“Sorry.” Realizing her mistake, Fang Yuanyuan immediately apologized.
Qiao Yuewei pointed to her knee. “You just bumped into me. My knee hurts—I can’t walk.”
Glancing at the military jeep behind the man, Qiao Yuewei raised an eyebrow. “You’re heading to the Southern Military District? Take me along as an apology.”
“No! We’re not!” Fang Yuanyuan quickly denied, fearing Qiao Yuewei would cling to them.
“Hey, Yuanyuan, why are you running so fast? Oh, Commander Qin? What a coincidence!” Qi Danfeng exclaimed, as if she had just noticed Qin Xingye.
“See, Yuanyuan? I told you—Commander Qin really came to pick you up.” Spotting Qiao Yuewei beside her, Qi Danfeng looked disgusted. “Yuanyuan, why is this woman here? Hey, why are you following us?!”
Fang Yuanyuan tugged Qi Danfeng’s sleeve. “Danfeng, don’t be like that.” Then she secretly glanced at Qin Xingye. Hopefully he wouldn’t think they were bullying anyone. But he seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed at the exit.
“Your family owns the road?” Qiao Yuewei teased, looking at Qi Danfeng.
Qi Danfeng glared back, moving closer to Qin Xingye. “Commander Qin, Yuanyuan is here. Let’s go.”
Qin Xingye frowned at her words, his gaze still on the exit. “I didn’t come for Comrade Fang.”
Three days ago, he received a telegram from Shanghai. Checking the train schedule from Xiang City, he didn’t know when the person would arrive. So he came to the station every day to wait.
Hearing Qin Xingye deny any relation to her, Fang Yuanyuan felt extremely disappointed. She forced a smile. “Commander Qin, Danfeng was joking. You came to pick someone up?”
Qin Xingye nodded.
Instinctively, Fang Yuanyuan glanced at Qiao Yuewei.
“Commander Qin, would it be convenient to give us a ride? Danfeng and I are also heading back to the unit, and there’s no shuttle…”
Qiao Yuewei chuckled lightly. Didn’t they just say they weren’t going to the Southern Military District?
But thinking it over—surname Qin, Southern Military District, commander, roughly the same age—could it be a coincidence?
Rubbing her knee, Qiao Yuewei approached Qin Xingye. “Hello, are you from the Southern Military District? Do you know Qin Xingye?”
Qin Xingye turned to look at her.
Qiao Yuewei finally saw the man clearly.
His features were sharp and strong. Beneath thick, long eyelashes were narrow, slightly upturned eyes, deep and distant. A high, straight nose; thin lips lightly pressed together. The most unforgettable detail: a tuft of naturally curly hair on his forehead, dancing in the wind.
When he heard her question, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
His deep, commanding voice pleased Qiao Yuewei’s ears. “You know Qin Xingye?”
Fang Yuanyuan bit her lip, her fingernails digging into her palm.
How did she know the commander’s name but not know him personally? Who was this girl?
Qiao Yuewei nodded. “I’m a family member. Do you know him?”
“Family?” Qi Danfeng exclaimed, grabbing Fang Yuanyuan’s arm. “Yuanyuan, did you hear that? She can’t be Commander Qin’s sister!”
Everyone had long known Commander Qin had a sister, abducted for over a decade and recently found, barely in her twenties. Had they known Qiao Yuewei was his sister, their previous attitude would have been completely different.
Qi Danfeng regretted it instantly.
Fang Yuanyuan also looked uneasy—she hadn’t been very friendly to Qiao Yuewei earlier. Would she be angry?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were Commander Qin’s sister.”
Qiao Yuewei looked at Fang Yuanyuan, puzzled. “Commander Qin’s sister?”
“So, Commander Qin, you’re here to pick up your sister. We were on the same train just now.”
So the man in front of her was indeed Qin Xingye?
Amused, she glanced at the two whose attitudes had shifted completely. Qiao Yuewei patted Qin Xingye’s arm. “My leg hurts. Can you help me with the suitcase?”
Saying this, she got into the military jeep.
Qin Xingye was stunned—his parents hadn’t told him his sister would come…
And he remembered his sister resembled their father…
Despite doubts, Qin Xingye obediently helped Qiao Yuewei lift her suitcase into the jeep.
“Did I forget to ask who you’re picking up? Should we wait a bit?”
Qin Xingye glanced at the empty station exit. No one was coming—she must have missed the train.
“She probably won’t make it. You really…”
“Commander Qin, could you give us a ride?” Qi Danfeng squeezed forward.
Qiao Yuewei waved a finger at her. “Not convenient.”
She had sensed Qi Danfeng’s hostility on the train. She wasn’t the type to tolerate it.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you—I’m not who you think I am. I’m not Qin Xingye’s sister. I’m his fiancée, Qiao Yuewei. I don’t like my fiancé giving rides to unrelated people. Let’s go, Qin Xingye.”
Qiao Yuewei?
Qin Xingye’s pupils constricted, his ears turning red.
The cheerful girl before him matched the face he remembered from his childhood.
A slight smile tugged at his lips. “Alright.”
“Yuanyuan, did I hear that right? What did she say?”
“She said she’s Commander Qin’s fiancée,” Fang Yuanyuan’s eyes went red.
Qi Danfeng spat in the direction of Qiao Yuewei’s departing back. “Commander Qin really has a fiancée—and she’s this kind of woman! Don’t be sad, Yuanyuan. There must be a misunderstanding. You went through so much for Commander Qin. He owes you an explanation!”
Fang Yuanyuan snorted. She had once thought Qiao Yuewei was a good girl! How could someone like her deserve Qin Xingye?
Inside the jeep, Qiao Yuewei rested one hand on the window, the other on her knee.
“What’s wrong with your leg?” Qin Xingye asked.
Shaking her head, she said, “Nothing, just bruised, a little sore.”
Frowning, Qin Xingye said, “Once we reach the military district, I’ll take you to the medical unit.”
“Okay.”
Qiao Yuewei opened her mouth; it had been years since they last met, and the atmosphere was awkward.
“You…”
“You…”
“You first.”
“Did you receive the telegram?”
Qin Xingye nodded. “Yes.”
“So you agreed?” Qiao Yuewei looked at him.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
Being stared at so directly, he dared not breathe too forcefully.
After a moment, he said, “As long as you agree, so do I.”
Qiao Yuewei breathed a sigh of relief—agreement was enough.
“Good. When will we register the marriage?”
“I’ll file the marriage report first. Once it’s approved, you can set the date. I’ve already applied for a family quarters—with a courtyard.”
Qiao Yuewei nodded.
“Did you come to pick me up today?”
“Yes. I didn’t know when you’d arrive, but I had time and decided to try my luck at the station.”
Qiao Yuewei’s eyes glimmered with a smile. He was thoughtful.
“That girl earlier seemed to like you. She said she’s from your military district’s performing arts troupe.”
Qiao Yuewei propped her chin and looked at Qin Xingye.
His cold, hard expression softened considerably from the distant look at the station.
“I’m comrades with her brother, but I’m not familiar with her. I’m busy training most of the time, often away from the district. I’ve long said I have a fiancée.”
“Oh.” Qiao Yuewei tapped her cheek lightly.
So much for false admirers.
“Hungry? There are some biscuits here to tide you over.”
Qiao Yuewei shook her head. “Since we’ll be family soon, there’s something I want to say first.”