Volume 1, Chapter 5: She Was Not... Looking at Him...

Shen Nian'an sat back in the car. As the vehicle started, her gaze was drawn to the unique scenery of the era outside the window. While she was busy admiring the view, she did not realize that in the eyes of others, she was the most beautiful sight of all.

"Oh my, whose daughter is that? She looks so refined."
"I wonder if she's married? My nephew is about her age."

It wasn't just the aunts chatting by their doorways who were captivated by Shen Nian'an's sweet and fair appearance; Lu Jianxun, driving a military vehicle back, couldn't help but ease off the accelerator, slowing down to tilt his head and get a better look.

The woman was fair-skinned, with a delicate nose and small lips, but her eyes were exceptionally large, dark, and bright, carrying a sense of familiarity. Who was she? Lu Jianxun felt she looked familiar, yet he was certain this was his first time seeing her.

Suddenly, an icy gaze shot toward him. "Lu Jianxun, are you using the vehicle without authorization?"

Lu Jianxun's eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly averted his gaze. It was only then that he realized the man in the driver's seat next to him was none other than his cold-hearted brother-in-law. On the island, military vehicles were not something one could use at will; one had to be outstanding, hold a high enough rank, or be tasked with receiving important guests. Regulations stated that only those at the rank of Colonel or above were assigned vehicles. As a Navy Lieutenant, he had no such privileges. This car belonged to his father.

As for his brother-in-law? Everyone said he was the most outstanding soldier on the island in years. At only twenty-three, he had been promoted to Major. Because of his excellence, he received special treatment and was assigned a military vehicle, a privilege typically reserved for Colonels and above. Lu Jianxun had also heard that his brother-in-law was about to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

But inwardly, he sneered. A Major at twenty-three? A Lieutenant Colonel at twenty-seven? What did that prove? It was nothing more than having a father who was a General. He considered himself just as talented, yet at twenty-four, he was merely a Lieutenant. But his future would be bright, too. Being the son-in-law of General Si was a prize he was determined to win.

"Brother-in-law."
"Major," Si Jinnian corrected him, displeased.

Shen Nian'an was startled, tilting her head to look at Si Jinnian. Was he a Major?

A flash of cold light crossed Lu Jianxun’s gentle eyes as he explained with feigned good nature, "Major Si, I am not using the car for myself; it is for my father’s use."

So, he really was a Major. In the naval hierarchy of this era, if she remembered correctly, the ranks from high to low were: General, Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, Senior Captain, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant, Sub-Lieutenant, and Ensign. A Lieutenant Commander at twenty-seven—he was indeed impressive.

"Chief of Staff Lu?" Si Jinnian was not easily fooled by Lu Jianxun's few words. He frowned, glancing at Lu Jianxun in the driver's seat. "He is at the command center."

The implication was clear: If it were for your father, why are you the one driving it?

Lu Jianxun, understanding the subtext, lowered his thick, long lashes to hide the gloom in his eyes. What? Did he really think of him as a subordinate soldier? Was he interrogating him right here?

When he looked up again, Lu Jianxun had suppressed all his resentment. He smiled and said, "Major Si, it’s like this. We have relatives visiting. My father originally intended to come with me to pick them up, but he was called away by Officer Wang of the logistics department just as we were leaving, so I drove to pick them up myself."

Picking someone up? Si Jinnian’s gaze swept over the empty seat beside Lu Jianxun, a flicker of light passing through his dark eyes. Just as Lu Jianxun was preparing to find an excuse to explain the empty seat, Si Jinnian stopped asking questions, pressed the accelerator, and drove off directly.

Lu Jianxun’s eyes flickered. He had thought Si Jinnian was formidable, but it turned out he was nothing special. Thinking of Lu Zhenhua at the command center, Lu Jianxun, who had been planning to return the car, pondered for a moment before decisively turning the vehicle around to head home.

At a fork in the road ahead, as Si Jinnian turned the steering wheel, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of a flash of green. *Back already?* Si Jinnian frowned, but he didn't take the matter to heart. As long as it didn't violate military discipline, he couldn't be bothered with the trivial affairs of other families.

As for Shen Nian'an? Although she had looked at Si Jinnian twice out of surprise, she knew it, but others did not. Having had the experience last time, Shen Nian'an knew Si Jinnian had keen senses. Fearing he would notice and take the opportunity to lecture her again, she kept her head turned away, with no mind to pay attention to the empty seat beside her.

There were no paved roads in this era; they were mostly dirt tracks. Si Jinnian drove steadily, but not slowly. A lot of dust kicked up, smudging Shen Nian'an’s fair little face, but she seemed not to notice. She had once participated in the research and development of a small weapon with her mentor, spending over half a year in the Gobi Desert where the wind and sand filled the sky. By comparison, this was nothing.

Shen Nian'an didn't mind, but when they reached the front gate and Si Jinnian opened the door to carry her, he paused. The young girl’s face was dirty, but her eyes were very bright. She watched him so obediently and quietly, as if the glimmer of water in her eyes was ignited just for him. For a moment, Si Jinnian felt a wave of greed, thinking that having her sit at home waiting for his return would be a very happy thing.

But soon, he was stung by the dissatisfaction in the girl’s eyes. She was not... looking at him. Suddenly, this realization left Si Jinnian feeling a sense of loss. He pressed his lips into a straight line and carried Shen Nian'an toward the courtyard.

In the Si family living room, time ticked by second by second. Seeing no one return, Su Wanhua couldn't sit still and began pacing back and forth. "What time is it? Why aren't they back yet?"

Liu Jinyue, watching television and eating snacks, took a moment to say, "Mom, don't you know my brother's temperament? He's a block of ice; how could he possibly go pick someone up? If you ask me..."

Before Liu Jinyue could finish, Su Wanhua interrupted confidently, "Your brother promised; he will definitely go."

Now it was Liu Jinyue’s turn to be unable to sit still. She stood up abruptly, and the plate of melon seeds on her lap slid to the floor, making a crisp sound. "What? My brother promised?"

Su Wanhua looked over upon hearing the noise and, seeing the scattered seeds, glared at Liu Jinyue. "Look at you, you're a grown woman. You're about to get engaged and married to Jianxun soon, how can you still be so clumsy?"

Although it was a reprimand, there was no blame in Su Wanhua’s eyes, only doting affection for her daughter. Liu Jinyue habitually hooked her arm through Su Wanhua’s, leaning her head on her shoulder and acting spoiled. "Mom, no matter how old I get, I’m still your daughter. Besides, Brother Jianxun said that after we marry, I won't have to do anything; he can’t bear for me to do housework."

"Shameless," Su Wanhua pretended to be angry and gave Liu Jinyue’s nose a playful flick. The force was so light that it didn't even leave a mark.

After pacifying Su Wanhua, Liu Jinyue asked discreetly, "Mom, you're too mean, keeping it from me. Tell me, tell me, what method did you use to get my brother to agree to go pick them up?"

"You're the clever one." Su Wanhua did not deny it and told her everything about going to the office to find Si Jinnian.

After hearing it, Liu Jinyue breathed a secret sigh of relief. If her brother couldn't belong to her, then no other woman should even think about it!