Qi Xiaoyuan sent the thief to the Public Security Bureau and explained the situation to the police officers. After roughly understanding how the follow-up process would proceed, he got back on the train and returned to the military unit.
As soon as he returned to the dormitory, someone told him that there was a phone call for him.
Old Man Qi of the Qi Family was roaring on the other end of the line. “How did you handle things? I already told you to keep an eye on Changming. Su Man would directly come to the military unit to find him, and as his uncle, you were supposed to get them to register the marriage first!”
“You’re useless! Changming secretly took on a mission and ran off, and you didn’t even know!”
Old Master Qi had just learned about this from his eldest daughter-in-law and immediately called in a hurry.
Qi Xiaoyuan moved the phone slightly away from his ear and rubbed his brow. Only after the voice on the other end lowered did he say: “If he didn’t want to, why force him?”
As soon as those words came out, the shouting on the other end rose another level.
After hanging up, Qi Xiaoyuan felt a headache coming on.
He had never wanted to get involved in this matter in the first place. That brat had agreed in front of him and then immediately went back on his word.
Now he had simply packed up and run off, dumping the mess on him.
But Su Dacheng had once saved Old Master Qi’s life. Since the man’s daughter had come seeking help, she must have been in some kind of difficulty. No matter what, the Qi Family should not act rudely.
Qi Xiaoyuan only hoped the other party was reasonable and easy to talk to. If the engagement could be dissolved, that would be best. The life-saving favor could be repaid in other ways.
Just as he walked out of the telephone booth, a guard approached him head-on.
“Regiment Commander Qi, your fiancée has come looking for you!”
Qi Xiaoyuan was completely confused. The one who should have come was Su Family’s daughter—but how did she become his fiancée?
He did not explain anything to the guard and decided to go see for himself first.
Su Man waited quietly in the room. The guard had said she was lucky—Regiment Commander Qi had just returned not long ago.
The ceiling fan above creaked as it turned. She adjusted her hair and, finding the wait boring, even practiced how she should smile later to look her best.
The moment the door was pushed open, Su Man turned around and stood up.
A fitted white dress outlined her graceful figure. Her exposed skin was so fair it seemed to glow. Her delicate, palm-sized face carried a soft, gentle smile. Two thick black braids hung over her chest, and stray bangs fluttered slightly in the breeze, as if even one’s heart would be shaken by the sight.
Qi Xiaoyuan did not expect it to be her.
In Xiao Zheng’s courtyard, on the train catching the thief—this was already the third time he had seen her.
And she was actually that brat Qi Changming’s fiancée?
For some reason, an indescribable feeling rose in his heart.
Su Man was also surprised to see him.
But she did not forget her purpose. She gave a shy smile and lowered her head, handing over the Qi Family’s reply letter. “Hello, I am your fiancée.”
Her voice was soft, but it felt like a hook gently tugging at Qi Xiaoyuan’s ears.
Qi Xiaoyuan took the letter. Only then did he realize how the misunderstanding had happened.
The letter was indeed written by Old Master Qi, but the name had been changed from Qi Changming to Qi Xiaoyuan.
After thinking for a moment, Qi Xiaoyuan understood immediately. It must have been because Changming refused, and the only person capable of altering the letter was his sister-in-law.
Seeing no response from him for a long time, Su Man slightly lifted her head. She saw Qi Xiaoyuan’s expression turn a little dark as he stared at the letter in thought, his thin lips tightly pressed together, saying nothing.
Had he rejected her?
That shouldn’t be. On her way from the guesthouse, many young men had turned their heads to look at her.
Could it be that catching a thief on the train made her seem too fierce? Yes, men usually preferred gentle and delicate girls.
Thinking of this, Su Man felt a bit regretful. Who would have thought it would be such a coincidence?
She had originally intended to secure this in one move, but now it seemed a bit troublesome.
Qi Xiaoyuan came back to his senses and saw the girl in front of him furrowing her delicate brows, seemingly lost in thought.
He did not know how to explain the situation either. No matter how it was said, the Qi Family was in the wrong. But if he told her the truth directly, would she cry?
A young woman had traveled so far to find her fiancé, only to discover he had fled the marriage. Any girl would see that as humiliation.
At the thought of her possibly crying in front of him, Qi Xiaoyuan felt a bit flustered, somewhat uneasy, and even a trace of irritation he could not explain.
But in Su Man’s eyes, his silence looked like rejection—he did not want to fulfill the engagement.
“Su—” Qi Xiaoyuan paused, finally remembering her name. “Su Man, I’ll arrange accommodation for you first.”
Su Man had already calmed down. “I’m hungry.“ she said softly.
Since things had come to this, it was better to eat first.
Qi Xiaoyuan let out a small breath of relief and led her toward the canteen.
It was almost dinner time, and there were many people coming and going on the road.
Qi Xiaoyuan was a well-known figure in the military unit—the youngest regiment commander, only 27 years old and still unmarried. People who tried to introduce women to him were usually scared off by him. Though his face was handsome, his aura was cold and intimidating, earning him the nickname “King Yama.”
Now, such a celestial-looking girl was walking beside him, instantly attracting everyone’s attention.
Some greeted Qi Xiaoyuan, but their eyes kept drifting toward Su Man. “Regiment Commander Qi, who is this?”
Su Man also looked at Qi Xiaoyuan, wanting to see how he would introduce her.
“A relative of mine. Like a younger sister.“ Qi Xiaoyuan said calmly. In his view, there was nothing wrong with this—she was the daughter of his father’s old friend, so calling her a younger sister made sense. As for anything else, they would discuss it later.
Su Man became even more certain. This man truly did not want to marry her.
Hearing his explanation, the others looked at Qi Xiaoyuan with complicated expressions, and murmurs spread around them.
Qi Xiaoyuan frowned. When the next person greeted him, he said seriously: “This is my younger sister Su Man. Don’t spread rumors and damage her reputation.”
If gossip spread, and Su Man later married Changming, people might say she was entangled with both uncle and nephew. In this era, a woman’s reputation was extremely important.
For some reason, Qi Xiaoyuan suddenly did not want Su Man to marry Changming.
That boy worked diligently and endured hardship in the military, and his character was not bad. But he had been spoiled at home, a bit willful and irresponsible. In this matter, if he did not want to marry, he should at least have stayed to meet Su Man and discuss it properly instead of running away like this.
Su Man, from a modern perspective, did not understand his thoughts. Seeing him repeatedly distancing himself, her expression also turned a little cold.
From then on, the two of them walked in silence.
At the canteen, when they were getting food, Qi Xiaoyuan asked about her preferences. Su Man did not hold back and chose what she wanted. She had not eaten at the guesthouse at noon, and she was indeed hungry.
They each ate separately without exchanging a word, not noticing the whispers around them.
“Regiment Commander Qi said she’s his sister, not a fiancée?”
“Then it must be that Regiment Commander Qi doesn’t want her. She’s beautiful like a fairy, and he still doesn’t want her.”
“Exactly. I followed them from the road to the canteen. The atmosphere between them was already bad. If it were me, I would have been scared away long ago.”