Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 120

“Achoo!”

“Chen Can, are you alright? Did you catch a chill?” Xu Wan looked at Chen Can with concern.

Chen Can waved his hand dismissively, puffing out his chest with an air of pride. “I’m fine. Probably the higher-ups are discussing candidates for that position and my name came up.”

“Chen Can, my eldest brother told me the competition for that position is fierce. You’re not the most outstanding candidate in the running.”

Chen Can was displeased by Xu Wan’s words, but he didn’t let it show on his face. He was already well aware of this fact—why else would he have been finding excuses to ask her out lately?

“Being outstanding doesn’t mean being suitable,” Chen Can stated bluntly, not hiding his absolute determination to secure the position.

“Xiao Wan, would you like some shaved ice?”

Without waiting for her answer, Chen Can led Xu Wan to a shaved ice stall.

He ordered two bowls of shaved ice and two bottles of soda. Gently pushing one bowl toward Xu Wan, he smiled warmly. “We’ve been walking for a while; you must be thirsty.”

“I…” Xu Wan bit her lip. She wanted to say it was that time of the month for her and she couldn’t have anything cold.

But she couldn’t bear to refuse his thoughtful gesture, so she just smiled and nodded. “I am thirsty. Thank you, Chen Can.”

“Xiao Wan, I’ve told you, don’t be so formal with me. This is the last time, okay? If there’s a next time, I’ll really get upset.” His tone was gently chiding.

“I’ve been in a bad mood lately, and you’ve been by my side all this time. If anyone should be saying thank you, it’s me.”

“Xiao Wan, you really see who your true friends are in times of trouble. I was immature before. Only now do I realize who truly cares for me.”

Chen Can tentatively placed his hand over the back of Xu Wan’s.

During their time together recently, he had always been perfectly proper with her, never making any physical advances.

Her looks and figure simply didn’t inspire any desire in him.

But to take the next step, he had to make a small sacrifice. He might as well be touching a piece of pork.

Xu Wan was stunned. Her heartbeat raced, completely out of control.

Her eyes widened as she stared dumbfounded at Chen Can, her face a picture of undisguised, flustered delight.

“Chen Can, you… you… what do you mean by that?” Xu Wan was afraid she might be misunderstanding him.

“Xiao Wan, hasn’t my behavior these past days made it obvious enough?”

Chen Can grasped Xu Wan’s hand tightly, staring intently into her eyes, imagining he was looking at Ye Zhiqiu instead. “Can’t you feel what’s in my heart for you?”

“Xiao Wan, the truth is, I’ve liked you since we were classmates. I originally wanted to confess my feelings to you, but then my father passed away.”

“Your grandfather is a general, your father and uncles are all highly accomplished… and back then, I was a nobody. I didn’t dare face you.”

“By the time I had achieved something and wanted to find you, I ended up being trapped by Shen Liya’s schemes.”

“I don’t like her. I have no feelings for her. But I did what I did, so I have to take responsibility for her.”

“Xiao Wan, all these years, I’ve kept your memory cherished deep in my heart. It pains me terribly whenever I think of it in the dead of night.”

Chen Can pressed Xu Wan’s hand against his forehead. He closed his eyes, his expression pained.

“Chen Can.”

Xu Wan was moved to tears. Her voice choked up. “I’ve liked you since our school days too. All these years, I could never forget you either.”

“My family introduced me to several potential matches, but I felt none of them measured up to you.”

“I knew I would wait for you one day.”

Xu Wan nodded repeatedly, smiling through her tears. “Heaven rewards those who are true. I’ve waited… I’ve finally waited for you!”

“Xiao Wan, give me a little time. I’ll handle my side of things.”

Chen Can took out a handkerchief and wiped away Xu Wan’s tears. Out of sight under the table, he used the handkerchief to vigorously wipe his own hand before discarding it.

He walked Xu Wan to the entrance of the Air Force compound. Xu Wan held onto his arm, reluctant to let go. “Chen Can, the compound is so dark. I’m scared.”

Chen Can knew full well that Xu Wan was eager to take him home to meet her family. He coaxed her gently, “Xiao Wan, if your father and eldest brother saw me right now, they’d probably skin me alive.”

“They wouldn’t dare!” Xu Wan lifted her thick, double-chinned face. “If they dared treat you like that, I’d cut ties with them!”

Chen Can quickly stopped that line of thinking. “Xiao Wan, you mustn’t do that. Promise me you won’t ever do that, okay? No matter what your family says about me, you cannot do that!”

What a joke, he thought. The whole reason he was getting close to Xu Wan was to gain the support of her family. If she cut ties with them, she’d be useless to him.

“Xiao Wan, I can’t go home with you just yet. For one, I’m still married. It’s inappropriate and would damage your reputation.”

“I don’t care.” Xu Wan threw her arms around Chen Can’s neck. “Chen Can, as long as I can be with you, I don’t care about anything else. Let people look at me and talk about me however they want.”

“Silly girl, I care.”

Chen Can fought down his disgust and lightly bopped Xu Wan’s bulbous nose. “Xiao Wan, if I’m with you, I won’t let you suffer any indignities.”

“Wait for me. I will formally and properly marry you and bring you into my family as my rightful wife.”

“I’ll finalize the divorce proceedings in the next few days. And once this promotion is settled, I can go to your house to meet your father and brother with my head held high, proving I’m worthy of marrying you.”

“Xiao Wan, I don’t want to be looked down on by your family. I want to be a good match for you.”

Chen Can brought Xu Wan’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “Just be patient a little longer, alright? Be good for me, hmm?”

“A-Can, I’ll listen to whatever you say.”

Xu Wan threw herself into Chen Can’s arms, hugging him tightly. Because of this, she didn’t see the complete lack of warmth on his face—only endless disgust.

The two lingered in the car for a while longer. Finally giving in to Xu Wan’s insistence, Chen Can walked her to a spot near the Xu family home.

Xu Wan, humming like a happy butterfly, entered the house, only to be stopped by her eldest brother, Xu Xun. “Xiao Wan, was that Chen Can who just brought you back?”

Xu Wan avoided Xu Xun’s gaze. “Brother, what are you talking about? I came back by myself.”

Xu Xun was furious. “I saw him.”

“If you saw, then why are you asking me?” Xu Wan glared at her brother. “Brother, I’m your sister, not one of your soldiers. Don’t use that tone with me.”

“Xiao Wan, what exactly are you trying to do? Chen Can is a married man! It’s not just our compound that knows about you two now; other compounds know too. How can you treat your own reputation so carelessly!”

“Brother, since we’re being blunt, I’ll be clear too. I’m with Chen Can. I’m going to marry him. I love him. In this lifetime, it has to be him!”

Unable to contain his anger, Xu Xun slapped Xu Wan across the face. Kang Zhimiao quickly stepped forward to pull Xu Xun back. “Lao Xu, talk things out properly. Don’t resort to violence.”

“Can you reason with her properly? Listen to the nonsense she’s spouting!” Xu Xun pointed angrily at Xu Wan. “Who knows what kind of potion that Chen Can has fed her to make her so bewitched!”