Only I Understand His Gentle Heart - Chapter 103.4

“Alright!” Zhang Wulin agreed hurriedly.

Lin Ziyu moved quickly, though it still took her about an hour to finish getting ready. She changed into a new outfit and applied carefully detailed makeup.

Zhang Wulin sat patiently on the couch, waiting. When she finally came out, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, his gaze glued to her in awe.

Lin Ziyu, enjoying the attention, couldn’t resist teasing him. “What are you staring at? It’s not like I’m that pretty. Ming Zhu and Tang Xin are much better-looking. You see me all the time—won’t you get tired of me eventually?”

Ah, the complexities of a woman’s heart!

Zhang Wulin was baffled, but he answered honestly, “You’re beautiful. Sure, they’re pretty too, but they’re not my girlfriend… I just love looking at you.”

His straightforward response made Lin Ziyu’s heart melt. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him lightly on the lips, her smile radiant. “Let’s go! Time for our date. Oh, and this is your first date, right? I promise you won’t feel cheated!”

Zhang Wulin, “…”

First, Lin Ziyu took him to a mall to buy him a new outfit.

As expected, soldiers like Zhang Wulin had exceptional builds. With his upright posture and well-proportioned frame, his presence transformed entirely once he changed into the new clothes.

Zhang Wulin, however, wasn’t used to buying expensive clothes. When Lin Ziyu took his card, he protested. “Wait! I can’t let you spend so much on me.”

Lin Ziyu laughed as she snatched the card away, tugging his hand down before he could scratch his head again. “No scratching! You listen to me today.”

Looking at her bright smile, Zhang Wulin felt a sour-sweet ache in his chest—his emotions overwhelmed him, and he simply couldn’t refuse her. “Alright.”

A few minutes later, Lin Ziyu walked out of the mall, arm in arm with Zhang Wulin. She noticed people sneaking glances at them, and her heart swelled with pride. Glancing up at Zhang Wulin, she couldn’t help but think he was already quite handsome—and in a few years, he might become even more attractive.

They shared a steak dinner, watched a movie, and strolled through the streets afterward. The weather was cold—almost winter. Zhang Wulin adjusted her scarf and slipped her hands into his coat pocket to keep them warm.

Lin Ziyu hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. As for Zhang Wulin, this was pure bliss.

When they returned home, Lin Ziyu went to take a shower first.

She emerged wearing a sleeveless pink nightdress with a slightly low neckline. Her fair skin glowed in the dim light, the soft curves of her chest faintly visible. Zhang Wulin didn’t know where to look—his gaze darted everywhere except directly at her.

Lin Ziyu sat on the couch, and he immediately jumped to his feet. “I—I’m going to take a shower!”

She watched him rush into the bathroom, then glanced down at herself. Oops… was I showing a little too much?

She couldn’t help but laugh, a mischievous itch stirring in her chest. What an innocent guy.

Afterward, she turned off the main lights, leaving only the warm glow of a floor lamp. She went to her room to apply lotion and moisturizer.

Women’s skincare routines are time-consuming—Lin Ziyu’s took nearly half an hour.

Meanwhile, outside, Zhang Wulin had long since finished his shower. He sat awkwardly on the couch, trying to lie down. The couch was a bit short for him, but he didn’t mind. As he lay there, his legs lightly swung off the edge.

Glancing back at the closed bedroom door, his mind wandered. Maybe she’s worried I won’t behave, so she stayed in her room while I showered?

Just as his thoughts grew more muddled, the door opened.

Lin Ziyu stepped out, looking toward the couch. “Are you asleep?”

Zhang Wulin immediately sat up, looking at her. “No. I thought you were asleep.”

Lin Ziyu loved his eyes. Every time he looked at her, it was so clear how much he liked her—really liked her. Her heart softened. She walked over and sat directly on his lap.

“I was just moisturizing my face,” she said casually.

“Huh?” He didn’t entirely understand, but the faint fragrance of her skincare products tickled his nose, and his body stiffened slightly.

“It’s skincare,” Lin Ziyu explained. “Women need to take care of themselves. Squad Leader, you really don’t understand women.”

She kicked off her slippers, resting her feet on the couch as her full weight settled on his lap.

Zhang Wulin instinctively put his arms around her, though his body remained tense. “I understand! I just didn’t know it would take so long…”

Lin Ziyu turned her head, smiling as she looked at him. “Well, now you know, don’t you?”

He nodded.

Sensing his nervousness, Lin Ziyu reached out to tickle him, but quickly realized he wasn’t ticklish at all. Frustrated, she leaned in and kissed him. Her voice turned soft and teasing. “What are you so afraid of? Scared I’ll eat you alive?”

