"Hello, Han Yao. I'm Lin Ruo—your wife of three years, the woman you abandoned in the countryside and ignored. I'm here to divorce you."
Lin Ruo lifted her solemn face and met the man's gaze. He stood over six feet tall, calm yet with a faint trace of anger.
From the moment she realized this was the man she had been searching for, resentment and unwillingness surged in her heart.
Lin Ruo knew these emotions belonged to the body's original owner. Three years of neglect from her husband, coldness and indifference from her family, and the abuse and torment from her in-laws had left her drowning in despair and injustice.
The sentry, who had just finished his shift at the gate, almost collapsed in shock when he overheard the words. Captain Han's wife wanted to divorce him?
Han Yao himself hadn't even recovered from the revelation that Lin Ruo was his wife before he was struck by her declaration. His obsidian eyes widened in disbelief.
"Divorce?"
He wondered if he'd misheard. His hand hung loosely at his side, brushing the hem of his trousers. He had assumed Lin Ruo came to join him in the army.
In his heart, he had already made peace with the idea of a shared future together. He hadn't expected her first words to be another blow.
The two of them stood in silence, staring at each other—one with his head slightly bowed, the other with hers raised high.
Lin Ruo's eyes were clear, steady, and unwavering. From them, Han Yao could see her determination. This was not a game—she truly wanted a divorce.
His heart began to pound uncontrollably, like a war drum.
Finally, Han Yao broke the silence. "I've been living in the military dorms. I'll take you to the guesthouse to rest first. We can talk after you've had some rest."
Taking a deep breath, he reached for Lin Ruo's luggage.
She didn't resist. As a wife, she had always done what she could.
Han Yao's eyes flickered with complicated emotions as he carried her light bag. Yet he had forgotten to take the small backpack the original owner once carried. For all his achievements, he hadn't been a good husband.
Lin Ruo exhaled softly and followed behind him, her gaze fixed on his tall back.
He wore his military uniform with natural authority—broad shoulders, a tall and straight figure like a pine tree. His steps were steady and powerful, each movement exuding the strength and masculinity unique to a soldier.
Three years ago, at only twenty-three, he had already risen to the rank of battalion commander. Such an achievement could only have been earned through countless battles. Lin Ruo had to admit—he was an outstanding soldier.
But even while shouldering the nation's burdens, he had forgotten something as simple as his wife.
She also wondered—why had Lin Mingzhu schemed against her and Han Yao in the past?
Her mother had carefully chosen this match. Military officers received generous allowances, and after marriage, their wives could follow them into the army. To the villagers, being an officer's wife was a perfect life.
Lin Mingzhu had rejected such a promising marriage and even plotted against the original Lin Ruo. There had to be a deeper reason—something she still didn't know.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the guesthouse. Han Yao checked in with his military ID and took her to a room on the second floor.
Unlocking the door, he pushed it open and walked directly to the window. He cracked it open, letting in fresh air.
"Let some air in—it'll make you feel more comfortable."
Han Yao said gently, "I know girls like to stay clean and don't like using things that others have touched. So I bought you some necessities. I also brought food from the cafeteria."
Lin Ruo stood aside, quietly watching the man unpack items one by one, like Doraemon pulling treasures from his pocket.
There was an enamel teacup, a washbasin, a towel, slippers, toothpaste and a toothbrush, shampoo, vanishing cream, and toilet paper.
He also laid out four rectangular aluminum lunch boxes: one with braised pork, one with scrambled eggs and tomatoes, one with shredded potatoes, and one filled with white rice and millet porridge. In another large enamel pot were two steamed buns.
"These are the cafeteria's most popular dishes," Han Yao said. "I wonder if they suit your taste."
"I'm not picky about food, but I can't finish all this by myself," Lin Ruo replied. The portions were large enough to feed three adults.
Han Yao brought out a washbasin of water. "Here, wash your hands before eating."
Lin Ruo's emotions were complicated. Judging by the things he'd bought, Han Yao was clearly a considerate person. Yet no amount of thoughtfulness could erase the suffering the original Lin Ruo had endured.
After setting down the food, Han Yao left again, returning with a basin of water in one hand and a kettle in the other. "Eat first. I'm going back to the army. You can save the rest for later."
"Alright. We'll talk about divorce when you return," Lin Ruo answered flatly. She preferred to cut ties sooner rather than later. After resolving this, she still needed to find work—dragging things out was pointless.
Han Yao, however, had no intention of agreeing. He recalled Lin Ruo's sharp and fearless actions on the train. Back then, he had admired her so much he even considered recruiting her into the army. Now, realizing that the woman he admired was actually his wife, his shock turned to joy. Only a fool would let such a woman go.
Still, his ex-fiancée's words echoed in his mind—that Lin Ruo had long been in love with him, had deliberately drugged him, slept with him, and forced him into marriage. Looking at the woman in front of him, who now wanted a divorce, Han Yao felt compelled to uncover what had really happened three years ago.
After leaving the guesthouse, Han Yao went straight to the political commissar's office. From what he knew, the commissar would still be at work at this hour. The political commissar of Jicheng Military Region was Lü Zhengping, a man in his forties with a square face and resolute features. Indeed, he was still at his desk.
Han Yao knocked, and a strong voice from inside called, "Enter."
Straightening his posture, Han Yao walked in, saluted, and reported, "Political Commissar, I am Han Yao, battalion commander of the second battalion, third regiment. I've returned from my mission and come to report!"
"Good boy!" Commissar Lü immediately rose from his chair, walked around the desk, and patted Han Yao on the shoulder. "Well done. You've come back safely. Not bad at all—you're still as strong as ever."
Lin Ruo looked around after entering her assigned room. It was small, the walls yellowed and mottled, with a portrait of a great leader hanging on one side.
In the middle stood a wooden double bed, its quilt folded neatly like a block of tofu. Beside it was a simple double-door wardrobe, and at the head of the bed sat a peeling nightstand.
In the corner near the doorway was an iron washstand. A light blue towel hung across the beam, and an enamel basin decorated with a red border and peony flowers rested on top.
"Sit down and rest for a while. I'll be back soon," Han Yao said, placing her luggage in the closet before leaving the room and closing the door gently behind him.
Alone, Lin Ruo stretched out on the bed with a sigh of relief. "This bed is so comfortable!"
Though it wasn't as luxurious as the custom-made beds she had once slept on, it was far better than the damp woodshed where the previous Lin Ruo had been forced to live at the Han family's house.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she answered.
The door opened, and Han Yao stepped inside.