Tian Dan nodded shyly. “Huaimin, I believe in you. Just do your best.”
She stole a glance toward the carved wooden window. Seeing that no one from the Zhou family was paying attention, she covered her flushed face and threw herself into Zhou Huaimin’s arms.
Years of military training had given Zhou Huaimin a lean, muscular build. His brand-new military uniform carried a clean, reassuring scent.
A flash of disgust flickered across his eyes before disappearing. He gently patted Tian Dan’s back and said in a deep voice, “I don’t want you to feel wronged.”
Ever since gaining the Tian family’s support, things had gone much more smoothly for him. Even so, there were still people in the army gossiping behind his back.
The sudden appearance of Qin Man irritated him for no reason.
He even suspected that someone jealous of his success had secretly tipped off the Qin family. Otherwise, why would Qin Man show up at exactly this time?
In truth, Zhou Huaimin had never objected to marrying Qin Man before.
The Qin family might have been poor, but Qin Man was beautiful.
However, after several frustrating years in the army, where he’d repeatedly been held back and overlooked, his mindset had changed.
Now that he was engaged to the plain-looking Tian Dan, his relatives suddenly treated him with respect and rushed to curry favor with him.
The Tian family had even promised that once the marriage was finalized, they would arrange a job for his younger sister, Zhou Qiaohong.
“Huaimin, is something bothering you?”
Tian Dan looked up and noticed the deep furrow between his brows.
Today was supposed to be the happiest day of their engagement.
Thinking of that, she gently comforted him.
“My parents are very pleased with you. So am I.”
Resting against his chest and listening to his heartbeat, Tian Dan blushed.
“So you really don’t have to feel like you’re wronging me. I…”
“Xiaodan… there’s something I haven’t told you.”
After thinking it over, Zhou Huaimin decided that, in case something unexpected happened, he should prepare Tian Dan in advance.
She tilted her head in confusion.
“What is it?”
“It’s…”
He clenched his jaw, deliberately looking as though he found the words difficult to say.
He held his breath, struggling for a long moment until his face turned red before finally forcing out the words through gritted teeth.
“Before I met you… I was once engaged.”
“You were engaged?”
Tian Dan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
After calming herself, she chose to trust him.
“You’re not an irresponsible man. Otherwise, after saving me, you wouldn’t have been willing to marry me.”
Indeed, Tian Dan hadn’t met Zhou Huaimin through her older brother, Battalion Commander Tian Jianshe.
The two had met the previous summer.
She had gone to the movies with an old classmate and, on the way home that evening, was cornered in an alley by a drunken thug.
The man had harassed her, groped at her, and made obscene remarks.
Terrified and helpless, Tian Dan burst into tears.
Just then, Zhou Huaimin happened to pass by and rescued her.
Her synthetic blouse had been torn open during the struggle, exposing her chest.
Zhou Huaimin immediately took off his military jacket, wrapped it around her, and escorted her safely home.
Throughout the entire incident, he remained calm, comforting her without ever asking for anything in return.
“Huaimin… did things not work out between you and her because you saved me?”
Tian Dan felt conflicted.
She dreamed about Zhou Huaimin every night and simply couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.
Zhou Huaimin shook his head and sighed.
“The truth is… when I was a child, her grandfather once saved my life.”
He carefully embellished the story.
According to him, the Zhou family had repaid the Qin family’s kindness for years.
“A couple of years ago, my parents even went to their village to formally propose marriage… but the Qin family turned us down.”
He hesitated, pretending to struggle with himself.
Tian Dan quietly leaned against him and waited.
Once he felt the moment was right, Zhou Huaimin lowered his head in apparent shame.
“I later heard from the villagers that Qin Man had fallen for a sent-down educated youth. They said he came from Beijing and had seen the world.”
Since she had supposedly fallen in love with someone else, the engagement naturally fell through.
The Zhou and Qin families then agreed that each of them would marry someone else in the future.
“I never mentioned it because…”
He looked uneasy before suddenly meeting Tian Dan’s eyes with determination.
“No matter who was right or wrong, I shouldn’t have hidden it from you. Otherwise, even after we’re married, it would always remain a knot in our hearts.”
“Huaimin, how could this possibly be your fault?”
Tian Dan didn’t mind in the slightest.
If Qin Man hadn’t changed her heart, such a wonderful man would never have become hers.
In the end, it simply meant she was fortunate.
“Don’t worry. My parents are reasonable people.”
She slipped her hand into Zhou Huaimin’s large one, feeling grateful.
Deep down, however, a darker thought crossed her mind.
Even if Qin Man had still been engaged to Zhou Huaimin, she would have fought to take him away.
Happiness was something a person had to fight for.
Qin Man was only a country girl with no influential family. She could never compete with her.
It was nearly noon, and the state-owned restaurant had finished preparing the engagement banquet.
Out of respect for the Tian family, the leaders of the cotton textile factory alone filled two large tables.
The remaining tables were occupied by the Tian family’s relatives and connections.
After escorting Tian Dan inside, Zhou Huaimin deliberately lingered outside for a while.
Only after seeing his Uncle Zhou Guoqing and several others positioned outside to intercept Qin Man—ensuring nothing could go wrong—did he finally walk into the restaurant.
Although it was only late September on the lunar calendar, several heavy snowfalls had already blanketed Ice City.
At lunchtime, the rich aroma of meat drifted all around the restaurant.
Qin Man could hear laughter and cheerful conversation long before she reached the entrance.
She tightened the scarf around her head and calmly walked toward the restaurant.
Along the way, she noticed several of the Zhou family’s relatives loitering outside.
A cold smile tugged at her lips.
So this was quite the setup.
They must have heard the news from the Public Security Bureau and were waiting for me.
“Xiaoman, you’re so beautiful. The Zhou family must be blind!”
Standing beside her, Yang Xiaoyun clenched her fists encouragingly.
To help Qin Man make an impression, she’d insisted she change into prettier clothes.
Originally, Yang Xiaoyun had wanted Qin Man to wear her own new padded jacket, but she was much shorter.
When Qin Man tried it on, it looked like one of those trendy cropped jackets from modern times.
In the end, Zhu Huifang generously lent Qin Man her nicest padded coat.
The change completely transformed Qin Man’s appearance.
Even Zhou Guoqing failed to recognize her.
Inside the restaurant hall, someone was praising the couple.
“Company Commander Zhou and Xiaodan from the Tian family really are a perfect match. What a handsome couple!”
Standing at the entrance, Qin Man’s gaze locked directly onto Zhou Huaimin and Tian Dan.
A rare smile rested on Zhou Huaimin’s usually stern face as he raised his glass to toast Tian Dan’s middle-aged parents.
No wonder he climbed the social ladder.
Everyone the Tian family had invited was impeccably dressed.
“Comrade, may I ask who you are?”
A plump waitress carrying dishes noticed Qin Man blocking the doorway.
“Which side of the family are you with?”
As she spoke, the entire dining hall suddenly fell silent.
Zhou Huaimin narrowed his eyes, instantly becoming alert.
Liu Amei shot to her feet, her face draining of color.
“Qin Man? Why are you here?”
Faced with the question, Qin Man smiled warmly.
“Aunt Zhou, I’ve come to fulfill my marriage engagement.”
The moment those words left her mouth, whispers spread throughout the banquet.
Tian Dan’s older brother, Tian Jianshe, abruptly stood up.
He opened his mouth, clearly intending to scold her.
But after seeing Qin Man’s striking appearance, he swallowed the words.
“Fulfill a marriage engagement?” someone finally asked.
“With whom?”
Another guest frowned.
“Young lady… are you sure you’ve come to the right place?”