“Hello, I’m Shen Huainian…”
Those words pierced her ears like a magical sound, reverberating in 4D inside her mind.
“Gahaha”
Xie Li laughed.
He was Shen Huainian? Not some nearly-retired old man? He was a man far more handsome than even the model guy she had in mind.
Xie Li looked around.
Zhang Qingliang was running laps on the deck, sneaking glances at her as he ran. Other soldiers were starting to gather and watch too.
Like watching monkeys in a zoo.
It seemed they had all been in on it before intentionally deceiving her.
She felt like a joke!
Swoosh!!
She slid on her knees across the deck and wrapped her arms around Shen Huainian’s long, straight legs:
“Ah Nian!! I’m Xiao Li, your wife! I’ve come to join the army with you!”
If she was already a joke, she might as well make it even funnier hahahahaha!!!
A tree dies if it loses its bark, but a shameless person is invincible!!
Xie Li had long understood the essence of shamelessness.
Everyone else: “…”
Shen Huainian looked down at the little girl clinging to his leg. The anger he had felt earlier had long dissipated with the sticky sea breeze.
She…was nothing like any girl he had ever met.
If it were another girl, she would probably have been embarrassed, furious, or even crying by now.
But she…was shameless.
Adorably shameless.
Xie Li hugged his leg, occasionally pretending to brush her hands over it absentmindedly.
Long, straight, well-toned muscles.
A godlike specimen!
“I’m twenty-five… four years older than you…”
“I like older brothers the most! And this engagement was arranged by my grandfather on his deathbed. His dying wish was for me to marry you, and I can’t go against his last wish!!”
Xie Li’s face was full of sincerity.
Shen Huainian paused. She knew how to play the expression game.
…
Shen Huainian had returned from a mission.
And he had brought back a wife.
Aside from his bodyguard Xiao Qi and a few officers who had approved his marriage report, no one else knew he had already filed the paperwork.
“Did you hear? Commander Shen brought a woman back from his mission he says she’s his wife!”
In the military compound, a group of women sat under a big poplar tree, chatting while taking a break from chores.
“I heard! And I heard a rumor she’s not human, she’s a water ghost!”
“Whoa, that’s ridiculous!”
“Not ridiculous! If not a water ghost, then a sea demon! My husband said she just floated in from the open sea! And the moment she got on the ship, she charmed Commander Shen!”
Gossip grew more and more exaggerated.
In the end, the consensus: Shen Huainian had brought back a sea demon as his wife.
At that moment, the two people involved were shopping.
“Your luggage is gone. Let’s buy some clothes and daily necessities first. Although we’ve filed the marriage report, we haven’t officially registered yet. If you’re unhappy or unwilling, you can tell me anytime the report can be voided.”
In the military-green jeep, Shen Huainian drove while speaking to Xie Li.
Xie Li blushed, speaking in a high, delicate voice:
“I want to”
Of course she did.
Good-looking, well-born, and able to protect her.
Who cared about feelings for now? Many couples married first and loved later. And if it really didn’t work out, she could at least have a free “model guy” experience.
She intended to make up for all the male models she didn’t have time to appreciate before entering the book world.
Shen Huainian tightened his grip on the steering wheel, quickly glancing at the shy, coquettish Xie Li.
His fox-like eyes curved slightly.
Shen Huainian took her to Liaoning Province’s largest department store, Qiulin Department Store.
From washbasins, hand towels, and thermoses to soap, shampoo, and snow cream, he missed nothing.
Shopping was every woman’s nature, and with a generous payer, Xie Li shopped with joy.
When they reached the clothing section, she considered that she would be living in the military compound and that Shen Huainian was a commander. Wearing overly flashy clothes could draw unwanted attention.
She picked two sets of moderately colored shirts and pants.
“Those two blouses are pretty.”
Shen Huainian pointed to a pale yellow and a light blue blouse hanging on the wall.
Xie Li blinked.
Of course, she knew those blouses were beautiful. But the situation was tense wearing such clothes could make people gossip that she was a capitalist heiress. And she already carried that “capitalist” label.
Her identity, combined with marrying Shen Huainian, would definitely draw chatter better to be cautious.
He glanced at the two dull-colored sets she had chosen and said softly:
“Don’t think too much. Wear what you like, do what you like.”
Xie Li shyly lowered her head, twirling her left foot and twirling her hair with her right hand, speaking in a high-pitched voice:
“Thank you, Ah Nian”
The sales clerks rolled their eyes.
They had never seen such a coquettish young lady! Why all the twisting and twirling while talking?!
Shen Huainian pursed his lips.
He had never seen such a cute little girl talking while twisting her body like that.
That day, Shen Huainian was called back to the unit by his superior, Commander Wu.
“Huainian, when your father called, he only said to approve the marriage report quickly. We didn’t have time to do a background check. Now the report is in: your fiancée is a capitalist heiress. Think carefully her background will affect your future promotions.”
Commander Wu handed Shen Huainian a stack of files, detailing everything from Xie Li’s birth hospital, her being switched as a child, to living with the Pei family for three years. Wu Wu pondered a moment and continued:
“The files also show your fiancée previously had a marriage banquet with another capitalist young master. Though not officially married, she did live there for three years.”
Shen Huainian frowned.
Born switched at birth, and later, the fake sister stole the man she liked.
“Huainian, her family situation isn’t good!”
Shen Huainian nodded, his eyes unreadable:
“Yes, her family situation isn’t good.”
Seeing an opening, Commander Wu continued:
“Huainian, you haven’t registered yet. You can back out if you want. I’ll explain your situation to the higher-ups. They won’t criticize you. This shows high political awareness. As far as I know, neither of you has met yet this is an arranged marriage, which isn’t supported. You won’t be at fault if you change your mind.”
Wu paved the entire way for Shen Huainian to back out.
Naturally, he didn’t want Shen Huainian to marry Xie Li.
Shen Huainian was his most capable subordinate and the navy’s youngest regiment commander.
A talent like him had limitless potential no need to ruin it for an arranged marriage.
Shen Huainian’s father was Wu’s old superior, so Wu would have time to advise and help Shen Huainian escape.
“Uncle Wu, I appreciate your concern.”
Shen Huainian put down the files:
“When I say her family isn’t good, I mean how people treated Xie Li. She cannot choose the family she was born into that’s not her fault. Promotion is just a position. As for this engagement, I won’t go back on it.”
He turned to leave, opening the door, then paused to look back at Commander Wu:
“Uncle Wu, I don’t want the information in these files to get out.”
His mind flashed back to Xie Li’s pale little face when she was rescued and how she clung to his leg, rubbing against him.
She was so young, following him. He would not let anyone gossip about her otherwise, how could a young girl like her ever face the world?