Chapter 27: I Admire You

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: I Admire You

Hearing this, a dark blush spread across Lu Zhengchuan’s cheeks. It took him a long moment before he managed to squeeze out, "I had my eye on you back then. Does that count?"

"Huh?" Su Wan’s eyes went wide.

She was sure she hadn’t lost her memory. Back in the village, she had only met Lu Zhengchuan a handful of times.

Lu Zhengchuan’s gaze grew intense, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

A tingling numbness spread through Su Wan. She hastily averted her gaze, her heart thundering so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat.

She took two deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down, but she couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at him from the corner of her eye.

"When?"

"You were the village’s famous star student." Lu Zhengchuan’s jet-black eyes rested on her. Her thick, beautiful hair was draped over her shoulders, revealing a slender, pale neck. The hollows of her clavicle were so pronounced that his eyes filled with concern. "Even though I joined the army when I was very young, I’d still hear about you every time I came back."

"Every time, you’d be walking along the ridges of the fields, clutching a book, and nothing could disturb you from being lost in its world."

"That’s why you never noticed me looking at you."

Su Wan’s heart skipped a beat. She had always kept to herself and had few friends. While she had nodding acquaintances in the village, her one very good friend lived in the city. Since she didn’t really get along with the other girls her age in the village, she naturally spent most of her time at home and rarely went out.

It wasn’t surprising that Lu Zhengchuan would have noticed her under those circumstances, while she remained completely unaware.

"I admire you a lot."

Lu Zhengchuan sat before her and gently turned her face toward him. "So, even if we don’t have feelings for each other yet, for you to say that I like Zheng Zhizhi... that’s absolutely impossible."

Seeing him explain so earnestly, Su Wan smiled in satisfaction, but she still had to ask what needed to be asked. "Then what’s all this talk in the village about you and Zheng Zhizhi being childhood sweethearts? And what about that whole issue with her demanding a high bride price?"

"I’ve heard the childhood sweetheart rumors too, but I explained the situation every time. Zheng Hai would agree to my face, but I guess he wasn’t convinced and kept spreading nonsense behind my back." Lu Zhengchuan frowned. "When I was little, the Zheng Family was kind enough to feed me a few times, so I treated Zheng Hai to a few meals in return."

’So this was the power of gossip.’

’But I imagine that once the news about Zheng Zhizhi gets out, the village is going to be in an uproar. If the Zheng Family can still hold their heads high after that, I’ll tear my own head off and let them kick it like a ball.’

"I don’t like the Zheng Family. Are you going to present a united front with me?" Su Wan raised an eyebrow, testing him.

’She could let go of the past misunderstandings Lu Zhengchuan had caused. But now that they were married, a husband had to be properly trained. If he wasn’t on her side, she wouldn’t want him, no matter how rich or handsome he was.’

"After what the Zheng Family has done, even if you hadn’t said anything, I would have stopped associating with them."

"Especially Zhang Yun and my uncle and aunt." Lu Zhengchuan’s brow furrowed as he spoke. "I’ll call my uncle and aunt back home and explain the situation."

’Not bad. He’s sharp.’

Su Wan’s own relationship with the Zhang family’s uncle and aunt was merely a polite one.

’If she were the one to handle the matter with Zhang Yun, it would likely cause a rift in their relationship, and they might even end up holding a grudge against her.’

But it was a different story if Lu Zhengchuan stepped in.

No matter how angry his uncle and aunt from the Zhang family got, they’d have to deal with Lu Zhengchuan first.

"Alright, let’s go to sleep. We can deal with tomorrow’s problems tomorrow."

Su Wan lay down, perfectly content.

Lu Zhengchuan blew out the kerosene lamp. The darkness didn’t affect his eagle-like vision. Seeing the small, curled-up form of his wife on the bed, he lay down beside her and couldn’t help but turn on his side to watch her.

"Go to sleep." It’s not like Su Wan was oblivious. She turned her head and met his dark, shining eyes, then shyly gave his face a light pat.

Lu Zhengchuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His large hand, with its well-defined knuckles, gently took hold of her delicate, fair one. "Okay."

He held her hand quite tightly. After trying to pull it free for a moment without success, she gave up, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep.

She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but unexpectedly, she didn’t even know when she drifted off.

A familiar bugle call sounded. Su Wan opened her eyes and saw the sky outside was just beginning to lighten. A faint light was already on in the kitchen.

"What time is it?" Su Wan asked as she walked in.

Lu Zhengchuan instinctively glanced at Su Wan’s bare wrist. "It’s only six-thirty. I made some meat congee. What side dishes do you want? I can go buy some from the mess hall."

"Just some steamed buns will be fine. Vegetable ones are good." Su Wan walked over and saw that he had indeed cooked a pot of lean pork congee.

It looked a bit crude. Noticing her gaze, Lu Zhengchuan quickly stirred the bottom of the aluminum pot with a spoon. "If it doesn’t taste good, I’ll buy you something else."

"It’s fine, I’ll try it. You go buy the buns first."

Su Wan ladled a small amount into a bowl and took a spoonful. It tasted pretty good.

Receiving her approving look, Lu Zhengchuan left, relieved.

At the mess hall, he bought two vegetable buns, six meat buns, and six eggs. Seeing that they also had multi-grain steamed bread, he bought five of those as well.

After leaving the mess hall, Lu Zhengchuan headed straight for the service center.

It just so happened that Wang Mei was working the night shift at the service center. When she saw Lu Zhengchuan, she was instantly itching with curiosity.

"Battalion Commander Lu, what can I get for you?"

"Battalion Commander Lu, I heard that childhood sweetheart of yours from the village came looking for you?"

One look at her expression and Lu Zhengchuan knew what she was gossiping about. His own expression remained unchanged as he pointed to the only pink ladies’ watch in the display case. "I’ll take this watch. Please wrap it up."

"Ma’am, Zheng Zhizhi is just someone from my village. As for the details, you can wait for the official military announcement. I have absolutely no relationship with her," Lu Zhengchuan said, handing over the money and ration coupons.

Hearing this, Wang Mei knew there was some juicy gossip to be had. "Oh? Tell me quietly, you’re not going to divorce Comrade Su Wan, are you?"

"This watch is for my wife." With that one sentence, Lu Zhengchuan indirectly answered Wang Mei’s question.

"As for the gossip surrounding Comrade Zheng Zhizhi, the leadership will handle it. Ma’am, please don’t believe or spread rumors."

"Alright, alright." Wang Mei smiled and handed over the watch, watching Lu Zhengchuan leave. ’A one-hundred-yuan watch, and he buys it without a second thought,’ she mused. ’Looks like Comrade Su Wan’s position is rock solid and unshakeable.’

The moment she got off work, she couldn’t help but rush back to the residential compound, and the news spread like wildfire.

Su Wan was still unaware of the storm of gossip about her family brewing in the compound.

Staring at the watch Lu Zhengchuan held out to her, she was rather surprised. "You bought this for me?"

"Mhm. It was the only model they had on base. Do you like it?"

Su Wan hadn’t expected him to have such a thoughtful and romantic side. She voluntarily held out her slender wrist. "Put it on for me."

This was her way of saying she liked it.

Lu Zhengchuan got the signal and deftly fastened it for her, his eyes once again dazzled by her pale, slender wrist.

"It looks great. If it breaks, just tell me, and I’ll get you a new one," Lu Zhengchuan added.

Su Wan’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on his worn-out belt. ’A man who’s frugal with himself but generous with his wife... that’s another point in his favor.’

"But, where did you get the money to buy a watch?"

Hadn’t he just handed all his savings over to her? Su Wan tapped her finger on his arm.