As Huo Tingchen stepped into the house, his eyes swept across the living room. The moment he saw Qin Ruan’s face, his expression froze. His eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
“This is my niece, Qin Ruan,” Qin Ruofeng said with a smile.
Qin Ruan’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. She stared at Huo Tingchen in equal disbelief. The astonishment and confusion in his eyes made it obvious—he had recognized her.
“This is the Commander Huo Tingchen I told you about,” Qin Ruofeng said as he introduced him to Qin Ruan.
Her face instantly flushed crimson. She lowered her head instinctively, unable to meet his gaze.
Huo Tingchen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He had never imagined that the woman he had been searching for all this time would be here.
His heart swelled with excitement and joy, mixed with a trace of confusion.
How had she ended up in Mountain City?
And how had she become Commander Qin’s niece?
“Hello, Commander Huo,” Qin Ruan greeted softly without lifting her head.
Looking at her, Huo Tingchen wanted to say something, but in the end he simply nodded.
“Hello.”
Qin Ruofeng beckoned to him.
“Tingchen, come sit down and have dinner.”
“All right.”
Huo Tingchen obediently took his seat.
The dining table was filled with an impressive spread of dishes. The braised pork gleamed with a rich reddish-brown glaze, the twice-cooked pork was tender without being greasy, and the vegetable-and-egg soup was light and refreshing.
“Tingchen, try the braised pork. Ruanruan made it herself, and it tastes wonderful,” Qin Ruofeng said as he placed a piece into Huo Tingchen’s bowl.
Huo Tingchen picked it up with his chopsticks and took a bite. As he chewed, he secretly glanced at Qin Ruan, his eyes filled with curiosity and questions.
His gaze made Qin Ruan so uncomfortable that she kept her head lowered, quietly eating her meal without daring to look at him.
Neither Shen Jianing nor Hu Yufen noticed the unusual atmosphere between them.
“Commander Huo,” Hu Yufen asked curiously, “do you have someone you’re seeing?”
“Not at the moment,” Huo Tingchen answered without hesitation.
“Good, good. That’s good,” Hu Yufen murmured to herself with obvious relief.
Both Qin Ruan and Shen Jianing overheard her words, and their hearts skipped a beat.
Qin Ruan suddenly felt as though her grandmother had already made up her mind about everything.
After dinner, Qin Ruofeng brought Huo Tingchen into the study.
Looking at him with a smile, he asked, “Tingchen, what do you think of my niece? Isn’t she beautiful?”
Huo Tingchen nodded.
“Yes. She’s very beautiful.”
“I knew you’d like her. Let me tell you, my niece isn’t just pretty—she’s also incredibly capable. She cooks well, knows how to farm, and is truly a rare, good girl.”
“Commander Qin… actually, I already know her,” Huo Tingchen said after a brief moment of thought.
“Huh? You know each other? How did you meet?” Qin Ruofeng asked in surprise.
“When I was carrying out a mission in Yunnan Province, I met her on a tea mountain. She even helped me.”
“I see. Then the two of you really are fated to meet.”
“Yes. I just never expected we’d meet again here. Before returning, I even went back looking for her so I could thank her, but I couldn’t find her.”
“There’s no need for thanks—we’re all family now. Since you already know each other, that puts my mind at ease. I think the two of you make a wonderful match. Why don’t you give it a try?”
“Commander Qin… are you serious?” Huo Tingchen asked, his face lighting up with delight.
“If you truly mean it, then I hope I can be with her and take good care of her.”
He looked at Qin Ruofeng with unmistakable sincerity as he made his promise.
“Good. I trust your character,” Qin Ruofeng said with a smile. “I’ll ask her what she thinks.”
After clearing the dishes, Qin Ruan returned to her room. Sitting on the edge of her bed, her mind was in complete turmoil.
She had never imagined that he would appear here—let alone be the man her grandmother and youngest uncle had arranged for her to meet on a blind date.
