With a soft click of the lock, the tense confrontation in the room instantly dissolved — replaced by an even more dangerous silence.
Su Man still had her face buried in Lu Zhan’s chest.
The tip of her nose was filled with his scent — tobacco, soapberry, and male musk. It made her feel safe… yet also uneasy.
The crisis was over.
But a new one had just begun.
Because she clearly felt the arm holding her: muscles hard as stone, tightening little by little.
Not a gentle embrace.
More like he wanted to strangle her.
“Finished acting?”
Lu Zhan’s emotionless voice sounded above her head.
Su Man froze.
She slowly raised her head and met his unfathomably dark eyes.
All the affection and protectiveness from before had vanished.Only naked scrutiny, ridicule, and irritation at being manipulated remained.
She tactfully let go and tried to step out of his arms.
“Thank you, Commander, for cooperating.” She forced a flattering smile, voice trembling. “It was urgent… I had no choice.”
“No choice?”
Lu Zhan sneered.
He didn’t release her. Instead he stepped forward and slammed her against the wardrobe door.
Bang!
Her back hit the wood and she groaned in pain.
The military coat slipped off, revealing the oversized white shirt and her trembling long legs.
Distance between them: zero.
Lu Zhan braced one hand beside her ear, his tall body completely caging her in with overwhelming pressure.
“You called me ‘Zhan-ge’ pretty smoothly.”
He lowered his head, hot breath brushing her face, tone dangerous.
“Throwing yourself at me, hinting I should cooperate. Su Man — do you think I’m an idiot you can play with?”
Su Man shrank back, not daring to meet his eyes.
“I didn’t mean that…”
“Then what did you mean?”
His fingers suddenly pinched her chin, forcing her to look up.
His gaze roamed over her — wet hair, collarbone beneath the neckline, then her pale legs.
There was no restraint now. Only aggression.
“In front of the commissar you said I’m your man.”
“Since you said it, wouldn’t it be a waste if I didn’t do something to match that performance?”
Her heart skipped.
She saw fire in his eyes — raw male desire.
“Commander… you’re joking…” She pushed against his chest, panicked.
Her strength was nothing to him.
“Joking?”
He laughed coldly and grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head to the cabinet.
“I never joke.”
Then he suddenly released her and strode to the desk.
She thought he would let her go — just as she relaxed, she slid down the wardrobe.
But the next second she saw him pull out paper and pen.
Scratch scratch.
He finished writing quickly.
Then he opened the drawer again and took out a dark pistol.
Thud!
The heavy Type-54 handgun slammed onto the table.
Beside it — the paper he had written.
Leaning against the desk, flicking a lighter, his face lit by the shifting flame, he said:
“Come here.”
Su Man’s legs nearly gave out at the sight of the gun.
She limped over.
On the paper were six bold words:
“Marriage Application Report.”
Applicant: Lu ZhanMarriage Partner: Su Man
She looked up in shock. “This is—”
“You heard the commissar.”
He exhaled smoke calmly.
“In the army, words aren’t jokes. Since I said you’re my partner, then you can only be my partner.”
“But… that was just to drive away my stepmother! We don’t have feelings — how can we marry?”
She wanted protection — his influence.
Not to marry him for real.
This was a 1970s military marriage — once married, impossible to divorce. And he was a famously cold “living Yama.” Escaping one hell just to enter another?
“Feelings?”
He sounded amused.
He tapped the pistol lightly on the table.
“Understand your situation.”
“First — everyone in the compound now believes you’re Captain Lu’s fiancée. Refuse, and you’ve deceived the organization. That’s ten years in prison.”
“Second — your stepmother hasn’t gone far. Step outside or deny our relationship tomorrow, she’ll tie you up and sell you to that fool.”
He paused. The gun lifted slightly — not aimed, but threatening.
“Third.”
He stepped closer, voice low and husky.
“You saw me naked, touched me, slept in my room.”
“Ruined my reputation and now want to walk away?”
“There’s no such cheap deal.”
She backed up until the desk stopped her.
“Th-then what do you want…”
He put the pen in her hand and pointed to the paper.
“Sign it.”
Like issuing a combat order.
“You’ll be Mrs. Lu. No one here will dare touch you — including your stepmother.”
“I’ll feed you and give you shelter.”
He leaned to her ear and added wickedly:
“In return… you fulfill a wife’s duties.”
“Cooking, laundry… and warming the bed.”
Her face flushed red — anger and embarrassment.
This man was a bandit!
“I won’t sign!” She threw the pen down. “This is coercion! There has to be law!”
Lu Zhan watched her flare up and a faint smile appeared.
Interesting.
Rabbit claws finally out.
He calmly picked up the pistol and racked the slide.
Click.
The chambering sound pierced the night.
He set it beside the application.
“You don’t have to sign.”
“The door’s there.”
“But Zhao Guihua is waiting outside the compound. If you prefer that idiot over me — go ahead.”
Su Man froze.
Beyond the green door she imagined Zhao Guihua’s face… the drooling fool… the rope waiting to strangle her.
That was hell.
This man—
Dangerous, domineering, cold…
But he had protected her.
And… he was good-looking.
She inhaled deeply.
A gamble.
Win — she could survive this era, build a life, study, do business.
Lose — she’d already died once before.
She closed her eyes.
When she opened them, fear was gone — replaced by resolve.
She picked up the pen.
“Lu Zhan.”
Her voice steady now.
“I can sign. But I have conditions.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Speak.”
“We marry, but you can’t force me. Until I agree — separate beds. Publicly husband and wife, privately partners.”
She gambled on his pride.
Lu Zhan looked at her bright eyes and suddenly smiled — less violent, more wicked.
“Fine.”
“I don’t lack women, nor interest in forcing an undergrown girl.”
She glared — undergrown? She clearly wasn’t!
She angrily signed her name.
The pen pressed deep into the paper.
He blew the ink dry and put it away.
Then he stored the gun and tossed a quilt to the floor.
“You take the bed.”
She blinked. “You?”
He lay down on the floor, arms behind head.
“The floor’s cold.”
“If you die sick, my marriage report is wasted.”
Holding the quilt, she looked at his tall figure.
The rain had stopped.
Moonlight illuminated his sharp face.
Her heart settled strangely.
This “living Yama”… wasn’t so terrifying after all.
What she didn’t know —
In the dark, Lu Zhan wasn’t asleep.
Listening to her turning on the bed, he smiled faintly.
Separate beds? Partnership?
Heh.
Once inside the wolf’s den — escaping whole won’t be easy.
They had plenty of time.