Gu Huai’an was so angry he laughed.
If he let her keep running her mouth like this, gossip would spread through the entire regiment by tomorrow, claiming that he, Gu Huai’an, had to sell his ass to get a wife.
“Take your time eating, put it on my tab. I’ll take this drunkard back first.”
He didn’t bother hiding it, wrapping one arm around Shen Yu’s waist and lifting her halfway out of her seat with a slight exertion, half-carrying, half-dragging her away.
Shen Yu’s toes barely touched the ground, her legs kicking wildly.
“Don’t go yet! I haven’t finished the meat! Let’s have a couple more drinks—I can still handle it!”
Gu Huai’an leaned down and growled a threat into her ear, “If you shout one more time, I’ll shut your mouth for you.”
Shen Yu’s ear tingled, and she immediately quieted down, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Her warm breath fanned over his skin as she mumbled something unintelligible.
Once they left the canteen, Gu Huai’an practically dragged Shen Yu along, her body slung over his.
Drunk, she was as slippery as an eel, constantly sliding down, forcing him to heave her back up every few steps.
The night breeze did nothing to sober her up; instead, it seemed to intensify her drunkenness.
She felt feverish all over, climbing onto Gu Huai’an with hands and feet, trying to press against something cool.
Gu Huai’an had no choice but to support her bottom to keep her from falling.
The position was rather indecent, but thankfully, no one was around at this hour.
“Stand up straight!”
Gu Huai’an pinched her waist, his tone sharp. “Are you made of paper? Can’t you walk a few steps on your own?”
Shen Yu felt a mix of pain and ticklishness from the pinch and giggled, clinging to his neck without letting go.
“Gu Huai’an…”
“What do you want? Spit it out.”
“I think I’m going to throw up…”
Gu Huai’an halted, his face darkening. “If you dare throw up on me, I’ll toss you into the ditch.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
Shen Yu bit his neck, putting some force into it, though for a man with thick skin, it felt more like a kitten gnawing.
But the location was far too dangerous.
“You’re my man, we’re legally married, so you have to take responsibility! Throwing up on you is an honor!”
Gu Huai’an was thoroughly irritated by her rubbing against him, his gaze dark and unreadable.
“Fine, you’ve got guts.”
He let out a heavy breath, hoisted her up again, and quickened his pace toward the family quarters.
“Just wait till we get back—I’ll show you how to behave.”
When they reached the dormitory door, Gu Huai’an kicked it open, closed it behind him with a backward shove, and tossed her onto the bed.
Shen Yu was thrown into a daze, propping herself up to climb off when a dark shadow loomed over her.
Gu Huai’an knelt on the edge of the bed with one knee, his hands planted on either side of her, his eyes dark and intense.
“You can’t even handle one drink, yet you dare challenge me? Do you think you can handle the real deal?”
Shen Yu’s mind was slow to process, taking a moment to catch the suggestive undertone in his words.
The alcohol had made her recklessly bold.
They were already married—not taking advantage would be a waste.
Staring at the masculine allure before her, she swallowed hard and leaned in, heedless of the consequences.
“We won’t know… until we try, right?”
“Try?” Gu Huai’an gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse. “Shen Yu, you brought this on yourself. If you end up crying and begging for mercy later, don’t expect me to stop.”
Shen Yu felt no shame at this point, her eyes fixed on the uniform collar button on his clothes as she reached out to fumble with it.
“Stop talking so much. Are you incapable or something?”
Her fingers, as if charged with electricity, scratched randomly at his Adam’s apple. Gu Huai’an cursed under his breath, his eyes turning red.
Did this woman truly not know the meaning of danger, or did she think he was some kind of celibate monk?
He grabbed the misbehaving hand and pressed it against the pillow.
Shen Yu, pinned down and unable to move, grew displeased. She twisted her body, struggling to break free.
Two buttons of her shirt were already undone, and with her squirming, a vast expanse of delicate, pale skin swayed right before Gu Huai'an's eyes.
That slender, soft waist twisted and turned, stirring a fire within Gu Huai'an.
"It's so hot, I'm uncomfortable," Shen Yu whined, rubbing her heels against the bedsheet. "Gu Huai'an, I want to take a bath. I feel sticky all over."
After all that commotion earlier, she was drenched in sweat and truly uncomfortable.
Gu Huai'an closed his eyes, a vein throbbing at his temple.
If he still forced himself on her now, he'd be nothing but a beast.
But if he didn't, even after they'd gotten their marriage certificate, and he could still hold back—then he felt he wasn't even worthy of being called a beast.
"Fine, I'll give you a bath right now."
Gu Huai'an released her hand, rolled off the bed, picked up the newly bought enamel basin, and went out to fetch water.
Everyone was crowded in the canteen, so the water room was empty.
Gu Huai'an turned on the water faucet, letting cold water rush over his hands, which helped suppress the restless fire within him a little.
This marriage was truly testing his self-control, damn it.
