Chapter 1

The wedding time had already arrived, but the groom was nowhere to be seen. Song Nian stood in a red dress, her makeup flawless, accepting the occasional glances from the guests.

Since there weren’t many people, everyone was relatively close, and even from the stage, she could hear the murmurs from below.

“Being late for your own wedding… looks like A-Jin really doesn’t want this marriage.”

“Right? But there’s nothing he can do. A few years ago, the bride saved A-Jin, and back then Commander Xu was around. They verbally agreed to the marriage and promised a hefty reward… Now that she’s come seeking him, he can’t exactly refuse.”

“But it’s not the same now, is it? I heard the Song family used to be wealthy, but now… well, they’ve been sent to some poor backwater, their social status is low, and they still insist on clinging to this marriage. They really have no self-awareness.”

“Shh… look at the bride. If her family had really been sent to a place like that, who knows what might have happened? She’s just trying to survive.”

“Exactly, and now A-Jin is about to marry and have children to satisfy his mother. It’s mutually beneficial, I guess.”

“Though this bride probably won’t be treated well in the future.”

“That’s not necessarily true. Look at her—her face, her figure. Which man could treat her coldly?”

“But A-Jin is different, isn’t he? Ever since A-Ling died on the battlefield two years ago, he’s been even colder, focused entirely on the army. I heard if it weren’t for the responsibility of continuing the family line falling on him, he wouldn’t even want to marry.”

“I heard the same. He argued with his mother about marriage and having children for a long time, but in the end, he gave in out of concern for her. That’s why he agreed.”

“If he weren’t unwilling, he wouldn’t have delayed the wedding just to deliver something for someone else…”

“What ‘someone else’? That Anya was A-Ling’s girlfriend. Before he died, A-Ling entrusted her to A-Jin’s care.”

“Shh… I heard A-Jin actually has some special feelings for that Anya… The An family and Xu family have always been close. Even if her family isn’t as wealthy, Anya is modern, cheerful, kind… With her in the picture, how could A-Jin like some latecomer fallen rich family girl?”

“That makes sense. The Xu family’s wealth came from military service, and they despise the old-style capitalists. With the Song family’s background, Xu Jin would never like her.”

Listening to the murmurs, Song Nian lowered her eyes, her expression calm.

She had understood months ago, when her family’s situation started going downhill, that she could go to the Xu family and get a marriage certificate with Xu Jin. Back then, her family’s affairs weren’t settled, and the Xu family was indifferent, which is why the wedding was delayed until now.

When the Xu family said the wedding wouldn’t be grand and only close relatives would be invited, Song Nian already realized that no matter what her new husband Xu Jin felt, the Xu family as a whole disapproved of this marriage.

She also knew that given the Song family’s current situation, being coldly received at the wedding was not surprising. Still… thinking of the bright, rebellious young man in her memories, she couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

But she quickly rallied. After all, she was marrying someone she liked, and through this marriage, she could avoid being sent with her family to a destitute place. What reason did she have to complain?

Heaven had already been good to her.

At that moment, Xu Jin’s bodyguard ran in: “The battalion commander will arrive in fifteen minutes.”

Madam Xu, Xu Jin’s mother, let out a sigh of relief and nodded: “Prepare everyone.”

Then she turned to the bride across from her: “Let’s start the wedding.”

Song Nian gave a low reply.

The murmuring below ceased. “Stop talking… he’s here…”

With the sound of boots on the floor, a tall figure appeared at the hall’s entrance.

In a slightly disheveled military uniform, his sharp brows shadowed deep, steady eyes, high nose, thin lips, and sharply defined features, he exuded a cold, indifferent aura. At over 185 cm tall, each step in his boots amplified his imposing presence.

Xu Jin walked forward, adjusting his uniform expressionlessly. “Sorry, I was delayed by something.”

Madam Xu immediately waved him over: “No matter, the timing is perfect. Come here.”

Song Nian watched the man approach, her eyes lighting up at the face gradually matching her memories. She gave him a small, tentative smile.

Xu Jin paused slightly, nodded at her, and calmly took her hand, placing it on his arm.

Polite, yet distant.

The master of ceremonies hurried over…

Though the wedding was subdued, the MC, coming from a military cultural background, dared not show any slack toward Xu Jin’s identity.

Not to mention the Xu family’s father and grandfather were war heroes, and the battalion commander himself had achieved his rank through actual merit at barely twenty-something years old.

The ceremony was brief.

Song Nian didn’t like extravagance anyway, so after sharing a few toasts with the few guests alongside her stoic husband, the wedding ended.

Most Xu family relatives had to return to the capital. Xu Jin was called away by an urgent phone call, leaving Song Nian to see off the guests with her mother-in-law.

By the time she returned to the Xu residence, it was already afternoon.

Aunt had prepared light dishes, and Madam Xu said she had no appetite. She asked Song Nian to come to her room after finishing her meal.

Song Nian, not wanting to make her wait, quickly changed out of her wedding dress in her room and knocked on Madam Xu’s door.

Madam Xu, reclining on a lounge chair by the balcony, gestured for her to sit. Song Nian sat opposite her.

“Mom, you wanted to see me?”

Madam Xu slowly opened her eyes and looked at her, then spoke quietly: “We are family now. I won’t bother with pleasantries. You must have realized… A-Jin does not want this marriage.”

Song Nian pressed her lips together, unconsciously clutching her dress.

“Though your marriage was promised long ago by A-Jin’s father, both our families knew it was more of a formality… Now that your family has fallen on hard times and you’ve come to us, the Xu family accepted out of duty.”

