“Let’s go, I’ll see you down to the building entrance,” Lin Qianyi said, leading Meng Junchuan toward the door.
Meng Junchuan didn’t want her running up and down, but he also didn’t want to part with her immediately. In the end, his reluctance won out, and the two of them went downstairs together.
“Drive safely, be careful on the road,” Lin Qianyi earnestly reminded him at the car window.
“Wait for me, I’ll come by as soon as I finish resting,” Meng Junchuan said, unwilling to leave Lin Qianyi as he started the car and slowly drove away.
Lin Qianyi watched the car grow smaller in the distance before turning to head back upstairs. She was startled by the number of curious eyes on her, but she pretended not to notice and went home.
The next morning, Lin Qianyi finished breakfast and put on a newly altered outfit. The modifications were significant, but the style still fit the era. Once on, the outfit made her look particularly lively and stylish, no longer the understated girl she had been. Now that her relationship was out in the open, she didn’t need to be so cautious—she could live more freely, befitting her twenty years of age.
She braided her hair loosely into a single plait draped over her left shoulder. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was cheerful and stylish, with no trace of the plain, country-girl look she once had. Satisfied, she headed downstairs to ride her bicycle.
But… where was her bike? Could there really be bike thefts in this era? Lin Qianyi circled the area downstairs, but her women’s bicycle was nowhere to be found.
“Qianyi, your boyfriend left already?” an older woman asked.
Boyfriend? Oh, right—he had come yesterday but hadn’t taken the bike back.
“Yeah, he’s returned to his unit,” Lin Qianyi said with a smile and continued toward the office building.
“Your boyfriend is really impressive-looking,” someone nearby remarked enviously. Lin Qianyi smiled and quickened her pace.
Along the way, people greeted her constantly. She still received curious looks, but now there were no sympathetic glances. Most of the attention was admiration.
At the office building, the crowd grew even larger. People were not just staring but asking questions.
“Sorry I’m late, I need to get upstairs,” Lin Qianyi said, hurrying to the office.
“Qianyi, you’re here!” Inside the office, dozens of eyes eagerly watched her. Lin Qianyi resigned herself to the attention—there was no escaping it today. Her revolutionary partner’s appearance yesterday had certainly caused quite a stir.
As soon as she sat down, a group surrounded her.
“Qianyi, was that really your boyfriend yesterday?” Wang Lan asked impatiently.
“Yes, really,” Lin Qianyi nodded.
“Your boyfriend is amazing! He’s a deputy regiment commander, and he looks so young,” someone exclaimed. Word spread quickly—it was as fast as the internet era.
“Your boyfriend looks so spirited, tall and upright!”
“So many people were staring!”
Everyone chatted excitedly, leaving Lin Qianyi a bit dizzy.
“How did you two meet?” someone asked.
“Through a matchmaker,” Lin Qianyi replied, sticking to her story. I can’t exactly say I grabbed him off the street, she thought.
“Your matchmaker did well, introducing someone so good,” another voice said enviously. Lin Qianyi kept smiling, not revealing that it had been a self-introduction.
“Qianyi, you’re really going to enjoy life now, you’re so lucky,” people murmured. Everyone was envious—just a few days ago, she had been tangled with that poor Ma Zhenqiang. Everyone had pitied her, thinking her life was doomed and that she could never find a good match. Yet in just a few days, everything had turned around. Now, with this boyfriend, who in Yuanshan County could compete? A twenty-six-year-old deputy regiment commander—just the title was intimidating. And look at his looks! No one had seen a man so handsome. Lin Qianyi’s luck was unbelievable.
“Stop slacking off and get to work,” the office director’s authoritative voice rang out, scattering the crowd. He shot a complex glance at Lin Qianyi, realizing she was a quiet girl who kept her talents hidden. Her match with that officer wasn’t just rare for the factory—she was unmatched in the entire county. Ma Zhenqiang was insignificant compared to this.
Everyone returned to their work, and Lin Qianyi finally relaxed. The director, satisfied with the office’s order, left.
Soon after, Zhang Xiuying entered, saying, “Qianyi, come to my office.” Lin Qianyi stood—no chance of a quiet day today—and followed her.
“Qianyi, sit,” Zhang Xiuying gestured.
“Your boyfriend seems really impressive. How did you meet?”
“Through a matchmaker,” Lin Qianyi answered consistently.
Zhang Xiuying asked some other questions, which Lin Qianyi answered. She didn’t mention Meng Junchuan’s family background—it wasn’t appropriate. After asking, Zhang Xiuying seemed relieved but also thoughtful. Lin Qianyi had unexpectedly turned what seemed like a lost situation around completely.
As for who introduced the officer, Lin Qianyi didn’t say, and Zhang Xiuying didn’t press. Whoever could arrange such a match clearly wasn’t ordinary—they probably preferred to stay low-key.
Seeing Lin Qianyi handle everything so smoothly, Zhang Xiuying was genuinely happy for her. With her looks, Lin Qianyi needed someone capable to truly match her.
In fact, Zhang Xiuying noticed Lin Qianyi looked even better than before—her beauty had blossomed, and her personality was brighter. Having a boyfriend clearly eased her mind, making her radiate.
“Qianyi, you’re really lucky. Everything will go well for you from now on,” Zhang Xiuying said kindly.
“Thank you, Sister Zhang,” Lin Qianyi replied with a small smile.
After that, Lin Qianyi returned to the office. Throughout the day, she handled a wave of curious colleagues, and more kept coming over to ask questions.
Previously, Lin Qianyi had been reserved and kept to herself. Today, though, the whole factory buzzed with chatter about her exceptional boyfriend.
Before, she had been an orphan, unnoticed by most, and when Ma Zhenqiang caused trouble, people merely watched for amusement.
Now, with a young and capable boyfriend, she had instantly elevated her social status, creating distance between herself and others. Everyone’s attitude toward her began to change, and more people wanted to befriend her.
It didn’t affect Lin Qianyi much—the factory overall was still a good environment, and the atmosphere was pleasant.