Chapter 29

“Dear?” 

Lu Jiu’s breath caught in her throat. 

Inappropriately, she suddenly recalled something Jingjing once said: “When I have a boyfriend, I’m going to kiss him until he’s dazed.” 

Kiss Officer Wei until he’s dazed? And take the initiative? 

No, no, no. Lu Jiu shook her head frantically in her mind. 

Just thinking about it made her so nervous she could hardly breathe, her heart pounding like a drum. 

Just like now: thump thump… thump thump… 

Lu Jiu could clearly hear her heartbeat, rhythmically pounding against her chest. 

As she wondered if her heart might actually leap out of her chest at this rate, she heard another, even more muffled heartbeat join in. 

Lu Jiu froze for a moment, quickly realizing it was Officer Wei’s heartbeat. 

So, he wasn’t as calm and collected as he appeared? 

This realization made Lu Jiu relax a little, while also sparking her curiosity about what her boyfriend’s expression might be like right now. 

Quietly, she tried to back away (or so she thought), lifting her head to study him. 

Officer Wei’s eyelids, which had been lowered, suddenly met her gaze. 

The intense emotions in his eyes, so strong they couldn’t be hidden even by the evening light, were fully exposed in that moment. 

Lu Jiu’s pupils contracted, and her grip on his clothes tightened unconsciously. 

“.Peony.” Feeling no rejection from her, and not expecting her to suddenly look up, Wei Shian swallowed hard, his hand on her slender waist showing bulging veins, unable to control his increasing strength. 

Then, as if under a spell, he slowly bent down. 

“Ah, young people these days…” 

Just as he was about to touch the lips he had longed for day and night, an elderly voice suddenly interrupted. 

Wei Shian’s body stiffened, then he quickly lifted his hand, shielding his equally frozen girlfriend and turning to stride away. 

His steps were fast and urgent, leaving Lu Jiu struggling to keep up. 

Just as she was about to ask where they were going, her body suddenly felt light. 

She let out a low cry of surprise, instinctively reaching out to grab something for balance. 

Once she steadied herself and realized what was happening, Lu Jiu saw that she was being carried by her boyfriend—like a child. 

The heat from his body and the strength radiating through his touch made Lu Jiu feel completely overwhelmed. She raised her hand to lightly punch him, scolding in frustration, “What are you doing? Put me down!” 

“Not a chance.” Wei Shian let go of one of his hands, catching the little fist she threw at him again, and kissed it before continuing his winding path. 

She hadn’t expected him to be able to carry her with one hand. Worried about falling, Lu Jiu immediately stopped struggling and instead wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. Just as she was about to ask something, she saw that he had already stopped walking. 

“We’re here.” 

“Where… Mmm—” 

The park was dense with trees and fake hills. 

Wei Shian carried her to a spot behind one of these fake hills, hidden from all prying eyes, unwilling to let anyone interrupt them again. 

One hand gripped her slender waist possessively, while the other cupped her face, and he leaned down to claim her soft, full lips. 

Sweet and tender. 

The moment they touched, Wei Shian felt a tingle in his scalp, his entire body electrified. Then, all reason vanished, everything driven by instinct. 

Lu Jiu had imagined kissing someone she liked more than once, wondering what it would feel like. 

But she never knew that when the moment came, she would feel like she was about to boil over. 

The kiss was heavy, urgent… and greedy. 

As his hot breath, scorching enough to make her face flush, mingled with hers and he pried open her lips, it became even more intense… 

Lu Jiu didn’t know how long the kiss lasted. 

She only vaguely remembered that by the end, she was dizzy, her legs weak, and her breathing labored before he finally let go. 

Wei Shian didn’t retreat completely, his large hand with visible veins still gripping her waist possessively, not letting her escape, while the other hand caressed her slightly parted, heavily breathing lips, occasionally leaning down to steal another kiss. 

“No… no more kissing.” 

The dazed Lu Jiu raised her hand to cover his lips as he leaned in again. 

Wei Shian, with her hand in place, kissed her soft palm instead, his voice hoarse as he asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” 

Who asks that? Lu Jiu bit her lip in discomfort but quickly let go due to the swollen, painful sensation. “…It hurts.” 

“Sorry, it was my first time. I don’t have much experience.” 

Wei Shian swore he only wanted a romantic peck with his little flower, but all reason collapsed the moment he touched her softness. 

The result of holding back for so long was that he completely lost control. 

He hadn’t expected to hurt her in the process. 

Thinking of this, he bent down, using the remaining light from a distant streetlamp to take a closer look. 

