An Accidental Military Marriage

After putting everything away, Lu Cheng went into the inner room and squatted in front of Jiang Moli. "I’m heading back to camp to return the car and handle a few things. I’ll probably be back late, so go to bed early. Don’t wait up for me."

"Mm."

Seeing her lying there like a lazy cat, unwilling to move, Lu Cheng couldn’t resist leaning over and giving her lip a playful bite.

Jiang Moli yelped, "Why’d you bite me?"

"You don’t care about me at all."

’She even flirts with the passing orderlies but is completely indifferent to her own husband.’

Noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the faint stubble on his chin, she could tell he’d had a long day. Jiang Moli begrudgingly planted a quick smooch on his thin lips.

"Alright, alright. Seeing as you’ve had a long day, I’ll let you off the hook for tonight."

Lu Cheng’s dark eyes gleamed. "Actually, I’m still up for it."

Jiang Moli gave him a noncommittal reply. "We’ll see when you get back."

"Alright, I’m heading back to camp then?"

"Mm."

"One more kiss."

"Mwah~"

Content, Lu Cheng left.

...

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Lu Tingting, who was already asleep, was startled awake by the pounding on the door and flew into a rage. "Who is it? Are you nuts, banging on the door this late at night?"

Jiang Qing flicked on the light and opened the door.

"Wenjing, what brings you here so late...?"

Before she could finish, Qiao Wenjing cut her off in a cold voice. "Jiang Qing, how dare you lie to me!"

Seeing Qiao Wenjing storm in to confront Jiang Qing, Lu Tingting was no longer sleepy. She sat up in bed, excited to watch the drama unfold.

Although Qiao Wenjing’s accusation came out of nowhere, Jiang Qing’s heart sank.

After all, she knew exactly what she had done.

She kept her expression neutral. "Wenjing, what’s wrong? Why don’t we talk about this outside?"

Qiao Wenjing had been fuming over Jiang Moli all day, and now, learning that she might have been duped by Jiang Qing, she was about to explode.

"You told me that Jiang Moli was vain and materialistic, that to marry Camp Commander Lu, she forced you to take her place in her own arranged marriage. Well, I asked Camp Commander Lu today, and he said that’s not what happened at all!"

Jiang Qing hadn’t expected her worst fear to come true, and for a moment, she panicked.

Lu Tingting eagerly leaped out of bed. "Oh my god, Jiang Qing, have you no shame? You’re the one who stole Jiang Moli’s marriage, yet you have the audacity to pin the blame on her."

Then she turned to Qiao Wenjing. "And you! Are you brainless or something? You believe whatever she says? Couldn’t you have asked around yourself?"

Qiao Wenjing roared at her, "You shut up! I wasn’t asking you!"

Not to be outdone, Lu Tingting shot back, "What are you yelling for? All head and no brains. Serves you right for being tricked."

Seeing Qiao Wenjing’s face contort with rage, Lu Tingting suddenly felt she could understand Jiang Moli a little.

’No wonder Jiang Moli is always provoking her. Pissing someone off this badly feels amazing!’

’It’s the best feeling ever!’

"Wenjing, I’m sorry. It’s true, I lied to you."

Before Qiao Wenjing could press her further, Jiang Qing gave herself two resounding slaps across the face.

Both Qiao Wenjing and Lu Tingting were stunned.

Her eyes red-rimmed, Jiang Qing looked at Qiao Wenjing with a mix of grievance and defiance. "It was wrong of me to lie to you, but I had my reasons and I was in a difficult position. I just hope you’ll give me a chance to explain."

Lu Tingting interjected snidely, "Don’t listen to her. She’s just trying to lie to you again!"

Jiang Qing was rendered speechless with fury.

Qiao Wenjing was equally repulsed by Lu Tingting’s smug attitude. For some reason, it reminded her of Jiang Moli—neither of them ever said anything she wanted to hear.

"This is between me and Jiang Qing. It’s none of an outsider’s business."

"It’s my mouth, and I’ll say what I want. You can’t stop me."

Jiang Qing seized the opportunity. "Wenjing, let’s talk outside."

"Fine."

Watching the two of them leave the dormitory together, Lu Tingting sulkily went back to her bed to sleep.

