Fang Chiye raised an eyebrow.

“I know who you’re looking for.” Qin Shan gave him a knowing look. “That young woman chewing on sugarcane at the security office last time—that’s the girl from the photo, isn’t it? I told you, the letter was too subtle. You should’ve just invited her directly to the Military Support Gala.”

Fang Chiye admitted honestly, “I thought she would come.”

Qin Shan teased, “Everyone’s saying this event is just a disguised matchmaking session. Maybe she didn’t want to come for that reason?”

Fang Chiye was stunned. “Matchmaking? How is this a matchmaking event?”

The original purpose of the gala was to foster interaction between the military and the local villagers. This was a remote area with little exposure to soldiers, so the event was meant to help both sides get to know each other better. The ultimate goal was to ease communication and ensure smoother cooperation in the future.

He had assumed Su Rui enjoyed lively gatherings and would come even without an invitation.

But the entire evening passed, and he never saw her.

Could it be that Qin Shan was right? Did Su Rui not come because she thought she already had a partner due to ‘Ye Chifang’?

Fang Chiye pondered this possibility. Unexpectedly, the girl was more obedient than he had thought.

From his investigations, he knew about Su Rui’s family situation. Thinking about how she had even taken his crude doodle as a real matchmaking portrait, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her.

She was so small and thin, completely different from the female soldiers he usually worked with.

Fang Chiye suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.

Maybe he had misjudged her.

He should find a chance to clarify the matter about a partner with her next time.

Hopefully, she would be able to accept it.

As he was deep in thought, a voice called from outside. “Report, Captain! There’s a call from the security office.”

Fang Chiye opened the door. “What’s the matter?”

“The young woman named Su from last time—she just brought in two people. Saying she caught some human traffickers!”

Su Rui?

Fang Chiye: “……”

Just a moment ago, he had thought she was obedient. The next second, she had turned into a force to be reckoned with.

Had she caught them using the sugarcane he had given her?

He glanced over and noticed that the young soldier looked tense. He asked, “Is there a special situation?”

The young soldier nodded and said, “Captain, we found an encrypted letter on them. Inside the letter, there was a terrain map of the mountainous area. They don’t seem like ordinary criminals.”

“Tell them I’m coming right away,” Fang Chiye said in a cold voice. He immediately stood up and ordered, “Take them to the confinement room for interrogation. No one is allowed to approach them without my permission.”

The young soldier hesitated and said, “We can’t interrogate them right now.”

Fang Chiye frowned. “Why?”

The young soldier replied, “Comrade Su… Comrade Su beat them half to death. They haven’t even opened their eyes yet.”

“……” Fang Chiye said, “I’ll go now.”

***

Seven miles south of Qingfeng Middle School, at the foot of Zhuye Mountain.

Temporary security office of the construction unit.

Outside the security office, Su Rui squatted down, wrapping the rope that had been used to tie up the criminals around her arm. Her small face was as cold as ice.

Si’er was standing beside her, leaning on a sugarcane stick, drooling as he stared at it. Behind them, Wanzi stood on a chair, peeking inside the security office.

Guo Qingwang was so furious that he stomped his foot. “The unit leaders are holding a Military Support Gala, and you caused such trouble. You—you—”

Su Rui looked up at him and righteously said, “These two were sneakily following Wanzi and even tried to grab her. If they’re not human traffickers, what are they? Are you saying we should’ve just let them go?”

Guo Qingwang shouted angrily, “What if you caught the wrong people? Can you take responsibility for that?”

Su Rui retorted fiercely, “I’d rather catch ten people by mistake than let a single trafficker go free. I’m telling you, I’ll take full responsibility. If you still want to let them go, I’ll tie you up too!”

Guo Qingwang was so enraged that his blood pressure shot up. He leaned against the wall outside the security office, closing his eyes.

Two hours ago, he had been about to take Guo Jiarong to the Military Support Gala to introduce him to a distant uncle when he stumbled upon this mess. If they hadn’t discovered it in time, those two criminals might have lost their lives.

In his opinion, a good beating would have been enough—why make things more complicated?

But Su Rui wouldn’t let it go. She insisted on escorting them to the security office, demanding strict punishment.

She was fearless—afraid of neither heaven nor earth—but Guo Qingwang was terrified. His entire family lived here. What if there was retaliation?

Several times, he had wanted to let them go, but Su Rui refused.

Besides, the traffickers had been caught by the women from Xiaoba Village. They all listened to Su Rui. Kicking and punching, they beat the traffickers until blood splattered on the ground and teeth flew through the air.

He had shouted himself hoarse, trying to get them to stop, but no one listened. Some of the women even took the opportunity to land a few kicks on him.

Meanwhile, Guo Jiarong, who had come along, had spent half the time trying to get information from the guards on duty but got nothing. Trying to curry favor with Su Rui, he walked over and said, “Don’t worry. You don’t have to be afraid.”

Su Rui wasn’t afraid at all—justice was on her side.

After securing the rope, she slung it around Wanzi’s neck and said, “Whether I’m afraid or not has nothing to do with you. If I hurt the wrong person, I’ll take the fall myself. I won’t drag anyone else down.”

“I hit them too,” Wanzi declared. “I’ll go with you.”

Su Rui ruffled her hair and said, “You should just stay home and do your homework.”

Wanzi pouted in frustration.

Guo Jiarong glanced around, then leaned in mysteriously and whispered, “Even if you did beat the wrong people, it’s fine. I told you before that my distant uncle is a big shot in the army. Guess what? He’s with this very unit! I’ll put in a good word for you, and he won’t give you any trouble.”

Su Rui snorted coldly.

In this unit, the only real big shot was Fang Chiye, the male lead himself.

Guo Jiarong? Just a minor supporting character. As if he could know Fang Chiye. Hah, he didn’t even know how to brag properly.

