"Brother Li?"

Ahri had barely uttered a cry when tears started flowing again.

Her tears fell like beads from a broken string, and her nose turned as red as a ripe cherry.

Seeing this, Li Junxian gently handed over a handkerchief, her voice as gentle as water: "Don't cry, Ah Li."

However, Ah Li did not take the handkerchief. She turned her face away and secretly wiped away her tears with her sleeve, as if she did not want Li Junxian to see her vulnerable side.

Li Junxian's handkerchief still hung between the two of them, just like his heart, undecided.

It was as if his heart wouldn't be at peace until Ah Li accepted the handkerchief.

Ahri realized that the two of them were too close. She wanted to stand up, but Li Junxian gently pulled her back.

Ah Li stared wide-eyed at Li Junxian holding her hand, a wave of panic washing over her. "Let go."

Ah Li tried to pull her hand back, but felt Li Junxian's firm and strong grip.

Holding Ah Li's hand, Li Junxian said in a desperate tone, "Ah Li, I like you, and I want to be your girlfriend!"

Ahri's heartbeat was like a galloping carriage, suddenly accelerating.

She never expected that Li Junxian would express his feelings so directly.

Seeing that Ah Li still didn't answer, Li Junxian continued, "I know you have someone you like, but since you're not together yet, it means I still have a chance."

Ah Li looked at Li Junxian and asked, "How did you know I have someone I like?"

"I heard it from Lotus."

Li Junxian didn't even think about hiding it.

Ah Li stopped struggling. She sat back down, then lowered her head and said somewhat shyly, "Actually, the person I like is a soldier, someone I dreamed about."

"Did you dream about it?"

Li Junxian seemed not to understand. He moved even closer to Ah Li, his ear almost touching Ah Li's face.

So, what Ahri means is that the person she likes is just the soldier who appears in her dreams?

Ah Li, disregarding her shyness, pushed Li Junxian aside, then covered her face, blushing, and said, "Originally, the soldier in my dream never had a face, but after meeting you, he became like you."

A gentle breeze was blowing, and the leaves of the big tree swayed and rustled softly.

Not far away, some people were diligently plowing the fields with oxen, while others were carrying prepared water, searching for their families.

The laughter of children echoed and carried far, while others urged the children who had gone out to play to come home for dinner.

No one noticed that under the big tree, Li Junxian was unusually excited. He was holding Ah Li tightly, and no one knew how happy he was at that moment.

Ah Li's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She gently tugged at the hem of Li Junxian's shirt and whispered, "So, are we dating?"

For Li Junxian, these words were like a kitten gently scratching at his heartstrings with its soft little paws.

Li Junxian struggled to suppress his excitement and restrained himself from letting go of her hand.

But in the end, he couldn't resist and gently touched Ahri's cheek. "Yes, Comrade Ahri, we're dating."

Li Junxian also said, "After returning, I reported to my superiors and then began preparing the marriage certificate."

Ahri was somewhat surprised: "So fast?"

Li Junxian smiled and playfully pinched her nose, teasingly saying, "Comrade, your ideological awareness is lacking. Any relationship that doesn't aim for marriage is just playing around."

Later, Li Junxian took Ali to find the village chief of Qingshan Village, as they needed some essential supporting documents.

Because Ali was a sent-down youth, her emotional destiny and marriage choices had to be recorded by the village chief and documented in the archives.

This process respects individual choices and ensures that detailed information can be provided quickly should a need arise in the future.

Ah Li quietly followed behind Li Junxian, watching his figure, and felt so good to have someone running around for her.

"Alright, Comrade Ali, you can't back out now."

Li Junxian held Ah Li's hand and quietly looked at Ah Li.

He's leaving tomorrow, taking these documents with him to return to the army to submit a report.

Then, Ahri can become his family member and live with him in the compound.

"I won't go back on my word," Ahri whispered.

Li Junxian took two steps closer to her and said, "Then you have to wait for me."

"Yes, I will."

Ahri answered very seriously.

Li Junxian thought for a moment and then said, "From now on, you can only dream about me, and you can't dream about anyone else."

Ah Li looked at Li Junxian with a bit of embarrassment and annoyance. Li Junxian then tugged at Ah Li's hand and said with some reluctance, "I'll miss you."

We've just started dating, and now I have to break up with her.

Li Junxian was truly reluctant to part with them, but then she thought that they would be together forever.

Li Junxian felt that this separation was for the sake of a long-term future, and he could endure it!

Soon after, Li Junxian returned to the textile factory, picked up his luggage, and left.

Ali stayed in Qingshan Village and worked hard to earn work points.

When everyone in Qingshan Village knew that Ah Li and Li Junxian were dating and that they were going to get married, many people would secretly observe Ah Li.

However, this person was still the same as usual, going to work and doing his job as usual.

Inside the educated youth settlement, some people felt a pang of bitterness, like unripe grapes, so sour that they made people frown.

"Ali is so lucky. She found a soldier as her partner right away, and she can live with him in the military compound."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!