She didn’t dare look up at Lu Ye, afraid he might see through her from her eyes.
The matter of her rebirth was too unbelievable she had no way to explain it. She could only use the most reasonable excuse: concern for her parents, something no one could easily refuse.
In her previous life, the next day her elder brother went to the train station to pick up her best friend, Xu Su. Xu Su claimed her family was forcing her to marry an old cripple from a neighboring village, and that she had run away.
Her parents and brothers had planned to send Xu Su to the police, but Xu Su put on such a pitiful act that Lin Tianxin insisted on letting her stay.
Her parents, worried as well, allowed Xu Su to live in their home.
She had thought she was just doing a good deed. But Xu Su turned out to be a hidden enemy agent, secretly stealing high-level national secrets.
Two years later, when Xu Su was exposed, the Lin family was implicated. Because she and Lu Ye were married, the Lu family was also dragged down and exiled.
In this life, she would stop everything from happening. She would expose Xu Su’s true identity. That’s why she couldn’t go with him to the army right now.
She had to deal with Xu Su first before she could feel at ease.
Lu Ye fell silent, just as she expected.
He knew Lin Tianxin had never really wanted to marry him. Now that he had to leave in a hurry, it seemed only natural that she would want to return to her parents’ home for some peace.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. It felt like something was stuck in his chest, making it hard to breathe.
He wanted to say “I’ll be back soon,” wanted to say “don’t leave my sight,” but when the words reached his lips, all that came out was a hoarse, “How long?”
He knew she didn’t want to go with him but he wouldn’t let that stand forever. There had to be a deadline. When the time came, even if she didn’t want to go, he’d make her.
“One month,” Lin Tianxin said quickly, as if afraid he would refuse. “Just one month. I’ll stay with my parents for a while, then I’ll come to the army to find you, okay?”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with cautious pleading, like a little kitten afraid of being abandoned.
Seeing her like that, all the objections at Lu Ye’s lips were swallowed back down.
In this life, there was nothing he feared except that look in her eyes.
“Alright.” He finally nodded, reaching out to ruffle her hair, his fingertips lingering with reluctance. “But you’d better not go back on your word. When the time comes, even if you don’t want to go, I’ll tie you up and take you.”
His tone carried a hint of force.
He recited a string of numbers the army’s phone number slowly, making sure she could remember.
Lin Tianxin listened carefully, repeating the numbers silently in her mind before nodding. “I’ve got it.”
Lu Ye felt a surge of frustration at her refusal to go with him. Gripping the back of her head, he kissed her fiercely.
When he let go, her lips were slightly broken. He said, “I hope they’re not healed yet when I come back.”
So he could see her sooner.
He suddenly stood up, his movement swift like a gust of wind.
“I’m leaving.” Remember me.
Knowing she wouldn’t, he didn’t say the last words aloud.
Lin Tianxin stood as well, watching his tall but hurried figure as he walked away. Her heart tightened unexpectedly. She quickly followed and gently tugged at the corner of his shirt from behind.
Lu Ye paused and turned back.
“Lu Ye,” she said, then bit him back in retaliation.
He frowned slightly the little girl had quite a bite.
Really… she refused to suffer even the slightest loss!
After biting him, she let go, her cheeks red like ripe apples, yet she lifted her chin stubbornly, glaring at him with a hint of defiance in her eyes. “That’s your return gift.”
Fair exchange that’s what he deserved.
Lu Ye couldn’t help but laugh at her mix of fierceness and shyness. A low chuckle escaped his throat, and the frustration and reluctance he had felt seemed to melt away with that bite.
He raised his hand, lightly brushing the spot she had bitten. The softness of her lips still lingered there.
Looking at the faint trace of blood on his fingertip, he smiled a wild, roguish smile. “You bite pretty hard.”
He put his thumb into his mouth.
“I’ll take it,” he said, looking at her. His dark eyes sparkled like they held stars. Leaning close to her ear, he added in a teasing tone, “Be good. When I come back…”
Lin Tianxin said nothing, but the last words he emphasized heavily.
Lu Ye gave her one deep look, that same roguish smile playing on his lips, then his tall figure quickly disappeared out the door.
Lin Tianxin ran to the window and saw that as soon as Lu Ye stepped outside, a jeep had already stopped at the entrance. He got in and left.
For some reason, her heart felt strangely empty. Thinking about his last words, her ears grew hot.
Damn him!
Shameless only he could say such blunt, suggestive things on the second day of marriage.
