Volume 1, Chapter 46: Taken a Fancy to Su Wan

“Commander, I’m not trying to criticize you, but grabbing so many at once—these girls have small hands; how could they possibly take so many? They must feel embarrassed to even ask,” Commissar Liu said, shaking his head.

Huo Xiaohan hadn’t thought much of it; he simply assumed she liked sweets.

The way she sucked on the candy was just like his little niece—adorable, with her cheeks puffed up.

“Oh dear, Comrade Tingting didn’t even take off her mask before leaving. No one knows what she really looks like,” Commissar Liu suddenly recalled with a hint of regret. He reached toward the window, but she had already walked far away, leaving only her silhouette visible.

Even just seeing the delicate, graceful figure beneath the tree’s shade, it was clear she was a beauty in the making.

“Once Secretary Jiang returns, I’ll find out more,” he added.

Huo Xiaohan also turned to look out the window. Taller than Commissar Liu, his vantage point was better. He saw the young woman finally remove the little rabbit mask from her face, holding it in her hand as she spoke with Secretary Jiang.

She never once looked back until she had completely exited the military club.

“Commander, say something—give us your thoughts,” Commissar Liu urged, not receiving any reply from Huo Xiaohan.

Huo Xiaohan’s sharply defined jaw tightened slightly. “No need.”

Since she was a nurse at the military district hospital, he could inquire through Song Wenbo.

Besides, he was scheduled to go to the hospital the next day to arrange his admission. If she were working, he’d likely see her then.

Commissar Liu stood there bewildered. Having done ideological work for years, he still couldn’t fathom what was going through the mind of this 26-year-old young commander.

“Are you sure you don’t want to?” Commissar Liu asked again, eyes wide.

“No,” Huo Xiaohan said firmly and stepped out of the auditorium.

That night, after showering, Huo Xiaohan quickly packed a few essentials for his hospital stay: toothpaste, soap, towel, and spare underwear.

Once neatly folded and set aside, he took two painkillers and lay down, drifting off to sleep as cicadas sang outside.

He found himself back in the same auditorium, where Teresa Teng’s “Sweet Honey” played over the speakers.

He held her soft, delicate hand, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and the two of them moved gracefully across the dance floor in time with the music.

The entire hall was empty but for the two of them.

She lowered her gaze, watching her feet carefully, but despite her caution, her petite white shoe accidentally stepped on his leather shoe.

“Sorry,” she whispered, her moist lips carrying a faint milky scent, her eyes shimmering with tears, her voice tender.

Her nimble, ruby tongue shifted the candy to the other side of her mouth. The hard candy gently tapped her pearly teeth, producing a faint crisp sound, like the crackling of brittle bones.

His breath caught; his large palm felt hot, almost burning.

Again, she stepped on his foot by accident, her soft lips pressing together tightly.

Her eyes, filled with a pitiful sparkle, seemed almost deliberate, the breath she exhaled delicate and enticing, infused with the sweet fragrance unique to a young girl, weaving its way into his nostrils.

His breathing grew heavy; his palm tightened repeatedly. At that moment, she parted her lips again, shifting the candy once more.

Suddenly, Huo Xiaohan shot open his eyes, sitting upright in bed, his entire body burning hot, his undershirt and trousers soaked through with sweat.

He hadn’t expected his inner thoughts at that moment to be so vivid.

A rare flush of embarrassment colored his usually stern and resolute face.

He quickly rose, changed into clean clothes, then wiped the bamboo mat repeatedly with warm water from end to end.

Afterward, he took a towel and went to the washroom for a cold shower.

Early the next morning, before the military district hospital officially opened, he arrived at the administrative building.

Secretary Jiang, carrying a bunch of keys, had just entered the lobby when the tall figure clad in summer beige military uniform approached her.

“Commander Huo?” Secretary Jiang stared for a moment before recognizing him. “You’re here to pick up your clothes, right? I was just wondering how to return them to you.”

That morning, on her way to work, she ran into Song Wenbo, who handed her the freshly laundered olive-green shirt to return to Commander Huo.

“Secretary Jiang, I’m here about the social gathering yesterday,” Huo Xiaohan said as he took the shirt from her bag, faintly catching the scent of soap lingering on the fabric.

It was fresh and pleasant.

“Come, come, let’s talk in my office,” Secretary Jiang warmly invited.

The social event had just ended yesterday. She would certainly be contacted by officers interested in comrades from her unit, ready to serve as matchmaker.

“No need. I have to handle my hospital admission paperwork soon. I want to ask about Comrade Tingting—what did she think of me?” Huo Xiaohan considered that since his surgery to remove the bullet was scheduled for tomorrow, requiring at least two weeks’ hospitalization, he wouldn’t have time to see her or court her now.

He wanted to first learn about Comrade Tingting from Song Wenbo, then after discharge, approach Secretary Jiang about dating.

But after the dream last night, he decided to settle things once and for all.

Secretary Jiang paused slightly, clearly surprised that Commander Huo had taken a liking to Su Wan.

This put her in a dilemma. Not only was Su Wan a girl from the countryside whose background vastly differed from his, but she also had replaced Ruan Tingting in attending the military cadre social event—a fact that must remain undisclosed.

If Ruan Tingting were to meet Commander Huo, their height difference would be obvious: Su Wan was 165 cm tall, while Ruan Tingting was under 160 cm.

“I didn’t hear Commissar Liu mention this yesterday. I’ll ask around,” Secretary Jiang said, maintaining a calm expression. Then, almost casually, she added, “But I should tell you about Tingting’s family situation first. Her father passed away, her mother is chronically ill and medicated, and she has two younger siblings aged eight and ten who are still in school. I heard they owe quite a bit of money to relatives. Their household is struggling…”

Secretary Jiang exaggerated Ruan Tingting’s hardships slightly to politely dissuade Commander Huo, as she neither wished nor was able to arrange a match.

“How much do they owe? I can help pay it off,” Huo Xiaohan said bluntly, clearly aware of her difficult circumstances but undeterred.

Secretary Jiang fell silent. The debt was fabricated, but seeing the commander’s resolve, she knew words wouldn’t sway him.

Alas, why must he take a fancy to Su Wan?

“I don’t know the full details. I’ll ask Tingting myself today.”

“Thank you, Secretary Jiang. I’ll have surgery tomorrow, so I’ll come by again in the afternoon if that’s convenient,” Huo Xiaohan said, standing tall and upright before her, making refusal impossible.