The moment he arrived, he was told by the housemaid's daughter that Ye Qiao was away, all dressed up for an occasion that she was not quite sure about.
At that time, Lu Beixiao was already enraged.
Ye Qiao was, however, amused by the fact that he was already so jealous. His possessive nature showed, both in their previous marriage and their current encounter.
To calm the situation, she quickly said something good to please him, "Xiao, don't you believe me? Didn't I just tell you that Shen Xichuan is not the type for me? Also, let's not forget that he's cheating on me with my best friend. Do you really think that I have feelings for a wretch like him?"
"I went to my stepmother's restaurant with Zhenzhen for dinner, which gladly ended on a sour note. Later, I came back here on my own."
"You're impossible, do you know that?" Lu Beixiao raised his hand and gave her head a gentle knock to express his confusion in a hopeless but loving way.
"I won't misbehave again; I promise!" Dutifully, she looked at him and said. The streetlight finally lit up his face again, so Ye Qiao could tell how he felt about what she had just said.
Ultimately pleased, Lu Beixiao walked hand-in-hand with her.
"They are cheating on you?"
"That's right! Even Cheng Dafei once caught them red-handed."
"The bones I fractured now seems too mild a punishment for him. How would you like to take your revenge? You know I can be of great help."
"A wretch like him is not worthy of your time and effort. I can handle him myself. Besides, it's not the right time to shed their secrecy and pretense. I'd like to keep the fun going for a little while longer," she quickly reassured him.
"Did your stepmother give you a hard time?" He was concerned, knowing the complications of her family background. It was an open secret that everyone in the courtyard knew about but did not speak of.
Ye Qiao let off an air of complacency. "I was the one who gave them a hard time."
Lu Beixiao believed her when he saw the satisfaction on her face. "Bravo!"
He was impressed by her sheer boldness of standing up against her bullies.
"What about you? Did you spend the evening drinking at your grandparents'?"
"I did; we downed a bottle of Maotai." The dispute with his grandfather was finally dissolved.
After a short walk, they stopped in front of their respective houses.
"Does the burn still bother you? Come to my place; let me apply some ointment."
"The pain is long gone."
"But still, apply some ointment on your own. Your place should have a medical kit as well. It'll be a shame if the scar stays."
"It'll be your fault, then."
"True. I shall be held accountable for the scar."
"How do you plan to compensate me for my injury?"
"By marrying you," he answered without having a second thought.
Ye Qiao's face flushed crimson in an instant. Hurriedly, she turned away from him and said, "Xiao, you shouldn't joke about such things. You must be drunk."
"Look at me!" He demanded.
She turned around to face him again, only to see him walking towards her with an unwavering stern expression. "Did you think that it was just a joke? Are you playing around with me?"
He was serious about her and everything that had been said and done. He truly meant it.
Ye Qiao felt her heart beating violently all of a sudden. Their relationship had progressed rather unexpectedly. At a loss for words, she merely shook her head.
"Ye Qiao, I'm serious! I will marry you! I'm going back to join the Special Forces tomorrow, so behave yourself." He could not help but warn her.
"I'm not playing around. I dare not. When will be the next time you come home?" His departure came too soon. In fact, she was reluctant to see him go. He was a member of the Special Forces who handled tasks of utmost confidentiality, so his whereabouts were always unknown. It was rare for him even to have a break.
She only managed to see him a few times a year, even during their marriage. Their limited reunions, however, were never filled with happy memories. Driven by Li Yun and Shen Xichuan's occasional sabotage, their gap gradually widened each time they met.
"It's hard to tell. Page me when you miss me," he reassuringly looked at her. It was only their first day together, but it already felt like it had been forever. How strange.
"Sure!"
"Do you have a pen? Write down the number of my pager," he asked while looking at her bag.
"99011001! I still remember," she recalled with the least effort. Surprisingly, she knew the number of his pager, which was the same as the one he used in his previous life.
Bewildered, Lu Beixiao wondered how she knew the number of his pager.