Chapter 15

He Hongyuan’s attitude was within Lin Xiang’s expectations. From his rugged appearance to the traits mentioned by Zhou Yuezu about his resolute style, everything pointed to the fact that this man was not someone who could be easily manipulated.

However, Lin Xiang did not anticipate his bluntness—he was far too direct.

Still, it didn’t matter. Her goal was to leave Xifeng City and settle down in Jinbian City.

Almost instinctively, Lin Xiang’s lips curled slightly upward. She raised her hand to touch her cheek, meeting He Hongyuan’s penetrating gaze without flinching, and asked, “Is it because I’m not good-looking?”

To be fair, Aunt He’s handiwork was exceptional, almost transforming Lin Xiang’s appearance. Calling her unattractive now would be an understatement.

She probed lightly, wanting to see if this man judged solely based on looks.

He Hongyuan keenly noticed the subtle lift and suppression of her lips. A fleeting image of her leaning comfortably on the train’s hard seat flashed through his mind. In that moment, he vaguely sensed that this woman was different—unlike anyone he had ever encountered.

Could it be that she was trying to toy with him?

His hawk-like gaze fixed sharply on her delicate oval face, but the dark and sallow complexion made it difficult to discern her true features. He Hongyuan’s lips twitched faintly, almost imperceptibly, as if acknowledging a worthy opponent. In a low voice, he said, “Boil the berries for two hours, let them cool, and apply them evenly to your face.”

Lin Xiang: ?

In an instant, Lin Xiang realized that this man had long seen through her disguise! And now he was using the pretense of offering skincare advice to subtly call her out.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. Was he deliberately waiting for this moment to mock her?

In a fleeting glance, she found herself staring directly into He Hongyuan’s deep eyes, searching for any emotion in those dark pupils. Was it her imagination, or did she glimpse a trace of mischief?

But in the next second, his solemn and commanding demeanor remained unchanged, making Lin Xiang doubt her own perception.

Lightly pressing her cherry lips together, Lin Xiang decided to let the matter slide and shifted the topic. “Comrade He, I’ve been on a train for three days and two nights. I’m exhausted. Your first words to me are to send me away?”

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, accusing him of being unkind.

Yet her voice, soft and lilting with the southern Wu dialect, was anything but grating.

On the contrary, He Hongyuan lifted his eyes slightly, scrutinizing her, as if trying to uncover her emotions beneath her layers of disguise. Yet it was impossible to discern anything.

She wasn’t afraid of him. Even when he bluntly declared that the marriage agreement was null, she showed no sign of sadness or anger. It was as if she were hearing something entirely ordinary, unaffected.

This unsettled He Hongyuan, who was accustomed to complete control. A man who had led countless troops and pried secrets from spies now found himself perplexed by this woman.

Knock, knock, knock.

A series of knocks on the study door interrupted their conversation. Zhou Yuezu’s crisp voice chimed in at just the right moment: “Cousin, Cousin-in-law, my father’s back. Dinner’s ready.”

The Zhou family lived in a spacious two-story house. The dining area extended from the living room, with a square table laden with seafood dishes: steamed perch, boiled shrimp, stir-fried cabbage, steamed two-grain buns, and a special chili pork stir-fry made from two pounds of pork exchanged by Feng Li at the military canteen.

Lin Xiang hadn’t had seafood in a long time. The sweetness of a boiled shrimp melted on her tongue, satisfying her taste buds.

However, the atmosphere at dinner was peculiar. Uncle Zhou asked a few questions about Lin Xiang’s journey before falling silent. He seemed to hesitate while looking at He Hongyuan, only managing to say, “Treat her well.”

He Hongyuan was even stranger. Although Aunt He claimed this was his third uncle’s family, and Zhou Yuezu kept addressing him as “cousin,” He Hongyuan referred to them as Uncle Zhou and Aunt Feng, maintaining a sense of formality.

At the table, only Zhou Yuezu was lively, chatting with her parents, asking questions of her cousin and Lin Xiang, and keeping the atmosphere from becoming too heavy.

After dinner, Feng Li whispered something to Zhou Shenghuai before addressing He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang. “Hongyuan, Xiaolin just arrived, and since you haven’t been allocated a separate residence yet and are still staying in the single dorms, she can stay with us. Treat this as her home.”

“Yes, yes!” Zhou Yuezu chimed in eagerly. She had long wanted a companion her age. “Cousin-in-law, I can take you out to have fun!”

Lin Xiang hesitated, unwilling to agree without consulting He Hongyuan. After all, her only connection to the Zhou family was through him.

Just as she turned to ask for his opinion, He Hongyuan cut her off with a calm, “No need. I’ll arrange accommodations for her. There’s no need to trouble you, Aunt Feng.”

Then, lowering his gaze, he looked at Lin Xiang, meeting her eyes directly. “Come with me.”

For a moment, as Lin Xiang glanced up, she thought she saw a flicker of struggle in He Hongyuan’s otherwise steely gaze.

It was as if entangling with her, a reluctant fiancée, was still preferable to interacting with his third uncle’s family.

After dinner, the sky over Jinbian City turned dusky, as if deep blue seawater had spilled into the heavens, creating an endless azure expanse.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty humidity, swept through, dispelling the summer heat and leaving Lin Xiang captivated. The area around the family quarters was clean and tidy. At a distance, rows of coconut palms framed the scenery, shading red-brick villas. Not far away, the white-brick, white-walled naval base stood tall, blending harmoniously with the vast blue sea.

Everything here matched Lin Xiang’s imagination, carrying a magnetic allure. She liked it—a love at first sight.

Cradling a jar of berry extract prepared at the Zhou family home, Lin Xiang followed behind He Hongyuan. The transparent glass jar contained pale, milky liquid that sloshed quietly inside.