“Why is he here?” Qin Ruan murmured to herself.
She remembered what Huo Tingchen had said on the tea mountain—that he would come looking for her. She had thought he was only saying it casually. She never expected him to serve in the same military unit as her youngest uncle.
Qin Ruan felt both nervous and hopeful.
She was nervous because she didn’t know how to face Huo Tingchen, nor did she know whether he would bring up what had happened that day.
Yet she was also hopeful because she genuinely liked him. He was handsome, upright, and capable—a truly exceptional man. Deep down, she had always hoped he would really come looking for her.
She had been in love in her previous life, so in this life she naturally hoped to marry someone who matched her ideal type.
Huo Tingchen fit that image perfectly. At the very least, he was extremely handsome, and not just attractive but outstanding in every way. As for his family background, judging by his own achievements, his future prospects could only be bright. He was clearly a highly capable man.
And besides…
The two of them had already slept together.
She had been forced by Huo Tingchen after risking herself to save him, though in the end… she had found herself enjoying it as well.
Meanwhile, in the study, Qin Ruofeng looked at Huo Tingchen with a smile.
“Tingchen, I can tell you’re sincere about Ruanruan. I think very highly of you as well. But I still have to ask for Ruanruan’s opinion. If she’s willing, then I’ll feel at ease entrusting her to you.”
Huo Tingchen nodded.
“Thank you, Commander Qin. I know Ruanruan may still have some reservations about me, but I’ll prove through my actions that I sincerely want to take care of her.”
“Good. I believe you. Ruanruan grew up in the countryside and has endured many hardships. You must treat her well from now on.”
“I will, Commander Qin. I promise I’ll take good care of her and never let her suffer even the slightest grievance,” Huo Tingchen vowed earnestly.
“Good. With those words, I’m reassured. I’ll go ask Ruanruan what she thinks right now.”
Satisfied, Qin Ruofeng left the study and walked to Qin Ruan’s room. He knocked gently on the door.
“Ruanruan, are you in there?”
Hearing the knock, Qin Ruan quickly opened the door.
“Uncle, is something wrong?”
Qin Ruofeng stepped inside.
“Ruanruan, I was just talking with Huo Tingchen. He said the two of you already know each other?”
“Yes,” she replied. “We met not long ago.”
“That’s good. Since you’ve already met him, what do you think of him?” Qin Ruofeng asked.
He genuinely wanted his beloved niece to be happy, so he couldn’t help but worry about her future.
Lowering her head, Qin Ruan spoke softly.
“Uncle, I…”
Before she could finish, Qin Ruofeng interrupted with a smile.
“Huo Tingchen said he likes you very much and wants to be with you.”
Qin Ruan’s head shot up. Her eyes widened in astonishment.
“He… he really said that?”
Her voice trembled slightly, and her heart pounded wildly in her chest like a frightened little rabbit.
She had never imagined that Huo Tingchen would openly admit that he liked her and wanted to be with her.
Seeing her surprise, Qin Ruofeng chuckled.
“Of course he did. Commander Huo is an honest and upright man. He wouldn’t joke about something like this.”
Qin Ruan’s face immediately turned scarlet.
“But… but I’m not good enough for him.”
Qin Ruofeng frowned.
“Silly girl. You’re wonderful. Why would you think you’re not good enough? You’re beautiful, capable, and truly a rare, good young woman. If Commander Huo likes you and gets to be with you, that’s his good fortune.”
Qin Ruan said nothing and lowered her head again.
The truth was that she did like Huo Tingchen.
He was handsome, upright, and capable—a truly exceptional man.
And hearing him say that he wanted to be with her and take good care of her filled her heart with warmth and anticipation.
As she recalled what had happened on the tea mountain, she couldn’t help thinking…
It was only that they had slept together.
Although Huo Tingchen had forced himself on her after she saved him, in the end… she had enjoyed it as well.