Jiang Zhixing watched as Song Chutong’s figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance, and gradually, the heat in his chest cooled.
Just now… he had only acted on impulse—seeing her walking alongside another man had stirred something unpleasant in him.
But when it came to cutting ties with Song Chutong, he had no regrets.
Not even when his mother, having caught wind of things, had called him through the communications office last night to question and warn him—he hadn’t taken it seriously.
Yes, Song Chutong had excellent conditions. Being with her would smooth his career path, just as her influential uncle had promised.
But every time he looked at Ranran—at her gentle, melancholy, understanding face—he simply couldn’t bring himself to continue entangling himself with Song Chutong.
Ending things cleanly had been the only reasonable choice.
And yet…
The image of Song Chutong’s wounded, resolute expression from yesterday still lingered in his mind, leaving behind a trace of discomfort he couldn’t quite shake.
She had asked him for meal tickets more than once before.
So today, he had thought he might as well give her a few.
As for the nonsense she had said about Jiang Sheng—he had never taken it to heart.
His younger uncle had an eye sharper than a blade and standards impossibly high. How could he ever take a liking to a woman like her—someone who had nothing but her looks and family background?
But then again…
Just like the girl beside Ranran had said—
For a woman like Song Chutong, who would even ruin her own reputation just to provoke him, wouldn’t going back to her now only inflate her ego?
She was nothing like Ranran.
Song Chutong never knew when to stop. She would only push further, escalate, demand more.
And today—deliberately walking with a male soldier from the arts troupe, right along his usual path to the mess hall, at precisely this hour—
If that wasn’t intentional, then what was?
He glanced at the man’s back—thin, unimpressive.
Song Chutong had seen better.
If she insisted on degrading herself like this, what could he possibly do?
“Commander Jiang! Over here—join us!”
The voice came from ahead. It was Company Commander Xu, Xu Lili’s father, who had clearly been waiting for him.
He hadn’t been able to interfere with his daughter’s situation yesterday. But hearing Xu Lili complain about how the Wei brothers treated her like dirt—it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
So he had come, hoping to speak with Jiang Zhixing about it.
Jiang Zhixing felt a flicker of impatience, but his smile remained warm and polite. “Commander Xu, didn’t your wife make breakfast for you?”
During the last election, Xu had supported him. Appearances had to be maintained.
Xu let out a heavy sigh. “My daughter’s being bullied in the dorm, and my wife’s about ready to throw me out of the house. Breakfast? Don’t even mention it.”
Jiang Zhixing gave his shoulder a reassuring pat, intending to exchange a few polite words and move on—but then something clicked.
Wasn’t Xu Lili in the same dorm as Song Chutong?
“What happened?”
Xu immediately seized the opportunity, his tone growing heated.
“It’s that Song Chutong! You’ve no idea how domineering she is in the dorm—throwing her weight around just because she’s got relatives all over the army. Commander Jiang, I’m not just saying this for my daughter. This kind of behavior will ruin her reputation too! Let me tell you—she actually…”
…
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the storm brewing elsewhere, Song Chutong was happily carrying her tray, scanning for a place to sit.
She hadn’t expected that the commander-level meal tickets could be bought with money—and that Jiang Shuyi would be generous enough to treat her.
“Here, sit inside—it’s cleaner!” Song Chutong chirped, practically hovering at Jiang Shuyi’s side like an eager attendant.
Jiang Shuyi snorted, not the least bit polite. “You should be serving me. Do you have any idea how expensive this stuff is?”
“I know, I know! I’ll treat you next time!” Song Chutong grinned.
Ever since waking from that dream, something in her had changed.
The stiffness, the pride—it had faded.
What were those things worth compared to a full stomach?
And besides… Jiang Shuyi was, in a true sense, her first real friend.
She’d had friends before.
But every time she brought them home, they would inevitably be drawn to Song Weiran—gentler, more understanding, easier to like.
Over time, Song Chutong had simply stopped trying.
Which was why she had clung so tightly to Jiang Zhixing.
After more than a decade by his side, she had believed—deep down—that he was meant to be hers.
That was why, in the original course of events, his rejection had driven her to the brink of collapse.
And learning that he loved Song Weiran had only pushed her further into darkness.
Jiang Shuyi had been about to tease her again, but when she looked up and saw the shadowed look in Song Chutong’s eyes, her smile faded slightly.
“What? Still thinking about Jiang Zhixing?”
Song Chutong’s delicate face scrunched up instantly, ready to retort—
But suddenly, a loud clatter rang out nearby, drawing her attention.
Jiang Shuyi thought she was avoiding the question, about to steer the conversation elsewhere—but then she caught the faint trace of mockery curling at Song Chutong’s lips.
Curious, she turned to look as well.
“Comrade, I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to! Are you alright?”
Song Weiran pressed her lips together, glancing at the fallen tray and the mess splattered across her clothes. She shook her head gently. “It’s fine. I’m okay. You look like you’re heading to morning training—don’t let me delay you. You should go.”
The young soldier’s guilt deepened.
He could have sworn he had already stepped aside to avoid her—so how had they still collided?
But her soft reassurance instantly erased his doubts.
“No, I knocked over your meal—what will you eat? And your clothes—”
Song Weiran shook her head stubbornly, forcing a faint smile. “Really, it’s nothing. Missing one meal won’t hurt. I’ll just go back and change.”
“I still think I should—”
Before he could finish, a sharp voice cut in.
“Li Xiao, what’s going on here? Skipping training and interfering with a comrade’s meal? Have you been getting too comfortable lately?”
Jiang Zhixing had already been simmering with anger after hearing Xu’s complaints about Song Chutong abusing her connections through the Wei brothers.
Now, that anger found an outlet.
Li Xiao lowered his head immediately. “I know I was wrong, Commander.”
Jiang Zhixing’s gaze hardened. “If you know you’re wrong, go take your punishment. Don’t stand here wasting everyone else’s time.”
Li Xiao glanced at Song Weiran again, intending to apologize—
But before he could speak, a clear, bright female voice rang out from behind:
“How ridiculous. I’ve never seen someone get punished for being the one who was hit.”