Chapter 36: Entanglement

Zheng Jiahe immediately dropped his bicycle when he saw what was happening.

He quickly stepped in to block her path and grabbed her wrist, looking at her with heartfelt sincerity.

“Nian Nian, you didn’t mean what you said just now, right? If you think the betrothal gift was too little, we can renegotiate. Or if there’s anything you want, just tell me—I’ll make it happen.”

A crowd of onlookers began to gather, watching the two of them tugging at each other. Their eyes were wide with curiosity, and no one was in a hurry to go home anymore. They grouped up, whispering and gossiping among themselves.

“Isn’t that the Wen family’s adopted daughter? She’s really quite good-looking.”

“Exactly. No wonder she dared ask for such an outrageous bride price—888 yuan from the Zheng family!”

The middle-aged woman speaking clearly sided with the Zhengs, her tone full of disdain.

Everyone gasped in unison.

“Heavens! That much? Wen Jiancheng really struck gold.”

Another woman clicked her tongue in shock. What a deal—the girl had been tossed to the countryside for over a decade without being raised properly, and now she’d fetched such a sky-high price.

Back then, a typical worker made just a few dozen yuan a month.

Even with the steel factory’s slightly higher wages, saving up such a hefty bride price would take years of scrimping and saving.

“That’s not even all of it. I heard she also got the ‘three-turns-and-a-ring,’ plus thirty-six legs!”

“I also heard that once she marries into the Zheng family, they’ll transfer her household registration and even arrange a job for her.”

Someone in the know couldn’t resist chiming in, and the crowd exploded into louder chatter.

Ever since a flood of urban youths had returned to Beijing, finding work had become incredibly difficult. Jobs were more scarce than gold.

This girl from the Wen family must have hit the jackpot to land a marriage like that.

And she really was beautiful.

With her delicate face, a curvy figure front and back—one look at that backside and you could tell she’d be great for childbirth.

Not just men; even the other women couldn’t help but feel jealous.

Surrounded by a bunch of middle-aged women picking her apart like a piece of merchandise, Wen Nian felt utterly irritated.

Especially those appraising stares—it made her skin crawl.

Her patience was wearing thin.

And the man in front of her clearly didn’t understand human language and still had the audacity to put his hands on her.

Wen Nian yanked her arm free forcefully.

“Zheng Jiahe, I wasn’t just saying things out of anger. I don’t want your bride price, and I don’t care for anything you have to offer. I don’t like you at all, so please stay away from me from now on—got it?”

She rubbed her sore wrist, her expression serious and her tone firm.

Then she added:

“Also, that engagement was arranged in private by Chen Qiuwei and the others without my consent. That’s a forced marriage.”

With that, she angrily shoved her way through the crowd and walked off.

Leaving behind Zheng Jiahe, whose face flushed and darkened as he stood frozen in place, unable to move.

The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances.

“Did I hear that right? Is that Wen girl out of her mind?”

“No kidding! With a catch like Zheng Jiahe, and she turns her nose up? What, does she think she’s royalty or something?”

“Exactly. A country bumpkin with no real education—sure, she’s pretty, but being able to marry into the Zheng family is the luckiest break she’ll ever get.”

“What’s all this fuss about forced marriages? Since ancient times, haven’t parents always made the marriage decisions?”

Seeing that the drama was over, the crowd quickly dispersed and headed back to their homes.

Wen Nian gritted her teeth, furious. She wanted nothing more than to drag Wen Jiancheng and Chen Qiuwei to the ground and rub their faces into the dirt.

Those two clingy parasites.

Absolutely infuriating.

In a foul mood, Wen Nian walked with her head down. When she spotted a small rock on the ground, she kicked it hard, venting her anger.

The stone flew in a perfect arc and rolled several times until it bumped against the boot of a man in military uniform.

Wen Nian’s heart sank. Crap. Trouble.

She looked up—and a tall, imposing figure came into view.

The man was casually leaning against a jeep, his cold, handsome features as calm and unshakable as ever. His eyes locked onto hers with an unreadable expression.

Like a baby bird rushing into its nest, Wen Nian didn’t hesitate—she ran straight into his arms.

Her eyes lit up with joy and surprise.

“What are you doing here?”

Lu Hanzheng immediately pulled her away and said in a low voice,
“Watch your behavior.”

Wen Nian pouted. “Okay, okay!”

Such a rigid iron man.

“Get in the car.”

Lu Hanzheng opened the passenger side door and gestured for her to get in.

Wen Nian happily climbed in.

The moment she saw that handsome face, all her earlier frustration vanished without a trace.

“Who were you talking to just now?”

Lu Hanzheng held the steering wheel with one hand, the other tapping lightly as he asked casually.

Wen Nian’s heart skipped a beat—did he see her tussling with Zheng Jiahe?

She sneaked a glance at him. His expression was calm, his tone sounded indifferent.

Didn’t seem like he was angry.

Wen Nian replied nonchalantly,
“I happened to run into Comrade Zheng, just said a quick hello.”

Zheng Jiahe couldn’t get into the military compound anyway. Even if he wanted to bother her again, he wouldn’t get the chance.

“Just said hello?”

Lu Hanzheng’s tone didn’t change, but he continued to press subtly.

