Dong Qingguo knew exactly what Yao Wenjing was up to, but he didn’t call her out on it.
When they reached the boat dock, Yao Wenjing’s “hurt” foot suddenly felt fine. She sweetly invited him to row a boat together, which didn’t surprise him at all.
He flashed what he thought was a charming smile, shook his head, and pursed his lips. “I’m sorry, I have other plans.”
He pulled a boat ticket from his pocket and called out to another female soldier passing by, “This ticket is for you and Comrade Yao Wenjing. I can’t go boating today, so you two go ahead. Have fun!”
Such a generous and gentle man was rare, and the female soldiers were immediately drawn to him, their eyes following his every move.
Dong Qingguo basked in their attention. Their admiration, small talk, and attempts to get closer swelled his ego. This was also why he hadn’t pushed Yao Wenjing away or set clear boundaries.
He didn’t want to hurt any girl’s feelings.
But right now, Dong Qingguo had important matters to attend to. Otherwise, he wouldn’t mind lingering among the female soldiers, listening to their eager, bashful chatter.
By the lakeside, Dong Qingguo’s parents were sitting on a park bench.
“Mom, Dad, did you see Shi Man earlier?” Dong Qingguo asked as he approached.
“Hmm.” Father and Mother Dong looked her over critically but couldn’t find any real fault with Shi Man.
If they had to pick something, it would be that she was too beautiful, not the type of woman who seemed suited for everyday life.
But they had always doted on their son, and Dong Qingguo had promised that after marrying Shi Man, she would manage the household, care for her in-laws, and give up performing with the art troupe.
They were reasonably satisfied with all that.
Father Dong gazed at his son with hopeful eyes. “Qingguo, your mother and I have always believed you’ll achieve great things. Once you’re married, I’ll figure out a way to get you a permanent position.”
Yes, Dong Qingguo was still just a temporary worker, having worked hard to get into his current job with the help of his parents and relatives.
But that didn’t stop him from being the pride of his parents and the apple of their eye, their only child.
Mother Dong was also excited about her son’s future. “Once you’re married, have a few big, healthy sons! I’ll help you raise them, so you can focus on work and get a promotion.”
After giving birth to Dong Qingguo, Mother Dong’s health never fully recovered, and she couldn’t have any more children.
This was her greatest regret, so she constantly urged Dong Qingguo to have as many sons as possible after getting married, to carry on the Dong family line.
Dong Qingguo always remembered his parents’ words, and he now promised them, patting his chest.
“Don’t worry, Mom and Dad. I’ll work even harder at my job and aim for a promotion soon.”
“And Shi Man—I’ll propose to her right now. We’ll get the wedding settled and bring her home so you can finally enjoy having a daughter-in-law.”
Mother Dong frowned. “With so many people around? You’re going to make such a scene?”
“It’s fine, Mom. Shi Man loves attention. Letting her show off will make her even more devoted to me.”
“Are you sure she won’t embarrass you on the spot?” Father Dong was more cautious. After observing her earlier, he hadn’t sensed much genuine affection from the girl toward their son.
Dong Qingguo, however, remained supremely confident. “Who else would Shi Man marry? Could she possibly find someone better than me?”
Having been pursued relentlessly by the women in the art troupe lately, Dong Qingguo was increasingly convinced he was the most desirable man in the world.
Father Dong was about to argue further when his wife nudged him sharply. “Enough, you always have to rain on his parade! Let him have his moment. Our son winning her over is her good fortune from a past life.”
***
On the other side, the underground passage was indeed eerie, filled with strange noises.
This only made Shi Man more certain that Wang Dongyun couldn’t be there.
Although her long exposure to Ling Zhen’s upright spirit in her dream had made her fearless of ghosts and demons, she only wanted to find Wang Dongyun, so there was no need to go to the end of the tunnel.
Shi Man quickly turned back, emerging from the pitch-black passage and continuing along the lakeside path.
Soon, she spotted Wang Dongyun and Zhao Wen talking on a stone bridge.
Zhao Wen, always smooth-tongued, was saying something that made Wang Dongyun very happy. Her round face beamed like a sunflower, all traces of worry gone.
“Dongyun, it’s time to go,” Shi Man called out, giving Zhao Wen a frosty look.
Wang Dongyun seemed reluctant to leave and waved goodbye to Zhao Wen.
Once they were a distance away, Shi Man turned to Wang Dongyun and said, “Zhao Wen lied. They don’t write names on the boat tickets.”
Wang Dongyun suddenly blushed crimson and whispered, “H-he apologized about that while we were boating.”
So Zhao Wen had already played this card ahead of time. He’s really something, Shi Man thought.
This is proving trickier than she thought. He’s already apologized and admitted his mistake, even using the excuse, “I’m sorry, I just like you so much and wanted to go boating with you.”
