Although Lu Huaichuan appeared to be deep in thought, he was always observant of everything around him.
He Wanyu’s collapse didn’t look natural at all.
He had never liked her.
Nor could he understand why Gu Xiangdong and Xie Qingquan were so infatuated with her.
He had even heard some of the gossip circulating around the military family compound.
Several married couples had argued because of He Wanyu.
Every single time, He Wanyu would apologize gently, patiently explaining to the wives that she had absolutely no intention of interfering in anyone else’s marriage.
In the end, people always concluded that He Wanyu was kind and reasonable, and that the other women were simply jealous of her.
Lu Huaichuan judged situations by their outcomes rather than appearances.
He believed that flies only gather around cracked eggs.
Xiao Zhao looked uneasy.
“Commander… what should we do?”
Lu Huaichuan gave his orders calmly.
“It looks like she collapsed suddenly. Splash some water on her first and wake her up. Then assess her condition and take her to the hospital if necessary.”
Xiao Zhao was taken aback, but he obeyed.
He grabbed a kettle of water, climbed out of the jeep, and poured it straight onto He Wanyu’s face.
She shuddered all over.
But she kept her eyes tightly shut, letting out a delicate moan.
“…It hurts…”
She believed no man could resist such a pitiful pose and voice.
Lu Huaichuan was bound to be captivated.
The next second, she really did feel someone’s hands grasp her shoulders.
Joy exploded inside her.
But instead of being swept into the embrace she had dreamed of…
She was hoisted over someone’s shoulder.
Her eyes flew open.
The person carrying her was an ordinary soldier.
He smelled as though he hadn’t bathed in ages.
His hair was greasy and messy.
His rough, stubby hands looked almost childlike.
He was ugly.
And he stank.
This wasn’t Lu Huaichuan.
“Ah! What are you doing?!
“Put me down!”
Startled, Xiao Zhao immediately let go.
Thud!
He Wanyu landed flat on the ground.
Her lower back had already been hurting.
The fall made it infinitely worse.
This time, she cried for real.
Looking toward the jeep, she called out pitifully,
“Brother Huaichuan!”
They had known each other for many years.
Although Lu Huaichuan hadn’t grown up in the military family compound, after joining the army he had become one of her grandfather’s subordinates.
She had seen him often ever since.
She had always called him “Brother Huaichuan.”
Since Xie Qingle and the others addressed him the same way, Lu Huaichuan had never objected.
But today…
The look he gave her was icy cold.
Feeling even more wronged, He Wanyu’s eyes reddened as she struggled to her feet, looking like a stubborn little white flower.
“Brother Huaichuan… I’m really hurting. Could you please take me—”
Lu Huaichuan interrupted in a calm, emotionless voice.
“Xiao Zhao.
“Drive.
“Our mission is urgent. We can’t afford any delays.”
Xiao Zhao dared not disobey.
He immediately climbed back into the jeep.
Moments later, the vehicle sped away as though He Wanyu didn’t exist.
Standing alone in the road with one hand clutching her aching waist, He Wanyu cried bitterly.
Hatred flashed across her tear-filled eyes.
Yesterday…
Lu Huaichuan had treated Ning Lu with such care.
Today…
His treatment of her couldn’t have been more different.
Why?
Ning Lu was plump.
She was even a fatherless burden.
What possible help could a woman like that ever be to Lu Huaichuan?
She had originally believed Lu Huaichuan harbored feelings for her but simply had a cold personality.
Today’s events dealt her a devastating blow.
Perhaps he wasn’t cold by nature at all.
Perhaps…
He simply liked women like Ning Lu.
He Wanyu clenched her fists tightly.
If she couldn’t have him…
She would never allow anyone else to have him either.
After arriving at the hospital, Ning Lu finally confessed to Yan Bingqin—once no one else was around—that she had done it on purpose.
Yan Bingqin was frightened out of her wits.
She couldn’t help scolding her in a low voice.
But she also sighed.
“That He Wanyu and Meng Qingqing really are full of wicked schemes.
“They’ve bullied Qingle all this time, and now they’re trying to drive a wedge between our family.
“I’m going to tell Commander Xie everything exactly as it happened.
“Maybe Qingle always thought her father was too busy to bother with these matters.
“But from what I know about Commander Xie…
“If he learns the truth, he’ll definitely investigate.”
Sometimes…
Children didn’t truly understand their own parents.
Ning Lu looked at Yan Bingqin curiously.
“Mom…
“You seem to know Commander Xie’s personality pretty well too.”
Yan Bingqin’s eyes flickered away awkwardly.
The truth was…
Back then, she had quietly observed Commander Xie herself.
Deep down, she had once thought that a man like him would make an excellent husband.
It was simply unfortunate that she had already been married.
She had to keep proper boundaries.
So while taking care of Commander Xie during his recovery, she repeatedly brought up her husband, pretending they were deeply in love…
Even though her marriage with Ning Tiegen had never been a happy one.
Seeing her embarrassment, Ning Lu didn’t press the issue.
She smiled brightly instead.
“Mom, from now on I won’t let anyone bully Qingle ever again.
“I’ve got plenty of strength—and plenty of tricks.
“Whatever happened to Ning Yue and Lin Anguo…
“I’ll make sure these people suffer the same fate.”
Yan Bingqin nodded.
“But I still need to have a proper talk with Commander Xie.”
Ning Lu’s bandages had been soaked through with blood.
The doctor cleaned and redressed the wound.
Not long afterward, Xie Qingle also regained consciousness.
Before Yan Bingqin even had the chance to speak with Commander Xie…
Something inside Xie Qingle seemed to have completely changed.
She immediately picked up the telephone and called her father, crying so hard she could barely speak.
“Dad!
“We all saw it with our own eyes!
“It was He Wanyu who pushed Ning Lu!
“It doesn’t matter if they bully me…
“But Ning Lu just arrived at our home.
“She’s been so good to me.
“She risked her life to save me.
“And Aunt Yan even made breakfast for us this morning.
“What if they get so angry that they decide to leave?
“What are we supposed to do then?”
Commander Xie gripped the telephone so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“What did you say?
“How did things escalate into this?
“I’m coming to the hospital immediately!”