A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

"Did you take promotional photos a couple of days ago?" Wang Hao asked casually after taking a couple of bites.

"Yeah, the spring new arrivals, the photos are all printed." Ding Jiahe picked up a piece of tofu and put it in her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, "I'm going to Harbin this afternoon, I probably won't be back for another two weeks. I'll be doing a sales event at the department store this time, I'll have to go with them the whole time."

Ding Jiahe enthusiastically told him about the arrangements for the exhibition, how many posters had been made, how the booth would be set up, and how Ye Wenxi had even specially made stands to hold the posters around the booth. She spoke with great enthusiasm, while Wang Hao listened, his chopsticks poking at the rice in his bowl, barely touching it.

He had only one thing on his mind, and only spoke slowly after she had finished speaking.

"Who's the new male model?" Wang Hao asked casually.

"He's from the performing arts troupe, his name is Qin Tianyu." Ding Jiahe didn't even look up.

Qin Tianyu.

Wang Hao's head buzzed for a moment. The pillar of the cultural troupe, the headliner of the military region's performances every year, was very famous. Suddenly, the boxed lunch in front of him didn't taste so good anymore.

"By the time I get back, you should be able to leave the sanatorium." Ding Jiahe put some meat into his bowl. "Take good care of yourself during this time. Don't overexert yourself. You must recover fully, okay?"

"Okay, I got it. I promise I'll be good," Wang Hao replied, his gaze fixed on her face.

Ding Jiahe lowered her head to pick up some food, her eyelashes drooping. He looked at her, his heart softened, and he subconsciously raised his hand, wanting to touch her cheek.

Ding Jiahe tilted her head slightly to avoid it.

Her face flushed slightly, and she turned her head away, saying, "I'm eating, eat properly."

She was genuinely embarrassed. Unlike Ye Wenxi, that big, chubby girl, Ding Jiahe was a typical fair-skinned woman, pure and simple, a conservative young woman who would blush for ages even if she just held hands. That last touch was purely subconscious; her hand came over, and she pulled away.

But this dodging action made Wang Hao's heart skip a beat. He withdrew his hand and did not make any further intimate moves.

"Oh, right, there's something I haven't told you yet." Wang Hao picked up a piece of braised pork and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it a couple of times, his tone as casual as possible, "You got promoted to deputy battalion commander. You also received a second-class merit."

Ding Jiahe's chopsticks froze in mid-air, her eyes wide with surprise: "Really?!"

"Yes, Chief of Staff Lu told me that I can take up my post once I recover." Wang Hao couldn't suppress the urge to smile.

"Why didn't you say so sooner!" Ding Jiahe slapped his arm, her eyes crinkling into crescents with laughter. "Such a great thing, and you kept it a secret."

"You haven't come these past few days, have you?" Wang Hao winced as she slapped him, but his smile widened even more.

The atmosphere warmed up again, and the two chatted about it for a long time. Ding Jiahe asked all sorts of questions, and Wang Hao answered them one by one.

After dinner, Ding Jiahe went to the washroom to wash two apples and placed them on the bedside table, using a towel as a cushion. Just as she sat down, Ye Wenxi called, saying the car was leaving and she needed to meet at the military district gate.

Ding Jiahe stood up, packed her things, and picked up her coat: "I'm leaving now. Don't forget what I said!"

"Let's go, I'll take you there." Wang Hao put on his shoes.

"No need, you lie down." Ding Jiahe tried to press him down.

"It's nothing, just a walk. You need to get some exercise every now and then."

Ding Jiahe didn't refuse again. Wang Hao put on his coat, and the two of them left the sanatorium one after the other, slowly walking towards the clothing store. His steps were still slow, but much more steady than a few days ago.

Ding Jiahe slowed her pace and walked beside him, glancing at him every now and then.

"What are you looking at?" Wang Hao tilted his head.

"Judging from your walking posture, it's alright, just a bit slow, but much better than last time." Ding Jiahe withdrew her gaze and stared at the road ahead.

