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Song Yuzhou’s cheeks were burning hot, his heart thumping wildly.
“I’m going to the fields,” he muttered, then turned and fled in a panic.
Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Zhi Ning covered her mouth and laughed quietly. “Men from this era really are adorably shy.”
In the modern world, though she had no romantic experience, she’d spent years devouring romance novels.
Many of those stories had bold, flirty female leads.
But since she’d looked average back then, she never had the courage to flirt with handsome men—afraid of embarrassment. So all her knowledge from reading could only stay in her heart.
Now that she had transmigrated into a novel and was blessed with this stunningly beautiful face, there was no way she’d let it go to waste. She had to win over the novel’s strongest officer.
Besides, it wasn’t just empty flirting. She genuinely felt something for him.
—
At noon, Jiang Zhi Ning had lunch with Shen Yue Yue and Lin Chunmei. The men were still working in the fields.
Lin Chunmei suggested they bring lunch out to the field.
Jiang Zhi Ning didn’t want to stay cooped up indoors, so she went along.
With her glowing fair skin and graceful figure, Jiang Zhi Ning stood out in the countryside. Wearing a qipao and walking between the fields, she looked like a dazzling sight to behold—drawing admiring glances wherever she passed.
From a distance, she spotted Song Yuzhou working in the fields.
His height alone made him stand out in the village, not to mention that strikingly handsome face. Even in a crowd, he’d be impossible to miss—let alone in the wide-open fields.
What surprised her more was the group of young women gathered near him.
“Little sis, I think you two should get married sooner rather than later,” Shen Yue Yue whispered. “Before someone else tries to snatch him up.”
“Don’t worry, Sis. Comrade Yuzhou isn’t going anywhere,” Jiang Zhi Ning replied with a light chuckle.
As they chatted, they reached the field.
The moment the young women noticed Jiang Zhi Ning, a flash of jealousy crossed their sun-darkened faces.
“Kids’ dad, Comrade Song, Wei Lu—come over and eat!” Lin Chunmei called out.
Hearing her, the men put down their tools and walked over.
Jiang Zhi Ning walked up to Song Yuzhou and pulled a handkerchief from her bag. “Need help wiping off the sweat?”
Song Yuzhou immediately took it from her. “I’ll do it myself.”
She smiled, eyes full of amusement, just as a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Some women really have no shame. Not even married yet, and already dragging a man into her home.”
“Exactly! Women like that just can’t handle being alone. Once their man’s not around, who knows what kind of wild men they’ll bring home,” one of the village women added, her tone full of scorn.
Lin Chunmei frowned and snapped, “Auntie Lin, watch your mouth.”
“What? I’m just telling the truth,” the older woman sneered. “So what if she’s from the city? I say, our village girls are far more sensible. Soldiers need wives who are virtuous—not just pretty faces. My daughter would be a much better match.”
Jiang Zhi Ning didn’t bother arguing. Instead, she smiled sweetly.
“Auntie Lin, right? Your daughter must be really hard to marry off if you have to go around promoting her like this.”
“What did you just say? My daughter is not hard to marry!” the woman shouted, furious.
“Well, if she were popular, she’d have a line of suitors at the door. But here you are—still barking,” Jiang Zhi Ning replied coolly. “As for me and Comrade Yuzhou…”
She suddenly took his arm, tiptoed up, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“I not only took him home,” she smiled, “I kissed him. So what are you gonna do about it?”
The village woman pointed at her, yelling, “Shameless! Absolutely shameless!”
Song Yuzhou stepped in front of Jiang Zhi Ning, shielding her with his body.
“I’ve already submitted our marriage registration,” he said firmly. “Jiang Zhi Ning is my wife.”
“Did you all hear that?” Jiang Zhi Ning smiled faintly. “I know exactly what’s going through your minds—you’re all hoping to throw your daughters at Comrade Yuzhou. But too bad. He doesn’t want them.”
“My little sister looks like a fairy. Even if Comrade Song were dumb as a rock, he’d still know who to choose,” Shen Yue Yue chimed in. “I’d suggest you all give up.”
The young girls’ faces flushed red with embarrassment, and they ran off covering their faces.
Seeing that even Song Yuzhou had spoken up, the older woman realized there was no saving face. She turned and left in defeat.
Once the gossiping villagers dispersed, Jiang Zhi Ning finally let go of his arm.
Song Yuzhou looked at her, his voice steady. “What they said might’ve been unpleasant, but it wasn’t completely unreasonable.”
Jiang Zhi Ning raised an eyebrow. “So you’re blaming me?”
Song Yuzhou immediately apologized. “No, it’s my fault. I’m sorry—I should’ve gone to register the marriage this morning.”
He had hesitated, worrying that she might regret it someday, but he’d failed to consider the cruel rumors in the village.
Seeing his sincere apology, Jiang Zhi Ning crossed her arms and smirked. “Since you’re so honest, I accept your apology. So, Comrade Yuzhou, how do you plan to make it up to me?”
Looking straight into her eyes, he said, “I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Then how about registering the marriage tomorrow?” Her smile was bright, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
“Okay,” he replied.
“Great. It’s settled. Now go eat,” she said cheerfully.
Song Yuzhou nodded and walked over to join Lin Chunmei and the others for lunch.
But the fields were full of mosquitoes. Jiang Zhi Ning barely stood there for a while before her legs were covered in bites. Lin Chunmei quickly took her home.
At home, Lin Chunmei pulled out a jar of ointment and applied it for her. “You’re used to city life—it’s hard adjusting to the countryside. Once you go live with the army, you’ll have to take care of yourself.”
Jiang Zhi Ning felt warmth in her heart seeing the concern in her mother’s eyes.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be fine.”
Even back in the modern world, she had handled her twenties on her own.
“If you and Comrade Song ever have a falling-out, just bear with it. It’s not easy for a couple to stay together. Once you join the army, you’ll be in an unfamiliar place. If you fight and storm off, where could you even go?”
Jiang Zhi Ning laughed. “His unit’s base isn’t far from North City. If he ever bullies me, I’ll just run home. My legs are on my own body—I’ll go wherever I want.”
Seeing the light dancing in her eyes, Lin Chunmei knew her daughter wasn’t like the other village women—she had her own mind.
“Alright. Just remember, this will always be your home. No matter what happens, you’re welcome back anytime,” Lin Chunmei said firmly.
“Okay.” In this unfamiliar world, having a place to call home was comforting.
—
That evening, Jiang Zhi Ning got bored in her room. Shen Yue Yue had gone to see a friend, and she didn’t know what to do alone.
So she decided to find Song Yuzhou.
For the past couple of days, Song Yuzhou and Shen Weilun had been bunking together.
She arrived at Shen Weilun’s room and noticed the door was unlocked. Without knocking, she pushed it open—and froze.
Inside, Song Yuzhou was bathing. His shirt was off, revealing his strong upper body. He wasn’t wearing pants either—just a pair of shorts.
Hearing the door creak, he instinctively looked up—and locked eyes with Jiang Zhi Ning, her big round eyes staring straight at him…