The 60s Island: The Daily Life of a Capitalist Young Lady with the Army - Chapter 55: It's Almost Ten O'Clock Now!

Chapter 55: It’s Almost Ten O’Clock Now!

Everyone in the Arts Troupe was stunned.

The air seemed to freeze solid.

Bai Rumeng was also dumbfounded. She grabbed the arm of a military wife who hadn’t gone far, her voice trembling slightly: Sis… sister, that new military family member… is she Battalion Commander Long’s family?

She pressed on unwillingly, her eyes still holding a trace of self-deceiving hope.

Is she… his sister?

The military wife looked at her expression, then glanced at the group of equally despondent girls behind her, and secretly shook her head in her heart.

She curled her lips slightly, her tone carrying the understanding of someone who’d been through it all.

Sister?

Have you ever seen any sister who would so openly sit on her brother’s bicycle rear seat?

The military wife spoke word by word, clearly shattering Bai Rumeng’s last illusion.

That’s Battalion Commander Long’s proper, legitimate wife!

Boom—!

Everyone felt as if something in their minds had been completely shattered.

Bai Rumeng’s face instantly turned from deathly pale to bright red, before finally settling into an embarrassed gloom.

That proud heart of hers seemed to have been violently yanked down from mid-air, thrown to the ground, and stepped on several times.

It hurt, and it was humiliating.

How was it possible… How could Long Peiye… how could he be married?

How could he get married!

After leaving the dock, the bicycle bumped along toward the direction of the family compound.

The sea breeze lifted Xu Xiangsi’s long hair, a few mischievous strands brushing against Long Peiye’s nape, tickling him.

His heart felt ticklish too.

The matters in the city, Long Peiye looked straight ahead, his voice somewhat scattered by the wind, are they settled?

Xu Xiangsi leaned against his back, feeling his solid, warm body heat.

She let out a soft, gentle sigh.

This sigh was so light it was almost carried away by the wind.

But Long Peiye heard it clearly.

His pedaling faltered for a moment before returning to its steady rhythm.

He didn’t ask anything more.

But in his heart, he immediately understood.

The bicycle moved steadily along the forest path.

Long Peiye’s sturdy back, separated only by a thin shirt, transmitted wave after wave of warm body heat.

Xu Xiangsi pressed her cheek against it, feeling that steady, powerful heartbeat.

All the noise from the dock moments ago seemed to have been left behind.

After the wind had blown for a while, Long Peiye’s deep voice drifted over with the breeze.

Actually, all those things you want to know—I can tell you.

His voice was very calm, as if stating the simplest fact.

Just, he paused, his tone carrying a barely noticeable teasing, if you don’t run into that southern wall yourself, you’ll never give up.

He knew her too well.

That stubbornness in this woman’s bones—she would never quit without seeing the result with her own eyes.

Xu Xiangsi didn’t refute him.

She just buried her face deeper into his back, her voice muffled as it came from behind him.

I’ve given up.

These three words, light as they were, carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

Long Peiye’s feet on the pedals noticeably slowed.

His heart stirred slightly.

But then, he felt he could only half-believe those words.

In this woman’s dictionary, the word give up probably didn’t exist.

Today, she was just tired.

Or perhaps she’d been hit by reality. Given another chance, she would definitely bounce back again.

The two of them returned to the small building in the family compound without exchanging a word along the way.

Just as the car came to a stop, guard Li Tiezhu came jogging over, carrying two aluminum lunch boxes.

Battalion Commander, Ma’am, I’ve brought your meal!

Thanks for the trouble. Long Peiye took the lunch boxes.

Li Tiezhu flashed a bright smile: No trouble at all!

The food was laid out on the table—two dishes and one soup, with a well-balanced mix of meat and vegetables.

Xu Xiangsi picked up her chopsticks but had little appetite, merely pushing the rice around in her bowl listlessly.

It had been five or six hours since her lunch in Lincheng, so by all accounts, she should have been starving.

Yet now, faced with fragrant steamed rice and braised pork in brown sauce, Xu Xiangsi couldn’t muster any appetite.

Long Peiye noticed but didn’t press her.

He knew she had things on her mind, and forcing her would be useless.

He himself ate quickly, devouring his food like a whirlwind.

After the meal, he efficiently cleared the dishes and took them to the sink to wash.

Amid the sound of running water, Xu Xiangsi stood up and silently walked to the cabinet, opening the tin box where Long Peiye kept his money.

She pulled a one-yuan bill from her pocket, smoothed it out neatly, and placed it inside the box.

Click.

A soft sound as the tin box was closed again.

Long Peiye, who was washing dishes, paused and glanced back at her, his eyes filled with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

This woman, really…

Even at a time like this, she didn’t forget to give him hardship pay?

She really kept accounts clearer than anyone.

Early the next morning, as dawn was just breaking, Long Peiye left for the military base.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiangsi slept in as usual, not waking until the sun was high in the sky.

The island sunlight streamed through the window, warming her body so comfortably that she only wanted to go back to sleep.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just as she was drifting back into a hazy slumber, the courtyard gate was pounded with earth-shaking force.

The knocking was urgent and heavy, as if someone were trying to break the door down.

Xu Xiangsi’s brows instantly furrowed into a deep frown.

Who is it?!

So early in the morning—in a rush to be reborn?

Fuming, she leaped out of bed, hastily threw on some clothes, and rushed out in her slippers.

Whoosh—

She yanked the courtyard gate open, her face full of sleep-induced irritation, and snapped without hesitation.

Are you insane! Disturbing people’s dreams this early in the morning!

The person standing outside was clearly startled by her ferocious expression.

Xu Xiangsi took a closer look and couldn’t help but frown.

Who is this?

She struggled to recall and finally remembered seeing her on the boat back to Cloud Sky Island yesterday.

She should be from the Arts Troupe, but Xu Xiangsi didn’t know her name.

Most importantly, why was this Arts Troupe member looking for her so early in the morning?

Meanwhile, Bai Rumeng, standing outside the gate, widened her eyes in disbelief, her pretty face filled with astonishment as she stared at Xu Xiangsi as if she were some kind of monster.

Pointing at the sun in the sky, her voice rose an octave.

Early in the morning?

It’s almost ten o’clock! You… you’re still sleeping?