“I agree to marry you.”…
“Zhao… Zhao Er Ge, I’m working!” Xu Xia whispered softly.
Yet Zhao Hui found it irritating to hear, thinking back to that phrase that had made his heart flutter, his face growing even darker.
He pulled her to the edge of the sports field, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he realized he had neither the status nor the right to be angry, which only worsened his mood.
Just then, Bai Shijian rushed over. Though confused, it didn’t stop him from scolding, “Zhao Hui, what are you doing? Did this young lady offend you? Little Xu Comrade, are you alright?”
Xu Xia said she was fine, lifting her eyes to look at Zhao Hui, waiting for him to explain.
“Speak up, Old Zhao!” Bai Shijian frowned and asked, “You’re usually quiet, but right now, you can’t just pull a girl aside because she’s pretty. Do you two know each other?”
“Yes,” Zhao Hui admitted. “She’s the Childhood Sweetheart my family arranged for me. Can you step aside for now?”
“What?”
Bai Shijian widened his eyes in disbelief, looking at Xu Xia. Seeing she didn’t deny it, he felt as if the sky were falling. “But wait, friend, didn’t your family say your Childhood Sweetheart wasn’t good-looking, that she was even ugly?”
Xu Xia: ? Where was she ugly?
Zhao Hui took a deep breath. “I’m telling you, can you step aside first? I’ll explain later.”
“No, I—” Before Bai Shijian could finish, Zhao Hui dragged him away and found two people to keep an eye on him. Left with no choice, Bai Shijian could only gaze resentfully at the two figures in the distance.
He didn’t understand—why had Zhao Hui said she wasn’t good-looking when she was so beautiful, and why hadn’t he corrected him later? Zhao Hui had no eye for quality. If it were him, he’d have sealed the engagement immediately and taken her everywhere!
While Bai Shijian was on the verge of tears, Xu Xia by the roadside asked Zhao Hui again, “Zhao Er Ge, what did you want to talk about? If there’s nothing, I need to get back to work.”
“Xu Xia.”
Zhao Hui glanced around. Though he couldn’t clearly see his comrades’ faces, he knew many were watching. Pulling her over impulsively had indeed been rash.
“Hmm?”
“Do you want to… no, are you going to marry me?” Zhao Hui admitted that at this moment, he lacked confidence. He was the one who had previously said he didn’t want to be forced into marriage, and now he was the one bringing it up.
“Are you serious?” Xu Xia asked.
Zhao Hui said yes.
“Why ask so suddenly? Is it because of what happened at my house the other day?” Xu Xia deliberately took a small step forward, rising slightly on her toes. “Zhao Er Ge, do you think we have to get married just because we hugged? Isn’t that a bit old-fashioned?”
One looked down, the other looked up—both trying to read something in each other’s eyes, preferably the truest thoughts of their hearts.
Just then, the movie started playing, and the sudden music caught Xu Xia’s attention.
“I don’t know what made you bring up marriage, but I suggest you think it over carefully. I need clear intentions and respect, not a whim or some masculine possessiveness. Zhao Er Ge, I deeply respect Zhao Bobo. You must be a responsible man like him, right?”
Xu Xia settled back on her feet, clasping her hands behind her back. She bit her cherry lips, and even her hair seemed tinged with shyness, swaying gently in the breeze.
Xu Xia returned to Wang Qinghua’s side. Seeing the worried look in Wang Qinghua’s eyes, she whispered, “It’s fine. I’ll tell you all about it when we get back.”
Wang Qinghua was curious, but there were too many people around at the time. After the movie ended, she saw the man escorting them from a distance to the guesthouse.
Once inside the guesthouse with the door closed, Xu Xia finally explained, “It’s rather amusing—we were Childhood Sweethearts. But this is a new society now, and such arrangements aren’t emphasized anymore. He didn’t expect me to come, so he got a bit emotional. This is our secret, okay? You’re the only one in the unit who knows.”
“I definitely won’t tell anyone else,” Wang Qinghua promised. “But Xu Xia, you’re so beautiful—he must like you. Is it that you don’t like him?”
“Well…” Xu Xia said it was complicated and that she’d tell Wang Qinghua more another time.
Wang Qinghua wanted to know, but she wasn’t the type to pry relentlessly, so she kept her curiosity bottled up inside.
On the other side, Bai Shijian was completely different. He shone a flashlight directly into Zhao Hui’s face, interrogating him like a criminal. “Speak! Why have you been lying to me all this time?”
“I haven’t lied to you.”
“Still denying it? I saw it with my own eyes!”
“I really didn’t lie. At first, I didn’t know what she looked like either.” As for later, Bai Shijian hadn’t specifically brought up her appearance, and Zhao Hui hadn’t volunteered any details.
