Chapter 3438: Combustion (27)

Whether it was out of jealousy or something else—

As the newest female companion of CEO Su, it was inevitable that Wu Xianrou’s background would be dug up.

Government institutions were extremely serious places. They represented the face of the nation.

And when people mentioned Wu Xianrou, the first thing they thought of was the military unit backing her.

The higher-ups had no interest in being mentioned constantly. These were people who lived and died by their duties. The last thing they wanted was to be dragged into gossip magazines every other day.

Wu Qianrou didn’t represent the military compound of the state.

To those unaware, it might even look like this was how all high-ranking officials’ daughters behaved.

Political Commissar Wu was nearly driven to the brink of collapse.

He had known his daughter had a stubborn streak, which was exactly why he’d chosen someone like Song Yi for her—someone who could tolerate her, someone who suited her well.

And still, things had gone wrong.

He told her not to get involved with that businessman, CEO Su. Besides, a merchant wasn’t worthy of Wu Qianrou.

Wu Qianrou immediately burst into tears and threw a fit, insisting she and CEO Su were truly in love. “Dad, you’re just an old fossil, blah, blah, blah…”

She nearly gave Political Commissar Wu a heart attack from the stress.

Wu Qianrou was the type who floated above the worldly realm. Once she was in love, love was all that mattered to her.

The more others opposed her, the more determined she was to be with CEO Su.

CEO Su was a businessman. After being warned, he actually did want to create distance between himself and Wu Qianrou.

However, Wu Qianrou wouldn’t have it. She had already given her body to him, and she had fallen in love with him. There was no way she could walk away.

So, cue the deep, soul-crushing angst—tragic romance that made one’s chest physically ache.

What had started as an arrogant, heaven-defying love story had now become a full-blown melodrama. The shift was drastic, like a tornado blowing through.

Wu Qianrou was dead set on dragging her father down with her. Despite his repeated warnings to stay away from CEO Su—and the man’s reputation as a womanizer—she didn’t care.

How could CEO Su possibly compare to the promising future that lay ahead of someone like Song Yi?

Among the four traditional occupations—scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant—merchants ranked lowest. How could a businessman compare to a man of politics or the military?

Political Commissar Wu felt like his daughter’s brain was filled with weeds.

And to make matters worse, some rumor had started circulating: supposedly, Political Commissar Wu’s daughter had chased her man across a thousand miles. Song Yi had been on a dangerous mission, and she had gone charging after him.

She’d rushed in headlong, gotten herself caught in a hijacking, had to be rescued—and now she was entangled with some rich playboy from the business world.

At the very least, within the military compound, Song Yi was a soldier who had put his life on the line for the country. A man whose chest bore real honours.

Public sentiment, at least, leaned in Song Yi’s favor.

He even began receiving sympathetic looks from other soldiers.

Given the situation, Political Commissar Wu was transferred out of the military compound and reassigned to another department.

On one hand, yes, he had his share of responsibility. On the other, it was classic mob mentality. When a wall was collapsing, everyone would give it a push.

After all, what business did a solemn military institution have showing up in gossip magazines?

Did being a reporter with a pen give you the right to spout nonsense?

Some articles even claimed the entire military was Wu Qianrou’s backing. Who did she think she was?

Ning Shu simply chuckled at all of it.

Some people wouldn’t turn back until they’d run headfirst into a brick wall. And even after crashing into it, they’d try to smash through it, all for the sake of their ‘noble and eternal’ love.

That burning obsession—all for one thing: to be together, to be together.

Ning Shu’s application for deputy-level position had been approved. Her salary had also gone up a bit, which made her genuinely happy.

A few other men had been promoted at the same time.

Among them was Old Two. When they picked up their appointment letters, the two of them crossed paths and exchanged a small smile.

“Congratulations,” Old Two said to Ning Shu.

Ning Shu was equally pleased. “I thought being a woman would definitely count against me.”

“This place values ability, not gender. Besides, your credentials speak for themselves,” said Old Two.

Ning Shu nodded and asked, “I’ve been out on missions lately. How’s the squad commander doing?”

“You didn’t hear? The squad commander’s been put in solitary confinement. He’ll be out in a while. It’s just a formality really. Once he’s out, he’s bound to get promoted,” said Old Two.

Ning Shu honestly hadn’t paid it much attention.

Even if Song Yi was no longer the official pairing for Wu Qianrou, his merits still stood.

She gave a casual “Oh.”

As long as Song Yi didn’t end up marrying Wu Qianrou, her task would be considered complete.

Beautiful things were often fragile. Feelings required deliberate care and effort to maintain.

It shouldn’t all be about overwhelming emotions and fireworks. Those always fizzled into a gentle trickle.

Only slow, steady water could flow far. An overwhelming flood might be intense, but it ran out of strength quickly.

Back in her room, Ning Shu opened her laptop and browsed the tabloid news. The gossip magazines were yet again saying that CEO Su had changed female companions.

It said he switched women like he changed clothes. Even so, Wu Qianrou still stuck to his side.

Ning Shu believed that CEO Su would surely be moved by Wu Qianrou in the end. After all, Wu Qianrou practically wore the halo of true love. She would definitely obtain her great love.

Even if he was a playboy, he’d eventually transform into a devoted and faithful man, utterly devoted to her, never looking at another woman again, no longer feeling anything for them.

To take it a step further, maybe he wouldn’t even have a physiological response to other women anymore.

Ning Shu felt Wu Qianrou was like a drug.

At the canteen, Ning Shu bumped into Song Yi, freshly out of solitary.

He looked much thinner than before. Clearly, he’d lost weight in that short time.

Spotting her, Song Yi came over with his tray and sat down across from her. While breaking apart his chopsticks, he said, “I heard from Second Brother that your deputy-level position application was approved. Congratulations.”

Ning Shu smiled—it was something worth being happy about. “Thank you.”

“It’s good to see everyone moving forward like this.” Song Yi nodded. There was a gratified look on his face.

“This year, they’ll be recruiting some female special forces soldiers. You might be assigned to help train the new recruits,” Song Yi said, eating as he spoke.

No soldier ate elegantly and slowly, like they were in a Western restaurant. Song Yi ate quickly, as was the norm.

Ning Shu nodded. “Seems like my promotion was well-timed.”

“You have luck, but also ability. And besides, you’re one of mine—how bad could you possibly be?” Song Yi smiled at her. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

Ning Shu: …

She wasn’t selling herself short, thank you very much.

She looked at him. “You over it?”

“Hard not to be a little heartbroken. But between me and Wu Qianrou… let’s just say we were fated to meet, but not meant to be.”

Ning Shu poked at her rice grains and offered a polite comfort. “You’ll meet someone better suited.”

“We’ll see,” Song Yi replied. He was clearly not eager to continue the topic.

Ning Shu looked at him, suspecting more and more that Political Commissar Wu’s departmental transfer might have something to do with Song Yi.

Staying in the same compound would have been awkward.

And after all, Political Commissar Wu was a superior officer. If he wanted to make life difficult for Song Yi, it would’ve been easy.

Most of the gossip swirling around the military compound probably originated with Song Yi’s lot.

They’d already offended each other. He might as well go all in and get rid of them entirely.

Of course, this had only worked because they’d ridden the coattails of Wu Qianrou’s scandal. Without her stirring things up, there would’ve been no fire to reach Political Commissar Wu at all.

So Ning Shu had reason to suspect Song Yi. Although, she had definitely helped fan the flames as well.

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