The strange looks from everyone around them immediately shifted toward Shen Ziming and his companion, Lin Guoqing. Their faces flushed bright red.
Shen Ziming glared at Cui Qingshu, trembling with anger.
He couldn’t believe it. Cui Qingshu—who had always adored him and obeyed his every word—had actually said something like this.
Under so many watchful eyes, cold sweat nearly broke out on Shen Ziming’s back.
If these accusations stuck and reached the army, his reputation would be completely ruined.
Keeping a stern expression, Shen Ziming snapped sharply,
“Cui Qingshu, what nonsense are you spouting? Framing a soldier can get you shot! Apologize to Guoqing and me right now, or I’ll report you to the police!”
Shen Ziming didn’t feel guilty at all. What jewelry? There was no way he would accept a woman’s jewelry.
He stared at Cui Qingshu viciously, already determined that if she didn’t obediently apologize, he would make sure she ended up behind bars.
Seeing how confident his friend was, Lin Guoqing finally relaxed a little. He looked Cui Qingshu up and down.
“Ziming, why waste words with her? Let’s drag her straight to the police station!”
The girl serving food curled her lip at the scene. Two grown men bullying a young woman—it was utterly disgraceful.
She immediately decided that when she got home, she was rejecting the soldier her mother wanted to introduce to her.
Seeing Cui Qingshu remain silent, Shen Ziming tapped his fingers smugly against his palm, confidence filling his eyes.
But Cui Qingshu’s expression didn’t change. Her almond-shaped eyes blinked lightly, and her voice instantly turned tearful.
“Fine! Go ahead! Which part of what I said was false?
You’re an orphan. If my mother hadn’t taken you in, would you even be alive today? Every cent you’ve spent over the years came from the Cui family!
Didn’t you say you wanted to report this to the police? Then let’s go right now!
Perfect timing too—they can investigate where all those missing jewels Su Ranyue took actually ended up, since you insist you never received them!”
As she spoke, tears began falling one by one.
Silent tears, with only soft choking sobs.
She lifted her reddened eyes. Combined with the bruises on her face, she looked heartbreakingly pitiful.
Shen Ziming’s face turned crimson.
He hadn’t taken any jewelry—but Cui Qingshu’s mother really had sent him money every single month.
Shen Ziming clenched his fists tightly.
How much money had he really taken from the Cui family? Barely anything to them!
Cui Qingshu, the daughter of capitalists—if he married her, she would only damage his future prospects.
In that case, wasn’t it only natural for the Cui family to spend money on him?
The more he thought about it, the more justified he felt.
“Did your mother send me money without any motive?” he shot back. “If you people hadn’t relied on raising me as leverage, would a soldier like me ever have agreed to get engaged to the daughter of capitalists?”
Cui Qingshu scoffed.
“How can you dress up greed so self-righteously?
Did my mother force you? You were the one who begged for this engagement! If you didn’t want it, could we have tied you up and forced you into marriage?
Back then, you were the one desperate to marry me. You said you were an orphan unworthy of me, so my mother sent you into the army.
All these years, you’ve eaten my food and spent my money. Now that you’ve achieved a little success, you can’t wait to flip the table on us?
You really are a Zhongshan wolf—turning vicious the moment you get ahead!”
She turned toward the surrounding diners, her voice ringing clearly.
“Uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters—everyone here should learn from my example. A small favor earns gratitude, but too much generosity breeds resentment!”
The crowd exchanged looks and nodded repeatedly.
She was absolutely right.
Feeling the strange stares from all directions, Shen Ziming wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground.
It felt like his dignity was being rubbed into the dirt. Ever since joining the military, he had never suffered humiliation like this.
Watching such a beautiful young woman cry so sadly, the serving girl finally couldn’t stand it anymore.
Ye Hongying slammed down her serving ladle and barked at the customers waiting in line, “Wait!”
Then she stormed out aggressively, planting herself protectively in front of Cui Qingshu with hands on her hips.
“You two grown men bullying a weak little girl—aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?!”
Cui Qingshu glanced tearfully at the girl standing before her.
At that moment, she found her incredibly endearing.
What violent waitress? This was clearly a warmhearted big sister.
Her eyes still red, Cui Qingshu wore the most pitiful expression while saying the harshest words.
Her fingertips lightly hooked the very edge of Ye Hongying’s sleeve and tugged gently.
Ye Hongying turned around in confusion.
