Chapter 7

Su Ruo had never experienced anything like this before.

She was completely confused, her senses overwhelmed by his scorching breath. Her mind exploded, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but there was nowhere to retreat. She tried to push him away, but his grip was unyielding, like a vice. Her strength was no match for his, and she felt as though she was a fish caught in someone’s hands, unable to breathe or struggle.

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually, she felt herself go limp, thinking she might die from the overwhelming sensation. Only then did he pull back, his hot hand brushing her face.

But her face was wet and cold.

Han Zecheng paused.

The heat from his body slowly subsided as he whispered, “Ruo Ruo?”

His voice was hoarse and full of restraint.

He then realized her body was trembling.

He quickly pulled back, still holding her, his voice raspy. “I’m sorry, I lost control.”

He had truly lost control.

Their situation wasn’t right; she was still sick. Originally, he hadn’t planned to do anything, but the past few days had kept him on edge. In the stillness, he had only wanted to hold her, to feel what it was like to have her in his arms, as if trying to confirm something. But the moment she was in his arms, with her faint fragrance, he lost control.

Su Ruo’s hands were still clutching his clothes.

She hadn’t recovered yet and was crying silently at first, then uncontrollably.

She had truly been frightened.

Who wouldn’t be scared by such a thing?

She was frightened by his actions and by her own response… Everything that had happened had completely overwhelmed her.

But this man was still her “husband.” They already had a son, and he had said that she had promised to live a good life with him. So, this matter between husband and wife seemed like something natural.

But she didn’t remember.

She clearly remembered being a student who had just turned eighteen, and her biggest worry was not having to face Lin Wanhua and her daughter.

But after waking up, her father had cut ties with her, giving her place at university to her stepmother’s daughter. She was left here alone…

She cried, first from the shock, then… she didn’t even know what for anymore.

Han Zecheng was stunned by her crying.

She had never cried like this in front of him before.

In the past, no matter how much grievance she had suffered, she would only redden her eyes, bite her lip tightly, and refuse to shed tears in front of him.

But now, was she crying like this because she no longer wanted to be with him and couldn’t bear his touch anymore?

He felt a heavy, uncomfortable feeling in his heart.

But as she cried so uncontrollably, her tears felt like they were burning into his heart. He couldn’t care about his own discomfort. He restrained himself, reached out, and patted her, his voice hoarse as he tried to comfort her, saying, “It’s my fault, don’t cry anymore.”

Su Ruo, feeling aggrieved and scared, cried for a long while before gradually calming down under his comforting words.

After venting her emotions, she felt a little more clear-headed.

She turned her head slightly to look at him and saw his slightly bruised jaw, the lines on his face cold and firm.

She wasn’t unreasonable. After crying, she slowly calmed down and realized that this wasn’t really his fault… Even though it had only been less than a day, she could feel that he should be treating her well and had been very patient.

Maybe her mother-in-law was right.

Otherwise, normal couples wouldn’t behave like this. He kissed her and immediately apologized, saying it was his fault and that he had lost control… Even though she had been a bit scared, had no experience in marriage, and hadn’t lived the life of a normal couple, she wasn’t a fool. Moreover, her family had many books, and she had read what she should have.

Had she really only married him to use him, taking advantage of the benefits of marriage while refusing to let him touch her?

The thought made her feel guilty.

But no matter how guilty she felt, she couldn’t just close her eyes and engage in marital relations with him, could she?

What was going on here?…

“It’s not your fault.”

She gritted her teeth, her thoughts in a mess. After a moment, she made up her mind, closing her eyes with determination and saying, “It’s me, it’s my problem.”

Han Zecheng’s heart tightened, and the hand he had on her arm stiffened, but he quickly loosened it, afraid of hurting her.

He asked, “Do you want to separate from me?”

Was it because she wanted to separate from him that she couldn’t tolerate his touch anymore?

Su Ruo heard the restraint and forcefulness in his tone, and it made her feel a little afraid, but also confused.

Separate?

His tone sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a little dazed.

She thought of what his mother had said… Could it be true?

Her heart sank like lead.

Regardless of the truth, she couldn’t just say she wanted to separate from him without understanding everything first.

And he was a soldier—could a military marriage be so easily broken?

Under his pressing gaze, she shook her head and said, “No, I’m not.”

At least not now.

