Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

"Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of myself," Su Zhaozhao said.

After all, a person can’t have that much bad luck, can they?

’Could I really run into danger on the train twice?’

Besides, Xie Huaizheng was in the carriage right next to hers this time, so she felt she didn’t have to worry too much.

She had bought a ticket for a sleeper berth. This time, she wouldn’t have to sit until her backside was sore and could sleep comfortably all the way back.

It was nothing like the last time, when she had just arrived in this world and had to flee in a hurry, managing only to buy a hard-seat ticket.

That evening, after they finished dinner, Xie Huaizheng went to wash the dishes. Just then, the phone rang.

Su Zhaozhao answered. Huang Jiqin’s voice came from the other end. "Huai Zheng?"

"Auntie, it’s me."

She and Xie Huaizheng were married, but they hadn’t held the formal wedding banquet yet. Since she also hadn’t received the traditional gift for changing how she addressed her in-laws, Su Zhaozhao still called Huang Jiqin "Auntie."

Hearing the girl’s soft, sweet voice, Huang Jiqin was instantly reminded of the young woman’s fairy-like beauty.

In truth, she knew Su Zhaozhao was a good girl, wonderful in every respect. She had been very happy during the time they’d spent together.

But ever since finding out about the case of mistaken identity, Huang Jiqin hadn’t known how to face her.

She was a wonderful girl, but unfortunately, she wasn’t the one from the original arranged childhood engagement.

’So what are we supposed to do?’

’In the end, does this count as us breaking the agreement?’

Furthermore, she didn’t know if Su Zhaozhao had stumbled into this by pure chance or if she had approached them intentionally.

"Zhaozhao, how have things been? Are you and Huai Zheng doing well?"

Huang Jiqin actually wanted to tell them everything, but she was worried about hurting the two of them.

’What if Su Zhaozhao didn’t do it on purpose?’

’And Huai Zheng is so fond of Su Zhaozhao. What will they do when they find out it was all a giant mix-up?’

’Better not to say anything for now.’

But keeping it to herself had left her stewing for days, and today she had finally broken down and called.

’I don’t have to say anything. I’ll just hear Huai Zheng’s voice and see how they’re doing. Maybe that will put my mind at ease a little?’

"We’re doing great. We’ve been living in the military compound, and it’s very comfortable—much better than the guest house. You left too soon, Auntie. Otherwise, we could have spent more time together."

Huang Jiqin was touched by Su Zhaozhao’s words, but her gratitude was tinged with a hint of shame.

’To think she had imagined Su Zhaozhao to be such a bad person. She really shouldn’t have.’

"That’s good, that’s good. The New Year is coming up soon. In a few more months, you two can come back to Beijing together."

By this time, Xie Huaizheng had finished the dishes. Su Zhaozhao exchanged a few more pleasantries with Huang Jiqin before handing the phone to him.

"Mom," Xie Huaizheng said in a low voice, taking the phone.

Su Zhaozhao sat on the nearby sofa, curled her legs under her, and started reading a book she had beside her.

However, her mind wasn’t on the book. Instead, she was mulling over her recent conversation with Huang Jiqin.

She couldn’t see Huang Jiqin over the phone, but for some reason, she got the feeling from her tone of voice that she wasn’t truly happy.

Although Huang Jiqin had laughed during their chat, it sounded a bit forced.

However, as she listened to Xie Huaizheng talk with his mother, his tone seemed perfectly normal.

They were chatting about everyday things. She heard Xie Huaizheng tell Huang Jiqin that he would be taking her on a trip to Jiang City soon.

She couldn’t hear what Huang Jiqin said on the other end, but Xie Huaizheng agreed to it.

"Don’t worry. When we’re there, I’ll definitely go visit her family. Her grandfather has passed away, but her maternal grandparents are still alive and well."

After he hung up, Su Zhaozhao looked at Xie Huaizheng.

Xie Huaizheng looked back at her. Seeming to notice something in an instant, he walked over and gently squeezed her cheek.

"What’s the matter? You don’t seem very happy."

The girl’s cheeks were incredibly soft, and felt so good in his hand that Xie Huaizheng couldn’t resist giving them another gentle squeeze.

Su Zhaozhao pushed his hand away and shook her head. "It’s nothing. What did you and Auntie talk about?"

Xie Huaizheng gently pinched her nose. "You’re hiding something from me."

Although the man’s eyes were gentle, they held a stern, sharp light, as if he genuinely wanted to know why she was upset.

But Su Zhaozhao didn’t know how to explain to Xie Huaizheng why she was unhappy.

’How could she put it into words?’

’Should she just come out and say that she felt like Huang Jiqin wasn’t very pleased with her?’

’But she was just going by tone of voice, by her own sixth sense.’

’What if she had judged wrong?’

’Wouldn’t that just create a rift between Xie Huaizheng and his mother?’

’Besides, Huang Jiqin had been so good to her during the few days she was here. They hadn’t had a single unpleasant moment together.’

’So where would all this unpleasantness be coming from?’

’Most likely, she was just mistaken, right?’

Thinking of this, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but shake her head. She told herself she should stop overthinking things.

’This was all in her head. How could she think such negative thoughts?’

So, she forced a smile. "It’s nothing. I probably just got the wrong impression. What did you and Auntie talk about?"

Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, Xie Huaizheng knew he couldn’t force her.

He sighed, sat down on the sofa, and pulled Su Zhaozhao into his arms.

"It was nothing, just some everyday chatter. My mom told me to take good care of you, saying it’s not easy for a young woman like you to come so far from home. I told her we’d be going to Jiang City soon. She also told me to visit your family’s elders while we’re there. And there’s an old friend of theirs—she asked me to pay them a visit as well."

"Another old friend?" Su Zhaozhao asked in surprise. ’Is it another one of Old Sir Xie’s comrades-in-arms?’

"I’m not sure myself. Mom just said I should go when the time comes and that I shouldn’t trouble you with it." At this, Xie Huaizheng gently rubbed Su Zhaozhao’s head. "Don’t be upset. My mom probably just doesn’t know how to express how much she likes you. Plus, her tone can be a bit harsh sometimes. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way."

Su Zhaozhao stared at Xie Huaizheng, stunned. She hadn’t expected him to guess what was on her mind when she hadn’t said a word.

’This ability to see right through a person’s thoughts... it’s terrifying.’

’She could do it too, of course, but she definitely didn’t want others to be able to read her mind.’

’But, it was a good thing that this person was Xie Huaizheng.’

"How did you guess?" she asked, looking at him curiously.

"Was it that hard to guess? Zhaozhao, you were in a perfectly good mood, but you became a little down after talking with my mom. So I paid extra attention to her tone when I was on the phone with her just now, and she didn’t seem any different to me."

But he was still worried that she had been wronged.

Su Zhaozhao buried her face in Xie Huaizheng’s chest, listening to the steady, powerful beat of his heart. Her earlier gloominess vanished completely.

"Camp Commander Xie, I don’t care anymore," she declared. "No one else is allowed to affect my mood, only you. As long as I can be with you, I’m happy."

"Me too," Xie Huaizheng murmured, leaning down to kiss her lips.