“You’d better just call me Ajuan.”
Compared to A! Juan! Little! Sister!, “Ajuan” sounded much more natural.
Hearing this, Shen Liang’an’s eyes lit up, as if brimming with joy, and his tone lifted at the end: “Alright, Ajuan.”
Xiao Juan gave a soft acknowledgment, nodded, and then didn’t know what else to say. The atmosphere fell into an awkward silence—though it was probably only awkward for her, because Shen Liang’an looked completely at ease, as if he were in his own home rather than hers, showing not a trace of discomfort.
Seeing that she wasn’t speaking, he continued on his own.
“Ajuan, I’m serious about this engagement. All these years, I’ve been waiting for this moment. Even though you don’t have much feelings for me right now, I’m confident that as we spend more time together, you’ll come to like me.”
“Now, allow me to properly reintroduce myself. My name is Shen Liang’an. I’m twenty-three years old, one meter ninety tall, weigh seventy-four kilograms, in good health with no illnesses or bad habits.”
“I’m currently a regiment commander, with plenty of room for growth. I’ll keep working hard, serving the people—and serving my wife—striving to give you a better life.”
“My parents are still alive, and I have a younger brother. Their focus is mostly on him now, so you don’t have to worry about them disturbing our married life. Besides, from now on, you’re the only one who gets a say in my life.”
“So marry me. I won’t let you down. My feelings for you won’t fade with time or the daily grind—on the contrary, they’ll only grow deeper and stronger.”
“I’ll let you run our household however you like. I’ll take care of all the cooking and chores—you won’t have to lift a finger.”
Hearing this, Xiao Juan, who had been silent all along, looked up and couldn’t help interjecting in surprise, “You can cook?”
In this day and age, men who could cook were few and far between. Most men would come home, plop down in a chair, and wait for their wives to bring food to their mouths. They believed cooking was women’s work and would never set foot in the kitchen—some even thought it was a sign of weakness for a man to do so.
Her own brother, who helped his wife in the kitchen, was already a rare exception.
But now Shen Liang’an was saying that in their household, he’d do the cooking?
Wait—their household…
A faint blush crept onto Xiao Juan’s face. It was all Shen Liang’an’s fault—speaking so naturally and shamelessly, tossing out phrases like “our household,” “my wife,” “us as a couple”…
He’d dragged her right along with him! Hmph—men’s mouths were full of lies!
“Yes, I can cook, and I’m told it tastes pretty good.” Then, feeling that sounded a bit boastful, Shen Liang’an paused and cleared his throat before adding, “That’s what people around me say. Next time, I’ll have you try it. If you say it’s good, then it’s truly good.”
Xiao Juan’s curiosity piqued, and her mouth moved faster than her brain: “Women?”
“I only lead male soldiers!”
She’d only reflexively asked, but before the words fully left her mouth, Shen Liang’an cut her off, speaking so fast it seemed he was terrified of being misunderstood. Seeing him rush to explain with such a stern face, Xiao Juan couldn’t help covering her mouth to stifle a laugh—but in the end, she couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.
Seeing this, Shen Liang’an’s face showed a hint of unease. He stood ramrod straight, his thin lips pressed into a line as he watched her laugh. “I already have a fiancée, so naturally I keep my distance from other female comrades. That’s basic self-awareness and morality for a man.”
He was quite self-aware—no wandering eyes.
As Xiao Juan laughed, she gradually fell silent. She lowered her gaze and seriously began considering Shen Liang’an’s proposal.
Marriage? She was indeed at the age to marry. And if the groom was Shen Liang’an… maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea.
·
Back in the main hall, Lin Aiyun and Xiao Cheng had already finished two cups of tea by the time the pair returned.
The two who’d made the bet instinctively turned their eyes to Shen Liang’an and Xiao Juan. Lin Aiyun stood up, walked over, and asked softly, “Ajuan, how did it go? Have you made up your mind?”
“Mm, I’ve decided.” Xiao Juan nodded, her expression giving nothing away.
Hearing this, Lin Aiyun glanced at Shen Liang’an—and guessed the outcome from the smile he couldn’t keep off his face since walking in. A little figure inside her started doing a happy dance.
Sure enough, the next moment, Xiao Juan slowly laid out her plan. “Shen Liang’an and I have decided that after I turn twenty, we’ll pick a good day to get married. He should have transferred to Beijing by then too.”
Xiao Juan carefully glanced at Xiao Cheng, expecting to see joy on his face—after all, he’d always been so supportive of their marriage, even pushing her to honor their mother’s engagement arrangement.
But strangely, now that she’d agreed and given him what he wanted, why did he look less than thrilled? It wasn’t exactly displeasure—just not the elation she’d anticipated.
Xiao Juan would never guess that Xiao Cheng’s reaction was all because he’d lost the bet—and with it, the marital pleasure he’d been looking forward to.
“Since you’ve both made your decision, your brother and I will fully support you.” Lin Aiyun smiled. Eyes and details never lied—Shen Liang’an’s gaze toward Xiao Juan was full of tenderness. He genuinely cared for her.
And his personal qualifications were beyond reproach—the kind of man you’d be lucky to find even with a lantern in hand. Marrying him, Xiao Juan would at least never lack for material comfort.
Besides, in the future, disciplinary issues would be strictly enforced and tied to one’s career prospects—any misstep could even land you in jail. For a military officer of Shen Liang’an’s rank, the standards were even higher. With superiors watching over him, no matter how bold he was, as long as he wasn’t a fool, he wouldn’t dare do anything to wrong Ajuan.