Moreover, in his view, Xu Xia and Bai Shijian couldn’t possibly have any connection, so whether he mentioned it or not seemed irrelevant. He never expected they’d meet again.
“Fine, fine, let’s say you found out later,” Bai Shijian said indignantly. “What I don’t understand is how you could not be interested in her. Little Xu Comrade is more than a match for you.”
Though he hadn’t interacted with her much, he was certain Xu Xia was the best girl in the world. Suddenly, he chuckled, put down the flashlight, and ingratiatingly poured tea for Zhao Hui. “Old Zhao, Zhao Tuanzhang, since you’re not interested in her, introduce her to me. We’re both in our twenties—we can’t stay single forever, right?”
“You’ve taken a liking to her?” Zhao Hui raised his thick eyebrows.
“Isn’t that obvious?” Bai Shijian handed him the enamel cup, his attitude completely different from before. “Little Xu is so pretty—who wouldn’t like her? It’s not just me; plenty of guys in the army do too. If you introduce us, I’ll wash your socks for a month. How about it?”
“Two months!”
“Three months, max!”
“Alright, alright, whatever you say. Please, Old Zhao, help me out.”
Zhao Hui pushed the enamel cup away and refused coldly, “Forget it.”
“Why? If you don’t want her, why stand in the way of my happiness?” Bai Shijian demanded.
“Who said I don’t want her?”
“You did! Are you going back on your word now?”
Zhao Hui stared fixedly at Bai Shijian until the latter felt a chill down his spine and widened his eyes. “No way! So many women like you—just let me have Little Xu. Besides, I don’t think she has any feelings for you either. Don’t compete with me!”
“Who said she has no feelings?” Zhao Hui ignored Bai Shijian’s lament and added a warning, “If you go looking for Xu Xia again, I’ll have your father take you away. You know I mean what I say!”
“Ugh, you’re such a scoundrel. I don’t want to be brothers with you anymore.” Bai Shijian was heartbroken.
After lights out, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep even past midnight. “Old Zhao? Are you asleep?”
“Old Zhao?”
“I know you’re awake. Talk to me.”
“What? Trying to summon a ghost?”
“I’ve thought it over, and I won’t argue with you anymore. We’ve been good brothers for so many years, and you’re older than me—you really should get married. But Old Zhao, you owe me a favor, a huge one at that. Does Xu Xia have any sisters?” Bai Shijian asked.
Zhao Hui said she did, “But she’s already married. Get some sleep early; I’ll treat you to wedding candies in a while.”
“Zhao Hui, you’re such an asshole!” Bai Shijian angrily turned over, fuming so much that he decided to face away from Zhao Hui and resolved to freeload off Zhao Hui’s meals from then on.
Zhao Hui barely slept that night. Early the next morning, he brought breakfast to the guesthouse. Seeing Xu Xia come down with her colleague, he learned that Xu Xia wanted to learn how to drive and offered to teach her.
Wu Xiaofeng didn’t know who Zhao Hui was yet, so Xu Xia explained, “He’s a brother from a relative’s family.”
Zhao Hui was clearly dissatisfied with this explanation. After getting Xu Xia into the car, he said, “I don’t need to think about it for long. If I say something, it’s what I truly mean. Xu Xia, if you agree, when you return to Jiangcheng, I’ll go back with you.”
It’s better to settle things sooner rather than later, to avoid complications.
“Mm, I agree.”
“What?” Zhao Hui slammed on the brakes. “Say that again?”
“I said I agree to marry you.” Xu Xia had always considered Zhao Hui her top choice for marriage.
Love wasn’t a necessity in Xu Xia’s view of marriage. She was more pragmatic, focusing on the tangible benefits of life she could enjoy.
Xu Xia might have had a slight attraction to Zhao Hui’s physique, but it hadn’t reached the level of genuine affection. Through their recent interactions, she knew Zhao Hui had good character, a successful career, and reasonable parents—far exceeding her expectations for a husband.
She was very satisfied with Zhao Hui’s conditions. Now that the fish had taken the bait, Xu Xia naturally went along with it. There was no need to play hard to get.
“But I have conditions.” At this point, Xu Xia held the upper hand in their relationship, and she enjoyed that feeling. “You’ve been to the Xu family with me, so you know my situation. My younger brother has to live with me, at least until he’s eighteen. After that, it’ll depend on his character and behavior.”
“I have no objections.” Zhao Hui had already anticipated this.
“Also, I like my current job and lifestyle. I want to continue living in Jiangcheng. I won’t follow you to your military post; you can come back during your leaves. Besides, Fengshou just transferred schools, and I don’t want him switching around, which could affect his studies.”
This was something Xu Xia had carefully considered. Distance adds charm—after marriage, she wouldn’t have to face her husband every day, but they also wouldn’t be separated for long stretches. Seeing each other two or three times a month could even make their reunions feel like a second honeymoon.
