Chapter 41: How About Introducing Su Yi to Me?

Aunt Yao and Aunt Zheng exchanged puzzled glances, just as confused as Su Yi.

The three of them mulled over the situation for a while, eventually coming to a conclusion: either someone had only seen Zhou Jinchuan enter and leave the next morning, leading to a misunderstanding, or someone had done this deliberately—perhaps out of spite towards Su Yi.

“Could it be that violin player from the art troupe?” Aunt Yao speculated.

Su Yi thought for a moment. “Probably not. The dormitory over there wouldn’t have heard about what happened in our family courtyard this quickly.”

“Plus,” Su Yi continued, “from the way the gossip sounds, it seems like the person lives nearby, someone who could see our front door from their own yard.”

At this realization, the three women immediately stood on their chairs and scanned their surroundings.

Their eyes all landed in the same direction.

“Is it Liu Dajie!”

“Yes, it must be her! She’s still holding a grudge over what happened before. Who else would have the energy to climb the wall and spy on you like that?”

Su Yi nodded in agreement, feeling that they were probably right.

Seeing the smile fade from Su Yi’s face, Aunt Yao and Aunt Zheng quickly tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry too much. We’ll find a way to help you clear things up. We live nearby, so our words should carry some weight.”

Su Yi nodded in thanks. Although clearing up the misunderstanding would be difficult, she was grateful for their willingness to help.

Later, when Su Yi arrived at the canteen, she hadn’t even caught her breath before Xu Xiaoqin pulled her aside.

“Sister Su Yi, are you really together with Commander Zhou?”

Su Yi let out a helpless smile and shook her head. “What are you thinking? We’re together every day. If it were true, do you think I could hide it from you?”

“Really not?”

“There’s more truth to saying you’re together with Zhang Tianhua than that.”

Xu Xiaoqin blushed and smiled sheepishly before her eyes lit up. “Sister Su Yi, my brother is finishing his mission this weekend, and on Sunday, our courtyard is going to show a movie!”

Su Yi looked confused. “Is the courtyard showing a movie to celebrate your brother’s return?”

Xu Xiaoqin chuckled, “It’s not like that. I’ve been talking about my brother for ages; you’re probably sick of hearing about him by now. I just thought this movie night would be a good chance for you two to meet.”

Su Yi quickly waved her hands, “Let’s not. There’s already gossip going around the courtyard about me and Commander Zhou. If I meet your brother now, it’ll only add more fuel to the fire.”

Xu Xiaoqin grabbed Su Yi’s hand and said with a smile, “You don’t understand. It’s precisely because you’re in the spotlight right now that my brother can make a move.”

Su Yi: ???

“Ah, I mean, if you and my brother are together, it would dispel the current rumors.”

Su Yi smiled helplessly, “Am I really supposed to find a partner just to dispel a rumor?”

She quickly shook her head, “Not at all.”

Seeing her reluctance towards the arranged meeting, Xu Xiaoqin decided to take a more gradual approach.

“Alright, then. We won’t do a formal introduction. How about you just come with me to the movie?”

Su Yi thought about it and realized that the two children had been stuck at home recently and might need a change of scenery.

It might be a good idea to take them out for some fun.

So, she readily agreed, “Alright, let’s go watch the movie together then!”

Just as she finished speaking, Xu Xiaoqin timidly called out, “Commander, you’re here!”

Su Yi initially thought Xu Xiaoqin was just playing a prank to scare her.

Looking up, she saw Zhou Jinchuan standing right in front of her.

Su Yi was startled as well, unsure of how much of their conversation he had overheard.

She also worried about whether he had heard the gossip circulating in the compound.

Although Su Yi didn’t care much about the rumors, she was concerned that Zhou Jinchuan might deliberately avoid her, which could result in losing her job and place to stay.

If she ended up losing her job and housing, it would be a significant loss!

Thinking about this, Su Yi wasn’t sure what to say.

The two stood in silence for a moment until Zhou Jinchuan finally spoke up,

“I need to go out of town for a while. I’ll leave Xiaowu and Nuannuan in your care.”

Su Yi breathed a sigh of relief, “Oh, alright. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Xiaowu and Nuannuan.”

She then asked, “When will you be back?”

“Next Monday.”

“Okay!”

[It’s good to get out and avoid the gossip for a while.]

Zhou Jinchuan: He really does have urgent business to attend to!

……

After speaking with Su Yi, Zhou Jinchuan immediately got into a car with Xie Xiaojun and left.

Accompanying them was Lu Changzheng.

As soon as the car left the compound, Lu Changzheng, sitting in the back, leaned forward and asked, “Old Zhou, what’s the situation? Are you really considering that girl? Will your family agree?”

Zhou Jinchuan pressed his lips together, “Why wouldn’t my family agree?”

Lu Changzheng’s eyes widened in shock, “You’re really considering her?!”

Zhou Jinchuan cleared his throat lightly, “Not exactly. It’s just baseless gossip. How can you, as a battalion commander, believe in such rumors?”

Lu Changzheng, who felt unjustly accused, replied quickly, “No, but what you said earlier—what was that about? That was the key point! You startled me.”

Zhou Jinchuan snorted softly and didn’t respond.

Lu Changzheng continued, “But the way things are between you two now will definitely fuel more gossip. I think it would be better if you both find someone else. That way, the rumors will die down on their own.”

Zhou Jinchuan looked at him with a speechless expression.

Lu Changzheng grinned foolishly and suggested, “How about introducing that girl to me instead? You can play the matchmaker.”

Zhou Jinchuan’s expression darkened, and he replied without turning around, “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because you two aren’t suited for each other.”

“How do you know we’re not suited? I think she’s quite alright. Although she has a bit of a temper, she won’t be easily bullied. Besides, she cooks well and takes care of children. She looks—”

Before Lu Changzheng could finish, Zhou Jinchuan impatiently interrupted, “It’s because I think you’re not suitable.”

Xie Xiaojun, overhearing the conversation, suppressed a smile, finding it amusing.

Lu Changzheng was momentarily stunned, but then became more enthusiastic, “I was just saying that casually, but now that you look down on me so much, I’m even more determined to give it a try.”

“Unless you say you’re interested in that girl. If that’s the case, I’ll back off immediately.”

Zhou Jinchuan pressed his lips together, with two words lingering in his mouth, but before he could speak, Xie Xiaojun interrupted,

“Battalion Commander Lu, don’t tease our Commander!”

“Although Commander and Su Yi aren’t together yet, it’s only a matter of time. After all, they’ve already kissed!”

Lu Changzheng couldn’t hold back and exclaimed, “Damn it, when did this happen?”

“Alright, Old Zhou, you’re really something. You’re taking all the advantages and still pretending, almost making me a fool!”

Zhou Jinchuan was also stunned and turned to look at Xie Xiaojun, “When did this happen? I didn’t know about it.”

Xie Xiaojun chuckled, “Commander, don’t be embarrassed. Battalion Commander Lu isn’t an outsider. Remember the time Su Yi fell into the water? You were the one who jumped in to save her and even gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”

Lu Changzheng: There was also a drowning incident?