Outside the door, Political Commissar Liu’s voice sounded unusually persistent, even tinged with anxiety.
“Old Huo! I know you’re in there! Don’t play dead!”
“The commotion at the gate just now has the whole division buzzing. If you don’t give me an explanation, I can’t protect you either!”
This time, there was no escaping.
The earlier “hero saving the beauty” act, while satisfying, had effectively admitted to the entire military district that there was indeed something suspicious in the room.
Without a reasonable explanation, it would become a serious disciplinary issue.
Minor offense: a reprimand. Severe offense: stripped of your uniform and tossed out.
Jiang Li’s face was pale, her body trembling in Huo Yan’s arms.
“What… what should we do?”
She whispered, guilt thick in her voice. “Did I get you into trouble? Maybe… I should just say I sneaked in on my own, it has nothing to do with you…”
Huo Yan looked down at her.
This silly girl.
Even now, she’s thinking of distancing herself.
“Shut up.”
Huo Yan released his grip on her waist, straightened her disheveled collar, and even carefully fastened a button for her.
“No matter what he says, don’t say a word.”
“I’ve got this.”
He took a deep breath, adjusted his expression, and walked over, yanking the door open.
Political Commissar Liu was about to knock again, almost hitting Huo Yan’s nose as the door swung open.
“Ah! Finally, you open the door!”
Liu stepped in, ready to scold, but his gaze fell past Huo Yan’s broad shoulders onto Jiang Li standing in the center of the room.
Instantly, Liu’s eyes widened like copper bells.
His mouth dropped into an “O” shape, wide enough to fit an egg.
Even though he was mentally prepared, the sight was still shocking.
A beautiful girl wearing Huo Yan’s shirt.
Barefoot, hair slightly messy, tears still at the corners of her eyes.
This… this…
It was the textbook “caught in bed” scene!
“Old Huo! You… what is this?!”
Liu pointed at Jiang Li, his hand trembling. “This is a mistake! A serious disciplinary issue!”
Huo Yan, however, remained calm.
He even turned to pour Liu a glass of water, deliberate and unhurried.
“Old Liu, calm down. Sit and we’ll talk.”
“Sit? Sit? This is urgent!” Liu spun in frustration. “That woman already caused a scene at the gate, and now you’re hiding someone in your room—if this gets out…”
“She’s not that shrew’s daughter.”
Huo Yan cut him off without changing his expression, beginning to lie convincingly.
“She’s my fiancée from my hometown.”
“What?!”
Not only Liu, but Jiang Li in the back froze.
Fiancée?
When did this happen?
Huo Yan acted as if it were true.
He walked to Jiang Li, naturally draping his arm over her shoulders, pulling her slightly closer to his chest.
“This is Jiang Li. Arranged marriage set by our families.”
“She came to the military to visit, but was almost abducted by traffickers on the way. She ran for her life and found me.”
“That shrew earlier was part of a trafficking gang trying to sell her to that bald old man.”
Huo Yan’s explanation was airtight.
It explained why Jiang Li was here, why she looked disheveled, and neatly pinned the “human trafficker” label on Wang Guifen.
Logic closed.
Perfect.
Liu stared for a long moment, scrutinizing the two suspiciously.
“Arranged marriage? Why have you never mentioned this?”
“You know I don’t like showing off,” Huo Yan said calmly. “And it was just arranged by the family recently; I hadn’t reported it yet.”
Liu looked at Huo Yan, then at Jiang Li.
She was beautiful, but pitiful, and standing beside Huo Yan’s rock-like presence… actually quite a match.
And judging by how dependent she looked on him, it didn’t seem fake.
“Well… well, she still can’t just live in your single dorm!”
Liu was partially convinced but stuck to principle. “If someone sees this, what would people say? Go handle the paperwork, put her in the guesthouse!”
Huo Yan’s brow twitched ever so slightly.
Guesthouse?
Too many people, too many eyes, all kinds of riffraff.
This girl… a disaster waiting to happen.
If she stayed there alone tonight, she’d be eaten alive.
But he didn’t argue out loud.
“Fine, I’ll handle it once she calms down.”
Liu finally exhaled, reminding him a few more times about “watching appearances,” then hurried off.
Door closed.
Huo Yan’s calm vanished immediately.
He released Jiang Li’s waist, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette.
Through the smoke, his brows furrowed tighter.
“Wait… I’m your fiancée?”
Jiang Li carefully approached, surprise and a hint of shyness on her face.
Huo Yan exhaled a smoke ring, glancing at her.
“Temporary solution. Otherwise, do you want to be arrested for hooliganism?”
Jiang Li shook her head immediately.
“But…” Huo Yan turned to her. “This lie works for now, not forever.”
“You’re undocumented. In this era, without an introduction letter or ID, you can’t go anywhere.”
“You couldn’t stay in the guesthouse anyway—it’s strictly monitored.”
Jiang Li bit her lip, eyes dimming.
Right… she couldn’t be exposed.
“What… what should I do then?”
Huo Yan looked at her pitiful face, and a thought suddenly came to mind.
“Can you dance?”
He asked abruptly.
Jiang Li blinked, then nodded instinctively. “Yes… I practiced in the village troupe for a few years, and some classical dance too.”
Huo Yan narrowed his eyes.
The troupe was recruiting.
If he could get her in, she’d have proper military registration.
Safe, right under his watch.
And this girl’s body…
His eyes swept over her.
Under the oversized shirt, delicate curves could be seen.
“Dance.”
He stubbed out the cigarette, sitting with legs crossed, like an evaluator.
“Huh?” Jiang Li was confused.
“Now. Dance for me.” Huo Yan’s voice brooked no argument. “I want to see if you’re fit for the troupe.”
Jiang Li bit her lip.
This was her only chance.
She took a deep breath, stepped back, and positioned herself in the center of the room.
No music.
Only birds chirping outside.
She slowly raised her hands.
Assumed position.
Despite the oversized shirt, despite being barefoot on the wooden floor, the moment she moved, her entire aura changed.
No longer the timid, bullied girl, but a white swan spreading its wings.
Her waist was unbelievably supple.
She bent backward, body forming a perfect arc.
The shirt slipped with the movement, exposing a smooth shoulder.
The neckline open, glimpses of skin visible.
Her eyes transformed.
Seductive, alluring, naturally enchanting.
Like a forest spirit.
Each turn, each glance seemed to send sparks toward Huo Yan.
He had been watching critically, but…
His breathing became uneven.
Throat dry.
Heat rushed from his lower abdomen to his head.
This wasn’t just dancing—
It was a trap for him.
That flawless waist, those long legs, the way her body moved…
He felt as if he were being roasted alive.
Instinctively, he reached for the cigarette pack.
He grabbed a cigarette but hadn’t lit it yet.
Jiang Li spun, lost balance, and toppled onto Huo Yan’s thigh.
Their eyes met.
So close he could hear her breath.
Jiang Li gasped, cheeks flushed, her peach-blossom eyes sparkling.
“Am… am I dancing well?”
Huo Yan said nothing.
His hand still held the unlit cigarette, which had already been crushed by his grip.
Fingers burned slightly from the hot tip.
He didn’t feel pain.
He only felt the incredible heat and softness on his leg.
“Yes.”
Huo Yan’s voice was hoarse, like he swallowed gravel, eyes dark and dangerous.
“Excellent.”
Excellent enough that he wanted to make a mistake right now.