Gu Junming didn't say much, just smiled and said, "That's great, I'm starving." Of course, he noticed her fluster, but he had no intention of exposing it.

"I wonder if I shouldn't have come. Did I bring you trouble?" Sun Chan didn't know what to say, her ears turning red.

"No trouble." Neither of them spoke, just stood facing each other, seeing themselves in each other's eyes, both a bit embarrassed.

Xiao Wu shouted, he was looking everywhere for firewood.

Only then did Sun Chan come back to her senses and said, "You can keep the lunchbox after eating, and when you see me again, I'll give you another. Oh, and these walnuts and hawthorn berries, you can take them to eat." She took out the rest of the things from her pocket.

"Okay, I'll have a few." He knew she was shy, which made him happy inside, and took out a few dates, eating them in big bites.

Sun Chan was happy to see him eat: "Then I'll leave now."

"Wait a minute! Your pants are in that state now, that's not okay, right?"

Only then did Sun Chan remember the swamp earlier, looking down to see one leg completely covered in mud.

Gu Junming said, "There's a small pond ahead, you can wash your pants clean, and they will dry if you roast them over the fire."

"But I..." She was wearing thin autumn pants underneath, feeling embarrassed to take them off.

"Don't worry, I'll start another fire for you."

Xiao Wu was by the river, crouching under a makeshift stove of piled stones, trying to start a fire to boil some water, but he couldn't get it going no matter what, blowing dust all over his face. Seeing Gu Junming, he quickly waved.

"Boss, you better do it. I really can't!" Then he saw Sun Chan behind Gu Junming. Luckily he was careless, often stepping into mud pits, and didn't notice Sun Chan's pants condition.

"Someone brought us food, we don't need to eat biscuits for lunch." Gu Junming shook the lunchbox.

Xiao Wu's mouth fell open, then he laughed, "Isn't that great? But quite dangerous, right? She just came in like that?"

"Yes." Gu Junming didn't say much more, but his eyes and brows were filled with joy, because she came here for me.

Xiao Wu didn't know what to say, if these two got together, what about Doctor Bai? Why does the boss like a village girl instead of her?

Gu Junming crouched on the ground, blowing on the embers under the stones, soon lighting the fire: "Find some more firewood, we can roast the food over the fire, add some water, and it'll be ready to eat."

"Yes!" Xiao Wu ran forward.

Gu Junming said to Sun Chan, "You go wash up, we'll head forward to see if there are any fish, I'll catch one." With that, he left.

Sun Chan quickly took off her pants, even the autumn pants underneath were dirty, hurriedly crouching by the river, first washing her feet, then washing the muddy pants legs in the river, crouching there, placing the pants leg over the flames to roast, from afar could see Gu Junming and Xiao Wu talking by the river, Xiao Wu wanted to return several times but was pulled back by Gu Junming, later obediently rolled up his pants and went into the river to catch fish.

Xiao Wu tried several times, but the fish always slipped away from his hands, making him exclaim loudly in frustration.

Gu Junming was quick and decisive, catching a fish and holding it tight, throwing it onto the shore, making Xiao Wu laugh heartily with great joy.

By the time Sun Chan had roasted her pants dry and put them on, the two were already back.

After a simple tidy up, Sun Chan placed the fish on the fire to roast, the taste was quite good.

While eating the food Sun Chan brought over, Xiao Wu finally understood why the boss liked her. It turns out her cooking is delicious, that's why the boss likes her.

"Truly, capturing a man's heart starts with his stomach." He muttered under his breath.

Gu Junming patted the back of his head, "What are you thinking, hurry up and eat!"

"Yes." Xiao Wu ate the fish in big bites, even though he didn't join the mixer, eating such delicious food was not bad either.

Sun Chan left on a bike with the two of them, all the way Xiao Wu nodded off sleepily. At first, he tried to maintain his image, but later couldn't help it and just fell asleep.

Gu Junming and Sun Chan started chatting quietly.

He asked Sun Chan about her future plans: "At your age, you should be studying."

Sun Chan bit her lip, "I was pulled out right after finishing primary school by my mom... Zhao Xiuxia. She wants to support her own daughter."

Originally, Sun Chan's studies were much better than Sun Lijuan's, but the one who dropped out was her.

"That's not a problem, there are adult schools, night schools, and open universities now, all of which don't require much in terms of qualifications, as long as you continue aiming higher in the future."

"Really?"

"Of course, and the tuition isn't expensive." He smiled as he looked at Sun Chan.

A fire of hope suddenly ignited in Sun Chan's heart. Yes! I want to study, I want to fulfill the dreams I didn't complete in my past life.

Gu Junming said, "Don't worry, I'll help you check out the enrollment matters and help you borrow textbooks. What field do you want to study?"

Sun Chan thought and said, "I want to be a teacher in the future, teach students. Or, I could go into nursing."

"Alright." Gu Junming nodded with a smile, "Having a dream and then working hard for it. Also, these two types of schools are free now. The burden is quite low."

The two chatted along the way, Gu Junming felt very comfortable with her, although she was young, she was very sensible, which made his affection for this girl rise steadily.

But Bai Fanglan couldn't feel happy at all. She dressed beautifully to join the troop's mixer, only to find out Gu Junming wasn't there. After asking around, she learned he went to do something else.

Upon subtly asking the leaders, she found out Gu Junming initially agreed to participate but changed his mind knowing she was coming.

"Even if Gu Junming isn't here, it's fine. There are many excellent officers and soldiers here, Doctor Bai can also enjoy many wonderful performances! Thank you for supporting our troop!"

Bai Fanglan felt it was quite ironic, his words sounded nice, but who knows how he mocks her behind her back, the whole thing felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her, leaving her chilled to the bone.

Gu Junming, do you really not want to see me? I thought that now you're a Deputy Battalion Commander, you could be a match for me, so why are you avoiding me! Is what grandpa said true, do you really have no place for me in your heart!

The whole welcome event passed by in a blur for her, many people looked at her with questioning eyes, not knowing why this woman was there. She wasn't a performer, just sitting there with a cold face.

She held on until dinner time, finally couldn't bear it, just left without joining the evening party. Outside, the sun was already setting, darkness was nearing.