Xiao Zhang parked the jeep steadily in front of the two-story house. Showing remarkable tact, he handed over the aluminum lunch boxes he’d picked up from the state-owned restaurant, snapped a salute, then quickly climbed back into the driver’s seat and disappeared.
The two unlucky troublemakers at the gate still needed to be delivered to the police station. There was no reason for him to stay and play third wheel.
As the courtyard gate shut with a heavy clang, the little world inside finally fell into complete silence.
Standing at the foot of the steps, Su Jiuyue felt the piercing pain in her right ankle return.
Earlier, she’d been running on pure adrenaline while taking on everyone outside. Now that the excitement had faded, she truly could barely stay on her feet.
Looking at the small blue-brick house before her, she felt dazed.
So… she was really married now?
In just two days, she’d transmigrated, been drugged, escaped for her life, and gotten married.
Things had progressed faster than a rocket launch.
Still… if she could settle down peacefully in this seaside place, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.
Just as she was lost in thought, the tall figure ahead suddenly turned back.
Huo Zhixing frowned deeply. Watching the little woman balancing on one foot and preparing to hop up the stairs like a rabbit made his temples throb.
“Come here.”
His deep voice carried the unmistakable authority of a command.
Su Jiuyue pursed her lips, about to insist she could manage on her own.
Instead, her body suddenly lifted off the ground.
“Ah!”
Before her startled cry had even faded, Huo Zhixing had already swept her into his arms.
It was a textbook bridal carry.
Yet somehow, he held her as if he were carrying a bundle of explosives—rigid, powerful, and strangely dangerous.
His chest, hardened by years of military training, felt like solid steel against her cheek.
The scent of tobacco, mint, and raw masculine hormones enveloped her like a net.
Now, besides the creaking of leather boots on the wooden staircase, only the pounding of their hearts remained.
Thump… thump… thump…
Embarrassed and nervous, Su Jiuyue could feel her body temperature rising rapidly.
Then, something unexpected happened.
The cool, forest-after-the-rain fragrance that naturally clung to her began to change with the surge of her emotions.
Gone was its crisp, woody freshness.
In its place bloomed an intoxicating sweetness.
Like a perfectly ripe peach crushed open, its juice spilling everywhere, blended with the rich creaminess of White Rabbit milk candy.
Sweet enough to steal a person’s soul.
Sweet enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
Huo Zhixing came to an abrupt stop halfway up the stairs.
This scent…
It was downright deadly.
It invaded his senses without warning, rushing through his bloodstream straight to his brain.
It no longer merely soothed his nerves.
It was more like an overwhelmingly potent aphrodisiac.
Heat flared violently from his abdomen.
The crimson haze lingering in his eyes instantly transformed into the fierce gleam of a caged beast.
Su Jiuyue sensed something was wrong as well. She instinctively leaned closer and sniffed at his neck like a curious puppy.
“Huh…? Why does it smell like… milk candy?”
She had no idea that the innocent movement caused the soft curves of her chest to brush lightly against his arm.
“…”
The veins at Huo Zhixing’s temple bulged violently.
His arms tightened around her, his fingers gripping so firmly they nearly left red marks on her delicate skin.
“Su Jiuyue.”
His voice was hoarse, rough as if filled with gravel.
His Adam’s apple bobbed sharply.
“What kind of love potion are you hiding?”
“I-I’m not…”
Frightened by the fierce look in his eyes, Su Jiuyue instinctively shrank back.
The sweet fragrance only grew even richer.
Huo Zhixing took a deep breath.
Before the last thread of his self-control snapped, he strode up the remaining stairs in a few long steps and deposited the “scalding hot potato” in his arms onto the large leather sofa.
“Sit there. Don’t move.”
Throwing out the order, he immediately turned toward a cabinet, his retreating back carrying an unmistakable hint of flustered escape.
A moment later, he returned carrying a bottle of medicated safflower oil.
Ignoring Su Jiuyue’s protests, he sat down heavily, grabbed her injured ankle, and rested it firmly on his thigh.
The contrast was striking.
His large bronze-colored hands were rough with calluses earned from years of handling firearms.
Her ankle, meanwhile, was porcelain-white and slender.
Her toes were smooth and rounded like tiny pearls, though the sole of her foot bore a thin layer of calluses.
Huo Zhixing poured the medicated oil into his palm, rubbed it warm, then covered her ankle with his hand.
“Hss… G-gently!”
Tears welled in Su Jiuyue’s eyes from the pain.
Instinctively, she tried to pull her leg back.
Her toes accidentally brushed across his palm.
The featherlight touch skimmed straight across his heart.
Huo Zhixing’s hand trembled.
He nearly lost control and twisted the foot clean off.
His head snapped up, locking onto her tearful face.
His gaze was dark, fierce… and burning hot.
“Stop moving.”
His voice was low with warning.
“If you keep fidgeting, I’ll tie you up.”
Applying medicine?
This felt more like enduring heavenly tribulation.
This woman was nothing short of a temptress.
She had been born solely to test every ounce of his self-control.
Bonus Mini Theater
As Commander Huo rubbed the medicated oil onto her ankle, he silently chanted calming verses to himself.
Jiuyue blinked innocently.
“Brother Huo, what are you mumbling?”
Grinding his teeth, Commander Huo replied,
“I’m praying that you, little enchantress, will finally stop tormenting my self-control.”
Jiuyue tilted her head in confusion.
“Huh?”