Chapter 35

It seemed he really was drunk.

With one arm wrapped around her waist and the other supporting her ribs, he lifted her up as effortlessly as if she were a child and set her down on the bookshelf.

His long fingers rested at the nape of her neck, his thumb slowly rubbing the sensitive skin behind her ear—again and again.

That area turned out to be far more sensitive than she had ever realized. Every stroke of his fingers sent a shiver down her spine, like an electric current spreading from behind her ear all the way to her scalp. Even her hair follicles tingled.

Wen Xin enjoyed teasing others—but she did not like being teased.

When she initiated things, she was in control. But when the power was in someone else’s hands, she was far less amused.

Her mood instantly soured. She refused to just sit still and be kissed, so she kept shifting, trying to slide off the bookshelf.

But Yan Zeyang had already locked her securely in his embrace.

Only after her lips turned a soft shade of red, slightly parted and breathless, did he finally stop.

Wen Xin was not pleased.

She straightened up and declared seriously, “Comrade Yan, we need to talk. We can’t keep making these mistakes. As a female comrade, I’ve reflected deeply on my actions. I admit I was wrong in the past. What you said yesterday was absolutely right—this is a matter of principle, and we can’t ignore principles. So, from now on, we should maintain at least a two-meter distance at all times. No more unnecessary kissing—it’s improper! Also, why is your shirt unbuttoned like that? Hugging and clinging to each other—does that look appropriate? Even if we’re dating, we still need to maintain some sense of propriety, don’t you think?”

Before she could finish speaking, Yan Ze—

No, Yan Demon suddenly picked her up.

She let out a startled “Ah!” and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

The moment he lifted her, her hair came undone.

She had planned to take a shower after cleaning, so she had casually pinned her hair up with a pen. But now, with this sudden movement, the pen fell, and her long, silky hair cascaded down, framing her face like rippling waves.

The sight was breathtaking.

It should have felt good to be carried like this—but Wen Xin was not happy.

When she had tried to flirt with him before, he always rejected her—”No way!” “Not happening!” “Absolutely not!”

But now, when she had stopped trying, he suddenly wanted to do everything?

So, when he says no, it’s no. But when he wants to, it’s yes?

This was seriously damaging her confidence.

Was she just supposed to accept this? Was she supposed to feel okay about it?

“Put me down, you rascal!”

Yan Demon just laughed heartily and planted a kiss on her. He looked at the woman in his arms—bright eyes, rosy lips, a face like peach blossoms, and skin as fair as snow. Her long black hair swayed gently with his movements. At that moment, he felt that all these years of waiting had been worth it.

His sudden, uninhibited laughter left Wen Xin stunned. Some people rarely smile, but when they do, it’s like a divine force descending from the heavens—powerful, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore.

…

Yan Zeyang carried her to the sofa and picked up the box from the coffee table.

Wen Xin’s hands were slender and fair, her fingers delicate like scallion stalks. She felt a cool sensation on her wrist and was momentarily stunned. His long fingers gently intertwined with hers as he fastened the watch strap with just one hand.

She finally saw what it was—a women’s wristwatch. The metal dial gleamed under the light, and the black leather strap made her skin appear even more porcelain-like. It looked stunning on her wrist.

“Do you like it?” Yan Zeyang pulled her into his arms, kissed her soft, snowy cheek, and leaned close to whisper in her ear with a deep yet gentle voice full of sweet nothings. “I’ve already submitted the marriage application. Once it’s approved, we’ll get married. By then, I can touch you whenever I want, and once we close the door, no one can interfere…”

His voice was slightly hoarse, with a possessive and triumphant undertone that sent shivers down her spine. Wen Xin felt as if even her ears could get pregnant from hearing it.

She shrank her shoulders slightly. Wait… what did he just say?

“Marriage?”

Wen Xin looked at Yan Zeyang with wide, doe-like eyes.

“We’ve only been dating for two and a half days, and you already want to get married?”

Yan Zeyang had been smiling, but at her words, his expression darkened instantly. “What? You don’t want to?”

