Chapter 7

The “painful” lesson from the previous blind date was still fresh in Lin Xiang’s mind.

She remembered how Aunt Zhang had bragged about the handsomeness of the blind date candidate before they met, making him sound like the most eligible bachelor in Xifeng City. However, when Lin Xiang finally met him, she deeply felt the difference in aesthetic standards and the gap between eras.

So, she knew to take Aunt Zhang’s words with a grain of salt! Especially when she praised him so excessively—it was even more alarming!

Lin Xiang secretly wrote off the childhood betrothal candidate in her mind.

Still, she had come this far, and it was necessary to meet the woman. After all, this was a childhood betrothal arranged by her grandfather and mother. Since the other party had come to her doorstep, it was only right to make things clear—whether to refuse or annul the engagement, so that both parties could part amicably.

Arranged marriages were unacceptable!

On the other side, Aunt Zhang was still excitedly chatting about how handsome and energetic the childhood betrothal candidate was, while Aunt He, hearing the commotion, came out of her distant relative’s house.

Many years ago, Aunt He’s youngest son’s childhood betrothal had been arranged by his grandfather, who had arranged for the granddaughter of an old war comrade. The family lived in the city, and Aunt He only knew that the girl was from the steel mill. Since this matter seemed distant and too far off, she hadn’t paid much attention to it. After the death of her husband’s old war comrade, the families lost contact, and after her own husband’s passing, the contact was completely severed.

More than ten years passed, and Aunt He had been worried about her son’s marriage. He had enlisted in the military at a young age, and although he had risen quickly through the ranks due to his bravery on the battlefield, he had no girlfriend. As he grew older, Aunt He grew more anxious, having repeatedly urged him to get married. But her son, stationed far away, always responded with vague excuses, never taking action. It drove Aunt He mad, to the point where she spent money calling him up at the military base to scold him.

Aunt He, gritting her teeth in frustration, muttered, “I should’ve just arranged a marriage for you back in the village!”

Her stubborn son, never one to back down, teased her, “Mom, how could you have known? If you had arranged it back then, I would’ve just accepted it without question.”

How infuriating! He knew it was impossible, which is why he dared to say such things.

As Aunt He brooded, she suddenly remembered something from the past—her son had actually been betrothed to someone as a child!

She searched her house from top to bottom, nearly digging the place up, until she finally found the childhood betrothal contract written so many years ago. Of course, it was now yellowed and worn out, and she had to be careful not to tear it apart as she held it in her hands.

Aunt He had always been a woman of her word. Being from the countryside, she didn’t have the privileges of those in the city, but she felt she had to check. If the Lin family was willing, they could go ahead with the marriage. Both kids were not young anymore, and they could get married directly.

If the Lin family wasn’t willing, then she wouldn’t force it. The contract would be voided, and no one would waste anyone’s time.

Recalling that she had a distant relative in Xifeng City, Aunt He asked the village head to write her an introduction letter, which allowed her to go into the city.

The day before, she had met a young woman at the steel mill’s gate who claimed to be a Lin family member, and Aunt He thought she was quite pretty. She was clearly from the city, unlike the girls from the countryside who were rough-skinned from working all day.

But now, standing in front of her, Lin Xiang completely stunned her.

Aunt He had never seen such a beautiful girl in her life!

Lin Xiang stood under the eaves, her delicate face pale and smooth. Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered, and her bright eyes gleamed with a smile. Her cherry lips curled up, making her look even more beautiful than a fairy!

Aunt He remembered hearing stories as a child about the daughters of capitalists who had studied abroad, and they were said to be incredibly beautiful and graceful. Lin Xiang, now in front of her, seemed to match that description perfectly.

“Are you Aunt He?” Lin Xiang asked tentatively.

“Oh, you must be Lin Xiang, the daughter of Lin Guangming and Feng Huiling, right?” Aunt He asked, having heard the introduction from Aunt Zhang, but she needed to confirm it herself.

“Yes, I’m Lin Xiang.”

The two women sat under the eaves of Aunt Zhang’s house, casually discussing the childhood betrothal between the He and Lin families.

From Aunt He, Lin Xiang learned the background of the betrothal and, hearing Aunt He’s attitude toward the matter, felt a bit more favorably disposed toward her.

“After all, it’s been so long. I just wanted to check if you’re married yet. If not, would your family still be willing to go through with it? If it still stands, we can just go ahead and get them married. If not, we’ll annul it and move on without any hard feelings.”

