“Teacher Wang, you might not have fully understood what I meant.” The knot between Liu Yuning’s brows tightened even further. He felt he had to lay his words out with absolute clarity, leaving no room for ambiguity.
“When I say the conditions at the border are harsh, it’s not just an empty phrase. Furthermore, once I leave this time, I might not even be able to return for a single leave for three to five years.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Wang Jing’s voice remained soft and thin, but her eyes were exceptionally determined.
“Comrade Liu, I understand the hardships of being a military wife. Before I came here, my parents already talked it through with me. Since I chose to come today, it means I’ve already made up my mind.”
Liu Yuning was completely stripped of words.
This girl looked so gentle and quiet; how could her stubbornness be so fierce?
He even began to suspect whether his grandfather and the Wang family had conspired beforehand, just waiting for him to jump straight into the trap.
The atmosphere on the bench shifted from awkward to utterly stagnant.
Watching the people passing to and fro in the park, Liu Yuning felt a profound sense of helplessness for the first time in his life. He couldn’t exactly just say, ‘I don’t like you, please leave.’ That would be far too hurtful, especially since she was a young lady.
……
Meanwhile, Lin Wanshu was sitting at home, completely restless.
She had no idea if Liu Fan had received a beating yet. After all, her older brother was so incredibly terrifying…
Flipping through her calendar, she noted that she had to report to the hospital for her internship the day after tomorrow. She had fought so hard to secure this five-day break, so what was the point of just nesting at home like a broody hen?
Yet, she didn’t dare go look for Liu Fan. What if she ran into her brother again?
Besides, given how unreliable Liu Fan could be, she would probably just drag her out to act as a human shield again.
But moping around the house all day wasn’t a long-term solution either.
Since today happened to be the weekend, her mother, Song Lianying, walked over and sat beside her, holding a photograph.
“Wanshu, your older cousin works at our People’s Hospital. There’s a young man in his department who is quite nice…”
Lin Wanshu snatched her book off the table, invented an excuse on the fly, and bolted out the front door.
“I—I’m going to the park to read for a bit, get some fresh air, and soak up some calcium from the sun!”
……
The autumn sun was just right—warm, cozy, and not overly scorching.
Throughout People’s Park, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms drifted everywhere.
Lin Wanshu’s mood lifted considerably along with the pleasant scenery.
Clutching her book, she strolled leisurely along the path by the lake. After walking a massive loop, she began to feel a bit tired. She wanted to find an empty bench to rest her feet.
However, the park was exceptionally crowded today. The long benches were packed to capacity, occupied either by elderly folks tending to children or young couples glued tightly to one another.
She circled around, her gaze scanning row after row of seating.
Suddenly, her footsteps froze.
On a bench just a short distance ahead sat a man and a woman.
The man’s spine was as straight as a rod. He wore a plain white shirt and dark trousers, the lines of his profile sharp and chiseled.
Who else could it be but Liu Yuning?
Sitting beside him was a girl clad in a floral dress, her hair styled in two long braids—quiet, cultured, and delicate.
Did Liu Fan just get a sister-in-law?
Then again, it didn’t quite look like it.
Even though the two were sitting on the same bench, the gap between them was wide enough to fit an entire third person. They clearly weren’t a couple.
Don’t tell me… he’s on a matchmaking date too?
Ha~
Apologies, but she just couldn’t help laughing.
Lin Wanshu originally intended to turn on her heel and make a quiet exit, but Liu Yuning had already spotted her, his gaze locking dead onto her.
She could only steel herself, straighten her posture, and pretend she didn’t know him at all, walking past the front of the bench with her eyes fixed straight ahead.
One step, two steps…
She was just about to successfully pass them by.
“Wanshu…”
Liu Yuning’s crisp, cool voice rang out right behind her.
Lin Wanshu’s entire body went rigid.
“Wait up for me, I’m leaving right away,” he added. His tone was incredibly familiar, laced with a subtle hint of intimacy.
What on earth?!
Lin Wanshu was utterly dumbfounded. She spun around, staring at him in sheer bewilderment.
