Xia Zhe had just put Qiao Mei down and was about to let her rest for a while when he saw Zhang Yong returning with his team in the distance. By right, the search and rescue efforts should not be completed so quickly so why was he back so early?
“Why are you back?” Xia Zhe asked.
Zhang Yong had already seen Xia Zhe from afar and also saw him carrying someone. At that time, he thought that it was just an injured person and did not think too much about it.
Zhang Yong wanted to go forward and ask Xia Zhe if he was injured and who the injured soldier was. However, when Zhang Yong saw that it was Qiao Mei standing behind Xia Zhe, he did not bother to answer Xia Zhe.
“What happened? Are you injured?” Zhang Yong stared straight at Qiao Mei and asked.
Just as Qiao Mei was about to answer that she was fine, she realized that the man standing beside her had pursed his lips so tightly that it had become a straight line.
Qiao Mei could not help but cover her mouth and laugh. Her chest vibrated against Xia Zhe’s back and he pinched her waist in annoyance.
“You have the cheek to laugh!” Xia Zhe said sternly to Qiao Mei before looking at Zhang Yong and saying, “She’s fine, you don’t have to mind her. You still haven’t told me, why are you back?”
“Is she really fine? Have the medics checked her?” Zhang Yong was only concerned about whether Qiao Mei was really safe and sound. He had already ignored Xia Zhe’s question twice.
“She’s really fine,” Xia Zhe said, suppressing his anger.
Qiao Mei, who was behind him, gently held Xia Zhe’s hand and drew circles in his palm. Xia Zhe frowned slightly and held Qiao Mei’s hand tightly to stop her from misbehaving.
Zhang Yong was a little taken aback by the way they behaved towards each other and asked hesitantly, “You two…”
Xia Zhe pulled Qiao Mei out from behind him and introduced her formally. “This is my wife, your sister-in-law, Qiao Mei.”
“Sister-in-law?” Zhang Yong looked at Xia Zhe in shock.
“Yes, yes, she is indeed my wife.” Xia Zhe looked pleased as he nodded.
When the surrounding soldiers heard this news, they felt relieved. So she was Commander Xia’s wife. Then what he did was not surprising.
“You! You! You two!” For a moment, Zhang Yong was unable to accept the fact. He pointed at Xia Zhe and Qiao Mei as he backed away.
Zhang Yong still could not accept what Xia Zhe said. He widened his eyes and pointed at Qiao Mei as he said, “Then why didn’t you recognize her as your wife at first glance?”
This question also attracted everyone’s attention. That was indeed the case. Why was Commander Xia unable to recognize his wife at first sight? And also avoiding her like she was the god of plague?
Xia Zhe touched the tip of his nose, not knowing how to answer this question.
Qiao Mei came forward to explain.
“It’s like this. What we had was an arranged marriage between children, so we haven’t even seen each other much. The first time we met was on the day of our wedding. Even on that day, I kept avoiding your Commander Xia as I was embarrassed to let him see my face.”
Qiao Mei looked at Xia Zhe tenderly and continued, “Moreover, I was a big fatty at that time and weighed more than 170 pounds. I’ve lost weight over the past few months, so it’s normal that your Commander Xia can’t recognize me.”
Qiao Mei was really too embarrassed to say that she weighed more than 250 pounds back then. If she told the people in the troop the truth, they would definitely think that she was lying, because it was very unlikely for anyone to lose more than 150 pounds in just a few months.
Zhang Yong nodded but he was still doubtful. He still could not quite believe that the person standing in front of him was Xia Zhe’s wife.
“Then why did you lie to me and say that your name is Zhang Miao?” Zhang Yong looked at Qiao Mei plaintively.
Seeing this, Xia Zhe glared at Zhang Yong. Why are you feeling aggrieved? Do you need Qiao Mei to coax you?
“I… I just wanted to see if your Commander Xia is really able to remain faithful and be good to me wholeheartedly!” Qiao Mei took Xia Zhe’s hand and swung it gently.
“So are you satisfied with what you see?” Xia Zhe asked.
“Satisfied! Very satisfied!” Qiao Mei smiled at Xia Zhe.
“Let’s see if you dare to fool around again!” Xia Zhe lovingly tapped Qiao Mei’s head with his fingers.
Zhang Yong looked at the two of them flirting away and he suddenly felt that he did not want to hang around any longer.