“Pei Zhao, this is Su Qingyi, the new nanny I’ve hired for you.”
Chen Gang, oblivious to Su Qingyi’s unusual state, made the introduction enthusiastically.
Before the man could speak, Su Qingyi gritted her teeth and decided to strike first. She bowed deeply.
“Hello, Political Commissar Pei! I will work diligently, abide by my duties, and absolutely not engage in any improper behavior.”
Her voice was clear and resonant, like a vow.
However, she bowed a bit too forcefully. Combined with Wang Cuiping’s stinginess—Su Qingyi hadn’t eaten for two meals—the moment she lifted her head, her vision darkened. Staggering, she plunged headfirst into the man’s embrace.
The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.
The man’s aura was terrifying, his dark eyes glaring at her fiercely.
She could almost hear the sound of him grinding his teeth.
“It’s you? Is this what you call ‘abiding by your duties’?”
It’s over!
Those two words were all that remained in Su Qingyi’s mind.
Given the seductive plans Pei Zhao had overheard earlier and the current situation, how could he possibly believe she was genuinely here to work as a nanny?
With the political commissar still present, she couldn’t explain herself either.
Dejectedly, she stood up and was about to apologize when, suddenly, the anxious cries of a little boy came from the inner room.
“Uncle! Help! Xiao Yun swallowed a glass marble and can’t breathe! Uncle!”
Both Chen Gang and Pei Zhao’s expressions changed drastically.
“Take her to the hospital!”
With that, they rushed toward the inner room simultaneously.
Su Qingyi quickly followed.
Inside, a little girl of about five or six lay slumped on the floor, gasping for breath, her face already turning purple.
In cases of throat obstruction by a foreign object, there are only five minutes for emergency treatment.
Just as Pei Zhao was about to pick up the child to rush her to the hospital—
Chen Gang had already dashed out to find a car.
Having lived here for so many years in her past life, how could she not know where the Military District hospital was? There simply wasn’t enough time.
She hurriedly intervened.
“There’s no time.”
Without another thought, she rushed over and reached for the child.
“Who are you? Don’t touch my sister!”
By now, the little boy, Pei Xiaochuan, who had called for help earlier, was crying uncontrollably, spreading his arms wide to desperately shield Pei Xiaoyun.
The little girl’s lips had turned purple; she was on the verge of suffocation.
Su Qingyi had no time to explain and ignored the man’s attempts to stop her.
After all, he was in a wheelchair.
She swiftly pushed past the two of them, scooped up the little girl, and positioned her with her back to herself, wrapping her arms around the child’s abdomen.
Ironically, the Heimlich maneuver was something she had learned in her past life specifically to care for her widowed sister-in-law’s son.
Only upon her death did she discover that the child she had lovingly raised and treated as her own was actually her husband’s child with that very sister-in-law.
“What are you doing? Let her go!”
Pei Zhao’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.
But at that moment, as Su Qingyi applied forceful pressure—
A glass marble suddenly shot out of Pei Xiaoyun’s mouth and clattered onto the floor.
The little girl, who had been pale and purple-lipped from suffocation, burst into loud sobs.
She wrapped her arms around Su Qingyi’s waist and wailed.
Just then, Chen Gang hurried back in.
“The car is here, hurry and take the child to… Is everything alright?”
Su Qingyi was also drenched in cold sweat from the shock.
Exhausted, she half-knelt on the floor, holding the young girl and soothing her gently.
“Marbles are very dangerous, never put them in your mouth. If they block your throat, you could die. Good girl, don’t be scared anymore!”
The little girl, frightened, clung to her tightly.
Seeming to sense a long-lost maternal warmth, her voice softened with full dependence.
“Wahh, auntie, don’t go.”
Only then did Chen Gang realize that Su Qingyi had calmly saved someone in the crisis.
He admired her even more.
“Comrade Su, I didn’t expect you to have learned first aid.”
Pei Zhao’s hand had actually already rested on the gun at his waist. Seeing the situation, he withdrew it, but those sharp, suspicious eyes still carried an overwhelming pressure.
Afraid he might suspect her, Su Qingyi quickly explained, “I helped out at the village medical station and learned some nursing skills there.”
Chen Gang was overjoyed and looked down at Pei Zhao.
“I told you, this girl is efficient and knows nursing. She’d be perfect to take care of you. Besides, Xiao Yun likes her. Why not give her a try?”
Su Qingyi instinctively looked at the man.
Just then, she met his inscrutable gaze, and her heart couldn’t help but race uncontrollably.
She knew this man didn’t trust her.
But now was the best opportunity for her to stay.
Her mind raced, and she immediately came up with an idea.
“Regiment Commander Pei, a three-day trial period. If you’re not satisfied, I’ll leave immediately. How does that sound?”
The man’s eyes flickered slightly.
This woman was indeed cunning enough.
Not only did she save face for the Political Commissar, but she also gave him a step he couldn’t refuse.
His gaze fell on her waist, and for some reason, he actually agreed.
“Then three days it is.”
Su Qingyi immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Great! Then, Political Commissar, could you please tell my mother that I’ve successfully stayed? Let her go back first and not cause any trouble for the troops.”
She was eager to send Wang Cuiping away quickly, but these words, when heard by Pei Zhao, instantly reminded him of the plan to force a marriage. His Adam’s apple bobbed, his expression darkened again, and with a cold snort, he turned his wheelchair and left the room.
Chen Gang gave a few instructions and pushed Pei Zhao into the yard to discuss matters.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the two left, a marble hit Su Qingyi in the waist.
“Don’t think just because you saved my sister, we’ll help you. I’m warning you, don’t get any ideas about my second uncle, or I’ll definitely kick you out.”
It was Pei Xiaochuan.
The five-year-old boy already showed a hint of presence.
His little face glared at her warily.
But because he had just been crying, his red eyes held no intimidation.
Like a little beast desperately raising its spines, all claws and teeth.
Unfortunately, dealing with children was something Su Qingyi had plenty of experience with.
In her past life, He Annian and the son of his widowed sister-in-law had given her no shortage of worries.
Being a nanny was something she could do with ease.
Whether taking care of the old or the young.
With a gentle smile, she crouched down, not directly confronting Pei Xiaochuan, but instead ruffling Pei Xiaoyun’s little head.
“How did your hair get so messy? How about Auntie braids it for you with colorful ribbons?”
The little girl already had a good impression of her. Hearing this, she immediately sniffled happily and went to fetch her little box of hair ties.
Pei Xiaochuan could only glare in frustration.
Like a little adult, he crossed his arms threateningly, “If you dare hurt my sister, just see how I deal with you.”
Su Qingyi couldn’t help but laugh. “The way you talk is just like your second uncle. Does he usually scold people like this?”
“You really do have ideas about my second uncle!” Pei Xiaochuan, as if catching her in the act, flushed with anger. “Don’t even think about getting any information out of me.”
But Su Qingyi ignored him. Taking the colored ribbons, her hands moved swiftly yet gently, and soon two braids mixed with the ribbons were done. She even deliberately styled the ends to curl upward, making the little girl look even more like a delicate porcelain doll, lively and charming.
“Wow, so pretty! I’ve never seen braids like this before.”
The little girl kept admiring herself in the mirror, but Pei Xiaochuan tilted his head up and snorted coldly, “You really do have tricks, but I still don’t like you.”
This sounded more and more like Pei Zhao.
Yet, looking at his childish little face, Su Qingyi almost couldn’t hold back a laugh as she thought of Pei Zhao’s cold expression.
Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of some scattered papers on the table. A thought crossed her mind, and she immediately walked over.