Are the two of us even close?
He was making it sound as though she had deliberately come over to sabotage his date!
“I came here on my own—”
Liu Yuning didn’t give Lin Wanshu a chance to speak. Your sudden appearance was nothing short of a divine lifesaver.
“Wanshu, give me just one more minute, and we’ll head back together.”
Liu Yuning stood up, his face actually carrying a few traces of… remorse?
Every single hair on Lin Wanshu’s arms stood on end.
Wang Jing stood up from the bench as well, looking at the two of them rather uncomfortably, her eyes swimming with confusion.
“Comrade Liu, this lady is…”
“Oh, let me introduce you.” Liu Yuning turned his body with complete naturalness, his hand executing a phantom gesture toward Lin Wanshu.
“This is Lin Wanshu. We’ve known each other since we were kids. She often comes over to our house to play with my younger sister.”
Having said that, he turned back to Lin Wanshu. “And this is Comrade Wang Jing, a teacher at the City’s No. 1 High School.”
Though it was a brief and simple introduction, the underlying implication carried a heavy weight.
Wang Jing’s gaze darted back and forth between the two of them, sizing them up.
“He-Hello, Teacher Wang.” Lin Wanshu’s mind had already gone entirely blank; she could only play along with his narrative.
Known each other since childhood?
If she remembered correctly, she and Liu Fan were merely high school classmates!
Is he… using me as a human shield?
Understanding flashed through Lin Wanshu’s mind.
This pair of siblings was truly hilarious. Yesterday, the sister had begged her to act as a substitute for a matchmaking date, only to be caught red-handed by the brother. Today, the brother was pulling this bizarre stunt out of nowhere!
Did she look that easy to exploit?
“Big brother, is Teacher Wang my future sister-in-law? She’s truly beautiful. A perfect match of talent and looks, you two suit each other wonderfully.” A massive, dazzling smile bloomed across Lin Wanshu’s face.
Liu Yuning’s face stiffened, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. However, he quickly recovered his composure, adopting a doting, indulgent tone.
“You silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting? I’ll explain it to you later.”
Lin Wanshu: …
Standing to the side, Wang Jing, who had remained silent, watched the exchange as the light in her eyes dimmed a fraction. She wasn’t stupid; how could she fail to read between the lines?
So, his heart already belonged to someone else.
The girl before her was young and full of life, her eyes pitch-black and brilliant. She was incredibly beautiful—much prettier than herself.
“Comrade Liu, Comrade Lin, I… I still have some matters to attend to at school, so I’ll head back first,” Wang Jing murmured softly, clutching her book and lowering her head.
“Teacher Wang, let me walk you out,” Liu Yuning offered politely.
“No, there’s no need.” Wang Jing waved her hands frantically. “You two go ahead and chat, I’ll take my leave now.”
With that, she turned and walked away at a brisk pace, practically fleeing the scene.
Watching Wang Jing’s retreating figure disappear in a hurry, Liu Yuning let out a gentle sigh of relief.
Thank goodness Lin Wanshu had shown up, otherwise he truly wouldn’t have known how to resolve today’s situation. He finally understood his sister now—rejecting eight people in a single day was an incredibly daunting task.
Lin Wanshu, however, planted her hands firmly on her hips and served him a pair of massive eyerolls.
“Commander Liu, don’t you think doing this was a bit inappropriate?”
“Thank you,” Liu Yuning replied, completely ignoring her question.
Thank?
Lin Wanshu: …
By this point, Liu Yuning had already reverted to his usual stern, serious demeanor. She felt a little intimidated and unconsciously dropped her hands from her hips.
“Um, Commander Liu, I still have things to do, so I’ll be going now.” Sensing that he was about to start settling yesterday’s score, Lin Wanshu decided that running away was the best strategy.
“You helped me out immensely today. Let me treat you to a meal to express my gratitude,” Liu Yuning said flatly, shoving his hands casually into his pockets.
“No thanks, no thanks! My parents are still waiting for me at home. Let’s do it another day!” Hugging her book tightly against her chest, Lin Wanshu bolted from the scene in a flash.