Volume 1, Chapter 4: Sister, Don't Hit Me

She blinked her long, dark, curled eyelashes a few times, then gently and serenely closed her eyes, placing a handkerchief over her face to shield the sunlight streaming through the window, revealing only her two rosy, tender lips.

In this peaceful state, she leaned back in her seat and fell asleep.

Su Xiaohui, on her first time riding in a car, appeared somewhat reserved. She sat with her legs neatly together on the side, curious about everything inside the vehicle, yet suppressing her excitement and wonder. She obediently lowered her head and sat quietly in the backseat.

From the corner of her eye, she occasionally stole glances at Brother Huo, who was driving ahead, her heart fluttering uncontrollably.

The thought that such an outstanding, tall, and handsome man like Brother Huo was actually rejected by her sister and became her sister’s blind date made the corners of her mouth curl into an uncontrollable smile.

As long as this flaw remained, her sister had no chance of competing with her.

The car moved steadily along the bumpy dirt road until it stopped in front of a grocery store in the city. Huo Xiaohan got out and went inside.

When he returned, he was holding a vintage cream cake in a red plastic box.

“This is the floral cream cake I mentioned in my letter. Here, have some,” Huo Xiaohan handed the cake to Su Xiaohui in the backseat.

“Thank you, Brother Huo,” Su Xiaohui said, overwhelmed with excitement, having never tasted cake before.

She glanced over at Su Wan beside her, who seemed to have already fallen asleep.

Really like a pig, sleeping all day long.

“Well, Sister—”

“It’s for you,” Huo Xiaohan said expressionlessly, restarting the car and heading toward the train station.

Su Xiaohui’s heart bloomed with joy. Looking at Su Wan once again, there was a trace of triumphant mockery in her eyes. She had planned to wait until Su Wan woke to eat, but after a moment of restraint, she could no longer resist.

Carefully lifting the transparent plastic cover, she used the small plastic spoon to scoop a bit of white cream from the edge and let it melt in her mouth. Sweet and rich—it was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted.

“Thank you, Brother Huo. The cream cake is really delicious.”

Huo Xiaohan remained silent, watching through the rearview mirror as Su Xiaohui savored the cake like a treasure. Meanwhile, Su Wan still had the handkerchief over her face, only her rosy lips visible, naturally pursed.

Her hands clutched a blue shoulder bag containing eggs, as if afraid that little sister Xiaohui might take them away.

He coldly withdrew his gaze.

---

When the car passed over a bumpy stretch of dirt road, the handkerchief covering Su Wan’s face slipped down, and she lost her balance.

She opened her eyes, just about to bend down to pick up the handkerchief from the floor.

Su Xiaohui immediately grew fearful and offered the half-eaten cream cake to her sister, shrinking back as if afraid of being scolded. “Sister, here, eat this. Please don’t be angry.”

Huo Xiaohan glanced at the rearview mirror, his brows sharp and cold.

The atmosphere inside the car instantly grew tense and oppressive.

If Su Wan hadn’t been transported into this hot topic, she might have truly believed Su Xiaohui was a pitiful little darling. In reality, she was a perfect white lotus, feigning innocence but truly malicious.

Always playing the victim, pretending to be pitiful.

Though the original self had no intention of competing, Su Wan constantly acted as if she were bullied and afraid in front of others, misleading people and garnering their sympathy.

But the original self, straightforward and quick-tempered, couldn’t explain clearly and resorted to suppressing Su Xiaohui by force, trying to stop her.

Over time, the image of the original self as selfish, domineering, and oppressive toward her sister took root.

“Xiaohui, Comrade Huo is your blind date. Isn’t it only right that he buys you something to eat? Why would I be angry?” Su Wan blinked her clear, bright eyes, asking in genuine confusion.

Su Xiaohui’s eyelids twitched; she hadn’t expected Su Wan to respond so calmly and confidently.

With just a few words, she overturned Su Xiaohui’s attempt to make Brother Huo think she was trying to snatch the cream cake.

“I... I didn’t mean that. I only ate half of this cream cake. Sister, you can have the other half,” Su Xiaohui said, playing the obedient and sensible girl, offering the cake again.

No wonder she always ended up the victor—truly skilled at pretending.

“This cake was specially bought for you by Comrade Huo, who even took a detour to get it at the city grocery store. How could you betray his kindness? Besides, I don’t like it. You should eat it,” Su Wan smiled gently, revealing faint dimples on her cheeks, her voice soft and devoid of any hostility.

Bending down to pick up the handkerchief from the floor, she covered her face again, only to catch Huo Xiaohan’s sharp, scrutinizing gaze in the rearview mirror.

Knowing she wouldn’t have any further contact with him and wouldn’t meet him again after arriving in Beiping, she pretended not to see it and adjusted the handkerchief to shield her face from the scorching sun outside the window.

Su Wan’s words made it clear she hadn’t been asleep all along but had been awake the entire time.

---

She had heard everything Brother Huo had just said.

This left Su Xiaohui with nothing more to say. Blushing slightly, she withdrew her hands holding the cream cake.

Biting her lip in secret, she thought that since Su Wan jumped into the river, she seemed somewhat different from before.

Soon, the car arrived at the train station.

Two soldiers were already waiting there.

One was a local soldier, Xiao Cai, who would drive the military vehicle back to the base. The other was Han Wei, an escort assigned to accompany Huo Xiaohan on this mission.

When they saw Su Wan step out of the car, their eyes lit up.

No wonder Captain Huo traveled all the way from Beiping to this small county town to personally carry out this mission—it was all for the blind date.

Rumor had it that after finishing the task in the morning, Captain Huo went on the blind date that afternoon, returning only late at night. After getting back to the base, he immediately made a fifteen-minute phone call home—he must be reporting plans to marry upon arriving in Beiping.

No, more likely, he would head straight to the wedding banquet and bridal chamber upon getting off the train.

The young sister-in-law had black hair, red lips, peachy cheeks, and snow-white skin, with a slender figure. She exuded the pure and gentle charm of the misty Jiangnan after rain, even more beautiful and graceful than actresses in magazines.

The two soldiers stepped forward, standing at attention to salute Huo Xiaohan, then went to the trunk to retrieve the young sister-in-law’s luggage.

“Comrade, hello. Could you please tell me where the restroom is?” Su Wan looked around by the front of the car but found no sign. She kindly asked a passing soldier.

Her voice was soft and gentle, causing Han Wei’s ears to tingle as if a few drops of spring rain had fallen inside them. He couldn’t help but scratch his ears; the young sister-in-law’s voice was truly lovely.

With such a sister-in-law, Captain Huo would surely be gentler when training them in the future.

Thinking about how Captain Huo had just met the young sister-in-law last night, this was a precious opportunity to accompany the commander.

Huo Xiaohan’s high and sharp brows furrowed swiftly, full of disdain and authority. He sternly reprimanded, “Who is ‘young sister-in-law’? Which female comrade taught you to call her that?”