Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Be Good to Her

Xiao Yuanming wanted to refuse, but under the pressure of Xie Huaizheng’s stare, he had no choice but to take the things and head upstairs.

’Sigh, the Battalion Commander is all bark and no bite. He’s clearly done so much for his fiancée, yet he refuses to admit it.’

He wasn’t an idiot. If Xie Huaizheng’s grandfather could have persuaded him, he probably would’ve been transferred from the Northwest Military Region back to Beijing long ago.

He knew about Xie Huaizheng’s background, too. But Xie Huaizheng had come here and climbed the ranks step-by-step, relying solely on his own abilities.

He had never relied on anyone else.

He didn’t need to in the past, and he didn’t need to now.

Xiao Yuanming carried the items upstairs and knocked on the door. Su Zhaozhao came out of her room.

When she saw what Xiao Yuanming was holding, she was a little surprised. "This is..."

"Brother Zheng and I bought these in the city. He said his grandfather told him to treat you well. But... I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s never listened to his grandfather like this before. So, Zhaozhao, I think Brother Zheng is really making an effort for you."

Su Zhaozhao let out a "wow" and asked Xiao Yuanming to set the things aside.

Xiao Yuanming also handed her the cold cream. "Brother Zheng bought this especially for you. It’s so dry here in the Northwest. As a young woman, you should use more of this."

Su Zhaozhao took it. "Thank you, Brother Xiao. You went to a lot of trouble coming all this way. Would you like some water?"

"No, no, that’s alright. I should be heading back."

"Oh, alright then."

Su Zhaozhao watched Xiao Yuanming leave. Then, looking at the items in her room, she couldn’t help but smile.

She opened the jar of cold cream and dabbed a little on her hand. The delicate cream felt silky smooth, leaving behind a pleasant fragrance.

’I don’t really need this, but I’m still so happy.’

’That Xie Huaizheng... he’s all bark and no bite! Just as you’d expect from the male lead—so cool and aloof.’

’But I’ll take it one step at a time. I have a feeling I can win him over in less than a month.’

At that thought, Su Zhaozhao felt her confidence swell.

At noon, Su Zhaozhao went downstairs to wait for Xie Huaizheng.

Xie Huaizheng had gone back to handle a few things before returning to meet her.

Su Zhaozhao had changed her clothes.

It was much more presentable than her pajamas.

She wore a white blouse with a navy-blue, long skirt.

The colors were tasteful and elegant. With her black hair cascading down her back, she looked effortlessly beautiful and poised.

The moment she saw Xie Huaizheng, her eyes curved into a bright smile.

She moved closer and reached out to link arms with him, but he dodged her. "Miss, could you please be more mindful of appearances?"

’So many people are watching.’

Seeing his stern expression, Su Zhaozhao just kept beaming. "I just can’t control myself when I see you. It slipped my mind for a moment, my apologies."

Xie Huaizheng snorted. ’Can’t control herself?’

Su Zhaozhao knew that people were more conservative in this era. Even married couples couldn’t be overly familiar with each other in public.

Let alone an unmarried couple. If it created a scandal and they were charged with hooliganism, it would be a disaster.

Su Zhaozhao had read news reports from this era before; she had no desire to get arrested.

And so, the two of them walked to the family housing compound and went up to Aunt Yun’s apartment on the third floor.

Aunt Yun’s husband was a chief of staff in the military region, and they were both in their forties.

They had two children.

Their older child was away at college, and the younger one was in junior high at a boarding school.

They usually only came home on weekends.

The moment Su Zhaozhao and Xie Huaizheng walked in, Aunt Yun came out of the kitchen, greeting them warmly. "Little Xie, Little Su, you’re here!"

"Aunt Yun," Su Zhaozhao greeted sweetly.

A tall, middle-aged man immediately came over to welcome them. He greeted Xie Huaizheng first, then turned to Su Zhaozhao. "So this is your other half?"

Before Su Zhaozhao could say a word, Xie Huaizheng cut in, "She’s not my other half. She’s the granddaughter of my grandfather’s comrade-in-arms."

"You kidder, do you take me for a fool?" Liu Guosheng clapped a hand on Xie Huaizheng’s shoulder. "If you were just ’normal friends,’ would she have traveled a thousand miles to find you here?"

"Chief of Staff, please don’t hit him. It makes my heart ache," Su Zhaozhao immediately chimed in.

’Her own words almost made her gag.’

The moment she spoke, Xie Huaizheng’s icy gaze landed on her, as if to say, ’You’re playing with fire.’

But Su Zhaozhao paid him no mind, pretending not to notice.

Liu Guosheng, on the other hand, looked completely convinced. He glanced at Xie Huaizheng. "And you still say she isn’t?"

Xie Huaizheng was left speechless.

After a long moment, he said, "To be honest, I’ve only known her one day longer than you have."

’It was just... inexplicably, he suddenly had a fiancée.’

’And this fiancée seemed to be exceptionally fond of him.’

But to Xie Huaizheng, there was something strange about Su Zhaozhao’s affection.

’Who would be so forward and enthusiastic from the very beginning, insisting she wouldn’t marry anyone but him?’

’They hadn’t even met each other’s parents.’

Liu Guosheng was a little surprised too. "Well then, you two should get properly acquainted."

"Come on, Little Su, don’t just stand there. Sit down, let’s chat and have some tea. Oh, you must know that our Huai Zheng is quite popular here in the army, don’t you?"

Su Zhaozhao nodded. "I’m already aware. I even ran into one of his admirers in the mess hall yesterday."

"Right, right." Liu Guosheng recalled yesterday’s argument between Su Zhaozhao and Jiang Manzhi. By now, most people in the military region had heard about it.

Xie Huaizheng shot Su Zhaozhao a look. "Why don’t you go see if Aunt Yun needs help in the kitchen? You can chat with her."

Su Zhaozhao got up. "Alright, I’ll go help out."

After Su Zhaozhao went into the kitchen, Liu Guosheng and Xie Huaizheng sat facing each other to talk.

"So, what’s the deal? She’s really your girlfriend, isn’t she?"

"Not exactly," Xie Huaizheng said. "She’s the granddaughter of my grandfather’s comrade-in-arms. We have a childhood engagement, but we haven’t seen each other in years. I don’t know her at all."

"Then why would a young woman travel so far just to find you? The living conditions here in the Northwest are rough. And you have her staying in the guest house? A young woman as pretty as a flower staying there all alone—isn’t that dangerous?"

"What else can I do? I’m living in the barracks myself. Even if I did have my own place, we’re not married. Would it be appropriate for us to live together?" Xie Huaizheng’s gaze drifted toward Su Zhaozhao.

The kitchen was right off the living room, and he could just see her silhouette in the doorway.

He hadn’t expected to see Su Zhaozhao bustling about in the kitchen with Aunt Yun. He couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but Su Zhaozhao suddenly burst out laughing.

Her eyes, bright and curved into crescents, made her look exceptionally beautiful.

’She’s adapting really well. At least when it comes to social situations,’ Xie Huaizheng realized. ’Her people skills are excellent.’

Liu Guosheng thought what Xie Huaizheng said made sense. He considered it for a moment before finally saying, "I heard she came here to marry you. Why don’t you just file the report with your superiors and get your marriage certificate?"