He’s definitely not a novice.
If Shi Man hadn’t been treated like a goddess by her suitors for so long, and didn’t understand men so well, she might have fallen for Zhao Wen’s act too.
Shi Man’s eyes were clear and unwavering. “No matter what, lying is always wrong,” she insisted. “If you make it a habit, he’ll lie to you again and again.”
Wang Dongyun nodded, then, studying Shi Man’s expression, cautiously asked, “Manman, do you really dislike Zhao Wen that much?”
Shi Man smoothed Wang Dongyun’s braids and said earnestly, “I just think finding the right partner is the most important thing. I want you to find a truly good man.”
Wang Dongyun was touched, her eyes shining as she gazed at Shi Man. “No wonder you’re so careful when choosing a partner too.”
As dusk approached, the sunset blazed with vibrant colors. Shi Man and Wang Dongyun returned to the plaza, chatting all the way.
Before nightfall, the female soldiers from the dance team had to gather there before heading back.
Wang Dongyun pulled out a checkered handkerchief and dabbed the fine sweat on her forehead. “I don’t know why,” she said, “but I always feel so hot when I’m around Zhao Wen. Even on these cool autumn days, I’m sweating like crazy.”
Shi Man listened helplessly, seizing the opportunity to advise, “See? Zhao Wen has such a strong effect on you. The grading assessment is just around the corner. You should keep your distance from him for now to avoid affecting your performance.”
Wang Dongyun nodded in agreement.
“You’re right,” she said. “Even if I’m not guaranteed an A Grade, I’ll try my best so I won’t have any regrets.”
But soon, the kind and gentle Wang Dongyun grew anxious again. “Manman,” she asked hesitantly, “do you think Zhao Wen will be angry?”
“If he gets angry, that’ll just show you his true colors, right?” Shi Man said, skillfully playing her hand. “Even better! Use this as a chance to test him.”
Wang Dongyun listened intently, awed by Shi Man’s sharp wit. She nodded, though she didn’t fully grasp what Shi Man meant.
Regardless, nothing mattered more than the upcoming Grading Assessment. Wang Dongyun secretly resolved to follow Shi Man’s advice.
Observing Wang Dongyun’s expression, Shi Man breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed she had temporarily severed her friend’s ties to Zhao Wen.
He had worried about her like a parent doting on a daughter.
Shi Man raised an eyebrow, just about to relax, when a sudden chorus of gasps erupted from the female soldiers behind her.
An ominous feeling washed over her, and she slowly turned around.
Sure enough, her eye twitched as she saw Dong Qingguo approaching, holding a bouquet of flowers. His leather shoes gleamed like mirrors, and he strode forward with his chest puffed out.
Besides the flowers, he had also brought candy, which he tossed to the female soldiers who had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Shi Man wanted to leave, but the crowd had already hemmed her in.
Dong Qingguo quickly reached her, holding out the flowers with both hands. His eyes, visible behind his gold-rimmed glasses, shone with tender affection. “Will you marry me?”
The female soldiers gasped uncontrollably, tears of envy and emotion welling up in their eyes.
An autumn twilight by the lake, flowers, candy, a marriage proposal—it was a romance beyond their wildest dreams.
Swept up by the atmosphere, everyone began cheering and chanting in unison: “Marry him, Shi Man!” “Marry him!”
Dong Qingguo completely disregarded Shi Man’s feelings, putting on this public display and forcing her into an incredibly awkward position.
This was the plan he had concocted after scheming all night.
Young women are easily swayed by public pressure and prone to impulsive decisions. Dong Qingguo figured that proposing so openly, with everyone watching and cheering, would make Shi Man agree in the heat of the moment.
Once he had her publicly committed, with so many witnesses, he’d finally be able to marry Shi Man, the woman he had longed for.
Dong Qingguo’s plan seemed foolproof, but he overlooked one crucial detail.
Shi Man was fiercely independent and cared little about saving face, especially when provoked. Those who claimed she cared about nothing were dead wrong.
So, right there, she swept Dong Qingguo’s bouquet off the ground, tossed it aside, and snapped, “What’s wrong with you?” before pushing through the crowd and walking away.
The entire room fell silent. No one had expected Shi Man to react so sharply.
Now it was Dong Qingguo’s turn to be humiliated.
Under the intense gaze of the crowd, he felt like a clown being mocked and gossiped about, wishing he could vanish into the ground.
He stared at the flowers on the ground—flowers he had carefully picked from the park for so long, now carelessly discarded. The petals were bent, and they were covered in dirt.
But then, a hand suddenly reached out and picked up the bouquet.
A woman’s voice floated toward Dong Qingguo, filled with shy delight.
