The pungent mist exploded in the confined space.
Zhou Qiqi held her breath, then suddenly raised her knee and kicked the dark figure with all her might.
The expected collision did not occur; the person reacted extremely quickly, slipping out through the gap in the corner of the wall.
She couldn't stop in time, her foot suddenly twisted, and she fell backward uncontrollably.
In the midst of the chaos, a pair of arms covered in calluses caught her steadily.
The familiar scent of soap mixed with a faint smell of gunpowder wafted towards her. Zhou Qiqi looked up and met Shen Huaichuan's cold gaze.
His bangs were soaked with sweat, and his camouflage uniform was stained with mud, clearly indicating that he had just returned from the training field.
"Are you alright?"
His voice was slightly hoarse, and his hand supported her lower back, not letting go for a long time.
Zhou Qiqi's legs were still weak, and she collapsed into Shen Huaichuan's arms, taking a full minute to catch her breath.
Recalling the close call, she clenched her fist and punched his chest hard.
"It's you? You almost scared me to death!"
"sorry."
Shen Huaichuan apologized almost without hesitation, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously.
Zhou Qiqi had calmed down by now.
She looked around and realized that this was a military family compound, and outsiders couldn't get in at all.
Her past experiences made her overly nervous.
She rubbed the spot she had just hit, a little embarrassed, and said reproachfully.
"Did you do something wrong? Apologize."
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly remembered something, looked up, and asked nervously.
"Didn't the pepper spray hit you? Does your eye hurt?"
The scent of her body still lingered in his arms. Shen Huaichuan subconsciously raised his hand to grab her wrist, but then withdrew it halfway and shook his head stiffly.
His eyes were clear and bright; he certainly didn't look like he'd been sprayed with pepper spray.
"Not even a little bit? I aimed it precisely! Does this thing not work?"
Zhou Qiqi suspiciously approached the bottle and pressed it lightly. The pungent mist instantly choked her, causing her to cough violently and tears to stream down her face.
"Danger!"
Shen Huaichuan snatched the bottle with lightning speed and turned to throw it away.
Zhou Qiqi hurriedly stopped him, "Don't throw it away, I made this especially for you!"
"Why are you making this?"
Shen Huaichuan frowned, his eyes filled with worry.
Just as Zhou Qiqi was about to answer, she tilted her head and saw that the door to the neighboring courtyard was slightly ajar, and there was a pair of eyes darting around inside, like a toad.
They quickly dragged Shen Huaichuan home.
The two sat down on the sofa, and Zhou Qiqi recounted her conflict with Ran Hongxia in detail.
She didn't intend to keep this a secret. Now that she was married, she had to share these things with her partner. She had a mouth.
Shen Huaichuan leaned back on the sofa, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, his face was terribly gloomy, and his whole body seemed to be covered in a layer of ice.
"Don't go starting tomorrow. I'll find you a job in the military dependents' area."
His tone left no room for argument, carrying the authority of someone who had held a high position for many years, like a cold command that made it hard to breathe.
Zhou Qiqi finally understood why everyone called Shen Huaichuan the "Living Yama" of the military region.
Faced with such pressure, it would be really difficult for most people to say no.
But Zhou Qiqi was different; her gaze remained firm, and her tone was exceptionally serious.
"This is a career I love, and I want to pursue it."
"Too dangerous, no way."
Shen Huaichuan coldly uttered a few words, his eyes leaving no room for negotiation.
Zhou Qiqi wasn't afraid of him at all. If her soft approach didn't work, she would try a gentler one!
She secretly pinched herself, and instantly burst into tears from the pain. She leaned her little head close to her, looking aggrieved, her voice trembling with tears.
"Didn't you say you'd do whatever I say?"
Shen Huaichuan's eyes visibly wavered, and cracks appeared in his originally cold and hard expression, but he still forced himself to remain calm.
“This time is different.”
Seeing an opportunity, Zhou Qiqi pressed her advantage, poking his chest repeatedly with her fingertips.
"How are they different? I think they're all the same, don't you think? Honey~~~"
With each word she spoke, she moved a little closer.
As the last note lingered, he almost pressed himself against it.
Shen Huaichuan's ear tips turned red at a visible speed, and his entire face flushed red.
He turned his face away in a panic and stammered.
"Fine... whatever you say."
After saying that, he hurriedly fled the living room as if his backside was on fire.
Done! Completely under control!
Zhou Qiqi proudly made a victory sign and was secretly laughing when she heard Shen Huaichuan's voice coming from the doorway.
"However... I have a small condition that you must agree to."
She waved her hand dismissively, her tone bold and unrestrained.
"What are your conditions? Just name them! I'll agree to them all!"
At this moment, having won a great victory, she didn't take the so-called "small conditions" seriously at all.
However, she soon regretted saying those words.
More than an hour later, on the runway outside the military dependents' area, Zhou Qiqi stopped, panting heavily, her legs feeling as heavy as lead.
Looking at Shen Huaichuan's straight back in front of her, she felt like crying but had no tears left.
The man's so-called "small conditions" were that he would take her running and exercise, and also teach her self-defense!
She was never fond of exercise, and coupled with years of malnutrition, she could only run 200 meters before she couldn't keep going. Her vision blurred and her legs went weak.
She looked at Shen Huaichuan with teary eyes, attempting to repeat her previous tactic.
"Honey... I really can't run anymore, can we stop?"
"no."
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