Chapter 88: Why Is the Gap Between People So Huge?

Lin Yuyao held a box of walnut pastries in her hand.

She had been lingering outside the Zhou family courtyard for a long time.

Should she knock?

Or should she not?

That was the question.

Ever since the misunderstanding yesterday and her departure from this place, Lin Yuyao had not slept well all night.

She was a member of the Military Unit, but she was still in the process of transitioning and had not yet been assigned a dormitory. For the time being, she was staying at her cousin Lin Yulan’s house.

After returning yesterday, she had felt uneasy.

So, she began asking Lin Yulan for information—

Especially about Zhou Chongshan and Jiang Rou.

What she heard was Lin Yulan’s deep sighs, mixed with a hint of envy.

“Sister Rou… she and Regiment Commander Zhou had a marriage agreement before. Later, they filed a report and got married. Their relationship is really good…”

Their relationship… is really good…

Those words weighed heavily on Lin Yuyao’s chest.

That wasn’t how it was supposed to be!

In her previous life, things had been completely different!

Back then, whenever Lin Yulan mentioned Zhou Chongshan’s marriage, let alone saying their relationship was good, she wouldn’t even call it harmonious.

But now… everything had changed.

Lin Yuyao couldn’t shake the memory of the way Zhou Chongshan had looked at her yesterday afternoon.

So indifferent.

As if he were looking at a complete stranger who had nothing to do with him.

From childhood to adulthood, Lin Yuyao had always been beautiful. Any man who saw her would inevitably glance at her a few more times.

In school, in the military compound—she had always been surrounded by boys.

When it came to appearance, Lin Yuyao had never felt that she had lost to anyone.

Yet, when it came to Zhou Chongshan, all the advantages she possessed seemed to vanish completely.

If that were truly the case—

Even if Jiang Rou were to die, would she still be able to get close to Zhou Chongshan?

As Lin Yuyao thought about it, her hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

Being reborn was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

She had finally freed herself from that scumbag and set her sights on Zhou Chongshan, determined to make up for the regrets of her past life!

She couldn’t give up just like this!

Absolutely not!

Tossing and turning the entire night, Lin Yuyao still couldn’t let it go in the end.

She had to work hard to restore her image in Zhou Chongshan’s eyes. Only then could she smoothly become his lover after Jiang Rou’s death.

And so—

Lin Yuyao appeared outside the Zhou family courtyard.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

Knock, knock, knock!

The knocking continued.

Yet, no one came to open the door.

Instead, from the neighboring courtyard, there was a creaking sound as a door was pushed open.

The person who stepped out was someone Lin Yuyao recognized—Zhao Guifen, whom she had met once before in the Military Unit office.

Upon seeing Lin Yuyao, Zhao Guifen greeted her warmly.

“Comrade Lin, are you here to see Sister Rou?”

Lin Yuyao’s lips pressed tightly together before she nodded. “Yes. Yesterday, I had a small misunderstanding with… Regiment Commander Zhou’s wife. I brought something to apologize.”

She couldn’t say she was here for Zhou Chongshan.

She could only use Jiang Rou’s name as an excuse.

Zhao Guifen didn’t notice anything unusual about Lin Yuyao.

After hearing this, she smiled and said,

“Then you won’t be able to see Sister Rou. She went to the city early this morning.”

“Did they go to the city?”

“Yes, their whole family went. Regiment Commander Zhou, along with his two children—his whole family together. Regiment Commander Zhou just got married, and the Military Unit gave him a few days of marriage leave, so he took Sister Rou to the city. Regiment Commander Zhou really cherishes his wife. I’ve been married to my old Zhao for over ten years, and not only has he never taken me to the city, he doesn’t even like going out with me. Not like Regiment Commander Zhou…”

Zhao Guifen’s words were filled with envy and sighs, almost overflowing with emotion.

As Lin Yuyao listened, her expression grew darker and darker.

She had never imagined that Zhou Chongshan would voluntarily accompany Jiang Rou to the city!

That rough and fierce-looking man, who seemed as rigid as a block of wood?!

How could he possibly be willing to do such a thing?

The shock in Lin Yuyao’s heart was overwhelming.

She gritted her teeth secretly.

Beyond the shock, her determination to marry Zhou Chongshan only grew stronger.

A man like him was far better than the scumbags she had encountered in her past life—countless times better.

She had already been blind once. She absolutely could not be blind a second time.

She could wait… wait… wait!

And wait!

Wait for a few months, wait for that storm that would take Jiang Rou’s life.

As long as Jiang Rou died, Zhou Chongshan would become a widower. At that time, she would have the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Yes!

That was it!

That was exactly how it should be!

In her heart, Lin Yuyao repeated these thoughts over and over again.

“Comrade Lin, Comrade Lin…”

Zhao Guifen had been talking but suddenly realized that Lin Yuyao had gone completely silent.

Then—

She saw Lin Yuyao suddenly turn around and just walk away.

She left…?

Without saying goodbye, without even nodding.

As if, in Lin Yuyao’s eyes, Zhao Guifen did not exist at all.

Even someone as carefree and straightforward as Zhao Guifen couldn’t help but feel ignored at that moment.

“Comrade Lin and Sister Rou… they are both city girls, both educated. So why is the difference between people so vast?”

Zhao Guifen mumbled a few words, then turned around and went back inside the house.

---

The transport ship drifted on the sea for a long, long time.

On one hand, it was slow. On the other hand, there were still several small islands where it had to stop.

This sea area was dotted with numerous islands.

Some of the larger islands had more inhabitants, and since there was only one transport ship, every journey required stopping at these islands to pick up passengers.

At first, Zhou Xiaochuan and Zhou Xiaohua were filled with curiosity about everything unfamiliar, constantly looking around in excitement.

However, as time passed and the ship continued to sway, drowsiness crept up on them.

The two children, who had not slept well the night before, slowly closed their eyes in a daze.

Jiang Rou and Zhou Chongshan each held one child in their arms, keeping them close to ensure they slept more comfortably.

In the hazy lull of drowsiness, Jiang Rou’s eyelids drooped unconsciously.

Zhou Chongshan noticed and reached out, gently pressing her head onto his shoulder.

“Wife, get some sleep too. It’ll be more than an hour before we reach the shore.”

“Mm…”

Jiang Rou, eyes closed, rubbed against Zhou Chongshan’s shoulder, adjusting to a more comfortable position before slowly drifting off.

The ship’s swaying was just like a cradle.