However, the moment Zhou Weidong got a clear look at Li Chengyuan’s handsome face, his expression froze.
“C-Chief Li?!”
His gaze stalled briefly, filled with shock.
“Y-You… why are you here?”
Song Xuezhi and Chief Li didn’t even know each other. They were people from completely different worlds who should never have crossed paths.
If the rest of the restaurant hadn’t been completely empty, Zhou Weidong would have assumed they were simply sharing a table.
Li Chengyuan glanced at him indifferently.
“Commander Zhou, do I need your permission to go somewhere?”
Though the man was still young, simply sitting there made his presence impossible to ignore.
“N-No… Chief, that’s not what I meant…”
Zhou Weidong’s face immediately turned red.
Watching him behave as meekly as a kitten in front of Li Chengyuan, Song Xuezhi felt secretly delighted.
Sure enough, the best way to deal with a chauvinistic man like Zhou Weidong was to become his superior—his boss, his father figure.
Zhou Weidong’s possessiveness had always been intense. Ever since they got together, he had never allowed her to talk to other men.
In the past, if she exchanged even a few extra words with another soldier, he’d pull a long face and make his displeasure obvious.
Had she been dining with any other man tonight, Zhou Weidong would have exploded in fury by now.
But because it was Chief Li, he didn’t even dare let out a fart.
That was the power—and advantage—of authority.
“I just saw my wife eating with someone and came in to take a look. I didn’t expect it to be you, Chief.”
Zhou Weidong forced a stiff smile and said through clenched teeth,
“A busy man like you actually has time to have dinner with a subordinate’s wife in private?”
The implication was obvious.
He was accusing Li Chengyuan of disregarding propriety.
Even though Li Chengyuan was his superior officer, Zhou Weidong still couldn’t swallow his resentment.
After all, people in this era were fairly conservative. When a man and woman ate together alone, everyone naturally assumed they were a couple.
Before Li Chengyuan could respond, Song Xuezhi shot to her feet.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Her gaze turned hostile.
“Who the hell is your wife? Have some shame!”
This time Zhou Weidong didn’t back down.
He stepped forward and blocked her path, forcefully asserting his claim.
“We already submitted our marriage application!”
“If you’re not my wife, whose wife are you planning to be?”
Song Xuezhi nearly laughed from sheer anger.
She shoved him away in disgust.
“Don’t worry.”
“Even if you were the last man left on Earth, I still wouldn’t marry you.”
Zhou Weidong frowned.
“Stop saying things you don’t mean.”
Turning his eyes toward the table, he continued,
“Finished eating with Chief Li? If you’re done, come home with me.”
Even he couldn’t help swallowing when he saw the luxurious spread of meat dishes.
He hadn’t eaten dinner yet.
“Home?”
Song Xuezhi sneered.
“Are you sure that’s your home and not your sister’s home?”
“Song Xuezhi!”
The anger in Zhou Weidong’s lowered voice became unmistakable.
Did this woman really not know how to give him even a little face in front of his superior?
This was exactly what he hated about her.
She always made scenes regardless of the situation.
She was never even one-tenth as sensible as Rainwei.
“Just get lost.”
Song Xuezhi sat back down and picked up another piece of food.
“I lose my appetite whenever I see you.”
Zhou Weidong wanted to argue further, but a single glance from Li Chengyuan silenced him instantly.
With his superior present, he couldn’t continue the dispute.
“Fine.”
“Song Xuezhi, you’re really something.”
“You’d better not regret this.”
After leaving those harsh words behind, he turned and stormed out of the restaurant.
Only after he left did Song Xuezhi finally relax.
She smiled apologetically at Li Chengyuan.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
Li Chengyuan studied her thoughtfully.
After a long pause, he spoke in a deep voice.
“You once thought a man like him was a good person?”
“Heh…”
Song Xuezhi used a smile to hide her embarrassment.
He seemed to be questioning her judgment.
She had to admit that her taste in men had been terrible before…
But she was improving now.
Trash like Zhou Weidong belonged in the garbage.
“I was young and naïve back then.”
“He helped me on a train once, and I instinctively…”
“So because he helped you, you planned to devote your life to him?”
Li Chengyuan interrupted, amusement creeping into his tone.
“If someone saves you, do you always repay them with marriage?”
“W-Well, that depends on the circumstances…”
Song Xuezhi replied awkwardly.
“Besides, he didn’t save my life. He just helped me get my wallet back.”
“Hm.”
Li Chengyuan gave no indication of what he thought.
By the time they had nearly finished eating, he stood up to pay the bill.
The state-owned restaurant was located right outside the military compound and had cooperative arrangements with the military.
He simply charged the meal to his account and returned Song Xuezhi’s money and meal tickets.
Startled, she hurriedly protested.
“You really don’t have to do that, Chief. I said I’d treat you.”
“No need to be polite with me.”
Li Chengyuan turned to look at her.
His brows were sharp as blades, his nose perfectly sculpted, and his dark eyes were calm and unreadable.
His thin lips parted slightly.
“Actually… I should be compensating you as well.”
“Huh?!”
Three giant question marks practically appeared above Song Xuezhi’s head.
“That day by the river, I was the one who saved you.”
“The situation was urgent, so I had to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”
He chose his words carefully.
“Afterward, I wondered whether that might have affected your reputation.”
Song Xuezhi froze.
Then she waved her hands quickly.
“It’s fine, Chief.”
“It was an emergency. I completely understand.”
“I’m incredibly grateful that you saved me.”
Yet despite her words, a strange feeling stirred in her heart.
She had never dared harbor any fantasies about a man as outstanding as Li Chengyuan.
He was like a cloud in the sky, while she was frost upon the ground.
All she had ever felt toward him was admiration and respect.
But now…
He had just brought up the subject of repaying life-saving grace with marriage.
Although she remembered nothing about the resuscitation itself, technically speaking…
That had been her first kiss.
Her first kiss hadn’t gone to her former fiancé Zhou Weidong.
Instead, through an absurd twist of fate, it had gone to Zhou Weidong’s superior officer.
Even Song Xuezhi found the situation laughably ironic.
Li Chengyuan continued calmly.
“I originally considered whether I should take responsibility.”
“But later I learned that you were Zhou Weidong’s fiancée.”
Take responsibility?
From a man of Li Chengyuan’s status?
Song Xuezhi’s eyes widened.
This was more shocking than a pie falling from the sky.
She wouldn’t even dare dream of something like that.
Besides, Li Chengyuan was no ordinary person.
Rumor had it that his family possessed powerful political connections in the capital—a true third-generation revolutionary family.
Otherwise, no amount of military merit alone could have made someone so young a chief of staff.
“Haha… it’s really fine, Chief.”
“You don’t need to take responsibility.”
“As long as nobody saw us, we can just pretend that day never happened…”
Li Chengyuan raised an eyebrow.
“But someone probably did see.”
“Who?!”
“A few older women passing by.”
“They seemed to be from the military family compound, though I didn’t pay attention to whether they saw clearly.”
“Then it should be okay…”
Song Xuezhi thought of the gossip-loving aunties from the compound.
If they had really seen something scandalous, the news would have spread everywhere by now.
“Still,” Li Chengyuan said evenly, “the incident may have affected you.”
“If you need it, I can take responsibility.”
Song Xuezhi’s lips parted slightly.
Her heart began pounding wildly in her chest.
Had a pie really fallen from the sky this time?