Shi Man found it quite amusing.
She never imagined Yao Wenjing would fall for Dong Qingguo, let alone resort to such a cliché—a trick straight out of her dream.
By feigning a malfunctioning fountain pen, Yao Wenjing quickly closed the distance with him.
Sure enough, Dong Qingguo swiftly fixed the pen. As the ink flowed smoothly, Yao Wenjing exclaimed in a tone of admiration, “You’re so amazing! You can even fix fountain pens!”
This greatly inflated the man’s ego.
Shi Man recalled that in her dream, Yao Wenjing had used a similar tactic to marry a son of a military compound official.
Any man who caught Yao Wenjing’s eye was undoubtedly of good standing. However, that event was supposed to happen two years later. It seemed that shattering the dream had truly altered many people and events.
Dong Qingguo had appeared out of nowhere.
Having been “sisters” with Yao Wenjing for so many years, Shi Man knew her well. If Yao Wenjing had set her sights on Dong Qingguo, she would stop at nothing to get him.
Yao Wenjing had always been resourceful and determined.
Therefore, Shi Man didn’t bother intervening. With Yao Wenjing around, she was confident that the trouble Dong Qingguo was causing her would soon resolve itself.
If it weren’t absolutely necessary, Shi Man truly didn’t want to exchange another word with him.
***
As Shi Man left, Yao Wenjing was still trying to strike up a conversation with Dong Qingguo, making small talk.
Dong Qingguo didn’t really want to talk to her, but he had promised Shi Man he’d meet her by the lake and couldn’t just leave. So, out of politeness, he reluctantly engaged with Yao Wenjing’s conversation.
Shi Man wasn’t interested in what they talked about afterward.
All she knew was that Yao Wenjing returned very late, even arriving late for the squad meeting. The squad leader criticized her by name.
But Yao Wenjing didn’t seem discouraged at all. Instead, she radiated a vibrant joy from the inside out.
At the squad meeting, the leaders announced that tomorrow, Sunday, would be a full day off. With the ommander’s approval, the Art Troupe Dance Team would be going on an autumn outing to Beihai Park.
Everyone was thrilled! Although they could go out on their own during regular days off, a group outing organized by the troupe felt special. At least they wouldn’t have to worry about transportation or meals, and there might even be a chance to go boating.
***
It was just after the beginning of autumn, and the weather in Jingbei was lovely. The sky was a clear, deep blue, seeming impossibly high and far away, radiating an indescribable sense of tranquility.
Beihai Park was bustling with visitors on this Sunday, but Shi Man and her group of female soldiers, smartly dressed in their military uniforms, immediately became the most striking sight.
After eagerly awaiting this holiday, many art soldiers had arranged to meet their partners or families in the park.
During free time, the group dispersed, leaving only the unattached soldiers to stroll around the square.
Noticing Wang Dongyun’s downcast mood, Shi Man walked beside her and asked, “Want to go boating?”
The art troupe had rented twenty boats—first come, first served—and many people were already heading that way.
Wang Dongyun nodded, not wanting to spoil the mood, but confessed her worries to Shi Man as they walked.
She had always looked forward to the annual autumn outing, but this year she felt apprehensive. The outing meant the grading assessments were coming. She feared failing to achieve A Grade again, which would mean being transferred from First Squad to Second Squad.
Having finally found her best friends in First Squad, she couldn’t bear to leave Shi Man, nor could she part with the squad itself.
A cool autumn breeze rustled the leaves as Shi Man and Wang Dongyun strolled along the lakeside in Beihai Park, trying to clear their minds. Shi Man squeezed Wang Dongyun’s shoulder. “Don’t worry so much,” she said. “You’ll definitely get an A Grade this time.”
Wang Dongyun shook her head, unconvinced. She knew Shi Man was just trying to make her feel better.
“The standards for A Grade are so high,” she sighed. “My leg still gives me trouble. The somersaults always drag my score down.”
Everyone knew the dance team favored those who could do somersaults well, while those who struggled were inevitably looked down upon.
Even though Wang Dongyun excelled in every other aspect, her difficulty with somersaults remained her Achilles’ heel.
“It’s okay, Manman,” Wang Dongyun said, forcing a bright smile. “I won’t dwell on it. We’re here to have fun, and I want to treasure my last days in the First Squad.”
“Exactly!” Shi Man agreed. “We’re here to have fun. As for the grade assessment, I’ll help you figure something out.”
Wang Dongyun nodded at Shi Man’s first sentence, but dismissed the second as just a kind gesture from a close friend.
Everyone in the Squad One knew Wang Dongyun would be leaving after the next grade assessment. In the Squad Two, many dancers were eagerly waiting for her spot to open up, hoping to fill the vacancy. No one believed Wang Dongyun could possibly find a way to stay.
***
Shi Man and Wang Dongyun strolled casually toward the boat rental dock, where a long line had already formed.
