Old Madam Yan inwardly admired how well Su Qingyue handled things. She truly had intended to give her the bracelet, but if the girl accepted it, she might easily become a target of public envy. It was her own oversight.
Su Weixin smiled and invited Old Madam Yan to come inside and sit.
“You’re too kind to Qingyue. Please, come in and have a seat.”
“I won’t sit today,” Old Madam Yan said with a smile. “I came specifically to thank Qingyue. Since you don’t want the bracelet, good child, wait here a moment. This old woman still has something else for you.”
The onlookers, who had been ready to disperse, immediately stopped and began whispering among themselves.
What else was Old Madam Yan going to give her?
Even Su Qingyue was a little confused. She suppressed her curiosity and nodded with a gentle smile.
Soon, two police officers and two men in military uniforms walked into the military compound. Su Qingyue recognized one of them at a glance.
“You’re the military uncle from the bus stop!”
“That’s me,” the man laughed. “Director Liu, Director Wang, this is the brave young hero I told you about. Little comrade, what’s your name?”
“Hello, this is my daughter, Su Qingyue,” Su Weixin stepped forward to introduce her, shaking hands with the men one by one.
Yan Zhongyu smiled as he spoke. “Staff Officer Su, thank you for raising such a righteous and courageous daughter. She saved our Shuer today.”
He took a carefully framed certificate of honor from Director Liu. Written prominently on it were the four characters *Acting Bravely for a Just Cause*, stamped with the red seal of the Chengnan Police Bureau.
Yan Zhongyu walked up to Su Qingyue, his voice loud and sincere.
“Thank you, Miss Su, for your courageous act. I am deeply grateful!”
He personally handed the solemn certificate into her hands.
Director Wang then took out another envelope.
“This is a two-hundred-yuan cash reward. Thank you, Comrade Su, for your bravery. Once we obtained the lead, we immediately pursued the case—the human traffickers have already been arrested!”
Su Qingyue stood tall as she accepted both the certificate and the envelope. This was what she deserved.
Director Liu announced loudly to the crowd,
“Today we are commending Comrade Su Qingyue. She reacted swiftly and acted bravely, joining forces with the public to rescue the Yan family’s child. The traffickers have been captured! This has provided our bureau with crucial leads to crack down on the criminal network behind them. Please give Comrade Su a round of applause!”
Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. Su Qingyue’s cheeks flushed red, her peach-blossom eyes sparkling. She shone brilliantly as everyone surrounded her to offer congratulations.
She thanked the distinguished guests present one by one and spoke with grace and composure, earning constant praise.
At the end, she smiled gratefully at Old Madam Yan and Yan Zhongyu. Without the Yan family, there probably wouldn’t have been such a grand scene.
After the excitement died down, the crowd gradually dispersed.
By then, Su Chen and Su Yuan had returned home. Having already learned what happened, both brothers surrounded Su Qingyue, asking after her with concern.
Song Qingyan scolded them lightly for being too rough, while Shen Xunbao carefully supported Su Qingyue from the side.
Zhou Wenfang clenched her teeth and slunk away in embarrassment.
Su Qianqian’s face was ashen.
She hadn’t expected Su Qingyue’s luck to be so good—to actually run into a human trafficking case. If it had been her, she would have saved the child too.
She was also kind and brave—she had just never been given such an opportunity!
Walking behind everyone, Su Qianqian stared at Shen Xunbao’s hand resting on Su Qingyue’s waist. Her eyes burned red, as if she might glare them out of their sockets.
That evening, the nanny prepared a huge spread of dishes, almost all of them Su Qingyue’s favorites.
The two brothers animatedly recounted her good deed, Song Qingyan personally applied medicine for Su Qingyue with gentle patience, and even Su Weixin rarely praised her a few times at the dinner table.
Su Qianqian was so angry she lost her appetite and went straight back to her room after the meal.
Su Qingyue smiled as she wished her family good night. Only after returning to her room did she finally relax.
