Cheng Yang felt that she wouldn’t be able to lift him. After all, Fu Chengyu was a grown man—broad-shouldered, powerfully built, muscles all over. Even for him, a soldier, carrying Fu Chengyu took some effort.
“Careful…” Cheng Yang worried she might drop him, so he rushed forward, spreading his arms to shield them, just in case Fu Chengyu fell.
It was the first time Fu Chengyu had ever been held by a woman—especially in this way. Feeling the warmth from her body, he experienced an indescribable mix of joy and embarrassment that left him dazed, as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. He stared blankly at Li Jiyue.
So close that their gazes met.
His eyelashes were long, brushing lightly against her face—itchy, with a tingling, numbing sensation. At such close range, he could almost feel the warmth and softness of the girl’s delicate skin. It was a sensation he had never experienced before. His body stiffened involuntarily, the tips of his ears flushing red, his fists unconsciously clenching as nervous sweat gathered in his palms.
Fu Chengyu weighed around eighty kilograms. Yet she actually lifted him up—steadily, securely, and with ease—without the slightest sign of strain on her face.
Cheng Yang was stunned as well. This female comrade looked slender, yet she was so strong. More importantly, she had actually carried their regimental commander into the car.
Could it be that she liked the commander? That would be wonderful! Ever since the commander was injured, he was rarely cheerful, often spacing out alone. The atmosphere around him was heavy and depressing, painful to watch. If there were someone close by, a confidante to talk to, that would be great.
Noticing their strange looks, Li Jiyue stood up and explained, “Don’t let my size fool you. I grew up in the countryside. In my foster parents’ home, I had to do all kinds of work. I trained this way.”
The spirit spring water she drank enhanced strength—she could lift over a hundred kilos. Fu Chengyu wasn’t even that heavy. And just now, it hadn’t really been lifting him, more like helping to hoist him.
Fu Chengyu sat upright, staring straight ahead, not daring to look at her. His ears were still red as he nodded. “Mm. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Just a small favor.”
The system reminded her, “Host, host, in this era male–female relations are strictly monitored. Mind the boundaries.”
Li Jiyue didn’t feel there was anything inappropriate about what she’d done. She walked around to the other side, opened the door, and got into the back seat.
Anyway, they were going to get married.
What she said about changing the marriage partner was true. She was confident she could cure the man’s legs. As for his face—drink the spring water for a week, then apply her specially made ointment on time, and the scars would fade.
Once he was cured, she’d cling to his coattails.
Even without love, there would at least be gratitude between them.
As for the male lead, female lead, second male lead, department heads, and all those monsters and demons—they could all step aside.
First, going to the countryside meant working like an old ox, facing yellow soil with your back to the sky, crammed into rooms with a bunch of educated youths, eating from communal pots—it would be pitch-black misery. She absolutely refused to go. Someone like her would definitely slack off, and the commune would be glad to have one less person like her anyway.
Second, she had offended Zhou Yun. She wasn’t afraid of retaliation against herself—she was afraid he’d take it out on the original owner’s parents. They were already living very hard lives over there. Even if she couldn’t help them, she couldn’t make things worse.
Third, that damned system said only by getting married and finding a partner could she open the laboratory. And even then, she could only pass out small items like pills and syringes through that channel—suffocatingly frustrating.
If she married Fu Chengyu, all these problems would be easily solved. How convenient.
What’s more, the two families already had an engagement. She wasn’t about to let Fu Chunsheng and Lin Yuzhu—the despicable pair—benefit for free.
After getting into the car, it had just started moving.
Li Jiyue shifted closer to him, bracing one hand on the seatback behind him as she leaned forward.
Fu Chengyu leaned slightly toward the window, deliberately keeping his distance. His phoenix eyes carried a hint of confusion as he looked at her.
The girl’s enchanting fox-like eyes shimmered brilliantly, curved like a crescent moon in the sky—beautiful yet seemingly out of reach.
That heart-pounding feeling surged again, intense and scorching. He began to suspect he was ill—seriously ill. Could it be a heart condition? He should probably get it checked at the hospital someday.
The hand resting on his thigh clenched secretly, sweat seeping into his palm. His Adam’s apple rolled subtly. Long lashes fluttered, hiding the emotions in his eyes as he avoided looking into her striking gaze.
He spoke first. “May I ask if Comrade Li has something to discuss?”
She spoke slowly and clearly. “Regimental Commander Fu, I’d like to ask you to get married.”
Fu Chengyu’s breath caught. Surprise and joy flashed through his eyes—so she liked him too.
But in the next second, his cheering heart sank back down.
Fu Chengyu’s voice was cool and clear. “I know that what you said at the state-owned restaurant about changing your engagement partner was said in anger. I didn’t take it to heart. You don’t need to feel any psychological burden.”
“It wasn’t said in anger. I’m completely serious.”
“I’m disfigured,” Fu Chengyu said softly. “The doctors say I might never stand again, that I’ll have to use a wheelchair for the rest of my life.”
The corners of his thin lips lifted—not in a smile, but in self-mockery. He had been a soldier for ten years, and now he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. What right did someone like him have to marry, to give another person happiness and support a family?
“‘Might’ doesn’t mean ‘definitely.’ I can cure you. Back when I was in the countryside, two medical professors from big cities were sent down and lived in the cowshed next to ours. I learned medicine from them. After returning to the Li family, I read many medical books and learned acupuncture from my parents. I can help with your later rehabilitation—really, believe me.”
