At three in the afternoon, Shao Chen arrived punctually at the Yan family's home to pick up Yan Xuebing.
As soon as the car reached the entrance of the Yan residence, Yan Xuebing was already waiting. Her already robust physique, clad in a fluffy white down jacket, made her appear even more formidable. Coupled with her neat short hair, she looked like a man from a distance, which Shao Chen found a little hard to bear.
He was a normal man, attracted to graceful, feminine women who evoked a desire to protect, not to find a "buddy."
But this was his choice.
He could only console himself by treating her as a brother.
In fact, Yan Xuebing interacted with him in much the same way. Shao Chen had initially intended to be more gentlemanly and open the car door for her after getting out.
"No need, I can do it myself," Yan Xuebing said crisply, opening the passenger door and getting in.
Shao Chen distinctly felt the car sink slightly. "..."
As Yan Xuebing sat in the passenger seat, she glanced at Shao Chen, a hint of shyness in her eyes.
She had seen many male comrades in the military, but none were as handsome and captivating as Shao Chen.
Even knowing his reputation outside wasn't great, that he spent his days indulging in pleasure and changing women like clothes; even though his parents advised against him marrying her, she couldn't help but want to be close to him at the thought of his face.
This was perhaps what they called love at first sight.
Her requirements for a relationship weren't high. If she found a suitable partner, she would marry; otherwise, she would serve the country her entire life. National affairs were more important to her than personal romantic relationships.
Even if she were married, she wouldn't choose to retire; she would continue her post in the military. She had discussed this with Grandpa Shao and Shao Chen before, and neither had any objections.
So, sometimes, she felt very lucky to be marrying the man she liked, and for him to respect her choices.
Shao Chen remained silent, and Yan Xuebing dared not speak. They traveled in silence.
Upon arriving at the bridal shop, Yan Xuebing unbuckled her seatbelt and got out without Shao Chen's assistance.
Shao Chen handed the car keys to the security guard to park the car. As they entered the store, his gaze inadvertently fell upon a purple, gradient off-the-shoulder gown in the display window. The bodice was adorned with white diamonds that scattered down to the hem, resembling stars in the night sky.
Seeing the white diamonds sparkling under the lights, his first thought was that Ruan Tianxin would like this dress.
He even pictured her wearing it.
"Mr. Shao, that gown is a unique piece, and we don't have Miss Yan's size," the sales assistant explained, noticing Shao Chen's prolonged gaze at the displayed dress, assuming he liked it.
Shao Chen snapped back to reality, thinking that Ruan Tianxin, that diamond-obsessed woman, was so memorable that even seeing diamonds reminded him of her.
"That one is too tight, and a skirt isn't practical. Do you have anything with pants?" Yan Xuebing asked after glancing at the gown in the window.
Having spent years in the military, she had never worn a skirt or high heels. She also knew her figure wasn't suited for skirts.
Shao Chen: "..."
His comment stumped the sales assistant. What bride wouldn't want to wear a beautiful wedding dress?
While this wasn't the first time she'd heard a request for pants, it was usually from lesbians, where one of the two women played the male role.
This was the first time she'd encountered a bride requesting pants to wear with the groom.
"We don't have sample designs for bridal pantsuits, but we can custom-make one," the sales assistant explained. She then looked at Shao Chen, as if seeking his opinion.
Yan Xuebing also realized her request might have been too abrupt. She scratched her short hair casually and laughed, "Haha, wearing pants should be fine, right? It's mainly that I'm not used to skirts and high heels. Grandpa Shao should understand military lifestyle habits."
Shao Chen glanced at her sturdy arms and really didn't want to imagine her, a "Goddess of War" in an off-the-shoulder dress. The image was simply unbearable.
"Whatever you want. You two decide, you don't need my opinion," he said, slumping lazily onto a sofa in the store, clearly showing no anticipation for this engagement.
Seeing him sprawled on the sofa playing with his phone, Yan Xuebing felt a little awkward. Fortunately, the sales assistant was proactive and asked her about her ideal wedding dress, arranging for a designer to come and create a design for her on the spot.
Yan Xuebing's family background was quite modest. After inquiring about the design fees and learning they were exorbitant, she wanted to leave. She walked over to the sofa and said to Shao Chen, "Achen, I think the prices here are too high. How about we go somewhere else?"
Shao Chen: "..."
Seeing that Shao Chen showed no inclination to change venues, Yan Xuebing asked the sales assistant to assign a more ordinary designer. To reduce the cost, she specifically requested the use of common fabrics.
After the dress was settled, it was the makeup artist's turn to determine the makeup. Yan Xuebing didn't even use facial cleanser regularly and had no idea about makeup. Her only request to the makeup artist was to use the cheapest option and to skip anything unnecessary.
Although Shao Chen was engrossed in his phone, he could still hear their conversation. He was speechless, finding it hard to imagine what life would be like living with her.
After confirming the makeup for the engagement day, Shao Chen wanted to leave, but Mrs. Shao insisted on arranging a candlelit dinner for the couple.
Helpless, he took Yan Xuebing to the pre-booked Western restaurant.
They sat opposite each other at a long table, and Western cuisine was served. Yan Xuebing was not accustomed to using a knife and fork. She asked the waiter for chopsticks and proceeded to eat her steak with them.
Shao Chen found her uncouth way of eating steak unbearable and lost all appetite. He felt like every minute spent with her was an ordeal.
Finally, after Yan Xuebing finished her meal, Shao Chen stood up, intending to leave. Yan Xuebing, seeing that he hadn't touched his steak at all, asked, "Aren't you hungry? Why didn't you eat?"
Shao Chen thought, looking at her kills my appetite, but he politely replied, "Not hungry."
"Wasting food is not good," Yan Xuebing said. She then stood up and took Shao Chen's steak, saying, "If you're not going to eat it, I'll help you."
After finishing the steak, Yan Xuebing also asked the waiter to pack up the unfinished pasta and bread slices, saying it couldn't be wasted and could be taken home for a late-night snack. She even finished the last bit of juice in her cup.
Shao Chen: "..."
He understood the benefits of thrift and frugality, but he truly couldn't live this kind of life!
He was someone who preferred to spend his time figuring out how to make money rather than how to save and avoid waste.
If he stayed with her any longer, he would likely completely break down.
Finally, at nine o'clock in the evening, Shao Chen took Yan Xuebing home, freeing himself.
"Son, how was your time with Xuebing today? Was it pleasant?" Mrs. Shao asked affectionately as soon as he returned home.
"Don't mention her, I don't want to hear about her right now," Shao Chen said, waving his hand and heading back to his room. He locked himself in, refusing to open the door no matter how much his mother knocked.
He stood by the window, smoking several cigarettes. He then looked at his phone's dialer, which displayed a familiar number. He hadn't dialed it all day, and it made him feel even more agitated.
He lit another cigarette and smoked it irritably. Just then, a familiar voice came from his phone, which was placed on the windowsill, "Hello, Shao Chen?"
Shao Chen jumped in surprise, accidentally knocking his phone. He frantically picked it up and realized with a shock that he had unintentionally dialed the number.