After finishing breakfast, Wei Jiajia’s great-aunt told them they shouldn’t just sit around at home all day. She encouraged them to take a stroll through town and assured them there was no need to hurry back for lunch, as long as they returned home early in the evening.
Wei Jiajia thought it made sense. After all, they needed to spend time together to determine whether they were truly compatible. Moreover, since Qiao Haoyu had openly stated his intention to pursue her, she was interested in observing how he would behave. With that in mind, she agreed.
Qiao Haoyu then returned to the Zhang household to inform his grandmother that he would be taking Wei Jiajia out and wouldn’t be home for lunch.
The moment Grandma Zhang heard this, she didn’t hesitate for a second—she practically shoved her grandson out the door, encouraging the young couple to enjoy their time together.
Standing at the doorway, she sternly reminded Qiao Haoyu to take good care of Wei Jiajia, even warning him that if he made her unhappy, she’d break his legs when he got back.
Hearing the old lady’s earnest instructions, Wei Jiajia covered her mouth to suppress a laugh, while Qiao Haoyu could only nod helplessly.
The alleyway was paved with uneven cobblestones, causing the bicycle to jolt unpredictably. The sudden bumps startled Wei Jiajia, prompting her to instinctively wrap her arms around Qiao Haoyu’s waist.
Feeling the small hands encircle his waist, Qiao Haoyu momentarily lost control of the handlebars, causing the bicycle to wobble. Startled, Wei Jiajia let out a frightened cry.
Realizing the danger, Qiao Haoyu quickly steadied the bicycle and let out a breath of relief. If they had actually fallen, it would have been an utterly humiliating moment for him.
Wei Jiajia gradually calmed down. Frustrated, she smacked Qiao Haoyu on the back, her voice still trembling slightly from the shock.
“What are you doing? You scared me to death! Focus and ride properly. If you make me fall, I swear I’ll go straight home and tell on you, and Grandma Zhang will have no choice but to break your legs!”
Hearing her delicate yet indignant voice, laced with an unintentional hint of coquettishness, Qiao Haoyu accepted her threat with a good-natured smile.
“All right, all right, it’s my fault. I frightened our noble queen. But let’s make a deal—watch how I behave from now on. If I don’t do well, you can decide my punishment. Does that sound fair?”
If their classmates were to witness this exchange, they would surely be left in utter disbelief, convinced that Qiao Haoyu had been replaced by someone else.
After all, the contrast was just too drastic. At school, he had a reputation for being cold and indifferent, never wasting words on unnecessary interactions, especially with girls.
He was always serious, never displaying the slightest trace of warmth. Who would have guessed that in front of the girl he liked, he would reveal such a playful and lighthearted side?
Even Wei Jiajia found herself momentarily dumbfounded. She had not anticipated such a response from him.
Just last night, Qiao Haoyu had left her with the distinct impression of a mature and steady soldier—stern and reserved in both demeanor and character.
Who would have thought that today he would completely overturn her perception of him? It turned out he also had a playful, cheeky, and humorous side.
Was this something a cold and indifferent person would say?
Then again, it made sense. People had multiple facets to their personalities. She had only met him once—it was natural that she didn’t fully understand him yet.
“Enough with the nonsense. Just focus on riding properly,” Wei Jiajia said, slightly embarrassed. He made it sound as if she were some kind of tyrant.
Through Qiao Haoyu, she was beginning to understand that one should never judge a person—or a situation—based purely on subjective impressions.
Such assumptions could easily lead one astray—especially in times like these, where a single misstep could put her or her family in danger in the future.
That being said, even though she had only met Qiao Haoyu once, she trusted him instinctively. Something within her told her he wouldn’t harm her.
After a brief discussion, the two decided to head to the police station first to inquire about the progress of the investigation.
As soon as they entered, they happened to spot the security captain from the previous day stepping out of an office. He saw them as well and immediately walked over.
“I was just planning to visit your home today, Comrade Wei. I didn’t expect you to come by yourselves.”
“Officer, is there any news? Do you know who was behind the kidnapping attempt?” Qiao Haoyu asked eagerly.
