Huo Yan’s arms froze in place, like steel plates welded shut.
The person in his arms was unbelievably soft—like a handful of freshly melted snow that would slip through his fingers if he wasn’t careful.
That scorching heat seeped through the thin fabric of the shirt, pressing directly against his hard chest.
Hot.
Alarmingly hot.
“Troublemaker.”
Huo Yan ground his teeth and muttered the curse under his breath.
Yet the ferocity from earlier was gone. Instead, there was an unavoidable, helpless irritation in his voice.
He bent down and, with swift, practiced movements, scooped her up horizontally.
Light.
Too light.
She weighed almost nothing in his arms, her delicate bones making his chest feel oddly tight.
Huo Yan strode to the bed and laid her down beneath the covers.
Jiang Li was already burning up.
Her small face was red like an overcooked shrimp, brows tightly knitted. She whimpered incoherently, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She’d been caught in the rain and terrified—cold invading her body, causing a high fever.
Huo Yan reached out and touched her forehead.
Scalding hot. Hot enough to fry an egg.
“Damn it.”
He withdrew his hand, brows furrowing deeply.
In the dead of night, if he sent her to the medical unit, wouldn’t all those grown men stare their eyes out?
And dressed like this—in a man’s shirt, disheveled—once she showed her face, by tomorrow the entire division would be gossiping that Commander Huo was hiding a woman in his room.
He didn’t care about his reputation.
But if she were seen by those people…
Huo Yan glanced at the small figure curled up on the bed, his gaze darkening.
No.
He couldn’t send her.
“Guess I’m the unlucky one.”
He sighed in resignation and turned toward the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of running water echoed inside.
When he came back out, he was carrying a green enamel washbasin and a white towel.
Cold water.
Physical cooling—the most commonly used method in the army.
Huo Yan placed the basin on a stool and wrung out the towel.
Holding the icy towel in his hand, he suddenly hesitated.
To wipe her down, he’d have to… unbutton her shirt.
Huo Yan had defused bombs and repaired tanks—his hands were famous for being steady and precise.
Yet now, staring at that row of small white buttons, the same hands that could fire a gun without shaking actually trembled slightly.
“I’m doing this to save her.”
He repeated it silently, as if justifying himself—or hypnotizing himself.
Taking a deep breath, he reached out and pinched the first button at her collar.
Unbuttoned.
Her collarbone was revealed—delicate, like carved jade.
The second button.
The third…
The oversized men’s shirt slowly parted.
Boom—
Huo Yan felt the string of “reason” in his mind nearly snap.
The visual impact was overwhelming.
In this single men’s dorm filled with sweat and male hormones, that defenseless patch of pale skin was like a poppy blooming on a cliff—beautiful and lethally tempting.
His Adam’s apple bobbed violently, his breathing turning rough in an instant.
He was a normal man.
A hot-blooded man who had been abstinent for years.
This was nothing short of a brutal test of willpower.
“Don’t look, Huo Yan. You’re a damn soldier.”
He cursed himself hard and forced his gaze away, fixing it only on the small area that needed wiping.
The icy towel touched her burning skin.
“Mmm…”
Jiang Li let out a soft sound, instinctively trying to shrink away from the cold.
“Don’t move.”
Huo Yan barked hoarsely, pressing her shoulder down with his large hand.
The sensation beneath his palm was smooth like congealed cream—so soft it was impossible to let go.
Completely different from the rough men and cold weapons he was used to handling in the army.
Soft enough to make his heart tremble.
His fingers shook uncontrollably.
Gritting his teeth, he kept his movements gentle, afraid his brute strength might hurt this fragile girl.
From her neck, to her arms, and then…
Every inch he wiped was torture.
And also a secret, unspeakable pleasure.
Just then—
The unconscious Jiang Li suddenly struggled.
“No… don’t…”
Her voice carried tears, thin as a mosquito’s buzz, yet filled with despair.
