As the centerpiece of the National Day tribute celebrations, the costume design selection event for the musical drama Gobi Red Flower drew the attention of the entire military district. Not only was the entire arts troupe present, but several high-ranking officers—including Cheng Beitang himself—were seated on the judging panel.
The auditorium buzzed with chatter.
“I heard Comrade Lin Xue is finally presenting her design proposal today. She’s definitely going to win.”
“Not necessarily. I heard the new regiment commander’s wife, Su Huaijin, also submitted a design and even made a bet with Lin Xue!”
“Come on, what could that pampered little miss possibly design? She’s probably just here for fun.”
Most people didn’t think highly of Su Huaijin. Around here, seniority and background usually determined everything.
Backstage.
Lin Xue stood in a sharply pressed military uniform, clutching her design sketches tightly, confidence written all over her face.
She glanced toward Su Huaijin, who sat quietly in the corner organizing her drawings.
Today, Su Huaijin wore a simple white blouse and a dark blue skirt. Her hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, and though she wore no makeup, she was still breathtakingly beautiful. To Lin Xue, however, that beauty itself was a crime—a symbol of frivolity and vanity.
“Comrade Su, don’t get so nervous later that you start crying,” Lin Xue mocked in a low voice as she walked over. “You can still admit defeat now and save yourself the embarrassment in front of all the leaders.”
Su Huaijin looked up calmly.
She gently smoothed the wrinkles on her sketch paper and replied flatly,
“Comrade Lin should spend more time preparing your apology speech. Don’t forget your lines later.”
“You—!”
Lin Xue nearly choked with anger.
“We’ll see about that!”
…
The selection officially began.
Director Wang of the arts troupe, a woman in her forties with a background in dance, sat at the center of the judging panel. She was known for her strict artistic standards.
“First contestant: Lin Xue.”
Lin Xue took a deep breath, pasted on her most confident smile, and walked onto the stage. After saluting the leaders, she unfolded her design and began explaining.
“Leaders, my design philosophy is ‘simplicity, practicality, and combat readiness.’ Please look at this female soldier dance uniform…”
The sketch depicted a very standard Lenin-style military outfit: a gray-blue jacket, baggy trousers, and a belt around the waist. Aside from a tiny embroidered red flower near the collar, there was virtually no design innovation at all.
“This outfit uses durable work fabric, making it convenient for large dance movements. The overall style reflects the hardworking revolutionary spirit of our Northwestern soldiers…”
Lin Xue spoke eloquently, exaggerating the merits of an utterly uninspired design.
The judges responded politely but without enthusiasm.
Director Wang frowned slightly. The design wasn’t bad exactly—it was simply too conservative, completely lacking originality. Maybe it would’ve worked over a decade ago, but this was supposed to appear on the grand National Day stage. Wasn’t it far too outdated?
The other leaders merely nodded courteously.
Only Cheng Beitang, seated in the corner, remained expressionless from beginning to end. His mind was elsewhere entirely:
Would his wife’s overnight design masterpiece be overlooked by these people who clearly lacked artistic vision?
“Next contestant: Su Huaijin.”
Director Wang called her name in a businesslike tone, not expecting much.
Backstage, Su Huaijin took a deep breath.
Carrying her thick stack of sketches, she stepped onto the stage with calm determination.
The moment she stood beneath the spotlight, the entire auditorium fell silent for a second.
She was stunning.
Even in the simplest clothes, the confidence and elegance radiating from her bones were impossible to ignore.
Cheng Beitang’s previously indifferent gaze sharpened instantly the moment she appeared. Sitting up straight, he stared intensely at the glowing little woman onstage.
Unlike Lin Xue, Su Huaijin didn’t waste time shouting slogans.
She directly unfolded her first sketch—the female soldier dance costume Cheng Beitang had seen the night before—and mounted it onto the display board.
A collective gasp swept through the hall.
The bold clash of red and green. The daring asymmetrical tailoring. The perfect blend of strength and femininity…
It was like a brilliant scarlet rose suddenly blooming across a dull gray desert.
The visual impact was overwhelming.
“This…”
Director Wang shot to her feet so abruptly her glasses nearly slipped off. She hurried closer to the stage, eyes blazing with excitement as she examined the sketch.
“These lines, this composition… incredible! How did you come up with turning the skirt hem into the shape of sand dunes?”
Su Huaijin answered calmly,
“Reporting to Director Wang: after arriving in the Northwest, I was deeply moved by the beauty of the Gobi Desert. Though the sandstorms here are fierce, our soldiers are like these dunes—unyielding against wind and thunder alike. Through these costumes, I wanted to express that unbreakable vitality.”
She didn’t rely on empty slogans.
Instead, she used design itself to perfectly embody revolutionary romanticism.
“Excellent! Very well said!”
One of the deputy commanders started applauding enthusiastically.
Next, Su Huaijin revealed the male soldiers’ costumes, the choir uniforms, and more. Every design was unique yet cohesive. She had even designed matching shoes, hats, and props.