His gaze shifted in a heartbeat—from the serene elegance of a winter landscape to the raging fury of a storm.

“I…”

She had only planned to flirt with him—first because she found him attractive, then because she was annoyed and wanted to mess up his relationship with the female lead. Later, she realized he was both serious and amusing, and she had gotten addicted to teasing him.

She hadn’t even enjoyed herself to the fullest yet, and now they were suddenly talking about marriage? If they got married, how was she supposed to continue her little games?

When Wen Xin remained silent, the last trace of a smile disappeared from Yan Zeyang’s face. He straightened his posture, his gaze sharp as a blade. “Do you have any objections? Speak.”

His stern voice startled Wen Xin, making her sit obediently like a little chick.

The room fell so silent that even a pin dropping could be heard.

“I…”

“Do you want to marry someone else?” Yan Zeyang looked down at her tiny face, his expression unreadable.

“No…”

“Then why are you hesitating?”

“I… Stop asking! Fine, I agree, okay?” Wen Xin was flustered. His interrogation was relentless, like an intense cross-examination. Feeling wronged, she burrowed into his embrace, resting her head against his chest like a delicate, dependent little bird. She let out a couple of small, aggrieved hums.

At first, she really hadn’t been ready. But then, she thought about it—this man was the female lead’s biggest golden ticket in her past life. If she married him first, wasn’t she technically stealing an advantage? Besides, where else in this era could she find someone this handsome, stylish, and perfectly built, who also happened to be exactly her type?

It was just a bit too fast. She hadn’t flirted with him enough yet, and now it was already over? But if she stalled any longer, he would definitely get mad. So, with a reluctant pout, she agreed. Then she turned and curled up in his arms, hugging his waist.

Only then did Yan Zeyang’s stormy expression clear. Still, a hint of doubt lingered—why had she hesitated in the first place?

But as he watched her nestle in his embrace, happily admiring the watch he had given her, lifting her wrist to inspect it from different angles, his mood finally eased.

Wen Xin had never seen a watch from this era before, so she was just curious.

As she examined it, she suddenly noticed Yan Zeyang’s gaze growing darker and more intense.

Before long, soft “mmm” sounds filled the sofa as their lips met. It wasn’t until much later that Wen Xin finally resumed tidying up the living room.

Meanwhile, Yan Zeyang changed into his military uniform upstairs, put on his hat, and prepared to return to the regiment. He only had half a day off and had to report back in the afternoon.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Wen Xin flitted into his arms like a little bird. Yan Zeyang was reluctant to part with her as well—he wished he could keep this tiny person in his mouth, but he was afraid she might melt. Just thinking about leaving her alone at home made his heart ache. He held her close at the doorway for a long time before finally stepping out.

Once he left, Wen Xin was too restless to nap. Instead, she headed straight to the tailor shop.

Lately, she had been frequenting the municipal compound. Ever since she sold her first dress, the rest had been much easier to sell. The girl who bought the first dress wore it beautifully, and word spread quickly. Soon, many people in the compound recognized Wen Xin. Now, every afternoon, as soon as she appeared, someone would pull her into their house—of course, only women.

Yang Hemiao had become Wen Xin’s little shadow, following her everywhere. After all, trailing Wen Xin meant money. Wen Xin had an eye for fashion that was forty years ahead of the current era. The designs she instructed Yang Hemiao to make weren’t exaggerated but featured subtle modifications that made each piece incredibly appealing. Any girl who saw them instantly wanted to buy one.

In reality, all Wen Xin did was adjust the waistline slightly or add some decorative elements to the collar. For skirts, she made tiny tweaks, and they sold like crazy. The effect was undeniable.

Some of it was simply styling tricks she had learned. As a livestream host, she had studied airport fashion, celebrity outfits, and magazine editorials. She had experimented with different combinations and learned how small accessories could make a huge difference. A simple belt could completely change the aura of an outfit. Thanks to her understanding of basics, color-blocking, and layering, she could instantly tell what kind of clothing would best flatter a person and hide their flaws.

