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

Ye Wenxi walked over to Ding Jiahe and patted her on the shoulder: "We're leaving. You two figure it out yourselves."

"Where are you going?" Ding Jiahe grabbed her.

"I'll give you my room, and Wang Hao can have yours. Isn't that perfect?" Ye Wenxi said with a grin.

"Huh? No way..." Ding Jiahe refused.

"I'm starving. See you tomorrow." Ye Wenxi broke free from her hand and turned to find Lu Weidong.

Ding Jiahe stood there, her face as red as a boiled shrimp. She was to stay in the same guesthouse as Wang Hao? Even though they weren't in the same room, just thinking about it made her incredibly nervous.

"Are you hungry? Let's go get something to eat," Wang Hao said softly as he walked over.

"Oh... okay. I know there's a food stall behind here, let's go eat there." Ding Jiahe pointed in the direction behind the department store, not daring to look at him.

"Okay. I'll eat whatever you want." Wang Hao grinned, revealing a small canine tooth.

On a weekend evening, the food stalls in that quiet alley were still crowded with people. In addition to jianbing guozi (Chinese crepes), wontons, there were also roasted corn and roasted sweet potatoes, with steam rising from the pans and shimmering white under the streetlights.

Wang Hao bought two bowls of wontons and placed them on the small table. The two of them held their bowls and slurped them down without saying a word, their faces steaming from the heat.

"Want some roasted sweet potatoes? I'll go buy some," Wang Hao asked.

"I want to eat roasted corn," Ding Jiahe said without even looking up.

"OK."

Wang Hao got up and left. When he returned, he had bought one of everything around him—roasted sweet potatoes, roasted corn, jianbing guozi (Chinese crepes), and tea eggs—piling the table full.

"Why did you buy so much? I can't eat it all." Ding Jiahe looked at the table full of food and was a little worried.

"It's okay, eat more. The restaurant is closed today, but I'll take you there for lunch tomorrow." Wang Hao pushed the grilled corn towards her.

"Tomorrow will definitely be busy. We can eat another day, there's still plenty of time later," Ding Jiahe said casually, taking a bite of corn. "You can come over any weekend."

She spoke naturally, her tone carrying a sense of certainty. It was as if there was still plenty of time ahead, many weekends and holidays to spend together. This was what Ding Jiahe thought; she felt that she and Wang Hao had a long future ahead of them.

Wang Hao listened, took a couple of sips of soup, but something was churning inside him. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, unsure how to ask.

Ding Jiahe didn't notice anything unusual about him.

After they finished eating, they didn't return to the guesthouse immediately. Once they went back, they would each have to go to their own rooms, and they were a little reluctant to part.

They walked along the main road and walked until they reached the Songhua River.

There weren't many people along the riverbank. The two casually found a stone platform to sit on. It was pitch black all around, with only a few lights in the distance, shining sporadically like stars fallen to the ground. A cool, damp spring breeze blew by.

Wang Hao wanted to take off his coat and give it to her, but Ding Jiahe stopped him.

"Come on, you're even weaker than me right now."

Wang Hao withdrew his hand, looking somewhat dejected. He sat there, staring at the dark river, his emotions a jumble.

"I have some good news to tell you," Ding Jiahe suddenly said.

"What good news?" Wang Hao turned his head.

"Just like you. I made a contribution on my trip to Yunnan this time. But..." Ding Jiahe paused, a smile playing on her lips, "I received a first-class merit."

When Wang Hao heard the first half of her sentence, he had already guessed that she was going to talk about meritorious service. But when the words "first-class merit" hit his ears, he turned his head sharply.

"First-class merit? Isn't it second-class merit?" His voice changed.

"Sister Yunxia told me herself. Commander Chen told her." Ding Jiahe's tone was filled with pride, but also a little embarrassed.

She recounted what had happened. Originally, she was awarded a second-class merit, but Chen Yuanchuan slammed his fist on the table, re-evaluated the case, and changed it to a first-class merit. She only found out last night when she received a call from Zhang Yunxia.

