Meanwhile, He Yanhua used the moonlight to slip back into He Yanchu’s house. He tiptoed through the living room like a cat who’d just finished a successful raid on the pantry, terrified of waking his brothers or sister.
Just as he was about to reach his bedroom door, a soft rustling came from the direction of Han Qingmo’s room. Yanhua froze, his back stiffening instantly.
“Who’s there?” he hissed, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously.
A slender figure peeked out from the corner.
“Second Brother?” Yanchu’s eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”
Yanhua’s shoulders finally slumped, and he let out a long breath. “Xiaochu? Shouldn’t you be resting in your room?” His gaze drifted down, landing on the military canteen in her hand.
Yanchu instinctively tried to hide it behind her back, then realized how suspicious that looked and held it up with feigned nonchalance. “I… I was just bringing some water to Comrade Han.”
Her long lashes fluttered as she thought to herself: If I gave him the Spirit Spring water pure, his wounds would heal so fast he’d definitely get suspicious… I had to sneak into the kitchen to dilute it first.
Yanhua’s brow knitted into a knot. He stepped forward, blocking her path. “It’s late. What business does a young girl have going into his room at this hour?” He snatched the canteen without ceremony. “I’ll deliver it.”
Suddenly, he turned to stare into her eyes, his voice growing serious. “Xiaochu, have you really thought this through? Getting married in three days?”
Yanchu blinked, then suddenly beamed a radiant smile. “Second Brother, I know what you’re worried about.” She tilted her head, her hair brushing her shoulder. “But I feel like Han Qingmo is the one I’ve been looking for.”
She lowered her voice, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Besides, if things don’t work out later, I’ll just kick him to the curb!”
Yanhua was stunned for a moment before bursting into a quiet laugh. He reached out and ruffled her hair, his chest vibrating with amusement. “You little brat… your awareness is quite something!” A look of relief washed over him. Little sister really has grown up…
“You bet!” Yanchu lifted her chin proudly like a victorious little general. “Stop worrying so much about me, Second Brother. You should focus on finding yourself a gentle and virtuous wife!”
Yanhua’s smile froze instantly. His ears turned a visible shade of red. He coughed dryly and turned toward the side room. “I—I’m going to deliver the water.”
“Wait!” Yanchu called out, her eyes shining brilliantly. “Where did you just go? You didn’t sneak into town to call my brother and sister, did you?”
Yanhua’s back stiffened. He turned around slowly, scratching his head like a child caught in a lie. “Well… I just didn’t want you to forget to notify them…” His voice trailed off into a mumble.
Yanchu suddenly hopped up and down, clasping her hands under her chin. “That’s perfect! I was just wondering how to get in touch with them!” She narrowed her eyes like a fox finding its prey. “But Second Brother… sneaking into town in the middle of the night… were you really just…”
“I did it for your sake!” Yanhua snapped back in mock indignation, the water sloshing in the canteen. He took a deep breath to calm down. “Your sister will be here tomorrow morning. You… you can explain it to her yourself!”
Yanchu stuck out her tongue and made a face. “Got it! Go on and deliver the water. If my Han Qingmo gets thirsty…” she drawled playfully, “my heart will ache for him~”
Yanhua stumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet. He glared back at her. When did this girl become so… so shameless!
Not wanting to deal with his “hooligan” sister any longer, Yanhua took a deep breath and stepped into Han Qingmo’s room.
Yanchu had originally planned to use the water delivery as a chance to bond with Han Qingmo, but since her brother had intercepted her, she decided to head back to sleep. Between the transmigrations, the space, and the engagement, it had been a day full of surprises, and she needed to lie down and sort through it all.
Meanwhile, a military jeep was speeding down the country road. Behind the wheel, Xiang Yang gripped the steering wheel nervously, stealing glances at He Yannuo in the passenger seat.
“About what I said… I was just half-asleep and talking nonsense. Don’t take it seriously,” he tried to explain.
Yannuo stared at the road ahead, her voice cold. “Focus on driving.”
Xiang Yang shrunk into his seat, muttering under his breath, “So fierce… but that’s why I like her!”
“What was that?” Yannuo narrowed her eyes.
“Nothing! Nothing!” Xiang Yang shook his head vigorously, then couldn’t help but ask, “Why the sudden rush to get home? Did something happen?”
Yannuo was silent for a moment. “My sister is suddenly getting married. And her fiancé is that sharp-tongued brat, Han Qingmo. His reputation in the military region is… complicated. Some say he’s a tactical genius, others say he’s arrogant and untamable.” She clenched her fist. “Most importantly, he and Xiaochu only met today—well, yesterday now.”
Xiang Yang nodded thoughtfully. “It is fast… but sometimes fate is just like that. Besides, Han Qingmo is a good guy. He’s very protective of his own.”
“You know him?” Yannuo shot him a look.
“We grew up together in the military compound,” Xiang Yang said weakly. “He’s my childhood friend.”
“Actually…” Xiang Yang tried to put in a good word for his buddy, “Han Qingmo might be a bit cunning sometimes, but his character is beyond reproach. And his family is quite nice…”
Yannuo interrupted him. “Do you know how my sister met him?”
Xiang Yang shook his head.
“She found him wounded on the mountain and brought him home.” Yannuo’s voice was full of heartache. “Xiaochu has always been too kind. She can’t stand to see others suffer. I’m afraid she’s just acting out of pity and throwing her life away.”
Xiang Yang nodded slowly. “So you’re worried Han Qingmo is only agreeing out of a sense of obligation…”
“That’s one concern,” Yannuo admitted. “But mostly, I’m worried about his personality. He’s cold and sarcastic; I’m afraid Xiaochu will be the one suffering if they live together.”
Xiang Yang chuckled. “If that’s your concern, you can rest easy. If Han Qingmo didn’t have feelings for your sister, he would never agree to marry her. Even with a knife to his throat, you couldn’t make him do it.”
He paused, then added, “If they get married, he definitely won’t bully her. The Han men have a tradition of doting on their wives. His grandfather and father are both ‘wife-slaves.’ There’s no way he’d ever be like those men who commit domestic violence.”
Yannuo felt a slight weight lift from her heart, but she pressed on. “Since you’re childhood friends, is his family also from the capital? Are they a military family as well?”
“Yes, he’s a native of the capital. But his parents and sisters don’t live in the compound; he lives there alone with his grandparents. His parents and three sisters are all in the military, and his grandfather is a founding veteran of the country,” Xiang Yang replied.
Hearing Han Qingmo’s background, Yannuo’s heart sank even further. His family background is too prestigious. A girl shouldn’t marry that far above her station. I have to stop them; the gap between our families is too wide!
Xiang Yang looked at the pensive Yannuo, completely baffled. What happened? Why did her face get even grimmer after I told her how great the Han family is?