Chapter 21 Apples, Apples

The joyful expression on their faces instantly turned serious, and Wang Miaoxue beside him began to nervously clench her handkerchief.

The voice from inside was loud, sounding like Ye Chuan’s superior.

Ye Chuan and Wang Miaoxue were both retired. Even if it was a congratulatory call, it wouldn’t cause Ye Chuan’s face to change so drastically.

“Yes! I understand, I will definitely complete the task!” Ye Chuan said firmly.

Ye Chuan hung up the phone, and his expression became calm again.

Wang Miaoxue had followed her husband for many years; she knew this look well—something big must have happened.

“Old Ye, what’s wrong? What did your superior say?”

“It’s nothing to do with me. It’s Ye Bei; he’s going to the front lines.”

Wang Miaoxue sat down with mixed feelings, looking back at Ye Bei and Gu Congshuang

“They just got engaged, how could this be such a coincidence?”

Ye Chuan nodded slightly: “There’s no way around it. Everything is subject to the command of the superiors. This is also his pride as a soldier.”

“Old Ye, I’ll listen to you, but Conshuang，she’s alone here, we need to take good care of her.”

Wang Miaoxue’s gaze went past Ye Chuan to Ye Bei. His eyes were looking at Gu Congshuang After all these years, this was the first time she had seen her son’s face filled with such smiles.

The engagement banquet was drawing to a close, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill. Not far from Ye Bei sat his colleagues and comrades-in-arms, all in military uniforms. Every one of them was a handsome man, attracting the attention of the unmarried women present.

Gu Congbing’s gaze also swept across the crowd and landed on that table. If she could find a loving, high-ranking, and handsome soldier like Gu Conshuang it would be better than marrying a butcher.

However, after looking many times, although each of them was good-looking, none of them could compare to Ye Bei, who was sitting at the main table, laughing and eating and drinking.

Gu Congbing sighed and put down her wine glass, regret washing over her.

“Ye Bei, I’ve admired you for so many years in the army. Let’s have a good drink today, brother. From now on, you have to listen to your wife.”

Ye Bei’s classmate and friend, Tong Wendong, had already filled his glass. His face was flushed, his body reeked of alcohol, and his eyes were filled with a silly smile.

Ye Bei also generously clinked glasses with him, downing the strong liquor in one gulp. The spicy liquor surged up from his throat. He drank too quickly, and his vision began to blur.

Gu Conshuang saw that his steps were unsteady and couldn’t help but hold his arm.

The two looked at each other, the alcohol blurring their vision, a fragrant atmosphere hanging in the air, causing a commotion among the officers.

“Bei Ge, Sister-in-law, this is a peace apple from our army, wishing the newlyweds a happy marriage and good health. You have to eat the apple mouth-to-mouth, everyone agree?”

“Good!” A table of officers, drunk, roared with laughter, almost shaking the entire hotel.

Gu Conshuang lowered her head, not daring to respond to their teasing, but Ye Bei couldn’t refuse.

“They’re relentless, should we try?” Before Gu Conshuang could answer, Tong Wendong had already hung the apple between them.

Under the intense gaze of everyone, Gu Conshuang felt pressured and nervously clutched Ye Bei’s arm tighter.

Ye Bei opened his mouth, intending to bite the apple, but Tong Wendong cleverly raised it higher, and the two smiled awkwardly at each other.

“Bei Ge is a hero, a little apple can’t defeat you.”

“Get ready, newlyweds, one more time!” The crowd cheered again.

The two had to face each other again, their faces close to the apple. Ye Bei leaned down and winked at Gu Conshuang，a spark of understanding flashing in his dark eyes.

Both opened their mouths to bite, but the apple, as if possessed, suddenly disappeared above them.

Ye Bei’s lips landed on Gu Conshuang’s rosy lips, the hot breath carrying the scent of alcohol.

Gu Conshuang’s heart pounded, feeling both shy and excited, as if she had stepped into a hot spring, surrounded by scalding water, the two of them isolated from the world in the steam.

It was a tender moment imprinted on Ye Bei’s heart. He had never feared the enemy’s anti-aircraft guns, but facing Gu Conshuang’s shyness, he felt hesitant.

He was reluctant to let go, wishing he could follow this little deer into the forest, holding her, kissing her.

Forever and always.

“Hey, stop it, don’t start now, let’s see what you do at the wedding.”

Ye Bei seemed slightly dissatisfied on the surface, but he was a little reluctant to let go of Gu Congshuang

“The groom is getting impatient!” Another round of cheering.

“Let’s add some difficulty! Hold your sister-in-law and do 20 squats, then eat the apple!” Tong Wendong grinned mischievously.

“Bei Ge’s legs will be weak.”

“You guys are too bad, we’ll have to train harder when we get back!”

Gu Conshuang was directly scooped up by Ye Bei in a princess carry. A man’s strength was truly amazing.

Gu Conshuang was a little shocked, her arms wrapped around Ye Bei’s neck. In this situation, she found it both funny and embarrassing.

“1! 2! … 15…” The scene became even more lively, everyone stood up to watch them. Gu Congbing held her wine glass, the more she drank, the more disheartened she became, feeling the wine was terribly bland.

Gu Conshuang felt the slight sweat on his neck, his rapid breathing, and the pounding of his heart, which she could feel through his suit.

Ye Bei’s breath came in ragged gasps, his face flushed, the blue veins in his arms bulging from exertion, like undulating mountains.

“20! Not enough, 20 more! His legs are starting to shake!” Tong Wendong continued to shout, refusing to stop.

Gu Conshuang felt Ye Bei’s hot breath, her nose itching slightly, their faces seemed closer, and the red apple was already half-eaten by Ye Bei.

A crisp, sweet sound, the sweet juice flowing down Ye Bei’s lips. Gu Conshuang felt Ye Bei’s arms getting hotter, and she didn’t dare to move, but her heart, fueled by alcohol, was burning uncontrollably.

“Mmm…” Gu Conshuang’s body moved up and down, letting out a few frightened gasps.

Looking up again, she saw a mischievous glint in his eyes. The apple rubbed against her lips, Ye Bei leaned in closer, smiling as if he wanted to devour her.

A crisp sound, Gu Conshuang’s ears were redder than the apple, her lips slightly parted, she shyly lowered her head and closed her eyes.