Chapter 58
Shortly after having drinks with Cao Cao, Lily’s birthday arrived—April 7th. Dongbaek smiled faintly, thinking of the birthday present she had prepared in advance, sleeping in her drawer.
She finished her work early today. Those quick to hear rumors knew it was Commander So’s wife’s birthday, and the more perceptive ones even knew to prepare small but precious gifts for their superior’s wife in advance. At least, that was their reasoning.
During Dongbaek’s own birthday, they hadn’t dared to approach due to the mountain of gifts flooding in from high-ranking officials, so this was their opportunity.
“Commander, I…”
“What is it, Attendant Jin?”
“I heard it’s your wife’s birthday, so I prepared a small gift.”
Jin Jin pulled something out from inside his robe. It was a small package. Though the wrapping cloth wasn’t expensive silk, it was clean and neat, showing considerable care. Dongbaek wondered how Jin Jin knew about Lily’s birthday but quickly masked her expression with a smile as she accepted the package he handed over.
“You shouldn’t have.”
“Hehe, it’s nothing much.”
Dongbaek wasn’t a particularly rigid or strict person. Since it wasn’t a bribe seeking a position, she accepted it thinking of it as a gesture of goodwill.
The object beneath the cloth felt hard and smooth. Dongbaek put Jin Jin’s gift in her robe with a grateful smile.
“My wife will be pleased. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Attendant Jin.”
“I’m honored, Commander.”
Jin Jin kept bowing repeatedly as he tried to back away. As he was backing away with his bottom sticking out, he crashed into something with a bang and nearly fell forward.
The person Jin Jin collided with was Yue Jin, who was just entering the room. Yue Jin grabbed Jin Jin’s nape with one hand, preventing his fall. Though this saved him from falling, dangling by the nape wasn’t exactly a dignified sight.
Only after Jin Jin regained his balance did Yue Jin release his clothes. As soon as his feet safely touched the ground, Jin Jin glared at Yue Jin, but when he noticed Dongbaek’s gaze, he quickly bowed and slowly cleared the space as if nothing had happened.
“7th Unit Squad Leader Yue Jin reporting. I stopped by to deliver something before you leave, Commander.”
It seemed the news that Dongbaek was leaving early today had spread to all soldiers manning the First Gate. Otherwise, Yue Jin, who was usually oblivious to rumors, wouldn’t have known to come in advance.
‘These guys are really taking advantage of my absence.’
A bitter sigh played at the corners of Dongbaek’s mouth.
“So, what is it?”
“Well, I heard that your wife…”
“…If even you know about it, I’m sure everyone in Luoyang must know about my wife’s birthday.”
Dongbaek muttered lowly. But since it was just a mumble under her breath, Yue Jin didn’t even notice Dongbaek’s self-talk and continued speaking.
“I heard it was her birthday, and since everyone in the unit prepared something, I came as their representative.”
So he only knew because others had told him. It made sense, given that he wasn’t the type to pay attention to rumors.
Still, it was strange. Dongbaek hadn’t specifically mentioned Lily’s birthday, nor had she given any indication about it. Yet somehow, everyone knew and came bearing gifts. First Attendant Jin, and now this. Unable to understand, Dongbaek asked Yue Jin.
“How did everyone know about my wife’s birthday to prepare gifts?”
“……”
Yue Jin couldn’t readily answer. While others might have skillfully dodged the question, the person standing before Dongbaek was none other than Yue Jin.
Whether he was just as tactless as he was brave, or simply felt no need for tact… Dongbaek watched Yue Jin maintain his silence for a moment before sighing.
“Well, however you found out, I appreciate it.”
She smiled faintly. Compared to her usually cold expression, it was quite a friendly smile.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Yue Jin bowed and left the commander’s office, only to return immediately. He must have stacked the gifts outside the door, as in that brief moment, his arms were now full of items. Dongbaek showed a momentarily overwhelmed expression at the gifts piled so high she could barely see Yue Jin’s face.
“Why are there so many?”
“Well… not just from our 7th unit… other units added theirs to the pile as well…”
Though they had prepared gifts, all the soldiers turned into mice before a cat when facing Dongbaek, hesitating to deliver them directly. When they spotted Yue Jin going to deliver his gift to Dongbaek, they all brightened up and passed their gifts onto him.
“Really now, if they prepared all this, couldn’t they just come give them directly? How am I supposed to know who gave what?”
Dongbaek clicked her tongue in mild annoyance. It seemed her subordinates weren’t exactly cut out for politics or social maneuvering. She wasn’t sure whether to consider them kind or foolish. Weren’t gifts to superiors meant for currying favor?
Regardless, she couldn’t help but smile at the pile that had suddenly grown. Though simple-minded and foolish, they were quite endearing.
