Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Let’s Fall in Love

If it weren’t for his years in the military and his exceptionally strong self-control, he would have already tumbled into the ditch with his wife!

"Don’t mess around!" he said, trying to make his voice sound stern.

’What if she gets hurt!?’

This was the first time Yue Yihan had spoken to Xie Changning in such a deep, stern voice. The moment the words were out, he instinctively turned his head, wanting to see her expression.

’Was I too harsh just now?’

’Should I apologize?’

’Will my wife stop liking me because of what I said?’

The moment the words left his mouth, a thousand thoughts flooded Yue Yihan’s mind. But for all his worrying, he never would have guessed that Xie Changning wasn’t angry at all. In fact, she found it novel.

’So Yue Yihan has a temper after all!’

Xie Changning tilted her head, studying Yue Yihan’s profile. His face still radiated a "will of steel"—in other words, his expression was no different from when he was at his military post.

Aside from their very first meeting when she joined him at the army base, Xie Changning had rarely seen any other expression on his face.

Even when she did, they were faint.

This was the first time she’d ever seen him look like he had a temper.

"I thought you never got angry." ’At least, not with me,’ she added silently.

At that moment, a single thought floated through Xie Changning’s mind—

Yue Yihan does not like being tickled.

"I’m not angry. It’s just... that was too dangerous. What if you had fallen?" He couldn’t even bear to see her frown, so how could he possibly stand the thought of her taking a tumble?

It would be like tearing his heart out!

Xie Changning: "...Oh." ’So that’s what this is about!’

After that, Xie Changning behaved herself, but she also fell silent.

This, in turn, made Yue Yihan even more nervous.

"You... you don’t have to be upset. I wasn’t scolding you, I was just afraid you’d fall... I’m tough and thick-skinned. I’m always taking falls in the army, so I’m used to it. But you... if you got hurt, my heart would ache."

Seeing Xie Changning’s continued silence, Yue Yihan started to worry and couldn’t help but explain himself.

But the more he spoke, the less confident he sounded, and his voice grew quieter and quieter as guilt set in.

"Oh~ So your heart was aching for me?"

Compared to Yue Yihan’s bashfulness, Xie Changning was much calmer.

Especially after they got home. As he was leaning the bicycle against the wall, she moved in close. "Yue Yihan, why do you get embarrassed so easily?"

’If the courtyard wall were high enough,’ she thought, ’I’d be pinning him against it right now.’

Yue Yihan’s eyes snapped to Xie Changning. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when he saw her eyes shining like brilliant stars, all the words caught in his throat. He gave a firm nod.

"Yes. Around you, I get embarrassed easily."

"I don’t dislike you. Let’s start dating."

Yue Yihan’s honesty was met with Xie Changning’s invitation to date.

Yue Yihan, whose mind had been at war with itself trying to come up with a way to convince Xie Changning not to feel any emotional pressure, was stunned to hear her words. An expression of immense joy washed over his face, and he couldn’t help but ask.

"Wh-what did you say?"

"I said, let’s start dating."

She said it as a statement, not a question. She was confident in her actions.

Yue Yihan would agree.

Or rather, he had probably been waiting for this day for quite some time.

Actually, during their silent ride, Xie Changning had sensed Yue Yihan’s mood. She had also been contemplating whether she was satisfied with her current situation.

She wasn’t very satisfied with the state of her career, but that didn’t mean she was dissatisfied with her spouse.

Yue Yihan was the type who was rarely home, but when he was, he was a "River Snail Maiden"—doing all the chores—a model husband in every way.

Plus, he was good-looking, and Xie Changning didn’t find him disagreeable.

Now, she even found herself liking him a little. She figured their relationship was ready to move to the next level.

And so, Yue Yihan received her proposal.

Yue Yihan had been waiting for this day for a very, very long time. Hearing those words so suddenly, he felt like he must be dreaming. He gave his own thigh a hard pinch.

"Ow..." He hissed in pain, and then sheer ecstasy flooded his heart. He hugged Xie Changning tightly. "It’s not a dream. Wife, you’ve truly accepted me in your heart..."

’This is wonderful!’

’I’m a real husband now!’

Hearing a noise at the door, Han Mother knew that Xie Changning and Yue Yihan were back. She opened her door, intending to call them for dinner.

But the moment she opened it, she saw the two of them embracing. The words caught in her throat and she swallowed them back down.

She closed the door.

"Let’s eat first. Those two will probably be a little while." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

She had been through it all herself and could see that Yue Yihan was very much in love with Xie Changning.

It was just that his love had been one-sided.

Even though they had a child, their relationship hadn’t started with mutual consent, so their emotional connection was a bit delayed.

Now that things were finally looking up, Han Mother certainly wasn’t going to throw a wrench in the works for her son.

Seeing the two of them grow closer was what she hoped for most.

When Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao saw that Han Mother hadn’t called the couple in, they knew the two young people were outside, likely sharing a private conversation.

So, they both tacitly agreed not to ask.

Instead, they began setting out the bowls and chopsticks and started eating as normal.

By the time Xie Changning and Yue Yihan came in, the elders were already halfway through their meal.

They entered holding hands. The moment they stepped inside, Mr. Han noticed their intertwined fingers. He raised an eyebrow slightly, then lowered his gaze and went back to eating.

But the upturned corners of his lips told everyone that he was happy about this new development in his son’s love life.

Yue Yihan was much the same.

Except his lips weren’t just slightly upturned like Mr. Han’s; he was grinning from ear to ear, as if afraid people wouldn’t know that Xie Changning had accepted him.

"Wife, they’re almost done eating. The food’s gotten cold. I’ll go make you something fresh."

"I’m hungry now."

"Can you hold on a little longer?"

"..."

Defeated by Xie Changning’s silence, Yue Yihan had no choice but to move a few of the meat dishes in front of his wife for her to eat.

His doting-husband act left the elders speechless.

They’d seen men who were good to their wives, but never one *this* good.

Han Mother turned to Mr. Han, her eyes saying what her mouth didn’t: *Learn from him! Look at how your youngest son behaves!*

Mr. Han looked up at the ceiling, down at the floor—anywhere but at Han Mother.

’I have far more backbone than my youngest son!’

Hmph!

That night, the prideful Mr. Han was relegated by Han Mother to the cold end of the *kang* bed.

「The next day」

When Xie Changning woke up, Yue Yihan was already doing his morning exercises.

He wasn’t practicing Tai Chi with Mr. Han, but was instead going through military combat drills, with Mr. Han offering pointers from the side.

"Your form is perfect, but if you want to take down an enemy, you still don’t have enough power!"