Wen Nian hesitated slightly, then nodded.

After all, this was the original female supporting character’s household.

She had taken on her identity, and Lu Hanzheng had already helped her avoid being forced to marry a domestic abuser.

Once her household registration issue was resolved, whether the original girl came back or not, she planned to leave.

She never cared about the mess that was the Wen family.

As long as they didn’t come provoking her, she couldn’t be bothered to deal with them.

Lu Hanzheng gave her a faint glance, then said nothing more, focusing on driving.

But the air in the car suddenly felt inexplicably heavy.

Wen Nian peeked at him again.

The man rested his left arm against the window, casually gripping the steering wheel with his right hand. His expression remained unchanged.

His aura was always unpredictable.

He was just fine a moment ago.

Lu Hanzheng drove the jeep all the way into the military compound.

Wen Nian thought he was just dropping her off, but to her surprise, when she turned around, the man had followed her in.

“Don’t cook. Come eat.”

Wen Nian was stunned for a moment, then looked at the row of food containers laid neatly on the table.

Sweet and sour ribs, braised ribbonfish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and even a box of delicate pastries.

Warm dishes filled the air with a rich aroma.

All her favorites.

With one glance, Wen Nian knew these were from that restaurant she’d eaten at in the alley last time.

She didn’t know food could even be packed to-go in this era.

Wen Nian’s face lit up with delight. Ever since she ate there, she hadn’t been able to forget the taste.

Especially the pastries.

She thought he’d just happened to pass by—but he came just to bring her food?

Wen Nian beamed brightly, her eyes brimming with joy.

She spoke with cheerful surprise,
“You bought these just for me?”

The man served her a steaming bowl of fluffy white rice and placed it in front of her.

Hearing her question, he coughed lightly, straightened his uniform, and avoided her gaze.

“Eat while it’s hot.”

Wen Nian’s heart was filled with joy.

It felt pretty great to be cared for like this.

She reached for another set of bowls and chopsticks to serve him some rice too, but he stopped her.

He said he had already eaten at the cafeteria.Lu Hanzheng immediately pulled her away and said in a deep voice,
“Be mindful of your behavior.”

Wen Nian pouted. “Okay, fine!”

Such a stiff, uptight man of steel.

“Get in.”

Lu Hanzheng opened the front passenger door and motioned for her to get in.

Wen Nian happily climbed into the seat.

The moment she saw that handsome face of his, all her earlier frustration vanished into thin air.

“Who were you talking to just now?”

Lu Hanzheng held the steering wheel with one hand, casually tapping with the other as he asked in a laid-back tone.

Wen Nian’s heart skipped a beat—did he see her struggling with Zheng Jiahe earlier?

She snuck a glance at him. The man looked calm and composed, and his tone was light and indifferent.

Didn’t sound like he was angry.

Wen Nian answered casually,
“Just happened to bump into Comrade Zheng and said hello.”

Zheng Jiahe couldn’t get into the military compound anyway, so he wouldn’t have a chance to pester her in the future.

“Just said hello?”

Lu Hanzheng continued to probe without changing his expression.

Wen Nian hesitated for a moment but nodded anyway.

After all, this was the original supporting female lead’s family.

She had taken over that identity, and he had helped her escape a future of marrying a violent man.

Once her household registration issue was sorted out, whether the original girl returned or not, she would be leaving.

She had no interest in the messy affairs of the Wen family.

As long as they didn’t bother her, she couldn’t care less.

Lu Hanzheng gave her a faint glance but didn’t say anything else. He focused on driving.

Still, the atmosphere in the car suddenly felt heavy and oddly familiar.

Wen Nian sneaked a peek at him. The man had one arm resting casually against the window, the other loosely gripping the steering wheel, his expression unchanged.

This man’s aura was always hard to grasp.

He was fine just a moment ago.

Lu Hanzheng drove the jeep all the way into the military compound.

Wen Nian thought he was just dropping her off, but to her surprise, when she turned around, he had followed her inside.

“Don’t bother cooking. Come eat.”

Wen Nian was momentarily stunned, then looked at the food containers neatly arranged on the table.

There were sweet and sour pork ribs, braised ribbonfish, stir-fried vegetables, and even a box of delicate pastries.

The hot food gave off a rich and mouthwatering aroma.

All her favorites.

With just a glance, Wen Nian could tell these dishes were from the same restaurant she had eaten at in that alley last time.

She hadn’t known that in this era, you could even get food packed to-go.

Wen Nian’s face lit up with surprise. After eating there once, she couldn’t stop thinking about their food—
especially the pastries.

She had thought he was just passing by, but now it seemed he had come just to bring her something delicious.

Wen Nian lifted her face with a bright smile, her eyes full of joy, nearly overflowing.

She spoke excitedly,
“You bought this just for me?”

The man scooped a bowl of steaming hot white rice and placed it in front of her.

Hearing her question, he looked down, gave a dry cough, adjusted his uniform, and avoided her gaze.

“Eat it while it’s hot.”

Wen Nian felt warm and fuzzy inside.

It really wasn’t a bad feeling to be cared about like this.

She reached for an extra set of utensils and was about to serve him some rice too, but he stopped her—

Said he had already eaten at the cafeteria.