RMM -Chapter 321 The So-Called Home

Su Ruo hadn’t forgotten how Xi Zi had just refused to give her any face earlier, so when he disturbed her sweet dream, she made her displeasure known without hesitation.

Xi Zi didn’t give up. He stretched out the hand she had pushed away and continued to gently pat Su Ruo’s face, his big black-and-white eyes fixed on her profile, trying to get her attention.

“All right, all right, I’m getting up, okay? I must have owed you a whole pile of debts in my last life.”

Su Ruo sighed in surrender, turned over, and pulled Xi Zi’s small body into her arms. She took a deep sniff of his baby scent, and only then did her mind gradually clear.

As she slowly woke up, she also caught the smell of food drifting through the air—light yet rich.

Su Ruo’s eyes widened in shock.
The commander was cooking? What time was it already?

She hadn’t expected to sleep so deeply that she’d let Xi Yuechen, who’d already worked hard all day, end up cooking dinner. Guilt immediately washed over her. She rolled over to get up, only to realize a thin blanket had been draped over her.

No wonder she’d slept so comfortably and soundly. Tilting her head, Su Ruo thought, Commander, you’ve really worked hard…

She was truly an incompetent wife, wasn’t she?

Biting her lip, Su Ruo smiled secretly. Then she reached out, picked up Xi Zi, and started putting his jacket on him. It was already evening—nothing like the afternoon heat—so a child needed to be dressed a bit warmer.

“Son, your mom is really too careless. Good thing she married your dad, such a dull but steady guy. Otherwise, she’d have been scolded to death by now.”

As she dressed Xi Zi, Su Ruo muttered to herself. “Honestly, your dad is actually pretty great. Spending this life with me—that was absolutely the right choice. We complement each other quite well, don’t we?”

By the time she’d slowly finished dressing Xi Zi and picked him up, she’d already rambled on quite a bit.

“Come on, let’s go see what your dad cooked for us.”

Xi Yuechen only knew how to cook—his skills weren’t refined, and the food wasn’t anything special. He’d learned purely out of necessity. As long as it filled his stomach, that was enough; he never had higher demands.

But on the few occasions when he did cook, Su Ruo was always extremely happy. She would very enthusiastically finish everything on her plate, looking as if she still wanted more. Xi Yuechen always found it amusing, yet deeply satisfying. Several times he’d suggested cooking himself, but Su Ruo, feeling sorry for how tired he was every day, refused and insisted he just sit back and enjoy.

If Su Ruo hadn’t accidentally fallen asleep today, dinner would never have been his responsibility.

“Commander.”

Holding Xi Zi, Su Ruo poked her head into the kitchen and called out in a slightly fawning tone. She managed to say a single “commander” with so much rise and fall it sounded almost melodious.

Xi Yuechen was stir-frying. Hearing her ingratiating voice, he looked up and smiled, letting out a warm “Mm.”

He hadn’t meant to blame her at all. Why was she being so cautious?

“You’re cooking?” Su Ruo continued, fishing for conversation.

“Mm.” Xi Yuechen had already turned his gaze back, answering in a low voice.

“It smells like it’s going to be really good,” Su Ruo persisted.

Xi Yuechen finally couldn’t take it anymore. Turning his head, he looked at her with amusement. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Su Ruo widened her beautiful eyes, looking innocent. “I just want to chat with you.”

Xi Yuechen shook his head helplessly. “Go walk around outside. There’s a lot of smoke in here.”

Su Ruo glanced at the child in her arms and nodded. “Oh.”

But just as she turned to leave, Xi Yuechen suddenly called out, “Ruo Ruo.”

“What is it?”

Su Ruo was puzzled. Hadn’t he just told her to leave? Could it be that he suddenly realized he couldn’t bear to part with her?

While her imagination ran wild, Xi Yuechen asked calmly, “Did you change my ringtone?”

Though phrased as a question, his tone carried unmistakable certainty.

Su Ruo nodded matter-of-factly. “Yeah. Why?”

Only after the words left her mouth did realization hit—what kind of ridiculous ringtone she’d set, and the fact that she’d even called him today…

Pfft…

“Commander… no one heard the ringtone, right?” she asked cautiously.

She reasoned that when she’d called earlier, it had taken him quite a while to answer—maybe he’d left his phone in the office? Maybe no one heard it?

Xi Yuechen, expressionless, answered honestly, “Everyone in my regiment knows now.”

“What?!” Su Ruo blurted out, utterly shocked.

“No way…”

“At the time, I was on the training field, with my phone on me,” Xi Yuechen kindly explained, turning to observe her reaction.

The whole regiment… the training field…

Su Ruo’s head began to spin. Those few words echoed in her mind, leaving her stunned.

“Everyone knows?”

“Yes. A few people laughed on the spot,” Xi Yuechen thought for a moment, recalling the scene. “They were all trying very hard to hold it in.”

“Okay… stop talking.” Su Ruo weakly cut him off, utterly dejected.

So this was what they meant by joy turning into tragedy? She’d been too smug—and ended up making the commander lose face.

“It’s my fault, Commander. I’m sorry.”

