The jeep set off once more.
This time, the atmosphere seemed a little more awkward than before.
Or perhaps that was only Shen Yueliang’s imagination.
What she was absolutely certain about, however, was that the vehicle was moving noticeably slower and much more steadily.
At the very least, her head wasn’t smashing into the roof anymore.
Not long after they resumed their journey, darkness completely swallowed the sky outside.
Unlike the brightly lit nights of the city, where streetlights and neon signs illuminated everything, tonight’s weather was poor.
There were no stars.
No moon.
No matter which direction she looked, there was nothing but darkness.
Only the jeep’s two headlights illuminated the winding road ahead.
Fortunately, there was a soldier sitting beside her.
If she had been alone in a place this dark, she probably would have scared herself to death.
Shen Yueliang secretly glanced to the side.
Perhaps because it was so dark outside, the soldier’s stern and rugged features no longer seemed intimidating.
Instead, they gave her an overwhelming sense of security.
She quietly clenched her fists.
When she got back, she would definitely make the appreciation banner even bigger.
A huge one.
An enormous one.
Soon, however, she withdrew her gaze.
The important matter came first.
She hadn’t forgotten what the soldier had told her before they departed.
The place he was taking her was still more than a hundred kilometers away from her brother’s camp.
“Will you pass through any busy county towns or villages on the way to your destination? If so, could you drop me off there? And if it’s convenient, could you help me find another vehicle? Even a tractor would do. A hundred kilometers isn’t that far. I’ll pay the fare.”
Ji Yanchuan’s long fingers rested on the steering wheel.
Just like her appearance, Shen Yueliang’s voice was soft and sweet.
Yet the things she said were surprisingly bold.
She actually dared to wander around alone in the middle of the night.
Suddenly, he felt like teasing her.
The thought shouldn’t have appeared.
But once it did, he found it difficult to suppress.
“The place I’m going doesn’t pass through any busy towns. They’re all remote areas.”
“Huh?”
This time, Shen Yueliang was genuinely stunned.
Unfortunately, after saying that, Ji Yanchuan focused entirely on driving.
Not another word left his mouth.
Shen Yueliang mentally ran through every possible scenario.
No matter what, there were still over a hundred kilometers left.
There was no way she would give up.
At worst, perhaps she could find a tractor in the countryside…
“Then… how about dropping me off at a village?”
Ji Yanchuan slowed the vehicle slightly and turned his head to give her a deep look.
“Why do you talk so much?”
The moment she remembered his status, Shen Yueliang instinctively obeyed.
She straightened her back.
Lifted her chin.
Pressed her knees together.
Placed both hands neatly on her lap.
Her body complied.
Her expression didn’t.
Her little face was filled with anxiety.
Her delicate brows were knitted tightly together.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ji Yanchuan noticed.
Miraculously, the corner of his mouth lifted again.
When he accidentally caught sight of himself doing so in the rearview mirror, he froze briefly and immediately pressed his lips together.
Unable to get an answer, Shen Yueliang didn’t dare ask any more questions.
Eventually, she stopped thinking about it altogether.
Things had already reached this point.
Whatever happened, happened.
Once Ji Yanchuan dropped her off, she would figure something out herself.
Worrying now wouldn’t help.
Fortunately, she had money.
She remembered her brother’s unit address.
And she had brought food with her.
Having decided to simply go with the flow, Shen Yueliang stopped asking questions and stopped looking around.
The jeep eventually drove into what appeared to be another military compound.
Sentries stood guard by the roadside.
After Ji Yanchuan presented his identification, they were allowed through.
She followed him out of the vehicle and trailed behind him all the way to what looked like a reception office.
Only after finishing his business did Ji Yanchuan spare a glance in her direction.
What greeted him was a fair little face.
Her eyes were lowered.
Her shoulders drooped.
She looked exactly like a wilted cabbage.
If he happened to have a watering can nearby, he might have felt the urge to water her.