The beauty before her looked timid and fragile, tears trembling in her eyes.
“Big sister… could you help me report this to the police?”
Ye Hongying’s heart instantly melted. Dazed, she agreed on the spot.
Shen Ziming nearly fainted from anger.
What was she pretending for?
He was the one losing face here, becoming everyone’s joke—and yet she was the one crying.
It made it look as though he had bullied her.
His breathing grew ragged with fury.
Were these people blind?
Couldn’t they see Cui Qingshu was acting?
But if this really reached the police… and then the military…
Thinking of the consequences, Shen Ziming instinctively stepped forward.
“Cui Qingshu, how can you be this shameless—”
Ye Hongying immediately blocked him, slapping away the hand he had reached out.
“What are you trying to do? Molest her?”
Then she spat viciously, saliva landing directly on Shen Ziming’s face.
“Two grown men bullying an injured young girl—you’re not human!
May heaven strike you both dead with lightning, you disgusting beasts!”
Cui Qingshu’s eyes lit up at the scolding.
The insults were excellent, but she worried the men might lash out in humiliation. It would be terrible if this brave girl got hurt because of her.
Quickly, she grabbed Ye Hongying’s arm and pulled her backward.
Looking pitiful, Cui Qingshu murmured, “D-don’t fight…”
The surrounding diners immediately crowded around to help.
Even the young man still waiting at the food counter touched his flat, hungry stomach and rushed over without hesitation.
Seeing the scene before him, Shen Ziming’s fists clenched so tightly they crackled. Rage made his head spin.
What nonsense was she shouting?
When had he ever tried to hit anyone?
He was a soldier, not insane. There was no way he would beat a woman in public.
Beside him, Lin Guoqing had already gone pale with fear.
If they clashed with civilians, they would definitely receive disciplinary punishment. Their futures would be ruined.
“Ziming, what do we do now?!”
What should they do?
Shen Ziming’s head buzzed.
He didn’t know either.
All he could see was Cui Qingshu’s face—tearful and heartbreakingly delicate.
Yet now, all he felt was fear.
She was doing this deliberately.
Shen Ziming was certain of it.
She wanted to ruin his future.
When he first returned, he had still hesitated over whether to break off the engagement.
Now he had fully made up his mind.
He would absolutely never marry this vicious woman.
He was ending the engagement.
“Cui Qingshu, you’re so malicious. I will never marry you,” Shen Ziming threatened through gritted teeth.
Cui Qingshu couldn’t have been happier to hear it.
“Then break the engagement. But return every cent and every gift my family has sent you over the past decade.”
In front of everyone, she didn’t mention exact numbers.
But judging by Shen Ziming’s suddenly changing expression, everyone understood that after more than ten years, the total amount definitely wasn’t small.
The strange looks toward Shen Ziming intensified once more.
Men in this era generally placed heavy value on responsibility. A man like Shen Ziming—living off his fiancée’s family for over a decade and still self-righteously demanding to cancel the engagement—wasn’t even worthy of being called a man.
Ye Hongying spat again.
“Not a man at all.”
Shen Ziming couldn’t bear to stay there humiliating himself any longer. He shot Cui Qingshu one deep look before turning and fleeing.
He even stumbled twice, his back radiating embarrassment.
There wasn’t a trace left of the so-called male lead’s charm.
Watching him leave, a faint smile flickered through Cui Qingshu’s misty eyes.
This was only the beginning.
Everything Shen Ziming owed the original owner—she would reclaim every last bit.
Ye Hongying cheerfully extended a hand and raised a brow.
“Ye Hongying.”
Cui Qingshu’s tears had already vanished. Smiling warmly, she shook her hand.
“Cui Qingshu.”
Before parting, Ye Hongying repeatedly warned Cui Qingshu to be careful.
Seeing the injuries on her face, she was especially worried, afraid her newly made little sister would be bullied by the awful people at home again.
Ye Hongying insisted on escorting her home.
Unable to resist her enthusiasm, Cui Qingshu could only let the woman walk her all the way back.
Watching Ye Hongying ride away on her bicycle, Cui Qingshu smiled and called out loudly,
“Ride slower!”
“Got it! Next time come visit me—I’ll have the head chef personally make braised pork for you!”
Even after Ye Hongying disappeared into the distance, Cui Qingshu’s smile still lingered as she stepped through the doorway.
Then she heard Cui Yuanwei’s gloomy voice:
“So you still know how to come home?”