"At least put on a coat. It’s cold outside!"
At that moment, Song Yao looked up and saw Shen Zhenwu standing at the end of the hallway.
Their eyes met, and neither looked away first.
Shen Zhenwu’s brow was knitted into a knot, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Didn’t I tell you to rest and recover properly?"
Seeing Song Yao like this, his first reaction wasn’t anger, but a lingering fear.
Xiao Li, standing behind him, was stunned for a few seconds before speaking.
"Sir, are you trying to scare Comrade Song Yao into tears right here and now?"
The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere grew even more tense.
But he wasn’t one to back down. He stealthily glanced up at Song Yao’s expression.
She wasn’t crying. In fact, the corners of her mouth were slightly raised.
Xiao Li’s words snapped Shen Zhenwu back to his senses, and only then did he notice Song Yao glaring at him.
The anger was real, completely undisguised.
Shen Zhenwu suddenly realized how harsh his tone had been.
But the words were already out, and he couldn’t take them back.
"You’re overstepping, aren’t you? Where I, Song Yao, go and what I do is none of your business, Mr. Shen. If you’ve got a temper, take it out on your soldiers!"
The surrounding medical staff all turned to look.
This wasn’t a conflict they should be watching.
Doctor Guo hurried over just then. Seeing the standoff, she sighed.
Then she turned to Shen Zhenwu, her tone calm but laced with helplessness.
"Sir, please calm down. Comrade Song Yao only just woke up, and emotional turmoil isn’t good for her recovery. I remember everything you specifically instructed me to do last night. The nutritional meals were delivered on time, and she hasn’t missed any medication... But you can’t mend a troubled heart with tonic soups."
She quickly tried to placate her, "Don’t be angry, Comrade Song Yao. Mr. Shen is actually just looking out for you. Last night, he specifically told me to nurse you back to health and make up for all you’ve lost."
Shen Zhenwu stood there, somewhat at a loss, his face drawn tight.
"I don’t see how he’s looking out for me at all."
Song Yao sneered, her words merciless.
"Thank you for your concern, but I don’t need it. It doesn’t matter where I am, as long as it’s not here."
Shen Zhenwu opened his mouth, about to speak.
She immediately raised a hand to cut him off.
"Whether he had good intentions or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. Mr. Shen, since you’ve come yourself, let’s save some trouble. Let me go. I don’t want to stay here. I don’t want to be inexplicably interrogated like a criminal again, thrown in confinement, and lectured."
After speaking, she took half a step back, creating distance between them.
Shen Zhenwu understood immediately, and his heart sank.
’So she hasn’t gotten over what happened yesterday.’
Xiao Li, that blunt young man, asked directly.
"Comrade Song Yao, are you still angry at Mr. Shen?"
He asked so bluntly that everyone around them was taken aback.
Shen Zhenwu’s heart pounded as he watched her, but he just saw Song Yao tilt her head and ask a question in return.
"Why shouldn’t I be angry? Yesterday, he was ready to drag me in for questioning without a second thought, accusing me of having ulterior motives and treating me like a spy. After wronging me, did he offer a single word of apology? Of course, Mr. Shen is a big shot. I can’t afford to offend him, but can’t I at least hide from him?"
In the end, what she cared about wasn’t her treatment, but respect.
Xiao Li immediately turned to look at Shen Zhenwu.
"Sir, did you hear that? What Comrade Song Yao wants is for you to admit you were wrong."
He raised his voice, practically forcing Shen Zhenwu to respond.
Both Doctor Guo and Song Yao were stunned.
They hadn’t expected Xiao Li to cut to the heart of the matter so directly.
’This Xiao Li... he’s probably not just a simple guard, is he?’
She had long since noticed that he acted with propriety and had quick reflexes.
But now wasn’t the time to get to the bottom of it.
Her attention returned to Shen Zhenwu.
’This so-called father of mine... would he actually bow his head and admit he was wrong?’
’In his dreams.’
The Mr. Shen from her memory—decisive, authoritative, and whose word was law—had never backed down for anyone.
The outcome was revealed soon enough.
She had indeed overestimated herself and underestimated the iron-clad pride of this so-called father.
Shen Zhenwu’s face was stern as he said, word by word, "Comrade Song Yao, you are not permitted to leave. Your identity is still unconfirmed, and you must remain in the camp to cooperate with the investigation."
It was a naked threat.
But Song Yao just laughed.
’Right, what was I even expecting?’
"Then just lock me up."
Song Yao decided to go all in, her voice not trembling in the slightest.
She was someone who had already died once. Once her mind was made up, she would not waver.
Seeing Song Yao’s fierce declaration as she prepared to leave, Shen Zhenwu was both angry and amused.
’The girl’s tone, her gait—everything about her carried a ruthless edge.’
’Fine. That personality is pure Shen Family, through and through.’
’Stubborn as a mule chewing on rocks—once she’s on a path, she won’t turn back.’
He had no choice but to call out and stop her.
"If you stay, I’ll arrange a letter of introduction for you afterward. That should be enough to make you reconsider, right?"
The moment he spoke, Song Yao’s steps faltered.
Then she slowly turned around, her eyes clear as she looked at him.
"Mr. Shen, this time... you’re not just trying to trick me again, are you?"
Shen Zhenwu’s tone was stiff.
"Enough. I can still afford to lose this much face."
After saying this, he shut his mouth, offering no further explanation.
"It’s a deal, then!"
Song Yao agreed readily, a slight curve gracing her lips.
"Don’t forget, you’re the one who asked me to stay... Don’t you dare go back on your word later."
With that, she turned and walked away, her steps much lighter than before.
Her new quarters were arranged, right next to Mr. Shen’s residence.
The conditions were worlds better.
Doctor Guo was the one who brought her over.
The doctor, wearing a white coat and holding a registration book, rattled off instructions as they walked.
"Comrade Song Yao, you get some rest. I won’t be in the camp tonight. If anything comes up, go find someone from logistics to help you."
After giving her instructions, Doctor Guo left.
Song Yao thanked her sincerely, "Thank you for everything, Doctor Guo."
The other woman waved her hand, said nothing, and turned to leave.
As soon as she was gone, the smile vanished from Song Yao’s face, and she let out a heavy sigh.
She slowly sat back down on the edge of the bed, her fingers gently rubbing the corner of the quilt, her gaze lowered.
A moment later, she looked up again, scanning the private room.
A medical kit sat on the cabinet in the corner, and a schedule was posted by the head of the bed.
A greatcoat hung on the back of the door. Everything seemed neat and orderly.
A cold sneer touched her lips.
’You really have to fight for what you want. In my last life, I stubbornly held onto my integrity, refusing to curry favor with the powerful, and ended up being stepped on by Shen Shuangshuang so badly I couldn’t even lift my head.’
’Connections, information, timing—every step had to be calculated.’
She would no longer wait foolishly for others to bestow kindness upon her, nor would she waste her sincerity on people who didn’t care about her.
’The real show is just beginning.’
She gazed out at the pitch-black night, her eyes serene.
At nine o’clock, the main troops departed for drills in the mountains.
Vehicles rumbled as personnel lined up in formation.
Aside from the training grounds being somewhat empty, the camp was operating as usual.
But Song Yao knew that some things had already quietly changed.
Yet, at a little after eight, a vehicle had sped towards the main gate like a whirlwind.
Such abnormal urgency meant an important person inside was injured.
During this time, Song Yao had remained in her room, using the excuse that she wasn’t feeling well.
She was leaning against the bed, a book in her hand, but she hadn’t read a single word.
Time ticked by, second by second. She was waiting for news, and for an opportunity.