Jiang Zhen wanted to wrap things up quickly so she could go talk to Battalion Commander Gu. Without hesitation, she ended the blind date with Qi Junhai: “Dr. Qi, our values don’t align, so let’s leave it at that. You should look for someone else—I’m sure you’ll find a better match.”  

Qi Junhai hadn’t expected that someone as outstanding as him would be rejected by Jiang Zhen, a divorced woman with two children in tow. His pride couldn’t take it.  

“Comrade Jiang, I admit you’re beautiful, and I did feel a flicker of attraction when I first saw you. But marriage is about practicality, and your demands are ridiculous.”  

Jiang Zhen thought *his* demands were even more absurd: “Likewise. Your expectations about the number of children are beyond unreasonable. And the way you calculated our salaries—you’re clearly scheming. Since we both think the other is ridiculous, why don’t you just leave?”  

He *would* leave, but Qi Junhai couldn’t resist getting the last word in: “If it weren’t for my mother insisting I come on this blind date with you—no offense—given your status as a divorcee with two kids, someone of my caliber would never have considered you.”  

Jiang Zhen was amused by his reaction: “I was just stating facts, Dr. Qi. Why so worked up? I’m not interested in you either. A man who only follows his mother’s orders is the last kind of person I’d want.”  

Qi Junhai laughed in frustration and decided to drop a truth bomb: “Everyone at today’s matchmaking event has been carefully screened—they’re all outstanding single comrades. There are hardly any divorcees here. The divorced woman who just had a blind date with Battalion Commander Gu? That was An Qihui’s doing—she arranged it to make him reconsider. Do you really think any of these single, never-married men would willingly become a stepfather to two kids?”  

Unintentionally, Jiang Zhen had stumbled upon another piece of gossip. She thought to herself that since Gu Liancheng was next door, Qi Junhai wasn’t even trying to spare the man’s feelings.  

A sudden realization struck her: “Dr. Qi, you seem to have a lot of hostility toward Battalion Commander Gu. His ex-fiancée is a nurse in your department, isn’t she? It sounds like your words weren’t meant for me—they were meant for Gu Liancheng next door.”  

Qi Junhai, exposed, retorted angrily: “You and Battalion Commander Gu seem like a perfect match. Why don’t *you* go on a blind date with him?”  

Jiang Zhen had been thinking the same thing: “You’re the one standing in the way. How can he come over with you here?”  

……  

Fuming, Qi Junhai stormed out of the private room, only to bump into a colleague. After exchanging pleasantries, the colleague asked about his older brother: “Your brother’s eye—which gang of bandits gouged it out? Have they been caught?”  

A large portion of the Qi family’s income came from his eldest brother’s business ventures. This time, however, his brother had returned missing an eye, leaving the whole family devastated.  

Under these circumstances, Qi Junhai hadn’t been in the mood for a blind date. But his mother had insisted, specifically choosing Jiang Zhen, claiming her birth date aligned with their family’s fortune and could counteract their bad luck. Reluctantly, he had agreed—only to be rejected.  

Qi Junhai sighed. “The bandits are too cunning. No one knows which mountain they’ve fled to. They haven’t been caught yet.”  

His colleague frowned in concern. “My mother hasn’t visited her hometown in two years. With the bandit situation in Fancheng, who dares to leave the city unless they’re completely eradicated?”  

Qi Junhai, whose own brother had been brutalized by bandits, burned with hatred but was powerless to act. He directed his anger toward the local military garrison.  

“What is the military even doing? They still haven’t wiped out those bandits—how are ordinary people supposed to live like this?”  

His colleague, understanding his frustration, tried to console him. “Those bandits are well-organized and extremely cunning. No one knows exactly where they’re hiding in the mountains, but they *will* be eliminated. The military’s recent bandit- suppression campaign left over a dozen soldiers injured. We shouldn’t say things that discourage them.”  

……  

Jiang Zhen, listening through the door, suddenly grew alert.  

The woman whose identity she had taken had gouged out a bandit’s eye. Qi Junhai’s brother had lost an eye. And now, Qi Junhai’s mother had sent her son to matchmake with *her*.  

Putting the pieces together, she couldn’t help but wonder—*Was Qi Junhai’s brother the bandit called “Lao Wu”?*  

At the time, all the bandits had worn cloth sacks over their heads, with only holes for their eyes, noses, and mouths. But if she could just see them—their eyes, their posture, the way they walked—she would recognize them.  

……  

Seeing Qi Junhai storm out of the neighboring room, Gu Liancheng hesitated no longer. If he delayed any further, he might miss his chance with Jiang Zhen. Steeling himself, he walked over.  

As long as Jiang Zhen agreed to his bottom line, everything else was negotiable.  

…… 

Qi Junhai’s voice faded—he must have left. Worried that Gu Liancheng might walk away, Jiang Zhen was about to step out when, to her surprise, he knocked and entered the room, even giving her a formal salute.  

*Too serious!* But remembering that this man was her future “money bag,” Jiang Zhen couldn’t help but smile warmly, her eyes crinkling with amusement. She studied him carefully—Battalion Commander Gu had sharp, well-defined features, deep-set eyes, and a gaze that carried traces of layered memories. *This man has quite a story behind him.*  

Locking the door behind her, Jiang Zhen beamed. “Battalion Commander Gu, please, have a seat.”  

Gu Liancheng found himself sitting almost involuntarily under her assertive demeanor. She reminded him of a predator luring its prey with a harmless facade.  

*Am I… her prey now?* The thought left a strange taste in his mouth.  

“Comrade Jiang,” he began, “I couldn’t help but overhear your conditions with Dr. Qi earlier.”  

Jiang Zhen waved a hand dismissively. “And I heard yours too. What a coincidence—we seem to be on the same page!”  

Since they already knew each other’s requirements, negotiations would be straightforward. Steeling himself, Gu Liancheng cut to the chase. “Comrade Jiang, would you be willing to enter a co-parenting partnership with me?”  

*Finally!* Jiang Zhen nodded eagerly. “Absolutely! But Battalion Commander Gu, I have two non-negotiable conditions. If you agree, we can discuss the details.”  

Gu Liancheng straightened his posture, discreetly smoothing out the wrinkles in his uniform under the table. *This is the crucial moment. Please don’t let it be a dealbreaker.*  

“Go ahead.”  

“You said you’d cover all household expenses and give me thirty yuan a month. But to ensure you do half the chores, I’m willing to split the costs. This is mandatory—I won’t tolerate a man who shirks responsibility while watching others work.”  

Gu Liancheng had braced himself for something far worse. Having lost his parents early, he and his siblings had all learned to manage household duties. This was nothing unusual for him.  

“As long as I’m home, chores will be shared. But given my irregular schedule, you’ll have to bear more of the burden most days.”  

“That’s fine. Now, the second—and most important—condition.” Jiang Zhen’s smile turned razor-sharp. “Consider this a warning: *Never* attempt to lay a hand on me or the children. I’m saying this for *your* safety. If you dare try, I might just kill you.”  

*That’s it?* Gu Liancheng nearly laughed. “I would never raise a hand against my partner or children. But since you’ve raised the concern, I give you my solemn word—such an atrocity will never occur.” 

…..