First Night with the Army: The Stoic Big Shot Is Done Pretending

She couldn’t help but blink.

In the 1980s, bicycles were incredibly rare. You couldn’t buy one even with industrial coupons; you needed a special bicycle ticket just for the privilege of purchasing one. They weren’t cheap, either—not something an ordinary family could afford.

Even families of officials weren’t guaranteed to get one. Typically, the only ones who could afford bicycles were various work units, which would purchase them in bulk as essential vehicles.

"Whose bike is this?" Wen Ci asked curiously.

It was her first time seeing a classic roadster like this. It was much taller than the ordinary bicycles of her own era, its gleaming black paint looking as if it were plated with gold under the sun.

The guard at the sentry post was a young soldier she hadn’t seen before.

He glanced at Wen Ci, his young face surprisingly solemn. He stood ramrod straight, rifle in hand, and spoke. "It’s Mr. Huo’s bicycle."

"Huh?"

Wen Ci suddenly recalled what Huo Jingyuan had said on the old-fashioned green train. He promised he would get her the customary betrothal gifts: the ’Three Rounds and a Sound.’

Wen Ci hadn’t thought much of it at the time. The ’Three Rounds and a Sound’ wouldn’t be very useful in the Northwest Military Region. She didn’t know how to use a sewing machine, and the base was small enough that she could walk anywhere in just a few minutes.

Riding a big roadster like that would be too ostentatious.

As for a watch, there were clocks at home and at the hospital.

Wen Ci drew in a sharp breath. Hearing a man’s steady footsteps, she couldn’t help but raise her head, her gaze locking onto him.

Huo Jingyuan was slightly stunned to see Wen Ci. He knew she had gone to Sea City and had planned on stashing the bicycle at home to give her a surprise.

But now... 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Huo Jingyuan looked at Wen Ci, his expression softening with a tender affection. In a deep, unhurried voice, he asked, "I thought you went to Sea City. Why are you back so soon?"

"The bus had a broken wheel."

The new recruit at the sentry post stared at Huo Jingyuan, his expression dazed.

’What had he ever done to deserve seeing the Living Yama speak so gently?!’

"You bought this?" Wen Ci asked.

"A surprise for you."

Suddenly, an ill-timed cough echoed from the sentry post. Wen Ci abruptly realized they were still outside, and her face instantly flushed.

Huo Jingyuan shot the man an impassive glance.

"Do you know how to ride?"

Wen Ci shook her head. "I think so, a little."

’She knew how to ride a bike; before the apocalypse, she’d ridden a shared bike to school every day. But the seat on this classic roadster was so high she might not be able to get used to it.’

"I’ll give you a ride back."

Huo Jingyuan walked over to the bicycle, kicked up the stand, and gripped the handlebars. Placing his right foot on a pedal, he swung himself onto the seat.

The man’s long, straight left leg braced him against the ground. He patted the crossbar in front of him with a large hand. With his eyelids slightly lowered, he said slowly, "Get on."

Wen Ci’s face flushed red. The gate to the family residences was a three-minute walk from their home at most. Why would she need Huo Jingyuan to give her a ride back on his bicycle?

Besides, she could just sit on the back rack.

’But no, this damn man had to make her sit on the crossbar in front of him.’

’Had he already forgotten how hard he’d worked to wear me out last night?’

Just then, a few men in dark green military uniforms, each clutching a notebook, walked up to the sentry post and greeted Huo Jingyuan. "Mr. Huo."

The smile in Huo Jingyuan’s eyes vanished. His expression became placid, revealing no emotion as he nodded. "Off to a meeting?"

"We’re holding a meeting for the new families."

Then, the men’s gazes fell upon the beautiful woman standing nearby—Wen Ci. As soldiers from the family affairs office, they had known about Huo Jingyuan’s marriage for some time.

Knowing full well who she was, one of them asked, "And this is?"