Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Knowing that Qin Yao was on leave, Gu Cheng returned home early, filled with anticipation. However, he was met with an empty house and an eerie silence. His wife was not home, and he couldn’t describe the feeling—it was like being submerged in cold water during winter.

With a cold expression, Gu Cheng quickly tidied up the house. Before long, Gao Jianguo, who had also returned home to an empty house, came over to Gu Cheng’s place to wait for Chen Baozhen.

Carrying a large piece of jackfruit weighing over thirty pounds, Gao Jianguo peeled and ate it leisurely in the Gu family’s courtyard, looking quite content.

Gu Cheng stood in the courtyard, arms crossed, expressionless, letting the wind blow past him.

"Baozhen went out with Yingzi. I’m relieved that they get along well. What I fear most is conflict between sisters-in-law."

"Captain Gu, you and your Qin Yao are lucky. Unlike when Baozhen first married me, Qin Yao now has a companion. At first, when I didn’t come home for days, Baozhen would complain and scold me, regretting not marrying a ‘normal man’ who comes home every day. The complaints never ended... We argued a lot when we first got married."

"Indeed, women get lonely at home," Gao Jianguo said with a smile, shaking his head. "Now that Qin Yao has Baozhen for company, they’re adapting well. A harmonious family!"

Gu Cheng’s expression darkened even more, wishing he could grab a broom and chase Gao Jianguo out of the courtyard.

His words felt like cold knives stabbing into his heart.

"Baozhen misses me and always wants me to comfort and coax her. It’s fine for a while, but who can keep it up for long? All the military wives are like this. She should have known what responsibilities she was taking on when she married me."

Qin Yao never missed him. When he wasn’t home, she lived comfortably and happily, with or without him.

She didn’t need coaxing or comforting. She probably finds him a nuisance.

Does this woman truly care about him?

"Baozhen thinks too much of me, sigh, it’s a worry. She’s different from your Xiao Qin. Baozhen seems aloof to outsiders, but she’s actually quite soft. It takes time to understand how lovely she is."

"Baozhen is different from your Xiao Qin. She’s pretty and likable. Everyone who sees her adores her. She’s very popular."

"Have you said enough?" Gu Cheng said coldly.

Gao Jianguo looked at him in surprise.

"I have no interest in discussing women’s matters."

Gao Jianguo: "..."

With that, there was nothing left to talk about. Work and life should be separate. This is ‘personal time.’ His life intertwined with Gu Cheng’s. If not about women, then what?

"Alright, Captain Gu, I don’t want to talk about work either. Let’s just enjoy some peace and quiet. I’ll eat my jackfruit and wait for Baozhen."

Gao Jianguo thought to himself: How could Gu Cheng be so quickly tired of marriage?

No wonder he’s such a workaholic. For him, marriage was like ticking off a task.

Poor Qin Yao.

Baozhen had chosen wisely, with her keen insight. Qin Yao, however, chose Gu Cheng, a rather unremarkable man. She was truly out of luck.

"She’s here! Baozhen!" Gao Jianguo stood up and waved at the incoming figure.

Gu Cheng turned his head and saw Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen smiling at each other, each holding a bamboo basket.

The sight pierced his heart. He hadn’t been home for three days, yet his wife, Qin Yao, seemed perfectly content.

This reminded Gu Cheng of the words he had spoken the night before his departure. He had feared that Qin Yao would resent and hate him, but it turned out to be his own misguided concern. Qin Yao didn’t need him around at all.

She didn’t care whether he came home every day. She lived according to her own planned schedule, comfortably and contentedly. Her life was fulfilling and happy.

Qin Yao's fulfillment and happiness didn’t require him.

Heartache, discomfort, grievance.

Gu Cheng didn’t expect that the first to become an "aggrieved spouse" would be himself. On the ship, apart from work, his thoughts were entirely preoccupied with Qin Yao. At night, missing his wife nearly drove him mad.

Qin Yao didn’t miss him. When he wasn’t home, Chen Baozhen kept her company, chatting and living with her.

"Catch so many fish?" Gao Jianguo exclaimed.

Qin Yao said, "They're all thanks to Baozhen!"

"Bro, didn't expect Sister-in-law to be so amazing, huh?" Gao Yingzi grinned.

Chen Baozhen chuckled modestly.

"It'll be troublesome to process them later. We'll need you men to help out. We'll cook the fresh ones into soup, and dry the rest into fish jerky."

Everyone was processing the fish in the Gu family's courtyard. The women were in charge of cleaning, while the men did the gutting. Gu Cheng and Gao Jianguo worked swiftly.

"Sister-in-law, today, Comrade Qin—" Gao Yingzi's words trailed off, the rest stuck in her throat.

A cold gaze pinned her down, causing her heart to tremble in fear, and she didn’t dare to continue.

"Yaoyao, these are all for you, love—" me?"

Chen Baozhen's voice grew softer as the man's icy gaze felt like cold knives.

This man is indeed intimidating!