He wasn’t as rough as in her previous life. Although although it had still been hard to bear, it was… manageable.
With Lu Ye gone, she went back to sleep for a while, only to be woken by a knock on the door.
The knocking wasn’t loud, but it had a steady rhythm. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Lin Tianxin got up to open the door.
Outside stood a middle-aged woman in a blue khaki dress, her features carrying the straightforward warmth typical of a military family it was Lu Ye’s mother, Wu Wanjun.
“Awake, Tianxin?” Wu Wanjun smiled as she glanced inside, holding a cloth bundle. “That rascal Lu Ye called me before he left, said he wasn’t at ease leaving you alone, asked me to come check on you.”
Wu Wanjun knew exactly what her son meant he was afraid Tianxin might run off, so he asked her to keep an eye on her. Useless boy, couldn’t even keep his wife’s heart and had to rely on his mother.
Lin Tianxin was stunned. She hadn’t expected Lu Ye to make such arrangements. A warmth rose in her heart as she stepped aside. “Mom, come in.”
“Alright.” Wu Wanjun walked in, her gaze sweeping over the room. When she saw the wedding decorations on the wall, her smile deepened. “That boy did a decent job setting up the bridal room.”
She placed the bundle on the table and opened it. Inside was freshly steamed white rice and a small plate of stir-fried meat.
“Figured you wouldn’t cook, so I brought you something to eat. But you can’t live on this forever. Come stay at the old house for a few days Zhang Ma cooks there. Better than you managing on your own.”
Lin Tianxin’s heart skipped a beat. She had planned to return to her parents’ home after eating, but Wu Wanjun had arrived at just this moment.
If she refused, it would seem too distant. If she agreed, it might interfere with her plan to deal with Xu Su.
As she hesitated, Wu Wanjun seemed to see through her thoughts and patted her hand. “Got concerns? Don’t worry, the old house is quiet. If you want to go anywhere, I’ll have your father arrange a car. Besides, you just got married you should spend some time getting close to your mother-in-law. You can’t keep avoiding me, right?”
She knew Tianxin hadn’t willingly married her son. She had noticed Tianxin’s unhappy expression on the wedding day.
If not for her son insisting on marrying her, she would never have agreed given Tianxin’s attitude.
With things said to this point, Lin Tianxin couldn’t refuse any longer. And truthfully, she had no reason to Lu Ye’s mother had come personally to fetch her.
She nodded. “Then… I’ll trouble you, Mom.”
“What trouble? We’re family.” Wu Wanjun smiled even more warmly, pulling her to sit down. “Eat up. Once you’re full, we’ll go. This afternoon, Zhang Ma will stew some chicken soup for you.”
She actually felt sorry for Lin Tianxin such a young, delicate girl being bullied by her big, burly son.
Lin Tianxin only ate half Lu Ye had already fed her earlier, so she wasn’t very hungry.
After eating, Wu Wanjun took her along. But in her heart, Lin Tianxin was already planning how to find time to return to her parents’ home.
Xu Su would be brought back by her elder brother tomorrow. She had to get there before that she couldn’t let the past repeat itself.
While packing, she carefully wrote down the army’s phone number Lu Ye had given her on a small piece of paper and tucked it into her pocket, thinking that if necessary, she might find a chance to contact him for help.
The Lu family’s old house wasn’t far a single-story home with a courtyard. Two old locust trees stood at the entrance, their branches lush and full.
As they entered the yard, an aunt wearing an apron came out to greet them it was Zhang Ma.
“Zhang Ma, this is Tianxin. Go stew the chicken I bought this morning for her,” Wu Wanjun said, handing over the bundle as she led Lin Tianxin inside. “Your father is at work he’ll be back this afternoon.”
The interior was simple and dignified. On the wall hung a photo of Lu Ye’s father in military uniform, exuding authority.
Wu Wanjun poured her a cup of warm water and began chatting, “Lu Ye’s been wild since he was little. He’s been in the army so long, his words and actions are rough. If he ever offends you, don’t take it to heart. Tell me I’ll beat him up for you.”
Embarrassed, Lin Tianxin quickly shook her head. “He’s… actually quite good.”
“As long as he’s good.” Wu Wanjun smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “He told me he’s liked you for years. Back then, he insisted on marrying you. I was worried you wouldn’t like someone as rough as him. Now that you’re family, live well together, alright?”
Lin Tianxin was stunned.
Liked her?
Lu Ye liked her? That couldn’t be possible, right?
Their marriage had been arranged how could he possibly like her?