Chapter 3: Rough guy, that’s too sweet!

The man’s voice was even fiercer than the winds of Beicheng—deep and resonant like aged wine, rich and heavy.

Jiang Wan’s heart started pounding uncontrollably as she slowly turned around.

What came into view was a face as chiseled and striking as if carved from stone—handsome, sharp, and stoic. The man stood tall and imposing like a wild beast from the wilderness. His features were firm, with long, narrow phoenix eyes as black as night. A faint scar could be seen on his sharply defined brow bone.

He was wearing a military green short-sleeved shirt, the collar damp with sweat, clinging to his skin and revealing the tight muscles of his chest that looked impossible to hide. And those legs… so long it felt like they could outlast her entire previous life!

Jiang Wan subconsciously swallowed and looked up at him timidly, realizing that she barely reached his chest. Compared to him, she looked like a skinny little chick.

“You are?” Fu Jingchuan frowned, his thick, dark brows furrowed deeply. He hadn’t expected this.

Originally, he planned to wait for the three new recruits to return. But something told him he should come see for himself—out of respect. After all, there were old ties between the Jiang family and his grandfather.

On the road, he happened to run into the soldiers and was surprised when they told him the girl’s name wasn’t Jiang Shanshan—it was Jiang Wan!

Fu Jingchuan knew he hadn’t remembered it wrong, so he drove back immediately to figure out what was going on.

His grandfather had indeed told him that Old Jiang’s granddaughter was supposed to be tall and slim, with short hair. But the girl standing in front of him now? Completely different.

Fu Jingchuan’s eyes darkened as he looked down at the petite girl. Her pale face looked almost translucent under the sun. For some reason, his heart trembled slightly before he quickly looked away and asked, stern-faced, “Who are you?”

“I’m Jiang Wan,” she replied, steadying herself with a sweet, soft voice. She didn’t hide anything and said directly, “I’m also a daughter of the Jiang family. But… not by blood.”

“I’m their adopted daughter.”

“Adopted daughter?!” Before Fu Jingchuan could even respond, Tang Feng exploded, shouting with her neck stretched out, “Captain Fu! What’s the meaning of this from the Jiang family? Sending an adopted girl to us?”

“No way! I say—send her right back—”

“This auntie, Tang,” Jiang Wan interrupted coldly, not about to let herself be bullied in front of this man.

After all, if nothing unexpected happened, they were supposed to live together from now on. Better to let him know her temperament early. If he couldn’t accept it, fine—she’d leave. She had hands, feet, and the will to survive. She’d already died once—there was no way she’d allow herself to be mistreated in this new life.

“If I remember correctly, you’re just the person Captain Fu hired to take care of the kids, right?” Jiang Wan smiled sweetly as she clutched her suitcase, but her words were sharp.

“Captain Fu hasn’t said anything yet, but you already have so many opinions? Or… do you think you’re his mother now?”

Though her tone was sugary, her words were anything but friendly—an obvious contradiction to her soft appearance.

Behind her, Fu Jingchuan froze. His gaze darkened abruptly, but after a moment, a strange flicker of interest appeared in his eyes.

This girl… has quite the bite.

Like a kitten hiding its claws until the right moment.

And she had a point. Was Tang Feng overstepping her bounds?

Fu Jingchuan hated being controlled—whether in life or marriage. Only orders from his superiors and military regulations meant anything. No one else got to tell him what to do.

“Tang,” he said coldly after a long pause. “You’re not needed here today. I already brought back food from the base. You can go now.”

His expression remained hard, and his tone brooked no argument.

Tang Feng had seen Fu Jingchuan truly angry before. Her legs went weak, and she didn’t dare say another word. Though she shot Jiang Wan one last hateful glare, she could only leave, muttering, “Fine. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Granny Tang!!” Little Fu Chen called out with a sob, trying to chase after her. But Fu Jingchuan’s shout stopped him in his tracks.

“Fu Chen! Stand right there!”

“…”

The small boy trembled, instantly standing at attention. But he still pouted and occasionally shot angry glances at Jiang Wan, filled with clear hatred.

This puzzled Jiang Wan. How could a child this young be so hostile toward a complete stranger? Was it trauma? Or was he taught this?

She recalled how Fu Chen had clung to Tang Feng just now, and her eyes darkened slightly.

Whatever else was going on, that woman was definitely trouble.

“Fu Chen! Hold that military stance properly! You’re not allowed back inside until the sun sets!”

Fu Jingchuan’s brows furrowed tightly, his voice full of authority. The child had become increasingly unruly—even daring to curse someone!

Fu Chen didn’t dare argue, but he pressed his lips tightly together and marched over to stand under the eaves, shoulders straight.

Fu Jingchuan, still frowning, glanced at Jiang Wan’s suitcase beside her.

That letter… his grandfather had written it to the Jiang family without even asking him. He hadn’t expected much to come from it.

After three failed marriages, each one short-lived and disastrous, he had decided he’d be better off alone—just him and his two kids.

But the Jiang family had actually sent someone.

And not even their real daughter.

They sent an adopted girl.

Clearly trying to get rid of her—and dump her on him.

But… why did she look like she was in a surprisingly good mood?

Fu Jingchuan’s deep gaze swept over Jiang Wan’s delicate face and saw her blinking her bright, watery eyes, looking around at the furnishings in the courtyard. After a moment of thought, he asked in a low voice,
“Comrade Jiang Wan.”
“Did you marry me of your own will?”
“You should already be well aware of my situation.”
“If you don’t want this, I can find a way to help you settle down in Beicheng.”

Though Fu Jingchuan’s voice was cold and firm, there was a faint trace of sorrow hidden in it. Clearly, in his mind, Jiang Wan had been forced to marry him.

Who would’ve thought Jiang Wan would lift her delicate chin and look up at him, saying,
“Then what about you? I’m just an adopted daughter of the Jiang family—don’t you mind that?”

This man—was he that sure she looked down on him?
Why? He was brimming with masculine hormones!
He was exactly her type!

A rugged man like him—ugh, so attractive!

Jiang Wan’s eyes curved with a smile.
Somehow, she didn’t feel all that afraid of him anymore.

Even though he looked rough and stern, he was actually reasonable!

He’d even said he could help her settle in Beicheng!
That showed he was thinking of her, knowing that if she went back without marrying him, life wouldn’t be easy for her either.

“…What right do I have to be picky?”

Fu Jingchuan chuckled, a hint of self-mockery flickering in his phoenix eyes.

He didn’t hide anything and said,
“My first three wives—one ran off with another man, one stole my money and fled to another province.”
“The last one? She left not long after we got married.”
“She said I was never home, and with the two kids, she felt like a widow.”
“Comrade Jiang Wan, you tell me—what right do I have to be picky about you?”

“….”

Suddenly, he felt like a wronged big puppy…

Was that… normal??