She flopped onto the bed, her mind drifting to the man who had saved her that day. A faint blush slowly crept up her cheeks.
He had been wearing a military uniform—probably from some unit. He had dragged away two thugs; surely he would be able to extract some information from them.
Tomorrow, she had to thank him in person and ask about the case.
……
Early the next morning, at the Capital Criminal Investigation Base.
Pei Huaiye had just finished an intense morning training session. His camouflage uniform was soaked through with sweat, clinging tightly to his powerful muscles.
He closed his eyes to rest, but his mind was filled with the girl from yesterday—skin like congealed cream, a slender waist that fit perfectly in his grasp, her face flushed as she pressed her soft red lips against his.
The thought sent him straight into the shower. His breathing grew rapid, his chest rising and falling strongly, the muscles in his arms becoming even more defined as the air around him heated up.
Yuan Guang returned to the dormitory and couldn’t find Pei Huaiye. After waiting for a long time, he finally saw him come out of the bathroom.
“Boss, the transfer order to the Su family is still being processed. It won’t be approved today.”
“Then we keep waiting.”
“I’m afraid that won’t work. Xichuan sent a telegram—we must return tomorrow. Also, there’s an urgent mission that needs to be executed immediately.”
Pei Huaiye paused mid-motion while drying his hair. His gaze darkened, then his voice turned resolute.
“Complete the handover immediately. We leave at once.”
“Understood!”
Yuan Guang drove the jeep while Pei Huaiye looked longingly out the window at the Friendship Store. He carefully tucked the neatly written note into his wallet, an overwhelming sense of loss surging in his heart.
I’m sorry—I broke my promise.
Pei Huaiye’s expression dimmed as he silently apologized to the girl from the note.
……
Early in the morning, the military compound was already buzzing with noise.
When Su Qingyue saw the notice board, her eyes widened slightly.
Everyone around was discussing the matter of being sent down to the countryside.
“The higher-ups already said it—the military compound must take priority and set an example!”
“Every family has to send at least one child, male or female.”
“Sigh, looks like it’s finally our turn. Let’s hurry home and discuss it.”
Su Qingyue frowned, not noticing a handsome man in gold-rimmed glasses striding toward her.
Shen Xunbao was holding a bouquet of flowers and carrying a basket of fruit. He asked gently,
“Qingyue, does your foot still hurt?”
Su Qingyue shook her head, her smile bright and clean.
“It’s just a small scrape. I’m fine.”
Shen Xunbao walked home with her. Inside the living room, Song Qingyan and the rest of the family were all present.
Shen Xunbao announced in front of everyone,
“Qingyue, I’m going to the countryside. Which one of your family is going?”
After speaking, he looked expectantly at the two Su brothers.
Su Chen and Su Yuan were stunned. Su Weixin spoke in surprise,
“Commander Shen would actually let you go to the countryside?!”
Shen Xunbao adjusted his glasses.
“It’s hard to organize manpower right now. The Shen family has only me as an only child. I should respond to the nation’s call and take the lead, so I volunteered.”
When Su Weixin heard this, he knew it wasn’t really a matter of volunteering. If Commander Shen had already arranged for his son to go, their family would definitely have to send one as well.
Su Yuan volunteered himself.
“Big Brother has a formal job at the research institute. Dad, Mom, let me go.”
Su Qingyue was just about to speak when an urgent voice interrupted her.
“Second Brother, don’t go! The countryside is especially hard—let me go instead!”
Everyone turned toward the doorway.
Su Qianqian had just returned from the post office. Standing in the doorway with the sunlight behind her, she seemed to be bathed in a golden glow at first glance.
She had overheard Shen Xunbao going to the countryside—and her chance had arrived!
Having lived in the countryside for seventeen years, she knew best how to survive there. Given time, she would surely win Young Master Shen’s heart.
As for Su Qingyue—hmph. Once she returned to the countryside, she would find some dirt-poor farmer to marry Su Qingyue off to, trapping her there for life, never able to rise again!
*You’ll never believe why I moved to… Manila*