Aunt He was neither too humble nor too demanding, and she clearly had no intention of taking advantage of the situation. Since it was an arrangement made by the older generation, she just wanted reassurance. She didn’t want to feel guilty if the Lin family was still waiting on this engagement.

Lin Xiang appreciated Aunt He’s straightforwardness. Seeing the kind, friendly smile on her face and hearing her pleasant voice, Lin Xiang was momentarily at a loss for words. She had not yet figured out how to handle the childhood betrothal.

“Sister He, you tell me about your son’s situation, and Xiang Xiang, you look at the photo!” Aunt Zhang, who had just brought over two cups of cool water, eagerly pushed the photo forward again. “I think it’s perfect! Xiang Xiang is beautiful, and Sister He’s son is handsome. Oh, they’d make such a great match!”

Lin Xiang: “…”

Why did it feel like Aunt Zhang was so excited?

Aunt He certainly approved of Lin Xiang’s looks—she was truly stunning. Looking at her, Aunt He thought to herself, How come I don’t have a daughter like this? All three of my sons are troublemakers, especially the youngest one!

“Lin Xiang, this is a photo of my son. It was taken three years ago when he was promoted to deputy regimental commander. I asked him to send one back,” Aunt He said as she handed over the only photo of her son. She continued, “Let me tell you a bit about my son…”

Lin Xiang couldn’t outright refuse and reluctantly took the photo, bracing herself. After all, Aunt Zhang had called him a “handsome guy,” so she kept her expectations in check.

However…

As Lin Xiang lowered her gaze to the two-inch black-and-white photograph in her hand, she was momentarily stunned.

Photography technology in the 1970s wasn’t advanced, and black-and-white photos lacked color. Yet, even a monochrome image couldn’t mask the sharp, striking handsomeness of the person depicted.

The photo’s background featured a dock, with vast ocean waves stretching endlessly into the horizon. A ship was moored, boarding passengers. Amidst the bustling crowd, a soldier in a naval uniform stood tall and steadfast, facing away from the sea. He stood like a pine tree, unaffected by the commotion around him, his determined gaze fixed forward. Through the camera of that time and the photograph before her now, his eyes seemed to pierce directly into Lin Xiang’s heart.

In her previous life, Lin Xiang had seen her fair share of good-looking men—celebrities on TV, for instance, tall and well-groomed. But the man in this photograph was different.

His figure was tall and lean but not fragile. His uniform was impeccably tailored, buttons fastened snugly, revealing a hint of tanned skin on his forearm where muscles rippled with strength. His sharp, handsome face bore a chiseled jawline, as if sculpted by a knife. His presence exuded rugged masculinity and a touch of wild, untamed energy. His slanted sword-shaped brows framed a pair of deep, narrow phoenix eyes that conveyed steadfastness and resolve.

Despite having encountered countless attractive men in her past, Lin Xiang realized none could compare to the soldier in the photo.

Aunt He’s voice interrupted her thoughts, recounting her son’s achievements: “My son, He Hongyuan, joined the army at 15. It’s been ten years, and now at 25, he’s a regimental commander stationed on a remote island. They say the place is barren, not much to it.”

Aunt He’s tone grew disheartened. After all, Lin Xiang was a city girl with a formal job. The chances of her honoring a 20-year-old arranged marriage and moving to an island were slim.

But Lin Xiang lit up with excitement. “An island?”

In her previous life, Lin Xiang had saved up to buy a seaside property in her hometown of Haicheng—a place with ocean views.

Looking again at the handsome man in the photo, and imagining his home on a picturesque island with blue skies, white clouds, and fresh seafood, it all sounded perfect!

“Yes, an island,” Aunt He replied, still skeptical. “But don’t worry about it. If we decide to cancel this engagement, we’ll simply agree to part ways—”

“Aunt He, I’m willing to marry him.” Lin Xiang’s mind replayed the memory of her recent awful blind dates, her grueling steel factory job, and her scheming family. The man in the photo was increasingly irresistible.

Aunt He was startled. “You… really?”

She had never expected her son to secure such a beautiful bride.

“But,” Lin Xiang pondered, “Does Captain He already have someone in mind? Would he agree to this marriage?”

Aunt He waved off the concern. “He’s stubbornly refused to date anyone! Don’t worry. This engagement was set by his grandfather. Our family keeps its promises. He won’t dare oppose it!”

