Zhou Yunting’s gaze was as cold as ice.
He hadn’t expected Shen Hao to actually make a move against his woman.
Did that man even know what kind of strength he was dealing with?
And then there was the woman standing beside him—silent the whole time, but clearly uneasy.
Zhou Yunting chose to ignore her completely.
Tian Yunyun’s heart sank.
He had always been the kind of man who never ignored her before.
But now… he treated her like air.
Had she done something wrong?
She had only been curious—she wanted to see what kind of woman could marry him.
Was he forced into it? Or did he actually love her?
Otherwise, how could someone as rational as her be influenced by Shen Hao and come all this way to test a girl?
As a female battalion commander, she had already lowered herself enough by pretending to be soft and delicate.
And yet, in front of his cold indifference… she felt a sting of humiliation.
She had chased after Zhou Yunting step by step.
Every position she held was earned through countless life-and-death missions.
So why… could he not see her?
She thought she was already good enough to stand beside him.
So why was there suddenly someone else between them?
Tian Yunyun felt unwilling.
But when her eyes met Liu Zhixia’s faint, knowing smile, she hesitated.
This woman was outstanding—beautiful family background, strong ability.
Then suddenly, Tian Yunyun’s eyes trembled violently.
She realized something.
This woman had followed Zhou Yunting to the countryside.
That alone… was something she couldn’t do.
She was an only child.
And she couldn’t give up everything like that.
In this round, she had already lost.
Liu Zhixia’s eyes sparkled with gossip-like curiosity.
From the original plot, she remembered Tian Yunyun—Zhou Yunting’s childhood acquaintance, someone they grew up with.
If not for the Liu family’s intervention, she might have been the one to marry him.
In the original story, she eventually married under family pressure, but her husband died a few years later.
She never remarried.
Instead, she stayed near Zhou Yunting for the rest of her life.
Everyone knew how she felt… yet she never got him to look back even once.
Liu Zhixia thought she was almost admirable.
As for Shen Hao—he was also a prominent figure in Beijing.
Talented, well-connected, and outstanding.
But Zhou Yunting’s brilliance overshadowed him completely.
A classic case of “since there is a Zhou Yunting, why must there be a Shen Hao?”
However, in the original story, although Shen Hao constantly competed with Zhou Yunting, he still helped him in critical moments.
And Zhou Yunting had also saved him before.
Their relationship was complicated—rivals, but also allies.
..
Shen Hao snorted.
“Zhou Yunting, do you really have to put on that cold face?”
“I just came to see your new wife. That’s all.”
“And Tian Yunyun—she’s just curious, nothing more.”
“Do you think we actually wanted to come and endure your attitude?”
“We were both transferred here by the military to receive you. Aren’t you happy about it?”
Zhou Yunting gave him a cold glance, then carefully handed the food in his hand to Liu Zhixia.
“Zhixia, are you hungry? Eat something first.”
Shen Hao and Tian Yunyun both froze.
One felt envy and jealousy.
The other felt complicated fascination.
Shen Hao thought that seeing this version of Zhou Yunting was already worth the beating he had taken before.
He couldn’t help but study Zhou Yunting’s wife.
Her eyebrows were delicate, her eyes clear and expressive like water.
Her nose straight, her face small and flawless—no makeup needed, yet stunning.
She looked pure, yet somehow dangerously alluring.
Every feature seemed to match his aesthetic perfectly.
But then he remembered how fierce she had been earlier, and his back still ached.
This was no gentle little flower.
This was a thorny rose.
No wonder Zhou Yunting had chosen her.
At this moment, neither Tian Yunyun nor Shen Hao doubted her ability anymore.
This woman was clearly a strong support for Zhou Yunting.
Even in such harsh conditions, she could still stand beside him and survive.
Tian Yunyun’s jealousy deepened.
But she had no position to act on it.
Zhou Yunting pulled the amused Liu Zhixia toward the bus station.
They still needed to transfer buses.
He didn’t want to waste time with Shen Hao.
Shen Hao, not done watching the show, blocked them.
“You don’t even know why we’re here, do you?”
“We were sent by the army to pick you up. Are you sure you want to refuse and go by yourself?”
His eyes lingered on Liu Zhixia, as if expecting her to accept.
But Zhou Yunting replied flatly,
“No need.”
Just as he was about to leave, a soft hand grabbed his sleeve.
“Hey, Comrade Zhou,” Liu Zhixia said with a playful smile, “since they were sent by the army to pick us up, how can we refuse such kindness?”
Zhou Yunting looked at her sly expression—and somehow, without thinking, he agreed.
“…Alright. I’ll listen to you.”
Shen Hao looked as if this outcome was expected.
Tian Yunyun’s eyes dimmed.
The military compound was already buzzing with curiosity about the newly transferred commander.
But many people knew the internal situation and kept their distance from Zhou Yunting and his wife.
Compared to him, Shen Hao was much more popular.
Same transfer—but from the capital military district, same rank, strong background, strong capability.
People naturally preferred to build ties with him.
Zhou Yunting didn’t care.
He had never relied on relationships to earn his medals.
He didn’t need that kind of recognition.
Every promotion he had ever earned was soaked in blood and sweat.
Shen Hao enthusiastically brought them to their new home.
Then suddenly said,
“By the way, there’s a welcome dinner for all of you tomorrow evening. Don’t be late.”
After he left, Liu Zhixia looked around their new place.
A corner unit.
Still a two-bedroom apartment, but clearly worse in layout than the others.
Zhou Yunting frowned.
“I’ll get you a better one as soon as possible.”
Liu Zhixia smiled lightly.
“I even lived in a thatched hut before. This is nothing.”
“It’s already much better than expected, isn’t it?”
Zhou Yunting’s dark eyes softened.
His voice carried a warmth even he didn’t notice.
“Comrade Liu Zhixia… thank you.”
“Thank you for being willing to go through storms with me.”
“For being my comrade on this revolutionary path… never leaving.”
Liu Zhixia raised her chin slightly.
“Through storms, yes.”
“But never leaving?”
Zhou Yunting’s hand slowly tightened.
Veins on his arm stood out sharply.