The captain shook his head with regret. “Our team kept watch all night yesterday, but no one else showed up. We also questioned the students mentioned yesterday, but each one had a solid alibi. The investigation has hit a dead end. As for the perpetrators, they claim they have no idea who ordered them to kidnap Comrade Wei—the trail has gone cold.”
He couldn’t help but sympathize—such an incident would be unsettling for any young woman, especially with the mastermind still on the loose.
But with no new leads, all they could do was advise her to stay vigilant. If she noticed anything suspicious, she should report it immediately.
Hearing that the trail had gone cold and the mastermind was still unidentified, Qiao Haoyu’s expression darkened. A cold aura radiated from him, so strong that even the two people standing nearby could feel it.
The captain glanced at him in confusion. The female comrade remained calm, showing no particular reaction—so why was this guy reacting so strongly? Wasn’t he just visiting home and happened to save her by chance?
In fact, the moment he saw the two walk in together, he had been a little suspicious. Could this be one of those tales where a soldier, captivated by a damsel in distress, rushes to her aid and she, in gratitude, pledges herself to him?
Sure, the young woman was indeed beautiful, but she wouldn’t go as far as to repay a debt with marriage, would she?
The more he thought about it, the more skeptical he became, his gaze toward Qiao Haoyu growing increasingly dubious.
Wei Jiajia noticed that the police captain’s gaze toward Qiao Haoyu was growing increasingly suspicious, his eyes flickering over her as if piecing together some elaborate scenario in his mind. She quickly decided to put an end to his speculation and pointed at Qiao Haoyu as she introduced him.
“Officer, this is my fiancé. He returned home on leave yesterday and happened to cross paths with me just as I was in danger.”
“Fortunately, he was there—otherwise, I can’t even begin to imagine what might have happened.”
As she spoke, she felt a deep sense of gratitude. If not for Qiao Haoyu’s timely return, not only would she have struggled to escape that predicament, but she might not have had the chance to get to know him so soon. Who knew what twists and turns their engagement might have faced had he not come back unexpectedly?
She glanced at Qiao Haoyu and continued, “Please don’t blame him for looking so tense. He’s just worried about me. The moment he finished breakfast, he rushed over to ask about the case. With the mastermind still on the loose, he wouldn’t be able to focus on his studies if he left without knowing the outcome.”
Hearing Wei Jiajia refer to him as her fiancé in front of others, the tension that had been weighing on Qiao Haoyu seemed to ease. His face gradually returned to normal.
He turned to the police captain and apologized, “I’m sorry, I was just really concerned about my fiancée’s safety.”
The captain, realizing he had completely misunderstood the situation, felt a bit awkward. Hearing Qiao Haoyu’s explanation, he hurried to respond.
“It’s understandable,” the captain said. ““It’s natural for the family to be worried, especially since the true culprit hasn’t been caught. But with the investigation at a standstill, the best thing you can do is to stay vigilant. Be careful when going out, and don’t stay out late at night.”
“If you notice anything suspicious, come find me. Rest assured, I’ll continue following up on your case.”
Hearing this, Wei Jiajia expressed her gratitude.
Qiao Haoyu, however, had another question. “What about the men you arrested? How will they be dealt with?”
“They’ve confessed to their crimes without hesitation. They won’t be released for several years and will be sent to a labor reform farm in the meantime.”
Hearing that those lowlifes would face due punishment, the two of them finally smiled. Their trip had not been in vain—the criminals would face the consequences of their actions. Even if they were eventually released, it would take years before that happened. They had brought this upon themselves.
As they left the police station, Wei Jiajia noticed that Qiao Haoyu was still quiet, his expression serious and distant, as if lost in thought.
She found it amusing—after all, she had been the one in danger, yet she was handling it just fine, while he seemed more upset than she was. But knowing that his reaction came from genuine concern, a warmth spread through her heart.
“Alright, alright, stop sulking already.” She playfully shook his arm. “Frowning like that will just make you age faster. You’re already several years older than me—if you keep this up, how will you ever keep up with me?”
