《After Marrying the Officer》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Dying with Eyes Open Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Dying with Eyes Open After a hard day¡¯s work, Xia Chuyi rubbed her shoulders and continued to tidy up the kitchen. Bang, a noise came from behind her. She turned around, startled, and saw a middle-aged man, plump and balding, wearing an ill-fitting jacket, jumping down from beside the wall. At the sight of the man, Xia Chuyi¡¯s body tensed up suddenly, both shocked and scared, ¡°He Qing? What are you doing!¡± she angrily demanded. He Qing, her ex-fianc¨¦ and also her former brother-in-law, had been pestering and harassing her in her shop ever since they bumped into each other at the vegetable market last month. To avoid him, she had even started closing the shop unusually early, but who knew he would actually climb over the back wall! What the hell did this bastard want? ¡°I just came to check on you, Chuyi. After all, we were once family¡­¡± he rubbed his hands while licking his lips. ¡°Who¡¯s family with you? You were Xia Family¡¯s son-in-law, and I¡¯ve severed ties with the Xia Family long ago. Get out, get out of my shop!¡± Xia Chuyi felt so nauseous. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Chuyi. You haven¡¯t married all these years, aren¡¯t you keeping yourself pure for me?¡± He Qing flashed a sleazy disgusting smile, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since you tasted a man, hasn¡¯t it?¡± He lunged at her. ¡°Help!¡± Xia Chuyi ran for the door, screaming as she sprinted. He Qing caught up to her in two steps, covering her mouth tightly with one hand and strangling her neck with the other. ¡°Good Chuyi, if you like to scream, I¡¯ll let you scream enough on the bed later!¡± He Qing¡¯s tone became more obscene. Xia Chuyi fiercely shook her head, thrashing and kicking at him. Ignoring her resistance, he dragged her towards the small bedroom behind the shop. Realizing his intentions, she struggled even more fiercely; her hands unintentionally brushed against the dishes in the cupboard. Her eyes lit up, and she grabbed a stack of porcelain bowls, flinging them forcefully at He Qing. Bang, The porcelain bowls shattered on the floor. He Qing momentarily paused his actions, cursing, ¡°You bitch!¡± A sharp pain in her scalp, her hair was fiercely pulled, and she was yanked up by He Qing who grabbed her collar and slammed her hard towards the cupboard. Her body hit the cupboard hard, causing intense blunt pains in her organs. She fell to the floor like a kite with a broken string. Crash¡ªthe dishes in the cupboard spilled out, shattering upon her. Sszz¡ªa glassy piercing sound as shards lodged into her flesh. The back of her head was pierced by a piece of those porcelain shards. She moaned, the taste of blood spreading in her nose and mouth, fluid slowly seeping from the back of her head, drenching a large patch of hair, and trickling down to the ground. Seeing the blood, He Qing was shocked. ¡°Chuyi, I didn¡¯t mean it, I didn¡¯t mean it¡­¡± ¡°He¡­ Qing¡­ If I die¡­ I won¡¯t¡­ let you go!¡± Xia Chuyi gasped, enduring the severe pain, word by word. He Qing stepped back twice, his voice panicking. ¡°No, no, no¡­ not my fault¡­ it was Xia Lan, Xia Lan sent me!¡± ¡°It was her all those years ago too, she was the one who drugged you and Huo Shiqian¡­¡± At this, the fading consciousness of Xia Chuyi widened her eyes: ¡°What¡­ did you say?¡± Xia Lan? It was her! No wonder that day, despite her not coming home all night, it was only in the morning Xia Lan anxiously and ¡°worriedly¡± began searching everywhere for her. Then, ¡°coincidentally¡± found her entangled with Huo Shiqian, drugged and bruised. ¡°It¡¯s all Xia Lan, all Xia Lan¡­¡± He Qing shouted as he fled out of the shop. ¡°Xia Lan¡­¡± she used all her strength to cry out that name that had led to a lifetime of tragedies for her. Why, why! She ruined her thirty years ago, and now a second time, thirty years later! Xia Lan! What grudge do I hold against you! She was very unwilling to let it go! Clenching her teeth, with a bloody hand, she moved inch by inch towards her phone¡­ Her bloody fingerprint moved less than an inch, the blood¡¯s owner¡¯s consciousness began to blur, thoughts scattering. Past years flashed before her eyes like scenes from a movie. Her life had been hard, her father died early and her mother was weak, grandparents favored her cousin, forced to quit school when young, lost her virginity before marriage, fianc¨¦ snatched away, forced to marry an old widower, causing her uncle¡¯s death, driven out of the house¡­ A trail of tears mixed with blood slowly slid from Xia Chuyi¡¯s eye; she never managed to reach her phone. The blood from her head soaked the fragmented ceramics red. She died with her eyes open. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Bizarre Rebirth Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Bizarre Rebirth Xia Chuyi had a dream, in which she returned to the military guesthouse on that day. Outside the guesthouse, the world was a frozen expanse of ice and snow; inside the room, her body burned like hot coals, her restlessness unbearable. She was pinned under the body of a robust man. The temperature of the man¡¯s body was even higher than hers. The dream was too realistic; Xia Chuyi struggled to open her eyes and lifted her weak arms, trying to touch the man¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Huo¡­ Shi¡­ Qian¡­¡± Her lips trembling, tears of a physical reaction flowed ceaselessly. All of this marked the beginning of a nightmare¡­ A surge of fury suddenly rose in her heart, her eyes flashed with intensity, she put strength into her arms, pulling the two of them closer, opened her mouth, and fiercely bit down on his robust neck. Her resistance only provoked a more intense reaction from the man. The night passed in this manner. When she came to her senses again, Xia Chuyi was staring dazedly at the ceiling of the guesthouse. The real sensation of pain told her this was not a dream. So, had she been reborn? Had she returned to that morning which she had desperately wished to end, to that morning which had led her life into a great tragedy? In her last life, when she woke up and found herself defiled by a stranger, she had completely broken down, crying and waking up the drugged Huo Shiqian. Huo Shiqian woke up with a cold expression and questioned her if it was her who had drugged him. What had her response been at the time? She had heard his words and hysterically screamed, calling him a rapist and lunging at him to tear at him. She couldn¡¯t quite remember Huo Shiqian¡¯s reaction because right after, the voice of her cousin Xia Lan came from outside the door. Xia Lan had come with He Qing and his comrades to look for her. At that time, her mind had been a complete mess, filled with hatred for the man before her. She had been clinging to Huo Shiqian, and the door was quickly forced open by the people outside. Xia Lan and her party entered, immediately seeing her and Huo Shiqian in their disheveled state. After that, Huo Shiqian was reassigned to a mysterious unit in the Southwest due to personal conduct issues, while her engagement was called off by He Qing and she returned home heartbroken. Reflecting on this, Xia Chuyi felt that this nightmare, though it seemed to be hers, was actually more of Huo Shiqian¡¯s. He was a fine military officer, who had been dragged down by her and nearly had his career cut short. But fortunately, in the end, he still climbed to a high position. Many years later, she would often see his interviews on television, while his name had become one that even search engines needed to censor. ¡°Was it you who drugged me last night?¡± The man¡¯s voice rang in Xia Chuyi¡¯s ears. Huo Shiqian¡¯s question was exactly the same as in her past life. This time, she was no longer hysterical. ¡°I¡­¡± She began, only to discover that her throat was very hoarse. ¡°Speak up, who sent you?¡± The man asked coldly, his face stern. Rubbing her throat, she calmly looked at him. How strange it was, the demonic voice from her memory that seemed cold and heartless, now sounded deep and magnetic to her. Huo Shiqian, in this life, let¡¯s be a bit more harmonious. Xia Chuyi silently wished in her heart. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Telling the Truth Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Telling the Truth Xia Chuyi grabbed the blanket and covered herself. She glanced at Huo Shiqian. He had woken up earlier than her and was already dressed neatly. Leaning on her hand, her body slowly wriggled backwards until she sat up against the wall at the head of the bed. ¡°There¡¯s no one¡­¡± Her throat was still very uncomfortable. She swallowed to moisten it, which made her feel somewhat better. She continued in a hoarse voice, ¡°Believe it or not, I was also set up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know you, and you don¡¯t know me. Why would I compromise my chastity to set you up?