"Comrade Qin..." Deputy Director Liu began, sensing trouble even before the meal started.

Qin Yao glanced helplessly at Gu Cheng. The man was dressed in his military uniform, sitting on a small stool with an imposing manner. The knife in his hand gleamed brightly.

She couldn’t fathom why Gu Cheng was acting this way at home. Was he defending his pride, or was he angry?

Qin Yao lowered her head and continued working, planning to let the cold atmosphere pass. If things got worse, they could gather at Chen Baozhen's place instead.

The meal at the Gu household was unusually quiet. Everyone could sense the tension coming from Gu Cheng. A storm was on the horizon.

Gao Yingzi ate quietly, not daring to speak. Chen Baozhen whispered to Qin Yao, who greeted Deputy Director Liu a few times.

After the meal, the others left in a hurry. Before leaving, Deputy Director Liu sighed and looked at Qin Yao with a gaze full of pity.

She hadn’t expected Qin Yao’s situation at home to be even more challenging than Xiao Yan's. Captain Gu's commanding presence—was he a husband or a supervisor?

She whispered to Qin Yao, "Don't let Captain Gu go on Women's Day. Everyone can understand."

Qin Yao could only nod with a wry smile. What did Deputy Director Liu think she was? A suffering young wife?

"I don’t plan to let him go."

Deputy Director Liu said, "Don’t take Xiao Pan's words personally."

Deputy Director Liu cursed Xiao Pan inwardly and felt even more that Qin Yao was treated unfairly. As for Xiao Yan, though not particularly attractive, at least she and her husband were schoolmates with years of shared history.

But Qin Yao, such a beautiful woman, married to Gu Cheng—this wasn’t a case of marrying above herself. She had clearly lost out.

She is so beautiful, likable, and from the city. How bad could her life be if she married another more considerate officer? Why did she have to marry Captain Gu and endure such hardship?

After seeing off the guests, Qin Yao began to clean the house. Gu Cheng didn’t speak, and she didn’t either. The couple did their own things.

She should have been happy that her husband came home, but instead, he put on a cold face. Gu Cheng’s behavior today made Qin Yao very angry.

Qin Yao was troubled and confused. She didn’t know what Gu Cheng was angry about. Was he mad that she invited a bunch of people over? That she went out to the beach? Or was he bringing his work stress back home?

She sneered inwardly, wondering why she had to play this guessing game with him. He hadn’t come home for days, and now he was putting on a cold face again. What use was this outwardly impressive but cold-hearted man?

Marriage truly is the grave of love.

In just a few days, their life had deteriorated to this point. He had his grievances, but she had hers as well.

Qin Yao took a shower, changed her clothes, and went straight back to the bedroom. She closed the door and locked it, using action to keep him out.

"Open the door!" Gu Cheng frowned and knocked on the door. His large hand slapped against the door, like rolling thunder. "Yaoyao, open the door! Yaoyao!"

Qin Yao lay on the bed, silent, thinking that no one in their right mind would put up with his nonsense.

When it came to the cold war, she had plenty of experience. She had used the same tactic to resist her father. She would definitely not be the first to speak.

Gu Cheng was anxious. "Yaoyao! Yaoyao! Are you asleep?"

The room was completely silent.

Qin Yao covered her ears in the bedroom. The knocking stopped, but there was a rustling sound near the window. In just a few moments, she was in the man’s arms.

"Don’t be shameless, you climbed through the window! If people found out that Captain Gu climbed through a window, they’d laugh at you."

Gu Cheng’s face darkened. "Let them laugh." Political Commissar Zhou and his wife had already seen him climb through the window.

"Marrying a cold-hearted, unfeeling wife like you, I deserve to be ridiculed."

Qin Yao retorted, "Marrying a neurotic, dramatic, cold-faced old bacon like you, that’s my real misfortune."

"You think I’m old bacon?"

"Aren’t you? I think you’re as old as a coffin board."

"Do you regret marrying me?"

"I’ve regretted it for ages."

Gu Cheng sneered, his face full of frustration. He couldn’t believe it. "Qin Yao, do you have a heart? Do you really care about your husband? Have you ever put me in your heart?"

"I never thought the woman I fell in love with would be so heartless."

Qin Yao’s eyes turned red. Gu Cheng actually said that to her, just like her ex-boyfriend. He got close to her, only to disdain her, blame her, and then cheat.

She hadn’t had much feelings for her ex, but she had been sincere and dedicated to Gu Cheng, never complaining after getting married. She had maintained his image and dignity, and rarely refused his advances.

As a wife, Qin Yao felt she had done nothing wrong.

"Yaoyao, don’t cry." Seeing her tearful eyes, Gu Cheng’s heart softened instantly. He held Qin Yao in his arms as if she were a precious gem.

Qin Yao questioned him, "What have I done wrong? Why did you say I’m cold-hearted?"

Gu Cheng gave a bitter smile, "Yaoyao, you make me feel so frustrated. As your husband, I feel like you don't need me.

