Just thinking about it made him feel a bit frustrated. Even in the army, some of the performers liked him, but he didn’t care for them at all.
He had known since childhood what he wanted. If it weren’t for his grandparents getting older, he wouldn’t have agreed to a matchmaking meeting. It was his own fault—at this age, he still made his grandparents worry about him.
Thinking about the little girl’s inner voice made him ache. Why did he trust her so completely?
It was simple—she didn’t even know him, and it was her heart’s voice, not something she had spoken aloud. She didn’t even know that he could hear it.
So Su Sinian chose to believe in its existence rather than doubt it. Once he got the dragon-shaped jade pendant and drew blood to claim it, if there really was a system and space inside, then the girl’s inner voice would be correct.
As soon as he got home, he saw his grandmother in the courtyard, peering through her reading glasses as she stitched shoe soles.
“Grandma, take a break. Your eyes might get damaged like this.”
His grandmother looked up and saw her grandson return. She was delighted and put the shoe sole in her sewing basket.
“Oh, Sinian is back. Have you eaten? Grandma can cook you some noodles.”
Seeing her outstanding grandson return, her eyes were full of joy.
Grandma Su had also lived a difficult life. Grandpa Su had been a soldier, following the army in his youth, and that was when she met him.
Although Grandma Su wasn’t from a wealthy family, she came from a scholarly household. Her parents were both university professors. Luckily, when the troubles came, her parents had already retired and were living quietly at home.
Otherwise, her parents might have been targeted and sent away. The past two years, both her parents had passed. Now her family had only a younger brother and a few nephews, all working in government departments.
Although her brother and nephews didn’t hold high positions, their jobs were relatively secure.
Grandma Su had three sons and one daughter. Her eldest son was lost during the war. The second son and youngest daughter both joined the army and tragically died on the battlefield.
The only survivors who married and had children were Su Sinian’s father and Su Jingwen, the third child of the Su family. Su Sinian’s mother was Su Jingwen’s junior from university.
They fell in love at first sight, married quickly, and had a child. When Su Sinian was two years old, on the way home from work, they encountered Dieter, who they eliminated.
By the time Grandpa and Grandma Su found out, the couple’s bodies were already in the hospital morgue.
Grandpa Su, a native of Shanghai, had retired and returned home to enjoy his old age. People said their family owned a courtyard with two main gates.
But Grandpa Su was a revolutionary veteran, decorated countless times. Having retired, with a grandson now serving safely in the army, he could enjoy peace in his later years.
Now, the only relative left for the elderly couple was Su Sinian. No wonder that in the previous life, after Su Sinian’s death, his grandparents quickly passed away as well.
Looking at his grandmother’s kind face, Su Sinian thought: whether the little girl’s inner voice was accurate or not, it didn’t matter. He had decided—he wouldn’t attend this matchmaking meeting.
Especially that girl named Jiang Sisi—he didn’t even know her. To change the fate of his previous life, he definitely couldn’t marry her, no matter what the reason.
Su Sinian helped his grandmother into the living room. The two sat on stools, and he carefully poured her a cup of water.
He hesitated, then chose his words carefully: “Grandma, I know you’ve kept a jade pendant, planning to give it to my future wife. That’s true, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s true. It’s been passed down through generations of the Su family. Only by giving this pendant to her does it acknowledge her as a daughter-in-law of the Su family.”
“Xiaonian, why are you asking this all of a sudden? Do you have a girl you like? If so, bring her home for us to meet.”
“No, Grandma. I don’t have a girlfriend yet. I just want to borrow the pendant for a while, okay? I’ll return it in a few days.”
Su Sinian worried that something might happen when he drew blood to claim the pendant, so he asked for a couple of extra days so his grandmother wouldn’t worry.
“You little rascal, why be polite with Grandma? Borrowing a pendant for a bit won’t hurt. After all, it will eventually go to your future wife anyway.”
“I’m getting old, and who knows which day I might leave. Today, I’ll give the pendant to you. When you find a girl you like and she agrees to marry you, then you can give it to her.”
Su Sinian felt a surge of joy. Grandma had given him the pendant early, letting him use it as a token of affection for his future wife. That must be what she meant.
Unsure, he asked Grandma Su directly, and indeed, that was her intention.
Su Sinian easily received the pendant. Just as he was about to go to his room to draw blood and test it, Grandma called him again.
“Xiaonian, you came back just in time. A few days ago, I asked Aunt Li to find a girl for you. She’s from the Jiang family, the daughter returning from the countryside.”
“I heard from Aunt Li that she’s very pretty and just graduated high school. I thought I’d ask you if you want to meet her in the next couple of days.”
“If you’re okay with it, I’ll tell Aunt Li to arrange a time.”
Su Sinian’s heart skipped a beat. This was just like what the little girl had said. If he hadn’t heard her inner voice, he might have agreed to his grandmother immediately. But now…
“Grandma, I already have a girl I like. I’m pursuing her right now, so let’s skip this. Don’t delay any other matchmaking plans.”
“Xiaonian, when will you bring her home so we can have a family meal?”
Grandma Su beamed and stood up. Her grandson was 23, now a full battalion commander. Though still young, he had reached the legal age for marriage.
Many people married at seventeen or eighteen. At his age, children might already be running around.
Her grandson was handsome, 1.85 meters tall, with an impeccable height and work position. She had introduced him to a few girls before, but her stubborn grandson hadn’t met any of them.
In his words: “I’m still young, this is the time to work hard. I don’t want to devote so much energy to a family and children yet.”
Grandma didn’t understand. Married life didn’t prevent someone from striving. She thought he should work even harder for his family—so his future wife and children could have a better life.