¡± She looked sincerely into his eyes, plainly interpreting the situation. Now, it was a time when premarital loss of virginity could lead to public vilification. Huo Shiqian¡¯s lips were tightly pressed together, his eyes, sharp as a hawk¡¯s, scanned her as if judging the truth of her words. She met his gaze openly and without fear. As she looked, she couldn¡¯t help but trace his features with her eyes. He had fine, sword-like eyebrows, filled with a soldier¡¯s sharpness; his deep eyes were inscrutable, difficult to fathom; his high, prominent nose gave him an imperious air; his tightly set lips imparted an aura of authority; his chiseled jaw made him seem serious and no-nonsense. This man truly had the kind of face that could frighten women and make children cry. However, to tell the truth, he was quite handsome. She found herself unconsciously smiling. Huo Shiqian¡¯s expression changed slightly, his brows gradually knitting together. The atmosphere turned somewhat awkward. She withdrew her gaze. She didn¡¯t get the information she wanted from his face. Of course, how could such a big issue be believed just from a few words? No matter, she hadn¡¯t planned to resolve the issue right away. Wrapped in the blanket, she got out of bed and picked up the clothes scattered on the floor, rustling as she put them on under the cover of the blanket. Once dressed, she jumped off the bed and stood in front of him, tilting her head up slightly to look at Huo Shiqian. The man was really quite tall. ¡°Anyway, this is what happened. Although a woman¡¯s chastity is important, neither of us did this willingly. So let¡¯s just pretend it never happened,¡± she said casually, spreading her hands. The air in the room suddenly felt degrees colder. ¡°What did you say?¡± His sharp glance made her shiver, and she couldn¡¯t help but step back two steps, feeling inexplicably embarrassed, as if she had done something wrong. ¡°Cough cough, well, it¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll be going now!¡± She retreated to the wall, turned swiftly, and opened the window, using her hands and feet to climb onto the sill. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Another stern and icy question came as her arm was gripped by him. Looking back, Huo Shiqian¡¯s expression was extremely grim. She struggled to pull her hand back but couldn¡¯t break free. Fine, she pointed out the window of the inn. There was a small portion of the balcony visible, with the building¡¯s pipes beside it. She planned to climb out there, and descend along the pipes to avoid exiting through the main door, where her fianc¨¦ and her ¡°dear sister,¡± Xia Lan, might be lying in wait. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. I just want to climb out from the balcony. Otherwise, if I go out the main door, my fianc¨¦ and my dear sister are waiting outside.¡± Her gaze flicked towards the currently quiet and closed door, which, if opened, could turn everything upside down. ¡°Fianc¨¦?¡± Huo Shiqian echoed her words, his tone icy. Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Narrow Road Encounter Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Narrow Road Encounter Xia Chuyi said so much, yet Huo Shiqian¡¯s focus was only on the three words ¡°fianc¨¦¡±? ¡°Yes, the people outside are my fianc¨¦ and sister.¡± She turned her face away and didn¡¯t look at him, ¡°This time, the two people closest to me plotted to frame me!¡± She couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists tightly, as scenes from her previous life seemed to replay before her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for dragging you into this.¡± She lowered her head to hide the emotions in her eyes. But in this life, I will never drag you down again. She made a silent vow to herself. Regaining her composure, Xia Chuyi lifted her head and looked at him, her voice and gaze filled with unwavering determination, ¡°Let me go.¡± Huo Shiqian said nothing. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door. ¡°Chuyi, Chuyi, are you in there?¡± Damn! That was Xia Lan¡¯s voice! ¡°Knock knock knock¡± Her calls were accompanied by knocking sounds. ¡°Chuyi, Chuyi, it¡¯s Sister Lan, please open the door. Chuyi, what happened to you?¡± It was a voice filled with worry, yet upon closer listening, it was clearly tinged with unmistakable excitement. Her clenched fists were so tight that her fingernails dug into her flesh, causing a painful sting. Indeed, in her past life, she had been blind, deaf, and foolish! She took a deep breath. ¡°I must leave immediately!¡± Xia Chuyi didn¡¯t hesitate and dashed straight for the window. Once again, someone grabbed her arm from behind. ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Before she could react, Huo Shiqian had already pulled her into his arms. The knocking on the door grew fiercer, almost turning into pounding. ¡°Chuyi, Chuyi, are you there? If you don¡¯t open the door, we¡¯re going to break in!¡± Suddenly, her body was lifted into the air, and Xia Chuyi found herself securely held in Huo Shiqian¡¯s embrace; he swiftly flipped out of the window and slid down the pipe to the ground below. ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t move.¡± After settling her down, Huo Shiqian instructed her sternly. Then, she saw him use his hands and feet to swiftly climb back up to the second floor and disappear behind the window. Gazing in the direction of the second floor, she could still smell Huo Shiqian¡¯s scent on her and couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly. This person, he seemed cold, but in fact, he was a very warm person. It¡¯s a pity that it was better for her to remain a stranger to him. She didn¡¯t listen to him, walking around to the main entrance of the guesthouse and entered openly and boldly. On the second floor, Huo Shiqian returned to the room and quickly made it appear as if nothing had happened. ¡°Thud.¡± As the pounding on the door grew more urgent, Huo Shiqian suddenly yanked the door open. The woman outside immediately lit up with excitement, feigning concern as she tried to rush past Huo Shiqian. ¡°Chuyi!¡± As soon as she stepped inside, she was grabbed by the collar and thrown out in a parabolic flight. ¡°Lanlan!¡± He Qing quickly caught her. ¡°Which bastard dares to hit¡­¡± The comrade who came with He Qing rolled up his sleeves, cursing, and charged forward, only to be kicked in the abdomen by a dark shadow and sent flying. The comrade hadn¡¯t even recovered, clutching his stomach, when he raised his head and recognized the person at the door. ¡°Huo, Huo¡­¡± He didn¡¯t dare to finish saying the name. Huo Shiqian, known as Huo Yama, was the youngest, most influential military officer in the military district, infamous for his unyielding authority! ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Huo Shiqian¡¯s icy voice echoed in the hallway. By now, He Qing had also recognized Huo Shiqian, his voice somewhat timid. ¡°We¡¯re looking for someone¡­ just looking for someone¡­¡± He Qing¡¯s eyes sneaked a glance behind Huo Shiqian. The room in the guesthouse was simply furnished, not very spacious; one could see everything at a glance. The bedspread was slightly disheveled on the bed, with a military jacket casually thrown over the side of the bed; it was obvious that Huo Shiqian had been awoken by their noise. But there was no sign of Xia Chuyi inside. He Qing felt disappointed. It would have been perfect if Xia Chuyi had really been with Huo Shiqian the previous night; then he could have caught something incriminating about Huo Shiqian. Too bad. Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 The Failure to Catch the Cheaters Chapter 5: Chapter 5 The Failure to Catch the Cheaters Huo Shiqian stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, pretending not to notice He Qing¡¯s surreptitious movements. ¡°Looking for someone? To my place?¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it. We had no idea you were here¡­¡± He Qing could only admit defeat, as the situation had progressed this far. Huo Shiqian¡¯s eyes were like sharp swords, sweeping over the three people. His companion, kicked to the ground, shrank back in fear, swallowing hard. He Qing could only stiffen his resolve to explain, ¡°Misunderstanding, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding¡­ it¡¯s my friend, my friend said, said her sister entered your room, so we¡­¡± In his haste, he pushed Xia Lan forward. Xia Lan was pushed to the front. She looked at Huo Shiqian with her mouth agape, stunned. Who was this? This was not at all the man she had originally designed for the plan! How could she hate Xia Chuyi so much and then arrange for her a man with such good looks? She was really making it too easy for her! The man in front of her was tall and strong, with a commanding presence. Xia Lan was so frightened that her legs trembled. Soon, she steadied her mind, squeezed out some tears, and looked at Huo Shiqian with a pitiable, pear-blossom-in-the-rain expression. ¡°It was, it was me who saw it. I saw Xia Chuyi enter this room last night with my own eyes, and she stayed the whole night until this morning without leaving. I was so worried about her¡­¡± ¡°Sister Lan, what are you doing here?¡± A crisp female voice echoed down the corridor. Xia Chuyi, playing with the braid at her chest, smiled and walked over at a leisurely pace. ¡°Xia Chuyi? Impossible, impossible, I clearly saw you¡­¡± Xia Lan shook her head violently. ¡°Saw what?¡± Xia Chuyi¡¯s eyes curved like little boats. ¡°No, no, it can¡¯t be¡­¡± Xia Lan¡¯s face was filled with disbelief. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened?¡± Xia Chuyi asked again, feigning the innocence of a young girl. Beside her, Huo Shiqian emanated coldness, He Qing wore an awkward expression, and the person on the ground appeared completely confused. ¡°Chuyi, I, I, you didn¡¯t come back all night yesterday¡­ I was worried about you¡­¡± She interrupted Xia Lan, ¡°Sister, what are you saying? Weren¡¯t we together last night?¡± ¡°No, no, you went out, didn¡¯t you? I saw you¡­¡± Xia Lan, anxious, tried to interject. ¡°What do you mean, I went out? Where would I go? How could I possibly¡­ Sister Lan, you must be sleepwalking. I came here with you to visit relatives, unfamiliar with the place, and as a girl, how could I dare go out alone at night? More importantly, you¡¯ve been so good to me, so caring, how could you possibly allow me to do something so dangerous, right?