The small photography studio owner?
If she lost her chastity, Lu Chenyuan would no longer want her?
Su Wanxing immediately thought of Su Xueqing—and that small photography studio owner.
That plump auntie on the train was very likely sent by Su Xueqing as well.
Su Xueqing… Su Xueqing… you really do think far too highly of me.
At this moment, Lu Chenyuan returned to the guesthouse with the boxed meals he had bought, only to discover that Su Wanxing was gone again.
The food box fell to the ground as he bolted forward!
At that instant, he hated himself so much he wanted to punch himself twice!
How could he lose Su Wanxing twice in such a short span of time?!
Lu Chenyuan, you’re a complete bastard!
Like a madman, Lu Chenyuan rushed out of the guesthouse. Suddenly, faintly, he heard several miserable screams.
His heart leaped straight into his throat, his breathing nearly stopping.
Wanxing—please, nothing must happen to you!
His legs moved on their own toward the sound.
Charging into the alley, Lu Chenyuan saw a shocking scene—Su Wanxing barefoot, drenched in sweat, strands of hair plastered to her face, a surgical knife clenched in her hand, while three thugs rolled on the ground in agony.
His heart clenched painfully.
Countless terrifying possibilities flashed through his mind.
“Wanxing…”
He called out softly.
And with that call, he realized his voice was trembling.
Su Wanxing looked up. The moment she saw Lu Chenyuan, the surgical knife slipped from her hand, and tears streamed down her face.
Like a frightened little deer, she threw herself into his arms, crying as if her heart would break.
Lu Chenyuan felt as though his heart was being torn apart!
His Wanxing must have gone through something horrifying to be scared like this.
When he looked down again at the three thugs, there was nothing in his eyes but ruthless fury toward enemies.
The three men happened to catch that look. Terrified, they shuddered, then simply lay flat on the ground, shut their eyes, and pretended to be unconscious.
“Waaah… Lu Chenyuan, this is great—you’re still alive… They lied to me, said you were hit by a car… I thought you…”
Su Wanxing clutched his clothes, crying like a child.
Lu Chenyuan hugged her tightly, wishing he could meld her into his own body.
His girl wasn’t crying out of fear—she had been worried about him.
The knot in his chest finally loosened.
Overwhelmed by fierce joy, Lu Chenyuan’s voice turned hoarse.
“I’m sorry… Wanxing… I’m sorry! I didn’t protect you well! I’ll never let you be alone again! Never again!”
He repeated the vow over and over, hot tears of a man silently falling.
Lu Chenyuan found a rope, bound the three men, and notified the local police to take them away.
Then he gently squatted down, lifted Su Wanxing’s fair foot with his large hand, rested it on his thigh, and carefully brushed away the dust.
She hadn’t been wearing shoes. After running all this way, several cuts had opened on the soles of her feet, streaked with blood.
Against her pale skin, they looked especially shocking.
Lu Chenyuan was wracked with guilt.
He swore silently that such a thing would never happen again.
Lu Chenyuan carried Su Wanxing back to the guesthouse.
At his insistence, Su Wanxing rested there for several days. Only after she had fully recovered did he agree to set off the next day.
After transferring buses twice and bumping along for a day and a half, they arrived at the town closest to the garrison.
The town was called Linyan County, already in the northern part of the Northwest, though Lu Chenyuan’s unit was still more than a hundred kilometers farther north.
After checking into the guesthouse and setting down their luggage, Lu Chenyuan suggested they take a look around the supply-and-marketing cooperative.
“There’ll be some basic furniture in the dorms at the garrison. See if there’s anything else you want to buy. A vehicle will come pick us up tomorrow.”
At the mention of shopping, Su Wanxing’s interest was instantly piqued.
Though the small town couldn’t compare to Shanghai and looked as though it had regressed more than ten years, the cooperative was surprisingly well stocked—there were even goods shipped in from Shanghai.
Su Wanxing flitted around the counters like a cheerful little sparrow.
“I want this, this, and that one—and the ones over there too!”
Lu Chenyuan followed behind her, paying and carrying things, his expression…
Utterly content.
Some people couldn’t help but sneer, “What a spendthrift woman, burning through a man’s money like that!”
Others were envious. “She’s so pretty—what’s wrong with spending a little money? If I were her man, I’d spend it too! Look at her skin—she must use Snowflake Cream every day!”
Linyan County had strong winds, fierce sun, and little rainfall. People’s skin was rough, and with limited information, their clothing and grooming were rather outdated.
Su Wanxing’s appearance was like a bright, striking scene, drawing every gaze.
Not only was she beautiful, she was also polite—after buying each item, she thanked the clerk.
The sales clerks were delighted.
That was fine when it was female clerks—but when the male clerks looked like that, Lu Chenyuan shot them cold, knife-like glares.
After dinner outside, it was already dark when they returned to the guesthouse.
Lu Chenyuan took out a large basin they had just bought, fetched two kettles of boiling water, mixed in some cool water, and tested the temperature.
“Take a hot bath to ease the fatigue. Once we enter the base tomorrow, chances to bathe will be few.”
As he spoke, there was a trace of guilt in his voice.
He even began to wonder whether bringing Su Wanxing to such a place was really the right thing to do.
Lu Chenyuan set down a new towel, retreated to the doorway, and as he closed the door, didn’t forget to say, “I’ll be right outside. Call me if you need anything.”
Su Wanxing smiled sweetly.
This man wasn’t afraid of hardship himself, living casually and roughly—but with her, he was careful and attentive at every turn.
He truly cherished her.
After days of travel, she really was exhausted. A bath would be wonderful.
With a wave of her hand, Su Wanxing poured some Spiritual Spring water into the basin.
As it washed over her skin, all the fatigue from the journey melted away.
She glanced toward the door and couldn’t help thinking: Lu Chenyuan had also drunk quite a lot of Spiritual Spring water—his body should be better by now, right?
A wicked thought exploded in her mind.
Su Wanxing covered her face shyly with both hands—but she really wanted to try…
Outside the door, Lu Chenyuan stood ramrod straight, eyes forward, expression solemn, quietly reciting the Party Constitution under his breath.
That’s right—inside, Su Wanxing was bathing.
As a physically and mentally healthy man, restlessness was normal.
But he warned himself that before Su Wanxing fully accepted him, he absolutely could not do anything improper!
Yet it was too quiet. The sound of water inside seemed endlessly amplified, making Lu Chenyuan’s ears burn red. After finishing the Party Constitution, he moved on to reciting documents.
“Ah—!”
Suddenly, Su Wanxing’s scream rang out from inside the room.
Lu Chenyuan reacted on instinct—he turned and kicked the door open!