“Mom… Mama… don’t sell me…”
“I’m scared… I won’t marry… I won’t marry that old man…”
Two clear tears slid down the corners of her eyes, disappearing into her hair.
She was having a nightmare.
A dream filled with those man-eating demons.
Huo Yan’s hand stopped abruptly.
He looked at the girl on the bed—fragile like a porcelain doll.
All the indecent thoughts in his mind were instantly extinguished, as if doused with cold water.
In their place came a dense, unfamiliar ache.
And a surge of murderous rage.
Selling a daughter?
An old man?
What era was this—how could there still be beasts worse than animals?
Jiang Li seemed desperately lacking a sense of security in her dream, her small hands clawing blindly at the air.
“Help… someone save me…”
Without thinking, Huo Yan reached out.
The next second—
Her burning hands grabbed onto his rough palm like a lifeline.
Then she pressed her face against it.
Even though his palm was thick with calluses.Even though it was a hand that had killed.
She nuzzled into it like she’d found her only safe harbor.
“Don’t go…”
At that moment, something inside Huo Yan’s heart—once as hard as stone—collapsed inward.
Completely soft.
He looked at her, his gaze shifting from cold and irritated to something far more complicated.
Finally, it turned into a tenderness he himself didn’t even realize.
“I’m not going.”
Huo Yan spoke softly.
The words were quiet, but firm.
He didn’t pull his hand away, letting her hold on—even though the position left half his body numb.
This night was destined to be sleepless.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, thunder rumbling.
Inside, the desk lamp stayed lit all night.
The fearsome division commander—the infamous living Yama of the entire military district—
Was now acting like an old nanny caring for his wife.
Every hour, he got up to change her towel, give her water, and check her temperature.
He also had to guard against her kicking off the blanket.
Huo Yan sat on the floor beside the bed, back resting against the mattress, an unlit cigarette between his fingers.
Listening to her gradually steady breathing, he realized for the first time—
This troublemaker…
Didn’t seem quite so annoying after all.
…
Dawn broke.
The rain cleared.
Morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, scattering golden dust across the wooden floor.
Jiang Li woke up thirsty.
Her throat felt like she’d swallowed a handful of sand—dry and burning.
She opened her eyes groggily, her head still heavy.
Above her was an unfamiliar ceiling—and a military-green hanging lamp.
Her memories slowly returned.
The storm.Running away from the marriage.Climbing through the window.That terrifying man…
Jiang Li jolted upright.
The blanket slipped down.
She looked down—and instantly sucked in a sharp breath.
The oversized white shirt was loosely buttoned, the collar wide open, revealing everything beneath.
And…
She felt clean and refreshed, as if someone had wiped her down.
Who wiped her?
There was only that living Yama here—who else could it be?
Her face flushed crimson in an instant, all the way to the tips of her ears.
Just then—
A shadow fell over her.
“Awake?”
A low, hoarse male voice sounded above her.
Jiang Li flinched and snapped her head up.
Huo Yan was sitting on the chair beside the bed.
He was still wearing yesterday’s training uniform, but two buttons at the collar were undone, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong forearms.
Dark circles were obvious beneath his eyes, and a layer of stubble had sprouted on his chin.
He looked tired—but that only added to his rough, decadent wildness.
His gaze was heavy as it fixed on her, carrying scrutiny—and a depth formed after a night of沉淀.
In his hand—
Was the red wedding dress with a tear in it.
The one she had taken off yesterday.
“Since you’re awake,”
Huo Yan tossed the dress onto the bed, his tone returning to its usual cold hardness, even carrying an undeniable dominance.
“Then explain yourself.”
He leaned forward, those hawk-like eyes locking onto Jiang Li’s panicked gaze.
“What’s the name of the stepmother who wanted to sell you?”
“Which village do you live in?”
“And that old man who bought you—what factory is he from?”
Jiang Li froze.
She stared at Huo Yan, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
He… what was he planning to do?