Volume 1, Chapter 5: Are You Truly Willing to Marry Me?

Ye Qiaoqiao was utterly stunned; she never imagined that Fu Juechuan would agree. Could it be that he misunderstood because she had fainted from anger and kissed him just now?

"Juechuan," both Commissioner Su and General Ye instinctively frowned and called out.

Fu Juechuan released Zhou Cong, stood up, and turned to grasp Ye Qiaoqiao’s sleeve, leading her out of Zhou Cong’s reach.

He looked at General Ye and said, “General, I am serious about marrying Qiaoqiao. I have thought it through.”

After deep contemplation, General Ye suddenly stood up. “Very well, today’s engagement is officially between Juechuan and Qiaoqiao.”

“Zhou Cong, from today onward, Qiaoqiao has nothing to do with you. Return the engagement token my Ye family gave you. I won’t make a fuss over today’s matter,” General Ye thought to himself.

He only said Zhou Cong could leave today but didn’t promise not to investigate him.

Zhou Cong, helped to his feet by Jiang Yao, looked pale as iron. “Fine, fine... Ye Qiaoqiao, don’t regret this.”

“What would I regret? Not marrying an unfaithful scoundrel like you?”

Zhou Cong still had some pride left.

He took out the jade pendant for the engagement and threw it at Ye Qiaoqiao with a force and direction clearly aimed at her forehead.

Fu Juechuan stretched out his hand, caught it gently, and carefully placed it into Ye Qiaoqiao’s hand.

Because of this small gesture, Ye Qiaoqiao couldn’t help but look up at him. What met her eyes was the firm jawline, faintly stubbled.

General Ye also noticed this and felt even more satisfied with Fu Juechuan.

He returned the engagement token that the Zhou family had given to Zhou Cong.

Zhou Cong didn’t take it.

Jiang Yao eagerly took it instead.

Seeing Ye Qiaoqiao staring unwaveringly at Fu Juechuan, Zhou Cong, stung by the sense of betrayal and pride, unwilling to stay and endure humiliation any longer, strode out.

Jiang Yao instinctively followed but was stopped by Xiao Lin.

“Comrade Jiang, you’ll need to accompany us to the Intelligence Bureau.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yao’s body weakened, and she called out to Zhou Cong for help.

Zhou Cong paused, unwilling to see Jiang Yao suffer, and reluctantly followed Xiao Lin to the bureau, intending to wait there and find a way to help her.

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Cong and his entourage finally left, and Mrs. Ye caught up with them as well. Perhaps sensing that Ye Qiaoqiao wouldn’t let her daughter go easily, she thought it better to seek Zhou Cong’s assistance.

Commissioner Su sighed helplessly, “What on earth is going on here?”

“Hmph, they even dared to bully my daughter. This is outrageous! The higher-ups must investigate thoroughly! I’m going to write a self-criticism report right now!” General Ye said angrily.

His reaction was swift; after all, Jiang Yao was living in his household without his knowledge—this was indeed a fault on his part.

Commissioner Su nodded, “Alright, I’ll accompany you.”

In situations like this, it was best to act decisively to prevent political opponents from seizing the opportunity to slander them.

Within half a day, the scandal of Zhou Cong and Jiang Yao’s affair would spread throughout the entire military district compound, and Zhou Cong could forget about using General Ye’s influence to advance easily.

The two elders prepared to leave.

---

Ye Qiaoqiao waved her hand. “Dad, Uncle Su, you two go ahead. I will take good care of Brother Fu.”

Fu Juechuan, who was ready to leave with them, stopped and turned to look at her, seemingly waiting for her to speak.

As Ye Qiaoqiao watched the elders depart, she felt his gaze upon her.

Embarrassed, she raised her head and inevitably met Fu Juechuan’s steady eyes.

His expression was calm and resolute, silently telling her to speak openly. He was not angry about her leaving him behind.

Ye Qiaoqiao felt even more that his character was admirable.

Gradually, her tension eased. Interlacing her fingers nervously, she asked, “Um... Brother Fu, are you really willing to marry me?”

Originally, she meant to thank him for his help just now.

For some reason, her words shifted into this question.

She felt her scalp tingle and dared not meet his gaze.

Ye Qiaoqiao knew well how capable he was. Marrying him meant joining forces with her father.

Anyone trying to scheme against her father would find it much harder.

Naturally, she was the one taking advantage in this arrangement, which was why she doubted Fu Juechuan would agree.