By the time he returned with a basin of warm water, the woman on the bed had already taken off her shirt. Wearing only a tank top, she was drowsily tugging at her belt.
Gu Huai'an paused mid-step, nearly spilling the water in the basin.
He closed the door behind him, placed the basin on the stand, and strode over to grab her hand.
"Enough, stop undressing. If you take off any more, you won't be sleeping tonight."
He soaked the towel in water, wrung it until it was half-dry, then pinched Shen Yu's chin with his large hand and pressed the towel against her flushed little face.
"Mm! That hurts!" Shen Yu slapped the back of his hand. "Be gentler! Are you trying to scrub off grime?"
"You complain even when I'm serving you?"
Gu Huai'an grumbled, but his grip unconsciously loosened as he carefully wiped her face and neck.
After finishing her face, he moved on to her hands.
Shen Yu's fingers were slender and fair, with a thin layer of calluses on her palms. Her nails were rounded and pink, a stark contrast to his own hands—pale against dark.
Gu Huai'an held her fingertips, feeling the restlessness within him stir again.
"Lift your foot."
Shen Yu was obedient now and dutifully raised one leg.
Gu Huai'an held her ankle, his thumb brushing against the sole of her foot.
Shen Yu, ticklish, flinched and let out a soft, muffled sound.
Hearing it, Gu Huai'an stiffened, tossed the towel into the basin with a splash, and sent water flying everywhere.
"I must owe you something in a past life!"
He hastily wiped her a few more times, then pulled the military blanket over her, wrapping her up tightly like a zongzi, covering her from head to toe.
"Don't you dare act drunk again! If you keep making trouble, you'll be sleeping on the floor!"
Shen Yu, now warmed and comfortable, wriggled under the blanket, found a cozy position, and fell into a deep sleep within minutes.
Gu Huai'an stared at the carefree, sleeping woman, grinding his teeth in frustration.
He glanced down at his own very alert lower half and let out a cold laugh.
Fine, just fine.
On his wedding night, he had to take matters into his own hands.
He grabbed the basin from the stand and headed back to the water room.
This time, he didn't mix in hot water—just a basin of ice-cold water poured straight over his head.
…
The sky was still dim when Shen Yu felt warmth behind her.
She was nestled in an embrace, a long leg draped over her body, pinning her in place.
Shen Yu opened her eyes, her mind still foggy.
Where was she?
She shifted her waist, trying to move away.
"Don't move."
A man's hoarse, low voice sounded behind her ear, his warm breath spraying against the hollow of her neck, raising goosebumps all over.
Shen Yu froze. Without even needing to think, the memories came flooding back on their own.
Getting the marriage certificate, drinking, acting drunk and crazy, touching his face, and even wanting to "give it a try."
Shen Yu's face flushed red, her toes curling tightly.
Gu Huai'an pulled her closer into his embrace, lowering his head to bite her shoulder.
"Weren't you pretty wild last night? Still trying to drink me under the table? Still want to 'give it a try'?"
Shen Yu winced in pain but didn't dare move.
"I… I was drunk out of my mind, I don't remember anything."
Gu Huai'an snorted with a laugh, flipping over to sit up, propping himself up on one hand beside her ear as he pulled the blanket aside.
The man was bare-chested, with a ring of teeth marks on his neck and several red marks on his chest, glaringly obvious.
"Take a look, who did this?" Gu Huai'an pointed at his chest. "Anyone who didn't know better would think I got into a fight with a stray cat last night."
Shen Yu guiltily averted her gaze.
"Mosquitoes, maybe?"
Gu Huai'an grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest. "Do your mosquitoes have five fingers and a set of teeth? Try pretending again, I dare you."
The muscles beneath her palm were firm and hot, rising and falling with his breath.
Shen Yu's palm grew warm, and she tried to pull it back, but he held it firmly in place.
"Gu… Gu Huai'an, it's early in the morning, don't get impulsive."
Shen Yu swallowed hard. "We have plenty of time ahead of us. Um, aren't you going for drills today?"
"What are you scared of?"
Gu Huai'an lowered his head, his nose brushing against her face, his voice dropping low with an inexplicably provocative tone.
"I spent the whole night taking cold showers, Shen Yu. I'm putting this on your tab for now. When the lights go out tonight, you'll pay me back with interest."
Only then did he let go of her, rolling out of bed.
Shen Yu stayed curled up in bed, watching the man pull on his training uniform.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, eight-pack abs tight and firm—every movement exuded the crisp efficiency of a soldier.
With a physique and stamina like that, if it really came to tonight…
Shen Yu suddenly felt a slight ache in her lower back.
Even before it started, she had a premonition that things were about to go very wrong.
Gu Huai'an dressed neatly, his collar just covering the teeth marks.
He fastened his belt, glanced back at Shen Yu still dazed in bed, and pointed to a tin box on the table.
"There are coupons and tickets inside. Go to the canteen yourself to eat, buy whatever you want from the service center. Don't save money for me—I can afford to keep you. Wash up early tonight and wait for me."