The Spoiled Young Lady Who Married a Military Officer-Chapter 166 - 164: Does This Mean You’re Willing?

A soft touch landed on his face, and Chen Zhengnian froze.

He slowly looked up, right into Wang Xinxin’s shy yet sparkling eyes.

The soft sensation lingered on his cheek, feeling like an electric current that shot through his skin and into his heart, setting it into a tumultuous rhythm.

’She was so bold... She actually kissed me...’

"You..."

Chen Zhengnian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Wang Xinxin pursed her lips, her cheeks as red as ripe apples. Her earlier courage seemed to have been completely spent, and she turned to run back into the courtyard.

But Chen Zhengnian caught her wrist. His palm was warm, his grip gentle yet firm, leaving no room for her to pull away.

"Xinxin."

His voice trembled slightly. "Does this mean... you’re willing?"

Wang Xinxin didn’t turn around, but she hummed a soft assent. The sound, almost inaudible, found its way to Chen Zhengnian’s ears.

He abruptly let go, as if afraid he had gripped her too tightly. Then, feeling that wasn’t right either, he reached out to touch her shoulder, but his hand froze in mid-air, leaving him looking utterly flustered.

Inside, Su Tang heard the sounds at the door and poked her head out the window, just in time to see the scene unfold.

A smile touched her lips. She quietly pulled her head back inside, giving the two young people, who had finally broken the ice, plenty of space.

Wang Xinxin shook free of him and rushed into the house without a backward glance.

The moment she shut the door, she leaned back against it, her hand flying to her scorching cheek. Her heart was POUNDING as if it would burst from her chest.

’How could I have been so bold...?’

Outside, Chen Zhengnian stood rooted to the spot. He raised a hand to his cheek, where it felt as if her warmth still lingered.

He looked down and broke into a smile, like a child who had just been given candy.

Now that everything was out in the open, his entire disposition brightened.

The gloom that usually hung about his brow was swept away, replaced by a joy he couldn’t hide.

Early the next morning, Chen Zhengnian appeared at the door carrying two bags of fruit and pastries.

When Su Tang opened the door to see him, she teased with a smile, "Commander Chen, is this... a formal visit?"

Looking uncharacteristically sheepish, Chen Zhengnian scratched his head. "Comrade Su Tang, I came to see Xinxin."

"Come in. She’s in the kitchen making breakfast."

Su Tang stepped aside to let him in. ’It’s a good thing Mr. and Mrs. Lu went back to Shanghai for a few days,’ she thought.

’They said they were going to bring some things back. Otherwise, who knows how this would have gone.’

Hearing the voices from the kitchen, Wang Xinxin froze, the spatula in her hand hovering in mid-air as her cheeks began to burn again.

She took a deep breath and tried to act natural, continuing to fry the eggs, but she couldn’t help straining to hear the conversation in the living room.

Chen Zhengnian sat in the living room, his gaze repeatedly drifting toward the kitchen. He held his teacup suspended in mid-air, having forgotten to take a sip.

Su Tang watched them, inwardly amused.

’This man, so swift and decisive on the battlefield, was like an inexperienced boy when it came to romance.’

A somewhat delicate silence hung over the breakfast table.

Su Tang decided to break the awkwardness. "Commander Chen," she began, "now that things are settled between you and Xinxin, shouldn’t we arrange a time for your parents to meet?"

Chen Zhengnian nodded immediately. "I was thinking the same thing. My parents are back in my hometown. I’ll write to them right away and ask them to come for a visit when they can."

Wang Xinxin kept her head down, taking small sips of her porridge, but her ears were perked, catching every word.

"I can’t really make the decision on this matter," Su Tang said. "Let’s not be hasty. We should wait for my in-laws to return from Shanghai."

After all, she wasn’t Wang Xinxin’s guardian. This was a decision for Mr. and Mrs. Lu.

And if they really did get engaged, Wang Xinxin’s own parents would have to visit as well.

"Of course."