She felt terribly guilty. Just imagining the scene was horrifying enough. A dignified Colonel Xi, using such a nonsensical ringtone—no wonder people couldn’t help laughing.

That meant she’d single-handedly destroyed the commander’s authority?

Waaah… She’d only wanted to have a little fun. She never meant to make him embarrass himself in public. She’d even forgotten all about it—otherwise she never would have called him so recklessly.

Guilty and remorseful, Su Ruo was full of regret. Her commander was always cold and distant outside, keeping everyone at arm’s length—a regiment commander everyone feared. Hearing that kind of ringtone, what must they think? Some bizarre quirk?

Watching Su Ruo hang her head in endless regret, Xi Yuechen’s lips curved upward. The frustration he’d felt earlier was gone, replaced by nothing but softness.

Seeing Su Ruo fuss like a child—then immediately turn timid and anxious once she realized she might have caused trouble—actually made him feel quite comfortable.

“It’s fine. In a couple of days, everyone will forget,” he said.

After getting his fill of her uneasy expression, he carefully hid the smile in his voice.

“How could that be?” Su Ruo didn’t believe it. A joke about the cold, iron-faced regiment commander wasn’t something people got to see easily. Just this alone was enough to last them a long time.

Why had the commander even brought his phone to the training field today? And if he did, why didn’t he put it on silent?

Su Ruo was speechless, hugging Xi Zi tightly and letting out a helpless sigh.

“It’s fine. Once it’s over, it’s over,” Xi Yuechen patiently comforted her, still finding it amusing inside.

“Really? They won’t keep laughing at you?” Su Ruo asked, eyes wide.

“They wouldn’t dare.”

Xi Yuechen answered decisively, without a moment’s thought. Indeed—who would dare openly mock him? Those few laughs today were just momentary lapses when they couldn’t control their reactions. Once they calmed down, they’d manage themselves.

…Su Ruo was at a loss for words.

So it wasn’t that they wouldn’t laugh—it was that they didn’t dare. She’d thought they genuinely wouldn’t joke about it. But behind his back? Of course they would.

“Go walk around outside. It’ll be ready soon.”

Satisfied, Xi Yuechen quickly snapped back into work mode, turning around to focus on cooking.

Su Ruo pouted and glanced at him. Seeing that he truly didn’t seem bothered, she finally let out a long sigh. Life really was full of unexpected twists.

She’d only meant it as a bit of fun—she hadn’t even had the slightest intention of making him lose face.

Since the person involved didn’t care, she shouldn’t dwell on it either. Hadn’t the commander said it himself? They wouldn’t dare laugh at him. Besides, with his personality, he probably didn’t care much about others’ opinions anyway.

Comforting herself like this, Su Ruo finally turned and left, carrying Xi Zi back to the bedroom.

After dinner, Su Ruo very conscientiously washed the dishes. Then she poured tea for Xi Yuechen, handed him fruit—her attitude practically servile.

Xi Yuechen knew she was trying to make up for her mistake. He didn’t stop her, instead comfortably enjoying his little wife’s attentive care.

When it was time to bathe, Su Ruo fetched Xi Yuechen’s pajamas and fresh underwear. Only then did she go check on the son she’d neglected for quite a while—only to find that he’d woken up long ago and was now lying there, eyes open, looking around.

“Baby, are you looking for Mommy?” Su Ruo picked Xi Zi up and lay down on the bed.

Seeing his mom, Xi Zi stopped glancing around and broke into a wide smile at her.

Looking at her obedient, adorable son, Su Ruo suddenly remembered the morning incident. Her eyes lit up.

“Baby, come on—we’re continuing your greatest lesson!” She sat up excitedly, full of enthusiasm.

First, she reinforced what Xi Zi already knew—calling “Mom.” Well fed and in a great mood, Xi Zi cooperated enthusiastically. Every time she prompted him, several “ma’s” popped right out of his little mouth, making Su Ruo beam with delight.

After having him call “Mom” several times, Su Ruo finally steeled herself and began teaching him to say “Dad,” vowing that tonight she had to let the commander hear his son call him “Dad,” as compensation for his losses earlier that day.

So when Xi Yuechen came out of the bathroom, damp from his shower, and entered the bedroom, he saw Su Ruo holding Xi Zi and smiling at him—her eyes glittering brilliantly.

“What’s going on?” Xi Yuechen raised an eyebrow.

“Son, say it,” Su Ruo said, patting Xi Zi’s little hand as a cue.

Then a tender, childish voice slowly sounded in the room:

“Da… da.”

Su Ruo was extremely satisfied to see Xi Yuechen freeze for a moment. She let out a smug laugh and quickly claimed credit.

“Well, Commander? Our son’s smart, right? I played a crucial role!”

Only then did Xi Yuechen come back to his senses. In that instant, a powerful surge of emotion flooded his heart, sweeping through every part of him—along with an indescribable sense of fulfillment, as though his son had accomplished something truly extraordinary.

“Mm.”

Looking at Su Ruo preening with pride, the smile at Xi Yuechen’s lips could no longer be restrained.