Chapter 415 Finally Made the Decision

Chapter 415 Finally Taking the Plunge

The two of them kept it chaste; after all, the lively banquet was right outside, and the room wasn’t exactly private either.

Lu Hanchuan affectionately nuzzled against his wife’s cheek before letting her go.

“Ugh, you’re impossible.”

Ye Xiaoxiao took out her compact to reapply her makeup.

“My wife looks beautiful even without powder, a natural beauty.” Lu Hanchuan stood behind Xiaoxiao, watching their reflection embracing in the mirror, his tone filled with undisguised pride.

Outside, the dishes were mostly served. Even though this post-wedding banquet was belated, it was still necessary for the newlyweds to show their faces.

Lu Hanchuan held Xiaoxiao’s hand as they went out to make the rounds with toasts.

“So this is the bride and groom! What a perfect match, truly a pair made in heaven.”

“They’re from the city, after all. Not like us folks from the village.”

A blunt auntie nearby chimed in, “How’re they any different? Everyone’s got one nose and two eyes.”

“Oh, come on… It’s the vibe they give off.”

From a distance, the surroundings were noisy and chaotic, but as Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan stepped forward, the crowd quieted.

The newlyweds smoothly finished their toasts.

Ye Lian even came back just for this.

“How’s eldest sister doing lately? And how’s eldest brother-in-law and second sister’s business going?” Ye Xiaoxiao asked.

Ye Lian was glowing with health now. “They’re busy in the city, but the business seems to be doing well, all thanks to Changning.”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “We’re all family. As long as eldest brother-in-law and second sister’s business is thriving, that’s all that matters.”

Ye Xiaoxiao wanted only good things for everyone in the family.

If they could stand on their own, supporting each other was fine. But if they only wanted to mooch off one person, that would be the end of it.

With so many guests, Ye Xiaoxiao only caught up briefly with Ye Lian before moving on to toast at other tables.

The banquet lasted until two in the afternoon before finally wrapping up.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan could’ve called it a day sooner, but they waited until most guests had left before eating.

There were plenty of dishes and bowls to wash after the banquet, but thankfully, many villagers lent a hand, making the task much easier.

In the evening, Ye Xiaoxiao unwrapped the gift Zhang Erni had given her—an imported silk scarf.

“Does it look nice?”

Ye Xiaoxiao draped the scarf around her neck. It was a chic piece, though it didn’t quite go with the dress she was wearing today.

It would probably look better with a scoop-neck top and jeans.

Now that it was night, the yard had gone still. Everyone was worn out from the festivities and had mostly gone to rest.

Lu Hanchuan reached out, toying with the scarf’s edge, his voice low and raspy as he murmured, “Let me see.”

Tonight was essentially their wedding night. Although it wasn't their first grand wedding ceremony, Lu Hanchuan's enthusiasm remained undiminished.

Pale moonlight filtered through the curtain cracks, casting a sliver of light into the room.

Inside, their breaths intertwined, tangled into a heady haze of desire.

Ye Xiaoxiao's eyes were damp and red at the corners, lost in the throes of passion.

Her silk scarf had long since been tossed aside, lost somewhere in the heat of the moment.

...

The next day, true to form, Ye Xiaoxiao slept in.

Fortunately, the house was full of family, and Miao Cuifang never nagged Xiao Xiao about breakfast.

In the yard, Ye Jianguo was chatting with Lu Hanchuan while chopping firewood.

Despite being born into privilege, Lu Hanchuan was skilled in all sorts of tasks, from chopping wood to cooking.

Ye Jianguo, as a father, had no complaints.

"How long can Xiao Lu stay this time?"

"This time I've got a decent stretch of leave—I can stay here for about a week."

After returning to the capital, he would need to prepare for a promotion and transfer.

Anyone could see this kind of transfer was clearly meant to accumulate experience. In a few years, upon returning to the capital, there would be further promotions waiting.

The Lu family's clout was unquestionable—the patriarch was a founding hero of the nation, and Lu Hanchuan's father was a high-ranking military officer.

Lu Hanchuan himself was outstanding, a standout among spoiled rich kids, the golden boy parents compared theirs to.

With the Lu family's power secure for decades more, Lu Hanchuan's rise through the ranks would be smooth sailing.

As they talked, the conversation turned to this matter.

Ye Jianguo, of course, knew that these postings typically included family reassignment. "Will Xiao Xiao be going with you?"

Lu Hanchuan: "Xiao Xiao is still considering it. Whatever decision she makes, I'll respect it."

Ye Jianguo thought back to his own experiences in his younger days. "You're still young—long separations don't do a marriage any favors. If Xiao Xiao is willing, it'd be better for her to be a military wife."

Besides, they didn't have children yet, which, in Ye Jianguo's view, left things unsettled between them.

"Actually, the barracks life has its perks. Our Xiao Xiao was born in one..."

It was just that, back then, a hospital mix-up had led to the babies being switched.

Lu Hanchuan suddenly remembered—the Ye family likely remained unaware of the Hao family's situation.

Ye Jianguo and Hao Chengbing had once served together, but after so many years without contact, they'd drifted apart.

Hao Chengbing was done with the service—it all depended on whether higher-ups would assign him another job.

Without connections to grease the wheels, it would be very difficult.

Just then, Ye Xiaoxiao stepped out of the house and saw Lu Hanchuan swinging an axe in the yard.

"You're up early."

Lu Hanchuan saw Xiao Xiao coming out of the house and pushed those thoughts away.

"You're up? Hungry?"

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded. "A bit."

She was already making her way to the kitchen to see if there was anything left in the pot.

Ye Jianguo handed the axe to Lu Hanchuan. "Why don’t you two take a walk around the village while you’re here? You don’t come back often."

After breakfast, Lu Hanchuan accompanied Xiao Xiao for a stroll through the village.

"I feel like I don’t even know this village as well as you do," Ye Xiaoxiao mused.

"The scenery is nice. Summer’s the perfect time to come back and beat the heat."

Lu Hanchuan gazed at Xiao Xiao’s profile under the shade of the trees, couldn’t help wondering—if she had stayed in Baishi Village all along, would they still have met for the first time at the market?

Sometimes fate just likes to mess with you. In the capital, they never had the chance to meet, yet they crossed paths only after Xiao Xiao left the compound.

Lu Hanchuan even felt like he’d wasted twenty good years.

Had they met earlier, he would’ve made his move earlier.

"Is the island as nice and cool as here?" Ye Xiaoxiao suddenly asked.

Lu Hanchuan hesitated. "It’s a northern island. The weather’s about the same."

Ye Xiaoxiao sighed. "It can’t be any more remote than Baishi Village, at least there’s a military presence."

Lu Hanchuan tousled her hair. "Why the sigh?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Because I’m already picturing life on that island."

Based on Lu Hanchuan’s description, the place must be very far and isolated, maybe not even developed.

The kind of place with just a handful of families.

The military stationed there likely due to international tensions, because of its strategic importance.

Or perhaps some resources had been discovered nearby.

For a second, Lu Hanchuan thought he’d heard wrong. "Xiao Xiao, you mean…?"

"That’s right. I’ve decided to go to the island with you."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "There must be people there, right? As long as there are people, my medical skills will still come in handy."