So, the girls who bought clothes from her felt like they had become more beautiful. No one in the municipal compound interfered, and over the past few days, Wen Xin had made quite a lot of money.

She was running low on stock, even with two or three pieces at a time selling quickly. Tops were going for over twenty yuan, skirts ranged from forty to sixty, and other smaller clothing items sold as well. In less than ten days, after paying Yang Hemiao for her craftsmanship, she had earned more than three hundred yuan. Her total savings had already reached a thousand. Making money had never been this easy.

Before, she had been saving up to head south, but now things were different. Now, she was mostly mentoring Yang Hemiao, getting to know people, and preparing for the future. Soon, Yang Hemiao could manage the business herself and sell in the compound. Wen Xin didn’t know how long this would last, but she was certain that the tailor shop’s business would improve, easing the financial burden on the grandfather and granddaughter.

The girl who first bought a skirt from Wen Xin in the municipal compound pulled her aside again today. She wasn’t just buying clothes from Wen Xin anymore—now, she wanted styling advice. She had plenty of clothes, many of which seemed to be trendy styles brought in from the south. Compared to the local fashion, the colors were brighter, and the styles more modern.

Wen Xin carefully selected and matched three outfits for her. The white shirts she sold were classic staples—never out of fashion. The current white shirts on the market were baggy and shapeless, but Wen Xin had subtly adjusted the waistline. The old tailor’s excellent craftsmanship ensured that once sewn, the shirt fit snugly, making the wearer look slimmer and more stylish. Paired with any pants or skirts, it looked effortlessly elegant.

The girl ended up buying three shirts, each for twenty yuan.

While trying on clothes, as Wen Xin adjusted the girl’s sleeves and collar, her wristwatch was exposed. The girl gasped in surprise.

“Oh! This brand!”

She came from a family with connections—one of her relatives worked in procurement at a large department store. She had a watch herself and was familiar with luxury brands.

“This looks like an imported watch—very expensive! At least two thousand yuan! And the design is stunning—must be a new release, right?” She grabbed Wen Xin’s wrist, examining the watch closely. In the municipal compound, a standard salary was around one hundred yuan per month. That meant this watch cost nearly two years of wages without spending a cent on anything else.

She had initially assumed Wen Xin was selling clothes due to financial struggles. She had noticed from the start that the clothes weren’t imported from the south, but since they were stylish and reasonably priced, she hadn’t minded. In fact, people kept asking her where she bought that first skirt, which made her feel quite proud.

But now, seeing Wen Xin wear such an expensive watch, she was stunned.

“My watch only cost five hundred yuan, and it’s domestic. Yours is foreign-made, not just expensive but also rare! I’ve heard that even if you have the money, it’s hard to get one. Are you from a high-ranking official’s family?”

Wen Xin simply smiled.

Not exactly—but she was about to become the daughter-in-law of one.

She didn’t say anything, just smiled, but inside, she was secretly pleased. She hadn’t thought much of the watch before, but seeing someone else marvel at it made her happy. Perhaps it was because such items were rare in this era. Unlike in the future, where luxury watches were neatly displayed in store windows, available to anyone with enough money, in this time, they were precious and scarce.

The next day, Yan Zeyang went to his superiors to check on the status of his marriage application. Then, he went straight to his father’s office.

The father and son rarely met at the military district’s offices, but Yan Zeyang wanted to know why his application had been delayed on his father’s desk.

Yes, he had submitted it without informing his father beforehand, but hadn’t his father done the same when he remarried? Back then, his father had only told him two days before the wedding that he was taking a new wife.

So now, what right did he have to hold back his application?

When Yan Zeyang entered the office, he called out, “Report, sir!” and formally addressed his father as “Commander.” But even so, he couldn’t suppress his frustration.

Yan Weiguo listened to his son’s complaints in silence.

The office remained still for a moment before Yan Weiguo removed his glasses. He reached into his right-hand drawer and pulled out an envelope, placing it on the desk.

“Take a look at this first,” he said.