“The soldiers’ visiting relatives stay at the guesthouse,” He Hongyuan finally broke his silence as they neared the destination, having led Lin Xiang out of the family quarters without saying a word. “You’ll stay here for now.”

“Alright,” Lin Xiang nodded.

At the guesthouse front desk, He Hongyuan registered her and paid for a room.

The guesthouse was a modest four-story building, and Lin Xiang was assigned Room 201 on the second floor. Since only a few relatives visited during this time of year, most who made the effort were officers of battalion rank or higher, with separate family housing arrangements.

The guesthouse was quiet, with occasional sounds of doors opening and closing echoing clearly in the night.

Standing sternly at her door, He Hongyuan’s expression was so serious it made Lin Xiang want to laugh. This man clearly wanted nothing to do with his childhood betrothed. Yet, driven by responsibility, he couldn’t ignore her entirely.

Using the key provided by the front desk, Lin Xiang opened the door and pulled the string to turn on the light. A soft, yellow glow filled the room, surrounding Lin Xiang as if wrapping her in a faint halo.

“You’ll stay here,” He Hongyuan said, his tone unchanged. “As I said, this engagement is better off canceled.”

Turning around, Lin Xiang looked at the man standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the dark night. Moonlight cascaded down, highlighting his sharp features. He was undeniably handsome, but his words were hardly pleasant. She asked, “So what kind of partner are you looking for?”

Lin Xiang smiled at him, her demeanor tranquil and devoid of any embarrassment or frustration from being rejected.

He Hongyuan froze, unprepared for such a reaction. Normally composed and indifferent, the regimental commander found himself at a loss for words. After a pause, he responded coldly, “I’m not interested in dating or marriage. Stay here for a few days and rest. Once the engagement is annulled, I’ll personally see you off at the train station.”

His tone was resolute and commanding, like issuing an order. Coupled with his stern expression, it would typically intimidate others, making them second-guess or feel weak in the knees.

But Lin Xiang didn’t bite. Leaning against the doorframe, she teased, “A few days? Then you’ll have to show me around. I remember Zhou Yuezu mentioned you’re on leave, right? Be here tomorrow morning—around 8, maybe? I don’t know my way around.”

Seeing He Hongyuan’s brows furrow and his lips move, likely to reject her, Lin Xiang added, “Unless you want me to bother your uncle’s family again?”

At this, He Hongyuan pressed his lips into a thin line, refraining from speaking, though a hint of impatience flickered in his eyes.

“All right, you should head back. See you tomorrow!” Lin Xiang even waved at him.

With a firm thud, the wooden door shut. He Hongyuan stared at the dark brown door in a daze, his tightly furrowed brow not relaxing. Somehow, despite being the one rejecting her, he had just tacitly agreed to meet her tomorrow morning.

The ever-victorious Captain, known for his decisive rejections, stood frozen in disbelief. Her last comment about his uncle’s family—was that unintentional, or had she read something and deliberately leveraged it? The thought made He Hongyuan’s mind stir. After a moment, he turned and left.

On the other side of the wall, Lin Xiang unpacked her belongings in the guesthouse room. After some time, she grabbed a clean enamel basin, a towel, and a change of clothes, intending to head to the communal bathhouse downstairs for a proper wash.

Most importantly, she carried the jar of berry extract.

Half an hour later, Lin Xiang returned to the guesthouse, now clad in clean clothes. Her slightly damp hair cascaded like silk, and her fair, slender fingers retrieved a small round mirror from her bag. Moments later, the mirror reflected a fresh, pale face, smooth and fair as snow. Her brows and eyes were lively, her complexion flawless. Touching her cheeks, she noted that the disguise had left no trace, returning her to her usual appearance.

It felt unfamiliar. She had grown oddly accustomed to the dark, freckled complexion over the past few days—it was, after all, something novel.

The guesthouse’s wooden bed was far more comfortable than the hard frame back at the Lin family’s home. It was spacious and padded with cotton bedding, and even the thin quilt was clean. Lin Xiang wasn’t picky about beds; having spent three days on the train, her body was exhausted, and sleep soon overtook her.

Before drifting off completely, one thought lingered in her mind: He Hongyuan is handsome, sure, but his temper’s way too stubborn. Can I even win him over?

After all, she had no prior experience.

She woke early the next morning, the rising sun casting a warm glow through the pulled-back curtains. Though she lacked a watch to check the time, Lin Xiang assumed it was still early. She prepared herself, selecting her least-patched clothing from her belongings—a rare luxury. Seeing the state of her wardrobe, she sighed. With only seven feet of cloth ration tickets, barely enough for a new top, the thought of spending them pained her.

In this era, skincare and makeup products were scarce. At best, people used clam oil. Lin Xiang warmed the thick clam oil in her hands before applying a thin layer to her face, pondering how to buy herself something nice.

She had sold some work and had 700 yuan—a small fortune—and she planned to use it to buy a new outfit and a can of snow cream…

She wasn’t sure what time it was now, but she wondered if He Hongyuan would obediently come to find her.

Lin Xiang remembered last night when she weakly threatened that if she didn’t, she’d trouble his uncle’s family, and his expression had changed a bit. It was actually quite amusing.

Knock knock knock.

Just as Lin Xiang finished tidying herself up, she was standing in front of the mirror, wearing a black short-sleeved buttoned top that outlined her delicate curves. Her face, free of any disguise, was fair and beautiful, radiant and captivating.

She heard the knock on the door and got up to grab the handle.

Outside the door stood He Hongyuan, looking unwilling, but he had to come see her because he had been “threatened.”

As soon as the door opened, his heavy gaze fell directly on Lin Xiang’s face.