move to the living room sofa, where he and Su Wanqing each occupied a separate corner. He would read his military internal references while she sketched her designs, neither of them disturbing the other, yet the atmosphere remained harmonious.

Occasionally, he would look up from the documents, his eyes falling on her focused profile and slightly furrowed brows, looking at her for a while, then suddenly stand up, go to the kitchen to heat a cup of milk for her, and silently place it next to her hand.

Or, when she encountered a design problem and unconsciously bit her pen in a daze, he would put down what he was holding, walk over, and naturally lean over from behind, put his arm around her, point to a structural point on the sketch, and offer suggestions with his unique, calm and pragmatic military mindset: "Here, disperse the force points. Refer to the strap structure of individual carrying equipment."

His breath suddenly approached, carrying with it a faint scent of soapberry and a hint of oppression, often making Su Wanqing blush and her heart beat faster, interrupting her train of thought. However, she had to admit that his suggestions, which had no aesthetics at all and only pursued practicality and solidity, could often solve her bottlenecks in a straightforward manner.

This kind of "academic exchange" often leaves Assistant Chen, who accidentally arrives to deliver documents, blushing and feeling stuck. He can only lower his head and quickly put down his things and slip away, screaming inwardly: "Master, you can give me instructions, why are you getting so close!" My sister-in-law's face is even red! This dog food is so unexpected!

Scene 3: Ubiquitous "Huo's" Care

Huo Tingxiao's concern permeated every detail, direct and clumsy.

Su Wanqing casually mentioned that the light was a little dim for reading at night. The next day, the expensive eye-protection reading lamp in the study, which was said to be imported from a certain country, appeared on her bedside table.

During a phone call with Xia Xiaoran, she chuckled and complained, "My back aches from drawing lately." That evening, a professional, ergonomic drawing tablet with adjustable height and angle, along with a set of expensive massage equipment, arrived at her home. Commander Huo provided concise instructions: "Try it. If it doesn't work, try another."

She even just glanced at the bare ginkgo tree outside the window and sighed, "It's so beautiful in autumn." Within a few days, several more trees of different varieties, which are said to be spectacular in all seasons, were quietly transplanted into the yard.

He never expresses his kindness in words, but always makes people dizzy with his actions. With his straight man-like romance of "finding problems - solving problems", Su Wanqing was moved and amused, and her heart felt as sweet as if she was soaking in a honey pot.

Scene 4: "Inadvertent" in public

In front of outsiders, Huo Tingxiao was still the stern, serious, and unsmiling Chief Huo. However, some subtle changes could not escape the eyes of those who cared.

For example, during group activities, he would walk very naturally on the outside of Su Wanqing, separating her from the crowd and traffic.

For example, if someone toasted Su Wanqing (with tea instead of wine), he would take it first, say lightly, "She has a bad stomach, I'm doing it for her", and then drink it all in one gulp without allowing any comments.

For example, when the weather suddenly changed and the wind started to blow, he would easily take off his coat and put it on Su Wanqing's shoulders. His movements were so smooth as if he had practiced them a thousand times, but his face remained expressionless.

The most "excessive" incident occurred at a tea party for the families of senior generals. A lady took Su Wanqing's hand and half-jokingly and half-seriously praised her: "Mrs. Huo's hands are so thin and white. She's a natural for drawing blueprints. But she looks so weak. I'm afraid she can't even hold a gun steady, right?"

Huo Tingxiao was talking with several colleagues at the time. Hearing this, he didn't even turn his head. His voice was neither loud nor low, but it came through clearly, with a hint of unquestionable coldness:

"Her hands weren't meant for holding a gun."

"As long as it looks good."

The whole audience was silent for a second.

The lady's smile froze on her face.

Su Wanqing's cheeks flushed instantly, and she was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into, but her heart felt as if a piece of candy was thrown into it, and it was so sweet that it made her feel dizzy.

Several colleagues were stunned for a moment, then exchanged looks of "I can't stand it," forcing themselves to suppress laughter. Who could have imagined that in their lifetime, they would hear the cold-faced, hellish Huo Tingxiao publicly say such... disgusting things?!

Although the tone was still cold, the protection and favoritism in these words were enough to suffocate someone!

From then on, Chief Huo's reputation as a man who doted on his wife excessively was firmly established. The consensus in the compound was unanimous: Mrs. Huo must not be provoked. She was the apple of Chief Huo's eye!

These daily moments of sweetness converged into a warm river, flowing slowly through Su Wanqing's heart, nourishing her and changing her. She became more confident and cheerful, the light in her eyes became more moving, and her designs seemed to be infused with more spirit and emotion.

She began to respond to his kindness more proactively. When he stayed up late, she would quietly bring him a bowl of soup she had cooked herself. When his shoulder injury recurred, she would clumsily but patiently massage him. On his birthday, she even secretly drew a chibi version of him in military uniform with an awkward expression and slipped it into his briefcase.

When Huo Tingxiao saw the painting, he was stunned for a long time, his ears turning red at a speed visible to the naked eye. Then he carefully put the painting into a close-fitting drawer. The corners of his mouth seemed to have a very faint, unsuppressible curve all day long.

Their feelings did not have a grand declaration, but they grew deeper and deeper in the trivial and ordinary daily life.

The sweet daily life that makes everyone choke has become a new and beautiful landscape in the compound.

It also indicates that their story is finally on the right track to happiness.