Huo Lin fiercely captured her delicate, rosy lips between his own. His cool, clean scent washed over her, yet he made no further move.
Jiang Zhinian secretly found it amusing.
Who would have thought that Commander Huo—a twenty-seven-year-old, top-tier eligible bachelor—didn’t even know how to kiss?
She had no actual experience either, but even if she’d never eaten pork, she’d at least seen pigs run, right? As a loyal movie fan from the twenty-first century, she’d certainly seen plenty of kissing scenes.
Her nimble little tongue took the initiative, slipping past his teeth and tangling with his.
As if deeply provoked, Huo Lin’s breathing suddenly grew heavy. The large hand around her waist tightened and tightened, as though he wanted to crush her into pieces.
Men always learned kissing techniques surprisingly quickly.
As their lips pressed and rubbed together, Huo Lin soon began taking the initiative himself.
His tongue slipped into her cherry-red mouth, leisurely and unhurriedly exploring every inch of it like a king inspecting his territory.
Only when the faint taste of blood spread between them did Huo Lin finally release the woman in his arms.
All the strength seemed to drain from Jiang Zhinian’s body. She went limp against his chest as a tingling sensation spread from her swollen lips throughout her entire body.
She took back what she’d said about Huo Lin not knowing how to kiss!
He learned far too quickly. Give him a few more chances, and he’d become a complete expert!
[Congratulations, Host! Congratulations! This kiss lasted ten minutes and earned you thirty days of life!]
Tuanzi shrieked happily from inside its little dark room.
As a system dedicated to healthy physical and mental development, it would conscientiously retreat into its little dark room whenever its host and the male lead kissed, hugged, or got handsy.
“What? Did I hear that right? Why did I only get thirty days of life?” Jiang Zhinian’s temper immediately flared.
[Reporting to Host Niannian, the exchange rate for life points is different every time. It has to be evaluated by the system’s mechanism!]
Tuanzi sounded a little guilty.
Even though it was merely an intangible system, it thought this rule was rather unfair.
Jiang Zhinian: “…”
Was it still too late to quit?
Ah, forget it.
The twenty-first-century version of herself was already dead anyway.
Now she was alive, and she even got to kiss handsome men. That was already a pretty good deal.
“Daydreaming?”
A storm churned in Huo Lin’s dark eyes. His rough thumb pressed against her reddened, swollen lips, gently stroking them.
Are you thinking about Huo Tingyun?
A fine, prickling pain rose in his heart—painful and itchy all at once.
“Between him and me, who makes you feel better when kissing?”
What?
Did this man think she’d already kissed Huo Tingyun?
Well, that worked out perfectly.
Jiang Zhinian put on a thoughtful expression.
“Huo Tingyun, I suppose. He’s gentler, and he’s better at French kissing than you are. Every time, he makes me feel very good.”
The finger caressing her lips suddenly stopped.
The look in Huo Lin’s eyes was so fierce that he seemed ready to swallow her whole.
Jiang Zhinian had no doubt that if he had a gun in his hand right now, Commander Huo would have shot her a hundred times already.
What she didn’t realize was that she herself looked as though she’d just been thoroughly ravished.
The corners of her eyes were faintly red, and a misty sheen covered her alluring eyes, making her utterly seductive.
Seeing that Huo Lin remained silent, she stuck out her tongue and licked her lips, deliberately brushing his fingertip where it rested against them.
The soft, warm touch against his finger sent a tremor through his heart.
Huo Lin’s arm around her waist tightened even more. She was already pressed tightly against his strong, muscular body.
“Break up with Huo Tingyun.”
Hmm?
Shouldn’t he have slapped her at a time like this, angrily called her shameless, and then suddenly realized how pure and precious the heroine, Liu Yuerou, was?
Huo Lin really didn’t follow the usual script.
Jiang Zhinian blinked innocently and smiled.
“No way. Since you refuse to marry me, marrying Huo Tingyun isn’t a bad option either.”