“Perfect! I always said Lin Xiang and young He make a good match!” Aunt Zhang chimed in enthusiastically, already envisioning their future. “Their children will surely be gorgeous!”

---

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away on Langhua Island, the He Hongyuan in question was dining with others at the residence of Yang, the regimental commander of the naval village.

After a hearty meal, a middle-aged couple exchanged pleasantries with the young soldiers present. Yang’s wife discreetly studied He Hongyuan, the most outstanding young man at the table. Her gaze then shifted to a charming nurse from the military hospital sitting nearby. The two women briefly made eye contact and exchanged polite nods.

Yang’s wife turned to her husband, giving him a knowing look. Yang understood and addressed his subordinate: “He Hongyuan, escort Comrade Meng Jing back to the hospital later.”

Zhang Huafeng, another officer, paused mid-bite and glanced up. “Commander Yang, our routes don’t align with Meng Jing’s. Uh… but of course, it’s proper to ensure a female comrade returns safely.”

Halfway through his sentence, Zhang Huafeng noticed Yang’s stern expression and immediately adjusted his words.

He realized the Yang couple was attempting to set He Hongyuan up with Meng Jing.

Earlier, He Hongyuan had invited Zhang to join him for a meal. At the time, Zhang assumed it was out of kindness. Little did he know, he was there as a buffer.

“That sly fox!” Zhang thought, eyeing his comrade mischievously. Clapping He Hongyuan on the shoulder, he teased, “Well, He, I’ll head back alone. Don’t forget to see Comrade Meng safely to the hospital!”

He Hongyuan sat upright at the square table, his broad shoulders and narrow waist accentuating his straight posture, like the ridge of a steadfast mountain. When he heard the words of the regimental commander and his comrades, he stood, raised his hand in salute with a respectful demeanor, but his words brimmed with defiance: “Reporting to the commander—is this a military order?”

Commander Yang found himself momentarily speechless, choked by his subordinate’s retort. “It’s our downtime—what military order are you talking about?”

“In that case, I must decline to follow this command.” He Hongyuan’s sharp features remained firm, his thin lips delivering unyielding words: “At seven in the evening, our 119th Division is unlikely to face any imminent danger.”

“Captain He!” Meng Jing, unable to listen any longer, frowned, grabbed her bag, and hurriedly left, throwing out a single parting sentence: “You’re absolutely right—I don’t need anyone to escort me. Uncle, Aunt, I’ll leave now.”

With that, her graceful figure quickly disappeared beyond the doorway, leaving Commander Yang to slam his hand on the table and glare at He Hongyuan, his most obstinate subordinate. “He Hongyuan! Must you be so unyielding and devoid of empathy toward a female comrade?”

He Hongyuan tugged at the corner of his lips, entirely indifferent. “Commander Yang, since it’s our downtime, I reserve the right to decline such requests. Besides, Comrade Meng Jing and I aren’t familiar enough to warrant any ‘empathy.’”

Zhang Huafeng followed He Hongyuan out of Commander Yang’s home, still shaken by the unexpectedly tense atmosphere of this so-called “banquet of doom.” The commander’s niece had clearly set her sights on He Hongyuan. Failing to break through his tough exterior, she enlisted the help of Commander Yang’s wife to arrange this dinner under the guise of an official invitation, hoping to grow closer to him.

But who could’ve predicted that He Hongyuan would remain so intractable, even disregarding Commander Yang’s authority? It was astonishing!

“Man, you’ve got some guts,” Zhang Huafeng said, giving him a thumbs-up. “Telling Commander Yang straight up—‘this isn’t a military order, so I don’t have to follow it.’ That’s wild!”

He Hongyuan was unbothered, quirking his lips with a faint, amused smile. “If you’re eager to follow orders, you should hurry back. You might still catch up to escort the female comrade home.”

“No, no, no!” Zhang Huafeng waved his hands repeatedly. “Meng Jing’s got her eyes on you. I wouldn’t dare!”

Watching He Hongyuan stride away into the night without a second thought about the so-called dinner, Zhang Huafeng clicked his tongue in admiration. Truly bold—this guy wasn’t just the all-army martial arts champion for nothing. He had the confidence to back it up!

Anyone else wouldn’t have dared utter a single word of dissent.

Then again, no one else would’ve turned down Meng Jing, the “flower” of the military hospital. Only He Hongyuan could be so oblivious!

A girl as stunning as her, and he wasn’t interested? What did he want—a goddess descended from heaven?