The man’s voice was clean and clear, like a crystal stream washing away every speck of dust from one’s heart.
“Everyone, stop.”
The burly man impatiently looked up, but his expression instantly turned fawning. With a flattering smile, he said, “So it’s Commander Huo! Is there something you need?”
Jiang Zhinian followed his gaze.
The person who had spoken was a young man in military uniform, seemingly only in his early twenties.
Although he was a soldier, his temperament was gentle and refined, lacking the stern, intimidating aura commonly associated with military officers.
“You’re operating a black market in open defiance of the law. This place is being shut down,” the man said calmly.
“What? Commander Huo, i-it’s me, Little Biao! You saw me just the other day!”
The burly man immediately wilted and hurriedly defended himself. “Our market has always followed the rules! I don’t even know where these people came from. I’ll have someone drive them away right now…”
Jiang Zhinian stood to one side, smiling happily.
Just moments ago, the arrogant “Brother Biao” had suddenly become “Little Biao.”
“No need.”
The young officer waved his hand. Behind him, a squad of well-trained soldiers swiftly surrounded the entire alley.
Despite Brother Biao’s loud but utterly futile protests of innocence, the black market was officially shut down for business.
As evening gradually fell, the two of them walked out of the alley side by side.
“My name is Huo Tingyun. If you run into any trouble in the future, you can come find me at the military district.”
The young officer smiled slightly. His handsome face was bathed in the lingering glow of the setting sun, making him especially striking.
“The black market is far more dangerous than you can imagine. Don’t ever come here again.”
Jiang Zhinian obediently nodded. Her beautiful, shimmering eyes held a trace of grievance, making her look like a pitiful little rabbit who couldn’t help but inspire sympathy.
For some reason, Huo Tingyun’s heart suddenly softened.
“It’s getting dark. Let me take you home. Where do you live?”
“Really? You’re so nice!”
Jiang Zhinian’s eyes immediately lit up, and her delicate little face broke into a delighted smile.
According to the information Tuanzi had given her, the Huo Tingyun standing before her was Huo Lin’s younger brother.
If she could build a good relationship with Huo Tingyun, perhaps she could use this opportunity to get closer to Huo Lin.
“Mm. Get in.”
As one of the younger generation of the Huo family, Huo Tingyun had seen plenty of grand occasions. Yet now, he actually felt a little embarrassed and quickly changed the subject.
The military vehicles of this era were entirely dark green, sturdy and imposing.
Jiang Zhinian sat in the passenger seat and stared blankly at the seat belt. Compared with the seat belts of the twenty-first century, this one looked quite different, and she wasn’t sure how to use it.
“Let me help you.”
Seeing the young woman at a loss, the corners of Huo Tingyun’s lips curved into a smile—a smile even he himself didn’t notice.
He leaned toward her and reached over to pull the seat belt into place.
Although his movements were perfectly gentlemanly and he kept a proper distance from her, the faint scent of roses lingering around her still drifted into his nose.
“Are you done?”
Jiang Zhinian tilted her head and softly reminded him.
Huo Tingyun suddenly came back to his senses, only to realize that he had remained leaning toward her the entire time.
A flush crept up his face. He quickly straightened himself and steadied his voice.
“Where do you live?”
Seeing his innocent reaction, Jiang Zhinian’s lips curled upward in an enchanting smile.
“I live in Dormitory Building No. 25 in the military compound. Sorry to trouble you.”
After the original Jiang Zhinian had been beaten to death by a thug with a club in the suburbs, Liu Yuerou had added fuel to the fire, leading the Jiang family to believe that Jiang Zhinian had run away to another city in anger.
Jiang Zhinian therefore had no intention of seeking them out.
Instead, she had stubbornly pestered Huo Lin, pleading and wheedling until she finally convinced him to arrange a small dormitory room for her.
“You live in the compound too?”
Huo Tingyun was somewhat surprised. He had been in the city for quite some time and had been living in the military compound all along, yet he had never seen this young woman before.
“Mm. My name is Jiang Zhinian. Nice to meet you.”
Jiang Zhinian tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Likewise. Nice to meet you.”
The car started moving.
Huo Tingyun focused on driving, but he couldn’t help thinking about her name.
Jiang Zhinian…
Why did it sound somewhat familiar?
Could she be the daughter of one of the senior officers in the military district?
If only he had paid a little more attention to the gossip constantly flying around the military compound, he would have known that Jiang Zhinian was the supposedly wicked, venomous beauty who had abused his elder brother for years.
There weren’t many cars in this era, so it didn’t take long for them to arrive downstairs.
However, before the vehicle had even come to a complete stop, an old-fashioned electric fan suddenly fell from above.
Bang!
It crashed violently onto the hood of the car.
In an instant, the windshield shattered, sending countless sharp fragments flying in every direction.
“Tuanzi! Tuanzi, save me! Your gorgeous host is about to be disfigured!”
Jiang Zhinian frantically called out to the system in her mind.
【Host Niannian, I’m sorry. Tuanzi can’t activate a protective shield for you. But if your face gets injured, Tuanzi can compensate you with a Beauty and Scar-Removal Pill.】
Tuanzi spoke weakly.
Jiang Zhinian: …
I’m finished.
But in that split second, Huo Tingyun suddenly turned around and used his own back to shield her from the flying shards.
He moved so quickly that Jiang Zhinian only had time to let out a startled cry before he tightly protected her beneath him.
Only after confirming that there was no further danger did Huo Tingyun speak softly.
“It’s all right now. Don’t be afraid. You’re safe.”
Jiang Zhinian hurriedly raised her head.
“Commander Huo, are you hurt?”
She wanted to check his injuries, but Huo Tingyun raised a hand to stop her.
“I’m fine. Let’s get out first.”
After getting out of the car, Jiang Zhinian looked upstairs.
The electric fan had been thrown down from above.
And the second floor was where she lived.
Although the fan had been smashed out of shape, she could still vaguely recognize it.
It was the very fan she had bought just two days ago.
“That little bitch Jiang Zhinian still isn’t back! She must be off fooling around with some wild man again!”
A shrill, vicious female voice came from the open window, filled with gritted fury.
Huo Tingyun’s expression immediately darkened.
As intelligent as he was, he had already figured out what was going on.
Before Jiang Zhinian could react, he strode upstairs, completely forgetting his earlier intention to leave as soon as he had dropped her off.
Upstairs, Li Chunfang stood outside Jiang Zhinian’s door with her hands on her hips, looking as proud and aggressive as a rooster ready for a fight.
When she heard someone coming upstairs, she instinctively assumed Jiang Zhinian had returned. Her mouth immediately started running.
“Oh, look who’s finally back. You little vixen! What, that wild man of yours didn’t keep you for the night?”
But to her surprise, the person coming upstairs was a tall, handsome young man in military uniform.
Judging from his insignia, he was a regimental commander.
She didn’t even have time to wipe the domineering expression off her face, leaving her looking utterly ridiculous.
“Who gave you the right to make such a disturbance outside Jiang Zhinian’s home, break into her residence, and throw her belongings around?”
Huo Tingyun stopped in front of her, his expression stern.
“I-I-I…”
Li Chunfang stammered for a long time but couldn’t manage a complete sentence.
She had already figured it out.
This regimental commander must be that little vixen Jiang Zhinian’s lover, here to stand up for her.
Her own good-for-nothing husband was only an ordinary soldier. How could she possibly dare to offend a regimental commander?
“Commander, Jiang Zhinian… she seduced my husband! I caught her, but she refused to repent. I was only trying to teach her a lesson!”