Zhang Wulin, “…”

His body reacted instinctively, and he kissed her back—harder and more eagerly this time. His movements were rough and urgent, filled with raw emotion.

Feeling his excitement, Lin Ziyu slipped off his lap and lay down on the couch. As she fell, she hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him down with her.

Propped up on one arm, Zhang Wulin froze, his face flushed as he looked down at her. Realizing he was pinning her beneath him, he quickly tried to push himself up.

But Lin Ziyu held onto him tightly, her face equally flushed. This was the first time she’d been so forward.

“Xiao Yu…” he murmured, embarrassed.

Lin Ziyu lifted her head and kissed him again, whispering, “Don’t you want to keep kissing me?”

He… did.

He wanted to so badly. Even now, his mind was swimming with wicked thoughts, and guilt pricked at him. But his body couldn’t help but lean closer, pressing her down completely.

He was losing control.

Lin Ziyu’s hand slid down his chest, pausing briefly before pressing against him through his pants. Her face turned crimson. “Do you… want to try?”

Zhang Wulin’s entire body stiffened, his face burning as heat radiated from every inch of him. Slowly, he shook his head. “I-I think we should wait. It doesn’t feel right… I’d just be taking advantage of you…” He worried that rushing things would make Lin Ziyu think he didn’t respect her.

“But right now, I’m the one taking advantage of you,” Lin Ziyu teased, her hand slipping under the waistband of his pants. Her fingers brushed against him directly, making him tremble. His face turned even redder, his jaw clenched as he stared at her.

Lin Ziyu smiled, her voice soft but firm. “Carry me to the bedroom.”

Zhang Wulin leaned down and kissed her deeply. After a while, he swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.

Everything began under her lead.

Zhang Wulin was inexperienced—this was his first time. At first, he didn’t do very well, hesitant and afraid of hurting her, almost like a shy boy. Lin Ziyu, her face flushed, gently guided him. Fortunately, he was a quick learner, and once his instincts kicked in, he soon took the initiative.

The first time ended quickly, though. Embarrassed, he lay on top of her with his head buried against her shoulder, too ashamed to meet her eyes. Was he one of those “two-minute men” people joked about?

Lin Ziyu softly patted his back, her lips curling into a smile. “It’s okay. The first time is always quick. It’ll be better next time.”

The next time really was better—and the time after that, even better.

Being young, Zhang Wulin had boundless energy and enthusiasm. For the first time, Lin Ziyu indulged so freely. By the time they were done, she asked him to carry her to the shower. Curled up in his arms, she felt entirely fulfilled, though utterly exhausted.

That night, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Zhang Wulin stayed awake for a long time, quietly watching her.

In the middle of the night, Lin Ziyu woke up and noticed he was still awake. His expression seemed off, and she frowned slightly. “Are you… feeling bothered that I wasn’t a virgin? Does it bother you?”

Or, perhaps, did he dislike how forward she’d been?

Zhang Wulin immediately shook his head, his brows knitting in worry. “No, I’d never think that… I don’t mind at all, really.”

Lin Ziyu studied his gaze, realizing she had been overthinking it. She could tell just by looking into his eyes…

He liked her even more than before.

She remembered an ex-boyfriend who had dumped her after learning she wasn’t a virgin. That breakup left a shadow in her heart, making her afraid of encountering men who thought that way again.

In a soft voice, she told Zhang Wulin about it. Hearing her words, his heart ached, and he hugged her tightly. “It’s okay. I’ll treat you well from now on.”

She smiled.

Such plain, simple words—but they carried so much warmth.

With that, she fell asleep, completely at ease.

The next morning, it was already close to noon when Lin Ziyu woke up. Zhang Wulin was already up. Hearing her stir, he came into the room. Their eyes met, and while he looked a little embarrassed, he didn’t look away. “You’re awake? Hurry and get up. I made some millet porridge—there’s not much else in your kitchen.”

Sitting up, Lin Ziyu pouted. “I don’t want millet porridge. Get my phone for me; I’ll order takeout. It’s almost noon, so let’s eat something nice.”

After such an exhausting night, she wanted to reward herself—and him, too.

But Zhang Wulin didn’t fetch her phone. Instead, he sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. In a low voice, he said, “Don’t order takeout. You must eat takeout a lot, which is probably why your kitchen is so bare. Takeout isn’t tasty or nutritious, and look at how skinny you are… Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll make it for you. I cook well, really. These next few days, I’ll cook anything you want—and when I’m on leave in the future, I’ll cook for you then too.”