“Mm, I don’t joke about such matters,” Fu Juechuan replied after lowering his eyes and glancing at her.

The atmosphere between them grew strange, almost warm.

“I won’t joke about this either,” Ye Qiaoqiao said quickly, influenced by his sincerity, wanting to clarify so he wouldn’t think she was frivolous.

Not to mention Fu Juechuan had righted her father’s grievances in a past life and arranged for someone to save her—though unsuccessfully—his kindness spanned two lifetimes.

She respected Fu Juechuan and would never toy with their marriage.

“Mm, I know,” Fu Juechuan nodded.

Ye Qiaoqiao didn’t notice he said “I know” rather than “I believe you,” indicating he understood her far more deeply than she realized.

She relaxed completely and couldn’t help but flash him a bright, beautiful smile.

Fu Juechuan took in her radiant smile, and on closer look, his ears reddened, his gaze softer than usual.

“Well then... Brother Fu, I’ll see you out. I don’t want to hold up your important business.”

She recalled that Fu Juechuan had come today on serious matters for her father.

Feeling guilty for delaying him, she said, “Brother Fu, wait for me a moment.”

She hurried upstairs.

Fu Juechuan stood still, quietly watching her lively figure.

She gleamed much more brightly than when Zhou Cong had bullied her earlier.

A fleeting joy passed through Fu Juechuan’s eyes.

---

Shortly after, Ye Qiaoqiao came down holding a tin box of cookies.

“I’ll help you lock up the house first. Wait for General Ye to return before you leave, so you don’t get bothered by the Zhou family.”

Fu Juechuan said, then took her to lock the back door, the backyard, and the windows.

Neither Ye Qiaoqiao nor Fu Juechuan remembered that with General Ye’s high rank, soldiers were posted outside the small house.

Ye Qiaoqiao’s steps faltered; she was really about to marry Fu Juechuan. But soon, her eyes hardened with resolve—she could not let down Fu Juechuan’s support.

She saw him to the doorstep.

Holding the doorframe shyly, she looked up. “Brother Fu, thank you.”

“I really don’t know how to repay you properly. Here, take this,” Ye Qiaoqiao said, handing him the box of cookies. “It’s already opened; if you don’t eat them soon, they’ll go bad. Brother Fu, just think of it as helping me finish them. Otherwise, if my father sees me wasting food, he’ll definitely make me write a self-criticism.”

She winked playfully.

Before Fu Juechuan could refuse, Ye Qiaoqiao’s hand gently pushed him outside. He felt a warmth at his waist and instinctively took a step back.

She eagerly closed the courtyard gate behind him, her voice carrying from inside, “Brother Fu, don’t you still have to return to the army? Don’t delay. I won’t go out, so don’t worry.”

Fu Juechuan looked at the tin box, nodded, and tucked it into his arms. He glanced once at the closed gate, as if looking beyond it.

“I’m leaving now.”

“All right, Brother Fu, goodbye.”

Receiving her reply, Fu Juechuan said no more, turned, and departed. But once he was out of sight, he circled around an alley, leaned against a wall, and opened the tin box.

Inside was a whole block of sliced braised meat.

A knowing expression flickered across Fu Juechuan’s face. The moment he touched the box, he sensed the weight was off.

“When did she realize I was hungry?” he murmured, then slowly began to eat the meat. The sudden satisfaction of his hungry stomach softened the handsome crease between his brows.

—

Ye Qiaoqiao had just seen Fu Juechuan off when she received a call from Zheng Yunshuang, summoning her out.

She dressed and left home. Zheng Yunshuang—the elder she had once wholeheartedly trusted in her previous life—had unexpectedly conspired with Zhou Cong to betray her and her father. Given how quickly her father fell into trouble, Zheng Yunshuang bore much responsibility.

Just as she stepped outside and passed the supply store, people began pointing at her and whispering.

“Isn’t that Comrade Ye Qiaoqiao? She actually refused the marriage?”

“Doesn’t she have a screw loose? Such a good match, and she refuses?”

“Who knows? She must think she’s some big shot and looks down on outsiders.”

“What? She even turned down that Zhou family kid? The Zhou family’s worth nearly a million. That’s some serious money. Marrying into that family would mean a good life. She can’t even appreciate that? Her eyes must be in the clouds.”

“Anyway, I think she’ll regret it. Such a good match and she throws it away.”