Su Manqing, having stepped out the door, carried her luggage and strode quickly behind Wang Xingmei.
Indeed, despite Wang Xingmei’s short stature, she walked with brisk, hurried steps.
If Su Manqing didn’t keep up the pace, she would have fallen behind.
Before long, the two stopped in front of a courtyard.
The houses in the island’s family quarters were likely built uniformly, as their exterior styles looked identical.
The house Wang Xingmei brought her to was the innermost one.
To the left was a wall, and to the right stood another courtyard identical to hers.
However, a cluster of vibrant bougainvillea spilled over the wall, clearly indicating that the owner enjoyed gardening.
Noticing Su Manqing’s lingering gaze at the neighboring courtyard, Wang Xingmei, who had remained silent throughout the walk, finally spoke.
"Do you know who lives next door?"
Su Manqing wasn’t sure what she meant, but seeing the gleeful mischief in her eyes, she knew it couldn’t be anything good.
"No, I don’t."
Unfazed, Wang Xingmei continued, "The courtyard next door is occupied by the fourth battalion commander and his wife, Comrade Jiang Qiuyue. This Comrade Qiuyue is quite remarkable—she’s a soloist in the cultural troupe, beautiful and exceptionally talented."
It was her?
Su Manqing’s breath hitched!
The female comrade Su Manxue had mentioned, the one with an unusual relationship with Huo Yuanzheng?
She was already married? And coincidentally lived right next door?
Though her heart was already in turmoil, Su Manqing showed no sign of it on her face, responding only with a faint acknowledgment.
"Oh."
Surprised by her indifferent reaction, Wang Xingmei pressed on nonetheless.
"Back then, so many people admired her and wanted to marry her, but it’s a pity…"
She trailed off mid-sentence, as if deliberately trying to pique curiosity.
Su Manqing said nothing, pushing open the gate to survey the place she would soon call home.
"Huh, aren’t you going to ask what’s so pitiful?"
Annoyed that her bait hadn’t worked, Wang Xingmei followed her inside, pressing the question.
Only then did Su Manqing oblige.
"What’s so pitiful?"
Even as she asked, her gaze remained fixed on the courtyard, her tone unmistakably perfunctory.
The courtyard was enclosed by walls on all sides. Upon entering, she saw it was mostly bare, with no greenery aside from the house itself.
Directly ahead were two single-story rooms. To the left, at a ninety-degree angle, stood a tiled-roof house with a simple stove inside.
In the right-hand corner were two low, tiled-roof structures—one for bathing and the other a toilet.
Though modest, the house had all the essential facilities.
Wang Xingmei was utterly exasperated.
Was this reaction normal?
"Aren’t you at all curious about your neighbor next door?"
Su Manqing sighed inwardly, frustrated that Wang Xingmei persisted despite her clear disinterest.
"Not really. I’ll get to know them eventually."
She wasn’t blind to Wang Xingmei’s meddling intentions; why would she listen to her attempts to stir up trouble and sow discord?
Wang Xingmei deflated.
"Fine, fine, I’ll tell you straight. That Jiang Qiuyue once wrote letters to your husband!"
At this, Su Manqing finally looked up at her.
But her response remained unchanged.
"Oh."
She already knew this—Su Manxue had told her.
It was also another reason why Su Manqing had decided to divorce Huo Yuanzheng.
He was clearly entangled with another woman in the military unit, yet he still wanted to marry her.
Originally, Su Manqing had believed Su Manxue's words without a doubt.
But ever since having that dream, she now harbored only suspicion about the matter.
Su Manxue's words could not be trusted, and the words of this unfamiliar military wife were even less credible—she should seek the truth herself!
Wang Xingmei nearly exploded with frustration.
"What kind of reaction is that?"
Could she not understand what she meant? Someone had written a letter to her husband, and her reaction was still so indifferent?
"What reaction should I have?"
Su Manqing asked with a straight face.
Wang Xingmei was immediately stumped. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "At the very least, you should be angry… uh… furious, right?"
That should be the correct reaction, shouldn't it?
She had been led astray by her.
"Why should I be angry?"
Su Manqing countered again.
"Why shouldn't you be angry?" Someone liked her husband!
Su Manqing: "Isn't she married?"
Wang Xingmei: …
Well, that seemed right, didn't it?
Jiang Qiuyue couldn't possibly divorce just to flirt with someone else's husband, could she?
If that happened, she'd be labeled with a conduct issue and face serious consequences!
"Fine."
With no drama to watch, Wang Xingmei felt utterly bored.
"For the furniture and such, you can go register at the barracks department later and collect them from the comrades there."
After giving the instructions, she turned to leave.
But the next moment, her clothes tightened, and she was pulled… uh… held back?
"Hey, why are you pulling me?"
Wang Xingmei glared back at her, her willow-like eyebrows furrowed.
Su Manqing blinked, her tone full of innocence.
"I don't know where the barracks department is."
Wang Xingmei rolled her eyes.
"If you don't know, can't you ask someone?"
Su Manqing: "Aren't I asking you? Director Liu told you to settle me in. Are you trying to shirk your responsibility?"
Wang Xingmei was just taking advantage of her being new and unfamiliar with things. With no drama to watch, she only wanted to leave.
Who would have thought Su Manqing would be so difficult to deal with? She was instantly left speechless.
"Hehehe… How could I? Come on, come on, I'll take you to the barracks department."
Gritting her teeth, she forced a smile.