Dongbaek accepted the gifts with a smile as warm as an April breeze. Even if the monetary value of all the subordinates’ gifts combined couldn’t buy a single piece of silk she wore, nothing pleased her more than receiving gifts from her subordinates. Even if they weren’t meant for her directly.
While Dongbaek was satisfied, Yue Jin felt dazed, as if he’d been struck.
‘Could this person even make such an expression?’
It was a smile that made her reputation for being cold and cruel seem completely unfounded.
“Which one among these is your gift?”
Dongbaek asked Yue Jin, pointing at the pile of gifts. Her eyes carried a smile she rarely wore. Uncharacteristically nervous, Yue Jin swallowed hard.
“It’s nothing special, but…”
Yue Jin’s thick finger pointed to one of the packages. He tapped the cubic-shaped object. It was a box.
In truth, preparing the gift was half impulse. If anyone else, but not Yue Jin – he was far from the type to give gifts to superiors. He wasn’t particularly flexible to begin with, and it felt too much like a bribe.
But watching everyone prepare gifts for Dongbaek made him somehow anxious. Adding fuel to Yue Jin’s anxiety, the 7th Unit Captain had commented.
“Why don’t you prepare something too? When you got promoted to Squad Leader, you received all your equipment and weapons for free, right? Usually, you’d have to pay for those, but Commander So made special arrangements. You should show some gratitude.”
Framing it as gratitude made it feel less burdensome. Right. He should return the favor received. So Yue Jin decided, for the first time in his life, to give a gift to a superior.
But it wasn’t for Dongbaek, it was for Dongbaek’s wife. Having no idea what to give, Yue Jin asked his mother. She was surprised to hear that Yue Jin was giving a gift to his superior.
“I’ll make some nice candy for you to give to your superior. For someone to look after my brusque son like that… I’ve heard from the captain how kind Commander So is.”
His mother said this while scraping together money from corners of their modest household to buy maltose for making candy. Their already sparse wealth had been further depleted by his sister’s marriage, so this was the best Yue Jin could prepare.
“It’s homemade candy. I’m not sure if it’ll suit you and your wife’s taste, but my mother made it with all her heart.”
The words ‘I hope you like it’ rose to his throat, but he characteristically swallowed them back.
Of course, he knew Dongbaek, who only consumed the finest things, wouldn’t like what he considered cheap candy. Even while preparing the gift, Yue Jin expected Dongbaek to be unimpressed. To someone who was Zhang Rang’s adopted child, these would be no different from roadside pebbles.
The reason he stubbornly prepared the gift anyway… was simply because he wanted to see Dongbaek show some kindness, even if just empty words about enjoying it.
“I don’t recall receiving anything like this on my birthday… Well, I’ll consider half these gifts as mine.”
Dongbaek unwrapped the package right there. Opening the crude wooden box lid released a sweet scent. Without hesitation, Dongbaek picked up a round candy between her index finger and thumb and popped it into her mouth. The movement was remarkably smooth.
“This is quite tasty!”
Dongbaek said while chewing. It was a bit powdery but good. After swallowing the candy with a gulp, Dongbaek licked the honey off her fingers, sucking them clean. The intense sweetness spread through her mouth. Dongbaek smiled genuinely at the rare treat.
“Your mother is skilled. Does she make candy often? You don’t seem like someone who enjoys sweets.”
“My sister loved them. But our circumstances weren’t good, so we couldn’t have them often.”
Yue Jin answered gruffly. But beneath that lay a hint of excited elevation. That thrill of receiving unexpected recognition. For the first time since meeting Dongbaek, Yue Jin avoided her gaze.
But Dongbaek didn’t even give him time to be embarrassed. Whether intentional or not. At the edge of Yue Jin’s vision, a piece of candy appeared suddenly, held delicately in elegant fingers.
“Try one yourself.”
Dongbaek smiled, eyes curving.
“You said you couldn’t have them often, right? Take this chance to taste your mother’s cooking again. It’s really delicious.”
The superior smiled cheerfully, quite unlike her usual self.
The maltose hardened in the candy began melting from the warmth of Dongbaek’s hand, becoming sticky.
“Won’t you eat it?”
Dongbaek’s eyebrows drooped slightly as if disappointed as she looked up at Yue Jin. At the same time, as if enchanted, Yue Jin’s lips suddenly captured the candy held between Dongbaek’s fingers.
His rough lips brushed against Dongbaek’s fingers. Dongbaek, seemingly unbothered, picked up another piece with her still-sticky fingers.
“Delicious, isn’t it?”
Yue Jin could only nod stiffly, trying to make sense of the whirlwind in his chest. The fingers that Yue Jin’s lips had touched carried another candy into Dongbaek’s mouth. Dongbaek smiled casually.
Yue Jin was the only one shaken.
-ˋˏ ༻❁✿❀༺ ˎˊ-
Thank you for reading! ♡
