When they arrived at the courtyard house and the celestial bridal chamber, they discovered it was a

This kiss wasn't gentle at all; it was even a bit forceful, almost domineering.

She gently bit his body with her teeth, her voice trembling with sobs, pouring out all the longing, grievances, and lingering fear that had accumulated over the past seven or eight months into that kiss.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the salty, bitter taste between their pressed lips, yet burning Zhou Zheng'an's heart.

His luggage slipped from his hands and fell to the ground. He reached out and hugged the person in his arms tightly, one hand around her waist and the other pressing on the back of her head, as he lowered his head to respond to her kiss.

After being separated for more than half a year, he thought of her smile and her warmth countless times amidst gunfire. Now that he was actually holding her in his arms, he finally felt a sense of security.

After the kiss, both of them were panting, their foreheads touching.

Liu Qianqian's tears were still falling. She raised her hand and lightly punched his chest, the force barely a tickle, her voice choked with sobs: "Zhou Zheng'an, you liar! You lied to me! You said you were going to the Volunteer Army Headquarters as an operations staff officer, that it would be safe in the rear, but what happened? You've been on the front lines the whole time!"

"Bombing artillery bases, rescuing prisoners of war—it's all over the newspapers and on the radio every day. I hear it every day, and I had no idea you were in it. You bastard, you're dead!"

The more she talked, the more aggrieved she became, and her tears fell even harder.

"I'm sorry, wife, it's my fault for making you worry." Zhou Zheng'an raised his hand and gently wiped away her tears with his fingertips, his voice full of guilt. He lowered his head and kissed her reddened eyes.

"I kept it from you because I was afraid you'd overthink things and worry. It was my fault for not considering things carefully. I promise I'll never do it again. I promise I'll never leave you again, okay?"

Liu Qianqian sniffed, buried her face in his chest, and listened to his steady and powerful heartbeat. This heart had dodged bullets and artillery fire on the front lines, and now it beat only for her. She hummed softly and hugged him tighter, as if trying to make up for the six months they had been apart.

After hugging him for a while, Liu Qianqian finally calmed down. She looked up and pushed him into the inner room, her face still streaked with tears, but she couldn't help but blush: "Go take a shower. You've been on the train for two days and two nights, you're covered in dust, and... and the smell of the front lines. I've prepared a bathtub for you, and soap and new towels are all ready."

Zhou Zheng'an smiled and nodded, following her lead into the inner room.

He then took off his military uniform and placed it on a stool.

Soon after, he stepped into the bathtub, the warm water washing over his chest, and his nerves, which had been tense for more than half a year, finally relaxed completely at this moment.

On the battlefield, day and night, he never dared to relax for a moment. Even when he slept, he would hold his gun and keep his ears open to the sounds around him, fearing that the next second would be filled with artillery fire.

But now, listening to the rustling sounds of Liu Qianqian quietly packing her luggage in the outer room, the chatter of an old woman and a deaf old lady in the courtyard, and the sound of bicycle bells coming from the alley in the distance, all of these are the peaceful sounds of everyday life, things that he and countless comrades risked their lives to protect.

He washed slowly, washing away the dust, smoke, and fatigue of the past six months.

After he dried himself off, changed into the new cotton shirt and trousers that Liu Qianqian had prepared for him, dried his hair, and walked out of the inner room, he saw Liu Qianqian sitting on the edge of the bed.

Hearing the noise, Liu Qianqian suddenly raised her head, her gaze falling on him, and she froze instantly.

Having washed away the smoke and dust of battle, Zhou Zheng'an's features became even sharper and more handsome. His black hair clung to his forehead, and he had lost the fierceness and ruthlessness he displayed on the battlefield, gaining a gentler demeanor. His posture was as upright as a pine tree.

Standing there, he was like a painting, so beautiful it made her eyes light up.

So handsome!

Liu Qianqian almost instinctively stood up, walked quickly to him, and once again threw herself into his arms, stood on tiptoe, hugged his neck, and gave him another kiss.

This time, the kiss lacked the previous grievances and lingering fears, and instead was filled with tender passion, as well as unconcealed joy and affection.

Her fingertips gently traced the stubble on his chin, then moved down his neck, touching the lingering scar on his shoulder. Her fingertips paused slightly, and tears almost welled up in her eyes again.

Zhou Zheng'an wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head to deepen the kiss. The person in his arms was warm, soft, and sweet; she was the thought that kept him going through countless life-or-death situations.

He bent down slightly, picked Liu Qianqian up horizontally, and walked steadily towards the bed in the bedroom.

Liu Qianqian gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheeks flushed like ripe apples, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she buried her face in the crook of his neck, listening to his steady heartbeat.

He gently placed her on the wooden bed covered with floral sheets, then leaned down and kissed her forehead, the corner of her eye, and the corner of her lips.

The curtains were drawn, and the room became dark. Only a few rays of sunlight from outside pierced through the windowpane, casting dappled golden light on the intertwined figures of the two.

The door was bolted tight, keeping out any possibility of anyone outside. In the small room, only the two of them could hear each other's breathing and their lingering intimacy.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder; the longing and yearning after seven or eight months of separation transformed into the tenderest embrace at this moment.

What followed was a massive frenzy.

Especially after this guy drank the Elixir of Life, his physical abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Therefore, this time the kissing and hugging lasted for an unusual amount of time.

By the time everything calmed down, the sun outside the window was already setting in the west.

Liu Qianqian leaned against Zhou Zheng'an's chest, her fingers gently tracing the scars on his body. Each time she touched one, she lowered her head and lightly kissed it, her voice soft and hoarse from crying: "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Zhou Zheng'an held her hand, kissed it, and gently ran his fingertips through her messy hair. His voice was so gentle it could melt your heart. "It's just some superficial wounds, nothing serious."

He didn't tell her about those life-or-death moments, how he almost got hit by a shell when bombing the artillery base, how he was surrounded by the enemy when rescuing prisoners of war, or how he almost got hit by a stray bullet during the Battle of Kumsong.

He swallowed all those dangerous and life-threatening things, not wanting to cause her any more fear.

Of course, it's not exactly extremely dangerous, since it has the Golden Armor protection skill.

But being hit by a shell from the US, or ultimately having your artillery base bombed, is actually very dangerous.

Liu Qianqian seemed to know what he was thinking. She looked up at him, gave a soft hum, but didn't ask any further questions. Instead, she snuggled closer to him and whispered, "Don't lie to me anymore. No matter where you go, you have to tell me. Don't leave me worrying all the time."

"Okay, whatever you say." Zhou Zheng'an agreed with a smile, and lowered his head to kiss the top of her head.

Liu Qianqian chatted with him about the past six months since they separated, and about the everyday life of the family in the courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai was still the oldest man in the compound, managing the affairs of the compound every day.

Liu Haizhong was obsessed with becoming an official, and he put on airs of authority whenever he met anyone.

Yan Bugui was still the same as always, meticulously calculating every penny.

The deaf old lady still loved her very much. Seeing that she was alone at home, she would call her over for meals every day.

In other words, the "grandpa system" previously promoted by Zhou Zheng'an has been officially implemented in this courtyard house.

Zhou Zheng'an listened quietly, occasionally responding with a sound, and gently patted her back with his fingers, like coaxing a child.