Chapter 16: Zhou Xingze’s Little Tricks

A light, airy aquamarine stood outside the gate of the military district, directly beneath the four powerful red characters of the sign that read “North China Military Region.”

The dazzling crimson inspired awe.

That period of turbulent years commanded respect.

On either side of the imposing gate stood a soldier in a green military uniform, a green military cap, and armed with a firearm.

Their posture was as straight as a pine, their gaze sharp, scrutinizing the passing crowd.

The oppressive presence of the soldiers caused Ruan Xiaotang to take small, hesitant steps, moving closer to the wall.

She craned her neck, gazing at the gate.

Zhou Xingze had promised to drive her home, and she guessed it would most likely be a bicycle.

After all, this was an era where transportation wasn’t very convenient.

A bicycle was the peak of transportation for ordinary people.

He had been gone for so long, why hadn’t he come out yet?

Standing there, she idly kicked at small stones on the ground.

“Whoosh”

“Click”

“Beep”

A dark green military jeep pulled up majestically in front of her.

Zhou Xingze casually rolled down the window. “Military supplies require reporting and procedures. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

He apologized sincerely, then got out of the car.

He jogged to the passenger side, opened the door, and with utmost gentlemanly grace, invited her in.

Ruan Xiaotang was stunned, getting into the car in a daze.

She had thought that at best, he’d upgraded from a single-barrel shotgun to a double-barreled one, borrowing a Phoenix bicycle to send her home, which would have been quite impressive.

Unexpectedly…

He’d gone straight from a shotgun to an atomic bomb—a brand-new jeep to take her home. It was more glorious than anything.

In this era, the number of ordinary people who had ever ridden in a car could be counted on one hand.

Much less a military vehicle.

In their secluded mountain village, she had never seen a car since she was born until now.

Today, that zero record would be broken.

It would be a spectacle for the entire village.

Even if it was a case of borrowing a tiger’s might, it would still impress people.

Riding in a military vehicle for the first time, Ruan Xiaotang was excitedly apprehensive.

She stood there, dumbfounded, motionless.

“Fasten your seatbelt, let’s go.”

At the sound of his voice, Ruan Xiaotang turned her head.

Unexpectedly, she collided with the man’s ink-black eyes.

She didn’t know when he had leaned closer.

At this moment, they were very close, very close.

With a slight effort, their noses would touch.

The air was filled with the man’s intensely masculine pheromones.

Not knowing how to react, Ruan Xiaotang abruptly closed her eyes, her lips tightly pressed together.

Her face flushed with a girlish blush.

“What are you afraid of? I’m fastening your seatbelt.”

His warm breath fell on her delicate ear.

It tickled.

He was teasing her, wasn’t he?

Even in this innocent era, men still had plenty of tricks up their sleeves.

“Click”

The seatbelt was fastened.

Ruan Xiaotang let out a soft sigh of relief.

She sat up straight, looking ahead, not daring to move an inch.

Seeing her tense state, Zhou Xingze helplessly curled his lips. He wasn’t some terrifying monster. What had he done to scare her so much?

To ease the tense atmosphere, Zhou Xingze took the initiative, driving and asking, “Do you like reading?”

“Okay, if I’m not too tired before bed, I’ll read a few pages.”

Zhou Xingze seemed satisfied with this answer, nodding in agreement.

Then he asked, “What color clothes do you like?”

Asking again?

Ruan Xiaotang found his small talk awkward, especially since they were alone in such a confined space.

They had only met once, and were still strangers. Even a glance could make them blush. Didn’t he realize how awkward she felt?

She admitted that he was indeed handsome, but he shouldn’t take advantage of his good looks to tease her relentlessly.

Just shut up and drive, wouldn’t that be better!

No matter what he asked, Ruan Xiaotang responded with a perfunctory “Mm.”

She rested her right hand on the windowsill, propping up her chin, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside.

“I fell in love with you at first sight!”

“Mm.”

“Hehe, me too!”

“Why are you laughing like that?”

Ruan Xiaotang sat up alertly, looking at him with a questioning expression.

She silently recalled: “What did he ask me? Why did he laugh like he’d succeeded in a scheme after I answered?”

Ruan Xiaotang stared at him with an unwavering gaze, as if silently warning him: If you don’t answer honestly, I’ll stare a hole through you.

Faced with the serious girl, Zhou Xingze casually made up a reason, “I asked you if you liked braised pork, you said you did, and I answered, me too.”

“That’s it?”

“What else do you want me to ask you?”

He looked serious, not like he was lying. Besides, he was a soldier, he wouldn’t lie about such a small thing.

She must have been too nervous and sensitive.

The culprit was him!

Because he was so handsome!

From the moment she got in the car, her heart had been racing. She must have been very out of sorts.

It was all his fault.

Wuwuwuwu!!

“Comrade Ruan, have a candy. We’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

He offered her a piece of Big White Rabbit candy.

Ruan Xiaotang pursed her lips, then finally took it.

Why didn’t he offer it sooner?

If he’d offered it sooner, she might have thought he’d poisoned it and refused, making things even more awkward.

“How long have you been driving?”

“An hour.”

“Cars are really efficient.”

Ruan Xiaotang fiddled with the Big White Rabbit candy, muttering to herself, not showing any intention of eating it.

“Eat it. There’s a whole bag in the trunk, enough for you to share at home.”

Zhou Xingze knew she had a mother and a younger brother.

As an older sister, she would always think of her brother when she had something good to eat.

He had an older brother and a younger sister, so he understood.

In this era, being the eldest child meant selfless dedication, expecting nothing in return.

Ruan Xiaotang understood something, her eyes widening in surprise, “Did you bring a gift?”

If so, it was too extravagant.

After all, they hadn’t even exchanged a single word yet.

Wasn’t he afraid of wasting his efforts?

Zhou Xingze kept his eyes on the road, calmly nodding.

He knew the rules: you can’t go empty-handed to meet your future mother-in-law for the first time.

Zhao Weiguo, his roommate, was the first to have a girlfriend.

He had learned from Zhao’s mistakes and experiences, which were now Zhou Xingze’s valuable life lessons.

One generation plants the trees, the next gets the shade.

Thank you for your hard work, Comrade Lao Zhao!