Zhao Hui hesitated for half a minute about this point but eventually agreed, thinking they could discuss it further after marriage.
“If you have any other requests, feel free to say them,” Zhao Hui said.
Xu Xia said that was all for now. “I’ll let you know if I think of anything else. Zhao Er Ge, why did you suddenly want to get married? Was it because you felt it was time, and since I’m not bad, you decided on it? Or did you develop feelings over time—do you like me?”
She deliberately teased Zhao Hui, watching his ears turn red, then got out of the car first. “Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Whatever your reasons, I’m happy. I thought we had no fate. Now hurry up and teach me how to drive.”
The words Zhao Hui was about to say got stuck in his throat as Xu Xia interrupted him. He unbuckled his seatbelt and began teaching Xu Xia how to drive.
In her previous life, Xu Xia had never obtained a driver’s license and had many questions about cars. She found Zhao Hui to be remarkably patient, explaining everything in greater detail.
Even though she couldn’t quite remember which was the windshield wiper and which controlled the headlights, Zhao Hui patiently reinforced her memory.
After spending most of the day learning, Xu Xia had mostly memorized the essentials, but she still felt a bit nervous when it came time to actually get behind the wheel.
Meanwhile, people nearby were astonished to see the famous Regiment Commander Zhao teaching a young woman how to drive.
During dinner, Zhao Hui openly sat down with Xu Xia and the others.
With him joining them, Wang Qinghua—who knew about his Childhood Sweetheart arrangement with Xu Xia—couldn’t help but glance at them from time to time.
Wu Xiaofeng took the initiative to ask, “Xiao Xu, I heard from Xiao Wang that Regiment Commander Zhao is like an older brother from your relatives’ side. He’s visited our cinema a few times before, and we all thought he was your boyfriend.”
Hearing this, Zhao Hui turned to look at Xu Xia, waiting for her to explain, but she simply smiled without saying a word.
After the meal, he deliberately stopped her and asked, “When they said I was like an older cousin to you earlier, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Isn’t that what you are?” Xu Xia replied. “If I tell them now that you’re my fiancé, what if something changes later? How would I face everyone at work then?”
She looked at him with a cheerful smile. “Zhao Er Ge, why are you in such a hurry? It’s just the same if we hand out wedding candies after everything is settled.”
On several previous occasions, Xu Xia had thought Zhao Hui was about to lose his patience, but he had always held back.
Now, letting him stew in his anxiety was rather amusing—seeing him so worked up was quite entertaining.
Zhao Hui was indeed anxious, but he had no retort for Xu Xia. After all, he had brought this upon himself.
“See you tomorrow, and thank you for teaching me to drive today,” Xu Xia waved to Zhao Hui. She was like a little sun, so radiant that Zhao Hui couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Zhao Hui said, “I’ll come to the cinema tonight. Save a seat for me.” He had to guard against those eager young men who were always hovering around like hungry wolves.
“Fine by me,” Xu Xia agreed. She had never considered casting a wide net—her sights were set solely on Zhao Hui. Since they had already agreed to marry, she saw no reason to give other men any opportunity; her reputation was far too important.
That evening, as the movie started, Zhao Hui stationed himself firmly by Xu Xia’s side. Whenever anyone tried to strike up a conversation, he would shoo them away, leading everyone to whisper about how overbearing he was.
Meanwhile, at the Zhao residence, Zhao Ming had brought his wife and children over for dinner. The old man was still upset and paid little attention to Zhao Ming and his wife. However, he doted on his granddaughter and brought out imported biscuits for her to enjoy.
Zhao Yunzhu had come with a mission today. While eating her biscuits, she made sure to feed some to her grandfather. “Grandpa, are they delicious?”
“They’re tasty, but you enjoy them. I’m not fond of such milky flavors,” Zhao Manfu replied with a chuckle.
He Hongying brought over some sliced oranges. Sensing that her eldest son and daughter-in-law had something to discuss, she took the initiative to ask about her grandson. “Zhiyuan has been stationed at the border for quite some time now. Has he written any letters?”
“Yes, he has!” Zhao Yunzhu immediately chimed in. “That’s actually why we came today. Grandma, my brother said that on his very first day at the border, there was a conflict. It was really dangerous.”
“No matter how dangerous it is, he’s the one who insisted on going,” Zhao Manfu grumbled.
Zhao Ming’s palms grew damp with sweat. “Yes, it’s a form of training for him.”
Sun Danfeng added, “That’s right. It’s a good thing Zhiyuan can serve the country. I’m just worried—bullets and blades have no eyes. What if he gets hurt?”
Their main purpose for coming today was to have the old man intervene and see if they could transfer their son to a less dangerous position.
