Volume 1, Chapter 8: Gu Chengfeng’s Body Was Burning Hot

The salesman quickly pulled down the coat and handed it to Sisi Shen, repeatedly giving her a knowing look. “Comrade, I really envy you—such a generous and caring partner.”

Hearing this, Sisi Shen didn’t quite know how to respond.

So, she could only smile awkwardly and muster the courage to try on the red wool coat.

To be honest, the coat looked truly beautiful on her.

The red color complemented her fair skin perfectly. Her already pale face seemed even more radiant, as if she were glowing.

The cut was excellent too—not bulky at all, instead accentuating her straight shoulders and slender figure.

In short, it was stunning.

She looked like a different person altogether.

Sisi Shen gazed at her reflection, feeling nostalgic—it had been a long time since she had worn such fine clothes.

The last time was when her parents were still alive.

She looked in the mirror, while Chengfeng Gu’s eyes followed her every move, shining with excitement.

Before Sisi Shen could fully grasp the moment, he signaled to the salesperson, “This one. She’ll wear it.”

“What?” Sisi Shen quickly tried to take the coat off, but his large hand pressed it down firmly.

“Your clothes are too old; don’t wear them anymore.”

Sisi Shen pursed her lips. Was he implying she looked embarrassing?

But then again, she was going back with Chengfeng Gu to the military compound, and wearing shabby clothes wouldn’t reflect well on him.

So she nodded silently, her throat dry as she muttered a thank you.

Before she could fully say the word, Chengfeng Gu moved on to the children’s clothing section.

The salesperson, perceptive as ever, hurried over to the kids’ area.

“This must be for the little one! Such a handsome boy...” she said with a smile, showering praise on Niuniu.

The child was indeed pretty, but clearly fragile.

His face was sallow and thin, his hair like little blades of grass. Though his clothes were old and patched, they were clean and tidy, and from afar, one could smell the faint scent of soap.

Chengfeng Gu nodded and gently asked Niuniu, “Which one do you like, little one? Tell Uncle.”

Niuniu’s eyes sparkled. Children were straightforward—he immediately looked at the red cotton jacket with pink plum blossom patterns.

Chengfeng Gu softly asked, “You like it?”

Niuniu bobbed his lips and shyly glanced at Sisi Shen.

This time, Sisi Shen didn’t refuse but nodded approvingly at Niuniu.

Niuniu visibly relaxed and boldly pointed at the red cotton jacket.

“It’s pretty. Niuniu likes it!”

Chengfeng Gu’s features instantly brightened, and with a hearty wave of his big hand, he said, “Then we’ll buy it! Let Niuniu change into it.”

Niuniu threw his arms around him, ecstatic. “Thank you, Uncle!”

Chengfeng Gu’s smile stretched so wide his lips nearly disappeared, his usually stern face softening with a kindly, fatherly warmth.

He didn’t bat an eye spending money on the two of them but didn’t buy anything for himself.

Sisi Shen watched this quietly, her large eyes scanning the nearby counters.

She wondered what she could afford to buy for Chengfeng Gu with her own money.

Chengfeng Gu, as if caught up in a spending spree, strode toward the scarf section.

Seeing him about to spend again, Sisi Shen hurried after him and stepped in first, pointing at two red scarves, one large and one small. “I’ll buy these.”

Chengfeng Gu raised an eyebrow in disapproval, but she quickly added, “Consider it... an engagement gift from me.”

Even saying those words made her blush.

They hadn’t reported it to anyone, hadn’t registered, and their families hadn’t even met yet. Would he think she was frivolous?

Even if he did, she was determined to pay for the scarves herself.

This was her dignity in this marriage!

At the mention of “engagement gift,” Chengfeng Gu’s eyes lit up, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

His calloused hand casually stroked the soft scarf, his brows shining with delight.

“This is the first time you’ve given me anything...”

Sisi Shen thought about it. Was it really? It seemed so.

Compared to the many bags Chengfeng Gu had bought, her gift was quite modest.

She hoped he wouldn’t look down on it.

She paid for the scarves first, and then Chengfeng Gu went up to settle the bill.

Just buying these things nearly emptied all the money and ration coupons he had—coupons for grain, cloth, sugar...

Sisi Shen felt pangs of guilt. These vouchers would have been enough for her to live in the countryside for a whole year.

Yet Chengfeng Gu remained calm, counting each coupon methodically.

Indeed, a man who didn’t manage the household often didn’t understand the value of daily necessities.

Sisi Shen didn’t know when she had become so frugal, scrimping every penny.

She only remembered that when her parents were alive, money seemed irrelevant—she could buy whatever she wanted.

But after...

Sigh, today she had made Chengfeng Gu spend so much.

The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt. Now she was penniless and could give him nothing but these two red scarves.

Once she got to the city, she vowed to find a way to earn money and give him the very best.

Because he deserved it!

After paying, Chengfeng Gu carried the bags in one hand and cradled Niuniu in the other.

He glanced at the two matching scarves in Sisi Shen’s hands, and the usual icy expression on his face melted swiftly, as if warmed by the sun.

He approached Sisi Shen, the corner of his eyes lifting slightly, his chin raised to reveal a sliver of sun-kissed neck.

His neck was slender and strong, the pronounced Adam’s apple sharply defined, tempting one to kiss it.

Sisi Shen swallowed quietly, her heart inexplicably racing.

Chengfeng Gu raised his arm, showing he couldn’t free his hands. “Won’t you help me put it on?”

Flustered and shy, she spread the scarf open and clumsily draped it over his neck.

Besides Niuniu, she had never helped anyone put on a scarf, let alone a man.

Unconsciously, she leaned toward him. They were barely half a palm’s width apart, growing closer and closer...

It was winter, and though the store was not warm, Chengfeng Gu’s body radiated heat.

That warmth, mingled with his scent, aggressively enveloped her.

For the first time, she realized his body was so hot, so scorching that her palms sweated and a light sheen of perspiration appeared on her forehead.

Chengfeng Gu’s face betrayed no emotion, but the corner of his mouth curved in quiet pleasure, and his body subtly swayed toward Sisi Shen.

Just tying a scarf had made them both flush and break out in a sweat.

Sisi Shen fiddled with the folds of the scarf, smoothing it out, feeling as though she had just finished hard labor—completely exhausted.

Yet looking at her “work,” she was very pleased.

The scarf suited him perfectly, enhancing his vigor and spirit. Who said men couldn’t wear red and green?

Chengfeng Gu turned to look at himself in the mirror, eyes fixed on the carefully arranged scarf. Then he nudged Sisi Shen’s chin. “You should put yours on too.”

Along the way, Chengfeng Gu had one hand full of bags and the other wrapped around Niuniu, occasionally glancing at their matching red scarves with a face full of happiness.

Sisi Shen tried to carry something, but he refused. She wanted to hold the child, but he wouldn’t let go.

She hadn’t felt so relaxed in a long time.

As they walked to her aunt’s house, neighbors spotted them and stared wide-eyed.

“Isn’t this the daughter of Shilan’s little sister?”

“A blind date turned out well?”

“And he’s an officer?”

“Tsk, tsk, having a man really changes things. Look at the display—it must be a marriage proposal!”

Everyone gawked like watching a spectacle, whispering amongst themselves. This rare event would be fodder for their gossip for years.

Look, even a single mother with a child could find a good man—how rare!

Beauty truly made a difference.

A cunning woman’s skills were indeed clever!