Qin Zhan frowned slightly, his body instinctively taking half a step backward.
Lin Xue lunged at empty air and nearly lost her balance.
She froze awkwardly where she stood, her outstretched hand suspended in midair as the smile on her face began to crack.
“Q-Qin Zhan… Brother Qin Zhan?”
Qin Zhan’s calm, emotionless eyes swept over her indifferently.
“Who are you?”
Just three short words.
Devastatingly lethal.
Utterly humiliating.
Lin Xue’s face instantly flushed crimson, tears welling up in her eyes.
“I… I’m Lin Xue! Uncle Lin’s daughter! We met when we were children!”
Qin Zhan ignored her.
His gaze passed right over Lin Xue and landed precisely on the girl standing behind her, watching the spectacle unfold with obvious amusement.
The girl wore a faded gray homespun outfit that had been washed so many times it had lost its color. Mud still clung to the hems of her pants.
Her hair was a messy bird’s nest.
Though her face was smudged with dust, her bright, lively eyes sparkled as they curiously roamed over him.
So this is Lin Wan?
The fiancée who was supposedly timid as a mouse and meek to a fault?
A trace of confusion flickered across Qin Zhan’s eyes.
His intelligence report seemed to be wrong.
This girl didn’t look timid in the slightest.
He strode forward on his long legs, walking straight past Lin Xue until he stopped in front of Lin Wan.
His tall figure cast a shadow over her.
Lin Wan had to tilt her head back to see his face clearly.
Up close, he was even more striking.
Sword-like brows.
Eyes as sharp as blazing torches.
The overwhelming presence of a man seasoned by countless battles pressed down on her.
Lin Wan blinked, her mind already busily calculating.
He’s ridiculously handsome…
But he looks way too cold. Definitely not easy to get along with.
Besides…
Tsk. Good-looking on the outside, what a waste.
He looks like a rugged six-foot-two powerhouse… yet he’s actually impotent?
No wonder he still isn’t married at his age. So that’s his unspeakable secret.
What a tragedy. Such a handsome face and that killer waist, completely wasted.
A crack finally appeared in Qin Zhan’s icy composure.
His deep pupils contracted sharply.
What is she talking about?
No…
Who was talking?
The clear, pleasant voice, tinged with pity and playful teasing, seemed to echo directly inside his head.
And what it was saying…
Was outrageous!
Impotent? Unspeakable secret? Killer waist?
What kind of absurd nonsense is this?!
Qin Zhan’s piercing gaze instantly locked onto Lin Wan.
There was no one else around.
That voice clearly belonged to the innocent-looking girl standing right in front of him.
But her lips hadn’t moved once!
Lin Wan noticed the rapidly changing expression on Qin Zhan’s face and grew even more puzzled.
Huh? Why is the Living Yama glaring at me all of a sudden?
Those eyes are so fierce… Is he feeling inferior?
Makes sense. If a man can’t perform, he’d definitely end up psychologically twisted.
It’s okay, it’s okay. I don’t mind. I just want to live an easy life anyway. We can be a married couple in name only—you give me money, I’ll retire in peace. Isn’t that perfect?
The veins on Qin Zhan’s forehead bulged, his fists clenching tightly.
For the first time in twenty-five years, he felt an overwhelming urge to grab someone and give them a thorough beating.
He was perfectly healthy!
Every physical fitness score ranked first in the entire military district!
He could carry out five consecutive weighted night marches without breaking a sweat!
Which bastard had started the rumor that he couldn’t perform?
“Lin Wan.”
Grinding his teeth, Qin Zhan forced the two words out.
His deep, magnetic voice sounded almost as though it had been squeezed through clenched teeth.
Lin Wan immediately straightened up and flashed him a textbook-perfect fake smile.
“Present! Greetings, Commander!”
She couldn’t have looked more obedient.
That was…
If you ignored the nonstop commentary flooding her mind.
Why are you yelling like you’re summoning ghosts? You nearly scared me to death.
His voice is pretty sexy, though. If only he could use it in bed…
Oh, right. He can’t.
