Chapter 69: Xie Huaizheng Fell Asleep
Watching Su Zhaozhao’s eyes crinkle with laughter, Xie Huaizheng narrowed his own, a dangerous glint within them.
But the young woman before him wasn’t frightened in the slightest; she even began to laugh.
This made Xie Huaizheng suddenly feel that he must look ridiculous.
’Why can’t I control my emotions lately?’
’I get angry just seeing her with another man.’
’Even though I was exhausted, I still walked a kilometer to find Su Zhaozhao.’
’It was the same the other day. When I saw Su Zhaozhao return to the guest house with Lin Shumo, I couldn’t control myself.’
’When did I become like this?’
’Am I really... jealous, just like Su Zhaozhao said?’
’Is it because Su Zhaozhao and Lin Shumo do look good together?’
The man couldn’t resist opening his cigarette case, pulling one out, and letting it dangle from his lips.
But remembering that Su Zhaozhao hated the smell of smoke, he resisted the urge to light it.
The car pulled up to the guest house.
Su Zhaozhao got out of the car and said to Xie Huaizheng, "I’m heading in. You should get some proper rest."
Xie Huaizheng looked like he hadn’t slept for a full day and night; he definitely needed to rest.
But to her surprise, Xie Huaizheng got out of the car as well. "I’ll walk you upstairs," he said.
Su Zhaozhao’s eyes widened. "You’re walking me? You don’t have to. It’s only a few steps, I won’t be in any danger."
For some reason, she found Xie Huaizheng’s offer to accompany her upstairs so late at night very strange.
"Of course, I’m worried a young woman like you might run into danger," Xie Huaizheng said, his lips curling into a slight smile.
On his handsome face, that smile held a hint of wickedness, brimming with a roguish charm.
Su Zhaozhao had the strange feeling that Xie Huaizheng was acting a little crazy tonight.
’I definitely won’t run into any danger. With Xie Huaizheng around, he’s the biggest danger of all!’
But since Xie Huaizheng was so insistent, Su Zhaozhao said resignedly, "Fine, walk me up then."
Su Zhaozhao led the way, with Xie Huaizheng following behind her.
One after the other, they went up the stairs.
Su Zhaozhao glanced back at Xie Huaizheng’s figure and felt a little dazed.
It was probably because Xie Huaizheng was so tall and imposing.
He made the entire space feel cramped.
This feeling became even more pronounced when Xie Huaizheng stepped into her room.
None of the rooms in the guest house were large, and when Xie Huaizheng came in, the atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Su Zhaozhao, however, remained calm. She even said to Xie Huaizheng, "Why don’t you rest for a bit?"
She moved a chair over for him to sit on, then poured him a cup of water from her flask.
The water in the flask was all spiritual spring water, which could sweep away fatigue and relax one’s body and mind.
’Xie Huaizheng works so hard on his missions; he should have some.’
Fortunately, the water tasted only slightly refreshing and sweet, with no other flavor, so Xie Huaizheng wouldn’t suspect a thing.
Xie Huaizheng took a sip. The refreshing sweetness that soothed his throat made him frown.
’This water...’
He downed the rest in one gulp.
He instantly felt his fatigue vanish, and even his emotions seemed to calm considerably.
He was no longer tense, but completely relaxed.
Su Zhaozhao started looking through her things on the desk, intending to find some snacks for Xie Huaizheng.
’Everything from the space is top-quality.’
She’d recently become obsessed with dried sweet potato strips. They were incredibly delicious, as if they had just been freshly sun-dried.
They weren’t the terribly hard and dry kind; they still retained some of the sweet potato’s original moisture.
They were soft and chewy, with the clean fragrance of sweet potato.
There were also some sweet potato chips, crispy slices made from sweet potatoes.
She had even used tomatoes from her space to make a tomato-flavored version.
As long as she could describe what she wanted to the space, she would receive the desired product the very next day.
’This space is just too smart.’ Su Zhaozhao felt that if she ever returned to her original world, this space was what she would miss the most.
However, when she turned to hand the snacks to Xie Huaizheng, she found that he had actually fallen asleep in his chair.
The man’s long legs were stretched out lazily, his head tilted back against the chair’s backrest.
Su Zhaozhao couldn’t resist moving closer to carefully study his sleeping face.
Even in sleep, his brow was tightly furrowed, making him look cold and stern.
’He must be so unhappy, to be frowning even in his sleep.’
Su Zhaozhao couldn’t stop herself from gently smoothing his brow with her fingers.
’I want to smooth out those worried lines for him.’
’Does this man carry so many burdens in his heart that he can’t even find peace in his sleep?’
Su Zhaozhao gently stroked his brow, surprised that a man who was usually so vigilant wouldn’t even stir.
’Is he sleeping that soundly?’
’Is it because of the spiritual spring water?’
She had never imagined the spiritual spring water had a sedative effect.
’Every time I drink it, I just feel my fatigue get swept away.’
’But he fell asleep instead?’
Su Zhaozhao frowned. ’Is it because the spiritual spring water could tell he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time, and so it decided to let him rest properly?’
Su Zhaozhao checked the time. It was only a little after seven in the evening. ’I’ll let him sleep here for a while before I wake him.’
’Or maybe I should just let him sleep here tonight.’
But they were only engaged, not actually married. If word got out, it would be bad for Xie Huaizheng’s reputation.
The rules for military personnel were much stricter than for ordinary people.
Su Zhaozhao went downstairs to speak with Xiao Yuanming. "Little Xiao, you can head back for now. Xie Huaizheng is a bit tired and just fell asleep."
Xiao Yuanming was first taken aback by Su Zhaozhao calling him "Little Xiao."
He had just started to feel awkward when he heard Su Zhaozhao say Xie Huaizheng had fallen asleep, which shocked him even more.
"What? Sister-in-law, Brother Zheng is asleep? Here?"
Su Zhaozhao was puzzled. "Yes. Is something wrong?"
’Xiao Yuanming’s reaction is a little over the top.’
’He can’t possibly think I’m lying, can he?’
Xiao Yuanming shook his head. "No, no, it’s nothing. I’ll head back then. When Brother Zheng wakes up, just let him see himself home."
Xiao Yuanming drove away, wondering, ’What did I just hear? Brother Zheng fell asleep in an unfamiliar place?’
He had been on several missions with Xie Huaizheng. Sometimes they would rest outdoors, but Xie Huaizheng would never sleep, letting his subordinates rest instead.
His sleep was almost always fragmented.
He later learned that Xie Huaizheng simply couldn’t fall asleep in unfamiliar environments.
But now, he had fallen asleep right here in the guest house!
As expected, you’re most at ease when you’re with the one you love.
He, in the end, was not a good subordinate to his battalion commander.
After returning to her room, Su Zhaozhao grabbed a washbasin and a bucket and went out to wash up.
Although she usually washed up inside her space, she didn’t dare do it now with Xie Huaizheng here, not knowing when he might wake up.
’If he found out, he’d probably have me taken away for experiments.’
When Su Zhaozhao returned after washing up, she found Xie Huaizheng was still asleep.
The man was motionless, his steady breathing the only sound in the quiet room.
She thought for a moment, but couldn’t bring herself to wake him.
But a glance at the time showed it was already ten o’clock. ’If he doesn’t go back soon, won’t he be publicly reprimanded at the base tomorrow?’
’How should I wake him up?’
Su Zhaozhao gazed at Xie Huaizheng’s face. Despite being exposed to the elements year-round, his skin was actually in great condition, aside from being a little tan.
She remembered how he always used to pinch her cheeks.
’This time, it’s my turn!’