Chapter 66

After graduating from the military academy, Li Yujun underwent rigorous military training and was selected to join the special forces. Within the unit, he earned the nickname “Lone Wolf” for his formidable physique and extraordinary combat skills. He had maintained a perfect record in competitions and regular training, making him the target that many special forces soldiers aspired to defeat.

Looking at the delicate and fair-skinned girl in front of him, Li Yujun felt a bit helpless. Young people nowadays were obsessed with martial arts films, thinking that mimicking a few moves meant they had real skills. But in his eyes, that was all just showmanship—completely useless. In the special forces, every move they learned could be lethal. It was never meant for play.

Seeing Li Yujun standing motionless at the door, Qian Jianing reached out and pulled him inside, then casually closed the courtyard gate. Feeling the soft touch and warmth of her hand on his arm, Li Yujun’s ears turned slightly red, and his legs seemed to act on their own as he allowed Qian Jianing to drag him into the yard.

Though the backyard was spacious, Qian Jianing had planted many vegetables and flowers there, so she usually practiced martial arts in the front yard. Glancing around, she shook her head regretfully. “The space is too small. I might not be able to move freely. Let’s make do for today.”

Qian Jianing took up an offensive stance. Seeing the serious expression on her face, Li Yujun smiled slightly and assumed a defensive position. From his expression, Qian Jianing could tell he didn’t believe she knew real martial arts, but she didn’t bother explaining. Instead, she directly threw a punch at his face.

The fierce punch came with a gust of wind aimed at Li Yujun. His eyes narrowed as he instinctively raised his right arm to block. Their arms—one fair, one tanned—collided with a muffled thud.

The impact pushed Li Yujun back two steps before he could steady himself. His forearm throbbed faintly with pain, and he looked at Qian Jianing in surprise, seemingly unable to believe her arm was that strong. He remembered a mission where he blocked a metal rod with his arm and only felt numbness. His comrades had even joked he had iron bones. But now, he actually felt pain?

Li Yujun put away his playful attitude. He shifted his stance, steadied his base, clenched his jaw, and his eyes grew sharp. In an instant, he was like a wolf, brimming with fighting spirit.

Though Qian Jianing had never had real combat experience, she had been taught by four immortals in rotation and had enhanced her body with elixirs—practically a cheat code. She wasn’t sure how strong she really was and didn’t want to knock Li Yujun out and lose her sparring partner, so she used about seventy percent of her strength and fought him with a basic set of boxing techniques.

Though Qian Jianing had learned many styles, she rarely fought for real. In their sparring match, Li Yujun appeared to have the upper hand. Even so, he could feel the pressure from her and couldn’t understand how such a delicate girl could possess such explosive power.

Soon, Qian Jianing adapted to the sparring speed. Once she became proficient in her routine, her punches grew fiercer. Unknowingly, Li Yujun brought out his top-tier techniques, and Qian Jianing employed a light-footed movement skill. The more they fought, the more excited they became—until Qian Jianing forgot to restrain her strength during a kick, sending Li Yujun flying under a tree.

The thick old tree shook from the impact, shedding a few leaves that drifted down onto Li Yujun’s face in protest. He lay there in a daze, mind blank, taking a long time to recover. When he came to, he was dismayed: Did I just lose to a young girl? And got kicked into the air?

Qian Jianing withdrew her long leg in frustration and ran over to help him up, full of apology. “Sorry! I forgot to hold back just now. Are you okay?”

Li Yujun had just gotten to his feet when he heard her explanation and nearly collapsed again. So she had been holding back the entire time?

Knowing her kick had been quite forceful, Qian Jianing reached out and pressed his abs. “Does it hurt here?”

During their sparring, Li Yujun had sweated a lot, and his soaked T-shirt clung to his body, faintly revealing his well-defined eight-pack. As Qian Jianing’s hand rested on one of the muscles, the warmth of her palm made his entire body heat up.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt!” Li Yujun stared at her soft, fair hand, feeling all his muscles tense.

Qian Jianing gently pressed again, then withdrew her hand. “There might be some bruising. I’ll use golden needles to help the circulation.”

At her words, Li Yujun started sweating more. He feared neither guns nor knives, but he couldn’t stand those thin, long needles. The prickly, tingling sensation under the skin drove him crazy. He swallowed and awkwardly shook his head. “No need. It’s just a minor injury. I’ve had worse during training.”

“That may be fine in the military, but I can’t let you get hurt under my roof.” Qian Jianing gave him a glance, then suddenly grinned playfully. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of needles?”