¡± Xia Chuyi fixed her gaze on Xia Lan like a nail, her barrage of questions leaving Xia Lan at a loss for words. Indeed, wasn¡¯t she her good elder sister? Then why would a good elder sister stand by and watch her younger sister go out at night, not returning until dawn before finally reacting with apparent worry and looking for someone? It was only because in her previous life, when Xia Chuyi experienced a huge change and her mind was full of the previous night¡¯s events, that she had not noticed this point. Later, she merely suspected that Xia Lan had allowed the situation to escalate, not knowing that it was all carefully orchestrated by her. However, this matter was not to be brought up at this moment. The debts of the past life, the accounts of this life, in the future, she would settle them one by one. Xia Lan, refusing to give in but also not daring to say more, clenched her teeth, revealing a pitiable look of I¡¯ve-seen-better-days as she lowered her head. Catch the thief with evidence, catch the adulterer in the act, her plan had completely failed. Playing with her braid and looking as if she enjoyed the show, Xia Chuyi pretended not to see the malicious glint in Xia Lan¡¯s eyes. She was curious to see how Xia Lan would explain herself to her. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Scoundrel Men and Women Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Scoundrel Men and Women Xia Lan hung her head, playing the victim, leaving He Qing no choice but to step up and confront the situation, approaching Xia Chuyi to calm her. ¡°Chuyi, it¡¯s nothing, just a little misunderstanding,¡± He Qing rarely spoke to her in such a gentle tone. Xia Chuyi looked up at him, her lips curling up with a hint of sarcasm. This was him using his charm. In the past, whenever he showed even a little kindness towards her, she would obediently and gently follow his commands, submissive and compliant. She hadn¡¯t even started the ¡°duet¡± with He Qing. ¡°A misunderstanding?¡± Huo Shiqian¡¯s icy voice suddenly rang out from behind. In that instant, He Qing and his friend on the ground were drenched in cold sweat. Huo Shiqian¡¯s piercing gaze swept over everyone, eventually sliding over the crowd to land, somewhat indistinctly, on Xia Chuyi. Xia Chuyi turned her face away, her round eyes wide as if she had seen a stranger, feigning curiosity as she looked at Huo Shiqian. After a few seconds of silence, Huo Shiqian finally withdrew his gaze and said, ¡°Since it¡¯s a misunderstanding, then please leave.¡± ¡°Bang.¡± In front of Xia Chuyi, Huo Shiqian forcefully shut the door. Xia Chuyi was stunned. The other three sighed in relief, feeling like they had narrowly escaped disaster. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± He Qing helped Xia Lan up, whispering softly. Seeing that Huo Shiqian had dealt with the situation, he didn¡¯t spare another glance at Xia Chuyi. Their friend on the ground scrambled up swiftly. The few of them quickly left the second-floor corridor. Xia Chuyi, walking at the back, couldn¡¯t help but shake her head at the door. It was just because she hadn¡¯t obediently waited for him in place¡­ This man also had a petty side. Then, she hurried to catch up with the others. Just as they were descending the stairs, she saw He Qing apologizing, smiling, to his friend. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I originally invited you here for a treat, but then¡­¡± His friend waved his hand, ¡°Enough, enough, let¡¯s not talk about this, Huo¡­ I¡¯m leaving now, take care of yourself!¡± As if there were demons here, his friend left the guesthouse without looking back. With a good-natured send-off, He Qing¡¯s smile quickly faded. Xia Chuyi knew He Qing well; he was very proud, and making him lose face in front of his friend must have infuriated him. His stubborn character was something even Xia Lan clearly knew. ¡°Brother Qing¡­¡± Xia Lan sobbed, her eyes brimming with tears and guilt, she bowed her head, her shoulders trembling, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, all my fault¡­¡± Her frail appearance made Xia Chuyi feel pity. Ever since they were young, Xia Chuyi hadn¡¯t hesitated to stand up for Xia Lan whenever she played the victim. As expected, He Qing immediately softened. ¡°Forget it, Lanlan,¡± He Qing reached out, soothingly patting Xia Lan¡¯s back, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°Brother Qing¡­¡± The two of them exchanged affectionate glances. Standing behind them, Xia Chuyi played with her braids, watching the drama unfold with interest. How blind had she been in her previous life to not notice their affair? As if just noticing her, Xia Lan stepped back to avoid He Qing¡¯s touch, her voice trembling, ¡°Chuyi! Don¡¯t be mad, I didn¡¯t mean it, I was worried about you¡­¡± Worried about her, so she specifically brought someone to catch her in an affair? Xia Chuyi couldn¡¯t be bothered to expose her ploy and continued walking without a word. ¡°Xia Chuyi, what kind of attitude is this!¡± Her indifference angered He Qing, who fiercely said, ¡°Xia Chuyi, apologize to your sister!¡± Apologize? Xia Chuyi stopped, raised her eyebrows, and gave them a scornful look. ¡°Apologize for what?¡± She looked at He Qing, almost laughing. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Uncle Saves the Day Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Uncle Saves the Day Xia Chuyi wore a sarcastic expression that irritated He Qing. ¡°What apology do you not know you owe?¡± He Qing was extremely angry, yet put on a fa?ade of heart-wrenching, righteous indignation. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xia Chuyi spread her hands, quite frankly. ¡°As a young lady, running around early in the morning, only to have your sister misunderstand that you didn¡¯t come home all night and suffer that beating from Huo¡­! And you still say you don¡¯t know where you went wrong?¡± Well, at least she had a bit of sense, knowing where to find her fault. But, her focus was on¡­ what exactly was Huo Shiqian¡¯s identity in the military, that everyone was so scared they dared not even say his name? Xia Chuyi grew a bit curious. If, at this time in her previous life, he was already so formidable, why did he so easily admit to the charge of rape? She had a faint guess. ¡°Chuyi, Chuyi, there¡¯s no need, no need to apologize¡­¡± Xia Lan waved her hands, looking completely undeserving of the blame, but she was actually cementing her guilt. Xia Chuyi smiled carelessly. ¡°Oh, that thing. You all know, back in my hometown I got up before dawn to work. I¡¯m used to waking up at that time, and once I¡¯m up, I can¡¯t sit still, so just went for a stroll.¡± ¡°Ah, speaking of which, Sister Lan is the fortunate one, her health is poor, frail and always ill, so she doesn¡¯t do anything at home, doesn¡¯t have to wake up early, living like a city lady!¡± Xia Lan looked at her in shock. She gave Xia Lan a triumphant look. Yes, she was just spouting nonsense and making stuff up. So what? This was payback served fresh. But her actual intention wasn¡¯t to frame Xia Lan, it was¡­ ¡°Lanlan is unwell, what¡¯s wrong with doing less work?¡± Sure enough, He Qing jumped out to defend her. Xia Chuyi still remembered the words He Qing had said when breaking off their engagement back in the day. Xia Chuyi, with your aggressive and domineering nature, how can you compare to Lanlan? Lanlan is kind, frail, gentle, nothing like a shameless shrew like you! Back then, she knew, He Qing liked Xia Lan¡¯s type¡ªsubmissive, frail, a faux gentlewoman. In her past life, she was never gentle, which earned He Qing¡¯s disdain. This time, she intended to be twice as domineering to make He Qing hate her even more, which would be advantageous for her plan to break off the engagement smoothly. ¡°What are you saying, ¡®what¡¯s wrong with doing less work¡¯? In our rural village, which family¡¯s daughter doesn¡¯t work? How come she shouldn¡¯t work? She¡¯s not some city missy!¡± Xia Chuyi rolled her eyes, pretending to be very angry, spoke her piece, and turned to leave. He Qing was so angry his face turned green, and he grabbed her. ¡°Let go!¡± Xia Chuyi struggled, her tone and movements becoming even rougher. ¡°You!¡± He Qing refused to loosen his grip. ¡°You won¡¯t let go, huh?¡± She raised an eyebrow, smiled, and suddenly yelled, ¡°Molester, there¡¯s a molester here!¡± She stomped on He Qing¡¯s foot hard, and he let go of her in pain. ¡°You!¡± These were the years when molestation was a criminal offense, and He Qing¡¯s eyes blazed with anger. ¡°Xia Chuyi, what are you yelling about!¡± ¡°Help, there¡¯s a molester here¡­¡± Xia Chuyi shouted as she ran towards the second floor. Even before reaching the second floor, the figure she expected appeared. A handsome man in crisp military uniform, with agile movements, appeared before her, grabbed He Qing, yanked, pulled, and threw him down the stairs, making him fall face-first. Xia Chuyi ran behind him and grabbed the hem of his clothing. ¡°Uncle Liberation Army, there¡¯s a molester!¡± The air suddenly turned tense, and Huo Shiqian¡¯s face darkened like a pot. Uncle Liberation Army? Xia Chuyi blinked innocently. Was there something wrong? She was only eighteen this year, and Huo Shiqian must be close to thirty, right? What¡¯s wrong with calling him uncle? In any case, this lifetime, she would have no further associations with him, it was best to distance herself in terms of seniority. