Chapter Nineteen: Liu Pengcheng Arrives

After the kiss, both of them were momentarily stunned.

Qiao Luo’s face flushed, but she quickly composed herself and pretended to be calm. “Ahem, since you’re so good to me, this is your reward.”

Qin Yanzhou’s voice grew huskier. “This reward alone is not enough.”

Qiao Luo blinked in surprise. Before she could react, Qin Yanzhou’s hand moved to the back of her head, gently pressing down, and her lips met his again.

Unlike the brief touch-and-go kiss earlier, their lips now lingered and intertwined. Qin Yanzhou, still wanting more, parted her lips with his and tentatively pried open her mouth.

As Qiao Luo closed her eyes, she thought to herself how naturally adept men seemed to be at such things, mastering the technique so quickly.

Sensing her distraction, Qin Yanzhou playfully bit her lip, then entwined their tongues in an intimate dance.

After a long while, Qiao Luo was nearly out of breath before Qin Yanzhou finally released her.

Their lips parted, a shimmering thread seemed to linger between them, charged with undeniable intimacy.

Qin Yanzhou looked at her flushed face, raised his hand to gently stroke her lips, his eyes full of amusement. “Next time you want to reward me, use this as the standard.”

Qiao Luo couldn’t help but pinch his arm. “Wouldn’t that be too unfair to me?”

Qin Yanzhou tilted his head. “But somehow, I feel like you enjoyed it too, Luo Luo.”

Annoyed, Qiao Luo punched him again. “Qin Yanzhou, you’re learning bad habits!”

At that moment, a guard’s voice came from outside. “Commander, I’ve brought your meal.”

Qiao Luo immediately sprang off Qin Yanzhou, quickly moving aside and patting her flushed face, trying to calm herself down.

Qin Yanzhou shook his head with a smile. “Let him come in.”

The guard entered without looking around, placing several lunch boxes on the table. “Commander, there are two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and two boxes of rice.”

Qin Yanzhou nodded slightly. “Thank you for your hard work. Have you eaten yet? If not, go quickly.”

The guard saluted crisply. “Yes, sir!”

After the guard left, Qiao Luo sat down with curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “Is that your guard? He’s quite handsome.”

“Hm?” Qin Yanzhou’s eyes narrowed. “Handsome?”

Remembering how possessive he was even when she spoke to the two other guards, Qiao Luo quickly clarified, “Of course, he’s no match for you! He’s just a little bit handsome, that’s all!”

Qin Yanzhou chuckled softly. “So he’s just a little handsome?”

Qiao Luo was completely speechless. “Not handsome at all, he’s hideous! Happy now? Let’s eat!”

Qin Yanzhou couldn’t help but laugh at her pouty expression.

Teasing a little kitten was quite fun.

Just as they finished eating and Qiao Luo was about to clean up, a loud voice came from outside.

“Old Qin! Are you there? Is your wife around too?”

Qin Yanzhou wheeled himself outside. “You can tell it’s you by that loud voice…”

Qiao Luo peeked from the kitchen and saw a man in his fifties standing at the door, dressed in military uniform, carrying several bags.

He smiled upon seeing her. “Hello, you must be Old Qin’s wife! I’m the regiment commander, Liu Chengpeng. The old man you saved a few days ago is my father!”

Liu Chengpeng lifted the bags. “Sister-in-law, you’re truly a great benefactor to our family!”

Qiao Luo felt a bit embarrassed. “It was nothing really, just a small favor.”

“No way!” Liu Chengpeng exclaimed. “My father told me all about it. You were exhausted and almost at your limit, and no one else dared to help him except you. That kind of courage isn’t something just anyone has.”

He shot a glance at Qin Yanzhou. “Old Qin, why aren’t you coming to open the door for me?”

Qin Yanzhou looked at him with a mix of exasperation and amusement. “How many times have you been to my place? Just come in by yourself.”

Liu Chengpeng wrinkled his nose. “Now that there’s a lady of the house, I have to be more formal, right?”

Qin Yanzhou sighed and opened the door. Liu Chengpeng cheerfully stepped inside. “Sister-in-law! These are all to thank you, don’t be reluctant!”

Qiao Luo glanced at Qin Yanzhou, feeling a little awkward. “It really was just a small favor, Commander Liu. You don’t have to be so polite. You don’t need to bring gifts.”

“Commander Liu?” Liu Chengpeng feigned anger. “Old Qin and I are old friends, you can just call me brother.”

Qiao Luo thought to herself that Liu Chengpeng looked older than her father, so calling him “brother” was a bit hard.

Qin Yanzhou’s voice softened. “Since Old Liu brought it up, he surely won’t take it back. You should accept it.”

Liu Chengpeng looked at Qin Yanzhou as if seeing a ghost. “Old Qin, your tone just now was so disgusting!”

Qin Yanzhou’s face darkened. “Get lost!”

Liu Chengpeng immediately relaxed. “That’s more like you!”

Qiao Luo realized their friendship was genuinely close.

“Well, Brother Liu, please have a seat first. I’ll go make some tea for you!” Qiao Luo smiled awkwardly and hurried into the kitchen.

Liu Chengpeng teased Qin Yanzhou, “Old Qin, your young wife is still too sensitive.”

Qin Yanzhou looked at him with feigned solemnity. “Do you mean to say I’m not a good match for my wife?”

Liu Chengpeng quickly backpedaled. “Of course not! You and sister-in-law are a perfect match, a match made in heaven!”

Qiao Luo brought out the tea, and Liu Chengpeng stood up eagerly to take it.

“You know, I really thought Old Qin would never get married in his life!” Liu Chengpeng sighed. “My family and I were worried, but he didn’t seem to care. My father even suspected he was clueless. Then, I just went on a business trip, and suddenly he has a wife!”

He looked at Qin Yanzhou. “Old Qin, you’re lucky to have found such a good wife. You have to cherish her!”

Before Qin Yanzhou’s injury, Liu Chengpeng understood why he was picky—his conditions were excellent, so being selective was normal. But he realized later that Qin Yanzhou wasn’t picky at all; he simply had no intention of dating anyone.

After the injury, Liu Chengpeng worried even more that Qin Yanzhou wouldn’t marry, but this guy was incredibly lucky — suddenly he found someone.

Qin Yanzhou raised an eyebrow. “Do I need you to tell me that? How could I not treat my wife well?”

Liu Chengpeng teased, “You, who have never dated before, sure talk a lot!”

The room filled with laughter.