Su Wanqing reached out and took the note, her fingertips brushing the rough paper, and for some reason, her heart tightened.
She gently unfolded it. The handwriting was familiar—Lu Yan’s, neat and strong, with his usual calmness. There weren’t many words, just two short lines:
“The mission is urgent, leaving the island first. As for Su Weiwei, we will discuss it when I return.”
No accusations, no excuses, no indication of whose side he believed—just a simple, “we will discuss it when I return.”
It was like a stone thrown into water, sending ripples across the surface, but giving no clear answer.
Su Wanqing stared at the line for a long time, her fingers lightly tracing the edges, her heart heavy and restless.
When he said “discuss it when I return,” did it mean he had already heard Su Weiwei’s side and wanted to confront her upon return?
Or did it mean he hadn’t made up his mind yet?
She couldn’t guess, nor could she be certain.
“See that?” Su Hua leaned over, pointing at the note, full of triumph.
“I wasn’t lying! Chief Lu knew about this and purposely left a note for you, to see how you’d explain yourself when he returned!”
Su Wanqing ignored him, her gaze still fixed on the note.
At that moment, Su Weiwei on the bed coughed softly, her voice weak as a mosquito’s hum.
“Brother, don’t argue with Wanqing…”
She lifted her head, looking at Su Wanqing with tearful eyes and a hint of guilt. “Wanqing, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have competed with you in cooking, and I shouldn’t have run off during the typhoon, causing everyone to misunderstand you…”
As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks, and she choked out, “When Chief Lu asked me earlier, I told him everything. It was my own carelessness that caused me to fall into the sea, not your fault.”
“But no one believed me. Even Sister Lin Man was worried… Wanqing, don’t be mad at Chief Lu. He was only concerned for me, that’s why he spoke that way.”
Every word emphasized that “Chief Lu asked,” and “everyone misunderstood Su Wanqing.”
It cemented the image that Su Wanqing “forced her sister into the sea,” while portraying Su Weiwei herself as the considerate, selfless victim.
Lin Man immediately picked up the thread, patting Su Weiwei’s hand in comfort.
“Weiwei, you’re too kind. You’re saying all this for her even now. Do you think your explanation will make her appreciate it?”
Then Lin Man turned to Su Wanqing, her tone suddenly icy, full of reproach.
“Su Wanqing, Weiwei has already said so much. Don’t you have anything to say to her? Look at her like this, and think about what you did before. Doesn’t your conscience trouble you?”
“I have nothing to say.”
Su Wanqing folded the note and slipped it into her jacket pocket, fingers clenched. “I know in my heart whether I did anything wrong. When Lu Yan returns, I will explain it to him myself.”
“And as for you, Comrade Lin, you weren’t involved and didn’t see anything with your own eyes—so why do you have the right to meddle?”
“Why do I have the right?” Lin Man sneered, her eyes full of disdain and scorn.
“Because Lu Yan and I grew up together. That bond isn’t something someone like you, who married in midway, can compare with! I can’t stand by and watch him be deceived by you, or have his reputation ruined!”
“You think marrying him means you can do whatever you want in the military district? You pushed Su Weiwei to jump into the sea, so cruelly. Even if Lu Yan is away on a mission and hasn’t said anything, he will never forgive you in his heart!”
At that, Lin Man deliberately paused, changing the way she referred to him. No longer “Chief Lu,” she said “Lu Yan,” as if their relationship were intimate.
Su Hua chimed in, pointing at Su Wanqing and shouting, “Exactly! How dare you treat Weiwei like that! If it weren’t for her kind heart, she would’ve told Lu Yan everything you did! When Lu Yan comes back, he’ll definitely divorce you and kick you out of the military district!”
A dark flash passed through Su Weiwei’s eyes as she grabbed Su Hua’s hand, tears falling harder. “Brother, don’t say that! Wanqing just married Lu Yan not long ago. How could they divorce? It’s all my fault. Don’t blame Sister Wanqing…”
She looked at Su Wanqing, eyes full of guilt. “Sister Wanqing, don’t be angry. My brother was just too anxious to speak like that. Don’t worry, when Lu Yan returns, I will explain everything clearly to him. I won’t let you two fight because of me.”
It sounded as if whether Su Wanqing could continue living peacefully with Lu Yan depended entirely on Su Weiwei’s willingness to explain.
Watching the three of them working together, Su Wanqing snorted inwardly.
Lin Man played the high-and-mighty, Su Weiwei acted weak and pitiful, stirring the pot, and Su Hua charged ahead with insults.
The three of them together were truly in cahoots.
In this military district island of the era, rumors spread fast, and people were willing to believe the words of the “weak.”
With Su Weiwei’s pitiful act, and Lin Man adding fuel on the side,
it wouldn’t take long before the rumor that “Su Wanqing forced her own sister into the sea” spread across the military district.
Even when Lu Yan returned, the rumor would inevitably influence him.
“I won’t apologize.” Su Wanqing lifted her eyes, her apricot gaze filled with malice. “I did nothing wrong, so there’s no reason to apologize. As for Lu Yan, I trust his judgment—he won’t listen to only one side of the story.”
She finished speaking and turned to leave.
“Stop right there!” Lin Man stepped forward to block her. “You’re just leaving like that? Weiwei is still lying there, and you can’t even say a word of concern? Your heart is too cold!”
Su Wanqing stopped, turning to Su Weiwei on the bed, her tone icy. “Su Weiwei, if you really feel guilty, don’t let your brother or Comrade Lin come here to make a scene in front of me.”
Her words were full of sarcasm.
Then, without another pause, Su Wanqing walked straight toward the infirmary door.
Behind her came Su Hua’s angry shouts, Lin Man’s reproaches, and Su Weiwei’s crying pleas.
The sounds blended into a sharp, grating noise, yet they did not slow her step.
Outside the infirmary, the rain was still falling. Su Wanqing pulled out the note from her pocket and unfolded it again.
The six words, “we will discuss it when I return,” were clear as day, yet they felt like a wall, blocking her from Lu Yan.
She had no idea what Lu Yan was thinking, or how he intended to “discuss” this matter with her.
Su Wanqing brushed back the wet strands of hair from her forehead, pursed her lips, and, with the rain intensifying, hurried toward the staff quarters.
For now, she would put this matter aside.
Lu Yan was far too flirtatious.
One messy love affair after another.
The rain fell harder, soaking her jacket and leaving dark patches.
Wind carrying the dampness seeped into her collar, and she hunched her neck, quickening her pace toward the quarters, her mind a tangled mess.
“Comrade over there, wait!”
Suddenly, a clear male voice came from behind. Not loud, not soft, but cutting through the rain, clear in her ear.
Su Wanqing paused mid-step and instinctively turned her head.