At noon, it was time for lunch.
“Qianyi, are you going to the cafeteria?” Wang Lan picked up her lunchbox, ready to head out.
“I’m not going. I’m going home,” Lin Qianyi replied.
She didn’t want to eat in the cafeteria—and more importantly, wherever she showed up now, she instantly became the center of attention.
She really didn’t feel like enduring that kind of scrutiny.
The two of them went downstairs together.
“Alright then, I’ll go first,” Wang Lan said, heading toward the cafeteria.
Lin Qianyi went to get her bicycle and rode home.
Back at home, she didn’t enter the space. Instead, she simply cooked a bowl of noodles in the kitchen, took a short nap, and then went back to work.
Over the next two days, life remained calm and routine—going to and from work peacefully. As expected, Ma Zhenqiang did not appear again, not even a trace of movement.
By now, Lin Qianyi had become quite skilled at using her space.
She also tested its preservation function: anything placed inside stayed exactly as it was. Nothing spoiled or changed.
However, items placed from outside into the space would not be duplicated or replenished. The space only replenished items that originally belonged to it.
She also gained a better understanding of how different amounts of spiritual spring water affected her body.
With more of the spring water, her physical condition had reached an excellent state. Her flexibility and agility had improved dramatically.
She felt light, comfortable, and full of energy.
Her skin didn’t need to be mentioned—it had become fair, smooth, and radiant.
Her already striking facial features now seemed even more refined, with a faint ethereal quality. Even she couldn’t help but marvel at her reflection in the mirror.
It seemed that with the spiritual spring water, cosmetics and skincare products were completely unnecessary.
But she was genuinely happy—what girl wouldn’t want to look beautiful?
…
In the afternoon at work, Lin Qianyi sat at her desk organizing documents that the director had just given her.
She worked efficiently, finishing in no time and carefully sorting everything into categories.
“Lin Qianyi, there’s a phone call for your fiancé,” said a figure at the office door—it was the old man from the reception desk downstairs.
“My fiancé?”
She froze for a moment, then quickly realized—it must be her “revolutionary partner” calling.
The office instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at her with complicated expressions—some sympathetic, some uncertain.
They all assumed it was Ma Zhenqiang.
“Thank you,” she said politely and walked out.
Downstairs at the reception room, she picked up the phone.
“Hello, this is Lin Qianyi.”
“It’s me, Meng Junjian,” came a deep, magnetic male voice from the other end.
“Oh, it’s you. You’re done with work?” she asked lightly.
“Yes. I just arrived in the county. I’ll come pick you up after work.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, she returned upstairs with an unusually light step.
Seeing her relaxed expression, no one in the office dared to ask anything.
She finished her remaining tasks while waiting for the end of the workday.
Soon, it was time to leave. She packed up and walked downstairs.
But as soon as she reached the entrance, she noticed a crowd gathered, unusually noisy and congested.
The girls were visibly excited, whispering among themselves.
When she stepped out, she understood immediately.
No wonder.
Her so-called fiancé—handsome enough to defy reason—was sitting in a military vehicle outside, wearing a military uniform. The open window clearly revealed his striking face.
Meng Junjian watched as she walked out from the crowd. The moment she appeared, everything around her seemed to fade into the background. Her brilliance made everything else dull in comparison.
Her fair, luminous face, watery eyes, and elegant willow-shaped brows.
Her straight, delicate nose and petal-like red lips, with a faint blush on her cheeks.
Still wearing two braids like before, but where others looked plain and old-fashioned, she looked lively and elegant. Her fitted clothes made her appear tall and graceful—ethereal, almost unreal.
Meng Junjian felt his heart skip a beat. He had already thought she was beautiful before—but how had she become even more beautiful after just two days?
He stepped out of the car, and gasps immediately erupted around them.
“Wow, he looks even better standing up.”
“His aura is so strong.”
“Look at his uniform—his rank must be high.”
“But he’s so young…”
“…”
“You’re here,” Lin Qianyi said, walking toward him, ignoring the surrounding voices.
“Yes. I came to officially establish my identity,” he said with a faint smile.
She couldn’t help but laugh. That smile alone made him momentarily dazed.
“Off work already?” he asked, glancing at his watch.
“Yes, it’s time,” she nodded.
More and more people gathered at the entrance, but his presence was too imposing—no one dared to step too close.
“What’s going on here?” asked Zhang Xiuying, the union chairwoman, frowning as she walked down and saw the crowd.
“Zhang, look,” someone pointed outside.
“Qianyi?” she saw her standing with a young officer.
She pushed through the crowd and approached them.
“Qianyi, what’s going on? And this comrade is…?”
“I’m her fiancé,” Meng Junjian said immediately, recognizing her as a leader.
“He’s my fiancé,” Lin Qianyi added calmly.
The crowd erupted in shock.
“What? Fiancé?”
Even Zhang Xiuying was stunned. So the girl really had found someone—and not just anyone.
A young, clearly high-ranking military officer, no less.
After brief introductions, Zhang Xiuying said a few words and let them leave.
She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The girl who seemed cornered had suddenly turned things around so quickly.
And the young officer—handsome, capable, and already a deputy regimental-level officer at such a young age.
They really were a striking pair.
Everyone from the office stood watching from a distance, stunned.
So that was her fiancé?
No wonder she had seemed so cheerful these past few days.
With a fiancé like that, how could she not be happy?
Lin Qianyi got into his car, leaving her bicycle in the shed—she wouldn’t need it for now; it wouldn’t be stolen anyway.
Sitting in the car, both of them were natural and relaxed, with no awkwardness at all.
Perhaps that was fate. From the moment they coordinated so seamlessly outside the office building, it was already clear—they were perfectly in sync.