“I’ll go submit the marriage application right now. We should be able to register our marriage this afternoon.”
Urgency shone in Lu Changzheng’s eyes.
Ji Wanning’s cheeks flushed.
That fast?
A blind date and a marriage certificate on the very same day?
Still…
It wasn’t a bad thing.
The sooner she could move out of the Lin family home, the better.
That had been her reason for coming to the blind date in the first place.
Blinking her bright, clear eyes, Ji Wanning nodded lightly.
“All right.”
That single, gentle word was worth more than all the countless words Lu Changzheng had heard in his life.
For some reason, at that moment, he felt completely lightheaded.
It was almost as if he had been drinking.
But he hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol.
Besides, in the military camp, almost no one could outdrink him whenever they competed.
Something was definitely wrong with him today.
Especially after meeting Comrade Ji.
There was something wrong with his heart.
Something is wrong with his head too.
He felt the problem was serious enough that he should make a trip to the military district hospital for a thorough examination. After all, he was about to get married.
The young recruits under his command always said that a married man needed to have a strong, healthy body if he wanted his wife to like him. Although he had no idea why that was, so many people said the same thing that it must be important.
Since he was about to get married, he needed to have a strong body as well.
Ji Wanning had no idea what Comrade Lu was thinking.
From the corner of her eye, she only noticed that his thick, dark brows alternated between relaxing and knitting together, as though something weighed heavily on his mind.
His wheat colored face, usually cold, stern, and restrained, shifted from tightly pursed lips to an expression filled with confidence.
Only when a sound came from behind them did Ji Wanning suddenly realize that she had been staring at Comrade Lu for quite some time.
Flustered, she hurriedly looked away, fixing her gaze on the distance as though nothing had happened.
Still…
What on earth was Comrade Lu thinking about?
The moment she realized she was actually trying to guess a man’s thoughts, Ji Wanning’s cheeks grew warm.
Ji Wanning, something’s wrong with you!
Could it be because she was about to marry Comrade Lu?
After thinking it over, she decided that must be the reason.
For the rest of the walk, neither of them spoke much, quietly walking side by side.
Along the way, Lu Changzheng had asked why Ji Wanning had come to the blind date.
She didn’t say much, only answering that she had reached the age to marry.
Yet Lu Changzheng had clearly caught the fleeting trace of pain hidden in her eyes.
It felt as though a needle had suddenly pierced his heart.
It wasn’t exactly painful, but it still ached.
His lips parted slightly, wanting to ask more, but considering how little they knew each other and fearing he might reopen her wounds, he ultimately chose to remain silent.
“What about you, Comrade Lu? Why did you go on a blind date?”
Ji Wanning turned toward him, her bright, beautiful eyes full of curiosity.
Lu Changzheng’s heart skipped a beat.
Suppressing the panic rising inside him, he scratched the back of his head.
“I’m at the age where it’s time to get married and have children. I’ve wanted to find a wife for quite a while, but my superiors kept assigning me missions, so I never had the time to meet anyone.”
If his commanding officer had heard that, he would probably have gnashed his teeth in fury.
Lu Changzheng, are those even the words of a human being?! You kept volunteering for missions because you didn’t want to get married! I’ve urged you who knows how many times already!
Ji Wanning nodded.
“So that’s how it was.”
“But…”
Lu Changzheng suddenly stopped walking.
His dark eyes were deep and unwavering.
“I don’t regret not going on blind dates before. Maybe it was fate all along, waiting for the chance to let me build a family with Comrade Ji.”
His deep, rich voice echoed through the quiet corridor.
Ji Wanning’s bright eyes widened slightly, as though a ray of light had suddenly pierced through the darkness and illuminated her heart.
At that moment, Chen Xiong, an officer who had wandered out of the auditorium because he was bored, happened to overhear Lu Changzheng’s words from not far away.
His jaw nearly hit the floor.
Even though he could only see the broad, upright figure from behind, he recognized him immediately.
That was their regimental commander, Lu Changzheng!
But…
How could their Commander Lu possibly say something so sentimental?