What a shame. Such a great bass voice wasted.
Qin Zhan took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the anger boiling inside him.
Closing his eyes briefly, he reminded himself:
She’s the orphan of a martyr.
The daughter of his benefactor.
Don’t hit her.
Don’t hit her.
But what on earth was this girl filling her head with all day?
Meanwhile, Lin Xue watched Qin Zhan stare at Lin Wan and even speak to her first.
Jealousy spread through her heart like poisonous weeds.
Unwilling to accept it, she hurried over and deliberately wedged herself between them.
“Brother Qin Zhan, my sister’s been living in the countryside for too long. She doesn’t know any manners. Please don’t take offense.”
“Just look at those ragged clothes she’s wearing. She’s making you look bad.”
“I even brought lots of local specialties this time. Let’s head to the guesthouse first instead of standing here under the sun.”
As she spoke, she reached out, trying to hook her arm around Qin Zhan’s to stake her claim.
Already in a foul mood, Qin Zhan found the woman buzzing around him like a fly even more irritating.
He stepped back coldly, his gaze slicing across Lin Xue like a knife.
“Stay away from me.”
“And we’re not close. Stop pretending we’re family.”
Lin Xue never expected Qin Zhan to embarrass her so completely.
Right in front of the sentry.
Right in front of Lin Wan.
Her smile froze completely as tears streamed down her face, making her look pitiful.
“Brother Qin Zhan… how could you treat me like this…”
“I’m only thinking of what’s best for you…”
“My sister simply isn’t worthy of you…”
Well, would you look at that? The performance has already begun.
Those tears come on command. What a waste that she isn’t starring in melodramas.
Not worthy? Well… she’s got one thing right.
Qin Zhan may have his physical… difficulties, but he’s still a hero.
As for this green-tea schemer, besides spouting nonsense, what else can she do?
If Qin Zhan ever found out that she called him a “short-lived ghost” on the ride here…
And said she only planned to marry him so she could inherit everything after he died…
Qin Zhan’s gaze instantly turned even colder.
A short-lived ghost?
Waiting to inherit his estate?
So that was her true nature.
When he looked at Lin Xue again, all warmth had vanished from his eyes.
Only disgust remained.
“Sentry!”
Qin Zhan suddenly barked.
Xiao Zhang, who had been standing nearby trying his best to be invisible while secretly holding back laughter, instantly snapped to attention and saluted.
“Sir!”
“There’s someone here disrupting order in the military district with suspicious intentions. Check her identification.”
“If she doesn’t have an entry pass, remove her immediately.”
Lin Xue stared at him in utter disbelief.
Remove her?
Qin Zhan actually wanted to throw her out?
“No! That’s not it! Brother Qin Zhan, please let me explain!”
Panicking, Lin Xue tried to rush toward him, only to be mercilessly blocked by Xiao Zhang.
“Comrade, please cooperate with the inspection.”
His face remained perfectly serious.
Inside, however, he was enthusiastically applauding Lin Wan.
This girl’s inner thoughts are incredible!
What a show!
Qin Zhan didn’t spare Lin Xue another glance.
Instead, he turned around, effortlessly picked up Lin Wan’s luggage from the ground, and slung it over one shoulder.
Then his unfathomable eyes settled on Lin Wan once more.
“Follow me.”
“We’re going to my house.”
Lin Wan blinked her wide eyes, pleasantly surprised.
Well, look at that. He’s actually quite the gentleman. Knows how to carry a beautiful lady’s luggage.
But… his house?
Meeting the family already? That was fast.
Wait, why is he walking so quickly? One of his strides is worth three of mine.
Don’t tell me I hit the nail on the head about his condition, and now he’s dragging me somewhere private to silence me forever…
Up ahead, Qin Zhan’s brisk footsteps faltered for just a moment.
Silence her forever?
That wasn’t a bad idea.
But before that, he had to find out exactly who had started this damned rumor that he was impotent.
He would prove his innocence through action.
…Wait.
How exactly was he supposed to prove it?
At some point, the tips of Qin Zhan’s ears had quietly turned a suspicious shade of red.