After finishing the meal and sitting together for a while longer, Han Rui finally prepared to leave.
Su Wan looked at Su Niang pitifully and said, “Mom, let me walk Han Rui out!”
Seeing her daughter look so pitiful, and remembering that the two had not seen each other for several months, Su Niang finally agreed.
“Go on then, but don’t stay out too long!”
“Okay!” Su Wan answered cheerfully the moment her mother agreed, happily following Han Rui out of the house.
Watching her impatient eagerness from behind, Su Niang could barely stand to look at it anymore and really wanted to smack her a few times.
Han Rui pushed his bicycle while Su Wan followed behind him.
The two walked one in front of the other, looking perfectly proper and well-behaved.
Gradually, they moved farther away from the village.
Once there was no one around, Su Wan quickly stepped forward and reached out to hold Han Rui’s free hand.
Feeling the soft, delicate hand slip into his own, Han Rui gently squeezed it and turned to look at Su Wan.
There she was—the person he had been thinking about day and night—playfully blinking at him.
In that instant, all the longing Han Rui had suppressed for months suddenly surged out uncontrollably.
He stopped the bicycle by the roadside, grabbed Su Wan’s hand, and quickly led her into a small grove nearby.
Su Wan had not even realized what was happening when, in the next second, she found herself pressed against a tree by Han Rui.
Looking up, she saw Han Rui staring at her intensely.
The affection in his eyes was so deep it seemed ready to overflow.
Su Wan froze for a moment.
Then she suddenly felt shy.
Unable to meet his gaze, she quickly looked away, feeling as though she would be burned by the heat in his eyes if she kept staring.
Seeing Su Wan avoid his gaze, Han Rui gently lifted her chin and turned her face back toward him.
Su Wan’s eyelashes trembled lightly.
Seeing that he looked as though he intended to keep staring forever, she became embarrassed and annoyed. Closing her eyes, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him first.
The moment she felt Han Rui’s slightly cool lips, Su Wan opened her eyes and noticed that he seemed stunned.
Pulling away from his lips, she smiled proudly.
Her fair little face practically seemed to say:
I win. Let’s see who’s better now!
Before the smile on Su Wan’s face could even fade, Han Rui recovered from his daze.
His gaze toward her became even more heated now, mixed with a trace of fierceness.
One hand cradled the back of Su Wan’s head while the other wrapped tightly around her waist.
Then he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her fiercely.
Unlike Su Wan’s earlier kiss that had only brushed his lips lightly, Han Rui took advantage of the moment her lips parted in surprise and immediately deepened the kiss.
Her startled cry disappeared into the passionate kiss.
Han Rui did not miss a single corner, greedily claiming every trace of her sweetness as he kissed her deeply and lingeringly.
The sudden kiss crashed over her like a storm, completely overwhelming her.
Su Wan widened her eyes, feeling a tingling numbness spread across the tip of her tongue as muffled sounds escaped her lips.
Her mind went completely blank.
Gradually, Su Wan closed her eyes, wrapped her arms tightly around him, and immersed herself in the sweet kiss.
No one knew how much time passed before they finally separated.
Su Wan’s face was flushed bright red from holding her breath.
Han Rui lovingly touched her cheeks and said softly, “Silly girl, breathe.”
As though some switch had suddenly been turned on, Su Wan immediately began breathing heavily.
Han Rui gently pulled her into his embrace, shielding her from the wind while his large hand slowly stroked her back again and again.
Leaning against his shoulder, Su Wan’s face remained slightly red, her head dizzy and light.
After a while, she lightly punched his chest and complained, “What if someone saw us?”
“They won’t. I was paying attention. It’s New Year season—nobody comes here,” Han Rui replied softly.
The two quietly embraced for a while longer.
Eventually, Su Wan pulled away from his arms and said, “I should go back now.”
If she stayed out any longer, Su Niang would definitely start lecturing her again.
No matter how reluctant he was, Han Rui could only let go.
Fortunately, they would be married soon.
After that, they would never have to be separated again.
Even though Han Rui said nothing, Su Wan could still feel his reluctance clearly.
So she heartlessly comforted him, “It’s fine. There are only a few days left anyway.”
Seeing Su Wan actually trying to comfort him, Han Rui looked helpless.
He pinched her soft cheek and said, “You little heartless thing. You sound almost disappointed that there are only a few days left.”
Covering her cheek, Su Wan said innocently, “I’m not!”
Seeing her like this, Han Rui wanted to tease her a little more.
Unfortunately, too much time had already passed, so he could only give up.
Reluctantly, he said, “We’ve been out too long already. Hurry back before you catch cold.”
Holding her hand, he led her out of the small grove.
Once they reached the road again, Han Rui said, “I’ll watch you leave. Hurry home, or Auntie will start lecturing you again.”
Su Wan immediately accused him, “Why do I feel like you’re enjoying my suffering? Who do you think I stayed out this long for?”
Han Rui smiled and defended himself. “How could I? I feel sorry for you more than anyone.”
Then he coaxed her with several sweet words.
Hearing those sweet words, Su Wan finally felt satisfied and turned to leave.
After walking a dozen steps, she turned back and saw Han Rui still standing there watching her.
She smiled sweetly, waved at him, and walked farther away.
Only after Su Wan’s figure completely disappeared did Han Rui finally ride his bicycle home.
Along the way, whenever he thought of Su Wan, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
Even with the cold wind blowing against him, he did not feel cold at all.
Instead, his heart felt warm.
When Su Wan returned home, Su Niang was already waiting in the courtyard.
Seeing Su Wan finally come back, Su Niang looked at her with a half-smiling expression and said, “So you still remembered to come home?”
“Mom…” Su Wan dragged out the word and immediately used her usual tactic—acting spoiled.
Even though Su Niang had heard that clingy tone from Su Wan ever since she was little, she still could not resist it.
As long as Su Wan acted spoiled, Su Niang simply had no way to deal with her.
Her stern expression immediately softened.
Back in her room, Su Wan threw herself onto the bed.
Thinking about the kiss from earlier, her face instantly turned red again, and she rolled happily across the bed.
Han Rui had kissed Su Wan before, but those had only been light pecks.
This time was completely different.
This had been a deep, passionate kiss that made her blush furiously.
I knew it, Su Wan thought happily.
Han Rui isn’t as serious and steady as he looks on the surface. He’s actually secretly passionate.
Meanwhile, Han Rui had also returned home.
The moment Mother Han saw him come back, she anxiously asked how things had gone.
She could not really be blamed for being so nervous.
After all, their family truly was in the wrong.
Who got engaged and then immediately left for several months like her third son?
And now he had returned only to rush through the wedding preparations. There was not even enough time for the customary return visit afterward.
Besides, Su Wan’s family had good conditions. She was educated, beautiful, gentle, cultured, and had a good personality.
Mother Han truly liked everything about her.
Although she also believed her own son was tall, handsome, and had a promising future in the military—more than worthy of Su Wan—that did not change the fact that the wedding arrangements were being handled so hastily.
She genuinely felt sorry toward the Su family.
That was why she had been so anxious to know whether the Su family was upset.
“Mom, Uncle and Auntie understand my situation. They said these things are only formalities and that what matters is living well together in the future.”
Hearing her son say that, Mother Han finally relaxed.
Inwardly, she sighed with admiration.
As expected of the brigade leader’s family—they were truly reasonable people.
If it had been another family, who knew what kind of trouble they would have caused?
Mother Han’s good impression of the Su family rose yet another level.