This was the famous living King of Hell of the military district!
If they weren’t in the middle of abolishing the Four Olds, he would have suspected that Commander Lu had been possessed.
Then again…
Who was the young woman standing beside him?
She wore dark blue trousers beneath a white blouse, topped with a light blue padded jacket that accentuated her slender waist. Her black hair flowed down to the middle of her back, swaying gently in the breeze.
Even without seeing her face, Chen Xiong was certain she had to be an extraordinary beauty!
Heavens!
The living King of Hell, who had always kept women at arm’s length and whose expression alone could frighten girls into tears, was actually standing beside a young woman, chatting and laughing with her.
They had always secretly wondered whether Commander Lu simply wasn’t interested in women.
Perhaps he intended to spend the rest of his life with only his own hand.
Chen Xiong immediately turned and ran back toward the auditorium.
“No, no, everyone has to see this unbelievable sight!”
Unfortunately, by the time he dragged his comrades over, Lu Changzheng and Ji Wanning were already gone.
“Chen Xiong, you’re messing with us.”
“Exactly! Commander Lu is the living King of Hell. There’s no way he’d be with a girl. Your eyesight must be failing.”
“No, I’m telling the truth! I definitely didn’t see it wrong! You have to believe me. They must’ve gone somewhere else.”
Chen Xiong spun around anxiously.
They had been right there just moments ago.
“Enough. Stop wasting our time. We’re here for blind dates.”
His comrades patted him on the shoulder, clearly unconvinced, before turning and walking away.
Grinding his teeth, Chen Xiong silently encouraged himself.
“I’ll prove it sooner or later!”
Meanwhile, Ji Wanning, who had already turned the corner, had no idea what had happened behind them.
Lu Changzheng, however, had keen hearing. Although he couldn’t make out what the people behind them were discussing, he knew someone had been there.
At that moment, though, being with Ji Wanning was all that mattered to him.
The two continued walking until Ji Wanning spotted a lively young woman ahead, holding a camera and taking pictures all around.
Before she could react, the girl happened to point the camera in their direction.
Click!
The shutter snapped.
The girl immediately waved at Ji Wanning.
Turning to Lu Changzheng, Ji Wanning said, “Comrade Lu, that’s my friend up ahead. I should go over.”
So…
They were going to part already?
Lu Changzheng felt as though he and Comrade Ji had only walked together for a few steps.
Then he remembered that they were about to get married, and immediately felt much better.
“All right. Then I’ll head back now and submit the marriage application.”
The girl was radiant and captivating.
Even from behind, she was enough to steal anyone’s heart.
The gentle breeze lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, brushing across Lu Changzheng’s heart and leaving behind a faint tickle.
Only after taking one last, lingering look at Ji Wanning did he finally turn and leave.
His departing figure looked almost impatient, as though he feared that if he delayed even a little longer, he might miss the chance to submit the marriage application.
Only after the burning gaze behind her disappeared did Ji Wanning finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She then quickened her pace and walked over to Chen Xi.
Chen Xi was the close friend Ji Wanning had made after arriving at the military district.
Her father was Division Commander Chen. Ji Wanning had met Chen Xi because Chen Xi’s younger brother, Chen Yu, attended the senior kindergarten class at the military district kindergarten where they had crossed paths by chance.
Later, discovering that they shared similar values and got along naturally, the two became close friends.
Chen Xi was also Ji Wanning’s only close friend since coming to the military district.
The moment she saw Ji Wanning approaching, Chen Xi’s face lit up with excitement. Her eyes sparkled with playful curiosity as she lightly bumped Ji Wanning with her shoulder.
“Wanning, hurry up and tell me. Who were you with just now? Was it the teacher my relative introduced to you? Are you two together now?”
Back then, photographs were still taken on film and had to be developed afterward.
But hadn’t her relative introduced Wanning to a teacher?
How had he suddenly turned into a military officer?
She had only recognized Ji Wanning from afar because she knew her so well.
As for the man beside her…
She hadn’t been able to see him clearly.