This was a matter of pride—Li Yujun couldn’t admit it no matter what. He snorted disdainfully. “Who says I’m afraid? Go ahead.”

“Alright then!” Qian Jianing smiled. “We’ll do it quickly and then have breakfast.”

Li Yujun wiped the sweat off his forehead and saw Qian Jianing heading toward the backyard. He had no choice but to follow, sighing internally: What kind of situation is this? I actually lost to a big girl!

At that moment, the backyard was full of lush vegetables and vibrant flowers—a scene bursting with life. Watching Qian Jianing walking ahead of him, Li Yujun couldn’t help but smile. This courtyard was just like her—full of vitality and so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

Following Qian Jianing inside, Li Yujun was surprised by how cool it felt indoors. Looking around, he asked, “Why is your place so cool?”

“I hate the heat, so I turned on the air conditioner,” Qian Jianing answered immediately.

Treasure Bowl bounced up nimbly, glanced around for a spot out of Li Yujun’s sight, and used an illusion technique to conjure an air conditioner.

After taking off their shoes, Qian Jianing noticed Li Yujun’s clothes were soaked with sweat and dirty from being knocked under the tree. Li Yujun followed her gaze and saw his disheveled state. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said, “Maybe we can skip the acupuncture. I’ll just go home and apply some ointment.”

Qian Jianing hesitated, then shook her head. “If you do that, you’ll end up with a big bruise that’ll take ten days or two weeks to heal. I have some new vests and shorts I bought for my dad that he hasn’t worn yet. If you don’t mind, you can shower in the guest bathroom and change into those. I’ll wash your clothes—they’ll be dry in an hour. Better than going back looking like this.”

Li Yujun felt awkward about showering and changing at a girl’s house, but seeing the clear look in Qian Jianing’s eyes, he realized he might be overthinking it. And most importantly, he realized… he didn’t really want to leave.

Li Yujun had always seen himself as a rational person, never one to act on emotion. But today, for some reason, everything he did seemed to go against his usual logic. Maybe sometimes, it was better to follow your heart than your head.

“Alright then. Thank you,” he heard himself say.

Hearing his response, Qian Jianing couldn’t help but smile, her eyes crinkling. Sweat-dampened strands of hair clung to her cheek, making her look even more charming. She turned to the side room and came back with a neatly folded set of vest and shorts. “They’re clean and aired out. I don’t know if they’ll fit.”

Li Yujun thanked her and headed to the bathroom as directed. Qian Jianing returned to her room, stripped off her clothes, and lay in the bathtub. Treasure Bowl, eyes tightly shut in her consciousness, suddenly chuckled. “Qian Xiaomi, are you falling for that man?”

Qian Jianing paused as she was shampooing her hair, then continued rinsing the foam off as if nothing had happened. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s my friend’s older brother.”

“What does a friend’s older brother have to do with anything? He’s not your boyfriend—what a lame excuse.” Treasure Bowl pulled a fruit from its pocket and took a bite. “I saw everything. When you touched his abs, you couldn’t help but swallow. You’re clearly into that guy’s face and body.”

Qian Jianing nervously grabbed the body wash and worked up a lather. “Looks aren’t the priority when I’m looking for someone. I care about character. Didn’t I suffer enough in my last life because I couldn’t see a person’s true nature?”

Treasure Bowl chuckled slyly. “But I saw you secretly use your Heavenly Eye to look at Li Yujun’s fortune. A white aura with hints of purple, right? That means good character and the destiny of a general or prime minister—not bad at all!”

After rinsing herself clean in the shower, Qian Jianing wrapped herself in a bathrobe and came out. She started blow-drying her long hair while Treasure Bowl kept chattering in her ear. “So, what do you really think? Do you like him?”

Qian Jianing put down the blow dryer with a hint of resignation. “Fine, I admit I’ve got a bit of a crush. But that’s not enough to start a relationship. I don’t even know how he feels. I’m just going to go with the flow. I’m not desperate when it comes to love—if fate brings the right person, great, I’ll marry. If not, I’ll live just as freely on my own.”

Treasure Bowl sighed regretfully. “Boring. I was going to ask the Matchmaker God for a red thread for you! Why overthink it? If you like him, go for it! Guys like him are rare—miss one and you won’t find another.”

Qian Jianing turned the blow dryer back on. “Tying the thread yourself ruins the fun. If it’s meant to be, the Matchmaker God will tie it for me. You’re just a kid, Baopen—don’t worry about adult relationships. I’ll make you fairy cakes tonight.”