But…
Lin Aiyun’s gaze shifted to Xiao Juan’s face, her fingertips unconsciously pressing into her palm. Xiao Juan’s mention of her twentieth birthday reminded her of something she’d nearly forgotten.
An accident that would leave Xiao Juan unmarried and childless, sinking into years of depression—and it was set to happen on her twentieth birthday.
That day, someone would die.
At the thought, Lin Aiyun’s breathing quickened. She didn’t know exactly who it would be, but she had a vague guess—it was probably Jiang Yan.
On her twentieth birthday, the man she’d loved for years would die saving her. The blow would leave her shattered, unable to find interest in anything—and certainly not in marrying another man.
But in this life, Lin Aiyun wanted to see Xiao Juan happy.
She had to stop it from happening. Though she still didn’t know what the specific accident was, compared to the previous life, things had already shifted imperceptibly. At least Xiao Juan had let go of Jiang Yan—she no longer felt that strongly about him. As long as Xiao Juan didn’t actively seek him out, the two would barely cross paths.
But she couldn’t rule out unforeseen changes. So on that day, she’d have to keep a close eye on Xiao Juan and make sure nothing happened to her.
She’d also need someone to keep an eye on Jiang Yan that day.
“Sister-in-law?” Xiao Juan’s voice came from beside her, pulling Lin Aiyun back from her thoughts. She let out a dry laugh. “I was just so happy I zoned out—sorry. What did you say?”
“Nothing much. Shen Liang’an wants to look around Beijing, and he asked me to show him.”
Lin Aiyun smiled and nodded. “Of course. You grew up here—you definitely know all the best places to eat and have fun.”
Then she warmly added, “Why doesn’t Regiment Commander Shen stay with us for a couple of days? You’re heading back to Shanghai soon, and who knows when you’ll get to visit again.”
“Thank you, sister-in-law, but I still have some matters to handle back there, so it’s not convenient. Next time, for sure.” Shen Liang’an declined politely. Lin Aiyun understood that the military had strict rules—he probably wasn’t allowed to stay overnight elsewhere—so she didn’t press, just let out a regretful sigh.
“Then you two have a good time. Will you be back for dinner?”
“We’ll eat out.”
She watched Xiao Juan lead Shen Liang’an out, didn’t bother seeing them off, and turned to Xiao Cheng. With a mix of exasperation and smugness, she said, “Why didn’t you say something nice just now? You had that face on—anyone would think you weren’t happy.”
“What’s there to say? As long as I know in my heart.” Xiao Cheng sat in his chair, glanced at Lin Aiyun’s barely suppressed grin, and after a moment, brought up the bet. “You won. Tell me what you want.”
“Let me think.” Lin Aiyun rubbed her chin, her bright black eyes darting around as if scheming something.
Seeing this, Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. He reached out, took her hand, and pulled her into his lap, nuzzling his chin against her neck and shoulder. In a low, coaxing voice, he said, “Sure you don’t want to reconsider my proposal?”
It took Lin Aiyun a moment to realize what he meant—his proposal. If he won, she’d be on top; if she won, he’d be on top.
“Not considering it.” She pinched the soft flesh of his cheek hard until it turned red, then let go. “Can’t you think of something else? You’re always so improper.”
“What’s wrong with me? With a wife this beautiful, it’d be strange not to think about it.” He held her tight, speaking with utter confidence.
Lin Aiyun didn’t know whether to laugh or scold him. “Fine, fine—you’re always so smooth-talking, always so reasonable.”
“Hurry up and think—what do you want as your stake?” His warmth seeped through his fingertips. They were so close, her half-sitting on his lap, that she could hear both their heartbeats clearly.
“Well… how about you go hiking with me outside the city the day after tomorrow? Sister Yang Xi organized it—everyone will be bringing their husbands.” Lin Aiyun suddenly remembered the plan and seized the opportunity to bring it up.
The day after tomorrow was a workday, and Xiao Cheng, a workaholic, rarely took time off. Even without the bet, he’d probably agree—but it would still cut into his work, and she’d feel a bit guilty. Now, with the bet as an excuse, she had no reservations.
Her embroidery room had flexible hours—they didn’t have to go in every day. To avoid weekend crowds, they’d chosen a weekday, and the men had all asked for time off so everyone could enjoy themselves.
“Of course,” Xiao Cheng nodded. He’d heard Lin Aiyun mention Yang Xi before—they were in the same embroidery room and quite close.
“Make sure you clear your schedule. We’ll leave after breakfast.” Lin Aiyun reminded him, still a little uneasy.
Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow, his lips brushing against her ear. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Stop kissing me—it tickles!” Lin Aiyun shrank back, laughing as she tried to dodge. Just then, footsteps sounded from outside. Thinking it was Xiao Juan and Shen Liang’an coming back, she quickly stood up.
“Aiyun, I just saw Xiaojuan and the others leave?”
It was Zhang Wenhua. As she walked in, she gave Lin Aiyun a suspicious look. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just stumbled, and Xiao Cheng caught me.” Lin Aiyun swallowed guiltily and changed the subject. “Yeah, Ajuan took Regiment Commander Shen out for a stroll.”
“Oh, I see.” Zhang Wenhua didn’t dwell on it. Hearing that, she immediately got gossipy. “So they’re a thing now?”
“Ajuan said yes, at least.”
“That’s good.” Zhang Wenhua then remembered why she’d come, and her face crumpled into a grimace. “Kangzi’s stuck on a problem—can you go take a look?”
“Sure, I’ll go now.” Lin Aiyun shot a glance at Xiao Cheng, then took Zhang Wenhua’s arm and left.
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