He Yingzi never imagined that the first time she arranged a blind date for Qiao Shu at home, she would be caught red-handed by her own younger brother.
What she even less expected was that not only had her suddenly returning brother walked in on it, but an outsider had bluntly pointed it out too—that she was setting Qiao Shu up on a blind date…
Meanwhile, Feng Xiao had never expected that his sudden return home would bring him such a massive surprise.
His injury this time had not been too severe, so he had not informed his family. He certainly had not told them that he had temporarily withdrawn from the front lines to recuperate.
But who could have anticipated that his abrupt homecoming would lead to something like this?
Truth be told, when he first spotted that girl in his home—who seemed even more radiant than sunlight—he had been momentarily dazed.
Qiao Shu might not have recognized him at first glance, but Feng Xiao had instantly known her name upon seeing her: Qiao Shu, the childhood betrothal wife his family had arranged for him.
Compared to He Yingzi’s fury and Feng Xiao’s astonishment, Qiao Shu was left only with embarrassment… and guilt!!!
She had never imagined that the man who had just shown no interest in her would suddenly confess to her in public???
And right in front of her marriage partner, no less!
In such an awkward scene, Qiao Shu truly wished she could vanish on the spot!!!
Because of Shen Muqian’s words, the atmosphere in the Feng Family living room suddenly filled with an inexplicable aura of embarrassment.
“Shen Muqian, you! Come out with me!”
He Yingzi narrowed her eyes, clenched her fists, and said coldly to Shen Muqian.
Afterward, she glanced at her younger brother. “You… stay home obediently and keep your distance from Shushu. I’ll explain everything when I get back.”
Watching He Yingzi’s forceful figure as she dragged Shen Muqian away from the Feng Family home, Qiao Shu—who had been startled by Shen Muqian’s sudden ‘confession’—finally snapped back to her senses.
She wanted to explain to Feng Xiao that she and Shen Muqian had nothing going on, that they had only met for the second time today. But now that Shen Muqian had left, she had missed the best chance to clarify it on the spot. Moreover… now it was just the two of them. If she suddenly started explaining, it would only make her look guiltier, like protesting too much.
With that thought, Qiao Shu felt stifled, and the corners of her mouth drooped unconsciously.
That exquisitely beautiful face, prettier than any flower, now looked wilted and utterly pitiable.
Feng Xiao took in every little expression on Qiao Shu’s face. Seeing the girl wear her emotions so openly, a trace of softness gradually entered his deep, stern eyes.
She really was just a child, after all.
“Hello, Qiao Shu. I’m Feng Xiao. Sorry for only meeting you so late.”
Seeing the girl’s brows twisted into a knot, Feng Xiao—who rarely spoke to the opposite sex—cleared his throat and awkwardly interrupted her spiraling thoughts.
Hearing Feng Xiao’s self-introduction, Qiao Shu blinked in confusion. Why was he suddenly introducing himself like this?
Hadn’t everyone already figured out who was who just now…
Still, Qiao Shu recalled how awkward their first meeting had been.
Though they did know each other’s identities, they had not formally introduced themselves.
“Hello, Regiment Leader Feng. I’m Qiao Shu, your fiancée.”
Perhaps because she had been constantly thinking of herself as Feng Xiao’s fiancée, Qiao Shu unconsciously blurted out that status in her introduction.
The words hung in the air, freezing the atmosphere for a second.
Qiao Shu noticed Feng Xiao’s somewhat surprised gaze. Though she felt a bit embarrassed, she did not think she had said anything wrong.
She really was Feng Xiao’s fiancée. They might not have registered their marriage yet, but Elder Feng had said the army had already approved their marriage report.
Rounding it off, they were basically husband and wife already!
“What’s wrong?”
The girl’s clear, bright eyes looked over limpidly. With his excellent eyesight, Feng Xiao could even see his own reflection filling the depths of her gaze.
For a moment, he—who prided himself on his strong resolve—found himself a bit lost under her stare.
He had to admit, the wife his grandfather had found for him was an unparalleled beauty.
At least, she was the most beautiful among everyone he had ever seen.
So beautiful that he almost could not look straight at this innocent, youthful girl…
Seeing the confusion on her face and the abundant collagen that marked her as clearly not yet fully grown, Feng Xiao took a deep breath. His gaze gradually cleared and calmed.
“Qiao Shu, sorry. I think we should give our betrothal more careful consideration.”
“…Huh?”