Lu Jiu’s face was still flushed red. Thinking he wanted to kiss her again, she quickly covered her face and buried herself in his broad chest to avoid being seen, mumbling, “It’s okay, it’s just that your stubble was prickly.” Actually, her lips were also sore, swollen, and her tongue root felt numb, but she was too embarrassed to say it. 

Surprised that this was the reason, Wei Shian was momentarily stunned, but quickly hugged her back, resting his chin on her head with a satisfied smile, “My fault, I’ll be more careful next time.” 

Her response was another little punch to his chest. 

— 

There’s something magical between couples. 

Before the kiss, they were still somewhat reserved. 

For example, when walking together, they would mostly just hold hands. 

But now, after emerging from behind the fake hill, Wei Shian’s hand was either draped over her shoulder or resting on her waist. 

He seemed so clingy, as if he wanted to merge her into his body. 

At first, Lu Jiu felt a bit embarrassed, but after seeing a few other couples behaving just as intimately, she gradually relaxed. “…It’s almost 8 o’clock.” 

Wei Shian glanced at his watch, “How about we walk for ten more minutes, then I’ll take you home?” 

Walk, sure, but why is he staring at her lips? Although she was grumbling inside, Lu Jiu didn’t really want to leave yet either. 

But her lips really couldn’t handle any more kissing; they were on the verge of splitting. 

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she held out her hand to him, “Give me my bag.” 

Wei Shian handed it over. 

Lu Jiu opened the clasp and pulled out an MP3 player, “Let’s listen to some music while we walk.” She needed to distract him. 

Wei Shian raised an eyebrow, clearly seeing through her little ploy, but he quickly bent down and cooperated by putting one of the earbuds into his ear. 

Music played, a slow rhythm that Wei Shian didn’t recognize. 

After listening to several songs, he suddenly tightened the arm around her waist, pulling her closer. 

Then, as she looked up in confusion, he returned her gaze, speaking with startling honesty: 

“Even if you played Buddhist chants right now, it wouldn’t help.” His mind was full of his little Peony, and he was desperately wanting to kiss her again. 

Caught off guard by his bluntness, Lu Jiu quickly said, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. Ahem… It’s getting late, let’s go home.”  

“Alright.” Winning favor with her parents was important too, so despite his reluctance, Wei Shian agreed. 

Back at the car, after buckling her seatbelt and sneaking a kiss, Wei Shian suggested, “Peony, pick a date—I’d like to visit your parents.” 

Lu Jiu, still blushing and heart racing, thought she misheard him. It took her a moment before she looked at him in disbelief, “Visit? So soon?” 

Wei Shian remained candid, “Yes, I’m in a hurry.” 

Although Lu Jiu really liked Officer Wei, meeting the parents felt too fast; to her, it was nearly equivalent to being settled. 

She did like him, but… “It’s too soon. Maybe after a little more time?” 

“Okay. My old apartment already has a potential buyer. When it’s sold, come with me to buy a new place.” 

Would refusing again be too much? Lu Jiu was anxiously fidgeting with her bag’s clasp when she heard him laugh. 

Lu Jiu instantly puffed her cheeks and glared at him. 

“Alright, alright, I’m just teasing…” Officer Wei quickly tried to soothe her. 

Once his gentle and soft-hearted girlfriend had calmed down, Wei Shian suddenly grew serious: “Peony, I like you more than you realize. I want to marry you. I really do want to buy a house with you, so I’d like you to be involved.” 

Lu Jiu stared into his deep eyes, stunned, before awkwardly looking away, “But what if—” 

“There is no ‘what if’.” Wei Shian cut her off, leaning in close, “Since the day I decided I liked you, I knew exactly what I wanted.” 

After saying this, he softened his expression and explained, “Don’t worry, don’t feel pressured, and I’m not trying to force any promises from you. I’m just sharing my plans for our future. Buying a house, decorating, airing it out—this whole process will take at least 

“Ah… so embarrassing!” Realizing what she had just done, Lu Jiu turned over to lie flat, covering her now burning cheeks in frustration. 

“Miao miao~” came the familiar high-pitched meow of Cotton Candy. 

Lu Jiu sat up cross-legged, picked up the little white furball, and after locking eyes with its lively heterochromatic eyes for a few seconds, she suddenly buried her face into Cotton Candy’s soft little belly and giggled. 

Cotton Candy: “ Miao miao miao~!  

It meowed in protest, but Lu Jiu just laughed more and kissed its soft belly a few more times. “Ah, so cute! Your fur is so smooth.” 

