The sharp tap of a cane striking the floor grew louder from downstairs, causing Huo Zhixing’s brows to knit tightly.
Xiao Zhang hurried after the old commander up the stairs, so flustered he could barely speak.
“Old Commander, please slow down! The commander just got back from a classified mission. He’s resting right now…”
“How about taking a break downstairs? I’ll make you your favorite tea…”
“Tea my ass!” the old man barked. “Old Wang from the retired cadres’ home already told me everything! The night before last, that brat carried a half-dressed woman into this house!”
“They didn’t come out all day yesterday! That rascal is ruining the Huo family’s reputation!”
“And you! You’ve been helping him keep this a secret. What are you trying to pull? You think I’m too old to know what’s going on?”
As he roared, the old man slammed his cane harder and harder against the floor, each strike echoing like a war drum pounding on everyone’s nerves.
Upstairs, Su Jiuyue’s face turned deathly pale. She instinctively clutched the blanket tighter.
“Y-Your grandfather is coming up? I… I’ll leave right now…”
Her eyes darted toward the window.
This was only the second floor. Jumping down shouldn’t be too difficult.
She threw back the blanket and was about to get out of bed when a scorching hot hand suddenly seized her wrist.
Huo Zhixing stepped forward, trapping her between the headboard and his broad chest.
His sharp eyes locked onto hers.
“Leaving? Where do you think you’re going?”
With a cold scoff, he said,
“Su Jiuyue. From Sujia Village, Qingyuan County. Only child. Three generations of poor farmers. Unmarried. Both parents deceased. Learned traditional Chinese medicine from your mother when you were young. Currently living with your stepmother.”
“You were forced into marriage, so you stopped my vehicle while trying to escape. You’ve got quite the nerve—pretending to be my fiancée.”
Su Jiuyue’s heart nearly stopped.
She hadn’t expected this man to uncover her entire background in just one day.
“C-Commander… I had no choice…” she stammered.
“I know.”
Huo Zhixing cut her off. His unreadable gaze swept over the faint red marks still lingering on her neck.
“Otherwise, I’d have handed you over to Security already. But now…”
He leaned down, his warm breath brushing against her ear as he spoke in the tone of someone making a business deal.
“You can treat my condition. In return, I’ll give you the title of my wife and protect you from your stepmother’s abuse. As payment, you help me recover, and all I ask is that you stay obediently by my side.”
“Do you understand?”
Outside the door, Xiao Zhang knocked anxiously.
“Commander! The Old Commander is here!”
Huo Zhixing stared into Su Jiuyue’s panic-stricken eyes and asked in a low, commanding voice,
“Deal?”
Listening to the approaching footsteps outside, Su Jiuyue gritted her teeth and nodded firmly.
“Deal.”
A satisfied smile curved Huo Zhixing’s lips.
“Very good. Then from this moment on, remember your identity.”
“You are Huo Zhixing’s rightful fiancée.”
He pulled an oversized white dress shirt from the wardrobe and tossed it over her head.
“Put this on. Don’t get up.”
Enduring the soreness that made her feel as though her body had been torn apart and pieced back together, Su Jiuyue hurriedly slipped into the shirt, which still carried his scent.
She had just finished buttoning it and hadn’t even made it back under the covers when the solid wooden door let out a strained groan.
Bang!
The door was kicked open with brute force, slamming violently against the wall.
Bonus Mini Scene
Commander Huo: Get dressed properly. Don’t come out.
Jiuyue: Your shirt’s too big… it’s drafty…
Commander Huo (taking a deep breath as the room fills with her unique fragrance): Keep fidgeting, and I’ll personally “help” tighten it for you.
Jiuyue (instantly behaving herself): …I’ll be good. I promise I’ll be good!