chapter 59

After he got home, Pei mentioned the situation to Yang Anxin and told her to go to Ai’s home. He asked her to keep an eye out in case anything happened.

Yang Anxin had heard that Lu suddenly dragged everyone to training, and she sensed that the situation was serious. Ai probably was not in the mood to cook meals, so she picked out some of her own dishes and brought them along to Ai’s place.

It was safe in the unit, so everyone wasn’t used to locking their doors at night. Yang Anxin entered their home and looked around downstairs, but she didn’t find Ai. Worried that something might have happened to Ai, Yang hesitated before going upstairs and knocking on her bedroom door. “Changhuan. Are you there? It’s me, Yang. Lu’s regiment went out for training. I brought you some dishes. Come out and eat some.”

Ai had fallen asleep after her head got dizzy because she had cried for so long. Hearing someone call her name, she thought it was a dream and reached for the bedside lamp switch. But she found that there was no lamp. “It really is a dream,” she thought to herself. So she pulled the blankets up and continued sleeping.

Not getting any response, Yang couldn’t help but be confused. “Is she not there? How can that be? She is new here. Where can she go?” She knocked on the door harder. “Changhuan. Are you there? Changhuan?”

This time, Ai heard it clearly.

Rubbing her swollen forehead, she held the blankets as she sat up. She immediately opened her eyes when she heard Yang’s voice, picking up her phone to check the time. It was already noon. She cried and slept, slept and cried. She had no idea time had passed so quickly.

She got out of bed. Feeling cold, she realized that she was undressed.

She rushed to the wardrobe and got dressed. After getting herself clean and tidy, she opened the door. Rubbing her eyes, she asked, “Anxin, why did you come so early?”

Yang looked her from head to toe. Ai looked paler than before, and she seemed to be tired and unwilling to talk. Yang was sure that something had happened last night.

Afraid that Ai would feel embarrassed, Yang didn’t ask her directly. Yang smiled. “It is already noon. You call this ‘early’? Come down and wash up. I brought you some food.”

Ai actually had no appetite, but she couldn’t refuse her face-to-face. So she said, “Thank you. You should go home and eat something now. I will eat them after I am done washing up.”

“You…” Yang looked at her, hesitating. “Why are your eyes so swollen? Did you cry because you were homesick?”

Ai stiffened and avoided her gaze. Ai rubbed her arms. “It’s nothing like that. I just…drank too much last night. So my eyes got swollen because of the alcohol.”

“Do you want me to ice it for you? You can’t go out with swollen eyes.” Yang was worried.

But Ai looked unwilling. She forced a smile and said, “I know. I will do it later.”

“Alright then.” It was troublesome for her to continue asking. “Remember to eat after you ice it. Call me if you need anything. Don’t…don’t think too much. There are always some troubles between a couple. Just let them go.”

“Ok.” Ai nodded stiffly.

Qiao Sheng had also come while they were talking. He shouted downstairs, “Ai, Lu asked me to bring you some food. Ai, are you there? It’s time for lunch.”

Yang looked down to see Qiao walking around downstairs looking for Ai, the food in his hands.

Yang couldn’t help but smile and pull Ai’s hands. “Look, Lu was thinking about you. He remembered to send you some dishes even when he was out. Nobody would believe it if you said he isn’t nice to you.”

Ai bit her lips and kept silent with her head down. But she was thinking, “Did Lu run away because he didn’t want to face me? He really is an asshole.”

Nobody could solve the troubles between two people unless the two wanted to. Yang didn’t say anything, but she told Ai to eat the food and went downstairs.

She told Qiao that Ai was resting upstairs and asked him not to make any noise. Qiao nodded, put down the plate, and went out to stand guard.

After they left, Ai closed the door. She lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

After thinking for a while, she stood up suddenly. She pulled her suitcase out from the basement, dusted it off, and carried it upstairs. She took out all her clothes from the wardrobe and decided to go back home.

She picked out all her necessary items and packed them into the suitcase. She came here with four suitcases, but now she left with only one.

Not wanting anyone to see her swollen eyes, she deliberately wore a pair of sunglasses. She was going to tell Yang that she was going downtown to run some errands, but just as she stepped out the door, Qiao jumped up in front of her. “Ai, did you eat?”

