Huo Ruiyang looked at Zhang Hengye with slightly cold eyes and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhang Hengye clasped his hands behind his back and teased him with a grin:

“Normally, you should be happy to have broken off the engagement with that shrew, but why do you look a little disappointed?”

Hearing Zhang Hengye call Xia Anran a shrew, Huo Ruiyang frowned and corrected him:

“Xia Anran is not a shrew. She has a name.”

Zhang Hengye burst into laughter.

“See? You’re already defending her. You know what they say—fighting means closeness, scolding means affection. Could it be that you’ve developed feelings for Xia Anran after all that drama?”

Huo Ruiyang picked up the interview draft on the table and threw it at Zhang Hengye.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop.”

“Oh, by the way, hurry up and fill out the interview draft. It needs to be submitted to Tang Na today!”

Catching the draft, Zhang Hengye suddenly remembered that today was the deadline for submission.

For the past two days, Tang Na had been coming to the regiment headquarters nonstop, insisting on seeing Huo Ruiyang. It was best to hand in the draft quickly and get rid of this persistent trouble!

Seeing that Zhang Hengye had stopped joking, Huo Ruiyang subtly relaxed. Even he found it strange—why did he dislike hearing Hengye call Xia Anran a shrew?

Maybe it was because she had behaved well today. Or maybe it was because she had agreed to the breakup. Either way, he just didn’t want to hear others speak ill of her.

To get the submission over with, Huo Ruiyang glanced at the interview draft, then picked up a pen and started filling it out.

Zhang Hengye poured him a cup of tea and stood nearby, watching him write. As he observed, he couldn’t help but praise:

“Ruiyang, your handwriting is really something—bold and powerful, full of presence. And the way you’ve written about winning the award—modest, composed. Not bad at all!”

Huo Ruiyang shot him a cold look. Zhang Hengye chuckled.

“Alright, alright, I’ll leave you to it. Hurry up, we still have a meeting later.”

Before Huo Ruiyang could finish writing, Tang Na arrived and knocked on the door. Zhang Hengye quickly blocked her at the entrance.

“Wait a moment, he’s almost done.”

Tang Na frowned and looked at Zhang Hengye unhappily. “Why are you always blocking me?”

“Huo Ruiyang doesn’t like being disturbed when he’s writing. Just wait here.”

Zhang Hengye maintained a polite smile but stood at the door like a guardian, refusing to let Tang Na in.

Tang Na’s face flushed with anger as she glared at Zhang Hengye.

“Political Commissar Zhang, you’re obstructing my work!”

Zhang Hengye’s smile didn’t waver.

“You’re wronging me. I’m making sure Old Huo finishes the draft for you. Just wait a little longer—it’ll be done soon.”

They remained in this stalemate for ten minutes until Huo Ruiyang’s voice came from inside the office.

“Old Zhang, it’s done.”

Hearing Huo Ruiyang’s voice, Tang Na immediately tried to squeeze inside, but Zhang Hengye was faster. He shut the door in her face.

Tang Na was so furious that she stomped her feet and waved her fists, but it was useless. That door was like a checkpoint—she simply couldn’t get through.

Soon, Zhang Hengye stepped out and handed her the interview draft. His expression turned serious as he said,

“This is the only copy. We have a meeting now, so please don’t disturb us. Otherwise, it will be considered interference with military training.”

Tang Na, already frustrated, demanded indignantly,

“Why are you blocking me from seeing Regiment Commander Huo?”

Zhang Hengye gave her a cold glance, his tone turning indifferent.

“Regiment Commander Huo is very busy. Now that you have the interview draft, you may leave.”

With that, he ignored her, stepped back inside, and shut the door in one swift motion—giving Tang Na no chance to respond.

After entering the room, Zhang Hengye teasingly smiled at Huo Ruiyang and said,

“Ruiyang, actually, Xiao Tang isn’t bad. Now that you’re single again, why not consider her?”

Huo Ruiyang was reviewing the field training plan, checking for any necessary additions or precautions. Hearing Zhang Hengye’s words, he looked up, his gaze cold and deep. He asked in a low voice,

“Are you that idle?”

Zhang Hengye raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, I won’t say any more.”

Huo Ruiyang, always decisive, immediately gave an order:

“Have all officers at the company level and above gather at the regiment headquarters for a meeting.”

The meeting concluded by evening, and they immediately set off. Night marches were also part of the training. This field exercise would last seven days. Before leaving, Huo Ruiyang dialed his home.

The call went through, and Auntie Li answered. Before Huo Ruiyang could even speak, she started talking on her own,

“General Huo and Director Liang sent Miss Anran to the cultural troupe. But honestly, this Miss Anran—why not stay one more night before leaving? Even if she’s broken off the engagement with you, there’s no need to leave the Huo family in such a hurry, is there? Why be so proud?”

“Seriously, when she was here, I found her a bit annoying. But now that she’s gone, I feel kind of empty inside. Miss Anran is all alone in the cultural troupe—what if someone bullies her?”

She left?

Huo Ruiyang tightened his grip on the phone, his expression full of disbelief. He slowly put the receiver down as a flood of chaotic thoughts rushed through his mind.

She wouldn’t even stay one more night? It seems the annulment hurt her deeply, so she left in such a hurry?

But when we discussed the annulment, she seemed so cheerful. Could it be that she was just pretending to be calm while secretly heartbroken?

The image of her pouring tea over her head resurfaced in his mind. Droplets of water slid down her hair, her wet eyes staring at him—seductive and captivating.

Huo Ruiyang’s expression darkened with frustration. He hated this uncontrollable feeling and slammed his fist onto the desk.

He even dreamed about that scene last night. He couldn’t stop the dream, but why was he still thinking about her while awake?

Zhang Hengye entered the room and asked,

“The troops are assembled. Are we setting off now?”

Huo Ruiyang put on his military cap, his expression returning to its usual cold and indifferent state. He ordered in a deep voice,

“Let’s go.”

…

Xia Anran moved into Dormitory 102. The dorm had two bunk beds, with the lower bunks already occupied—only the top bunk on the right was empty.

Seeing that only an upper bunk was available, Liang Meijuan felt uneasy and asked Xia Anran softly,

“Anran, can you sleep on the top bunk? Don’t toss and turn and fall off!”

Xia Anran liked sleeping on the top bunk—quiet and undisturbed. She smiled and reassured her,

“Aunt Liang, don’t worry. I sleep very soundly and won’t fall.”

The military provided bedding, so she didn’t need to bring any from home. Zhou Yuxin was particularly enthusiastic, volunteering to fetch the bedding from logistics for Xia Anran. She even climbed up herself to lay out the mattress.

Liu Mei, their roommate, was utterly stunned by this sight. Was the sun rising from the west today?

Whenever new recruits arrived, Zhou Yuxin usually bullied them. It was already surprising if she didn’t cause trouble, but now she was actually running around helping? That wasn’t her personality at all!

Seeing that the mattress was too thin, Liang Meijuan insisted on adding another layer before leaving. Before she left, she reminded Xia Anran,

“Anran, come home when you have time off. If there’s anything you want to eat, call in advance, and I’ll have Xiao Li make it for you.”

Xia Anran’s eyes turned slightly red, and she nodded, her voice soft,

“Alright, thank you, Aunt Liang.”

In her past life, she had little family affection. No one cared about her—her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and even her supposed best friend had all schemed against her. But in this unfamiliar world, Aunt Liang and Uncle Huo were so kind to her. It warmed her heart.

Zhou Yuxin had been sticking close to Liang Meijuan the whole time, hoping to make a good impression. But when she overheard their conversation, her face changed, and she suspiciously looked at Xia Anran.