Chapter 26: The Tycoon's Confession: Marry Me

The river breeze swirled through the reeds, pressing Su Yao’s hem against her legs. Lu Zhanye stood on the opposite bank, waving; his military-green figure looked like a sturdy poplar tree in the twilight.

"Su Yao, come here." His voice drifted across the water, carrying a hint of uncharacteristic tension.

Su Yao walked across the riverbank, her footsteps crunching on the pebbles. Fine sand seeped into her shoes, irritating the soles of her feet. She noticed mud on Lu Zhanye’s boots and his pant legs rolled up to his knees, revealing a scar on his calf that hadn't fully healed—a souvenir from a drug trial last time.

"What do you need?" She squatted to shake the sand from her shoes, her fingertips brushing against the cold stones.

Lu Zhanye didn't answer immediately; he paced a small circle with his hands behind his back. The sunset stretched his shadow long, casting it onto the water where it swayed with the current. In the distance, the laughter of children echoed; Lu Xingchen chased Lu Shihan with a bamboo pole, startling the waterbirds in the reeds.

"They'll be out of school soon," Su Yao said, looking at the sky where the clouds were burning red. "If we don't go back, dinner will be cold."

"Wait a moment." Lu Zhanye spoke suddenly, his voice lower than usual. "I have something for you."

He pulled a small cloth bundle from his pocket. The blue fabric was embroidered with a crooked sunflower—the one Lu Shihan had stitched when she mended his clothes. Su Yao looked at the bundle, her heart skipping a beat.

Lu Zhanye’s hands trembled slightly as he unwrapped it, revealing a silver-gray ring. It had no patterns and its edges were polished to a shine; upon closer inspection, one could see it had been fashioned from a shell casing, with a crooked character for "Ye" carved into the inner band.

Su Yao’s breath hitched. She had seen this ring before; she found it in the pocket of an old uniform while packing his luggage and had assumed it was a keepsake from a fallen comrade, never daring to ask.

"I’m heading out for a mission next month." Lu Zhanye suddenly knelt on one knee, his trousers soaking up the damp mud. He looked up at her, the light in his eyes brighter than the sunset. "There’s a chance... I might not make it back."

Su Yao felt a lump form in her throat. She remembered the letter she had received recently, where Wang Qiang mentioned that Lu Zhanye had volunteered for the most dangerous reconnaissance company, a place where soldiers were lost every day.

"I spent three months polishing this ring." Lu Zhanye held it out to her, his knuckles white from the effort. "At first, I couldn't get it round, and I kept cutting my fingers. Later, I learned from the veteran squad leader, and slowly, I got it into shape."

His voice grew raspy, coarse as windblown sand: "I can't guarantee I'll be by your side forever, but I can promise that as long as I am alive, I will protect you and the children. Su Yao, marry me. Let me be their father in the eyes of the law."

The river breeze rustled the reeds like a soft sob. Su Yao looked at the frayed cuffs of his uniform and suddenly remembered the first time she saw him—the day he carried a wounded comrade into the commune clinic, blood from his boots dripping onto the stone floor like a string of red beads.

She thought of how, every time he returned from the barracks, he would stuff fruit candies into the children’s pockets while denying himself a single one; she recalled the rainy night he silently repaired the leaking roof, leaving only a pile of new tiles in the morning; she remembered how, when she worked late at the medicine factory, she would always find him standing under the old locust tree outside, his cigarette tip glowing in the dark.

Tears fell, splashing onto the back of Lu Zhanye’s hand. He flinched as if burned, but he didn't move, holding his kneeling position, his hand trembling slightly in the wind.

"Lu Zhanye, you jerk." Su Yao’s voice was choked with sobs as she wiped at her tears, only for more to fall. "Who proposes like that?"

Lu Zhanye’s shoulders slumped, the light in his eyes dimming. He began to stand up, moving to tuck the ring away: "If you don't want to..."

"I do." Su Yao grabbed his wrist, the warmth of her palm searing. "I do."

Lu Zhanye froze, taking a long moment to process her words before pulling her fiercely into his arms. His embrace was tight, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones. The scent of soap on his uniform mingled with the dampness of the river, filling Su Yao’s senses.

"I didn't hear you clearly," he murmured, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "Say it again."

"I said I do." Su Yao pressed her face against his chest, listening to his drum-like heartbeat. "Lu Zhanye, I want to marry you."

The children’s voices rang out from afar. Lu Xingchen ran over with his bamboo pole and, seeing them embracing, covered his eyes: "Mom and Uncle are fighting!"

Lu Shihan peeked through her brother's arms, her small voice calling out: "They're doing a group hug! Teacher said only people who like each other do group hugs!"

Lu Zhanye released Su Yao, his face flushing as he quickly placed the ring on her finger. The fit was perfect; the coolness of the shell casing against her skin felt warm to her heart.

"Dad!" Lu Xingchen suddenly shouted, planting his bamboo pole in the dirt. "Are you going to be my dad?"

Lu Zhanye stiffened, then slowly knelt to look at the three children. Lu Xingchen stared with shining eyes; Lu Shihan hid behind her brother, showing only her dark, curious eyes; Lu Yuxuan, the most earnest, simply dove into his arms, grabbing his trousers.

"Are you all willing?" His voice trembled.

"Yes!" Lu Xingchen insisted. "Widow Li said children with dads don't get bullied!"

Lu Shihan peeked out from behind her brother and handed him a crumpled little blue flower: "Here, you have to give flowers to marry my mom."