As she was about to put her feet on the bed, she suddenly noticed she hadn’t been wearing shoes. The soles of her feet were covered in black grime.

She grabbed Jiang Qing’s pillowcase, wiped her dirty soles clean with it, and then spread it back over Jiang Qing’s pillow.

’Go off and whisper your little secrets without me, will you? Now you can smell my stinky feet!’

She cackled.

Lying in bed, Lu Tingting felt an invigorating sense of clarity, as if she’d just had a major breakthrough.

...

"...I admit it. I’m a despicable person. I’m jealous. Jiang Moli is worthless and annoying, yet she’s loved by an outstanding man like Lu Cheng. Any other woman in the world deserves a good life—anyone but Jiang Moli!"

Watching Jiang Qing’s tearful confession, Qiao Wenjing’s anger began to subside.

Although Jiang Qing’s thoughts were dark, Qiao Wenjing found them deeply relatable.

Because she was also jealous of Jiang Moli for receiving Lu Cheng’s wholehearted devotion.

She would never admit it aloud, but deep down, she knew she was unethically coveting a married man.

She just didn’t dare to admit it and was too ashamed to do so.

Rather than being angry about being deceived, she found herself admiring Jiang Qing’s willingness to act and take responsibility for it.

"Alright, stop crying."

Seeing the handkerchief offered to her, Jiang Qing knew she had succeeded.

Lu Tingting had been right about one thing: she and Qiao Wenjing were the same kind of person.

They were both jealous of Jiang Moli and couldn’t stand to see her happy.

After Jiang Qing promised she would never lie to her again, Qiao Wenjing chose to forgive her.

After seeing Qiao Wenjing off, Jiang Qing returned to the dormitory.

Looking at Lu Tingting sleeping like a log, a dark look flashed in Jiang Qing’s eyes.

She had originally thought Lu Tingting was an idiot she could use to deal with Jiang Moli.

She hadn’t expected her to be a complete lunatic.

Fortunately, Lu Tingting would be leaving by the end of the year at the latest.

Jiang Qing lay down on her bed to sleep. She caught a faint whiff of stinky feet but didn’t think much of it.

It was already midnight by the time Lu Cheng finished his work and returned to the guest house.

Jiang Moli was sound asleep. Her small, palm-sized face was pink and tender. She looked both exquisite and enchanting, like a lovely doll.

He couldn’t bear to wake her, so he took a quick, cold shower and then slipped into bed, wrapping his arms around her as he fell asleep.

...

After morning drills, Lu Cheng headed back to the guest house with breakfast.

On the way, he ran into Lu Tingting, who was heading to Feng Meihua’s place for breakfast.

"Third Uncle."

Seeing the two meal boxes in Lu Cheng’s hands, Lu Tingting couldn’t help but feel indignant.

’That damn Jiang Moli! She slept in all the time back home, and she’s still the same useless lump here at the base. How dare she make my Third Uncle wait on her hand and foot!’

’The nerve!’

Lu Cheng’s expression was unusually pleasant. "Did you ever spread a rumor around the base that your Third Aunt made Jiang Qing marry in her place?"

Lu Tingting frantically shook her head, her words tumbling out before she could think. "It was Jiang Qing! She spread it! She admitted it to Qiao Wenjing herself last night!"

This outcome didn’t surprise Lu Cheng.

"I owe you an apology," Lu Cheng said. "I misunderstood you before."

"Misunderstood what about me?"

Seeing Lu Tingting’s blank expression, Lu Cheng was even more certain that she had nothing to do with the rumor about the marriage swap.

Upon learning that she had been the scapegoat for Jiang Qing, Lu Tingting’s first thought wasn’t anger, but something else entirely:

"Third Uncle, does this mean I can go home now? You said it yourself, I was wrongly accused! This has nothing to do with me!"

Lu Cheng placated her. "School is about to start. Just stay and teach for a while. Once we’ve hired a new teacher, I’ll have someone escort you back."

Although Lu Tingting was unhappy about it, she had no other choice.

When Jiang Qing returned to the dormitory with breakfast, she saw Lu Tingting squatting by the entrance, burning something, and couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.

"What are you burning so early in the morning?"

Lu Tingting shot her a wicked grin and held up the object in her hand. Then, before Jiang Qing’s shocked eyes, she tossed it into the fire.