Chapter 70.1

Jiang Suihan turned around and saw the girl from the art troupe who danced the best: “Yes, may I ask what’s going on?”

She didn’t know the girl and was puzzled by her approach.

Zhao Huan stared at Jiang Suihan for a while before speaking. “You’re very beautiful.”

Jiang Suihan was even more confused. She smiled and said, “You are also very beautiful. What can I do for you?”

Zhao Huan smiled faintly. “Nothing much, I just wanted to meet you.”

Jiang Suihan was at a loss, unsure how to respond to this vague conversation. She remained silent.

There shouldn’t be anyone so bored that she would just come over and say a few words to her and then leave?

According to the general development of the plot, it’s time to get to the point.

Zhao Huan pursed her lips.”Don’t be nervous. I have no ill intentions. I am just a little curious about you and came to see you.”

Jiang Suihan quickly thought through her acquaintances. Since she didn’t know many people here, if this girl wasn’t interested in her personally, it might be related to those around her.

“Do you know Xu Zhao?”

Zhao Huan’s smile widened. “You’re quite perceptive. I haven’t said much yet, and you’ve already guessed.”

Jiang Suihan’s expression remained unchanged, and she said calmly, “So what is your purpose in coming to see me?”

She would not doubt Xu Zhao just because of a few words from others. Not only would it be unfair to Xu Zhao, it would also make her look stupid.

Zhao Huan raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning provocative and disdainful. “Aren’t you going to ask why I’m looking for you? Are you afraid to ask, or just don’t want to?”

Jiang Suihan lifted her eyelids and glanced lightly. “That’s my choice. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”

“Hey, wait a minute.” Zhao Huan called out to Jiang Suihan, pouting. “Why are you in such a hurry? I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

She spread her hands, the provocative expression she had earlier gone, replaced by a look of mild resignation. “Alright, I won’t play games with you. Let me introduce myself. I’m Zhao Huan.”

Jiang Suihan looked at her silently, not speaking or extending her hand for a handshake.

Zhao Huan withdrew her hand and shrugged. “To be precise, I haven’t had a chance to get to know Xu Zhao yet. My uncle is Political Commissar Zhou, who you should know. He thinks highly of Xu Zhao. My aunt wanted us to meet, so she asked my uncle to help, but just as it started, Xu Zhao rejected it, saying the family had already arranged a match for him.”

She has a good family background, is good-looking, and has a good job, so naturally she has higher standards. She doesn’t like ordinary men. She has been picky and has been delaying until her current age. Her family is anxious, fearing that she will delay any further and it will be even harder to find a partner when she is older. Her mother wrote to her aunt asking her to help find if there are any high-quality single young men in the army, and Xu Zhao was naturally on her aunt’s list.

She didn’t pay much attention to Xu Zhao at first, thinking it would be no harm to go and see him, and it would be a way to give an explanation to her family, otherwise she would definitely be annoyed to death by her parents. But just as she agreed, her aunt wrote to her saying that Xu Zhao had a partner and told her to stop thinking about it.

This was the first time in her life she had been rejected, and it left her feeling uncomfortable. It wasn’t too bad otherwise, but the issue was that someone had leaked the news, and now there were rumors that she was rejected by a man she hadn’t even met. People’s gazes toward her changed—some showed sympathy, some schadenfreude, and others jealousy. It made her mood deteriorate significantly, and she became easily irritated.

After processing Zhao Huan’s information, Jiang Suihan remained silent.

Zhao Huan, unable to hold back her impatience, said, “I’ve shared so much, yet you’re still not reacting. Are you and Xu Zhao only married because of family pressure?”

She understood that if there were no feelings, it wouldn’t matter. People around her, including her family, said she had high standards and was very picky, to the extent that even a fairy would be deemed not good enough. She wanted to say she simply wanted to find someone she liked to spend her life with and didn’t want to settle.

Is that too much to ask for?

Zhao Huan patted Jiang Suihan’s shoulder, saying sympathetically, “I completely understand your feelings.”

Jiang Suihan’s mouth twitched slightly in annoyance. Internally, she thought, no, I don’t understand you at all.

She composed herself and said, “Comrade Zhao, you misunderstood. We married willingly. There’s no question of coercion. I remain silent because I trust Xu Zhao, and that’s all.”