After drying her hair, Qian Jianing changed into a dress and walked out of her room. Through the window, she happened to catch a glimpse of Li Yujun hanging freshly washed clothes in the courtyard. He was over ten centimeters taller than Qian Guosheng and much more built. Clothes bought for Qian Guosheng looked tight and small on Li Yujun, especially the shorts, which barely covered his upper thighs and exposed a pair of long, muscular legs.

Li Yujun turned and started walking toward the door. Qian Jianing quickly averted her gaze and wiped the corner of her mouth in a panic. Treasure Bowl, who somehow had found a wooden fish, began tapping it rhythmically: “Lust is emptiness… emptiness is lust…”

Li Yujun changed from shoes to slippers. When he looked up, he locked eyes with Qian Jianing. Both had just showered, and the matching scent of their body wash lingered in the air, subtly intimate.

Qian Jianing’s face turned a little red. Li Yujun looked a bit awkward too. He cleared his throat, remembering why he had showered in the first place, and asked a bit flustered, “Are we doing the acupuncture now?”

“Ah, yes!” Qian Jianing retrieved a sterilized pack of gold needles and a jar of ointment. “Lie on the guest bed and take off your tank top. I’ll do the needling.”

Li Yujun nodded and walked to the guest room. Qian Jianing followed a few steps behind. When she entered, she happened to see him from behind, just as he took off his top. His strong back muscles gave her a visual jolt.

Qian Jianing backed out into the hallway, pressing her back against the wall, eyes shut, silently chanting to herself, “Just treat him like a patient. No inappropriate thoughts. Absolutely no taking advantage! Lust is emptiness… emptiness is lust…”

Hearing her mumbling, Treasure Bowl burst into laughter in her mind, kicking its short chubby legs like a little frog.

After repeating her mantra several times, Qian Jianing felt her heartbeat steady. She rubbed her face with both hands and forced a natural smile.

Li Yujun was already lying on the bed with his hands placed neatly at his sides, staring at the ceiling, looking a little tense.

Qian Jianing stepped in and glanced at his chest. Though it had only been half an hour since she kicked him, there were already visible bruises. She quickly shook off any stray thoughts, pressed the injured area gently, and looked at him. “Relax a bit. Don’t tense your muscles.”

Li Yujun took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to relax his muscles while suppressing his instinctive reactions—way harder than military training, he thought.

Qian Jianing inserted the needles one by one at different acupuncture points, using various techniques to gradually disperse the pooled blood. Once she finished, she carefully removed the last needle.

Li Yujun exhaled in relief and started to sit up. “Is it done?”

“Wait, I haven’t applied the ointment yet!” Qian Jianing opened the jar, scooped out some salve, and gently rubbed it over the bruised area.

The cool ointment eased some of the pain. Li Yujun opened his eyes without realizing it and watched her apply the medicine. At just over twenty, she was at her most beautiful—fair skin, soft brows, rosy lips, and a serious expression that made his heart race.

As she finished, her gaze landed on the long scar across his chest. Thanks to the hemostatic powder, it didn’t look particularly gruesome.

“I have some scar removal cream. Want me to put some on for you?” she offered.

Li Yujun looked down at the scar and chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m a guy. I don’t care about that. Don’t waste it.”

Seeing that, Qian Jianing didn’t insist. She stood up and glanced at her watch. “This salve takes 8 to 10 minutes to fully absorb. Once it does, put your shirt on and come out for dinner.”

The soup dumplings were already prepped—just needed 8 minutes of steaming. Considering Li Yujun’s appetite, she steamed extra trays and cooked two bowls of wontons.

Li Yujun rested with his eyes closed for ten minutes. When he opened them, he looked at his chest— the large bruise was gone. He pressed around the area—no pain.

“This medicine really works!” He put on his tank top and walked to the living room, just in time to see Qian Jianing setting the table. Hearing his footsteps, she looked up and smiled. “Come eat!”

Li Yujun felt his heart skip a beat again.

“Let me take you out for breakfast tomorrow?” he suddenly asked. “There’s a place that serves really good Cantonese-style dim sum. I want to take you.”

Qian Jianing set down her chopsticks and looked at him, seemingly deep in thought.

Li Yujun’s heart beat faster, palms sweaty. Just as he considered saying more to explain, Qian Jianing smiled sweetly. “Sure, if you’re free tomorrow morning, come early. I want a rematch.”

