Volume One, Chapter 12: I Knew She Wouldn't Stay Put

“Why are you asking about this?” Huo Xiao’s voice was cold and deep.

“It’s about sister…” Su Xiaohui lowered her head. “After you and Xin Hao went out last night, I saw sister looking out the window at Xin Hao. I even heard her say that she thinks Xin Hao is quite good—a university student, handsome, and his mother is a high school department head. I don’t know if it’s because she heard Xin Hao also lives in the military compound, but early this morning she went out…”

The smoothly running sedan abruptly braked under Huo Xiao’s sudden foot, his sharp brows furrowed tightly. His dark eyes were cold and piercing, intimidating anyone who met them.

He had known she wouldn’t behave herself; she had just arrived at the Huo residence and was already interested in Meng Xin Hao.

If they weren’t almost at the military hospital, he would have turned back to find her.

“Brother Huo, sister knows you won’t agree, so she forbade me from telling anyone about this. If Xin Hao has a girlfriend, I’ll persuade sister,” Su Xiaohui said, feigning obedience and innocence.

As long as Su Wan was sent back to their hometown, no one would compare her to Su Wan anymore, and no one would mistake her for Brother Huo’s matchmaking candidate.

But what did Su Wan have besides a pretty face? She was the youngest in the family, excellent in her studies, obedient and sensible, doing all the household chores.

Why had adults always praised, spoiled, and favored her since childhood?

Whenever they were together, all attention fell on her; Su Xiaohui was always the one overlooked, invisible.

She had to crush her beneath her feet without mercy.

Huo Xiao said nothing, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he drove on, his black eyes cold and deep like a well in the dark night.

When they arrived at the military hospital’s orthopedics department, the doctor examined Su Xiaohui’s right leg. It had nearly healed, only some scars remained. The doctor prescribed ointment to apply.

It was already ten o’clock when they returned to the Huo residence. Maid Wu was busy preparing vegetables in the kitchen, but Su Wan was nowhere to be seen.

Huo Xiao went to the Meng household once more, finding only Aunt Huo Hong there. She told him that early in the morning, Meng Xin Hao had gone fishing in the countryside with high school classmates.

His brow furrowed tightly as he glanced at his watch—he had only three hours of leave.

He hoped Meng Xin Hao had heeded his warning and was not with Su Wan.

As the car neared the military unit, they saw Su Wan walking alone under the blazing sun on the plane tree avenue. Her hair was braided into two long plaits, and she wore a patched pale green embroidered shirt.

She seemed to have been walking for a long time. Her fair face was flushed red from the sun; sweat trickled down her neck, and damp strands of hair stuck to her forehead. She frequently took out a handkerchief to wipe away the dripping sweat.

Under the shade of a tree, an elderly woman pushed a white foam box labeled “ice pops.” Su Wan stopped and stared for a long time.

Her small hand gripped her pocket as she swallowed hard, clearly wanting to buy one but ultimately refraining, continuing forward.

Huo Xiao slowed the car, driving by slowly, taking in the entire scene clearly.

It seemed Su Wan hadn’t found Meng Xin Hao and was wandering aimlessly.

His cold gaze stared straight ahead, with no intention of interfering—perhaps this would teach her a lesson.

Su Wan was a bit directionally challenged. After following Aunt Wang to the employer’s home, she had forgotten the way back.

It was noon, and the scorching sun seemed ready to crack the earth. She felt as if she were in a steam oven, sweat soaking through her clothes like fine rain.

She was hot and thirsty, her throat burning, but she hadn’t brought any money and had to endure the thirst all the way back to the Huo residence.

Once home, she drank two large cups of water from an enamel basin, finally feeling revived.

Maid Wu handed her a towel soaked in cold water to wipe her face and asked with concern, “How did it go? Did it work out?”

“Yes,” Su Wan smiled softly, her eyes bright, nodding gently.

She hadn’t expected it to be so smooth.

The employer couple were both intellectuals and seemed kind and easy to get along with.

Initially, they thought she was too young to be hired, but upon seeing her introduction letter from the military and learning she was still in high school, working during the summer vacation to earn tuition, they immediately agreed to keep her on.

She could move in tomorrow morning and even had a room to herself.

After dinner, when the matriarch and Su Xiaohui had gone back to their rooms, Su Wan went to the study to tell Huo Jianguo about her new job as a nanny.

He was both surprised and pleased, firmly believing his judgment was correct.

If Su Wan were truly lazy and selfish, she wouldn’t have thought about finding a job to pay tuition right after arriving in Beiping.

“Su Wan, don’t worry about tuition. It’s fine if you want to work during the summer to gain experience, but don’t forget your studies,” Huo Jianguo earnestly advised. “After you graduate from high school, finding a job in Beiping won’t be difficult.”

“Uncle Huo, please rest assured. I will study hard and review my lessons,” Su Wan replied. Knowing her current grades, she understood no one would believe her if she claimed she would strive for university entrance.

After leaving the study, Su Wan went to the bathroom to bathe.

She was the last to bathe. After finishing, she sorted the dirty clothes everyone had changed out of, soaking them in a wooden basin with a scoop of laundry detergent.

She turned off the light and began scrubbing by the moonlight streaming through the window.

In the 1980s, electricity was scarce and expensive at night.

In some rural areas, power was cut off at night; people couldn’t even watch the Spring Festival Gala live, only the next day’s replay.

Turning on the lights to wash clothes at night was a luxury.

She did this to show her gratitude to Maid Wu for helping her find this job. In an era when jobs were assigned through connections, Maid Wu had done her a great favor.

While washing, the bathroom door suddenly opened. Su Wan was startled and turned around, dimly seeing a tall, upright figure standing in the doorway under the moonlight.

The posture was straight and proper—clearly military.

“Uncle Huo, do you need to use the bathroom? Please wait a moment,” Su Wan said naturally, assuming it was Huo Jianguo. She shook off the soap suds from her hands and moved the basin to a corner.

The bright, clear moonlight streamed through the window, bathing her in silver. Her freshly washed hair fell smoothly and darkly over her shoulders, making her figure appear gentle and graceful.

She wore a cotton tank top and shorts; her skin was as tender and moist as freshly peeled lychee.

Her legs were long and straight, like finely carved jade pillars—proportional and elegant. Her waist curved softly like a willow branch, accentuating the soft flesh at her front, full and rounded.

As she stood up, the motion was like dewdrops trembling on summer lotus leaves.

The figure outside stiffened, immediately stepping back and turning away toward the study.