Qiao Shu stared blankly as Feng Xiao said this.
What did her childhood betrothal partner mean by that??? Did he… not want to marry her?!!
This was the first time Qiao Shu had ever been rejected by a man—let alone rejected for marriage!!!
Whether in her previous life or this one, there had been far too many men who liked her.
Especially in her past life, even during university, plenty of men had proposed to her.
But now… after she called herself his fiancée, he had rejected her???
It took Qiao Shu a good while to recover from her first-ever rejection.
“You don’t want to marry me? Whyyyy???”
At that moment, Qiao Shu felt her mind filled with question marks!
“We’re not a good match.”
Feng Xiao clearly had not expected his words to shock and confuse the girl so much.
Some things had to be said clearly, no matter what. After all, a big reason he had chosen to recuperate at home this time was because of the little wife his family had arranged.
“Qiao Shu, you’re only nineteen. I’m already thirty, and I have two adopted children not much younger than you…”
Thinking that Qiao Shu was only seven years older than his adopted son Feng Qiguang made him even more resolute in his original decision.
His childhood betrothal little wife was still just a child.
“Qiao Shu, you deserve someone better. I’m the one not worthy of you. As for the childhood betrothal between our families, I think… we should call it off. I’ll personally talk to my…”
Grandfather about it. I’ll repay and compensate you and the Qiao Family in other ways.
Feng Xiao had not even finished speaking when Elder Feng, who had suddenly returned, interrupted him.
If He Yingzi was a staunch advocate for breaking off Qiao Shu and Feng Xiao’s ‘ridiculous childhood betrothal,’
Then Elder Feng was the most loyal supporter of the betrothal between the Feng and Qiao Families! He was dead set on fulfilling the decades-old promise, ensuring Qiao Shu married into the Feng Family and became his granddaughter-in-law.
He had been completely unaware of He Yingzi and Feng Shengli secretly arranging blind dates for Qiao Shu behind his back.
But now he knew… that his own grandson Feng Xiao did not want to marry Qiao Shu.
Elder Feng had originally rushed home joyfully upon hearing his grandson had returned, eager to see the boy he had not seen in so long.
But upon arriving, he walked in on his grandson rejecting his most beloved prospective granddaughter-in-law and trying to cancel the betrothal.
In an instant, all the joy on Elder Feng’s face turned to fury.
“You brat! What are you saying?! Your marriage report has already been submitted! Shushu is already yours! The entire compound knows Shushu is your wife! What do you mean call off the marriage? I’ll beat you to death, you heartless cad!”
Elder Feng grabbed a feather duster from the living room and furiously lashed at Feng Xiao.
In his rage, the old man held nothing back, striking Feng Xiao heavily with every blow.
Feng Xiao did not dodge. He took every hit solidly, without any resistance.
He simply looked at Elder Feng with utmost seriousness and said in a deep voice,
“Grandpa, you can’t ruin a young girl’s life just to settle your own obsessions. She’s only nineteen, and I’m thirty with two kids—I’m the one not worthy of her. There are many ways to repay a debt; there’s no need for me to marry the Qiao Family’s daughter. If I really did marry her, would that be repaying a favor or seeking revenge?”
“You brat! Shut your mouth! Stop talking nonsense! How would marrying Shushu be revenge?!”
Elder Feng’s hand paused. Though he was still angrily cursing Feng Xiao, his tone was no longer as firm as before.
Clearly, he had taken some of Feng Xiao’s words to heart.
But perhaps out of stubborn pride, he did not stop the blows.
Until—
“Ouch! Old Chief! How can you hit Regiment Leader Feng like that?! His wounds from the front lines haven’t healed yet! He came home this time to recuperate!”
Upon hearing this, Elder Feng’s movements froze. He hurriedly tossed aside the feather duster.
“A Xiao, you child, why didn’t you tell Grandpa?! Where are you hurt? Let Grandpa see!”
Seeing Elder Feng’s anxious expression, Feng Xiao reassured him.
“Grandpa, it’s nothing…”
But before Feng Xiao could finish, Qiao Shu—who had been watching him closely—widened her eyes and said in a panicked voice,
“Blood… you’re bleeding…”
Sure enough, a darker green stain had suddenly spread on the inner thigh of Feng Xiao’s army-green pants…
At Qiao Shu’s words, Elder Feng panicked completely and immediately wanted to rush Feng Xiao to the hospital.
But Feng Xiao refused.
