In this era, many people decided on relationships after just one meeting.
But they had already seen each other so many times—it wasn’t too fast.
If you liked someone, you had to be brave and pursue them.
Xu Chengan was the first person Lu Wan had ever liked in twenty years.
She didn’t want to miss this chance.
Xu Chengan looked into her eyes, so clear and bright, like a spring of water drawing him in.
His breath stopped, and his whole body tensed.
That day when she had rushed into his arms flashed through his mind, her warmth flooding him, making his body burn as if on fire.
He instinctively tried to pull away from her hands. “You—”
Just saying one word, he realized his voice had gone hoarse, almost as if it was aflame—he could barely speak.
But Lu Wan pressed her advantage, throwing herself fully into his embrace, arms wrapped around his waist.
The moment they touched, he stiffened, but her hold on his waist felt so comfortable—lean but strong.
Her clothes carried no trace of sweat, only the fragrance of soap dried in the sun.
“Let go!” Xu Chengan was sweating all over, his voice rough.
“Nooo! You promised to date me, then I’ll let go!”
“Let go!”
If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t even bother talking—one over-the-shoulder throw would solve it all.
But with her… he couldn’t bear it.
Not just a throw—he worried even pushing her might hurt her with his strength.
“Xu Chengan, I really like you. I liked you the first time I saw you. Will you date me?”
“I like your eyebrows, I like your eyes. I want to hug you, to act spoiled in your arms.”
“These past few days, when you didn’t come by, I didn’t want to eat, didn’t want to sleep—I just thought about you.”
…
Words of affection flowed from Lu Wan’s mouth freely. She had never dated before, and never spoken like this—but now she suddenly could.
Her delicate face lifted from his chest, wanting to see his expression. “Your heart is beating so fast… do you like me too?”
“Look at me! I don’t believe your eyes are empty.”
Xu Chengan’s Adam’s apple moved. He was at the prime of youth.
He had always thought his will was steel-strong, able to withstand anything.
But now, he wasn’t so sure.
Tonight, he would write a self-reflection report to his superiors.
She was right—his thoughts about her weren’t entirely innocent.
The reason he had checked her records so thoroughly was to confirm her identity was legitimate.
Although he hadn’t gone further, he had acted in his own way.
And he wasn’t like this with everyone.
Xu Chengan could feel his body changing beyond his control.
If she pressed any closer, something serious could happen.
He had never met such a bold girl before.
His heartbeat quickened, veins bulging in his arms.
Her warm, sweet scent was torture to him.
He felt as if his blood was about to solidify.
Xu Chengan’s Adam’s apple moved, his voice hoarse. “Do you really want to date me?”
Lu Wan nodded firmly. “Yes! Of course! I…”
“Alright,” Xu Chengan said, looking at her, his chest pounding violently, eyes tinged with red. “Then we’ll date.”
Lu Wan’s eyes sparkled with joy as she stared at him. “Can I kiss you? Is that okay?”
Before he could respond, she stood on tiptoe and lightly kissed his chin.
It was soft, quick.
Xu Chengan only felt that soft touch graze his skin and leave.
But in that instant, his body stiffened even more, his instinct urging him to pull her into his arms.
Still, he restrained himself.
He was afraid he might lose control.
Tonight, he not only had to write a self-reflection, he would have to submit a marriage report.
Lu Wan pouted in complaint. “You’re so tall, I can barely reach.”
She wasn’t short herself—about 1.66 meters—but with her proportions, she looked almost 1.7 meters.
Yet standing in front of him like this, reaching for a kiss meant tiptoeing. Last time she thought he was about 1.85 meters, but now… he seemed almost 1.9 meters.
Xu Chengan’s mind was full of that kiss and the marriage report. When she suddenly complained about his height, he instinctively apologized.
Lu Wan froze at first, then laughed.
It was the first time someone had apologized for being too tall.
“You’re so cute! I really like you!”
Hearing her say that made something in his chest feel like it was about to burst.
He loved hearing her say she liked him.
Lu Wan pecked his chin lightly again.
Xu Chengan felt like he was about to explode.
His breathing was hot, eyes full of desire.
He couldn’t resist leaning down to taste her lips.
“Are you hungry? I can cook for you, okay?” Lu Wan’s face was all smiles, looking sweet and delicate.
Xu Chengan’s Adam’s apple moved, a single word escaping: “Mm!”
Hungry—he was so hungry.
He wished he could devour her right then.
“Wait a bit, it’ll be ready soon,” Lu Wan said, wanting to make him happy.
But she couldn’t let him into the kitchen.
He couldn’t discover the things in her secret space.
Besides, she wasn’t yet skilled at using this stove.
Without modern tools, her cooking wasn’t impressive.
But there were dumplings in the space, along with fresh vegetables and fruits.
She could boil dumplings and stir-fry some vegetables without issue.
Actually, electric rice cookers existed in that era, but not yet sold in small towns. Washing machines didn’t exist either.
If only she could make a trip to the provincial city—she could get all these tools and it would ease her burden.
The coal stove was tricky to control—the dumplings were slightly soft, the stir-fried vegetables cooked a bit long due to weak firepower, not looking very appealing.
While Lu Wan cooked, Xu Chengan checked the yard for safety. A glass pane in the storage room needed replacing, and the surrounding wall needed to be raised for security.
Her room…
He only glanced at her bedroom from the living room—he didn’t enter.
A young lady’s private room—without her permission, he couldn’t just barge in.
It would be too abrupt.
The room had changed completely.
The curtains were pink, fluttering lightly in the breeze.
A canopy hung over the bed, and the bedding was folded casually.
Although the arrangement was a bit messy, the room carried her presence.
It was very warm and cozy.
“Officer Xu, dinner’s ready!” Lu Wan brought in the dumplings.
Xu Chengan hurried to take them, as if he couldn’t believe she had made dumplings so quickly.
Lu Wan had also stir-fried some greens, tomato and scrambled eggs, and cut a plate of fruit.
This was all she could make today. Her appetite wasn’t large—it was mostly for Xu Chengan.
Lu Wan picked up a dumpling and fed it to Xu Chengan: “Try it!”
The dumplings were made by the housemaid, plenty to last a long time. She wasn’t worried they’d be crushed.
In all his memory, no one had ever fed him food.
“Is it good?”
“Delicious.”
It was the best dumpling he had ever eaten.
“Then you feed me too!” Lu Wan leaned closer to him with her little face.