"Whether I'm here or not, you're always so happy, never complaining that I come home late or that I spend little time at home. You don't cry like Chen Baozhen, saying you miss your husband. Yes, you don't miss me. You're doing well. You have your best friends, your books... I have nothing else, only you. In my free time, all I think about is you."

"I’m like a dog you can call and dismiss at will. You're happy to play with me for a while when you see me, and it doesn't matter if you don't see me."

Qin Yao's eyes turned red, and hearing his resentful words, she couldn't help but laugh. What kind of analogy is this? Who compares themselves to a dog?

"I wouldn’t let a dog near me."

Gu Cheng turned away.

"Captain Gu, you’re acting like a ‘resentful husband,’" Qin Yao began to understand Gu Cheng's thoughts. He felt that she didn’t make a fuss or show enough concern for him.

Gu Cheng: "You’ve forced me into this."

"Who said I wasn't sad? When you don't come home at night, I feel very lonely, thinking of you until the middle of the night and unable to sleep. I feel terrible. It’s distressing when you don't come home, but what’s the point of complaining to you?"

"I know you work hard and are tired. I am considerate and don't want to add to your troubles when you come home. I just want to show my sunny side to the person I care about the most."

Qin Yao's voice was hoarse, "What gives you the right to say I don’t care about you, you bastard! When you come back, you go all out on me in bed. Have I ever refused you?"

The more Qin Yao spoke, the angrier she got, and she hit Gu Cheng's face several times with a pillow.

Gu Cheng let her hit him, his peach blossom eyes filled with laughter, "If you had said this earlier, it would have been fine."

"Yaoyao, you always keep things in your heart. If you can’t say it, you can write a poem to tell me."

Qin Yao scolded, "You are the most ungrateful person. Don't you have eyes to see? Why do you need me to say it?"

"You care about face. I always maintain your reputation as Captain Gu outside, never undermining you. In what way have I let you down?"

"To maintain your reputation, I’ve endured so much. Others treat me like a punching bag!"

Gu Cheng countered, "Maintaining my reputation is my own business, Yaoyao. Why do you need to maintain my reputation?"

Qin Yao was stunned, "Don't you care about your image as Captain?"

"I do care," Gu Cheng continued, "But Yaoyao, you haven't recognized your own right. You are my wife, the woman I love the most. You can trample on my reputation as you wish."

Qin Yao: "?"

"If something I do makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to save face for me. You can hit me, scold me, twist my ears in front of others."

This sounded like he was encouraging her to be a shrew.

"Like today, if I made you uncomfortable, why didn't you scold me, discipline me?"

Qin Yao: "..."

"Who knew you were such a man who asked to be scolded."

Gu Cheng smiled brightly, "Hitting is affection, scolding is love. I would like to argue and make a fuss with you to experience the joy of intimacy."

Gu Cheng wasn't a rigid and conservative man. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stood hunched over and poorly postured, claiming to be a sailor when they first met at the port.

"Yaoyao, you were so fierce that time on the boat, forcing me to respond loudly. Later, in the hospital, I was always worried that you would make me stand as punishment in front of everyone, but you never did."

Qin Yao: "You should be thankful for your good looks."

Qin Yao also realized that recently, she had become much gentler with Gu Cheng. She had always been very lenient with those she cared about and would never force them to do anything.

With true friends like Chen Baozhen and a loving partner like Gu Cheng by her side, she cherished them deeply and didn’t want to do anything that might reduce their affection for her.

So, she had compromised herself, or rather, deep down, she had been trying to please these people she cared about.

Gu Cheng: "Yaoyao, don’t make yourself live in frustration."

"You can do anything, and I will tolerate you."

"As your husband, no matter what mistakes you make, I can take responsibility for them."

Qin Yao chuckled: "Nonsense."

"As a man, I am willing to take on the responsibility of caring for a woman. Taking care of you gives me a sense of fulfillment."

Gu Cheng: "Yaoyao, I’m never afraid of the trouble you might bring me. I’m only afraid that you won’t need me, which would make me feel very frustrated."

"I think I understand now." The former Qin Yao was used to being independent and alone, not relying on anyone. She didn’t even rely on her own parents; who else would she depend on?

Thus, she was accustomed to weighing the pros and cons rather than acting on impulse, and rarely made unreasonable demands, avoiding anything that could hurt her.

"There’s a couples’ event on Women’s Day, and you must go with me." Qin Yao wrapped her arms around Gu Cheng’s neck.

She thought to herself that she was really quite timid. As a wife, she had the right to ask Gu Cheng to accompany her to a couples’ event.

"If we can’t go, I’ll be very upset. You’ll have to treat everyone in my office to a meal so no one will laugh at me and say you don’t care about me."

Gu Cheng happily replied, "Alright."

"I want to be a good husband."

"Wife, you need to be more proactive in ‘using’ me so others will see how much I care about you."

That way, he could tell Gao Jianguo how much his wife depends on him.