With only twenty boats reserved by the art troupe, they worried they might be too late.
Suddenly, Zhao Wen appeared, holding a thin piece of paper in his hand, his smile radiant. “Going boating? I have a ticket here.”
Wang Dongyun nodded eagerly. “Great! Manman and I were just about to rent a boat.”
“Ah…” Zhao Wen sighed awkwardly. “I… I’m sorry, I didn’t realize, so I… registered my name in advance…”
This meant only one of them could go with him on a two-person boat.
Shi Man didn’t really want Wang Dongyun to go with Zhao Wen, but seeing Wang Dongyun’s recent gloom finally lift at the prospect of boating, she couldn’t bear to disappoint her again.
She couldn’t exactly forbid her from going, could she?
So, meeting Wang Dongyun’s hopeful gaze, Shi Man nodded. “Go ahead, but be back soon.”
“Be careful,” she cautioned, pulling Wang Dongyun aside.
“Okay!” Wang Dongyun replied, giddy as a child.
Zhao Wen went out of his way to buy her soda and red shrimp crisp to eat on the boat, listening intently to everything Wang Dongyun said and smiling brightly at her. He even reminded her to watch her step on the stairs from a distance.
He seemed perfectly attentive and proactive, without a single flaw. Yet Shi Man kept a close eye on the two of them, worried something might go wrong.
Suddenly, another voice called out from behind.
“Xiao Man, wanna go boating?”
It was Dong Qingguo, the annoying “fly.”
Shi Man turned and rolled her eyes. “Who told you you could call me that?”
Dong Qingguo found even her eye-rolling beautiful, utterly captivating him. He smiled gently, his gaze fixed on her.
“I have tickets,” he boasted, showing off his connections. “Got them through special channels.”
“Are they in my name?” Shi Man asked impatiently.
“No,” Dong Qingguo quickly added, afraid she’d refuse. “Boating tickets don’t need names. Just show the ticket to get on.”
Shi Man’s mind clicked. Zhao Wen was lying! She’d finally caught him!
If only Wang Dongyun and Zhao Wen weren’t still out on the lake. Otherwise, she’d rush over to tell Wang Dongyun right now.
A man who lies is absolutely untrustworthy.
Dong Qingguo was also disappointed that all the boats were rented out, forcing them to wait on the shore for one to return.
He clung to Shi Man like sticky taffy, following her everywhere she went.
Before long, Shi Man realized she couldn’t find Wang Dongyun and Zhao Wen’s boat anymore!
She had been so focused on ditching Dong Qingguo that she hadn’t noticed the pair had already disembarked.
Now Shi Man panicked. What if something happened to them while they were out of her sight?
Just then, Dong Qingguo called out from behind her, “Xiao Man, a boat’s free! Let’s hurry and get on!”
Who wants to row with him? Shi Man thought, refusing to even glance his way.
But someone else did. Yao Wenjing had been seething with envy, her eyes glued to Shi Man’s every move.
Seeing Dong Qingguo invite Shi Man to row, Yao Wenjing’s impatience flared. Gritting her teeth, she rushed over and said, “Manman, are you looking for Dongyun?”
“Huh?” Shi Man asked. “Do you know where she is?”
Yao Wenjing nodded. “I saw her go that way.” She pointed toward a long, dark underground tunnel stretching into the distance.
The tunnel was an old air-raid shelter—long, black, and seemingly endless. Occasionally, eerie sounds carried by the wind drifted out—groans, wails, and strange noises that sounded like ghosts crying or wolves howling, truly terrifying.
Rumor had it that ghosts haunted this underground tunnel, so visitors to the park never dared to venture inside, fearing it was too dangerous.
Shi Man subtly raised an eyebrow. She didn’t believe Wang Dongyun, who was even more cowardly than a chicken, would ever venture in there.
However, when she caught Dong Qingguo staring at her with a lovesick gaze, she decided to play along. She needed to shake off this creepy man first.
“I’ll go find Dongyun,” she announced, heading toward the tunnel.
“I’ll go with you,” Dong Qingguo immediately offered to follow. But Yao Wenjing reacted even faster.
She blocked his path and suddenly cried out, “Ah!” before dropping to the ground, feigning a sprained ankle.
Dong Qingguo had no choice but to help Yao Wenjing up. With so many people around, he couldn’t just abandon her in pain to chase after Shi Man—what would everyone think of him?
As Shi Man’s figure disappeared into the pitch-black tunnel, Yao Wenjing finally smirked secretly, triumphant.
Perfect. With Shi Man out of the way, I’ll have plenty of chances to get close to Dong Qingguo.
Inside the tunnel, Shi Man hadn’t gone far at all.
She watched Yao Wenjing hobble away, supported by Dong Qingguo, and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
For the first time, I’m genuinely grateful to Yao Wenjing.