Lin Ziyu’s eyes turned red as she looked up at him.

This was the first time a man had told her the morning after that he wanted to cook for her—not just once, but again and again in the future.

“Really?”

“Of course. I’ve been cooking since elementary school.”

Lin Ziyu smiled. “Alright, give me a moment to change, and we’ll go grocery shopping together.”

Zhang Wulin grinned. “Okay, but at least drink a bowl of porridge first. It’ll take time to shop and cook, and I don’t want you to faint from hunger.”

“Alright.”

She drank the porridge, and the two of them went to the market.

Zhang Wulin was an excellent cook. His dishes were even better than her mother’s.

Lin Ziyu, who was usually lazy when it came to cooking, preferred to focus on keeping herself looking neat and her home just tidy enough not to be messy. She rarely cooked for herself.

But those ten days… might have been the most relaxing ten days of her 26 years.

During the day, they went out together. In the evenings, they returned home, cooked together, and ate. Sometimes, they’d go out to watch a movie or take a stroll. At night, they always ended up entwined with each other.

Young and full of energy, Zhang Wulin lacked restraint, but Lin Ziyu didn’t mind indulging him. He improved over time, and they grew more in sync, physically and emotionally. She found herself thoroughly enjoying it.

Those ten days were the happiest days of Zhang Wulin’s life.

When his leave ended, it was time to return to his unit. Lin Ziyu felt reluctant to let him go. “What if I crave your cooking while you’re gone?”

He was equally reluctant, pulling her into his arms. “I’ll make it for you when I’m on leave again.”

Lin Ziyu pouted but relented. “Fine.”

Seeing her like this, he felt a little relieved and chuckled. “Next time, tell me what you want, and I’ll make it all for you.”

As long as you’re willing to wait for me, I’ll do anything for you.

Lin Ziyu nodded. “Alright. The production team will probably be visiting the military base soon, so we’ll see each other again soon. Don’t worry.” She patted his cheek, teasing, “But no one will be here to warm my bed at night!”

Her words made Zhang Wulin nervous. “I’ll work hard—once I become a deputy company commander, I can apply for housing. Then you can move with me to the base. Actually, it’s not that far from here, so in the future…”

“I know, I know. Don’t stress yourself out, you silly thing,” Lin Ziyu said with a laugh. “Just stay safe and train hard when you’re back.”

Zhang Wulin beamed. “I will.”

Lin Ziyu drove him back to the base.

By this point, their relationship wasn’t much of a secret.

When Zhang Wulin returned, he was practically glowing with happiness.

Cao Ming noticed immediately and grinned mischievously. “Squad Leader, you’re practically floating on air. Careful, or Captain Lu might penalize you.”

“Why would he penalize me for no reason?” Zhang Wulin asked, confused.

“There’s no rule against dating in the military,” he added defensively.

“Yeah, but what if he punishes you for being distracted or daydreaming?” Cao Ming teased.

“That won’t happen,” Zhang Wulin said with a firm shake of his head, smiling confidently. Now, more than ever, he needed to work harder.

🌏 World Tour with Kliraz: Love, Comfort, and Connections

Isn’t it fascinating how cooking became Zhang Wulin’s love language? In China, food isn’t just sustenance—it’s emotional currency. “I’ll cook for you” says “I care deeply about you.” In Mexico, preparing tamales as a family fosters connection, while in India, sharing homemade chai is a tender gesture of love. Even in Finland, simple dishes like salmon soup bring warmth to relationships. What’s your food-language of love? (｡♥‿♥｡)

Dating traditions have shifted worldwide. Lin Ziyu boldly takes charge, reflecting modern Chinese women’s confidence. Yet, in many cultures, traditional dating norms linger. In South Korea, dates are meticulously planned, with men often taking the lead, while in Norway, casual, coffee-centric dates prevail. Does your culture lean more traditional or modern when it comes to love? (o･ω･o)

Lin Ziyus’s cozy apartment reflects her independence, mirroring similar trends in Japan’s “solo living” or Scandinavia’s love of “hygge”—a minimalist, cozy lifestyle. Compare this to Mediterranean cultures, where family involvement remains central. Why do you think independence feels so liberating in some cultures but isolating in others? (*≧ω≦)

Zhang Wulin’s self-doubt shows how past relationships influence our present. In Argentina’s tango culture, mutual trust builds balance. For us? Try practicing affirmations like “I bring value to this relationship.”

Which cultural dating quirk inspires you most? ヽ(≧◡≦)ノ