Chapter 15: The Captain Has a Girlfriend

After lunch.

Warm sunshine overhead.

The two walked side-by-side on a small street.

Ruan Xiaotang, with a shy expression, held the strap of her white handbag.

She glanced sideways, cautiously using her peripheral vision to peek at the profile of the man beside her.

He was handsome and spirited.

Tall, strong, and powerfully built.

Even her 165cm height made her seem petite next to him.

Noticing him turning his head, she quickly withdrew her gaze, pretending to look straight ahead.

In her heart, she prayed he hadn’t noticed, hadn’t noticed!

“Can I call you, Xiaotang?”

Whether she agreed or not, he’d already called her that.

Ruan Xiaotang pursed her red lips, a soft “Mm” escaping her nose.

The lingering sound was like a cat purring at your feet, making one’s heart itch.

Gathering her courage, she raised her arm, intending to take the girl’s hand.

Halfway up, she hesitated.

“Xiaotang, what do you think of me?”

Zhou Xingze suddenly stopped, turning to face the girl, asking seriously.

His expression was solemn, as if this was a very, very important question that required the utmost seriousness.

The girl, her face flushed, nervously looked at her toes.

She just couldn’t look up and meet his gaze.

The girl’s prolonged silence made Zhou Xingze feel anxious.

An uncontrollable urge surged within him, a desperate need for an affirmative answer from her.

Without thinking, he acted.

He firmly grasped her delicate shoulders, his voice slightly urgent as he asked again, “What do you think of me? Am I suitable as a husband? No, as a boyfriend?”

Zhou Xingze bent down, his determined gaze meeting hers.

Such behavior in this conservative era was absolutely unconventional, even extremely rude.

But in the eyes of Ruan Xiaotang, a time traveler from a new world,

His eager display of affection, even with a hint of forceful love,

Was simply too cool.

Ruan Xiaotang’s shoulders were squeezed tightly, the pain intense.

She opened a pair of watery eyes, whether from fright or the pressure.

Her helpless expression was heart-wrenching.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I…”

Men and women shouldn’t touch each other so freely; he shouldn’t have been so rude.

He felt extremely annoyed.

His ears flushed red as he quickly turned his head away.

His innocent shyness was seen by Ruan Xiaotang.

She couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Without answering, she directly countered, “Do you like me?”

Zhou Xingze was surprised by her directness.

Without a moment’s hesitation, “I like you.”

“Then let’s try dating. If we’re suitable, we’ll be together; if not, we’ll go our separate ways. How about that?”

“It’s a deal.”

Zhou Xingze looked at Ruan Xiaotang in astonishment, surprised that such a gentle-looking woman would make such a bold statement.

Her forward-thinking was unlike the women of this conservative era.

He couldn’t help but look at her with new respect.

“Where do you live? I’ll take you home, okay?”

Ruan Xiaotang wanted to refuse outright. After all, she was a native of the countryside, her father deceased, and she and her family barely making ends meet.

Men often say they don’t care about a woman’s family background, but…

If he actually saw her impoverished home, he might have second thoughts and wouldn’t be as unconcerned as he claimed.

He would care, inevitably.

As expected, she, Ruan Xiaotang, would leave without hesitation, not clinging to him like a lifeline.

This would be a test of him.

“My home is in the countryside, about four hours by ox-cart from the city. The road back is rough and uneven. You, a city boy, can you handle that?”

“I’m a soldier. I can handle any hardship. Trust me, this is my sincere wish to see you home. I’ll borrow a car from the army and ensure you arrive home safe and sound before dark.”

Zhou Xingze wouldn’t allow anyone to question his character, especially not the girl he fell for at first sight.

He could bleed, but not let his girlfriend down.

……………………

“Comrades, fellow soldiers, big news, big news!”

The voice preceded the person.

In the first-floor hallway, an urgent shout echoed, approaching the 108 dormitory.

“Bang!”

A foot kicked open the tightly closed door.

“Are you bored? You dare damage army property? Watch out, Political Commissar Xu might call you for a late-night chat.”

Zhao Weiguo and Xiao Jian were playing chess in the dormitory, locked in a life-or-death struggle.

One more move, and the winner would be decided.

Then this idiot ruined everything.

Xiao Jian glared at the intruder, threatening him.

Their mood ruined, they lost interest in the game.

Zhao Weiguo and Xiao Jian exchanged glances.

Both jumped up, venting their anger by grabbing Sun Ming and dragging him into the room.

“Hey, good brothers, don’t be angry, I have great news, I promise you’ll be interested.”

Seeing the situation turning against him, Sun Ming quickly dropped a bombshell to distract them.

“Don’t beat around the bush, tell us quickly. If it’s not great news, you’ll wash our socks for a week. If you refuse, you won’t be going anywhere.”

“Weiguo’s right, add another week if you resist.”

“Our Captain has a girlfriend!”

The room fell silent.

The three looked at each other,

In disbelief.

After a long pause,

Xiao Jian asked, sitting on the bed, “Our Captain has always been cold towards women. He even rejected the beautiful Che Lili from the propaganda department without hesitation. I can’t imagine what kind of woman could win him over.”

Zhao Weiguo said in confusion, “Didn’t the Captain go on a blind date this morning? It’s settled so quickly! Is she an angel or something?”

Sun Ming said confidently, “I heard it myself. Our Captain rushed to Chief of Staff Jiang’s office to borrow an army car to take his girlfriend home.”

He’s so extravagant now that he has a girlfriend.

Unlike his usual low-key style.

Xiao Jian asked, “Did the Chief of Staff approve?”

Sun Ming replied, “He did.”

Zhao Weiguo sensed that this girlfriend must be influential, urgently asking, “Whose daughter is our Captain’s girlfriend?”

“I don’t know, I only heard that much, and then the shift change came, so I left.”