Seeing Su Rui’s indifferent reaction, Guo Jiarong was annoyed. He walked toward the road, eagerly waiting for his so-called distant uncle to arrive.

Before long, the distant sound of a car engine approached.

A jeep turned the corner and came into view.

Guo Jiarong jumped up and waved his arms. “Over here! Over here!”

Su Rui straightened her back and looked toward the vehicle.

Oh damn—it was Fang Chiye himself!

Was it too late to slip away now?

Guo Qingwang, who had been weak and defeated just moments ago, suddenly perked up. He hurried over with a fawning smile, stepping toward Fang Chiye as he got out of the jeep. Then, he motioned for Guo Jiarong to come forward.

Guo Jiarong raised his chin at Su Rui triumphantly before quickly running over. He stood before Fang Chiye like a lanky beanpole.

The contrast was stark, but Su Rui was still stunned.

Did their family really have a connection with the male lead? Was Guo Jiarong actually telling the truth?

Fang Chiye looked at the father and son expressionlessly. He knew exactly what Guo Qingwang was up to—trying to use his son to get closer to him.

Seeing Guo Jiarong had come over, Guo Qingwang immediately said, “You didn’t get to meet your Little Uncle last time. Now that you’ve met him, aren’t you going to greet him?”

Guo Jiarong quickly said, “Hello, Little Uncle! You must be tired.”

Fang Chiye was only a couple of years older than Guo Jiarong, but being addressed as an elder was still quite satisfying. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Just then, he spotted Su Rui in the distance and was about to ask her about the capture.

Unexpectedly, Guo Jiarong turned around and shouted, “Su Rui, come here!”

Su Rui’s heart skipped a beat. She remained where she was.

Guo Jiarong winked and waved her over. Su Rui could feel Fang Chiye’s gaze shift toward her.

Guo Jiarong, oblivious to Fang Chiye’s indifference, called out proudly, “Come on! Let me introduce you. This is my Little Uncle.”

Fang Chiye: “……” This felt… off.

Su Rui dragged her feet over, sounding completely uninterested. “Oh.”

She had been reprimanded by Fang Chiye just a few days ago and really didn’t want to deal with him right now.

Guo Jiarong wasn’t happy with her attitude. Smiling at Fang Chiye, he then whispered to Su Rui, “Greet him properly! Where are your manners?”

Su Rui looked up in shock. “I have to call him that too?”

Fang Chiye’s eyelid twitched. “No need.”

Guo Qingwang scolded, “She’s always been disrespectful. She should greet her elders! What kind of upbringing is this?”

Su Rui swore she saw Fang Chiye’s lips twitch slightly—but that was probably her imagination.

Standing straight, she reluctantly mumbled, “Little Uncle.”

Fang Chiye was silent for a few seconds before finally letting out a low “Hmm.”

Su Rui secretly rolled her eyes.

Qin Shan was dumbfounded as he stepped out of the jeep. “Little Uncle?” What… what was going on here?

Fang Chiye had no interest in entertaining him and just wanted to send these two on their way as quickly as possible.

Guo Jiarong shamelessly continued trying to get closer to him, grinning as he said, “That’s more like it. Now that you’ve called him Little Uncle, we can both show our filial respect to the old man together.”

Old man?

Su Rui burst into laughter but quickly lowered her head, pressing her lips together to hold it in.

Fang Chiye felt his whole body go numb. “No need to be so polite.” Switching topics swiftly, he asked, “What’s your relationship with each other?”

He had no choice but to be blunt—his heart couldn’t take it anymore.

Guo Jiarong replied, “Oh right, I forgot to introduce her. This is Su Rui, my girlfriend.”

For the first time, a crack seemed to appear on Fang Chiye’s usually composed face. “Girlfriend?”

Qin Shan’s head felt like it was about to explode. He glanced at Su Rui, utterly shocked. So people really couldn’t be judged by appearances. Just a moment ago, they had assumed she was staying quietly at home. Yet in the blink of an eye, not only had she caught a spy, but she was also two-timing?

Seeing their misunderstanding, Su Rui frantically waved her hands. “No, no, we’re completely innocent! I have a partner.”

Qin Shan let out a sigh of relief. Now that made sense.

Fang Chiye’s phoenix eyes swept over Su Rui as he said, “That’s good, then?”

Su Rui wasn’t sure why he asked that, but since he was a senior, it all seemed reasonable. To prevent him from trying to introduce her to someone, she quickly added, “Yes, my partner and I are doing great. Look.”

She tugged at the fake collar of her shirt, pretending it was a gift from her boyfriend, and forced a smile. “Thank you for your concern, Little Uncle. Even though Ye Chifang and I are in a long-distance relationship, we are completely in tune with each other, deeply in love, and as steadfast as a turtle that swallowed a weight. Not even the heavens could separate us.”

Qin Shan couldn’t help but laugh. “A turtle swallowed a weight?”

Su Rui declared righteously and with unwavering determination, “That means we are rock solid.”

Qin Shan’s shoulders shook with laughter, and he quickly agreed, “That’s great, isn’t it, Old Fang?”

…Was it really that great?

Fang Chiye remained outwardly calm, but a storm raged in his heart. Looking at Su Rui’s earnest face, he even started to doubt himself.

Qin Shan clutched his stomach, barely holding back his laughter. He glanced at Su Rui, then at Fang Chiye—this was pure entertainment.

Guo Jiarong had had enough. He cut Su Rui off and said, “You haven’t even met him, and you’re already calling him your partner? Keep talking like that, and your partner will make you a widow.”

Before Su Rui could say anything, Fang Chiye scolded him, “Watch your words.”

Guo Jiarong was taken aback. “Huh?”

Wait, why was Little Uncle getting all worked up?