Surprised, Ai tidied the hair behind her temples. “I did. Emmm…Qiao. I want to do some shopping. Can you give me a ride?”

“You wanna go out?” Qiao asked awkwardly. “But I am not allowed to drive the car without Lu’s permission. Do you want to ask Pei?”

Ask Pei? That definitely wouldn’t help. Men always helped each other. If she asked Pei, it would not be long before Pei told Lu. What was the point of running away?

Upset, Ai waved her hands. “Nevermind. I just won’t buy anything.”

Then she turned back into the room. Qiao found it strange, but he didn’t ask more.

At night, after training was over, Lu led the troop back to the barracks.

When he got home, he asked Qiao what Ai did the entire day.

Qiao said that nothing had happened except that Yang came over and said a few things, and Ai said she wanted to go shopping.

“Shopping?” Lu felt that it was strange. She suddenly wanted to shop at this time…Perhaps her true motive was to get away.

This reminded him of what Ai had said before. She wanted to leave. Lu sneered and said to Qiao, “Thank you. Go back and rest now.”

Qiao gave him a salute and left.

Lu walked in. The house was messy as if a thief had entered, and he found that all the things on the floor were his.

Then he looked at the table. There were two dishes. One was from Yang, and the other was from Qiao. They were both untouched. Lu touched the plate. It was already cold.

Using two arms, Lu propped himself against the table. He couldn’t help sighing. Ai was really a troublemaker. He wanted to give her a beating, would she still dare to mess around after that?

Thinking this, he put the dishes in the microwave one by one. He felt as if he were a housewife. Lu couldn’t deny that he still cared for her.

He went upstairs and realized it was even messier there. Clothes and shoes were scattered on the stairs, and Lu pushed them aside with his feet. Right. These all belonged to him.

He opened the door to the bedroom. Ai was napping, leaning against the headboard with a suitcase next to her.

Lu opened the wardrobe. All her clothes were missing. There were only his uniforms hanging there.

Lu’s expression was unreadable. His gaze sharpened when he turned around and saw Ai.

Ai’s head drooped and she woke up from her light sleep. She touched her stomach instinctively. She was starving.

When she looked up, she met Lu’s gaze, and she was so startled she almost jumped. Then she coughed unnaturally. “When did you come back? You’ve come at the right time. I have something to say to you.”

Lu blinked slowly. He said calmly, “You didn’t eat any lunch. Go downstairs and eat something and then we’ll talk.”

Those gentle words struck her heart. She was meant to say some harsh words to him, but now they all stuck to her throat.

But, if she ate with him, would she seem like a coward? No, she didn’t want to do that.

“No. Let’s talk now. I…”

“Eat something first…” Lu didn’t want to hear it, so he turned around and left.

Ai sprang up. “I want to leave this place. I’m leaving tomorrow. Remember to arrange a ride for me.”

Lu was shocked. “Impossible.”

Ai was upset. “Why not? Do you want to restrict my personal freedom? Lu Zhanke, you’re taking this too far.”

Lu replied coldly, “You are my wife. You should always be by my side. Don’t try leaving here.”

Ai was irritated. “Then let’s divorce! I came here to divorce you anyway!”

Lu turned around, glaring at her. “What did you say?”

Ai was shocked by his malicious look. Her tone grew less confident. “I said…I am going to divorce you…”

Lu sneered. “Do you think you can marry me if you want and divorce me if you want? Do you think marriage is a joke? Our marriage is a military marriage!”

“There is no love between us. We can’t have a happy life if we force ourselves like this. Let’s stop hurting each other. Divorce is a better alternative. We can each live our own lives.”

“It’s not up to you to decide if there is love between us. I don’t agree with divorce, and you’ll never be able to divorce me.”

Ai grew anxious. “Lu Zhanke. Don’t cross the line!”

“Cross the line? I can go even further.” As he said this, Lu slowly came closer to Ai. His eyes looked terrifying, as if he wanted to swallow her.

Ai was horrified. She stepped back and shouted to him, pretending to be tough, “Lu Zhanke. Don’t come over here…What do you want…I’m warning you…Don’t come…Ah!”