Chen Zhengnian felt a bit awkward facing Su Tang. ’If this really goes through, she’ll be my cousin-in-law in the future.’

’For some reason, he felt as if that put him a rung below her.’

A few days later, Sister Hong dropped by again. This time, before she could even speak, Wang Xinxin blushed and said, "Sister Hong, thank you for your kind intentions, but... I have a boyfriend now."

Sister Hong froze for a second, then her eyes lit up. "Oh, that’s wonderful news! Which young man is it? Is he someone I know?"

"It’s... It’s Chen Zhengnian."

Wang Xinxin said in a small voice.

Sister Hong was surprised at first, but then she broke into a smile. "So it’s Commander Chen! What a wonderful match! Commander Chen is such a fine man, and so devoted to you. Xinxin, you have a good eye!"

She had once thought Wang Xinxin and Chen Zhengnian weren’t a good match, but now it seemed she had misjudged.

’You never knew with fate; sometimes, things just happened.’

’Who was to say who would end up with whom?’

Word of Chen Zhengnian and Wang Xinxin’s relationship quickly spread around the military base, and his comrades flocked to congratulate him.

Old Zhang slapped Chen Zhengnian on the shoulder, a look of gratified relief on his face. "I knew it, you rascal! You finally came to your senses! See? All you had to do was go for it!"

Chen Zhengnian returned the smile. "I owe it to you for that push in the right direction."

The days went by, and Chen Zhengnian would head over to Wang Xinxin’s place whenever he had a spare moment.

Sometimes he would help with heavy chores, other times he would just sit to one side, watching Wang Xinxin and Su Tang with their housework. He would chime in occasionally, and the atmosphere was always warm and harmonious.

Wang Xinxin gradually grew accustomed to this dynamic, and she was no longer as shy and reserved as before.

A few days later, Mr. and Mrs. Lu returned.

The moment Mr. and Mrs. Lu stepped through the door, they sensed that the atmosphere in the house was a little unusual.

Su Tang greeted them with a smile, taking their luggage and quietly telling them about Chen Zhengnian and Wang Xinxin.

Mrs. Lu’s eyes lit up. She took Wang Xinxin’s hand and wouldn’t let go, looking her up and down before turning to Su Tang. "Chen Zhengnian?"

"Mom, Commander Chen is a very reliable man, and he’s so devoted to Xinxin. He comes over every day he has free time and always volunteers for the heavy chores."

Just as she was speaking, footsteps approached the door.

Chen Zhengnian was at the door, holding a net bag full of fresh sea fish. When he saw Mr. and Mrs. Lu, he instantly grew tense, unsure of what to do with his hands.

"Uncle, Auntie, I... I heard you were back, so I brought some fish."

Mrs. Lu welcomed him in warmly. "Come in, come in! You shouldn’t have, this is too much."

At dinner, the table was laden with braised fish and steamed crab—all from the seafood Chen Zhengnian had brought.

Mr. Lu raised his glass to Chen Zhengnian.

"Little Chen, our Xinxin has been doted on by our whole family since she was a child; she’s never had to suffer. We, as her elders, won’t object to you two being together, but you have to promise me that you will always treat her well."

Chen Zhengnian quickly stood up, raising his glass with both hands. "Uncle, you have my word. I’ll spend the rest of my life treating Xinxin well. I’ll never let her suffer the slightest bit of hardship."

He spoke with such gravity, and the sincerity in his eyes put both Mr. and Mrs. Lu at ease.

With Mr. and Mrs. Lu’s approval, Chen Zhengnian had more or less passed the first hurdle.

That very evening, Mrs. Lu called Wang Xinxin’s parents.

However, when she finished the call, she looked troubled.

"Mom, what’s wrong?"

"Tangtang, ah... Your aunt... she said she wants Xinxin to come home..."

Her tone on the phone made it clear she didn’t approve of Chen Zhengnian.

"Why?"

’But Xinxin’s mother has never even met Chen Zhengnian...’

"Your aunt... she..."