Zhou Runqing pushed the door open. The man behind the desk didn’t even lift his head, his voice calm yet commanding: “So you have the nerve to come to Deputy Director Chen behind my back!”
“So what?” Zhou Runqing replied.
“Do you think I, the political director, would stand in the way of you marrying the daughter of a capitalist?”
Zhou Runqing said nothing, standing straight and firm.
Li Changchun suddenly slammed the desk, stepping forward in a few long strides, his tone sharp and severe: “Don’t forget aside from your father’s support, who was it that paved the way and helped you reach this position?”
“What? Just because you distinguished yourself on the battlefield, you’re going to turn your back on those who helped you?”
“I fought alongside your father, took bullets together. I raised you to take care of Shiyun since you were young, and now you dare to hurt my daughter for a girl you’ve known only a few days?”
Then, his tone turned threatening: “Remember this I put you in this position, and I can also make sure you never rise again!”
Zhou Runqing remained calm, not a trace of fear in his expression. He lifted his eyes slowly, his tone steady: “Uncle Li, I will never forget your recommendation and support.”
“But regarding Shiyun, I have never deceived you. In my heart, she has always been just a sister to me.”
Those words were like pouring gasoline on fire. Li Changchun, furious, pointed at him: “Even if you treat her as a sister, you must love and protect her for life!”
“Her mother passed early, and she only had me as an inadequate father. How long could I protect her?”
“I’ve treated you as my son-in-law since you were young, half as my own son! I don’t ask for anything in return just treat her well.”
“My daughter is my life! If you dare harm her, I would stake my life and still make sure you suffer!”
Zhou Runqing met his father’s angry gaze without flinching. Calm yet resolute, he said firmly, leaving no room for argument: “Uncle Li, my father taught me to keep my promises. Since I promised to marry her, I cannot break that promise. As for my career…”
He pulled the party emblem from his chest and placed it on the desk. “If the organization deems me unworthy, this regiment commander position can be handed over!”
With that, Zhou Runqing turned and walked out, his steps steady, leaving no hint of hesitation, leaving Director Li fuming in the study.
Just outside the study, he bumped into Li Shiyun standing at the door.
He didn’t pause, only nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then left without looking back.
Li Shiyun watched his decisive back, feeling a cold blade slice through her heart, leaving only piercing chill.
She stepped into the study and saw her father clutching his chest, face dark with anger. She rushed forward anxiously. “Dad, are you okay?”
Li Changchun waved her off, sat behind his desk, staring at the party emblem, so angry he could only laugh bitterly.
Li Shiyun’s eyes followed the emblem, its cold gleam like him distant, untouchable, like a sliver of inaccessible moonlight.
After all these years, she still couldn’t enter his heart.
She had thought he was truly cold and incapable of love, yet that gentleness had been reserved for that woman alone.
She could never forget that moment in the cafeteria his lips curved with tenderness, like a rusty blunt knife cutting her heart.
She knew too well, all her life, his eyes had never held that warmth for her.
Those damp memories, like decayed rust, filled her chest, leaving her unable to speak.
Li Changchun, feeling for his daughter, softened his voice: “My daughter, you heard it. Zhou Runqing is ungrateful. Daddy will find you someone better! That boy marrying a capitalist’s daughter his career is over. He’ll get nowhere!”
He had only this precious daughter, and was fiercely protective. He was determined not to let the Zhou boy have it easy.
Li Shiyun felt her chest tighten, then looked at her father resolutely: “Dad, I need you to promise me you can’t abuse your power.”
“Runqing doesn’t care for me. It’s not his fault.”
“Joining the army is his dream. I won’t let my feelings waste all his effort in the first half of his life.”
Li Changchun sighed. “Silly girl, you’re just like your mother too kind!”
Li Shiyun, eyes red, pleaded: “Dad, promise me.”
Li Changchun was helpless. “I promise you. But if he insists, I can’t be blamed.”
She picked up the party emblem, letting her fingers brush over its metallic surface, took a deep breath, her gentle features resolute: “I’ll return this emblem to him.”
Downstairs in the courtyard, Zhou Runqing had just parked. Stepping to the entrance, he immediately met the furious gaze of his commander father.
The old man sat on the sofa, still in uniform, back straight, hands resting on his knees, face ashen.
Zhou’s mother and Zhou Wanyi sat nearby. The mother looked worried, while the younger sister seemed gleefully entertained.
On the dining table, breakfast lay mostly untouched the father must have arrived and learned the news, waiting here for him.
Zhou Wanyi quickly spoke up, reading her father’s expression: “Brother! Last night you sent that woman home and didn’t come back all night. Were you with her?”
Her eyes full of disdain: “What a temptress. Not even married yet, and you’re already neglecting home for her.”
Zhou Runqing frowned, giving her a warning look.
“Enough!” Zhou’s father’s expression turned serious, warning her with a sharp glare. “Speak like that again, and I’ll send you to the army!”
Then Zhou’s mother glanced at her: “This isn’t your business. Go to your room.”
Pouting, Zhou Wanyi grabbed a fried dough stick from the table, eating while sneaking upstairs slowly to eavesdrop.
In the living room, Zhou’s father sat upright in the center of the sofa, still in uniform, exuding military authority.
Unlike the harshness forged in his son’s military training, Zhou’s father’s aura was born from countless bloody battles but in front of his son, he always revealed the gentle iron will of a father.
His gaze fixed on Zhou Runqing, admiring the upright stance, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, the wrinkles at his eyes trembling subtly.
He pointed to the sofa beside him, voice low but commanding: “Come, sit.”
Zhou Runqing walked over and sat.
His father spoke softly: “I saw the commendation report from the unit. You distinguished yourself again in counter-enemy special operations.”
He glanced at his son, his tone casual yet hiding concern: “I heard you were trapped in the deep mountains and forests for two days, out of ammo and supplies? Not injured, right?”
Seeing his son lower his eyes in silence, he understood like him, Zhou Runqing would swallow even the heaviest injury. His tone grew stern, full of authority: “Merit is your skill, but you cannot treat your career lightly. Marriage isn’t for you to do as you please.”
“The regiment is your domain, and Political Commissar Wang may have approved it for you, but what about the military district? You bypassed Director Li, went to Deputy Director Chen. Do you think you can ignore the vast military district?”
“You’re not reckless. Then tell me, why insist on marrying this woman?”
At that moment, Li Shiyun, just stepping into the courtyard, froze at the door.
Hearing the words “for gratitude,” a surge of bittersweet joy rose so that’s how it really was.
Zhou’s father continued, voice grave: “You’ve gone too far dared to leave the party emblem!”
Li Shiyun’s heart tightened. She placed the emblem on the windowsill and hurriedly turned to leave, distraught.