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Xia Lan Shows Weakness Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Xia Lan Shows Weakness ¡°Uncle Liberation Army, someone¡¯s being a hooligan!¡± Xia Chuyi looked at Huo Shiqian with a pitiful expression and pointed at He Qing. ¡°You¡­¡± He Qing was so angry he was grinding his teeth, but he was intimidated by Huo Shiqian and dared not speak out. Huo Shiqian¡¯s gaze was piercing. As soon as he opened his mouth, there were only three cold words: ¡°Return to the base.¡± ¡°Mr. Huo¡­ I was on leave¡­¡± He Qing tried to explain with a forced smile. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, He, are you Qiao Canmou¡¯s soldier, and that means I can¡¯t order you around? Or, would you rather stay here and keep playing the hooligan?¡± His eyes swept indistinctly over Xia Chuyi¡¯s hands, which were now pulling at the hem of his clothing. A suspicion crossed Xia Chuyi¡¯s mind. Was that comment about being a hooligan directed at her? Sweetly smiling at him, she calmly let go of his clothing. Huo Shiqian withdrew his gaze and looked at He Qing with an intimidating stare before striding off. He Qing, frightened by Huo Shiqian¡¯s imposing manner, didn¡¯t dare to even breathe too hard, let alone stay any longer, and had to follow. Before leaving, he covertly glared fiercely at Xia Chuyi. Xia Chuyi met his threatening gaze without a hint of fear. ¡°Lanlan, something¡¯s come up at the base, so I¡¯m heading back first. Take good care of yourself. I¡¯ll come to see you later.¡± Her childhood sweetheart did not forget to say goodbye to his little sister. ¡°Mmm, Brother Qing, I¡¯ll take care of myself. Military matters are important.¡± Did these two really forget that she and He Qing were engaged? Ironic laughter almost escaped Xia Chuyi¡¯s eyes. With He Qing gone, the object of Xia Lan¡¯s curry-favoring shifted to her. Xia Lan approached her and said softly, ¡°Chuyi, you¡­ you mustn¡¯t misunderstand¡­ Brother Qing and I aren¡¯t like that¡­ and also, the earlier incident was a misunderstanding¡­ maybe I saw it wrong¡­¡± With those words swiftly glossing over the morning¡¯s events, Xia Lan changed the topic: ¡°Actually, Chuyi, you are beautiful, and if only you were a bit gentler, Brother Qing would like you.¡± Xia Chuyi found this amusing inside. So it was her fault that He Qing didn¡¯t like her? Xia Lan¡¯s act of feigning weakness and innocence, while covertly attempting to stir jealousy was executed with natural ease. Unfortunately, she was still too young to hide the sharpness in her eyes. But she was not about to believe her act like she did in her previous life, nor play into her script. ¡°I know!¡± Xia Chuyi slipped her hands into her jacket pockets, her eyes curving into little arcs as if not bothered by the previous events. Then, lifting her face with pride, she smiled, ¡°What could you and He Qing possibly have? He Qing is formally engaged to me, his fianc¨¦e. Even if he doesn¡¯t like me, he¡¯ll have to marry me. Other women, no matter how much they want to, can¡¯t snatch him away.¡± Xia Chuyi deliberately drew out her tone, stating things bluntly, causing Xia Lan¡¯s face to momentarily falter. ¡°Mmm¡­ Yes.¡± Xia Lan managed to say, grinding her teeth and with a vicious look in her eyes. ¡°Ha ha ha.¡± Xia Chuyi laughed ambiguously and then said, ¡°Getting up so early has made me tired. I¡¯m going back to my room.¡± She saw Xia Lan¡¯s eyes light up momentarily, her gaze shifting toward Xia Chuyi¡¯s flowered jacket. ¡°Chuyi, let me go back with you.¡± It seemed Xia Lan was up to something again, and following Xia Lan¡¯s gaze, Xia Chuyi too looked at her own clothes. Indeed, if someone examined carefully, her jacket wasn¡¯t worn quite neatly, having been hurriedly put on in haste. Xia Lan had drugged her yesterday, and certainly wouldn¡¯t believe she came through the night unscathed. So, Xia Chuyi surmised that Xia Lan was trying to find an opportunity to check for any telltale signs of intimacy on her body. ¡°Sure.¡± She glanced at her and said with a beaming smile, as if she hadn¡¯t noticed a thing. Suddenly, she added, ¡°Oh wait, that won¡¯t be right, you have a habit of sleepwalking at night, don¡¯t you? And you have a tendency to take your dreams for reality, talking all sorts of nonsense¡­¡± Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Bizarre Incident Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Bizarre Incident Xia Chuyi intentionally patted her chest, putting on a scared face, yet her expression was all smiles. ¡°Wow, so scary, I can¡¯t dare to sleep with you tonight, how about you book another room?¡± She rambled on and walked straight to the counter, speaking to the female attendant who was pretending to be busy cracking melon seeds but actually watched the drama unfold for quite some time: ¡°Dear beautiful comrade, please open another room for her. She has a condition and isn¡¯t used to staying with others. Oh, and put it on that officer He Qing¡¯s tab, the room I was staying in was registered under his military ID, so there should be a record.¡± The female attendant almost sprayed out her melon seeds when she heard the words ¡°beautiful comrade.¡± This was an era where everyone was a ¡°comrade¡± in love, advocating to engage in the revolutionary cause together; pursuing beauty was capitalist style, and complimenting someone¡¯s beauty was considered hooliganism. Suddenly hearing such a blatant ¡°beautiful,¡± Xia Chuyi saw that although the attendant tried to pretend she wasn¡¯t happy, the corners of her mouth were already turning upward. ¡°Strictly speaking, we shouldn¡¯t,¡± the attendant glanced at Xia Lan and stifled her laughter, ¡°but since this comrade has a condition, we¡¯ll make an exception.¡± ¡°Thanks, beautiful comrade!¡± In a trice, they managed to book another room for Xia Lan, still charging it to He Qing¡¯s account. Xia Lan was utterly taken aback and by the time she realized what had happened, the attendant was already handing over the keys. ¡°Chuyi, I didn¡¯t¡­ We don¡¯t need to book another room!¡± Xia Lan finally caught on and hastily objected, but Xia Chuyi couldn¡¯t be bothered with her and took the keys from the attendant. ¡°You don¡¯t need it? But the room is already booked!¡± Xia Chuyi feigned surprise, following her lead. ¡°In that case, you stay in the previous room and I¡¯ll take this one.¡± She waved the keys in her hand, smiled openly, and tucked them into her pocket. Xia Lan bit her lip, wanting to say more, but Xia Chuyi had already turned and walked away. Let Xia Lan be disgusted to death! She certainly did not want to live with her ¡°kind-hearted sister¡± who had the heart of a serpent and scorpion. And the bed Xia Lan had slept in, it made her feel sick. Carrying her luggage, Xia Chuyi ignored Xia Lan¡¯s lip-biting, pitiable ¡°sorrowful¡± expression and entered the newly booked room. She threw her bag onto the bed and lay down at once, closing her eyes and subconsciously started to stroke the jade pendant around her neck. The pendant radiated a familiar warmth, and the corners of her eyes moistened slightly. Thankfully, this life wasn¡¯t unfolding as before. In this life, Huo Shiqian wouldn¡¯t be demoted for his behavior, wouldn¡¯t waste several years because of her. And she¡­ she wouldn¡¯t be slandered for a chastity issue that led to the death of her uncle and mother¡­ In the future, no matter how great the obstacles ahead, she would march forward valiantly. After calming her emotions for a while, she opened her eyes. Her gaze was confused for a moment, and her pupils suddenly dilated. No, something was wrong with the scene around her! The pristine ceiling, the tall cabinets, the workbench¡­ this was the kitchen in the back of her shop, the place where she had died! She was lying on the hard ground; how could this be? Could it be that she had not been reborn, but had experienced a beautiful dream just before death? Her complexion turned instantaneously pale, and she got up with a struggle. Wait, something was different¡­ She tried to maintain her composure and analyzed the situation clearly. If it had just been a dream, there should¡¯ve been a wound on the back of her head; she immediately reached back to feel for it, but there was no pain and no injury. Looking around carefully, everything in the cabinets was neatly placed, with no blood or debris on the floor. This was what her kitchen looked like before the incident. The refrigerator¡¯s metallic surface was polished like a mirror, reflecting her image: dressed in a red flowered coat, her hair tied into two thick pig-tails, and her petite face full of collagen¡­ The one standing there, it really was the eighteen-year-old her. Her rebirth was real, so what was going on with this shop? Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Mysterious Space Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Mysterious Space A flash of light appeared before her eyes, and a book shimmering with golden light appeared out of thin air in front of Xia Chuyi. What is this? She wondered in surprise. Reaching out to grab it, the golden light on the book disappeared, turning it into the appearance of an ordinary book. She flipped through the book, which contained nothing but recipes. After skimming it for a bit, she closed the book, and at that moment, a burst of golden light shone from the book again. Subsequently, the golden light faded and shrank until it transformed into a jade pendant, the very one that she had always worn around her neck. Caressing the jade pendant, she calmed her mind, realizing that she must have acquired a magical space. This jade pendant was left to her by her father, so was this the protection of her father¡¯s spirit from heaven? With a mere thought, she found herself outside the space, with the scene before her eyes changing to that of a hostel. She practiced entering and exiting the space several times, and soon she could proficiently move in and out, as well as manipulate objects to and from the space with her mind. After she had made the connection, she flashed into the space, dug up a plump radish from the ground, washed it by the brook, and then left the space. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she wiped off the water on the radish with her sleeve and took a bite. The taste was crisp, the juice sweet, and the fragrance lingered on her lips and teeth¡­ Was this the product of the space? It was so delicious it hardly seemed like an ordinary radish! Her eyes lit up, she seemed to have found a way to make money. After finishing the radish, she silently muttered ¡°Appear,¡± and strands of light emerged from the palm of her hand, coalescing into the jade pendant, which then gradually enlarged and turned back into the book. Leaning against the wall, she casually flipped through the book. She hadn¡¯t got through two pages when there was a knock on the door. ¡°Chuyi, Chuyi, it¡¯s Sister Lan. Are you ready? Once you¡¯re ready, let¡¯s go have breakfast together.¡± Have breakfast together? Xia Chuyi raised her eyebrows. Xia Lan was scheming against her again. How could she have been so foolish in her last life? She was deceived time and again, even counting money for others, thinking they were good sisters. She stored away the Heavenly Book, the jade pendant vanished into her body in a flash of light, and she got up from the bed. ¡°Okay,¡± she opened the door to greet Xia Lan, smiling cheerily. This life, let¡¯s see who outsmarts whom. ¡°Chuyi, you must be hungry after going out early in the morning, right? Let¡¯s go to the cafeteria for breakfast,¡± Xia Lan said with that pitiful look she always had when she saw Xia Chuyi. Xia Chuyi glanced at her. She really knew how to act, behaving as if nothing had ever happened. It was no wonder she had been deceived by her in her last life. ¡°Mhm,¡± Xia Chuyi put her hands in her jacket pockets, responded indifferently, and swaggered toward the cafeteria. In the cafeteria, the Master was haphazardly cleaning pots and pans. Seeing the two of them, the Master didn¡¯t bother to greet them. Walking straight to the stove because she was in the restaurant business, Xia Chuyi took one look and knew that the business here wasn¡¯t very good. These days, employees of state-owned units all had connections; they each had bigger egos than the next and didn¡¯t care about their business or profits. Anyway, whether the business was good or not, he still got his salary, and there were always leftovers to bring home. Xia Chuyi contemplated how to seize this opportunity. She casually glanced at today¡¯s special: Pork Dumplings (limited supply). She heard a slight swallowing sound next to her; it was Xia Lan. Xia Chuyi looked at her sidelong, asking as if offhandedly, ¡°Want some?¡± ¡°Ah? No, no!¡± Xia Lan waved her hands, her eyes lingering on the sign for the pork dumplings, looking very reluctant to leave them. Xia Chuyi shook her head in disdain, ¡°If you want to eat, just eat.¡± ¡°Can I¡­ really?¡± Xia Lan pretended to hesitate. ¡°Master, a plate of dumplings and two buns!¡± Xia Chuyi was too lazy to deal with her and shouted directly into the kitchen. ¡°Got it!¡± The Master replied lazily, casually picking a bun from the steamer to put into a bowl, and handed it to her. ¡°Here are the buns, the dumplings will take a bit longer.¡± Receiving the buns, Xia Chuyi began to ponder what to do next. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Steamed Buns and Cabbage Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Steamed Buns and Cabbage Xia Chuyi gnawed on a steamed bun without taking a seat at the table, watching with great interest as the Master rolled out dough to wrap dumplings. No kidding, the Master¡¯s skills were indeed impressive; his dumpling wrapping was both fast and skillful. She didn¡¯t sit down; Xia Lan probably hadn¡¯t eaten dumplings in a long time, so she stayed watching and didn¡¯t go to the table either. After a while, the dumplings were cooked and served. ¡°How much?¡± Xia Chuyi asked the Master about the price. ¡°Two buns for five cents, two taels of food coupons, no food coupons for ten cents. Dumplings for 30 cents, half a pound of food coupons, no food coupons for 60 cents,¡± the Master quoted. With food coupons, the price was halved; without them, it was doubled. Just as she remembered, Xia Chuyi nodded secretly. She took out five cents and two taels of national food coupons and passed them over. ¡°For the Master, here¡¯s the money for the buns.¡± The Master glanced at Xia Lan¡¯s shocked face, didn¡¯t say anything, and took Xia Chuyi¡¯s money. ¡°Chuyi¡­ Chuyi¡­¡± Xia Lan¡¯s face turned red, ¡°How could you¡­ how could you¡­¡± How could you pay only for the buns, right? Xia Chuyi grabbed the steamed bun and nibbled it calmly: ¡°Before leaving home, it was agreed that public transportation costs would be covered while food and lodging would be on our own, you haven¡¯t forgotten, have you?¡± ¡°From today onwards, let¡¯s stick to the rules we set at home.¡± Having said that, she bit into her steamed bun leisurely and walked away, indifferent to Xia Lan¡¯s aggrieved expression behind her. In her past life, she had overextended herself out of pity for Xia Lan, unknowingly drained by her and ultimately even losing her life for it. This lifetime, would she still be that foolish? Xia Chuyi casually nibbled on the steamed bun as she left the cafeteria. The bun in her hand was substantial, and its flavor was purely wholesome. As she chewed, a sweetness developed. Unfortunately, she had just nibbled on a radish from her space, which made the bun seem less tasty. She threw the remaining bun into her space and made a pretense of tucking it in her chest to camouflage. After disposing of the bun, she didn¡¯t return to her room but headed straight out of the guesthouse. An hour later, Xia Chuyi appeared outside the textile factory. ¡°Fresh vegetables for sale! Fresh cabbages, big radishes, fresh indeed!¡± At the factory entrance, Xia Chuyi wrapped her head in a scarf and called out in dialect. It was lunch break, and some of the female workers were carrying food from the cafeteria home, while others were empty-handed, planning to cook at home. Hearing Xia Chuyi¡¯s cries, the curious female workers came over and looked at the vegetables in the cardboard box. ¡°Wow, your vegetables are so fresh! How much are they?¡± Could they be anything but fresh? They were freshly picked from her space. ¡°Both cabbage and radish do not require food coupons, five cents per pound, and tomatoes too, ten cents per pound.¡± ¡°Tomatoes too?¡± The female worker exclaimed, ¡°Ten cents a pound, that¡¯s expensive.¡± Xia Chuyi snickered, seeing that the female worker looked poor, obviously wanting to buy, just trying to haggle. ¡°It¡¯s not expensive; these items are scarce, barely seen even in state-run markets, and I don¡¯t ask for food coupons. Buying from me is taking great advantage!¡± She exaggerated immensely. Wasn¡¯t it a huge advantage? Her space-produced items tasted much better than ordinary ones. Seeing that Xia Chuyi was not willing to budge, the female worker gritted her teeth: ¡°Fine, it¡¯s indeed hard to find, I¡¯ll take whatever you have!¡± Xia Chuyi was startled and took out all the tomatoes from the box. Business became easier once she made a sale. Several other women came by, drawn by the freshness of her vegetables, and soon the cardboard box was empty. Truth be told, business was so good she felt like adding more vegetables to the box, but she decided against it. There was only so much that could fit in a box, and constantly taking out more vegetables would likely lead her to be caught and subjected to research soon. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Hairy Burglar Climbing Through the Window Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Hairy Burglar Climbing Through the Window After selling the vegetables, the cardboard box was already soggy and deflated. Xia Chuyi felt some heartache; this was a box she had bought for ten cents in someone¡¯s store! In this era of extreme material scarcity, even a box for packaging things was very valuable, and average families simply didn¡¯t have them. Although resources were scarce, people¡¯s spending power exceeded her expectations. Her box of vegetables, from start to finish, took only about twenty minutes to sell out. Precisely because of the lack of goods, people actually had saved up quite a bit of money. For anything that only required money and no ration coupons, everyone¡¯s purchasing power was beyond imagination. Today¡¯s trial had filled Xia Chuyi with hope for the future. When she reached a deserted corner, she quietly tossed the box into her secret space, took off her headscarf, and leisurely strolled back to the hostel. ¡°Xia Chuyi, where did you go!¡± As soon as she entered the door, she saw He Qing standing at the entrance with a livid face, while Xia Lan stood beside him like a delicate bird, her eyes red, obviously having tattled. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to the big city before, just went out for a stroll,¡± Xia Chuyi replied nonchalantly, sticking to the script. ¡°You, look at your attitude!¡± He Qing trembled with anger, ¡°Do you even act like a lady?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t act like a lady? How do I not act like a lady?