He Hongying shared this concern, but she knew her husband was still angry and that speaking directly would be useless. “Since you made that choice back then, you should have anticipated this outcome. As parents, you feel for your son, but you shouldn’t have suggested he go guard the border in the first place. Now that he’s gone, there’s even less reason to interfere. A little hardship is good—it’ll help him understand how tough things were for the older generation.”
Her mother-in-law’s words cut off Sun Danfeng’s intended plea, forcing her to shoot a meaningful glance at her husband.
Zhao Ming looked at his father. “That’s true enough. We’re not afraid of Zhiyuan suffering hardship; we’re just worried about—”
“Once you’re on the battlefield, you’re a soldier of the nation. Even sacrifice is an honor. If that’s what you’re here to discuss, you can leave.” Zhao Manfu glared disapprovingly at his eldest son and daughter-in-law. “I think you’re narrow-minded and limited in how you handle things. Leave Yunzhu here—she’ll live with us, so you don’t mess up raising the child!”
At this, Zhao Yunzhu’s face fell immediately. She had come to help, but she hadn’t expected to get stuck there herself.
“Mom, won’t you say something?” Yunzhu didn’t want to stay at her grandparents’ house. They doted on her, but they had many strict rules.
Just as Sun Danfeng started to call out “Dad,” her father-in-law stood up and went upstairs. Helpless, she turned to her mother-in-law.
He Hongying agreed with her husband. Their eldest son had married for love, and she had never been entirely satisfied with her daughter-in-law’s temperament. It seemed a person’s character really was hard to change.
“Your father is right. Let Yunzhu stay with us for a semester. You two go back by yourselves and bring her things over tomorrow.” With He Hongying saying the same, Zhao Ming had no way to refuse.
Yunzhu hurried after them. “Mom, Dad, are you really leaving me here?”
Sun Danfeng’s eyes reddened. Zhao Ming sighed. “It’s the same staying with your grandparents—they won’t treat you badly.”
“But… I prefer living at home.” At home, Yunzhu could be willful, act spoiled with her parents, and ask for whatever she liked—none of which was possible at her grandparents’ house.
“Can’t we really talk to Mom and Dad?” Sun Danfeng looked at her husband.
Zhao Ming shook his head. “They’re already unhappy about the Zhiyuan situation. If we don’t follow their arrangements now, they’ll really distance themselves from us. Besides, what are you worried about with her staying at Mom and Dad’s?”
“I just can’t bear to leave her.”
“Whether you can bear it or not, this is how it has to be. You know what the old man’s temper is like, don’t you?” Zhao Ming also found it hard to part with his daughter.
Yunzhu stamped her foot in frustration, but it was no use. Fuming, she headed back inside and happened to run into Xu Fengshou coming downstairs. She snorted irritably and stomped upstairs to cry.
He Hongying said, “Don’t mind Yunzhu. She’s been spoiled since she was little and has a bit of a temper. Are you hungry? Let me get you some fruit.”
Xu Fengshou said he wasn’t hungry—he had only come down for water.
He Hongying looked at the obedient and sensible Xu Fengshou, then heard the door slam upstairs, and couldn’t help but sigh.
Back in their room, she complained to her husband, “With Yunzhu’s temper like this, I really don’t know what we’ll do in the future.”
“That’s easy enough. If she doesn’t come to her senses, once she graduates from high school in a couple of years, we’ll send her Down to the countryside to endure some hardship. Then she’ll understand how precious her current life is.” Zhao Manfu loved the children in the family dearly, but when it came to their education and discipline, he could be resolute.
“If you send Yun Zhu down to the countryside, the eldest daughter-in-law might cry herself unconscious.” He Hongying said with a laugh. “Let’s teach her gradually. Yun Zhu is just a bit willful, her nature isn’t bad. It’s our second son I’m more concerned about – I wonder if he’s met Xiaxia yet.”
She had asked Xiaxia to deliver clothes to the second son, creating an opportunity for them to meet.
Zhao Manfu felt tired and lay down on the bed. “If you ask me, we shouldn’t have let Xiaxia go to the military unit. The army is full of vigorous young men. With Xiaxia being so beautiful, surely many would have taken a liking to her. As for your younger son, he has even less chance with Xiaxia now.”
This topic made him angry. “That second son of ours with his nose in the air – I’d like to see what kind of wife he’ll manage to marry someday!”
He Hongying hadn’t considered this before and couldn’t help worrying. “You’re right. With so many young men in the military unit, if Xiaxia meets someone she likes, our second son truly has no hope.”
“Let’s sleep. There’s no use worrying. Didn’t you say yourself that children and grandchildren will have their own fortunes? I’m not going to interfere with him anymore – let’s see what he can achieve on his own!” Though Zhao Manfu said this, he wasn’t truly willing to see Xiaxia marry someone else. Such a fine girl – if she could become his daughter-in-law, their future children would certainly be beautiful.