She had absolute confidence that she could heal his legs.
Fu Chengyu believed that she wasn’t lying about knowing medicine. But even the top orthopedic experts in the capital had said there was a very high chance he’d never stand again.
He liked her too. If he weren’t disabled, he would have actively pursued her.
She was too young. He was older than her. He couldn’t be so selfish—half-accepting, half-refusing, marrying her and ruining her entire life.
“…I can’t give you children.”
Li Jiyue immediately replied, “That’s fine. I don’t like children anyway—no kids means an easier life.”
That damned childbirth system kept urging her to get married every day. She was sick of it. Finding a partner who was almost infertile—how perfect was that?
With that thought, Li Jiyue excitedly grabbed the man’s hand. “Regimental Commander Fu, if you don’t already have a suitable marriage partner, then I’m definitely the best choice.”
As she spoke, she blinked at him. In her clear, bright pupils was his reflection, filled with sincerity and expectation.
Fu Chengyu moved his lips, wanting to discourage her, but it felt as if something was stuck in his throat—he couldn’t say a single word.
He had thought Li Jiyue would back down, that she would find fault with him for being disabled and not even a normal man.
Hearing their conversation from the driver’s seat, Cheng Yang grew anxious on behalf of his commander. The female comrade was already taking the initiative—why was the commander still hesitating? Miss this chance and it would be gone forever. A woman like her—beautiful, strong, straightforward, easy to get along with—would be a prized catch in the army. Plenty of men would be lining up to marry her.
So anxious that Cheng Yang slammed on the brakes, stopping at the entrance of the steel factory’s residential compound. “Screech!”
Li Jiyue had been sitting sideways, her attention still on Fu Chengyu. She lost her balance and fell straight into his arms. “Bang!”
Her light, soft body landed in his embrace, that familiar elegant orchid-like fragrance filling his nose. Fu Chengyu instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist.
Soft and slender—he could almost encircle it with one hand.
His body stiffened more and more. He forgot to react, his hand resting unmoving at her lower back, as if he were deliberately holding the girl in his arms.
To Cheng Yang, it looked exactly like that—the commander had taken the initiative, actively hugging the female comrade. It seemed he had accidentally done a good deed. When the commander and future sister-in-law got married, he’d get double wedding candy. Heh heh! His dog-like eyes the size of bells squinted into slits.
The man’s chest was broad and solid, hard as rock. Her chest slammed into it, hurting from the impact.
Fu Chengyu lowered his gaze and met the smiling eyes of the girl in his arms.
Li Jiyue wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning softly against his chest. Her warm breath brushed against his neck as she looked straight at him, hearing the pounding of his heart in her ears.
Those enchanting fox-like eyes were dazzling and seductive, the corners lifted, bright pupils flowing with light. Her red lips curved slightly, luscious and alluring—graceful, charming, irresistibly seductive.
His breath hitched at the sight. His palm tightened unconsciously, almost pressing her forcefully against his chest.
The soft fullness at her chest was squeezed against his, making it hard for her to breathe. Her voice turned soft and delicate. “Mm~ I can’t breathe…”
Fu Chengyu snapped back to his senses, filled with remorse. He quickly loosened his grip and helped her up. “Sorry—I wasn’t doing it on purpose.”
How could he do something like that, taking advantage of a female comrade? Damn it!
Li Jiyue clearly sensed his nervousness. She covered her mouth and laughed, her slender fingers lifting a loose strand of hair by her ear, looking bewitchingly seductive, like a soul-stealing beauty.
“It’s okay. I understand.”
Fu Chengyu’s breath caught again. He hurriedly looked away, staring straight ahead, his heart inexplicably restless. His cheeks grew even redder, his earlobes flushed as if they might drip blood.
The more shy he was, the more Li Jiyue wanted to tease him.
Her delicate hand brushed lightly over his chest. His heartbeat was even faster now—abnormally fast. She wondered whether he had any injury there.
“Did it hit your wound?”
“…No.”
Fu Chengyu felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his chest.
“That’s good.” Li Jiyue nodded, then added, “I know this is too sudden for you, and it’s hard to decide. I’ll give you some time to think—how about three days?”
He nodded. “…Okay.”
For the moment, Fu Chengyu couldn’t think of a way to gently refuse her. Rejecting her outright worried him—what if it hurt her feelings? He decided to go back and think of the right words, then give her an answer.
The car stopped outside the compound. Li Jiyue got out and waved at him. “I’m heading home. See you in three days!”
Fu Chengyu nodded again. “Alright.”
The car started moving. Fu Chengyu felt the interior was unbearably hot and rolled down the window to let in some air.
Cheng Yang grinned and said, “Commander, I think Comrade Li is very pretty. You two are a perfect match.”
Fu Chengyu’s voice dropped, stern and serious. “What nonsense are you talking about? You’ll ruin a female comrade’s reputation. And your driving skills are getting worse—next month, go back to the unit’s driver training camp and retrain.”
Cheng Yang pleaded, “Commander, please don’t!”
The army’s driver training camp had extremely strict standards. Having gone through it once was already more than enough—he never wanted to experience it a second time.
Just as Li Jiyue reached the entrance of the residential compound, a voice suddenly sprang out from a corner, blocking her path.