Qiao Xin walked over quickly, sizing up the soldier holding the sign as she went.
He wasn’t old, maybe early twenties, with dark skin and a height of about 176 centimeters at a glance.
Not short, but a bit off from the height she’d imagined for a soldier.
His looks were ordinary.
Honestly, she was a little disappointed. Wasn’t the Fu family’s second son supposed to be exceptionally handsome?
She’d even fantasized about her fiancé’s looks based on short-drama actors she’d seen and the male-model types she’d scrolled past on Douyin.
Turned out… yeah. Clearly short dramas and Douyin videos were all lies.
“Comrade Fu, hello. I’m Qiao Xin, the fiancée your family arranged for you.”
Lin Qingshan had spotted her the moment she stepped out of the station. He couldn’t help it. The girl was too pretty, standing out in the crowd.
He’d been wondering if this might be their battalion commander’s girl. It seemed only a girl like this could be worthy of their battalion commander.
When he saw her walking toward him, his heart pounded, excited on their battalion commander’s behalf. This was almost certainly their battalion commander’s girl.
Then he heard that pleasant, lovely voice and confirmed his guess. His face flushed red.
“S-Sister-in-law, hello. I’m not Battalion Commander Fu. My name is Lin Qingshan. I’m the communications officer for our battalion.”
“Battalion Commander Fu has training duties today and couldn’t get away, so he sent me to pick you up.”
So that was it.
Only… Battalion Commander? Wasn’t he supposed to be a company commander? How did he get promoted to battalion commander? He was rising fast. He really was capable. Probably that was exactly why he looked down on her.
Qiao Xin apologized. “Sorry, Comrade Lin. I’ve never met Fu Mingze, so I mistook you for him.”
“It’s fine, sister-in-law.”
Lin Qingshan took the luggage and net bag from her hands, flashing a mouthful of white teeth.
“Sister-in-law, come with me. The car’s parked not far ahead.”
Qiao Xin felt awkward hearing him call her sister-in-law again and again. Wasn’t he supposed to want to break off the engagement? Why was he having people call her sister-in-law?
“Um, Comrade Lin, just call me Comrade Qiao. Fu Zeming and I haven’t gotten our marriage certificate yet.”
Lin Qingshan scratched his head awkwardly. He had called her that a bit early. It wasn’t good for the girl’s reputation.
“Sorry, sister-in— Comrade Qiao.”
Qiao Xin said carelessly, “It’s fine!”
She looked around, wanting to find somewhere to eat.
“Comrade Lin, is there a restaurant nearby? I’m a bit hungry. Why don’t we eat something before we go?”
Lin Qingshan agreed readily. “Sure, Comrade Qiao. Let’s put the luggage in the car first. There’s food nearby. I’ll take you in a bit.”
He had a very good impression of Qiao Xin. The girl was so pretty and looked delicate, but her personality wasn’t the least bit coy. She was easy to get along with.
The two put away the luggage and found a noodle shop nearby, each ordering a bowl of shredded pork noodles.
Lin Qingshan rushed to pay. Qiao Xin tried to give him the money and tickets, but he refused.
Qiao Xin had no choice but to say, “When we get back, ask your Battalion Commander Fu for it. Yours counts too.”
Lin Qingshan grinned. “Will do. I’ll go settle the account with the battalion commander then.”
After eating the noodles, the two didn’t delay and headed for the base.
The whole way, Lin Qingshan talked about their battalion commander’s heroic deeds. First place in the annual competition every year, multiple military merits, and so on. Qiao Xin listened with great interest, occasionally chiming in to show she was listening carefully.
After hearing all that, she’d actually changed her opinion of this fiancé she hadn’t met yet quite a bit. He was a hero!
She just didn’t know why he wanted to break off the engagement. Could it really be like his sister said, that he’d found a girl he liked in the army?
If that were true, the engagement definitely had to be broken.
She probed indirectly. “Comrade Lin, your battalion commander is so outstanding. He must be very popular with the female comrades in the army, right?”
“Absolutely!”
Lin Qingshan said honestly, “A few doctors and nurses from the military hospital, and quite a few female soldiers from the cultural troupe, all liked our battalion commander. But he didn’t pay attention to any of them. If anyone was tactless and talked too much in front of him, he’d send them straight to the training ground for extra drills. He didn’t treat them as women at all.”
“After that, no one dared to hang around the battalion commander. And who knows who started gossiping, saying our battalion commander likes men.”
“Now it’s fine. Comrade Qiao, you’re here. Let’s see who dares say our battalion commander likes men after this.”
“The battalion commander just has you as his fiancée, that’s why he’s always kept his distance from other female comrades. He’s keeping himself pure, saving himself for you, Comrade Qiao. All these years, there hasn’t been even a female mosquito by the battalion commander’s side.”
Qiao Xin’s mouth twitched as she listened.
Keeping himself pure, saving himself. As if anyone would believe that.
She’d sooner believe Fu Mingze really did like men!
The car arrived at the military base and stopped at the gate. Qiao Xin got out to register.
Two young soldiers passing by saw how beautiful Qiao Xin was and couldn’t help staring a couple more times, their faces flushing unconsciously.
When they heard Lin Qingshan introduce her as Battalion Commander Fu’s fiancée, the two young soldiers bolted for the training ground.
They told everyone they met that Battalion Commander Fu’s girl had arrived and was unbelievably beautiful.
Just like that, before Qiao Xin had even entered the base, the news of her arrival had already spread through the entire base.
Gao Feng personally went to the training ground and dragged Fu Mingze out.
“Alright, I’m giving you half a day off. Go welcome your fiancée.”
Fu Mingze frowned. This woman had just arrived and already disrupted his training plan, and riled up the soldiers under his command so they couldn’t focus on training.
Women. Nothing but trouble.
He didn’t want to leave. “Regiment Commander, Xiao Lin will take care of her. I’ll go back after training ends.”
Gao Feng glared at him. Whose fiancée was this, Xiao Lin’s or his? The man had already helped bring her back, and he still wouldn’t show his face. Was that reasonable? It wasn’t like he really couldn’t get away.
He ordered sternly, “Battalion Commander Fu, I order you to go receive your fiancée immediately. This is a task assigned by the organization. You must complete it.”
Fu Mingze saluted. Even though his brow was furrowed hard enough to crush a fly, he answered loudly, “Yes, Regiment Commander. Mission guaranteed.”