Chapter 4

He blushed that easily?

He looked like a tough guy, but deep down he was surprisingly shy and innocent.

Truly, three years in the army must’ve made him see even a female mosquito as delicate and graceful.

Ye Qianqian seemed to notice his discomfort and then suddenly realized something. She quickly ran over, rolled up the little vest, and scurried into the house, face flushed.

Of course, this was all intentional. If she wanted to win a man’s heart, she had to attract his attention with small, thoughtful details.

“This child is always so hasty and fiery. Don’t take it personally. Please, come inside,” said Grandpa Ye, ushering him in.

Zhao Haichuan nodded slightly, his sharp eyes glancing toward the cornfield outside the village. He narrowed his eyes briefly, then entered the house with the Ye family.

In the cornfield, the man hiding there was startled—he hadn’t expected Zhao Haichuan not only to go to their house but also to notice he was spying.

“What is it?” Grandpa Ye noticed the young soldier’s strange expression. He had been a militia captain in his youth and had fought against invaders, so he naturally sensed something was off.

“I felt like someone was watching us from over there. Might’ve just been my imagination.”

Zhao Haichuan accepted the glass of water from Ye’s mother. She looked a bit aged, slightly plump, but her kind smile reminded him of his own mother.

Strangely, his nerves seemed to ease.

But why was he even nervous? He had only come to help the girl out of a difficult situation.

“You should try some fruit. These persimmons are from our backyard—super sweet.”
At some point, the girl he came to help had gone out to pick persimmons. A few leaves were still stuck in her hair.

His heart stirred. He gently plucked the leaves from her head.

Her hair was so soft.

When he did that, her big, watery eyes blinked in surprise, and then bashfully she bounced away again.

Military life was all discipline and formality. Though full of energy, everyone followed strict rules. A lively and clever girl like her… was hard not to feel something for.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he murmured, “Thank you.”

“N-No need! I’ll go make you something to eat.”

Ye Qianqian turned to leave, but her mother grabbed her back and said,
“We haven’t even asked Comrade Zhao what he thinks yet—what’s the rush?”

“O-Oh, I just didn’t want him to go hungry.”
Even Ye Qianqian was touched by her own words.

She knew that Zhao Haichuan had come to the village to bring his injured comrade home. The comrade’s family was overwhelmed with grief and wouldn’t have had the mind to prepare food for him. In her past life, she remembered seeing him roasting sweet potatoes alone in the wild.

Seeing their daughter act so unreservedly made the Ye family quite anxious.

But what they didn’t know was—this was exactly the kind of girl Zhao Haichuan liked.

“Sorry, she’s a bit impulsive,” Grandpa Ye said, then began asking about Zhao Haichuan’s background. When they learned he was from the city, that his father was also a soldier, his mother a military doctor, and his sister a teacher, the whole family couldn’t stay calm.

Compared to Shen Congyun, this man was leagues ahead.

Their daughter really didn’t seem like she was worthy of such a match.

Grandpa glanced at his granddaughter and said seriously,
“I understand. You came today just to help her save face and keep from being humiliated. Why don’t you stay for dinner, and I’ll explain to others that things just didn’t work out.”

That had been Zhao Haichuan’s original plan too. But now, he felt hesitant.

He’d never taken marriage seriously before, which was why he hadn’t considered it all these years.
Even now, he didn’t want to consider it—this was just a coincidence.

But when he glanced over at Ye Qianqian, saw her standing there dumbly, then looking at him with reddening eyes and saying, “Then… I’ll go make dinner,” and turning to walk away—

Something in his chest tightened.

It felt like someone had gently squeezed his heart.
It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.