Qiao Haoyu looked at the soft, delicate girl in front of him, listening to her playful complaints. He found it both amusing and endearing.
She was probably still scared out of her wits, yet here she was, making up excuses just to comfort him. His heart softened completely. If he could, he would stay by her side every moment to protect her.
“I’m only five years older than you. Hardly as old as you make it sound.” He flicked Wei Jiajia’s forehead lightly before adding,
“I just can’t help but worry. We still don’t know who’s behind this. And once I’m gone, I won’t be around to watch over you. You must be extra cautious.”
“I know, I’ll be careful,” Wei Jiajia assured him. “But honestly, after such a failed first attempt, I wouldn’t be surprised if they just gave up.”
She could tell Qiao Haoyu wasn’t as tense as before, but he still looked like he was preparing for the worst. She tried to ease his worries.
And in truth, she believed what she said. She couldn’t think of anyone who would hold a grudge against her. And since the first attempt had ended with the culprits getting caught so quickly, it was unlikely they’d try again so soon.
“Alright then, where should we go now?”
After all, they couldn’t just stand in front of the police station staring at each other forever.
Qiao Haoyu thought to himself—this was his first official date with Wei Jiajia. He couldn’t just treat it casually. After thinking for a moment, he asked her,
“How about we go see a movie first? Then we can have lunch at De Da and try some Western food.”
Wei Jiajia nodded in agreement. The two headed to the nearest cinema and saw that Lover’s Tree was currently showing—a romance film featuring elements of traditional opera.
After securing a spot for his bicycle, Qiao Haoyu purchased their tickets along with two bottles of Beibingyang soda.
Glancing around, he then turned to Wei Jiajia and said, “Wait here for a moment—I’ll be right back.”
Before she could respond, he headed toward a small alley beside the cinema, where a vendor was selling roasted chestnuts.
At first, she didn’t quite understand what he was doing. But when she saw his actions, she realized he had gone to buy her a snack.
For someone who looks so serious, he’s surprisingly considerate. And he’s not stiff or awkward at all, she thought with a small smile.
Once Qiao Haoyu returned, they proceeded inside, presented their tickets, and entered the theater.
The movie had just started. Coming in from the brightness outside, Wei Jiajia found herself momentarily disoriented by the darkness and nearly stumbled as she made her way up the stairs.
Qiao Haoyu instinctively took her hand and guided her forward. Wei Jiajia obediently followed his lead, stepping carefully.
Finding the front rows fully occupied, they made their way to the very back and took their seats. Only then did Qiao Haoyu let go of her hand.
Qiao Haoyu handed the opened bottle of soda to Wei Jiajia, noting how completely absorbed she was in the film.
Without a word, he began peeling the roasted chestnuts, carefully removing the shells before offering them to her.
As the warm chestnut appeared before her lips, Wei Jiajia turned in surprise, her gaze landing on Qiao Haoyu.
“What are you looking at? Hurry up and eat! Chestnuts are best enjoyed while they’re hot.”
Flustered, Wei Jiajia quickly reached out and took the chestnut with her hand rather than eating it directly.
Qiao Haoyu didn’t seem to mind. He simply withdrew his hand and continued peeling more.
Wei Jiajia, watching his actions, tilted her head toward him slightly and whispered, “I can do it myself. You should focus on the movie.”
The warmth of her breath so close to his ear sent a tingling sensation through Qiao Haoyu, making him feel momentarily unsettled. Thankfully, the dim lighting concealed his reaction.
“Just focus on the movie. I’ll peel them for you,” he replied in a low voice. “They’re still too hot, and you might burn your fingers. My hands are tougher—it doesn’t bother me.”
Hearing his reasoning, Wei Jiajia figured she shouldn’t dampen his enthusiasm. Since he clearly wanted to take care of her, she decided to accept it without protest. Sitting up straight, she contentedly let him feed her.
The warm scent of roasted chestnuts lingered in the air, and only when it finally faded did Qiao Haoyu quietly exhale, relieved. He had been worried he might embarrass himself in front of her.
And just like that, one peeled while the other ate, finishing the entire movie together.
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