Song Nian felt a bit embarrassed, but she knew the truth and only nodded softly.

“I know your family’s situation, and I know you are doing this to survive… But do you know why the Xu family agreed?”

Song Nian looked up slowly. “Please tell me.”

Madam Xu spoke with a calm, deliberate tone: “As long as my daughter-in-law can do it, I want you to do your best.”

“You can do it… what I want is for you and A-Jin to have a child to continue the family line.”

Her appearance was graceful yet slightly frail. She reached for Song Nian’s hand: “A-Jin lost his father young, and two years ago, his younger brother also… died. He’s still serving in the military. I cannot stop him, so I can only ask him to leave an heir.”

Song Nian lowered her eyes, eyelashes trembling. After a moment, she replied softly: “Mom, I understand.”

She understood what Madam Xu meant: even if Xu Jin didn’t like her, even if he remained cold or refused intimacy, she needed to conceive his child to continue the Xu family line.

“All right. Eat something, I’m going to sleep.”

Madam Xu gestured, and Song Nian got up to tuck the thin blanket around her, then left.

Aunt Zhou asked: “Miss Song, do you want something to eat?”

Song Nian, rubbing her empty stomach, thanked her and went to the dining room.

As she ate, Aunt Zhou busied herself cleaning while cheerfully praising her beauty, saying Xu Jin would surely like her.

Song Nian couldn’t help but recall how she first met Xu Jin.

During the flood, she had clung to a tree, too scared to let go. Xu Jin shouted at her to release it, and when she didn’t, he suddenly called out about a snake… She fell, terrified, and he caught her, teasing her while bringing her safely to shore.

She had been cold, hungry, and feverish, nearly powerless—yet he stayed by her side, joking and comforting her, promising to marry her when she grew up.

Song Nian knew that years had passed, that Xu Jin had gone through battle and upheaval, and that it wasn’t surprising he had become the way he was… but she still held onto a tiny hope: that he might like her.

When night fell, Xu Jin returned.

Song Nian, leaning against the bed reading, saw him push the door open. Her eyes lit up. She put down her book and got off the bed: “You’re back!”

She wore a champagne-colored pajama set, her makeup washed off, her skin like ivory, smooth and radiant, her long hair loose, her face bright with eager anticipation.

Xu Jin paused while hanging his uniform jacket. Then he said: “Mm.”

Having shared a room the night before, Song Nian felt awkward and unsure of what to do, but Xu Jin silently retrieved pajamas from the wardrobe and went into the bathroom.

The new room was spacious, with an en suite bathroom.

Hearing water running, Song Nian’s nervousness heightened.

She had longed for Xu Jin for years, and though she had forcibly relied on his father’s old words to seek refuge, she still felt a twinge of embarrassment over the wedding’s indifference and Xu Jin’s coldness.

And now, with Madam Xu asking her to have a child, Song Nian didn’t resist—it was also her secret wish.

Soon, the bathroom door opened. Xu Jin emerged, still damp, wearing pajamas, and immediately saw his new wife sitting on the bed, uneasy.

By any measure, Song Nian was striking—refined, elegant, and pure, with clear, expressive eyes that conveyed everything without a word.

Xu Jin paused, then approached her.

Seeing her draw back, curling her toes nervously, he calmly said: “I need to say something.”

Song Nian nodded eagerly: “Go ahead.”

His normally icy expression softened slightly, though his tone remained calm:

“I’m busy, and not very easy to deal with. You know our marriage is one of convenience. You’ll need to bear with me.”

Hearing this, Song Nian’s smile froze.

Though prepared, she couldn’t help feeling hurt. A part of her was unwilling to accept it. She murmured: “It’s my fault… I thought maybe… you might feel something. I was just imagining it.”

After all, back then, during the flood, he had held her tightly, protected her, comforted her tenderly… Perhaps it had only been the care of a soldier, not a sign of affection.

Xu Jin frowned slightly: “Feel something?”

He asked: “Would you willingly marry a stranger?”

Song Nian felt even more hurt. “We’ve met… years ago…”

“If you mean the life-saving flood incident, that’s in the past. I’ve fulfilled my promise by marrying you. You’ll receive the treatment you deserve as my wife, but I hope you understand my meaning and respect each other’s space.”

Song Nian stared at him, then lowered her eyes, hiding the bitterness and shame. She forced a smile: “I understand. But… I still want to thank you. Thank you for marrying me.”

At least now, she wouldn’t be sent with her family.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to share hardships with them, but she knew her beauty would be a disaster in a remote place, possibly bringing harm rather than help.

Staying in the provincial city allowed her to care for her parents from a distance and send support. Now that circumstances had shifted, she might even be able to rescue them.

No matter what, the Xu family had helped her, and it was her choice.

Romance was a luxury; reality was what it was. She had married, and her parents were waiting. She would secure her position in the Xu family and try to save her parents.

“Sleep.”

Xu Jin gestured to the bed. Song Nian curled up, and he lay down beside her.

“Should I turn off the light?” he asked.

She nodded softly. He switched off the lamp, and darkness enveloped the room. Song Nian’s heart raced, body tense.

Xu Jin clearly didn’t like her. He had no intention of touching her.

Yet she had promised Madam Xu to bear his child…

With trembling hands, she turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his, feeling him stiffen.

Then he gently but firmly removed her hands: “You’ve had a long day. Rest.”

Song Nian blushed crimson, turned over, facing away from him, and lay completely still.