Before he could dwell on the thought, hurried footsteps approached.
A moment later, someone called out anxiously:
“Little Sister!”
Standing with his back to the doorway, Ji Yanchuan turned toward the voice.
The newcomer wore regular clothing.
His complexion was healthy.
There wasn’t the slightest sign of injury anywhere on him.
So…
Someone had lied.
Ji Yanchuan’s expression instantly turned cold.
Shen Yueliang stared at the man who had appeared before her.
“Brother?”
So they had actually arrived at her brother’s unit?
Both shocked and delighted, Shen Yueliang instinctively looked toward Ji Yanchuan.
What she saw was a handsome face colder than ice.
It wasn’t the distant indifference she had seen before.
This time, it was anger.
His eyes were icy.
When their gazes met, he even curled his lips into a mocking smile.
Then he turned and walked away.
At first, Shen Yueliang was confused.
Then understanding dawned on her.
She bit her lip awkwardly.
“Little Sister, why did you suddenly come here? I received the telegram from home and already requested leave from the political instructor. I was preparing to head back overnight.”
Telegrams were charged by the word.
When her uncle had sent it, he had only mentioned that the Luo family wanted to break off the engagement.
Shen Xiangdong still didn’t know the details.
Now, seeing his sister standing before him, he was both shocked and worried.
He immediately grabbed her shoulders.
That brief delay was enough for Ji Yanchuan to disappear outside.
“The telegram wasn’t clear. The Luo family wants to cancel the engagement? Did Luo Shengli do something to hurt you? Did he bully you? Tell your brother. I’ll go back and settle the score for you.”
Outside, the night was pitch-black.
Ji Yanchuan’s tall figure blended into the darkness, becoming increasingly difficult to make out.
Guilt filled Shen Yueliang’s heart.
“Brother, wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Though confused, Shen Xiangdong still nodded.
Shen Yueliang hurried outside.
The night had grown even darker.
She searched nearby but couldn’t find that tall figure anywhere.
She had seen it clearly.
Ji Yanchuan was truly angry.
Although his face rarely showed expression to begin with, the look he had given her earlier contained unmistakable anger.
He probably thought she had deceived him.
To convince them to help, she had claimed that her brother was injured.
Yet her brother was perfectly fine.
Soldiers valued honesty above all else.
And she had lied.
Sigh.
Shen Yueliang figured he had already left in anger.
When she returned home, she would sincerely apologize and do whatever she could to make amends.
“Little Sister, what are you looking for?”
Seeing that she had been outside for so long, Shen Xiangdong came out to find her.
Not wanting him to worry, Shen Yueliang shook her head.
“Nothing.”
The mistake was hers.
She would own up to it.
She had even decided that after returning home, she would volunteer her labor at the military base as repayment.
Back in the reception room, Shen Yueliang finally explained everything to Shen Xiangdong.
In summary, there were only two important points.
The Luo family was about to rise in status.
And the engagement had indeed been canceled.
She had agreed to it and even recovered all the money the Luo family had taken advantage of her for over the months.
So technically, she hadn’t suffered any losses.
Even so, Shen Xiangdong remained furious.
His little sister was the most beautiful girl in the village.
She was pretty and skilled at making clothes.
From the beginning, Luo Shengli had been the one getting the better end of the engagement.
Now that the Luo family had become prosperous, they immediately threw her aside.
It was an utterly disgraceful thing to do.
After the anger came heartache.
When their father passed away, Shen Yueliang had only been a little over two years old.
She had endured countless hardships growing up.
Despite her young age, she had always been clever.
She apprenticed herself to an old tailor and learned a trade.
The first money she earned was used to save fabric coupons and make him a shirt.
Because of that, when their aunt had interfered in both siblings’ marriages under the guise of family obligation, he had compromised.
He agreed to marry He Erhong.
In exchange, his little sister would have the freedom to choose her own marriage.
Yet in the end…
Luo Shengli still turned out to be unreliable.