The man’s gaze was too gentle, like mellow wine that made one unconsciously intoxicated.

Qiao Zhao looked away and thought silently: This guy seems particularly good with words after drinking.

“Zhaozhao, why aren’t you looking at me?” The man rested his head against Qiao Zhao’s shoulder with a somewhat spoiled tone.

Qiao Zhao’s body stiffened as she said indifferently, “What’s there to look at?”

“Once you go back, you won’t be able to see me anymore.”

Qiao Zhao gave him a sideways glance, “Don’t worry, I won’t regret it.”

“I will.” Shao Mingyuan murmured and pulled the girl into his embrace, “Zhaozhao, I’m somewhat unaccustomed to not being able to see you all the time.”

Qiao Zhao pushed against him, but the man’s rock-hard chest was like stone, unmoving.

“You handed those two account books over to them?” She changed the subject.

“Mm, don’t worry. This time, with the Emperor speaking up, those people won’t dare be perfunctory. The case might be closed before the yamen seals are put up in the twelfth month.”

Qiao Zhao felt slightly relieved. “I should go back. You suddenly sent a matchmaker to propose marriage, and my father was so angry he didn’t even go to the yamen.”

Father had found another excuse to skip work.

“I’ll escort you.”

“It’s right next door, what’s there to escort?” Qiao Zhao declined.

Shao Mingyuan took Qiao Zhao’s hand without question and walked outside. “I want to escort you.”

Qiao Zhao struggled a bit and pursed her lips, “Shao Mingyuan, I’ve noticed that after drinking, you become completely unreasonable.”

Shao Mingyuan chuckled and said righteously, “Husband and wife don’t need to be reasonable with each other. From now on, I’ll just listen to you.”

“Who’s husband and wife with you?” Qiao Zhao’s face reddened.

How could someone be so thick-skinned, saying such mushy words without changing expression?

Shao Mingyuan paused in his steps, stopped, and looked down at Qiao Zhao, saying firmly, “We were before, and we will be in the future.”

“But not now—”

The man lowered his head and pecked the girl’s pink, tender lips gently, saying hoarsely, “So I still need to continue working hard. Zhaozhao, don’t you think so?”

Outside, it was cold, yet between the two standing close together, an astonishing heat suddenly rose.

The two personal guards standing in the corridor exchanged glances and tactfully turned their heads away.

“Ahem, the weather today is quite nice,” one personal guard said, looking up at the sky.

The other personal guard quickly nodded, “Yes, really nice. I even feel hot.”

“Mm, it is quite hot.”

Personal Guard A: “…”

Personal Guard B: “…”

Watching the General and the future General’s wife being so intimate was really too much to bear. They were also young men in their prime—didn’t the General know they also needed wives?

“Sigh.” Personal Guard A sighed.

“Sigh.” Personal Guard B followed with a sigh.

The two comforted each other with their eyes: At least they’d soon have a General’s wife. Just endure it.

“Others are watching, don’t act up,” Qiao Zhao quietly reminded, her face red as clouds.

This person’s face was getting thicker and thicker—she no longer knew how to deal with him.

“They’re my guards, no need to mind them.” Though Shao Mingyuan said this, he still restrained himself from deepening the kiss, gently kissing the corner of the girl’s lips before letting go and pulling her hand toward the door.

Standing at the door, Shao Mingyuan gazed deeply at Qiao Zhao, “Go back. I’ll close the door after you go in.”

“Mm.” Qiao Zhao turned around, couldn’t help but freeze, and after a while called out two words, “Father—”

Li Guangwen stood with a stern face, sizing up the scoundrel who was trying to steal his daughter.

Hmm, tall with long legs, clear gaze—he looked decent enough, but his character was too vile, actually coaxing his daughter into secret meetings!

Too vile!

The more Li Guangwen thought about it, the angrier he became. He glared fiercely at the stunned young general and said coldly, “Come with me!”

He took two steps, then suddenly stopped and turned around. “No, go to your place!”

If they went to the Li residence, wouldn’t everyone in the household know his daughter was having secret meetings with a wild man? Good thing he was clever and hadn’t been overwhelmed by anger.

Shao Mingyuan nearly collided with his future father-in-law’s dark face. He touched his nose and thought, “That was close,” then obediently followed behind Li Guangwen into the courtyard.

“General, have you sent the General’s wife away—”

The two personal guards saw Li Guangwen enter and their voices cut off abruptly, looking in unison toward their unfortunate General.

Had the General been caught red-handed?

The two personal guards looked at each other and suddenly began to feel conflicted.

If the General’s future father-in-law were to beat up the General later, should they help or not?

“Ahem, I suddenly remembered I haven’t fed the horses yet!” Personal Guard A said to himself and ran off.

Personal Guard B quickly followed, “I’ll go get hay!”

In the blink of an eye, only the young general was left facing the dark-faced father-in-law.

Shao Mingyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Good thing the two guards had left—if he got beaten up by his father-in-law later, it wouldn’t be so embarrassing.

“Father—”

Li Guangwen glanced at Qiao Zhao, “Little girl, don’t speak!”

He glared fiercely at Shao Mingyuan as he said this.

Did the brat hear that? His daughter was still a little girl, and he still had the heart to take advantage of her!

Shao Mingyuan lowered his eyes and said respectfully, “Please come inside for some tea.”

“Do you have wine?”

Shao Mingyuan was startled and quickly nodded, “Yes.”

Li Guangwen sneered, “If there’s wine, why drink tea?”

Wine revealed character—he wanted to see what kind of behavior this boy showed when drunk.

One hour later.

Several empty wine jars sat on the table. Li Guangwen, with hazy drunken eyes, picked up some green pepper and pork belly strips with his chopsticks and praised, “This green pepper and pork belly dish is extremely flavorful.”

The young general’s eyes remained clear, his tone still respectful, “You have excellent taste. This green pepper and pork belly dish has special cooking wine added—it’s Baiwei Restaurant’s secret recipe.”

Li Guangwen excitedly slapped the table, “No wonder this green pepper and pork belly tasted so good! My favorite is exactly Baiwei Restaurant’s green pepper and pork belly.”

“Yes, Zhaozhao told me about it.”

“Zhaozhao told you?” The slightly tipsy Li Guangwen squinted at the young man before him, somewhat surprised.

Shao Mingyuan quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao and smiled, “Yes, Zhaozhao said you like eating Baiwei Restaurant’s green pepper and pork belly.”

“Did you have someone buy this from Baiwei Restaurant?” Li Guangwen asked, suddenly finding the boy across from him somewhat more pleasing to the eye.

Being able to remember that he liked eating Baiwei Restaurant’s green pepper and pork belly showed thoughtfulness.

Of course, he was mainly happy because his daughter remembered what he liked to eat—it had nothing to do with this scoundrel.

Shao Mingyuan looked at his half-drunk future father-in-law and said with a smile, “This junior got the secret recipe from Baiwei Restaurant and made it personally.”

“You made it?” Li Guangwen suddenly felt his head spinning a bit.

“Yes, I learned how to make it myself. In the future, if you or Zhaozhao want to eat it, it will be much more convenient.” Shao Mingyuan looked sincere.

Li Guangwen was delighted by these words and beamed, “Mm, you’re very thoughtful. Oh, Zhaozhao also likes eating braised lion’s head meatballs.”

The young man smiled gently, “I learned that dish too.”

Qiao Zhao quietly rolled her eyes.

Fine, you win. She knew Father wasn’t a match for him!