“You want to marry into the Huo family that badly?”
“Of course. The Huo family is the most powerful family in Huaguo.”
Stars of longing practically sparkled in Jiang Zhinian’s eyes as she did her best to portray herself as a shameless gold-digger.
“Besides, it would make it easier for me to get close to you, my dear~ big~ brother~”
Huo Lin: “…”
So she wanted to play something forbidden with him?
His thin lips curled slightly, and his voice turned even colder.
“Jiang Zhinian, I’m warning you one last time. Stay away from me.”
Jiang Zhinian smiled, looking both charming and sweet.
“Big Brother, look carefully. Who’s the one holding onto me and refusing to let go right now?”
As she spoke, her slender, pale finger touched the man’s chest and slowly slid downward.
Even through the layer of his military uniform, her touch sent an electric current through him, leaving a tingling sensation that traveled straight to his lower abdomen.
Huo Lin’s gaze darkened instantly.
The hand imprisoning her waist loosened as well.
“All right, Big Brother. I’m going to find my boyfriend now.”
Even under the pressure of the man’s overwhelming presence, Jiang Zhinian wasn’t the least bit afraid. She opened the door and swaggered out.
Huo Lin remained standing there without moving.
His dark eyes stayed fixed on the door for a long while, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Downstairs, Huo Tingyun looked curiously at the late-arriving Jiang Zhinian.
“Niannian, why did you take so long?”
Jiang Zhinian waved her hand.
“Nothing. I just had a little chat with Big Brother.”
Huo Tingyun was far too innocent and immediately believed her.
“All right. But what happened to your lips? Why are they so swollen?”
“A mosquito bit me. It hurts and itches.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Zhinian noticed Gu Nuannuan glaring viciously at her. Deliberately, she moved closer to Huo Tingyun.
“Mm. I’ll get you some ointment later.”
A flash of concern appeared in Huo Tingyun’s eyes.
I didn’t realize Niannian was so delicate. I should bring some insect repellent to her house in the future.
Near the end of the banquet, Huo Lin finally came downstairs.
Jiang Zhinian was sitting with Old Marshal Huo, playing chess with him, looking perfectly obedient.
Old Huo, who was normally stern and rarely smiled, was laughing heartily now. Even his grizzled eyebrows trembled with amusement.
Huo Lin raised an eyebrow.
It seemed this woman was not only good at teasing him—she had quite a few tricks up her sleeve.
As the final chess piece fell, Jiang Zhinian smiled.
“Grandpa is amazing. I lost again.”
Old Huo deliberately put on a stern face.
“You little girl, you’re letting me win again.”
“Not at all. Grandpa’s chess skills are superb. If I want to beat you, I’m afraid I’ll need at least another ten years of practice.”
Old Huo could no longer maintain his stern expression. His face softened with affection as he waved to a servant behind him.
“Bring up the gift I prepared for Niannian.”
An antique sandalwood box was immediately presented to Jiang Zhinian. Delicate floral patterns were carved into its openwork lid.
Jiang Zhinian carefully opened it.
Resting quietly on elegant velvet fabric was a jade bangle of a flawless emerald green.
Its texture was smooth and lustrous. Under the light, its green hue resembled a crescent-shaped lake—or perhaps a dense, verdant forest.
One look was enough to tell that it was priceless.
[Wow, treasure!]
Tuanzi excitedly rolled over twice.
[Host Niannian, this is a Song Dynasty jade bangle carved with dragons! Even in this era, it could fetch ten million at auction!]
That expensive?
Jiang Zhinian was somewhat shocked.
“Grandpa, this is far too valuable. I can’t accept it.”
Old Marshal Huo continued smiling warmly.
“It’s an heirloom. It’s not worth much. I’ve already decided that you’re my second branch’s future granddaughter-in-law, so I’m simply giving it to you as a keepsake.”
The moment those words were spoken, everyone’s expression changed.
But Huo Lin was the first to speak.