When Xie Huaizheng finally let her go, Su Zhaozhao felt her lips were swollen from the kiss.
She couldn’t help but glare at him. "You always act like you’re going to eat me alive."
Sometimes his kisses were gentle, but other times they were ferocious.
She felt like she could barely handle it.
Xie Huaizheng’s gaze was profound as he stared at Su Zhaozhao. He reached out and gently stroked her lips. "Alright, I’ll be more careful next time."
Then, he pulled her back into his embrace.
"I hope we can get married soon."
For now, all they could do was kiss and hug. Only after marriage could they do more... intimate things.
Xie Huaizheng sighed, looking at the girl in his arms.
’It’s like being a hungry wolf staring at a piece of meat he can’t eat. The feeling is absolute torture.’
’Once Huang Jiqin gets here,’ he thought, ’we can get married quickly.’
Besides, with Su Zhaozhao’s so-called parents in trouble for framing her, they wouldn’t need their permission or anything.
’But... a military marriage is a serious affair with a more extensive vetting process. Even though Su Dashan and Zhang Fengxia never treated Zhaozhao like their own child...’
’...on paper, she’s still their daughter.’
’If they have a criminal record, it could affect her political review.’
So, Xie Huaizheng said to Su Zhaozhao, "Zhaozhao, are your maternal grandparents still alive and well?"
"They are." Su Zhaozhao searched the original host’s memories. She hadn’t heard anything about them passing away.
"Could you transfer your household registration over to your grandparents and sever ties with your current parents? If you do, they’ll have no right to bother you anymore."
Su Zhaozhao thought for a moment. "I think that could work. But I haven’t been in contact with my grandparents for a very long time. The last time I remember seeing them was when my mother passed away."
This was a memory from the original host. A scene surfaced in Su Zhaozhao’s mind.
The two elderly people, heartbroken, had approached to hug the original host, but she had pushed them away, clinging to her father instead.
But she didn’t know that her father would soon remarry and have a son, who would replace her in the household.
Su Zhaozhao hesitated again.
’Based on that memory fragment, and the fact that the original host hadn’t contacted her grandparents in so many years...’
’...plus, the original host’s mother had cut ties with her own family to protect herself...’
’Honestly, this will be difficult.’
’But how will I know if I don’t try?’
"Zhaozhao, don’t worry. This is just a precaution. Given their current crimes, even if they do go to jail, it shouldn’t affect you."
Sensing Su Zhaozhao’s anxiety, he comforted her, "This is just to be safe, to give you a heads-up. I’ll do my best to keep things from getting that complicated."
"Okay."
Su Zhaozhao trusted Xie Huaizheng.
’It hadn’t been easy for her and Xie Huaizheng to get to the point of marriage. I can’t let the original host’s good-for-nothing father and stepmother ruin it.’
Xie Huaizheng stroked her hair. "By the way, about those English books you took home... do you need me to teach you?"
He had been studying English himself. With the new Reform and Opening-Up policies, orders had come from above to align with international standards.
That was why they were also learning English in his military unit.
"I’ll take a look myself first. If I don’t understand something, I’ll ask you."
After returning to the guesthouse, Su Zhaozhao took out the English books Xie Huaizheng had lent her. She read through them once, then entered her space, found some English articles on her computer, and hit play.
She had an AI read the articles aloud, helping her get accustomed to the listening comprehension and rhythm of the language.
’Thankfully, in my previous job, I often traveled abroad for my studies, exchanging knowledge with world-renowned psychologists.’
’I also had to write academic papers and the like in English.’
’All in all, I used English quite a lot in my previous life.’
So, after a quick look through Xie Huaizheng’s books, she felt confident.
’The English of this era can’t be that difficult, especially for elementary school. It probably starts with the 26 letters of the alphabet, then moves on to memorizing simple words and sentences.’
’That should be about right.’
However, the military base’s elementary school had very strict requirements for its teachers. She had a bet on the line and had no intention of losing, so Su Zhaozhao prepared as if for the highest possible standards.
She spent the next two days focused almost entirely on her preparations.
In the blink of an eye, the day of her interview with Zhou Chengguo arrived.
Su Zhaozhao had deliberately dressed in a sharp, professional outfit.
She wore a white silk blouse, black trousers, and a pair of black leather dress shoes.
She had tied her hair back in a ponytail.
Standing before the vanity mirror in her space, she examined herself from left to right, quite pleased with her appearance.
Su Zhaozhao had even applied a touch of light makeup.
Zhou Chengguo had told her the interview was scheduled for eleven o’clock.
When she arrived at the gate of the military base’s elementary school, both Zhou Chengguo and his soldier friend were there.
Xie Huaizhen’s eyes lit up when he saw Su Zhaozhao’s outfit.
He had always known Su Zhaozhao was beautiful.
’Otherwise, how could I still remember her face so clearly after only seeing her a few times?’
And today, she was even more so.
The last few times he’d encountered her, she had been dressed casually.
But now, dressed so formally, her femininity blossomed in an instant.
Her bright, youthful face had features as exquisite as an oil painting. Even in such simple attire, she was dazzling beyond belief.
Zhou Chengguo’s gaze also lingered on Su Zhaozhao for a moment.
When he snapped out of it, he sneered inwardly. ’What’s the use of being pretty?’
’I can’t stand black-hearted women like her.’
"You’re here? Let’s go to the interview, then," Zhou Chengguo said to her.
Su Zhaozhao nodded.
She knew Zhou Chengguo had chosen this time so he could wait for his friend to finish training and act as a witness.
’Looks like he’s already confident I’m going to lose.’
Zhou Chengguo led her to the principal’s office. In addition to the principal, several grade-level directors were also present.
Su Zhaozhao hadn’t expected so many people.
"Hello, everyone. This is Comrade Su Zhaozhao, the one I told you about who speaks English. She told me her English is excellent and that she’s from Jiang City." The moment he entered the office, Zhou Chengguo’s demeanor changed completely.
A fawning smile spread across his face, but his words were clearly meant to put her on a pedestal.
Su Zhaozhao shot him a glance. ’He’s probably trying to build me up just to tear me down.’
’The more he praises me now, the more satisfying my humiliation will be for him later.’
She’d read enough web novels to recognize this tactic. To her, Zhou Chengguo’s method was completely amateurish.
"Comrade Su Zhaozhao, hello! Teacher Xiao Zhou tells me you speak English?" The principal walked over to her and shook her hand warmly.
Zhou Chengguo sneered at her from the side. ’Hmph,’ he thought, ’that idiot Su Zhaozhao walked right into this trap herself.’
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