“General Yue’s daughter-in-law?” Wen Shengnan played dumb.
Liu Wei had run out of patience. He grabbed Wen Shengnan by the wrist. “What, you expect me to believe you don’t know who Yue Mingyuan’s wife is? You’re so crazy about him—how could you possibly not know?”
“Captain Liu, what are you doing? You’re hurting me! Let go!” Wen Shengnan struggled to break free, but she was no match for Liu Wei’s strength.
Liu Wei pulled her close, looking down at her. “Wen Shengnan, don’t push your luck! You’re my woman now. From now on, keep those improper thoughts to yourself.”
“If you behave and settle down with me, I’ll make sure you have a good life. But if you dare keep pining after Yue Mingyuan, I’ll beat you to death!”
“Liu Wei, let me go! If you dare hit me, I’ll go report you to your superiors! I’ll tell them you raped me!”
Wen Shengnan didn’t want to have a complete falling out with Liu Wei, but since he already knew everything, she had no choice but to fight back. Even if he had the upper hand, she couldn’t let him push her around so easily.
Who would’ve thought Liu Wei would act like a complete thug: “Go ahead and report me! Let’s see if your superiors believe you or me!”
“Then everyone will know you’re damaged goods, and you’ll never marry anyone for the rest of your life!”
Wen Shengnan felt a surge of blood rush to her throat. She glared at Liu Wei. “Liu Wei, you bastard!”
“Wen Shengnan, stop playing the virtuous maiden!”
Liu Wei switched to gripping her chin. “Don’t think I don’t know why you came to me.”
“Then why did you take my body if you weren’t going to help me!”
“Take a good look at who you’ve offended! Are you out of your damn mind? You dare to cross a general’s family! Getting fired is the least of your problems!”
Liu Wei shoved her away. “Now I’m giving you two choices. Either marry me and behave yourself—if I ever catch you fooling around and putting horns on my head, I’ll kill you!”
“Or I’ll find you another job, give you some money, and you take what happened last night to your grave!”
“Wen Shengnan, I can get you a job, and I can just as easily take it away. I can also ruin your reputation. Think it over!”
Wen Shengnan quickly weighed her options. Since the arts troupe was definitely going to fire her, and Liu Wei couldn’t do anything about it, she had to settle for second best. She couldn’t lose her virtue and end up with nothing.
Besides, marrying Liu Wei was her only option—she’d already told her family about him.
If her mother didn’t get to meet Liu Wei, she’d surely arrange for Wen Shengnan to marry someone else.
Liu Wei might not measure up to Yue Mingyuan, but he was probably still better than that fat pig. Either way, she was determined to marry into the military compound.
“I’ll marry you! But you have to find me another job. And I want a bride price—you have to marry me in style.”
Wen Shengnan looked him straight in the eye. Liu Wei curled his lips into a smirk. “Wen Shengnan, you really think you’re still a pure young maiden? So many demands.”
“No bride price, no big wedding. But I can get you a job.”
Wen Shengnan’s face turned pale with humiliation. She couldn’t help but protest: “Liu Wei, how can you treat me like this?”
“You came to me. You were the one fawning over me, touching my leg, and throwing yourself on the ground.”
Liu Wei pointed at Wen Shengnan viciously. “Wen Shengnan, don’t play the victim and accuse me first! I haven’t even reported you for improper conduct and dragging a revolutionary cadre down with you!”
“I’ve laid it all out. If you agree, I’ll submit the marriage application. You’ve offended General Yue, and I’m still willing to take you—that’s already more than you deserve. And you want a grand wedding? Dream on!”
Wen Shengnan felt utterly wronged. This was nothing like what she’d imagined.
She’d thought Liu Wei liked her and would indulge her every whim, treating her with all his heart. Instead, the man was a heartless beast!
Men really couldn’t be trusted!
“I… I agree.”
Wen Shengnan slumped softly against Liu Wei’s shoulder, all meek and vulnerable. “Captain Liu, I’ll definitely settle down and be a good wife to you from now on.”
For now, she had to keep Liu Wei steady—she still needed him to find her a job. Everything else could be schemed later.
Every word he’d said, every thing he’d done to her—she’d lock it all deep in her memory. When the time was right, she’d show him exactly what she was made of!
She’d make him taste what a gentle knife felt like—every strike deadly!
“Captain Liu, whatever you say goes. From now on, I’ll be obedient.”
Wen Shengnan lowered her head, acting docile. Liu Wei chuckled in satisfaction and pulled her into his arms. “That’s more like it. Let me tell you, women shouldn’t have so many demands and ideas.”
“I understand, Captain Liu.”
“We’re getting married. Stop calling me Captain Liu.”
Wen Shengnan switched gears smoothly: “Old Liu.”
“That’s more like it.”
Liu Wei submitted the application. The higher-ups didn’t investigate too thoroughly—things weren’t as strict as they used to be. Sure, Wen Shengnan had been fired from the arts troupe for personal misconduct, but there was no issue with her becoming a military spouse.
The main thing was that Liu Wei was already on his second marriage. His superior did remind him to keep an eye on Wen Shengnan and not let any more scandals brew—or it would drag him down too.
Not that he needed the reminder. Liu Wei was already well aware.
He wanted the beauty, and he wanted the power—but power was still more important. If Wen Shengnan ever became a liability, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second to cut her loose.
Still, there was the matter of her having offended General Yue. He needed to find a way to smooth that over.
General Yue himself probably wouldn’t bother with someone like her, but the saying goes: “Yama [the King of Hell] is easy to deal with; it’s the minor devils that are troublesome.” There were always people looking to curry favor with the general who might use this against him.
Once the application was approved, Liu Wei brought some gifts to formally propose.
When Li Cuicui learned that Wen Shengnan was really marrying a full regimental captain, she started telling everyone she met, afraid that someone might not know she’d become the mother-in-law of a big-shot captain, riding on her daughter’s coattails to success.
She’d fantasized about Liu Wei pulling up in a big official car, the trunk piled high with gifts for her, with several guards carrying everything in.
But instead, Liu Wei showed up on a bicycle, and the gifts he brought were pitifully meager—just four catties of pastries, two jars of canned goods, and two bottles of liquor.
Li Cuicui’s face was twisted in displeasure, but she didn’t dare take it out on Liu Wei. She could only shoot dagger after dagger at Wen Shengnan.
Wen Shengnan forced a smile and introduced Liu Wei to her family.
“Uncle, Auntie, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Xiao Wen and guide her properly from now on.”
Liu Wei could clearly see the varied expressions on the Wen family’s faces and knew exactly what they were thinking. But that was precisely the effect he wanted.
They hadn’t even welcomed her into the family yet, and they were already trying to treat him like an easy mark. No wonder they’d raised a daughter like Wen Shengnan.
“Xiao Liu, what about the bride price…”
Li Cuicui looked at Liu Wei, still clinging to a sliver of hope that while the gifts were shabby, the bride price might be generous.
“Auntie, we live in a new society now. We don’t go in for feudal customs like bride prices. You’re marrying off a daughter, not selling one!”
