Chapter 14.2

Xu Zhu was so frustrated that he wished he could just replace Xie Yanzhao’s brain.

He had always told Xie Yanzhao to be gentler with the female comrades, but he wouldn’t listen. If he had listened, this beautiful but blind woman would have been his wife by now.

Xu Zhu took a hard bite of his steamed bread, as if channeling his frustration into it.

He couldn’t just let it go. He had to step in!

Xu Zhu quickly finished his steamed bread, leaned over to Ruan Mingfu, and introduced himself, “Educated Youth Ruan, this is the first time we’ve met. Let me introduce myself. I’m Xu Zhu, a teammate of Old Xie.”

Ruan Mingfu turned to look and saw him smiling like a blooming flower.

Unlike Xie Yanzhao’s stern and fierce demeanor, Xu Zhu’s presence was much gentler. He was handsome with a fairer complexion than Xie Yanzhao, looking refined and gentle.

He didn’t seem like a soldier at all.

But… Why was this guy, who was just a companion of that dog man, trying to strike up a conversation?

Ruan Mingfu turned her head away, ignoring him.

She admitted this was a form of displaced anger.

This dog man was bad enough, but this smiling man, looking like a sly fox, was even worse!

Xu Zhu almost couldn’t maintain his smile.

Did he just offend her?

Xu Zhu shot Xie Yanzhao a look. “Educated Youth Ruan, I saw you saving someone in the water before. You must have learned to swim, right?”

Ruan Mingfu frowned and looked at him.

“No, what I mean is, your movements while swimming were agile and graceful. It’s obvious you’ve had special training,” Xu Zhu scratched his head. “I might not be as skilled as Old Xie on the battlefield, but I have a good eye.”

He was showering her with compliments.

Ruan Mingfu struggled to keep her lips from curling up into a smile.

“Are you being serious?”

“Of course I am,” Xu Zhu patted his chest in assurance. “I have a bad habit of blushing when I lie. Look.”

He pointed to his face.

It was still pale and without any discoloration.

Xie Yanzhao stared at Xu Zhu in surprise.

He had grown up with Xu Zhu and been his teammate for years. How had he never noticed this flaw?

Xu Zhu waved away Xie Yanzhao’s gaze. “Educated Youth Ruan, you’re truly amazing.”

Ruan Mingfu smiled slightly.

Inside, she felt quite smug. After all, she had paid a significant amount for swimming lessons from a coach. It had to be worthwhile.

Xu Zhu did have good taste!

Ruan Mingfu’s mood improved considerably, and she was more willing to talk to him. “I didn’t expect you to be good at talking, unlike some people… Humph!”

Xie Yanzhao, who was given a glare: “…”

What did this have to do with him?

What did he do to deserve this?

“Exactly,” Xu Zhu agreed, nodding. “Sometimes, someone has to step in at a crucial moment.”

The two of them were chatting as if the third person didn’t exist.

Xie Yanzhao frowned, feeling a surge of anger. His tall frame blocked the view between them, making it impossible for them to see each other.

Xu Zhu: “…”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

She glared at Xie Yanzhao and turned her head away in silence.

When the crowd dispersed, Ruan Mingfu placed the money she had prepared under the plate.

Xie Yanzhao looked at her with curiosity.

Ruan Mingfu felt his gaze and turned to glare back, only to see Xie Yanzhao had also placed his money under the bowl.

The same was for Xu Zhu.

The three of them had done the same thing and left Zhuzi’s home.

Ruan Mingfu said nothing, and the three walked in silence. Xu Zhu lagged behind, watching the gap between Xie Yanzhao and Ruan Mingfu grow so wide that he could fit himself in it. He was so anxious that he wanted to switch places with Xie Yanzhao.

In June, the evening breeze was unexpectedly cool, rustling Ruan Mingfu’s dress.

Xu Zhu had a sudden thought. “Educated Youth Ruan, it’s getting late. Let us escort you back to the educated youth camp.”

She knew exactly what Xu Zhu was up to.

She looked up at Xie Yanzhao, who still had a stoic expression, and felt a surge of irritation.

“Come with me, I have something for you!”

Xie Yanzhao was puzzled.

Xu Zhu leaned in and whispered urgently, “Just do whatever the female comrade says. Hurry up, or I won’t be your brother anymore!”

Seeing that Ruan Mingfu was already quite a distance away, Xie Yanzhao remained where he was.

Xu Zhu, frustrated, kicked him. “Hurry up!”

Xie Yanzhao shot him a look. “I don’t want a brother like you.”

Xu Zhu: “…”

What did he just say?

What did he just say?

If the person hadn’t walked away, Xu Zhu would have kicked him again.

Xie Yanzhao, with his long legs, quickly caught up to Ruan Mingfu.

She snorted and kept her head down, walking ahead. No matter how fast she tried to go, Xie Yanzhao easily kept up with her.

On the other hand, she was exhausted.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

What was the point of all this struggle?

Ruan Mingfu, fuming, reached the gate of the educated youth camp and said, “Wait here.”

The moment the people at the educated youth camp saw the person at the gate, they were all in an uproar.

“Oh my god, it’s really Comrade Xie!”

“To be waiting right at the gate, Educated Youth Ruan is incredible.”

Hu Lihong was so shocked that she rubbed her eyes, fearing she might have seen something wrong. When she confirmed it was indeed Xie Yanzhao, she was left speechless.

She didn’t know what to say, only wanted to give Ruan Mingfu a thumbs up.

Xu Pandi was so overwhelmed that she dropped the things she was holding without realizing it.

“Even the strong-willed soldier comrade couldn’t escape, Educated Youth Ruan is amazing…”

It’s well known that catching a man requires skill too.

The female educated youths were extremely envious.

When Ruan Mingfu came out holding something, all the female educated youths at the educated youth camp looked at her with admiration…

She didn’t think much of it and walked to the gate to hand over the items.

“Here’s your clothing.”

Xie Yanzhao was momentarily stunned before taking the clothes.

If Ruan Mingfu hadn’t mentioned it, he might have forgotten about it. Seeing that Ruan Mingfu was about to leave, he quickly spoke up, “I need to talk to you.”

The two moved to a secluded spot.

Ruan Mingfu kept her head slightly lowered, still unwilling to look at him.

“What do you want to say?”

“I know everything,” Xie Yanzhao said, looking at her steadily.

Ruan Mingfu suddenly looked up, then realized. Her issues with Zhou Peng were not a secret in the village. Xie Yanzhao would find out sooner or later.

She thought for a moment, “Don’t worry, I’m no longer planning to marry you.”

**