Volume One, Chapter Four: Who Cares If You Like It?

After leaving Commissioner Xu’s office, Shen Nian’an, feeling as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her heart, tilted her head and looked at Si Jinnian.

Why was this man marrying her?

He clearly didn’t like her!

Shen Nian’an tried to read some clue from Si Jinnian’s face, but all she saw was a sharply defined jawline. The man must be very clean-shaven—there wasn’t a trace of stubble.

A man who is meticulous about cleanliness, plus handsome to boot.

As she gazed, Shen Nian’an’s hand inexplicably itched; she wanted to touch.

Before she could act, her hand collided with a pair of emotionless black eyes. Instantly, her fingers slid upward, intertwining firmly around the man’s neck.

Her tender fingers brushed over the skin of his neck, quickly igniting a faint but burning heat. Beneath his bronze skin, a subtle flush of crimson appeared.

They both spoke in unison.

“You…”

“You…”

Feeling the temperature in Si Jinnian’s eyes drop by two degrees, Shen Nian’an swallowed nervously. Had he noticed her little gesture?

“You speak first,” Si Jinnian said.

Shen Nian’an straightened her back, trying to appear less guilty, and asked, “Why are you marrying me?”

Suddenly, the slender back pressed against his arm withdrew slightly. Si Jinnian furrowed his brows lightly, moved his arm up a couple of inches to steady her balance, then said, “Don’t overthink it.”

“You…” Si Jinnian paused, his expression conflicted. “I don’t like you now, and I never will.”

As he said this, Si Jinnian’s dark eyes didn’t blink, staring straight into hers, as if to say she was ordinary and warning her not to entertain any forbidden hopes.

Being so openly rejected, Shen Nian’an was incensed.

“Who cares if you like me? Two years, and then we’ll divorce.”

In that moment, Shen Nian’an suddenly understood his motive for marrying her: at his age, he must be tired of his parents’ nagging and was just using her to appease them.

She continued, “For these two years, we’re just nominal spouses, each minding our own business.”

Though this was the answer she had hoped for, Si Jinnian felt a heaviness in his chest. But he attributed it to Shen Nian’an being different—she wouldn’t cling to him like other women. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have impulsively dragged her into this absurd marriage.

As rationality returned, Si Jinnian realized how ridiculous this was.

He hadn’t even asked Shen Nian’an’s opinion.

He wanted to set things right, but when he met those big, watery eyes, the words he had prepared stuck in his throat. Looking at the delicate woman in his arms, he somehow blurted out, “I don’t like you now, and I never will…”

After that, things spiraled out of control.

The young woman was frighteningly clever—without him saying much, she guessed his intentions and accepted the absurd marriage.

Could it be… she was just as pressured by her parents?

But she was only twenty.

Si Jinnian couldn’t make sense of it but strangely chose to accept it and strode out of the office building.

They walked in silence.

Passing by the training ground, they happened upon some marines who had just been punished to run laps.

Seeing Si Jinnian and the woman beside him, the despondent soldiers instantly perked up, crowding forward with eager questions.

“Boss! Boss!” The leader’s eyes were glued to Si Jinnian’s chest as he asked gossipingly, “Who’s this? Your wife?”

Before Si Jinnian could speak, another marine nudged the leader’s shoulder. “Stop dreaming. It’s definitely our little sister.”

That chin was as white as milk, and the sister was said to be the new flower of the arts troupe.

“Boss, what about me? Can I be your brother-in-law?”

Si Jinnian cast a cold glance. The aspiring brother-in-law immediately snapped to attention, cold sweat beading on his forehead, trembling all over.

Crap! How could they forget the boss’s temper?

It was over! Over!

That skin would be no saving grace.

Unexpectedly, Si Jinnian didn’t punish him but instead briefly and firmly clarified Shen Nian’an’s identity.

“She’s your wife.”

Just as Shen Nian’an was about to look up, hearing those words claiming her as his own, she shyly withdrew her head, her adorable ears flushed pink.

Though it was a lie, her heart stirred nonetheless.

After speaking, Si Jinnian strode away, his steps seemingly quicker than before.

He walked two or three minutes before the group snapped out of their daze.

“What? Did the boss just say what I think he said?”

“There’s a girl who’s taken down our Major’s stony heart?”

“The last flower of the troupe waited five years for the Major and only married out of desperation due to age—just two or three months ago, and she was married to someone living next door. And now… suddenly, the Major has a wife?”

“Is this for real?”

“It is! I heard it!”

“Me too!”

“What did you hear?” A cold voice questioned from behind, sending chills down a soldier’s spine. He turned stiffly and forced a smile. “Report, sir, I heard nothing!”

Chief of Staff Lu Zhenhua kicked at them. “No laughing and joking! Ten more laps for all of you.”

“Ah!”

A chorus of wails erupted.

“What ‘ah’? If you’ve got the strength, five more laps!”

This time, having learned their lesson, the soldiers dragged their feet and ran with tightly shut mouths, though their minds couldn’t help but wonder why Chief Lu seemed so irritable today—as if he’d swallowed a bullet and was taking it out on them.

It was no wonder. Normally strict but reasonable, Lu Zhenhua wasn’t one to nitpick or punish trivial things.

Besides, Captain Liu, their beloved officer, had been away too long relieving himself. They needed him back.

What they didn’t know was that, due to the assignment of the family quarters and failing to pick up Shen Nian’an, Lu Zhenhua was already in a foul mood. Just as he finished the arrangements and was hurrying back, an urgent Captain Liu dragged him off to drill, spoiling any chance of a good mood.

And it wasn’t over yet.

Hearing the commotion, Lu Zhenhua came to investigate but was stopped halfway by Si Jinnian, who muttered that the troops were too noisy and that Lu was too lenient with training.

Being criticized by a junior like that, Lu’s aged face was almost unbearable.

How could he hold back?

Today, if he didn’t discipline these soldiers thoroughly, he wouldn’t have the face to show himself.

The groans were loud enough that Shen Nian’an couldn’t help but peek back.

Si Jinnian shifted slightly, increasing his pace.

Though his steps quickened, his embrace remained steady. Shen Nian’an felt no jostling, only a touch of admiration at how fast he walked. She caught a glimpse of white and blue.

With so many vigorous soldiers around, it would be a pity not to take a second look.

But soon, Shen Nian’an’s gaze was drawn elsewhere.