Zhou Runqing pushed open the door and entered. The person behind the table heard the noise but did not raise his head. His voice was authoritative without being angry: “You have some guts to go to Director Chen without my knowledge!”
“how?”
“Do you think I, the director of the political department, would stop you from marrying a capitalist’s daughter?”
Zhou Runqing remained silent, but his back was ramrod straight.
Li Changchun slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly. He strode over to Zhou Runqing and said sternly, “Don’t forget, besides your father’s support, who was it that pulled the strings and got you to this position!”
“What? You’ve earned merit on the battlefield, and now you’re turning your back on us?”
“Your father and I fought side by side, sharing bullets. You promised to take care of Shiyun since you were little, and now you dare to hurt my daughter for the daughter of a capitalist you’ve only known for two or three days!”
Then, with a threatening tone, he said, “Remember this: I can make you sit in this position, and I can also make sure you never get up again!”
Zhou Runqing remained calm, showing no sign of panic. He slowly raised his eyes and said in a steady tone, “Uncle Li, I will never forget your kindness in recommending and promoting me.”
“But I have never lied to you about Shiyun. In my heart, she has always been just a younger sister.”
These words were like adding fuel to the fire. Li Changchun was furious and pointed at him angrily, saying, “Even if you treat her like a younger sister, you still have to pamper and love her for the rest of your life!”
“Her mother passed away early, and she only had me, her irresponsible father, growing up. But how many more years can I stay by her side?”
“I’ve treated you like my son-in-law since you were little, and I’ve always considered you like my own son! I don’t ask for anything in return, I just ask that you treat her well.”
“My daughter is my life! If you dare to hurt her, I’ll risk my old life to make sure you get away with it!”
Zhou Runqing met his furious gaze without flinching. Instead, she remained calm, her tone resolute and unwavering: “Uncle Li, my father taught me to keep my promises. Since I promised to marry her, I cannot break my word. As for my future…”
He ripped off the Party emblem from his chest and placed it on the table. “If the organization thinks I’m not qualified, I can hand over this position as regimental commander!”
After saying that, Zhou Runqing turned and left, his steps steady and without the slightest hesitation, leaving Director Li in the study, still angry for a long time.
Just as he stepped out of the study, he bumped into Li Shiyun standing at the door.
He didn’t stop walking, only nodded slightly as a greeting, and then left without looking back.
Li Shiyun stared at that decisive figure, feeling as if a cold, sharp blade had sliced through her heart, leaving only a chilling coldness.
He walked into the study and saw his father clutching his chest in anger, his face extremely pale. He immediately rushed forward anxiously, “Dad, are you alright?”
Li Changchun waved his hand, walked to the chair behind the table, sat down, stared at the Party emblem, and laughed in extreme anger.
Li Shiyun also looked at the Party emblem on the table, which shone with a cold, clear light, just like him, distant like a ray of moonlight that could not be touched.
After all these years, I still can’t get into his heart!
I thought he was truly incapable of love and was cold-hearted, but that tenderness was reserved only for that woman.
She could never forget the scene she witnessed in the cafeteria; the tenderness on the man’s lips cut into her heart like a rusty, dull knife.
She knew all too well that, from childhood to adulthood, his eyes had never held such warmth.
Those damp memories, like rotten rust, suddenly filled her chest, leaving her speechless and unable to utter a word.
Li Changchun felt sorry for his daughter and gently comforted her, “Daughter, you heard it too. Zhou Runqing doesn’t know what’s good for him. Dad will find you someone better than him! Zhou Runqing married that capitalist’s daughter, so his career is over. He won’t amount to anything in the future!”
He only has this one precious daughter, and he is extremely protective of her. He is determined not to let the Zhou family boy have an easy time!
Li Shiyun felt a tightness in her chest. Hearing this, she looked at her father nervously and said firmly, “Dad, I need you to promise me that you can’t use your power to oppress people.”
“Runqing has no feelings for me, it’s not his fault.”
“Joining the army was his ideal, and I can’t let his efforts in the first half of his life go to waste because of me.”
Li Changchun sighed, “Silly daughter, you are just like your mother, so kind!”
With red eyes, Li Shiwen pleaded, “Dad, please promise me.”
Li Changchun said helplessly, “Dad promises you. But if he insists on his mistake, he can’t blame Dad.”
Li Shiyun picked up the Party emblem, her fingertips tracing its metal casing. She took a deep breath, her gentle eyes filled with determination: “I’ll return this Party emblem to him.”
As Zhou Runqing parked his car downstairs in the family compound and stepped through the door, he immediately caught sight of his commander father’s angry eyes.
The old man sat on the sofa, still wearing his military uniform, his back ramrod straight, his hands on his knees, his face ashen.
Zhou’s mother and Zhou Wanyi sat on the sofa next to them. The mother looked worried, while the younger sister looked gloating and watching the show.
On the dining table in the living room, there was still a half-eaten breakfast, probably because the father had heard the news as soon as he got home and was waiting for him there.
Zhou Wanyi, observing her father’s expression and noticing his displeasure, immediately launched an attack, “Brother! You took that woman home last night and didn’t come back all night. Were you with that woman?”
After saying that, her eyes were full of disdain, “What a vixen. She’s not even married yet, and she’s already got my brother so busy he’s never home.”
Zhou Runqing frowned slightly and gave Zhou Wanyi a warning look.
“Enough!” Zhou’s father said sternly, giving Zhou Wanyi a warning glare. “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll send you to the army!”
Then, Zhou’s mother glanced at her daughter and said, “This is none of your business. Go back to your room.”
Zhou Wanyi pouted, then walked to the dining table, picked up a fried dough stick, and slowly made her way upstairs while eating and eavesdropping.
In the living room, Zhou’s father sat upright in the center of the sofa, his military uniform still on, which made him look dignified and imposing.
Unlike his son, who was forged in the cold and ruthless atmosphere of the military, Zhou’s father possessed a murderous aura forged from the blood of countless battles, yet in front of his son, he always revealed the tender side of a father.
His gaze was fixed on his son, gazing at his upright, pine-like figure. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and a barely perceptible tremor crept into the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
He pointed to the sofa beside him, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority: “Come sit down.”
Zhou Runqing walked to the sofa and sat down.
Mr. Zhou then spoke slowly: “I have read the reward notice submitted by the army. They have made another contribution in this counter-espionage operation.”
Suddenly, he looked up at his son, his tone casual yet revealing a barely perceptible concern: “I heard you were trapped in the deep mountains and forests for a day and two nights during this operation, running out of ammunition and food? Were you injured?”
Seeing his son lower his eyes and remain silent, he knew that his son had followed his example, swallowing his pain even when he was deeply hurt. He lowered his voice and spoke with the authority of a father: “It is your ability to make meritorious contributions, but you cannot treat your future as a game. How can you do whatever you want with your marriage?”
“The regimental headquarters is your territory, and Political Commissar Wang is in cahoots with you, so he easily approved it for you. But what about the military region? He even went behind Director Li’s back and approached Deputy Director Chen. How dare he? Does he not take the entire military region seriously?”
“You’re not an unreliable person, so tell Dad, why do you insist on marrying this woman?”
At this moment, Li Shiyun, who had just stepped into the courtyard and was standing at the door, froze on the spot.
Hearing the words “to repay a debt of gratitude” coming from inside, a surge of joy mixed with sorrow welled up inside. So that’s how it was—
Inside the room, Zhou’s father said in a deep voice, “You’ve gone too far! You even dared to throw away your Party emblem!”
Li Shiyun’s heart tightened. She clutched the badge, placed it on the windowsill, and then turned and left in a daze.