“Grandpa, it’s not a serious injury. The wound probably just needs rebandaging. Have someone come redo the bandages, and it’ll be fine.”
And so, the ‘family war’ sparked by Feng Xiao’s proposal to cancel the betrothal came to a sudden ‘ceasefire.’
He Hong and Feng Shengli hurried back from outside upon learning of Feng Xiao’s injury.
Only He Yingzi, who was out and had not received the call, remained unaware of her brother’s injury for the time being. She was fully focused on helping Qiao Shu deal with the ‘trouble’ that was Shen Muqian.
“Shen Muqian, drop the act in front of me. I know exactly what you’re up to. You said all that in front of my brother on purpose because… you knew about Shushu’s betrothal to him, right?”
He Yingzi sneered coldly.
Shen Muqian did not deny He Yingzi’s accusation. Instead, he admitted it openly.
“That’s right. I knew, and I did it on purpose.”
Shen Muqian had originally planned to start as friends with the girl, but he never imagined that her nominal marriage partner—Feng Xiao—would return.
In an instant, his ‘slow-burn’ plan shattered.
So, he had to take a different approach.
After all, based on his understanding of Feng Xiao and He Yingzi’s recent actions, neither sibling supported this childhood betrothal.
“Shen Muqian, give it up. Even without my brother, it wouldn’t be you. I won’t agree.”
Seeing Shen Muqian admit it, He Yingzi raised a brow and stated her position bluntly.
“Staff Officer He, don’t say it so absolutely. I know you don’t like me, but you can’t impose your preferences on Qiao Shu’s choices. In terms of excellence, I don’t fall short of anyone. I’m better than all the men you’ve picked for her. If you truly want the best marriage partner for Qiao Shu, why not set aside your prejudice against me and give me a proper look?”
Shen Muqian spoke gently, but his eyes burned with unyielding determination.
“Shen Muqian, no matter how sweetly you talk or how much you praise yourself, my mind won’t change. You and Shushu aren’t suitable. Give up.”
Faced with the ‘obstinate’ He Yingzi, Shen Muqian gradually lost his patience. But knowing Qiao Shu cared a lot about He Yingzi, he took a deep breath and still responded good-naturedly.
“Good, I understand. However…”
As Shen Muqian turned to leave, he suddenly paused, smiling as he looked toward He Yingzi.
“However, if Qiao Shu is also willing to marry me, then… you wouldn’t have any reason to refuse, right?”
Hearing Shen Muqian’s words, laced with a hint of provocation, He Yingzi was so furious that she nearly charged forward to fight him.
But in the end, she held back. He Yingzi shot Shen Muqian a cold glance before turning crisply and leaving.
Even so, she couldn’t help but take Shen Muqian’s words to heart. She thought to herself that from now on, she had to keep a close eye on Qiao Shu and not let that sly old fox full of schemes, Shen Muqian, snatch away the pure and kind Qiao Shu.
However, neither she nor Shen Muqian could have imagined… that Qiao Shu would never be snatched away by anyone!
The scenario Shen Muqian spoke of—Qiao Shu willingly marrying him—was destined never to come true, because—
“What?! You mean you were injured there, and from now on… you can no longer sire heirs for our Feng Family?!”
Elder Feng stared at his grandson in utter shock, gazing at the gunshot wound on his inner thigh. His mind went completely blank.
His fine, outstanding eldest grandson—how had he, how had he gotten injured there!
He Hong and Feng Shengli, who had just been immersed in grief over their son being unable to consummate in the future, saw Elder Feng sway and nearly faint. They hurriedly stepped forward to support him.
“Dad! Please take care of your health!”
“Yeah, Dad, let’s think positively. A Xiao came back completely intact, safe and sound!”
He Hong and Feng Shengli comforted him.
But Elder Feng was not consoled by their words. His mind was filled with—
“What a calamity! H-how am I supposed to explain this to Big Head Qiao? How am I supposed to face that child Shushu! Sigh, it must be that our Feng Family has no fate with Shushu. This marriage… let’s just call it off.”
Seeing that Elder Feng had finally relented and was no longer insisting on the marriage, Feng Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
His injury was real, but the part about being unable to consummate afterward was fake.
He had only told a ‘well-intentioned lie’ to make his grandfather give up on the marriage, so as not to delay Qiao Shu and let her have better, more suitable choices.
However, what Feng Xiao never expected was that his plan still failed!
Because—
“Grandpa, I want to marry Regiment Leader Feng!”