Zhao Huan’s face showed an awkward expression. “Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you and Xu Zhao had no emotional foundation and that you didn’t care about him at all.”

Oh dear, she clearly didn’t mean to convey that, but somehow the conversation had taken on a different meaning.

Not wanting to discuss her relationship with Xu Zhao with outsiders, Jiang Suihan changed the subject. “Is there anything else you need to tell me, or was it just about this matter?”

The underlying message was, if there was nothing else, she could leave.

Zhao Huan replied, “That’s all. I just wanted to see what you look like.”

She wasn’t genuinely trying to stir trouble between Jiang Suihan and Xu Zhao, just a bit displeased and wanting to have a bit of fun.

The leader wanted to pull Xu Zhao aside to continue talking, but Xu Zhao took the opportunity to slip away. He quickly glanced around the room and saw Jiang Suihan standing and talking with a young girl.

Jiang Suihan seemed to sense something, looked up, and smiled involuntarily. “Finished?”

Xu Zhao nodded. “Are you tired?”

Jiang Suihan shifted her feet. “A bit.”

Xu Zhao took her hand. “Let’s go home now.”

The two looked at each other, exchanging words and creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere, completely oblivious to others around them.

Zhao Huan: Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here watching others show off their affection?

It was only then that Xu Zhao glanced briefly at Zhao Huan without stopping and turned his attention back to Jiang Suihan.

Jiang Suihan spoke first, “This is Comrade Zhao Huan. We just met. Political Commissiar Zhou is her uncle.”

Xu Zhao nodded slightly as a greeting.

Zhao Huan’s face turned a bit red, not out of shyness but from embarrassment. She said weakly, “Well, I won’t bother you any longer. I have other matters to attend to. Goodbye.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly turned and left.

Xu Zhao and Jiang Suihan walked slowly towards the exit. Most of the guests had left, and there weren’t many people around now.

Some people saw them holding hands and showed surprised expressions. In this era, emotions are usually restrained and subtle. It’s rare for a couple to hold hands in public, let alone for a husband to openly hold his wife’s hand. Xu Zhao and Jiang Suihan’s display that evening was quite dazzling.

Men thought Xu Zhao was quite bold, holding his wife’s hand so openly in front of so many people, including leaders. His courage was impressive.

Women envied Jiang Suihan for her good fortune in marrying a good man who would always be by her side, unbothered by others’ stares. How much confidence must she have?

Zhang Xiangqian hadn’t left yet, holding his son. He turned to Dai Jia and said, “Look at Xu Zhao, so clingy, almost like he wants to stick his eyes to Jiang Suihan. Ha, indeed, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’ Xu Zhao isn’t the same as before.”

Xu Zhao now had a touch of warmth about him.

Dai Jia, feeling her son’s warm little hand, put it back into his sleeve and looked at Zhang Xiangqian with disdain.

“You’re not the same Zhang Xiangqian you used to be either. Before, you always dressed nicely for our dates. After getting married, you stopped washing your clothes and shaving. If I hadn’t insisted, you would have gone to bed without even washing your feet. Look at you now. Xu Zhao is moving in a good direction, but you’re heading the wrong way, and there’s no way to fix it.”

Zhang Xiangqian’s expression changed slightly. With a lack of confidence, he quietly and politely discussed with his wife, “Lower your voice. There are so many people here. Please give me some face.”

Dai Jia glared at him, “You want face, but I don’t? Since you care so much about face, then you can do the laundry for the whole family tonight.”

Zhang Xiangqian, holding their son, chased after her and muttered, “How can a man do the laundry? You know how gossipy people in the family coumpound are. They have nothing better to do than gossip and spread rumors.”

Dai Jia snorted coldly, “Xu Zhao does laundry and cooks, so if he can do it, why can’t you? I don’t care whether you like it or not. Tonight, I’ll sleep with our son, and you’ll sleep in the guest room.”

Zhang Xiangqian, not daring to protest loudly, whined, “You’re using the same trick again. Can’t you come up with something new?”

Dai Jia took their son from his arms and ignored him, “If the trick works, that’s all that matters. Whether it’s new or old doesn’t matter.”

