Chapter 25 Just Take It as a Relaxation
Chapter 25 Thoughts and Sweet Springs
"Yes, I was lying." Gu Qiuyue's calm voice broke the suffocating tension. "Not wanting to separate is just a polite way of saying it. The real reason is fighting for this spot. It's asking for trouble for both you and me, and it will cause endless trouble."
She pushed Xie Shiyu into the house, poured him a glass of water, and then analyzed the situation in a clear and logical manner: "You've just been promoted to deputy regiment commander. How many people are watching you? Wang Zhaodi and the others can block your door and be sarcastic today, and tomorrow they can accuse you of nepotism and leave you with no way to defend yourself."
She paused, her gaze fixed on the fading light outside the window, her voice firm. "Look at the newspapers and broadcasts lately. Isn't the discussion about science and technology and talent development getting more urgent? I can assert that the model of relying on recommendations to get into university won't last. For our country to develop, we need real talent and knowledge that can be earned through examinations."
Rather than fighting for this hot potato and putting myself on the line, why not wait for a fairer opportunity that is more within my control? I think the risk of waiting is worth taking!
The anger on Xie Shiyu's face receded as he listened to her calm analysis, and shock and deep thought surged in his heart. He stared at his nominal wife. Such terrifying insight was hidden under that young face. She not only saw through the undercurrent behind the quota, but could even sensitively perceive the changes in the situation.
A long silence permeated the air, the sun set, dusk fell, the suffocating tension dissipated, and was replaced by a warm and calm feeling as if one had survived a disaster.
The last trace of anger in Xie Shiyu's eyes vanished, transformed into a new scrutiny. The thin ice between them shattered in this frank exchange that touched their core. A subtle connection, based on shared secrets and understanding, quietly grew.
Dinner was a simple cafeteria meal, but the atmosphere was different from usual. There was less formality and alienation, and an indescribable warmth flowed silently in the air.
Late at night, Gu Qiuyue finished washing up and walked towards her room. Just as she was about to close the door, Xie Shiyu stretched out his hand to block the door frame and asked, "Didn't I sleep in the same bed when I was injured?"
Her heart skipped a beat, her fingertips curled up, but she was complaining in her heart: How can that be called sleeping in the same bed? It's obvious that you are sleeping on the bed and I am sleeping on the cot next to it.
As if he understood Gu Qiuyue's thoughts, Xie Shiyu leaned over and hugged her, chuckling softly, "I'll let you sleep on the bed tonight."
Gu Qiuyue's mind was in a trance. When she came to her senses, Xie Shiyu had already put her on the bed. His handsome face magnified in front of her. She only heard a numbing voice drill into her ears: "Is it okay?"
Gu Qiuyue nodded as if she had lost her soul. Then, the man pounced on her like a hungry wolf, frightening her to scream: "Gentle, gentle..."
The next day, Gu Qiuyue woke up feeling lazy, sore, and strangely full. There was no one beside her, only the unique scent of Xie Shiyu remained.
When I walked out of the room, there was a note on the table. I picked it up and saw that it was written by Xie Shiyu: Breakfast is warming on the stove.
Gu Qiuyue found some warm dumplings in the kitchen. They were dry, but she was too lazy to add water. The water was scalding, but she didn't want to draw well water, so she thought it would be better to have tap water.
Suddenly, she was shocked to find that water was constantly flowing out of her right index finger and she couldn't cover it. She thought quickly and shouted "Stop". Sure enough, the water stopped and her finger returned to normal.
Thinking of her own space, she took the bowl and silently said "water". Water gushed out of her fingers again, and stopped when she said "stop". She suppressed her excitement and sprinkled the water in the bowl on the roots of the wilted winter vegetable seedlings in the yard.
A moment later, the dying seedlings were standing upright, their leaf tips showing fresh green again! This spring water truly had the effect of nourishing and promoting growth.
She immediately went back to the house and drank some space water. The cool and sweet feeling spread throughout her body, instantly wiping out all the fatigue and aches. Her mind became clear and she felt extremely energetic.
…
On a snowy night, Xie Shiyu brought a message to Gu Qiuyue, "The Propaganda Department is short of staff. Do you want to go work there?"
Gu Qiuyue thought for a moment and asked, "What's it mainly for?"
"It's about publicity. I know you have things to do at home and you don't need that little salary, but the Propaganda Department is quite idle, so just take it as a way to relax." Xie Shiyu kissed her on the forehead and said.
Gu Qiuyue looked at him with a smile: "I'll listen to you."
Time flies.
On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, the military families gathered outside the cafeteria to make dumplings. Gu Qiuyue wanted to roll up her sleeves and join in, but was pushed out by Mrs. Zhang with a smile. She knew Gu Qiuyue's cooking skills and didn't dare let her make dumplings.
Gu Qiuyue had no choice but to help the master chef prepare the stuffing. She also added some space water in it. She had tried it herself and found it effective. She wanted to strengthen the physical fitness of these most lovely people.
As night fell, after everyone had eaten the New Year’s Eve dinner, a screen was hung on the camp playground to show revolutionary movies.
After the show, loud singing voices rose one after another. The heroic songs of "Returning from Target Practice" and "Unity is Strength" boiled in the cold night, dispelling the chill.
Gu Qiuyue wrapped her scarf tightly and stood outside the crowd, her cheeks slightly flushed and the corners of her mouth raised sincerely. This simple and collective New Year atmosphere was a warmth she had never experienced in her previous life.
Wang Zhaodi and others cast complicated glances and whispered to her. They had known for a long time that Gu Qiuyue worked in the Propaganda Department and had been gossiping about her behind her back for several days. However, because she gave up the competition for a place in the Workers' and Militia University, they did not dare to come to Gu Qiuyue in person, so she ignored these people.
Late in the night of New Year's Eve, the noise had died down, but Xie Shiyu had not returned from his combat readiness duty.
Gu Qiuyue sat alone in the small room, holding the warm enamel pot, looking at the night outside the window. Her heart was clear and peaceful, and a trace of worry quietly passed through her mind. She was worried about the figure in the barracks. He had become the real connection that she could not give up in this strange era.
The water in her hands gradually cooled down. She sat down at the desk and picked up her pen to compose a newsletter titled "New Year, New Atmosphere". This was the task Director Zhao had assigned to her before the New Year. She immersed herself in her work, her pen rustling as she smoothly sketched out her outlook for the New Year.
When she put down her pen, an extremely subtle, almost elusive feeling of stagnation, like the tip of a very fine needle, pricked extremely lightly in the depths of the extremely clear ocean of consciousness, and disappeared in a flash, so fast that she thought it was a momentary trance brought about by concentrating on writing for a long time.
Gu Qiuyue frowned her delicate eyebrows. She picked up the teacup again, brought it close to her eyes, and looked at the clear liquid in the cup that reflected the light. However, a layer of hazy doubt like a veil quietly and silently shrouded her heart.
Could it be that this spiritual spring, which brought immediate and miraculous results, was not without cost? Was this momentary stagnation a warning sign of overstimulation? Or were there unknown rules or limitations to the spring's use?
This cold alertness was like a stone dropped into the lake of her heart, causing ripples of anxiety. She decided to observe her body's reaction after drinking the spiritual spring more carefully in the next few days. This sweet spring was a lifeline, and if there were any side effects, it was obviously not suitable for those soldiers to take.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