Cotton Candy: “ Miao~Miao～ 

The mischievous peony spirit was having too much fun with the little kitten, but just as she was about to bury her face into it again, there was a knock at the bedroom door. 

Reluctantly, Lu Jiu put down the grumbling white ball, got up barefoot to open the door. “Mom?” 

Fang Wenyi glanced at her daughter’s flushed lips and smiled, “I heard some noise and figured you were back.” 

Without thinking much, Lu Jiu stepped aside to let her mother in. “Yeah, I just got back a few minutes ago.” 

Fang Wenyi looked around the room. “Where’s my granddaughter?” 

“. I don’t know, maybe she’s off playing somewhere?” 

“That guilty look on your face says otherwise.” Fang Wenyi gave her daughter a playful glare and then sat down on the sofa, getting to the point. “I’m planning to go to Shen Du with you next week. Your father arranged for one of his managers to handle things, but I don’t feel assured, so I’m going with you.” 

Lu Jiu protested, “Mom, I’m 23 years old.” 

Fang Wenyi looked puzzled, “And what does being 23 have to do with it? Haven’t we always picked you up and dropped you off every time you went to college?” 

Lu Jiu was at a loss for words. 

No, no, Lu Jiu shook her head, and quickly told her mother about how Wei Shian helped find a retired soldier. 

Fang Wenyi was first surprised, then satisfied. “That’s why Little Wei is so steady, probably because he’s older.” 

Lu Jiu hugged a pillow to her chest, “He’s not that steady; he originally wanted to take time off to go with me.” 

“I see you’re quite pleased with that. Looks like things are going well between you two. When do you plan to introduce him to us?” 

“Don’t you think that’s a bit too soon?” 

“Too soon? It’s just a meeting.” 

Lu Jiu blinked in confusion, feeling like something was off, so she mentioned how her boyfriend was planning to buy a new house. 

She repeated his perspective. 

“He’s responsible.” After hearing her daughter’s account, Fang Wenyi was even more satisfied. 

Then she reached out to pat her daughter’s head, “Buying a house, getting married… there’s no rush for those things. But the fact that he’s bringing it up shows he’s serious and responsible, with plans for the future. Do you remember Aunt Deng’s eldest daughter?” 

Lu Jiu replied, “The neighbor we had back in the old district? Yun Yun?” 

“Yes, her. I just heard today that Yun Yun got talked into getting pregnant before marriage, and now the guy doesn’t want to pay a bride price and is asking for a 20,000 yuan dowry before he’ll agree to marry her.” 

Lu Jiu was stunned. “What happened then?” 

Fang Wenyi, equally exasperated as a fellow woman, said, “They’re still haggling over it, trying to get the dowry down to 10,000.” 

Lu Jiu was confused, “Why would she still want to marry into a family like that?” 

Fang Wenyi sighed, “What else can she do? The guy isn’t decent; he’s been making a scene about her pregnancy to force her to agree to a bad deal.” 

“A family like that is even more reason not to marry.” 

Fang Wenyi smiled approvingly, “You’re right. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, it’s better to forget about the child, move to another city, and start over rather than making a bad decision.” 

Lu Jiu felt there was some deeper meaning in her mother’s words, blushing as she stammered, “I-I haven’t, w-we haven’t…” 

Her mother chuckled, “I raised you, didn’t I? I know how conservative you are. But even if something does happen, just be sure to take precautions.” 

Lu Jiu was flustered, reaching out to cover her mother’s mouth. 

“Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more. Back to the point—what I’m saying is, when choosing a partner, character is the most important thing. If Little Wei didn’t have plans for your future together, your father and I wouldn’t approve.” 

“So you’re not against us looking at houses together?” 

“Why would I be? If a man wants to show his commitment, just take it in stride. Don’t overthink it. And if, for whatever reason, things don’t work out in the future, the house is still his, isn’t it?” 

Time quickly moved into March. 

The retired soldier introduced by Deputy Regiment Commander Wei arrived right on time. 

Lu Jiu personally went to the train station to pick her up. 

Surprisingly, the girl named Li Yan didn’t match the image Lu Jiu had in her mind of a valiant soldier. Though she had short, tidy hair, she was slender and delicate, barely over 1.6 meters tall. 

She had served as a special forces soldier for six years before retiring due to an injury. 

It wasn’t that Lu Jiu judged people by their looks, but Li Yan just didn’t seem very intimidating. 

However, all her doubts vanished when Li Yan performed a few impressive single-leg spin kicks. 

Finally, she knew she could fulfill her dream of going to Shen Du.