Chapter 2 Pushing Her Against the Wall

“Gu Xiao…”
Song Youyou turned around, and her gaze met his. His eyes were long and narrow—usually indifferent, but now burning with a sharp intensity. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes.

She and Gu Xiao had gone to the same school before. Back then, his gaze was just like this—bold and unabashed, always fixed on her. She had known since she was a child that she was promised to someone else in a childhood engagement, so she always kept a respectful distance from the boys at school. Naturally, she didn’t appreciate the intensity of his stares.

But after experiencing a whole lifetime—and having her soul witness firsthand how he had risked everything to avenge her—she no longer knew how to face him.

“Come eat the noodles,” Gu Xiao said, withdrawing his gaze.

Freed from the pressure of his stare, Song Youyou secretly let out a breath of relief and walked toward the dining table.

“You can cook noodles?” she asked in surprise.

She couldn’t be blamed—back in school, Gu Xiao had a notorious reputation for being a delinquent. Raised in a military compound, he was the kind of kid who led others in climbing rooftops and tearing things down. He and his group of childhood friends naturally formed a clique at school—rough and rebellious boys who especially couldn’t stand the Red Guards and often clashed with those troublemakers.

As a result, they were always at the center of attention, the school’s infamous gang. It wasn’t until his family forced him into the army that he finally straightened out a bit. So yes, she could believe he knew how to beat people up—but cooking? That was harder to imagine.

“Who are you looking down on? I can do way more than just cook noodles,” Gu Xiao scoffed, then added, “You inhaled water. Your throat’s going to feel rough for a while, so don’t eat anything hard.”

His tone was commanding, but this time Song Youyou could hear genuine concern in it.

The bowl of noodles on the table was steaming, topped with two fried eggs. Though it didn’t look fancy, in an era where food was rationed and required tickets, this bowl—with eggs fried in generous oil—felt exceptionally extravagant.

“Gu Xiao, why are you so good to me?”
Song Youyou looked him in the eye, seriously.

She had wondered about this for a long time. After she died, her soul had hovered above and watched him risk everything—his future, his life—to avenge her. She didn’t understand it.

She didn’t think she was anything special—quiet, not particularly likable. And now she’d even found out she was an abandoned baby, not even from a proper family. Sure, she was a good student and somewhat good-looking, but Gu Xiao had never lacked pretty girls who liked him.

She hadn’t disliked him in her past life only because of her engagement—deep down, she truly believed he wasn’t serious about her. She thought he just wanted to mess with her.

“Who the hell doesn’t know I like you?! Song Youyou, are you trying to humiliate me on purpose?”
Gu Xiao’s voice held a touch of anger, and his lips pressed into a tight line.

“No—I didn’t mean to insult you…”
Song Youyou’s face turned red the moment he plainly said he liked her.

“Then, why do you like me?”
She pushed down her embarrassment and bravely asked.

“Why do I like you?”
Gu Xiao looked at her, grinning wildly.

“…Because I want to sleep with you?”

He didn’t know why. He just wanted to be close to her. He wanted to see her. Preferably stick close to her all the time. Sharing a bed would be even better.

The words “sleep with you” were too crude. Song Youyou’s face turned scarlet in an instant.

“They say a life-saving favor should be repaid with a lifetime. I just pulled you out of a river. So—what do you say? Want to consider being mine?”

His tone was lazy, eyes gleaming with a mischievous smirk. If she hadn’t seen his sincerity in her past life, she would have definitely taken this as shameless flirting.

“Okay.”

After a moment, Song Youyou nodded seriously, her cheeks flushed.

“Heh, you—wait, what did you just say?”
Gu Xiao froze in disbelief, his eyes wide like he’d just heard the impossible.

“You asked if I’d be yours. I said… okay.”

She had nothing now. If he liked her looks, then she would give herself to him—repay the debt from her past life. And when he grew tired of her, she would simply leave. After all, she had no home or family in this world. She was completely alone.

He was the only one who ever favored her, the only one who had firmly chosen her.
So this time, she wanted to choose him too.

“Song Youyou, do you even know what ‘being mine’ means?”
His eyes darkened, deep like they could pull her in. Before she could answer, he continued, “It means marriage. It means becoming husband and wife. We’ll sleep in the same bed. And I’m no gentleman—I’m not going to promise not to touch you.”

Gu Xiao laid it out plainly, word by word.

He knew how obedient she was. Back then, no matter how he chased or coaxed her, she never responded. When he pressed too hard, she’d warn him with a stern little pout that she had a childhood fiancé and he should back off.

Now, that lost daughter of the Song family had been found, and her old fiancé was passed along to her newfound sister. He worried that her agreement was just out of spite, trying to make that former fiancé jealous.

Of course, he didn’t want to dwell on her reasons. He just needed to be clear: he wasn’t going to be a husband in name only. Not with her.
Because when it came to her, his self-control shattered like glass.

His intentions were obvious, and so was his gaze.
Song Youyou instinctively turned her head away from his burning stare, her fingers curling in embarrassment.

“…I know.”

“F**k.”
Seeing her like this—pure and seductive, shy yet bold—Gu Xiao couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

“I’m going to file a marriage application right now. You better not regret it!”

He was practically bursting with urgency as he flung the door open and dashed out.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Song Youyou stood still for a moment. She replayed his stunned expression and panicked rush, then couldn’t help but smile slightly.

But the next second, there was a knock at the door.

“You’re back already?” Song Youyou asked as she opened the door.

The moment it cracked open, a large hand pushed it wide. He stepped in quickly, long legs striding past her, and shut the door behind him.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist and pressed her against the wall.