Li Yujun let out a breath of relief. He couldn’t hide the grin on his face—it was so obvious, it was almost embarrassing.
—

Chang Xiaoyuan took a sip of porridge and nudged Li Jianguo with her elbow. “Have you noticed Yujun’s been acting weird lately?”

“What’s weird? He’s always like that.” Li Jianguo bit into half a boiled egg, then grabbed a pickled cucumber and took a bite.

Chang Xiaoyuan was annoyed by his indifference and gave him a slap. “Your son’s been leaving the house at 5 a.m. every day and not getting back until 10:30 at night for over ten days. Isn’t that strange? Hey, Old Li—do you think Yujun’s dating someone?”

“Oh, please. Who goes on dates at 5 in the morning?” Li Jianguo snorted. “Young folks these days date by going to movies, shopping, eating out. Where are they gonna go at dawn? Sparring in the park?”

“Well, that’s true,” Chang Xiaoyuan muttered, frustrated. “Yujun’s already twenty-six and still single. It’s driving me crazy. Maybe I should set him up again?”

Li Jianguo popped the other half of the egg into his mouth and took a big gulp of porridge. “Didn’t you try before? He scared the girl to tears with his poker face. Just let him handle it himself.”

“How can I not worry? I listened to you and stayed out of it, and now we haven’t even seen the shadow of a daughter-in-law. Kids his age are already raising their own!” The more Chang Xiaoyuan thought about it, the more upset she got. She put down her chopsticks, her temper flaring. “He’s got a whole month off this time—I will find him someone.”

Li Yufeng, who had been quietly eating, wished he could bury his head in his bowl, afraid his mom would scold him after finishing with his older brother.

Chang Xiaoyuan slammed the table, visibly upset. “Other people’s sons bring home daughters-in-law when the time comes, but the three I gave birth to are all nothing but trouble.”

Li Yufeng figured he might as well stop eating and grab something on his way to work. He put down his bowl and turned to leave, but after just two or three steps, Chang Xiaoyuan’s cold voice rang out behind him: “What are you running for?”

Li Yufeng turned around with an awkward smile. “Mom, I’m rushing to the office. I have a business meeting with Mingzhen Group this morning. I need to check the prep materials early.”

Hearing it was a business deal with Mingzhen Group, Chang Xiaoyuan finally let her youngest off the hook. “Then go on and get busy. Once things are settled for your brother, it’ll be your turn.”

Li Yufeng quickly added, “Let’s take it in order, okay? There’s still Second Brother—wouldn’t it hurt his feelings if you skipped him and came straight to me?”

Chang Xiaoyuan frowned slightly. “Your second brother is in the military—I don’t even know when he’ll get leave. Anyway, you two are twins, doesn’t matter who’s first. Neither of you is getting away.”

Li Yufeng forced a laugh and bolted out the door. Chang Xiaoyuan lost her appetite completely. She sat in her chair, thinking hard for a long while, then suddenly remembered someone. “I recall Chief of Staff Wang’s daughter used to have quite the crush on our son. Hey, Old Li, didn’t you say the chief got transferred back recently? Maybe I should find a chance to have Mrs. Wang bring her daughter over for a visit?”

Li Jianguo couldn’t care less about this sort of thing. He finished his porridge, wiped his mouth, and stood up. “You go ahead and arrange it. Just make sure to give Yujun a heads-up first—don’t waste the girl’s time.”

After leaving the house, Li Yufeng drove out of the compound, humming a tune and enjoying the breeze with an easy swagger. He might be young, but when it came to business, he had a knack for it. Among the four men in the Li family, Li Yufeng was now the wealthiest.

Having barely eaten half a meal before escaping, Li Yufeng was wondering where to grab some proper breakfast when a familiar figure appeared up ahead. He quickly pulled over to the side of the road, slid down in his seat, and peeked out with just his eyes showing.

He saw Li Yujun riding a bicycle with a girl on the back, weaving through the crowd. Whether on purpose or not, Li Yujun hit a brick in the road, causing the girl to quickly grab onto his waist for balance. A satisfied grin spread across Li Yujun’s face, and he turned to say something to the girl that made her giggle non-stop.

When Li Yufeng got a clear look at the girl clinging to his brother’s shirt, his eyes widened in disbelief. “No way! My brother really is dating! And it’s with Little Boss Qian!” At that point, he didn’t care about being seen. He grabbed the camera from the passenger seat, sat up, and snapped a few quick photos. Once the two disappeared from view, he came back to his senses. “Looks like that girl didn’t hug him in vain back then. My brother’s gone all in—this rescue was definitely worth it!”