Just as Shen Niantang was eating with gusto, Tiantian popped out of nowhere.
"Host, congratulations! You left the Shen Residence so quickly. It all went quite smoothly. Based on your excellent performance, I am about to present you with a reward."
"What reward?"
"Ta-da! I'm rewarding you with ten yuan and a lucky fountain pen."
After Tiantian finished speaking, she snapped her fingers, and the money and the pen appeared on the table. The anticipation on Shen Niantang’s face instantly froze. She didn't know what to say to that.
Although the reward was underwhelming, it had to be said that the blue fountain pen was actually quite pretty. It had a minimalist design in an azure hue, and the gold metal on the cap was exquisite.
"Host, your next job is very simple: settle down comfortably into life here, work steadily, try to find a good man, have three kids, and you’ll live a happy life."
"Hold it right there!"
"Thank you, my little Tiantian, but I’ve finally started a new life and have such a great job—I don’t want to get married so soon, let alone have three kids. Not a chance."
Tiantian couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle; she was only teasing, after all.
"Oh, Host! I was just joking. In any case, I am only your survival assistant. How you choose to live your life is something you have to face yourself. In other words, this is your life. But, Host, earning money is fine, but you should also keep an eye on the handsome young men around you. They’re easy on the eyes, and you know what they say: being close to the water gives you the first chance at the moon."
Shen Niantang looked at Tiantian with utter helplessness. It seemed she had been assigned a little pervert of a system. Oh well, let her be. Shen Niantang left Tiantian to her own fantasies and drooling, while she gathered up the money and the pen, grabbed her toiletries, and headed to the public washbasins outside to freshen up.
The night was like ink, and twilight cast a heavy veil over the Military Region dormitory building. Shen Niantang carried her enamel basin, which held her towel, toothbrush, and a bar of pale yellow soap, and stepped out, gently pushing the door open. The dim light in the corridor stretched her shadow long and thin. The night breeze felt cool, brushing against her cheeks and washing away the heat of the day.
She had just reached the public basin when she heard steady footsteps behind her.
She turned to look and found it was Gu Tingchuan. He had shed his meticulous training uniform from the day and changed into a simple white short-sleeved shirt and olive-green cargo pants. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up slightly, revealing the sturdy lines of his arms, and the cuffs of his pants were tucked into black combat boots, making him look sharp and upright. Under the cover of the night, his ears were slightly flushed, though it was hard to tell in the dim light.
"Good evening, Commander Gu."
Shen Niantang smiled slightly and greeted him politely. Her voice was clear, like a breeze in the night.
Gu Tingchuan nodded, his voice low:
"Hm. Are you here to wash up too?"
His gaze lingered on her face for a brief moment before shifting away, as if it were just a casual inquiry.
"Yes, I just finished tidying up my room and wanted to wash my face."
Shen Niantang answered calmly. She turned to place her enamel basin on the edge of the sink and turned on the faucet. The cool water splashed out, and she cupped some in her hands, gently patting it onto her face. Droplets slid down her cheeks, dampening the wisps of hair on her forehead and glinting under the light.
Gu Tingchuan stood to the side, pretending to focus on brushing his teeth while his eyes involuntarily drifted toward her.
In the night, the contours of her side profile were soft and clear. Small beads of water clung to her eyelashes, trembling as she blinked. Her skin looked even fairer and more translucent after being wiped with water, as if it were delicate enough to break at a touch. Gu Tingchuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his heart rate suddenly accelerated, much like it did after a weighted run during training.
He lowered his head quickly and rinsed his mouth vigorously, trying to hide his loss of composure. The sound of running water masked his slightly ragged breathing, but his fingertips unconsciously rubbed against the toothbrush handle as if that could help him calm down.
Shen Niantang didn't notice his strangeness. She wrung out her towel and gently wiped her face and neck. The night breeze brushed past, taking away the moisture on her skin and leaving it feeling refreshed. Shen Niantang worked efficiently, carefully wiping the exposed parts of her arms. Once she was finished, she looked up at the sky, turned to Gu Tingchuan, and said:
"Commander Gu, I’ll be heading back now. Please, take your time."
Gu Tingchuan snapped out of his trance and nodded:
"All right. Get some rest."
His voice remained steady, as if the thrill of a moment ago had never existed.
Shen Niantang picked up her enamel basin and turned to leave. Her silhouette in the twilight looked especially slender, her gait light. Gu Tingchuan watched her back until she disappeared at the end of the corridor before he slowly looked away. At that moment, the last ray of dusk happened to shine upon her, gilding her outline in a faint gold that was etched deeply into his mind.
Back in his room, Gu Tingchuan lay on his bed with his hands behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The night was deep, and the chirping of insects outside the window drifted in faintly, but his thoughts were completely occupied by the scene from earlier. He recalled how Shen Niantang had looked in the office—one hand holding a file, the other calmly translating documents, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes focused. Her fingers were slender and long, and the slight rustling sound she made while turning pages seemed to make even the air grow quiet under her diligence.
Gu Tingchuan swallowed involuntarily, and that strange, restless agitation in his chest surged again. He had never felt this way about anyone, not even when facing life-or-death trials on the battlefield had his heart ever been this out of control. He turned over, trying to chase the distracting thoughts away, but Shen Niantang’s image remained, as if branded into his mind.
"I must be going crazy..."
He muttered to himself and raised a hand to rub his temples.
Meanwhile, back in her room, Shen Niantang placed her enamel basin in the corner and sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought for a while. The night breeze drifted in through the window gap, carrying the scent of grass and soil. She took a deep breath and felt completely relaxed. Everything today had gone too smoothly—so smoothly it left her feeling a bit dazed.
She touched the succulent on the windowsill, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. This tiny life seemed to be a symbol of her new beginning. She lay down and closed her eyes.
Shen Niantang pulled the thin quilt over herself. There was new work to adapt to tomorrow; she needed to recharge her energy.
Gu Tingchuan, who usually slept well, didn't know what had come over him—he was suffering from insomnia. To keep himself from letting his imagination run wild, he threw off his blanket and started doing five hundred push-ups on the floor by his bed, trying to use this method to exhaust himself...