Chapter 31

"Brother Jiang Ye, between you and my brother, who is stronger?"

Shen Man wasn't yet used to such intimate actions and pulled back slightly. Her long, crow-feather-like eyelashes were damp. When she took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tear stains, she missed the highly aggressive gaze the man had while looking at her.

"He couldn't beat me before."

Jiang Ye's voice was hoarse. He withdrew his arm and his gaze, then gripped the steering wheel, stepped on the gas, and turned the wheel. The car wheels soon drove onto the flat road.

Shen Man was silent for a moment, pondering the hidden meaning in the man's words.

Her brother couldn't beat him before; if they were together in the future, then...

Would it be entirely up to her wishes?

The blush that had faded from Shen Man's face when she heard the news about her brother gradually spread from her earlobes.

"Brother Jiang Ye, have you really never dated other girls before?"

"Never. In this life and the last, only you."

Jiang Ye looked straight ahead, not daring to look at the young lady. He was afraid that if his restrained emotions surfaced, he would scare her.

She was so delicate, and their relationship status hadn't been fully settled yet, so he couldn't be offensive...

Shen Man's face turned even redder after hearing this, but there were also many question marks in her head.

This life and the last?

Was Brother Jiang Ye saying sweet nothings?

But this pedantic tone sounded a bit strange.

"Then why are you so good at it?"

Shen Man was a bit bothered. She had never dated; in her previous life, she had become an "older leftover woman" in the eyes of her parents.

It seemed that if she didn't date and didn't complete the "great marriage event," she was being unfilial and deserved to die.

It wasn't that she wasn't willing, but that she hadn't met the person she could recognize at first sight.

She wasn't willing to settle, and she wasn't willing to be a "good girl" for her whole life, constrained under her parents' eyes!

Regarding love, the other half she wanted had to be strong, have his own opinions, and have the ability to handle emergencies and family disputes.

Not to mention how handsome he had to be, at least he had to be refined and presentable; otherwise, how would she have the courage to lean in for a kiss?

Let alone doing other intimate things under the same quilt.

Regarding family background, education, and income, she didn't have high demands; she had a high education and a high income herself.

*Cough cough*, she could support the family, as long as the other half was family-oriented, loved and cherished her with all his heart, and cared for her emotions...

Alright, actually, from this point on, it was already destined that she wouldn't find a suitable partner in her previous life.

In the three years after transmigrating into the book, she had "re-raised" herself.

At the same time, she realized why her parents had demanded that of her in her previous life, why she hadn't dared to resist at first, why she dared to resist later, and finally, why she gave up resisting...

"Last night, I went back and sought advice from some married comrades."

Faced with the choice between losing face and losing his wife, Jiang Ye chose the former without hesitation.

The married comrades provided quite a few successful cases, but he pondered for a long time and felt some were worth taking, while others were not.

"Sought advice?"

Shen Man's eyes widened. Her mood became complex; a mix of sour and sweet feelings intertwined in her heart, and shame washed over her.

How could she have thought of him like that? So shameful!

"Mm. The sense of ritual that other female comrades have, my Manman cannot be left behind."

In Jiang Ye's view, to love someone was to give them the best of everything: meticulous care, giving one's all, and giving the other person equal respect, status, and living conditions...

Losing one's head to beauty?

No, love is equal respect.

"Oh."

Shen Man covered her face and responded in a daze.

To her, this kind of mature, guiding man who had her entirely in his eyes was her absolute ideal type.

What to do?

It was hard not to like him.

With yesterday afternoon's appearance, plus Jiang Ye's "seeking advice" last night, when Shen Man entered the unit canteen today, although more and more eyes were sizing her up, they were all filled with friendly smiles.

It seemed they were all quite friendly, looking as if they were rooting for the two of them.

Jiang Ye turned a blind eye to those teasing gazes. He picked a corner seat for the young lady, wiped the stool with his sleeve, and then signaled for her to sit down.

"I'll go queue for food; you sit here for a while."

"Okay."

Shen Man agreed obediently, constantly soothing herself internally: don't care about others' gazes; if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up.

After Jiang Ye left, soldiers who were bold enough came over with their trays, deliberately passing by Shen Man.

They were all new recruits who had been trained by Regiment Commander Jiang. They couldn't imagine that the cold-faced, cold-blooded Regiment Commander Jiang on the training ground would one day become so gentle and protective of a young girl.

When the news spread at the training ground in the morning, they didn't believe it. Now that they saw it with their own eyes, they couldn't help but come to observe the future sister-in-law.

After seeing her in person, their first reaction:

Good heavens, what a well-behaved young girl!

She looked like a simple girl who hadn't seen much of the world!

Second reaction: beast!

The Regiment Commander is a beast!

How could the Regiment Commander make a move on such a young girl!

Third reaction: alright, not to mention, the two of them really are a match in terms of looks; the future sister-in-law is even better-looking than the star of the Art Troupe!

Fourth reaction?

They didn't dare to look anymore. It felt like needles pricking their backs; a sharp gaze was tracing along their cervical vertebrae!

This familiar sense of oppression was the most bone-chilling one they had perceived during countless training sessions...

Run!

If they didn't run now, when would they?

That was for the ordinary soldiers. As for the officers with military ranks, they openly took a few more glances, then glanced at Jiang Ye in the queue, all smiling meaningfully.

The young girl was truly attractive; no wonder Jiang Ye sought their advice last night and distributed all the cigarettes he had on hand to them.

At the time, they had laughed and scolded Jiang Ye for being blinded by beauty, even giving away his cigarettes.

Now, after seeing the young girl, they couldn't help but think: this kid Jiang Ye, he doesn't make a sound, but when he does, it's astonishing!

He wouldn't date if he didn't want to, but once he did, he picked the most outstanding one...

Now Political Commissar Ji's hair could fall out a little less; if he went any balder, his combover wouldn't be able to cover the bald spot on the back of his head!

Shen Man felt the gazes from all directions. Her palms were sweating, and her face was white with a rosy tint, her skin like congealed fat; it was impossible for outsiders to tell if she was shy or just shy.

"Cough, cough."

As an old man walked into the canteen with his hands behind his back in a composed manner, those scorching gazes finally moved away from Shen Man.

"Grandpa Duan~"

Shen Man looked gratefully at the old man who had come to her rescue, a smile hanging on her lips, "Are you here for lunch too?"

"Girl Man, why are you sitting here alone? Where is your Jiang Ye?"

Section Commander Duan's smile was gentle. After responding to the young girl's greeting, he turned around and scanned the room, his sharp eyes carrying warnings and reprimands.

These officers, were they full and had nothing better to do? Why were they staring like wolves and tigers at his Jiang Ye's person?

"Brother Jiang Ye is getting food for me; he'll be here soon.

Would you like to sit down and eat with us, Grandpa Duan?"

Shen Man didn't suspect anything, thinking that Grandpa Duan had appeared just in time.

"Alright."

Section Commander Duan was truly unceremonious. He didn't go to queue for food either, but sat directly opposite the young girl.

After chatting for a while, Jiang Ye returned with two portions of food.

Seeing Section Commander Duan, who was hiding his identity and chatting happily with the young girl, he silently put down the food and consciously went to queue again to get a portion for the other party...