"I called you right after I got Yunxia's call last night. But why aren't you at the sanatorium?" Ding Jiahe tilted her head and looked at him.

Wang Hao was taken aback.

He wasn't at the sanatorium yesterday. He went to find Lu Weidong to complain, and Ding Jiahe actually called him right away.

It wasn't a "second-class merit" based on hearsay or hearsay; it was a "first-class merit" that Ding Jiahe wanted to tell him personally and share with him immediately.

Overwhelmed by the emotion and genuine happiness, Wang Hao felt a little dizzy, and a smile crept onto his face without him even realizing it.

He had previously wasted time wondering why Qin Tianyu knew she had a second-class merit award, while he himself did not.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, then thought of what Lu Weidong had just said.

Ding Jiahe looked at Wang Hao, his eyes filled with shock, confusion, and a hint of self-mockery. His facial expressions were incredibly varied, but he didn't respond to her.

"Slap—" She slapped Wang Hao's arm hard.

"Why aren't you answering my questions?" Ding Jiahe said, a little annoyed.

Wang Hao took a deep breath. He felt that everything was just beginning, and what he said now was the earliest and most appropriate. Therefore, he wanted to "untie" Xiao Ding.

"Xiao Ding," he called softly.

Ding Jiahe looked at him. His expression was somewhat strange, and his eyes held a complex look on his young and handsome face.

"Did you start dating me because I saved your life?"

Ding Jiahe frowned the moment she heard those words.

"Xiao Ding, I just want to tell you that, both now and in the future, I don't want my actions to put pressure on you or bind you. I hope you can be with me because you like me, not because you're grateful to me."

Wang Hao lowered his head and, with all his might, uttered these words from the bottom of his heart. He then raised his head and looked at Ding Jiahe.

Ding Jiahe's eyes were filled with shock and anger, and her face was slightly red.

Wang Hao's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"Wang Hao! Why would you ask such a question?" Ding Jiahe's voice rose. "Didn't I tell you before that I like you and that's why I want to date you?"

Her voice was filled with grievance and anger.

"Am I the kind of person who would sacrifice myself just to thank someone?"

Wang Hao was a little flustered by Ding Jiahe's reaction.

"Xiao Ding...it's because you're so outstanding. I just can't quite believe you'd fall for me." Wang Hao's voice lowered.

Ding Jiahe's lips trembled slightly, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Wang Hao... I like you, not after this. It started the day you told me, 'Your little tiger teeth are mine,' and that's when I started to like you."

"Do you know... that I got through so many tough days in Yunnan by looking at photos of us together?"

As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I didn't expect you to view my sincere confession this way."

"Wang Hao! Do you realize that you've underestimated yourself, and you've also underestimated me?"

After saying that, Ding Jiahe turned and left angrily.

Wang Hao's head buzzed.

Yes. That group photo. He found Ding Jiahe because of that group photo.

It turns out that the group photo wasn't lost by chance; it was something Ding Jiahe carried with her every day, something she considered her pillar of support.

This shocking fact enveloped Wang Hao from head to toe.

"Xiao Ding!" he called out.

Ding Jiahe walked faster and faster.

Wang Hao gritted his teeth, quickly caught up, and grabbed Ding Jiahe's hand. Ding Jiahe's eyes were slightly red, and her lips trembled slightly with anger.

"I'm sorry... Xiao Ding. I was too anxious and insecure."

Wang Hao pulled Ding Jiahe into his arms tightly. Ding Jiahe struggled desperately, but he wouldn't let go.

Ding Jiahe looked up at him, her voice slightly hoarse and trembling:

"I just like you. I just think you're more handsome than everyone else. I just think you're outstanding and wonderful..."

"I..." Ding Jiahe opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

He looked at Ding Jiahe's slightly red nose and trembling lips, and stopped thinking about anything.

Wang Hao cupped Ding Jiahe's head, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed her.

Ding Jiahe's eyes widened suddenly, and she froze.