Lu Zhanye took the wilting flower, his eyes burning. He pulled all three children into his arms, and Su Yao stood by, a smile she couldn't hide playing on her lips.

On the way home, Lu Zhanye held Su Yao’s hand, the ring catching the sunset. The children ran ahead, Lu Xingchen riding his pole like a horse, Lu Shihan skipping alongside him, and Lu Yuxuan turning back every few steps to make sure they weren't falling behind.

"I’ll have the ring remade in silver," Su Yao said, rubbing the shell casing. "This is too rough; it chafes."

"No," Lu Zhanye squeezed her hand. "When I come back, we’ll use this one for the wedding."

Su Yao said nothing more, her heart feeling as warm as a baked sweet potato. She knew how dangerous this mission was, but she refused to speak of grim things. She believed he would return, just as surely as she believed that seeds planted in spring would yield a harvest in autumn.

At dinner, Lu Zhanye kept placing choice morsels into Su Yao’s bowl. When Widow Li stopped by to drop off pickled vegetables and saw the ring on Su Yao’s hand, her eyes lit up: "Oh my! Good news is on the way!"

Su Yao blushed, lowering her head to her bowl. Lu Zhanye, however, was composed, offering the widow a stool: "Sit, Auntie. I was just about to tell you—we’ll hold the wedding when I get back."

"Then it must be done properly!" Widow Li laughed, crow’s feet crinkling at the corners of her eyes. "My husband knows how to make lanterns. I’ll have him craft two big red ones for you—guaranteed to be bright!"

Hearing the word "wedding," the children clamored for celebratory candy. Lu Zhanye took a handful of fruit candies from his pocket—meant for his journey—and divided them among the children.

"When Dad comes back, I’ll buy you candies with sesame," he said, stroking Lu Xingchen’s head, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.

That night, after the children were asleep, Su Yao sat under the lamp mending clothes. Lu Zhanye had to report back early the next morning, and she wanted to patch the worn cuffs of his old uniform.

Lu Zhanye sat nearby, watching her needle move. "The mission might take six months, or perhaps longer."

Su Yao’s hand paused, and a thread end fell onto the lamp wick, sparking a tiny flame.

"Don't work too hard at the medicine factory. Professor Zhang said he’d send students to help," Lu Zhanye said, pulling a bankbook from the drawer. "This is my saved stipend; the password is the children’s birthdays."

"I have money," Su Yao said, pushing the bankbook back. "You need it more out there."

"Take it." He pressed the book into her hand. "Just in case... I mean, if anything happens, use this to take the children to the city and find a stable life."

Su Yao slapped the book onto the table, her eyes red: "Lu Zhanye, if you say that again, I’m throwing the ring into the river!"

Lu Zhanye raised his hands in surrender: "Alright, alright, I won't say it." He hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her hair. "I’m just afraid... afraid of letting you down."

Su Yao turned and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his chin. His stubble was rough, tickling her lips.

"I’ll wait for you to come back," she said softly, her words settling into his heart like a heavy stone. "No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait."

Before dawn the next morning, it was time for Lu Zhanye to leave. Su Yao handed him his packed bag, which contained two pairs of newly stitched insoles and a packet of oil-paper-wrapped roasted peanuts.

"Be careful on the road," she said, straightening his collar, her fingers brushing over his familiar military medal.

Lu Zhanye nodded and knelt to hug the three children. Lu Xingchen was still groggy, nuzzling into his chest; Lu Shihan handed him a drawing she had made overnight, depicting five little stick figures holding hands; Lu Yuxuan clung to his neck, refusing to let go.

"Dad will be back soon," Lu Zhanye kissed his youngest son’s forehead and stood up to head for the door.

Su Yao walked with him to the edge of the village, where a military jeep waited under the old locust tree. The driver had already started the engine, its roar clear in the morning silence.

"Go back," Lu Zhanye said, letting go of her hand as he turned to board the vehicle.

"Lu Zhanye," Su Yao called out suddenly, taking the ring off her finger and tucking it into his breast pocket. "Keep this with you. Put it back on me when you return."

Lu Zhanye covered his chest with his hand and nodded firmly. Without another word, he climbed into the jeep.

The vehicle kicked up dust, soon vanishing at the end of the road. Su Yao stood beneath the locust tree, watching the tire tracks blur as they were dampened by the morning dew.

"Mom, will Dad come back?" Lu Shihan tugged at her skirt, asking in a small voice.

Su Yao squatted down, pulling the three children into her arms: "He will. Dad will definitely come back. Shall we write him letters? We’ll tell him the new equipment at the factory has arrived, tell him the hemostatic powder has been sent to the front lines, and tell him... we all miss him very much."

The wind carried the scent of young wheat, and in the distance, a rooster crowed. Su Yao knew the days ahead would be difficult, but she was not afraid. She had three sensible children, supportive neighbors, and a man worth waiting for.

Back home, she tucked the bankbook Lu Zhanye had left behind into the bottom of a wooden chest, resting it beneath the *Field First Aid Manual*. Then, she picked up a pen and wrote the first line on a sheet of letter paper:

"Comrade Lu Zhanye, the new boiler at the medicine factory was installed today. Xiao Zhang says it will double our efficiency in refining herbs..."

The morning sun rose, casting a warm glow over the letter paper. Su Yao knew this letter had a long way to travel before it reached him, but she had all the patience in the world.

Just like waiting for seeds to sprout in spring, for the harvest in autumn, and for the man who would surely return.

Along the riverbank, the reeds continued to sway in the wind. The ring he had taken with him pressed against the rhythm of someone’s heartbeat, shining brightly in a faraway place.