Wang Hao subconsciously quickened his pace.

"No rush, we'll make it on the bus." Ding Jiahe slowed her pace and walked beside him.

"Where are you staying when you arrive in Harbin?" Wang Hao asked casually, without slowing down.

"Wenxi has arranged everything at the guesthouse next to the department store," Ding Jiahe said cheerfully.

"What about food?"

"Buy some food, how can we go hungry?"

Wang Hao nodded, took a few steps, and then asked, "Those posters...are they all put up inside the department store?"

"Yes, it's on the first floor, you can see it as soon as you enter the main gate."

"oh."

Ding Jiahe turned to look at Wang Hao: "Why do I feel like you're acting a little awkward today?"

Wang Hao rubbed his nose, smiled, and revealed his little tiger teeth: "I just miss you so much because I haven't seen you for so many days."

Ding Jiahe was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head, her ears turning red.

"I'll call you when I have some free time." Her voice was barely audible.

As they approached the entrance to the military region, Ding Jiahe stopped and said, "Don't go any further, let's go back. It's too far."

Wang Hao didn't move, just stood there watching her. Ding Jiahe felt uncomfortable under his gaze and nudged him, saying, "Go back quickly, it's windy."

"You go first," Wang Hao said.

Ding Jiahe glared at him, then turned and walked forward.

I took a few steps, looked back at him, and he was still standing there. I took a few more steps, looked back again, and he was still standing there.

She simply stopped looking back and quickened her pace toward the door.

Wang Hao slowly walked back, and as he passed the rehearsal building of the cultural troupe, a group of people came out of it.

They were all dressed in green military trousers and white shirts, their backs ramrod straight, chatting and laughing in loud voices.

Qin Tianyu walked at the very front, full of vigor and exuding an imposing aura.

"Tianyu, I heard you went to take photos for a clothing company the other day?"

"They say it's the GG that's posted in department stores, so won't you become a GG actor from now on?" someone joked.

Qin Tianyu smiled and waved his hand, "I'm just helping out, don't talk nonsense."

"I heard there was a female 'actress' filming with you?" someone asked, leaning closer.

"Yes, yes, I saw it, it was so beautiful! That aura, where did they find such professional actors?" A male soldier in the cultural troupe exclaimed excitedly.

"She's not a professional actress, she's from our military region." Qin Tianyu slowed his pace.

"Our military region? Who is it?" Several people gathered around.

"Ding Jiahe. Military doctor of the military region, a frontline combat hero in the Vietnam War, returned wounded and was awarded a second-class merit." Qin Tianyu spoke these words with respect and seriousness, but the tips of his ears turned slightly red.

"He earned a second-class merit?" Someone gasped.

"So beautiful, and so amazing?" Several people started discussing excitedly.

Wang Hao stood under the shade of a tree by the roadside, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground.

How come he didn't know that Ding Jiahe had been awarded a second-class merit? Why did Qin Tianyu know?

"Yes, she is very outstanding and a very good person..." Qin Tianyu continued to describe Ding Jiahe in detail, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The people around him were still making a fuss, but he waved his hand and didn't say anything more.

A group of people walked casually across the road toward their dormitory without stopping.

Wang Hao wanted to quicken his pace and get closer to hear what these people were still saying. But his body wouldn't cooperate, and he could only shuffle along slowly until Qin Tianyu and his group disappeared around the corner.

Frustrated, I sighed and turned to look at my reflection in the building's window: my messy hair, which I hadn't tidied in a long time, and my stubble that I hadn't shaved for several days.

Compared to the spirited Qin Tianyu, he was like someone who had been spared from death on the battlefield, still recovering from his injuries.

Something stirred within Wang Hao's heart.

He was unsure whether Xiao Ding's kindness towards him stemmed from gratitude or affection.

When she confessed her feelings to him, did she like "Wang Hao" or "the person who saved her"?