“Qingguo,” she said, “I accept your proposal.”
Dong Qingguo froze, his eyes going blank as he looked up. Yao Wenjing stood there, cradling the bouquet of flowers, her smile brighter than ever.
The other female soldiers stared in stunned silence, wondering what this sudden twist was all about.
With one arm cradling the flowers, Yao Wenjing looped her other arm through Dong Qingguo’s, explaining, “Qingguo was just proposing to me. Manman misunderstood.”
The others were baffled. Did that mean Shi Man had been imagining things? Was Dong Qingguo actually in love with Yao Wenjing all along?
What kind of nonsense is this?
Everyone had seen Dong Qingguo showering Shi Man with attention every day.
Caught in an awkward situation, Dong Qingguo, ever concerned with his reputation, decided Yao Wenjing’s explanation was a good way out.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, forcing a smile. “That’s right,” he said. “Wenjing and I are grateful for everyone’s blessings.”
Silence descended upon the group. No one wanted to get involved in this mess. Whatever they said, it was their business.
Everyone gathered on the other side, their expressions subtle and mixed. Only Yao Wenjing couldn’t stop grinning, a smug, treasure-found look plastered on her face like an unshakable mask.
On the way back, she couldn’t stop talking about “my fiancé, Dong Qingguo,” her voice dripping with pride.
Whenever others mentioned their own partners, Yao Wenjing would drag Dong Qingguo into the conversation to show off, subtly and not-so-subtly comparing them and clearly believing she’d come out way ahead.
She was absolutely certain she was about to start a life of pure bliss.
In Yao Wenjing’s eyes, Shi Man had become the dumbest woman alive.
“Thinking she’s too good for everyone just because she’s pretty?” Yao Wenjing scoffed. “Turning down Commander Ling and Dong Qingguo? Letting such good men slip through her fingers? Shi Man is just unbelievably stupid!”
As for Shi Man, she had only four words for Yao Wenjing: “I wish her happiness.”
***
Just a day or two after the autumn outing, the news had already spread like wildfire.
People were saying, “Did you hear? Dong Qingguo, the guy who reads documents at the art troupe every day, proposed to a female soldier there!”
Proposals were rare and exciting in those days, so everyone was buzzing about it. But somehow, the story got twisted along the way.
Someone asked, “Was it Shi Man he proposed to?”
Another confirmed, “Yep, they’ve been seeing each other for a while, so getting engaged makes sense.”
“Dong Qingguo is such a good man,” someone praised. “He even pulled off such a romantic proposal. She’s so lucky to marry him!”
“……”
That day, Ling Zhen arrived at the army camp gate carrying his field pack. His close friend, Qin Junbao, had already heard about his return and came to greet him at the gate.
Seeing Ling Zhen return dusty and travel-worn in his military uniform, his beard still freshly shaved and his spirit still sharp, Commander Qin could only tell that he hadn’t slept in three days and nights because of the deep shadows under his eyes.
Qin Junbao punched Ling Zhen’s shoulder. “You sly dog! A First-Class Merit! You’ll be promoted to Director as soon as you get back. I’m so jealous!”
Friends can tease each other like that, but Qin Junbao wasn’t actually jealous—just full of admiration. He knew only Ling Zhen could pull off missions like this, earning one remarkable achievement after another.
“Why rush back without even resting? Did you skip sleep just to brag to the Commander?” Qin Junbao teased.
Ling Zhen silently headed toward the headquarters compound.
As they passed two people chatting, they overheard:
“Shi Man and Dong Qingguo can’t get married yet, right? She hasn’t been promoted.”
Ling Zhen froze in his tracks, causing Qin Junbao, who was following close behind, to stumble.
Qin Junbao groaned, “We’re about the same size, but you’re like Iron Mountain! Why does bumping into you hurt so much?”
Ignoring him, Ling Zhen asked, “What did they say? Shi Man and who are getting married?”
Qin Junbao paused, took off his cap to straighten it, and put it back on. “Oh, Shi Man? My orderly mentioned it. Apparently, she’s been getting cozy with someone named Dong Qingguo lately. They’re even talking about marriage.”
After Qin Junbao finished speaking, he suddenly remembered that Ling Zhen had been rejected by Shi Man, and he’d even joined in on the teasing back then.
Seeing Ling Zhen’s dark expression, Qin Junbao slung an arm around his shoulder and said comfortingly, “There are plenty of fish in the sea, right? Why fixate on just one flower?”
“Mm,” Ling Zhen replied quietly.
Qin Junbao patted Ling Zhen’s shoulder approvingly, but then noticed something was wrong. “Wait, you’re going the wrong way! You need to report to the Commander over there.”
Ling Zhen lifted his icy gaze, each word deliberate: “I’m not lost.”