Volume 1, Chapter 18: Your Man Is Such a High-Ranking Officer

The next second, a rubber ball slammed heavily into Huo Xiaohan’s back.

A few children kicking the ball under the shade of the trees quickly picked it up and ran off.

Su Wan only then realized what had happened. If Huo Xiaohan hadn't reacted quickly, the ball would have hit her square in the face. Even though it was just a child’s toy, taking a direct hit like that would surely have left her with a bloody nose.

"Thank you, Commander Huo. Are you alright?" Su Wan looked up, her eyes soft as she inquired. He was a soldier, after all—his reflexes were truly sharp.

"I'm fine," Huo Xiaohan replied, his face rigid and cold. The muscles in his arms were taut, with veins bulging beneath the skin. He quickly pulled his hand away from her lower back, putting some distance between them once more.

Up on the balcony, Principal Song and Party Secretary Yang had leaned out so far they were almost hanging over the railing. The dense canopy of the trees obscured the upper halves of the pair below, leaving only their lower bodies visible, but they had clearly witnessed the moment Huo Xiaohan pulled Su Wan in to shield her from the ball.

"Comrade Xiao Huo really is a hero who can't pass the trial of a beauty. Who would have thought that on his very first visit, he’d take a liking to little Wan?" Principal Song found it quite surprising. "Little Wan is such a wonderful girl. I took a liking to her the moment she stepped through the door yesterday, and she’s a dab hand at cooking, too."

"I tried to introduce someone to Xiao Huo before, and you told me he was as cold as ice, never taking the initiative with women. Look at him now—so proactive, so thoughtfully shielding little Wan from the ball." Party Secretary Yang watched with a gratified, maternal smile, never imagining the two would progress so quickly.

"Did you understand what I said just now? Answer me." Huo Xiaohan stood beneath the locust tree, his tall, sturdy frame as straight as a pine. His hands hung at his sides, fingers curled slightly. The soft, delicate sensation of her touch still lingered on him, making his palms feel hot, his expression darken, and his back tense even further.

"Yes, yes," Su Wan nodded obediently, not caring to argue.

Seeing this, Huo Xiaohan said nothing more. He hoped she had truly taken his words to heart and would stop concocting any crooked schemes. His dark, stern gaze swept over her briefly. "Let's go."

Su Wan then stepped out from the shade of the tree.

Huo Xiaohan only then noticed that Su Wan was wearing a pair of black cloth shoes, with a hole worn through at the tip where her big toe poked out. Furthermore, in such hot weather, cloth shoes were quite stifling. He thought of how she had walked all the way from the military district to the staff quarters that morning wearing those very shoes—an hour-long trek while carrying a basket on her back.

"I’ll take you," he said.

Su Wan had just opened her mouth to decline, but Huo Xiaohan had already strode ahead, leaving her with nothing but his tall, upright back. The sun was scorching; she felt as though her skin would peel if she stayed out a moment longer. She wasn't one to suffer needlessly when she didn't have to, so if she could save some walking, she would. She followed him and got into the car.

Under the shade of the trees outside the staff quarters, a melon farmer had set up a stall selling the dark-skinned watermelons characteristic of the eighties. After getting out of the car, Su Wan carefully inspected the produce. Her aunt had told her to pick a large one, but she had to consider whether she could carry it by herself. In the end, she chose a twelve-pound melon, priced at four and a half cents per pound.

Just as Su Wan pulled some small bills from her pocket, Huo Xiaohan stepped forward and handed over sixty cents.

"Commander Huo, my aunt already gave me money," Su Wan said, surprised; she had assumed he had already left.

"Keep it."

The melon farmer, wearing a straw hat, noticed the military rank on Huo Xiaohan’s shoulder as he took the money and couldn't help but exclaim, "Young lady, your man is quite impressive—such a high-ranking officer at such a young age."

"No, Comrade, you’ve misunderstood. I’m a housekeeper," Su Wan quickly clarified. It was true that in this day and age, a young man and woman out shopping together easily led to such misunderstandings.

Huo Xiaohan remained expressionless as he bent over to place the watermelon in the car.

"Oh, I see, I see..." The melon farmer glanced between the two of them, smiling with a knowing look. As he gave Su Wan her change, he said in a guileless tone, "Well, your officer employer treats you quite well, driving a car to accompany you to buy a watermelon."

"Sir, the officer has a partner, and that partner is my younger sister," Su Wan explained once more.

"Oh, I see. My mistake." The farmer stopped guessing.

Su Wan returned the change to Huo Xiaohan.

"Get in. I’ve put the jelly noodles and the watermelon in the backseat," Huo Xiaohan said, not taking the money back and heading straight for the car.

The jelly noodle stall was right across from the watermelon stall. While Su Wan had been busy haggling over the price of the melon, Huo Xiaohan had already made the purchase.

"How much was it? Let me pay you back," Su Wan said. Of course, she wouldn't refuse the convenience of a ride back to the quarters; walking back in this heat while clutching a giant watermelon would have left her drenched in sweat. She opened the back door and climbed in.

Huo Xiaohan didn't speak. He rested one hand on the passenger seat, watching the rearview mirror as he turned the car around to head back. His short, clean-cut hair accentuated the cold, sharp lines of his profile. His features were remarkably refined, his Adam's apple prominent, and his sun-bronzed arms—hardened by years of training—were muscular and powerful, with clear, visible veins pulsing with wild strength.

"I need to keep track of the accounts," Su Wan said, pulling out a small ledger from her pocket and gripping a pencil stub only as long as her pinky finger.

Huo Xiaohan glanced back to see the little notebook, which detailed her morning’s spending with precision—how much Party Secretary Yang had given her, how much had been spent, and the remaining balance. Her handwriting was elegant, neat, and careful. This was clearly something he hadn't expected; it seemed she really was just here to earn tuition money and had no other ulterior motives.

"Twenty-two cents. Keep the money to buy pencils; you don't need to pay me back." Huo Xiaohan looked again at the pencil stub in her hand, which was so short it was barely grabbable, making her small hand look all the more delicate and fair. He then started the car and focused on the road.

Since it was just a few small bills, Su Wan accepted them without burden. She pursed her soft, red lips and smiled faintly, revealing shallow dimples in her cheeks. "Thank you, Commander Huo."

"And one more thing." Huo Xiaohan watched her through the rearview mirror, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "Your sister is not my partner. Be mindful of your words in the future; it isn't good for Xiaohui's reputation."

When she had first arrived at the Huo household and Uncle Huo had emphasized that they were both just "little sisters," she had understood the situation. The only reason she had spoken that way earlier was because Huo Xiaohan seemed to repel and loathe her, and she was afraid he would get angry if he heard otherwise.

"Alright, I understand," Su Wan nodded. After logging the expense, she tucked the ledger back into her pocket.

Huo Xiaohan withdrew his gaze, his expression complex. Before long, the car pulled up to the staff building. Hearing the engine, Principal Song and Party Secretary Yang immediately stood up from the sofa and looked down from the balcony.