“Then what is it?”

When Han Zecheng heard her denial, the pain in his heart eased a little, and his tense body also relaxed.

His voice softened a bit.

His fingers gently rubbed her arm, and he asked, “Did I hurt you earlier with my roughness?”

He had indeed been too rough earlier.

She had always been so delicate, and since he rarely came back, his nerves had been on edge for too long. Every time he touched her, he couldn’t help but hurt her.

Su Ruo: …

She had never heard such direct words before!

Her face immediately turned red, and her body shivered.

Her heartbeat, which had just calmed down, was now racing again. It was only then that she realized they were still so close. Her arm was still held by him, and her breath was filled with his scent. The realization made it hard for her to breathe, and she quickly pulled her arm out of his grasp and retreated to the other side of the bed.

This time, Han Zecheng didn’t stop her but allowed her to do as she wished, though his gaze still fixed on her.

Su Ruo retreated to the side.

The quilt was left open, and the cold air outside made her body feel chilly, which helped clear her mind.

She took a deep breath, felt that lying down wasn’t comfortable, and sat up instead. She then met his gaze, gathered her courage, and said with determination, “I’m sorry, it’s me, I’ve been having some problems.”

After gritting her teeth, she continued, “I don’t know what happened. When I woke up today, I forgot everything—the place, the people, and the things here.”

“I only remember that I just turned eighteen, that I was going to university in a few days, but when I woke up, everything changed. I found myself here, in some unknown place, married with a husband and a son. I…”

She shook her head. “So, it wasn’t your fault earlier. I just didn’t remember. I forgot everything about us. I’ve never had… this kind of contact with anyone, so I was a little scared.”

Han Zecheng was stunned.

He had been propped up, watching her, but now he sat up and looked at her for a long time. At first, he didn’t quite understand what she was saying, but then his gaze sharpened, as if trying to see through her.

Even though it was night and there was no light, he was an excellent soldier with keen night vision, and now every expression on her face was clearly visible to him.

He suppressed the emotions rising in his heart and said in a cryptic tone, “If you don’t want me to touch you, there’s no need to make up such a reason. You know I would never force you.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “Even if you want a divorce, I wouldn’t refuse.”

His voice grew colder.

Su Ruo knew he didn’t believe her.

He thought she was just making up an excuse to avoid his touch.

This made her feel ashamed and wronged.

But she also knew that this situation was indeed hard to believe. Even she couldn’t believe it. His reaction was completely normal.

She curled her knees, hugged them, and murmured, “I know this sounds unbelievable. I didn’t believe it myself. From the moment I woke up until now, I’ve been hoping that none of this is real.”

“Clearly, I was just sleeping at home. I remember it very clearly—it was August 22, 1972. I was packing my things, and in a few days, I was supposed to go to Qingda University in the provincial capital to start a new life. But after one sleep, I woke up like this… I don’t remember anything. I only found a few bits of information in my notebook, enough to figure out what happened between 1972 and now, 1977.”

“I wish so badly that all of this was fake, that I could sleep again and wake up back in my own room. That in a few days, I’d be going to university… That this was all just a nightmare.”

As she spoke, her heart ached, and tears fell uncontrollably again.

God knew how happy she had been when she received the university admission letter—because it meant she could finally begin a new life.

She could finally stop living under the same roof as Lin Wanhua and Su Jia.

But now what had happened?

Su Jia had taken her place and gone to university.

Her father had severed ties with her.

She had been sent to the countryside as an educated youth and had even married a man… And this couldn’t even be blamed on someone else—it was very likely that she had seduced him herself in an attempt to change her fate, and then hadn’t even treated him properly afterward…

Her life had turned completely upside down, and even her character might now be in question.

Su Ruo sobbed in suppressed grief.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when a hand reached out to her. She looked up and saw him handing her something—it looked like a handkerchief.

Su Ruo took it and wiped her face, saying, “I’m sorry.”

Though she didn’t really know why she was apologizing.

Then she heard him say, “You don’t have to cry anymore. I believe you.”

Huh?

Su Ruo was stunned and turned her head to look at him.

In the darkness, she couldn’t clearly see his expression, but she could feel it was likely very somber.

This so-called “believe” probably didn’t mean he truly believed her, right?

After crying, Su Ruo slowly sobered up.

She also began to fully realize the situation she was now in.