Shen Zhanwu’s thin lips pressed together in silence for a long time.  

His gaze fell on the girl’s protruding collarbones beneath her collar, the oversized old coat that hung awkwardly on her frame, and the fact that she had traveled thousands of miles from the south to the north to seek out a strange, disabled man—without even a single piece of luggage.  

It seemed life had not been kind to her in that household.  

Shen Zhanwu clenched his jaw, the sharp line of his cheek tensing slightly. He lifted his lashes just enough to meet Ruan Qingzhi’s eyes.  

In the depths of his dark pupils, her small figure was reflected as he spoke solemnly:  

“I can lay out a few options for you. No matter which one you choose in the end, I will make it happen.”

“After all, this situation was caused by me and my family.”

He paused briefly before continuing:  

“The first option—if you don’t want to marry and wish to return home, I will personally take you back and explain everything clearly to both families.”

“Whatever consequences arise, I’ll bear them.”

“The second option—you don’t have to go back, nor do you have to marry me. Instead, you can acknowledge me as your brother. For the rest of your life, I’ll provide for you. Whether it’s marriage, death, or any other life event, I’ll take responsibility.”

“Shenyang has developed better than our hometown in recent years. I’ll find you a suitable job, one that’s good for a young woman. There are also plenty of decent, hardworking young men here around your age. You can find someone you like, settle down in Shenyang, and build a life.”

Ruan Qingzhi listened intently, her bright, lively eyes fixed on him.  

For the first time, she looked past the face that had once made her lose all reason and truly examined the man before her.  

He seemed…  

A little different from others.  

“And the third option?” she asked softly.  

Shen Zhanwu’s lips parted slightly, hesitating before he finally spoke:  

“The third option… is to marry me. Become my wife.”

Without a second thought, Ruan Qingzhi agreed: “Okay.”

Her voice was soft as a feather, brushing lightly over Shen Zhanwu’s lips and drawing out a faint chuckle from him.  

But the laugh tugged at his chest, and he covered his mouth with one hand as heavy, muffled coughs erupted.  

Ruan Qingzhi quickly picked up a cup of water and brought it to his lips.  

After drinking and steadying his breathing, Shen Zhanwu smiled faintly.  

“You don’t have to answer so quickly. Hear me out first.”

She set the cup down and nodded obediently.  

Mm-hmm.

Go ahead.

Seeing her attentive expression, the corners of his lips quirked up again—before he quickly schooled his expression, his eyes darkening further.  

“Before marrying me, you should understand who I am. What if I’m a terrible man? What will you do if you marry me so carelessly?”

“You’re a good person,” Ruan Qingzhi insisted.  

And a hero.

Shen Zhanwu lifted his gaze to meet her eyes.  

“I’m talking about a man—the man who would marry you and spend his life with you.”

“Out in the world, he could take on any role. To survive, he might smile flatteringly. To climb higher, he might resort to any means. To fit in, he might play along with hypocrisy. No matter what face he wears outside, at home, with you, he is just a man—a man fulfilling the role of a husband.”

“What if, someday, this man treats you terribly?” 

Ruan Qingzhi’s almond-shaped eyes curved brightly. “You wouldn’t.”

Shen Zhanwu smirked. “How do you know?”

“I just do!” There was a stubborn edge in her soft voice.  

“Then do you know that I’m already twenty-eight? Are you even eighteen? Or let me put it this way—have you even come of age?”

Her confidence faltered. “…I’ll be eighteen soon.” 

Shen Zhanwu’s expression instantly cooled. His eyes swiftly shifted away from her face, landing on the tree branches outside the window.  

His pupils were dark, swirling with unreadable emotions.  

Finally, he let out a soft, humorless laugh.  

He wasn’t angry at her—he was angry at the family behind her.  

The family that should have been her shelter, her mountain, had instead become a crushing weight upon her.  

She wasn’t even an adult yet.  

Not yet—

Shen Zhanwu pressed his lips tightly together, forcing down the fury rising in his throat before looking back at the girl.  

“I’m a full ten years older than you. I’m already at the age of standing firm, while you’re still just a girl.”

“Marrying me won’t bring you a stable life—because I’m a soldier. I have a duty to my country and its people.”

‘Protecting the nation and its borders’ isn’t just a slogan. It’s an oath—a peace bought with the blood and sacrifice of soldiers. Whether in the past, present, or future, there will always be those who fall for their country. And I could very well be one of them.”

“One day, you could lose your husband.”

“It could be tomorrow, the day after, or any day after that. Whenever the country calls, I’ll be ready. You’ll live in constant worry, dreading that day. And I… I might not even be able to take care of this home—I won’t be able to share the chores with you, or raise children with you. So many things I won’t be able to do.” 

“A marriage like this… a man like this… Do you still want him?”  

“If you still insist on marrying me, the only promise I can make is this: If I die, I’ll ensure you never want for anything in the second half of your life. If you ever face hardship, just present my merits, and anywhere within this land, people will treat you with kindness.”

His voice was gentle yet heavy.  

He was telling her—no matter how difficult the path ahead might be, on the road back, he would plant roses and poetry for her.  

These words, though not quite vows, made Ruan Qingzhi think of her father’s broken silhouette in her past life.  

Her lips trembled uncontrollably.  

Staring into the man’s resolute eyes, she suddenly felt terrified—terrified that he, too, would vanish like the wind, just as her father had.  

Her mind went blank.  

In an instant, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in the crook of his neck.  

“I don’t want you to die,” she sobbed. “I just want you to live…”

To live safely, peacefully…