Lin Qianyi didn’t think she could take on Ma Zhenqiang on her own. In this era, a woman’s reputation was everything—even if Ma Zhenqiang gave up on marrying her, her reputation was already ruined. It was so unfair; the original self hadn’t done anything wrong, just happened to be a little prettier, and now became the target of others’ desire. Wanting to remain unmarried and live independently here was just too difficult. Lin Qianyi didn’t really want to go against society. She treasured this second chance at life, and even in this era, she wanted to live happily and enjoy life.
Since a suitable option and opportunity were right in front of her, why not give it a try? If it works out, go straight for marriage; if it doesn’t, then talk about nothing else. Love? That could be cultivated slowly. Right now, marriage was the goal. Should she start dating someone first and risk being incompatible? In this era, dating was basically a step toward marriage. Even if a mismatch ended in separation, others might manage it—but Lin Qianyi couldn’t, otherwise her reputation would be completely ruined.
“Comrade Lin Qianyi, I am very pleased with you and hope to have the opportunity to become your revolutionary partner. May I have this opportunity?” Meng Junchuan asked sincerely.
He admitted that he had been drawn to this girl the moment he saw her. Undoubtedly, she was breathtakingly beautiful. But what attracted him more was the aura she carried—an inexplicable, indescribable feeling. Watching her kick someone earlier, he had felt there was something special about her. When he helped her fix the bike at the roadside, he noticed her grace, composure, and naturalness, and the lively intelligence in her eyes. She exuded a unique aura, completely unlike the plain clothes she wore.
When Meng Junchuan set his sights on a target, he would act decisively. Before he even started, the girl had already introduced herself—how could he let the opportunity slip? After sharing a meal, he felt even more positive about her: eloquent, elegant, and poised, clearly raised by highly educated parents. With the girl now facing trouble, he felt it was absolutely his duty to step in.
“Don’t you need to consult your family?” Lin Qianyi asked, impressed at how proper he was.
“My family has no problem with it. I can make my own decisions,” Meng Junchuan replied firmly. If his mother knew he had picked a girl on his own, she’d probably be furious.
“I’m also very pleased. I agree,” Lin Qianyi smiled and nodded, and they happily reached an understanding.
“I’ll report it once I get back,” Meng Junchuan said, a smile on his lips.
“Cough, cough, cough!” Zhao Xiangdong, drinking water nearby, almost choked. Were these two really taking things so lightly? Just like that, it was decided? Meng Junchuan hadn’t even asked his parents, and he was already going to report it? Didn’t he understand his own family? But indeed, if Meng Junchuan had made up his mind, no one could stop him.
Zhao Xiangdong had to admit—the girl was indeed very pretty. Even the stars of their military troupe weren’t her match. Could this really be love at first sight? And this was the cold, indifferent Meng Junchuan? Today, Zhao Xiangdong hadn’t seen a trace of that coldness. For the first time, he realized that even someone like Meng Junchuan could fall for a beauty. No wonder all those other girls had failed to impress him—they just weren’t beautiful enough!
Indeed, the two of them looked excellent together. Standing side by side, they were dazzling. Even just having a meal, there were people nearby sneaking glances at them.
“We need to leave soon. I have urgent matters to attend to. Once I finish, I’ll come find you,” Meng Junchuan said. They had pressing duties and couldn’t linger. The meal had been squeezed in between other tasks.
“Okay, no problem,” Lin Qianyi said. She knew they wouldn’t appear here for no reason—surely there was important business to handle.
“You don’t need to worry about Ma Zhenqiang. I’ll handle him shortly,” Meng Junchuan reassured her.
“Mm,” Lin Qianyi replied, trusting his capability. This man had a strong presence—clearly not simple. Rarely, he even cooperated with her.
Meng Junchuan exchanged contact information with Lin Qianyi, leaving her his number as well. Then he and Zhao Xiangdong left to handle business, while Lin Qianyi leisurely rode her bicycle back to the machinery factory. Her mood was completely different from when she had left—light and free.
See? Hiding at home and worrying solved nothing. She went out, kicked the bad guy, resolved a major threat, and even found herself a quality revolutionary partner. Task overachieved.
People in this town were simple and honest; there weren’t many scammers, and no one dared to impersonate a soldier. Moreover, a man with the aura and poise of that handsome soldier wouldn’t bother deceiving a small-town girl.
Lin Qianyi was now in a much better mood to enjoy the scenery of the small county, leisurely riding her bicycle back to the factory. Perhaps because of her relaxed state, her slow pace on the bike drew the attention of many.
“Qianyi, you’re in a good mood. Figured things out?” someone asked curiously.
“Hmph, if only you’d agreed earlier, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble,” came a jeering remark.
“Looks like she’s going to live in comfort—she can walk around town proudly now,” another said sourly.
“Poor thing… what kind of luck is that?” someone sounded sympathetic.
“Why isn’t that lucky? Such good conditions—don’t know what she could possibly be unhappy about,” another said.
“…” Various murmurs kept circulating. People didn’t say it to her face, but somehow the words always reached her. Previously, she had frowned, but now she looked relaxed and carefree. Observers couldn’t help but react in surprise.
Lin Qianyi smiled faintly and ignored them. She wouldn’t tell them; she was just waiting to shock them a little.
After locking her bicycle downstairs, she went upstairs to her home. The biggest problem was resolved; everything else was minor. Lin Qianyi relaxed into the sofa. The sofa looked old and ugly, but it was comfortable. She thought about getting a cover for it someday—it wouldn’t look so bad then.
Leaning back, she continued organizing her thoughts. She had just faced a major dilemma, so her mind hadn’t yet fully settled. She also reviewed the inventory in the space. It was still daytime, so she didn’t plan to enter the space yet—someone might come looking for her. She decided it would be safer to access it at night and meanwhile try to adapt to life here.