Seeing that his wife was determined, Zhang Xiangqian didn’t want to spend the night alone in the cold. He quickly caught up, took the child back from Dai Jia, and said with a voice squeezed through his teeth, “Fine, I’ll do the laundry tonight. Is that okay now?”

Dai Jia couldn’t help but smile, “You’re being sensible.”

Their little baby, confused, wondered if mom and dad were playing a game of tug-of-war.

Everyone’s attention was on them, making it hard to ignore. Afterward, Jiang Suihan sighed in relief and then turned to the instigator, “Why didn’t you tone it down a bit just now?”

Xu Zhao appeared somewhat aggrieved, “I was already very restrained.”

Jiang Suihan was taken aback, glaring at him, “You still dare to say that? Didn’t you see that everyone was watching us? How embarrassing!”

She didn’t even want to look at other people’s expressions. She had a feeling that the new topic of conversation in the army would definitely include her and Xu Zhao.

Xu Zhao, on the other hand, believed that as long as one has a thick skin, any external gaze can be ignored as if it doesn’t exist.

Jiang Suihan asked him, “Is there nothing you want to talk to me about?”

With a questioning tone, Xu Zhao was puzzled, “Can you give me a hint?”

Jiang Suihan kept a straight face and said, “Zhao Huan.”

Who was that?

Oh, the woman from the art troupe who was talking with Jiang Suihan earlier.

Xu Zhao still didn’t grasp the connection, “Can you explain it more clearly?”

Jiang Suihan guessed he wouldn’t know and spoke slowly, “She said that Political  Commissar Zhou is her uncle. Didn’t that make you think of anything?”

Xu Zhao thought for a while before recalling the awkward blind date he had previously rejected, feeling speechless, “What did she tell you?”

Jiang Suihan raised her eyebrows and asked, “What do you think she would have told me?”

Xu Zhao stopped and stared at her.

Jiang Suihan felt uneasy under his gaze and turned her head away to avoid eye contact, afraid of revealing too much.

Xu Zhao asked, “Are you trying to trick me?” His tone was certain.

Jiang Suihan maintained her composure and blinked innocently, “How am I tricking you? You’re just feeling guilty.”

Very well, turning the tables seemed quite adept.

Xu Zhao couldn’t help but pinch her cheek, “I’ve never even met her, so why would I feel guilty?”

Jiang Suihan swatted his hand away, “You’re lying. You’ve met her.”

Xu Zhao folded his arms and quietly watched her performance.

Jiang Suihan smiled mischievously, “You just saw her earlier, didn’t you? You should speak more precisely.”

Xu Zhao’s expression turned cold as he said, “And what do you want to say?”

Jiang Suihan, sensing his lack of expression, started to reconsider if she had gone too far. Sometimes, it’s wise to admit fault and not be too stubborn.

She grabbed his hand, shook it, and in a high-pitched, soft voice said, “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to joke with you. Don’t be mad. If you’re mad, you won’t be handsome.”

Her affected tone was quite powerful, though it might have been counterproductive.

Jiang Suihan shivered involuntarily, her skin crawling. She looked up at Xu Zhao, who was frowning deeply and looked overwhelmed.

“Speak properly.”

Jiang Suihan found it amusing and pretended to cover her mouth dramatically, saying in a high-pitched voice, “You’re rejecting me! Are you already tired of me and don’t want to see me? I’m so sad, so heartbroken, and so helpless! I’ll just leave!”

Despite saying she would leave, her feet stayed firmly planted.

She couldn’t resist but wanted to see how he would react. While stealing glances at him, she thought she had learned at least 60-70% of the essence of Ziwei’s acting—repeating the same meaning with nods and shakes of the head.

Xu Zhao looked at her with an expression that was hard to describe. What had triggered her? Suddenly so eager to perform, without giving him any time to react.

Unable to tolerate it any longer, he reached out and pinched her cheeks, gritting his teeth, “If you continue to act up, I won’t care about you. You can go home by yourself.”

Uh, is this really a threat?

Jiang Suihan mumbled, “Let me go first.”

Xu Zhao released his grip, “No more acting up.”

Jiang Suihan pouted and rubbed her cheeks, “Then you have to agree to one condition.”

Xu Zhao calmly replied, “Speak.”

Jiang Suihan stretched out her arms and asked, “You have to carry me home.”