After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

Gu Zheng's voice wasn't loud, but his question, "What's still missing?" carried an undeniable certainty.

Ye Zhen followed his gaze and looked across the street. The beige walls of the Beijing Department Store appeared magnificent and solemn in the afternoon sun. The large red characters "Serve the People" on the wall were powerful and vigorous, bearing the unique mark of that era.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She wasn't some naive, sheltered young woman; she naturally understood the meaning behind his words.

Between her fingers, the warmth of his palm emanated steadily, a heat that was almost scalding. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, and at that moment, her bare ring finger felt a strange unease.

Her movements had barely begun when his fingers tightened even more. He turned her slightly, weaving her cool fingers into his own, until their fingers were intertwined tightly. It was a possessive force that left no room for anything, a silent yet domineering declaration.

Ye Zhen couldn't break free and could only let him hold her tightly.

Gu Zheng looked at her slightly furrowed brows and somewhat uneasy expression, and chuckled softly. The laughter came from his chest, deep and heavy, carrying a sense of triumphant pleasure.

"Mrs. Gu," he turned his head, leaning close to her ear, his voice lower and more seductive, "a new official needs a token of authority. Otherwise, how will others know you've already affixed my seal?"

His breath brushed against her earlobe, tickling and warm.

Ye Zhen's ears involuntarily flushed a light red. She forced herself to look away, focusing on the stream of bicycles weaving through the street, but stubbornly insisted, "It's just a nickname, don't take it seriously."

Her voice sounded more ethereal than usual, and even she could hear the insincerity in it.

Gu Zheng didn't argue with her. He simply took her hand and strode across the street.

It was rush hour, the streets were bustling with people, and bicycle bells rang incessantly. Gu Zheng's tall figure walked on her outside, completely shielding her between himself and the crowd, his arms forming a solid barrier, protecting her from all the bumps and noise.

Ye Zhen was pulled along by him, following his steps. She could smell the faint scent of soap on his military uniform, a clean and reassuring aroma. Her gaze fell on his broad back, his straight spine like a mountain that could shelter him from the wind and rain.

The revolving doors of the department store spewed out a stream of people carrying various smells. As soon as you stepped inside, a noisy, sweltering wave of scents—a mixture of face cream, fabrics, snacks, and the warmth of human presence—would hit you.

Everything here was new and unfamiliar to Ye Zhen.

Gu Zheng, however, knew the place like the back of his hand. He didn't linger on the first floor, but instead held her hand tightly and led her straight through the crowded throng to the terrazzo staircase leading to the second floor.

The second floor sells clothing, shoes, hats, and gold and silver jewelry. There are fewer people than on the first floor, but it is just as lively.

Gu Zheng's goal was clear. He pulled Ye Zhen and went straight to the innermost gold and silver jewelry counter.

The glass display case gleamed, lined with red velvet, and displayed rows of gleaming gold jewelry. Most were bracelets adorned with auspicious dragon and phoenix motifs, or rings featuring the characters for "fortune" and "happiness," gleaming with a gaudy yet captivating light under the lamplight. In this era, gold was hard currency, the most direct symbol of status and wealth.

Behind the counter, a middle-aged saleswoman, around forty years old, was leisurely dusting the counter with a feather duster. Her eyelids were droopy, and she seemed indifferent. But when her gaze fell on Gu Zheng, her eyes instantly lit up.

Having stood at this counter for over a decade, she had long since developed a keen eye. The man before her, in his crisp military uniform, the two bars and one star on his epaulets gleaming under the light, stood as upright as a rifle. That bearing, that rank—he was no ordinary man!

Then look at the girl he was holding tightly in his hand. Although she was dressed simply, her face was beautiful and refined, and her temperament was as cold as ice and snow. The two of them standing together were an indescribably perfect match.

The saleswoman's languid expression vanished instantly, replaced by a warm smile, and she put down the feather duster in her hand.

"Comrade, what would you like to see? Buying something for your partner? We just got some new mandarin duck rings here, they have a good meaning and look very stylish!" As she spoke, her eyes lingered on the two people's clasped hands.

Gu Zheng ignored her sales pitch. His gaze swept over the glittering gold rings on the counter, and then he spoke directly, his voice steady and powerful: "Comrade, bring out your best rings."

His tone was like giving a command, but his eyes remained fixed on Ye Zhen's face, observing her reaction.

Ye Zhen's gaze fell on the gold rings. The large, ornate patterns made her feel physically uncomfortable. Accustomed to handling delicate surgical instruments, she couldn't imagine wearing such cumbersome things on her fingers.

Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Gu Zheng accurately captured this subtle expression.

He understood immediately. She indeed disliked these things.

Before the sales clerk could even bring out the so-called "couple rings," he changed his mind and said to the sales clerk, "I don't need gold. Do you have any plain bands? The simplest kind."

The saleswoman's enthusiastic smile froze for a moment. Her hand, which was reaching for jewelry, paused in mid-air. She looked at Gu Zheng with a "you must be kidding me" expression, then glanced at Ye Zhen, wondering if she had misheard.

A plain band? Isn't that just a smooth ring? No design, no weight, who's going to know if it's real or fake when you wear it out?

She looked troubled and said somewhat awkwardly, "Comrade, this... plain bras are just for show, nobody usually buys them. A wedding is a big deal, how can we be so shabby? Look at this..."

The saleswoman's words carried a hint of genuine advice. In her view, it was simply too much to ask a promising young military officer to buy his newlywed wife a mere decorative item.

Gu Zheng ignored her.

He simply lowered his eyes, looking at Ye Zhen, whom he held tightly in his hand, and asked in a soft voice, "What kind do you like?"

His eyes were deep, and in the noisy light of the department store, only her reflection was clearly visible in them. It was as if all the sounds and shadows around them had automatically blurred into the background.

Ye Zhen met his gaze.

This was the first time she began to seriously consider this question.

She doesn't need to adorn herself with gold and silver. In her past life, standing at the pinnacle of medicine, her name itself was the most expensive label. In this life, that's not what she's pursuing either. What she wants is a stable livelihood, the freedom to wield the scalpel without distraction.

"It's simple," she said slowly, her voice cool yet exceptionally clear, "It won't affect my ability to wield the scalpel."