The original owner’s skincare and cosmetics were extremely limited.
Cheng Zi wanted to buy some—she needed them for makeup styling the next day—but she was short on money…
“You only know how to borrow money from me now? Gu Yechen is already married, yet you still insist on clinging to him. What exactly is in your head?”
Xia Hongjun scolded while pulling out money at the same time.
“I’ll lend you 50. You’ll pay me back 100 later.”
“Deal, deal~”
Eating out, shopping, strolling around, buying groceries with the young ladies, bargaining over one or two cents…
This was happiness Cheng Zi had never experienced before.
In her original world, she was a top-tier sales elite—an efficient “career woman” who wished she had 48 hours a day. Everything she wore or used was bought online.
Her friendships with colleagues were mostly based on利益 (mutual benefit).
She had never experienced such pure friendship.
The original owner of this body had actually been quite fortunate—she had friendship, and even more enviably, family. Her family treated her like a precious jewel. It was just that she herself never cherished it…
She had already been in this strange time and space for half a month, yet she had never gone to the Cheng family.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to—it was that she didn’t dare.
Family members knew the original owner best. Cheng Zi was afraid she would be exposed, and even more afraid she wouldn’t be able to bear such heavy affection.
She needed more time.
Since childhood, she had grown up in an orphanage. She didn’t know how families were supposed to interact, nor how to approach them.
“Ah Zi, cook me something nice tonight.”
“Alright.”
Xia Hongjun linked arms with Cheng Zi as they walked back into the military compound.
Wherever they passed, conversations suddenly stopped.
“Look at them. Birds of a feather flock together. The woman she’s with looks like a mess—definitely not a good person.”
“Dressed like a nightclub dancer, and she still acts so proud?”
“Isn’t the mayor’s daughter having a banquet tomorrow? Do you think Cheng Zi will go?”
“She’d just embarrass herself if she went.”
“Oh, you don’t know? She’s in on it with that man—they’re scammers…”
Xia Hongjun’s smile disappeared. She glanced at Cheng Zi in surprise.
Cheng Zi blinked. “What’s wrong?”
“Didn’t you hear what they said?”
“I did.”
Xia Hongjun tossed the vegetables into Cheng Zi’s hand and grabbed an orange with the other, throwing it straight at the group under the trees.
A whole orange flew toward them.
Cheng Zi: !!!
“You all talking about who? Huh? Who are you calling a nightclub whore? You are one, your daughter is one, your wife is one too!”
Xia Hongjun’s voice was loud to begin with. Now she was shouting angrily, instantly overpowering everyone else.
“Junjun!”
Xia Hongjun pushed Cheng Zi back. “Stay there.”
She strode straight toward the group under the trees.
The neighbors were stunned—several were even hit by the orange and staggered.
“Who did you just call a nightclub woman? Say it clearly!”
“And you—you’re the one who said ‘birds of a feather flock together,’ right? Explain that to me. What? Grouping all of you garbage together?”
“And what’s wrong with my hair? How is it any of your business?”
Xia Hongjun was so angry her eyes were red. Her presence was intimidating.
Then she pointed at Cheng Zi.
“Cheng Zi is timid, so this is how you bully her every day? Spreading filth about her? She’s about the same age as your daughters—how can you say such things? Have some conscience!”
The group of neighbors finally came back to their senses.
One aunt slapped her thigh and tried to sit on the ground.
Xia Hongjun sneered. “This is a military compound, right? You’re all military families, right? Don’t sit. If you sit now, you’ll only embarrass yourselves. Your men are heroes under the red flag.”
The aunt froze, suddenly embarrassed.
“She is a military wife too. Her in-laws were heroes who died for the country. You shouldn’t be treating her like this.”
One woman immediately retorted, “She’s a military wife? Who doesn’t know she’s shameless? Everyone in the compound knows she’s immoral! She’s just taking advantage of the fact that Xie Ci’s parents passed away early!”
“Immoral? You need evidence for that. You just open your mouth and decide guilt? Fine, let’s go to the police station and reason it out!”
Cheng Zi watched in shock and quickly stepped forward, afraid Xia Hongjun would get into trouble.
“To the police station?”
“Yes. Let’s go. Now.”
Cheng Zi hurriedly grabbed her. “Stop it, stop it. We’re neighbors—let it go.”
Xia Hongjun stared at her. “Let it go? Are you useless? You let them bully you like this and you don’t fight back? If you can’t scold them, hit them back. If you can’t win, get Xie Ci to hit them!”
“Let it go.”
Xia Hongjun shoved her hand away and put her hands on her hips. “Apologize to Cheng Zi.”
The group hesitated. “Why should we—”
“Either apologize or go to the police. This is defamation of women. It won’t just be let go!”
The argument escalated until both sides were red-faced.
At that moment, a group of people entered through the gate—Xie Ci among them.
He immediately locked eyes with Cheng Zi in the crowd.
After speaking briefly with a leader-like figure beside him, he walked straight over.
“Xie Ci?”
The arguing stopped abruptly as everyone turned.
“What happened?” Xie Ci frowned and stood behind Cheng Zi, clearly protective.
“They—” one woman began.
But Xia Hongjun cut in first, scolding Xie Ci directly. “Xie Ci, can you even live like this? If you can’t, then divorce her! Hurry up and divorce her! Look how they’re bullying Ah Zi!”
The leader-looking man also came over and asked a few questions.
Xia Hongjun stopped yelling and suddenly grabbed Cheng Zi’s hand, tears falling. “Our Ah Zi is so good, yet they insult her like this—calling her a nightclub dancer, saying she’s immoral!”
“Xie Ci, are you even a man? Your wife is being slandered like this—this is destroying a military marriage, this is insulting a woman, it’s illegal!”
Now not only Xie Ci’s expression turned cold, even the leaders looked displeased.
The women who had been gossiping immediately shrank back, not daring to speak.
Xie Ci looked deeply at Cheng Zi. “Go home first. I’ll handle this.”
Cheng Zi met his eyes and bit her lip slightly before nodding.
Xia Hongjun finally calmed down and left with her.
Once out of sight, she wiped away her tears. “Ah Zi, those people were leaders, right? Let’s see how they get dealt with. Their mouths are so vicious…”
Cheng Zi looked at her quietly, warmth rising in her eyes. “Yes, yes. Junjun is the best. Don’t shout yourself hoarse.”
“I won’t. I can argue with them for two more hours if needed.”
At that moment, Xiao Xiangyuan opened the door and saw them.
The girl with permed hair still had tears at the corner of her eyes.
Xia Hongjun turned around—and met his gaze.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
So embarrassing…