¡± Xia Chuyi rolled her eyes, giving him a sidelong glance, ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re engaged to a man instead of a woman, right?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± He Qing, furious, made as if to grab her. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Xia Chuyi glared at him coldly. He Qing was startled by her gaze, reminded of Huo Shiqian. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing special, I¡¯m going back to my room.¡± Not giving He Qing a chance to lecture her. Back in her room, Xia Chuyi¡¯s expression immediately became somber. Xia Lan, He Qing, you can¡¯t bear it anymore, can you? Well, go ahead and make your move. This revolting engagement weighed on her constantly, making her miserable. She moved into her space, scattered the seeds she had bought outside, took a bath, and began planning her next move. Suddenly, there was a noise from outside the space, and she immediately emerged from her secret place, on alert. ¡°Who?¡± She held a stick taken from the space in her hand. Xia Chuyi clutched the stick tightly, hiding by the window. When she saw the whole figure climbing up the window from outside, she abruptly yanked the curtain open, opened the window, and swung the stick with all her might. ¡°Bastard!¡± The stick did not hit a vital point; the intruder deflected the stick with a swipe of his hand, swiftly turning his body, and did a flip lightning-fast into the room. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, you damn thief!¡± Xia Chuyi shouted angrily, swinging the stick ready to attack again. But as she lifted her hands above her head, she got a clear look at the intruder¡¯s face. ¡°Why is it you?¡± Her tone shifted rapidly to one of surprise. The person who had climbed through the window was actually Huo Shiqian. Huo Shiqian stood there in his crisp military uniform, his military boots on, his face expressionless. Just standing there simply, he exuded an aura of inviolability, showing no sign he had just climbed through a window. Even climbing through a window, he managed to radiate an air of righteousness. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xia Chuyi held the stick, looking at him with confusion. And to arrive in such a manner. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Rediscovering Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Rediscovering Huo Shiqian did not answer her question; instead, he gave her a head-to-toe scan with eagle-like eyes, as if using X-rays. Xia Chuyi was somewhat puzzled. Huo Shiqian nodded expressionlessly, seemingly pleased. He spoke in a light tone, ¡°Not bad, you¡¯re quite vigilant.¡± Ha ha, Uncle Liberation Army is really humorous. Xia Chuyi put down the stick. ¡°Thank you for the compliment,¡± Xia Chuyi followed up on his comment, but, ¡°Uncle Liberation Army, did you really come to test my alertness by climbing through my window in the middle of the night?¡± Huo Shiqian¡¯s demeanor suddenly changed; his gaze gripping her made her slightly uneasy. What, what¡¯s wrong? This man¡¯s every action was truly unpredictable! ¡°I¡¯m not that old; you don¡¯t need to call me ¡®Uncle, Uncle¡¯!¡± Huo Shiqian said each word deliberately, heavily emphasizing ¡®Uncle¡¯ with an uncompromising expression on his face. ¡°Pfft!¡± For some reason, she suddenly found it funny. Men care about their age too? Huo Shiqian¡¯s expression turned cold, and an imposing aura suddenly pressed down on her, clearly displeased by her laughter. Touching her braid, her eyes curved into little boats. ¡°Alright!¡± She looked at him smilingly, ¡°If I shouldn¡¯t call you uncle, then what should I call you? What¡¯s your name?¡± She twisted her braid in her hand; she of course knew his name, but in this lifetime, she wanted to get to know him all over again. Huo Shiqian looked at her deeply, and she heard him say in a deep voice, ¡°Remember my name, Huo Shiqian.¡± Xia Chuyi stared at him. Strange, she always felt like there was more to his words. Not delving into the implications of his words, she nodded and said, ¡°Mhm, I¡¯ve got it.¡± In her previous life, the first time she heard these three words, they represented the person who ruined her chastity. In this lifetime, these three words would signify a fresh start. She thought for a moment and then extended her small hand toward him. ¡°Huo Shiqian, it¡¯s nice to meet you; my name is Xia Chuyi.¡± Still with a smiling appearance, but now with an unprecedented seriousness. Huo Shiqian¡¯s gaze was dark and unreadable. After a long pause, he reached out his hand and grasped hers. ¡°Nice to meet you, Xia Chuyi.¡± The man¡¯s voice remained deep and magnetic. Xia Chuyi, who was used to doing farm work at home, did not have particularly soft hands, but they were small and neat. Huo Shiqian¡¯s hands, on the other hand, had distinct bones, strong and powerful, with thick calluses on his knuckles and the base of his thumb. This person must have endured many hardships. She couldn¡¯t resist gently touching the tough calluses with her fingertips. Huo Shiqian¡¯s muscles instantly tensed. It was only when he swiftly pulled his hand back that she realized what she had just done. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Xia Chuyi hurriedly explained, only to feel she was making things worse. Oh well, she simply shut her mouth. The air suddenly felt somewhat awkward and ambiguous. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Believe or Not Believe Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Believe or Not Believe Huo Shiqian stared at her unwaveringly, watching her for a while with a calm tone, he slowly said, ¡°Xia Chuyi, I came to see you today to discuss the findings of my investigation.¡± The voice was calm, void of emotion. She felt relieved; thankfully, Huo Shiqian wasn¡¯t pursuing the matter! Adopting a serious expression, she nodded earnestly at him, saying, ¡°Comrade Huo Shiqian, please speak.¡± Huo Shiqian glanced at her expressionlessly, and the sense of oppression returned. She realized this man took the formality of address very seriously. Pretending not to understand his dissatisfaction¡ªand since she had decided to set clear boundaries¡ªshe certainly couldn¡¯t call him ¡°Brother Huo¡± or ¡°Brother Shiqian,¡± could she? Fortunately, Huo Shiqian didn¡¯t plan to dwell on this matter any further and dropped his oppressive demeanor. Perhaps he thought being called a comrade was better than being called uncle. He then said, ¡°That room was reserved by someone else, initially meant for a blind date.¡± ¡°It just so happened, by a twist of fate, that I ended up staying there.¡± ¡°The person scheduled for the blind date, I hear, was surnamed Xia from Ling County, Qingshan Town, Heshan Village.¡± Ling County, Qingshan Town, Heshan Village was indeed Xia Chuyi¡¯s hometown. Huo Shiqian¡¯s words clearly had an underlying implication. Xia Chuyi raised her eyebrows. ¡°So, you don¡¯t believe me?¡± This was her initial reaction. Huo Shiqian didn¡¯t say whether he believed her or not, but continued. ¡°As for your fianc¨¦ you mentioned, I asked around, but it seems everyone in the unit thinks his fianc¨¦e is named Xia Lan.¡± Xia Chuyi never expected that her investigation would make her appear even more suspicious. ¡°Believe it or not, He Qing and I are indeed engaged, and I¡¯m still carrying a letter from my hometown folks, which I can show you¡­¡± Xia Chuyi hurriedly explained, and mid-explanation, she decided to search her bag to show him the letter. The letter was written by an elder to certify their marital relationship, meant for He Qing to present to the military unit when filing a marriage report. ¡°No need,¡± Huo Shiqian held her hand, stopping her with an indifferent tone. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Her hand held in his, she stopped her actions and looked up at him, unable to comprehend what Huo Shiqian meant. Was his attitude one of belief, or disbelief? ¡°I asked He Qing directly, and he personally told me that you are indeed his fianc¨¦e,¡± Huo Shiqian didn¡¯t let go of her hand, stating indifferently. ¡°What?¡± She was momentarily surprised, then shook her head, feeling a bit foolish. Indeed, why not just ask He Qing directly. Even though someone had been creating false appearances in this plot against her, leading people to misunderstand that she was the blind date and Xia Lan was He Qing¡¯s fianc¨¦e. But illusions are just illusions, and if the scandal had blown over, He Qing could have conveniently affirmed it, but since it hadn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t dare deny an engagement with Xia Chuyi. Because the He family couldn¡¯t afford to offend her uncle, and on the He¡¯s ancestral side, they still relied on her uncle. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to assertively bring her family¡¯s letter and press for marriage in the military unit. Although He Qing had intentions towards Xia Lan, he also didn¡¯t dare to break off the engagement, which is why Xia Lan concocted so much trouble. ¡°So, with that settled, you finally understand that I¡¯m innocent, right?¡± Xia Chuyi met his gaze, her eyes smiling. Although she knew Huo Shiqian would eventually learn the truth, the revelation still brought her relief. She exerted strength in her arm, prepared to withdraw her hand he was holding. Huo Shiqian glanced at her, his thumb gently caressed her hand, and then he let go. This man¡­ was this retaliation? She touched him, and he had to touch back? Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 I Mind Very Much Chapter 15: Chapter 15 I Mind Very Much Her mind seemed to be enveloped in a thick fog, leaving her bewildered. ¡°Xia Chuyi, after you and He Qing break off your engagement, I¡¯ll have someone propose to your family on my behalf.¡± After releasing her hand expressionlessly, Huo Shiqian continued indifferently. Her eardrums roared, and Xia Chuyi felt as if she was hallucinating. Wait, what? Propose? Why would he suddenly mention proposing? Chuyi¡¯s mind went from foggy to muddled. Why was Uncle Liberation Army¡¯s train of thought so erratic? ¡°You¡¯re going to propose to my family? Do you even know my situation before you talk about proposing?¡± Xia Chuyi shook her head as she stepped back, increasing the distance between them with a disapproving look, seriously gazing at him. He was just too hasty about marriage! Huo Shiqian closed in on her forcefully, for every step she took back, he advanced one, determined to close the gap. ¡°You¡¯ll naturally understand after we¡¯re married.¡± Huo Shiqian¡¯s tone remained unchanged, his expression calm as if he was casually talking about the weather. As Huo Shiqian drew nearer, she found herself backed into a corner by the wall, locking eyes with him for a long while, her heart in turmoil. In her past life, Huo Shiqian had also brought up marriage with her¡ªit was three years later, after he returned from the dispatched troops, learned the truth, and had proposed to her. And at that time, though she had unraveled her misunderstandings towards him, she still declined. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t accept.¡± This time, she still chose to refuse. If they had met under different circumstances, she would have been willing to start a family with Huo Shiqian. Huo Shiqian was handsome, capable at work, and more importantly, he was a very responsible person. Unfortunately, it was exactly because of his sense of responsibility that she didn¡¯t want to be with him. Their meeting was an accident that should never have happened. In both lifetimes, upon learning the truth, his first instinct was to propose marriage, to take responsibility for her. But could a marriage built on responsibility last? In the years to come, would there come a day when he met his true love, and then looking back at the reason this marriage started, would he feel regret? She quickly sorted through her thoughts. ¡°Uncle Liberation Army, what happened between us wasn¡¯t voluntary, I¡¯ve said it before, I don¡¯t mind, you don¡¯t need to feel responsible for me.¡± Xia Chuyi spoke very earnestly, trying to make Huo Shiqian understand. The air around them suddenly turned colder. After a freeze, she heard Huo Shiqian¡¯s voice, devoid of any warmth, dictated, ¡°You might not mind, but I do.¡± The oppressive aura that came from him made Xia Chuyi choke up instantly. ¡°I don¡¯t mind, so what are you worried about, men don¡¯t lose out¡­¡± she muttered under her breath. Catching the increasingly grim look in his eyes, she quickly raised her hands, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take responsibility, really, I don¡¯t!¡± Fearing he wouldn¡¯t believe her, she patted her chest, adopting a well-behaved demeanor that assured him she wouldn¡¯t hold him responsible. Huo Shiqian¡¯s expression turned even more grim, and he was silent for a moment. Just when Xia Chuyi thought she might die from the coldness emanating from Huo Shiqian, he leaned forward, propped his hand against the wall, and trapped her against it. ¡°What, what do you want to do?¡± Xia Chuyi stared at him, nervously speaking. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Final Hammer Blow Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Final Hammer Blow Huo Shiqian¡¯s handsome face was clouded over, a prelude to a brewing storm. ¡°I said, if you don¡¯t mind, I do.¡± His head gradually lowered, getting closer and closer to Xia Chuyi¡¯s face, so close that his breath fanned over the tip of her nose with each word, warm and ticklish. ¡°You¡­¡± An ambiguous atmosphere was spreading. Xia Chuyi tried to escape to the side, but Huo Shiqian raised his other arm and directly locked her in. He gazed at her, his eyes profound, and repeated, ¡°I mind.¡± The air fell silent. Staring at each other for a long while without speaking, a little temper began to flare up inside Xia Chuyi¡¯s heart, and a small flame seemed to shoot up from her chest, ¡°What do you mind so¡­¡± She tried to push him away forcefully with her hand, but halfway through, she suddenly thought of something. Wait! She stopped her movement. ¡°Huo Shiqian, you couldn¡¯t possibly also be¡­¡± she looked at him with a puzzled face, ¡°A virgin?¡± Boom! She felt as though she saw the clouds on Huo Shiqian¡¯s face turn into thunder and lightning, and the earth quaked with the roar. The air pressure in the room suddenly dropped, as if suffocating. She swallowed. ¡°Uncle Liberation Army, you¡¯re too¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t help but murmur in shock. ¡°What did you say?¡± Huo Shiqian¡¯s voice became stern all of a sudden, his gaze sharp as a knife, his face darkened beyond recognition. Frustration and embarrassment only made things more obvious¡­ ¡°Nothing, nothing¡­¡± She pressed her lips together and lowered her head. Cough cough, who would have thought Uncle Liberation Army was so innocent! ¡°This, that¡­¡± Xia Chuyi didn¡¯t know what to say anymore. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s settled like this.¡± Huo Shiqian clearly wasn¡¯t prepared to let her speak any further; his gaze locked on her as he made a final decision. Seeing the man¡¯s uncompromising expression, she realized that from beginning to end, Huo Shiqian never planned to ask for her opinion but to inform her. ¡°Actually, about this matter¡­¡± She still tried to resist. Huo Shiqian¡¯s sharp gaze swiftly flew towards her, effectively silencing her. Alright, she dared not speak anymore. Because every time she opened her mouth, she felt like she was the one in the wrong. Although in reality, she was at a greater loss in this affair¡­ Let it be; both were at a disadvantage, right? Thinking about it, she didn¡¯t know why her face turned red. She couldn¡¯t imagine that after rebirthing at a considerably old age, she would feel shy again and again because of a man. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the matter with He Qing,¡± Huo Shiqian said, seemingly quite satisfied with her reaction, his tone noticeably softer. After stating what he needed to, Huo Shiqian turned and prepared to leave. ¡°Wait! You¡¯re not planning on doing something, are you?¡± Xia Chuyi reacted and hastily grabbed him. She had already realized that she definitely had some misunderstandings about him in her previous life; by this time, he would have had significant power. And the reason he admitted to the charges was not because he acknowledged the crime, but her accusation of it. He spent the years he was demoted to make amends for her honor, even though he too was wronged. Three years later, when he found out that they both had been set up, he sought her out as soon as possible, intending to take responsibility. In short, this man was someone with a strong sense of duty. She was now worried he might misuse his position to do something about it. Although Huo Shiqian looked very confident, he was, after all, demoted for a while in her previous life; she guessed that there must have been involvement from his rivals, for such a swift conclusion to be drawn, to determine his guilt, and have him demoted. Whether it be responsibility or guilt, she was the one who brought trouble to him from the start, and she did not want him to do anything more for her. Firmly meeting his gaze, she shook her head, ¡°For this matter, I want you to, you not to get involved.¡± Since the matter started because of her, let her find a way to resolve it on her own. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Telepathy Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Telepathy She thought persuading him would be difficult, but to her surprise, after he glanced at the hand clinging to the hem of his clothes, with a mysterious look in his eyes for a moment, he actually nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, he looked at her, seemingly asking her with his profound gaze. Is there anything else? Xia Chuyi was taken aback. ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing else.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Huo Shiqian nodded, gently covered her hand, smoothly pulled it away, loosened the hem of his clothes, and then swiftly leaped out of the window. ¡°I hope next time I come to see you, I can do so openly and honorably.¡± In the end, Huo Shiqian left these words behind. Clearly, Huo Shiqian cared a lot about having to climb through the window to see her. Huo Shiqian¡¯s tall figure quickly vanished behind the window. Recalling the dreamlike conversation just now, with Huo Shiqian¡¯s touch lingering on her hand, Xia Chuyi felt an incredible sense of unreality. This man, actually, wasn¡¯t as fierce as she had imagined. She slapped her own head vigorously. What was she thinking! Xia Chuyi! It didn¡¯t matter to her whether he was fierce or not, right? Besides, how could she know what he was thinking just from one look in his eyes? Since when had she and he become so attuned? She and he were destined not to cross paths. However, for some reason, she felt entwined with him, a feeling she couldn¡¯t shake off. Originally, after a day full of heart-stopping events, Xia Chuyi thought she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night; surprisingly, she slept so deeply that when she woke up, it was already broad daylight. Upon waking, she blinked and, with a thought, entered the space. Breathing in the fresh air of the space, she finally realized that all the events of the previous day were not a dream. Because the space maintained a constant temperature, she was too lazy to go out, and so she freshened up there. After getting everything ready, she went into the small kitchen. It was strange, even without an electrical connection, the appliances in the kitchen were still working. Xia Chuyi made herself a bowl of hot noodle soup with minced pork, sprinkled with green onions and seasoning. Satisfied with her meal, she then left the space. Once everything was prepared, she set out to find Xia Lan. ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡± She rapped on the door a few times. The door opened quickly. ¡°Who is it?¡± Xia Lan¡¯s voice came from inside. ¡°Chuyi?¡± The moment Xia Lan saw Xia Chuyi, her expression clearly showed shock. ¡°Chuyi¡­ why are you here, do you need something?¡± Xia Lan struggled to muster a ¡®kind¡¯ smile towards her. Xia Chuyi put her hands back in her pockets and looked at Xia Lan with a smile, her tone full of surprise, ¡°You¡¯re asking me why I came to see you? Don¡¯t tell me you forgot; we agreed to go to the military base today.¡± Upon mentioning this, Xia Lan¡¯s eyes immediately looked off. ¡°Um, Chuyi¡­ the thing is, yesterday, while you were out, Brother Qing had already taken me to the military base¡­ He said he¡¯s busy today, so we don¡¯t need to go.¡± Xia Lan explained awkwardly, looking embarrassed. ¡°What did you say?¡± Xia Chuyi¡¯s smile vanished in an instant as her brows furrowed and eyes narrowed, ¡°You already went to the military base yesterday?¡± She pulled her hand out of her pocket and pointed angrily at Xia Lan¡¯s nose. ¡°Xia Lan, don¡¯t you have any sense? Don¡¯t you know why we came here?¡± ¡°Grandfather He Qing is about to pass away, and he wanted to see me married to him, that¡¯s why he sent me here with a letter to find him at the military base.¡± ¡°You said it would be best to talk to He Qing first, and I listened to you, so I met with him first. But you saw for yourself. When we met yesterday, it was clear he didn¡¯t like me; what could I do? I had to go to the leadership!¡± ¡°And you, you just came here for a blind date. Now that you¡¯ve met someone for yourself, you can¡¯t stand to see others do well?¡± Xia Chuyi bombarded her with a series of questions, her demeanor intimidating. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Female Waitress Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Female Waitress Xia Chu hadn¡¯t expected such an intense reaction from Xia Chuyi, and she immediately feigned a meek attitude, ¡°No, no¡­ It¡¯s Brother Qing who said he was busy today, so I only¡­ Really, I didn¡¯t lie to you, Brother Qing really is busy today!¡± Xia Chuyi waved her hand, uninterested in hearing her explanation, and stepped forward with hands on her hips, pressing in on Xia Lan, ¡°Hmph, Xia Lan, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. Let me tell you, my relationship with He Qing is set in stone. Even if he¡¯s unwilling, how does it matter? The monk can run, but the temple can¡¯t.¡± Giving Xia Lan a meaningful look, she flung her hands and walked away, leaving Xia Lan shaking with rage at the spot, her gaze fixed on her with venomous intensity. Unaware of the hostile gaze behind her, she turned around, her anger subsided, revealing a meaningful expression. Xia Lan, I¡¯m not you. I won¡¯t use despicable means to deal with you, but if you dig a hole, you better jump into it yourself. I certainly won¡¯t show any mercy, I¡¯ll make sure the dirt in that pit is packed tight and the mound piled high. At this point, if Xia Lan wanted to sabotage the marriage between Xia Chuyi and He Qing, there was only one way¡ªturning cooked rice into a meal already done. Xia Lan, I¡¯m waiting for your move. Xia Chuyi walked towards the lobby with a relaxed and cheerful stride. She immediately spotted the waitress from yesterday, who was once again sitting at the counter eating sunflower seeds. It seemed this comrade was quite the food lover. Xia Chuyi approached with a smile. ¡°Hello, beautiful comrade!¡± she greeted enthusiastically. The waitress, her face alight with a smile at the mention of ¡°beautiful comrade,¡± pretended to be calm as she responded, ¡°Little comrade, is that you? You¡¯re up? Have you had breakfast? You country folks eat only two meals a day, but let me tell you, that¡¯s not good for your health. You need three meals a day to be healthy!¡± The waitress enthusiastically explained this to her. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ve already eaten,¡± Xia Chuyi said, pulling out a handful of peanuts from her pocket, ¡°These are a specialty from my hometown, beautiful comrade, try some.¡± ¡°Are these really specialty products from your hometown?¡± the waitress brightened up immediately upon seeing the fresh, full peanuts. No, they were from a storage room in her space which she explored today. The peanuts were indeed taken from there, each one plump and crunchy, delicious to eat. Favors soften resistance, and after eating the peanuts, the waitress became much friendlier, ¡°Stop calling me beautiful comrade, my name is Wang Xiaofang. I might be a bit older than you, just call me Sister Fang!¡± Older than her? Xia Chuyi thought that might not be the case. But physically, Wang Xiaofang did look older, so she amiably responded, ¡°Sister Fang.¡± The two got familiar over a handful of peanuts. Wang Xiaofang then asked Xia Chuyi where she lived and what she was doing here. ¡°I¡¯m from Ling County. I came here to find my fianc¨¦, he¡¯s the soldier who helped us book the room. You probably know¡ª¡± She was interrupted by Wang Xiaofang before she could finish. ¡°What? You mean that man? He seemed very close to another woman¡­¡± Wang Xiaofang¡¯s voice suddenly stopped. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Setting Up Surveillance Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Setting Up Surveillance Xiao Fang twisted her hands in embarrassment, looking at her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to say that on purpose.¡± Chuyi laughed heartily, her face showing no concern, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, you must have misunderstood. That person is my sister, He Qing probably treats her well because of me!¡± Xiao Fang opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself, looking at her. Chuyi tilted her head thoughtfully before saying, ¡°How about this, you help me keep an eye on her. If there¡¯s anything unusual, let me know right away, okay?¡± Only then did Xiao Fang clap her hands in agreement, ¡°That¡¯s the right approach. You can know someone¡¯s face but not their heart; it¡¯s always good to be careful! I¡¯ll keep an eye out for her and notify you immediately if anything happens!¡± Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. Chuyi felt both amused and warm inside. Even a stranger, out of gratitude for a kind word and a handful of peanuts, knew how to be thankful, yet Xia Lan was an ungrateful wretch, through and through. ¡°Then thank you, Sister Fang!¡± After setting up her informant in the guesthouse, Chuyi left just like yesterday. Today, she was smarter. First, she went to the grocery store and bought a backpack carrier. She slung it on her back filled with fresh vegetables, and as soon as she arrived at the textile factory¡¯s entrance, she was surrounded by a crowd. ¡°It¡¯s this young lady here, her vegetables are so fresh and tasty!¡± The person speaking was the same female employee who bought tomatoes from her yesterday, bringing along her neighbors from the block. In no time at all, her vegetables were all sold out again. ¡°Young lady, there are a lot of people in our factory. It¡¯s winter now and fresh vegetables are hard to come by. Please bring more next time!¡± She chuckled to herself. Where would she get so many fresh vegetables? It was just by chance that she had found the warehouse in the space, which allowed her to have enough to sell. Even so, she couldn¡¯t sell them for long. Once she sorted out Xia Lan and He Qing¡¯s matter, she would have to return to her hometown. Chuyi wouldn¡¯t be staying long in Provincial City, and her time to make money was limited. Taking advantage of today, she hurried to visit several large factories and bustling streets in the surrounding area. Business in winter vegetables indeed turned out to be very good; she sold more than ten baskets in just one day. After a rough calculation, she had made more than a hundred! More than a hundred, this was the early 80s after all! Chuyi, with her small fortune self-earned, walked home beaming with joy. Along the way, she saw a steamed bun shop and bought a couple to treat herself. She munched on the buns while observing the other street vendors around. Street hawkers were gradually increasing, and though somewhat looked down upon, Chuyi could tell from their expressions that these people were truly making a fortune in silence. These days those who did business knew it well. Just by seeing the money she made from selling a dozen baskets of vegetables, it was clear that money was easy to earn. Of course, the reason she earned so much was that she had no cost for the vegetables, and she also had high-priced items like tomatoes. Regardless, this era was indeed a golden age for making money. After selling vegetables and finishing her buns, she returned to the guesthouse in the afternoon. ¡°Sister Fang, good afternoon!¡± As soon as she entered the guesthouse, she saw Xiao Fang, the foodie, snacking again.