Chapter 56: Tempted

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Tempted

Xiao Sun turned to see him and was scared witless. "You..."

"A pickpocket?" Xu Yan shot to her feet and clutched her handbag tightly. When she saw the man effortlessly subdue the smaller man with an arm-twist, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"How dare you try to steal my wallet! You’re dead meat, you brat."

Xu Yan grabbed her handbag and started smacking Xiao Sun across the face with it.

Xiao Sun’s face was immediately covered in cuts.

Xu Yan’s ferocious display startled Su Jue.

All he had to do was hold Xiao Sun down, and Xu Yan would beat the man until he howled. She even almost slapped Su Jue in her frenzy.

Su Jue: "..."

"Hey, Miss, try not to attack your rescuer," Su Jue said, raising a hand to stop her flailing handbag.

Xu Yan bashfully hugged the handbag to her chest and said apologetically, "Sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean to."

As she awkwardly tucked her long hair back in place, she revealed a hint of maidenly shyness.

With one hand pinning the pickpocket and the other holding his luggage, Su Jue had no hands free. "Miss, could you go get a train attendant?"

"Okay, I’ll go right away." Xu Yan clutched her small bag and ran toward the attendant’s cabin.

By the time she returned with a few train attendants and railway police officers,

Su Jue had already borrowed some rope from a passenger and tied Xiao Sun up.

He was standing leisurely in the corridor, reading a book.

Xu Yan now saw a scholarly air about him, a complete contrast to the domineering, fierce, yet roguish man from moments ago.

’This man has so many sides. Which one is the real him?’

"Comrade, which one is the pickpocket?"

Captain Xu of the railway police walked over to take over from Su Jue.

"This one." Su Jue pointed out Xiao Sun and his accomplice to Captain Xu.

Captain Xu hadn’t expected Su Jue to be so sharp. His estimation of the young man rose, and he clapped Su Jue on the shoulder. "You’ve got a real talent for police work, kid."

Su Jue just smiled without a word.

"Comrade, could you please come with us and help identify the others..."

Su Jue was "requisitioned" by Captain Xu.

Xu Yan wanted to ask for his name several times but never got the chance. She could only watch as he was led away.

"Sigh..."

Xu Yan let out a sigh.

When the train pulled into the station, passengers began to pour out.

Su Jue was unfamiliar with the Southwest Railway Station, but he showed no signs of it. He first found the post office and mailed home the dividend money meant for his parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law.

He kept his own share, knowing it was unsafe to carry too much cash.

After mailing the letter and the money, Su Jue spotted a military truck and went over to inquire.

"Excuse me, comrades. Are you from the Southwest Military Region? I was wondering if you could give me directions. I’m here to visit family."

Su Jue and Su Wan were truly siblings; they even had the same idea when it came to asking for help.

"Hey, it’s you."

"You’re going to the military region too?" Xu Yan had been sitting in the back of the military truck. Hearing a familiar voice, she jumped down from the truck bed and her eyes landed right on Su Jue.

Her eyes lit up with a delighted surprise she wasn’t even aware of.

Su Jue nodded at her. He finished speaking with the young soldier who was driving, who then checked his letter of introduction and other papers. Only after everything was confirmed did Su Jue walk over.

"Yes," Su Jue replied to her earlier question.

"Do you want to ride with us? I can talk to the sergeant," Xu Yan offered.

Su Jue vaulted into the truck bed with a single, fluid motion. "No need. I’ve already cleared it with them. They can take me to the base."

’He’s so capable! He solved the problem with just a few words. That’s even more amazing.’

Her heart pounding with admiration, Xu Yan blushed and climbed into the truck bed after him.

"Comrade, what’s your name? I’m Xu Yan, a squad leader in the Southwest Military Region’s Sixth Art Troupe." Xu Yan reached out her hand to him.

Su Jue raised an eyebrow, a hint of his roguish charm showing through. "Oh, so you’re one of the art troupe girls."

"I’m Su Jue."

"Hello, Mr. Su." Xu Yan’s hand barely touched his before she shyly pulled it back. Mustering her courage, she said, "Mr. Su, how about I treat you to a meal once we get to the base? If it wasn’t for you, my wallet would’ve been stolen. It had all the spending money my parents gave me."

Su Jue shook his head with a devil-may-care attitude. "No need. It was nothing. Just try not to be so conspicuous with your money next time. You can’t count on being lucky enough to get help every time."

"I know, but I should still thank you." Xu Yan’s face paled and then flushed. ’Is he disgusted with me for being so careless?’ she wondered. But then she thought, ’He’s just giving me advice, how can I be upset?’

"Alright. I’ll contact you when I have time."

Su Jue agreed with a nod.

Su Jue was just being polite.

But Xu Yan took him at his word. ℯℯ𝘭.

Once they entered the base, Su Jue went his separate way.

Su Jue went straight to the reception office to wait.

As a panting Zhang Yun ran up, she happened to pass by Xu Yan.

"Third Brother Su, have you been waiting long?" Zhang Yun said, looking apprehensive.

Su Jue clicked his tongue in disdain. "You’ve been on the base this long and you’re still in such terrible shape? You’re winded after just a short run. You can’t even compare to that art troupe girl I just met."

The criticism made Zhang Yun’s eyes sting. She stomped her foot in frustration. "Third Brother Su, the girls in the art troupe are in great shape! They have to dance constantly. Of course I can’t compare to them."

Su Jue’s voice was chilly. "Oh, so you can’t even keep up with a girl who’s thinner than you? All that good food was wasted on you?"

"Then again, it seems all that meat went to fat instead of to your brain."

"..." Zhang Yun burst into aggrieved tears, but she didn’t dare let any sound escape.

"Alright, that’s enough. Lead the way. Stop crying. You look even uglier when you cry," Su Jue said, waving his hand in dismissal.

Zhang Yun wiped away her non-existent tears and led the way.

Su Wan finished up her work and didn’t get back to the family courtyard until after eight in the evening.

Before she even stepped inside, she noticed something was different about their yard.

There was a new potted plant by the door, and the items in the yard, though seemingly placed at random, now looked much more pleasing to the eye.

"Third Brother?" Su Wan called out, one eyebrow raised.

Su Jue stood in the kitchen doorway. Despite his roguishly handsome face, he wore an apron and held a spatula, looking every bit the part of a househusband. When he saw her, a brilliant smile lit up his face, and his usually sharp tongue turned impossibly sweet.

"Wanwan? Hurry and come in. You didn’t even tell me you were pregnant. Weren’t you afraid your third brother would worry himself to death?"

Su Wan could tell from his tone that he felt left out. She quickly went inside, smiling coaxingly. "Third Brother, the reason I didn’t tell you was because I was worried *about* you."

"Oh, sure. You weren’t worried I’d be worried about you. It’s fine. Without me, your third brother, I’m sure you could find countless other ’third brothers,’ Wanwan."

Su Jue’s words were so dripping with sarcasm that even Zhang Yun, who was standing nearby, could pick up on it. She stared at him as if she were seeing a ghost.

’How can he treat people so differently!’

"Hahaha, Third Brother, you’re so adorable." Su Wan couldn’t help but laugh, completely amused.

But that one sentence was enough to placate him. After all, what could make him happier than his little sister’s genuine affection?

"Wanwan, when is Lu Zhengchuan coming back?"