This wasn’t just a few sketches.
It was a complete, mature, breathtaking, and highly practical design proposal.
Who said she was just a pampered rich girl?
She was clearly a hidden professional designer!
The atmosphere in the audience shifted instantly.
“My god, these are gorgeous! If I got to dance in outfits like these, I’d practice two extra hours every day!” the young girls from the arts troupe exclaimed excitedly.
“Who would’ve thought? Commander Cheng’s wife really has talent! You can’t achieve drawing skills like this without years of training!”
“This isn’t outdated at all—it’s incredibly stylish! I think it looks even better than the costumes from the Beijing Arts Troupe!”
Hearing the endless praise around her, Lin Xue’s face turned deathly pale.
She stared at the dazzling sketches onstage, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
How was this possible?
How could Su Huaijin create something like this?
Wasn’t she supposed to be nothing more than a pretty vase who only knew how to spend money and dress up?
“Director Wang,” Su Huaijin finished her presentation with a respectful bow, “my report is complete. I welcome criticism and guidance from all leaders present.”
Criticism?
Who could possibly criticize this?
Director Wang was glowing with excitement. She slapped the table decisively.
“No criticism needed! This is it! Comrade Su Huaijin’s proposal perfectly captures the spirit of Gobi Red Flower! I hereby announce that all costumes for the National Day performance will adopt Comrade Su Huaijin’s designs!”
Thunderous applause exploded throughout the auditorium.
Everyone applauded the newcomer who had conquered the entire room through sheer talent.
Seated among the judges, Cheng Beitang looked at the woman standing proudly beneath the spotlight, and the corners of his lips lifted uncontrollably, nearly reaching his ears.
His usually cold, stern face now radiated pride and satisfaction.
Look at that!
That’s my wife!
She really knows how to make me proud!
As the applause gradually faded, Su Huaijin showed no trace of arrogance over her victory.
Instead, she turned and fixed her gaze directly on the trembling figure at the side of the stage.
“Comrade Lin Xue.”
Her clear voice echoed through the microphone across the entire hall.
“Our bet should be settled now, shouldn’t it?”
Every eye instantly shifted toward Lin Xue.
She felt as though she had been stripped naked before hundreds of people, humiliated beyond endurance. She wanted to run, but her legs felt as heavy as lead.
“A bet is a bet,” Su Huaijin said coolly. “In front of everyone, apologize for calling me ‘nothing but a decorative vase.’”
She was no saint.
If someone slapped her left cheek, she would never offer them the right one as well. She wanted everyone to understand:
Su Huaijin was not someone easy to bully.
Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of people—and the stern gaze of military leaders—Lin Xue could only grit her teeth and slowly walk onto the stage.
Head lowered, she muttered weakly,
“S-sorry, Comrade Su. I… I was blind and underestimated you.”
“Louder. I can’t hear you.”
Lin Xue shut her eyes in humiliation and shouted,
“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have called you a decorative vase! Your designs are amazing! I lost!”
The moment the words left her mouth, she could no longer bear the shame. Covering her face, she burst into tears and ran off the stage.
From that moment onward, no one in the entire hall dared look down on the “pampered young lady” from Beijing ever again.
Through her own abilities, Su Huaijin had fiercely slapped every doubter in the face and earned genuine respect.
…
After the event ended, Su Huaijin became the arts troupe’s most sought-after person.
Director Wang refused to let go of her hand and immediately tried to arrange a formal position for her as the troupe’s special costume designer.
Su Huaijin politely declined a full-time post and agreed only to work as a part-time consultant. She had no interest in being tied down every day—she still wanted plenty of time to spend with her Commander Cheng.
After finally escaping the enthusiastic crowd, she walked out of the auditorium.
At a glance, she spotted the dark green military jeep waiting by the entrance.
Cheng Beitang leaned casually against the car door, a cigarette hanging from his lips as he watched her with dark, intense eyes. The setting sun cast a golden glow over him, making him look devastatingly handsome.
Su Huaijin hurried over and stopped in front of him, tilting her face upward like a child waiting for praise.
“Cheng Beitang, I won!”
Cheng Beitang removed the cigarette from his mouth and stared down at her radiant face.
Suddenly, he reached out, grabbed the back of her head, and kissed her fiercely on the lips—completely ignoring the shocked soldiers passing nearby.
“Mmph!”
Su Huaijin’s eyes widened.
They were still outside!
Releasing her, he said in a low, hoarse voice full of pride and affection,
“You did damn good, wife.”
Then he opened the passenger door with a flourish, like a king welcoming his queen.
“Get in. We’re going home.”
“Tonight, I’m cooking personally.”
“We’re having a celebration feast!”
The jeep sped away beneath the sunset.
Leaving behind countless envious stares.
Who said this marriage was a bad match?
They were clearly a perfect pair made in heaven.
One excelled on the battlefield; the other overflowed with talent.
One was hopelessly devoted to his wife; the other was a queen in her own right.
Their life together was beautiful.