Ruan Qingzhi lazily glanced at her.  

Before long, she found herself holding a train ticket in her hand.  

The girl’s slender fingers pinched the ticket, lifting it to her eyes as she leisurely read the words printed on it: “Discount ticket, standing-only at half price, departure from Hubin City… Huh? Didn’t I hear Hubin is one of the top three poorest cities in the country?”  

The woman’s temple twitched.  

Patting her pocket, she realized her ticket was indeed missing and immediately reached out to snatch it back. “Why did you steal my ticket?!”  

Ruan Qingzhi let her reclaim the ticket, curling her lips mockingly. “Steal? I have a full-price seated ticket—why would I need to steal your half-price standing one?”  

“If that’s the case, everyone might as well buy standing tickets at half price. After all, once on the train, you can just snatch a seat anyway.”  

She emphasized the word “snatch” with deliberate weight.  

The woman’s tone was indifferent yet self-righteous. “It’s only natural for soldiers to give up their seats for women and children!”  

She paused, then added with great solemnity, “And another thing! I’m a city person! I only came to Hubin to visit family! Don’t lump me in with you country bumpkins!”  

Ruan Qingzhi let out a light scoff, her ridicule blatant. “You’re right, we can’t be lumped together. Country folks stand tall wherever they go, unlike city folks whose legs go weak—can’t even stand properly! Prefer kneeling and begging for handouts!”  

“You—!”  

The woman’s face flushed with humiliation.  

She finally understood that this sharp-tongued little girl wasn’t someone to be trifled with!  

If she couldn’t win, she could at least avoid her!  

Rolling her eyes, the woman hugged her son and scooted away, clearly drawing a firm line between herself and Ruan Qingzhi.  

Ruan Qingzhi, never one to back down from a fight, promptly returned the eye-roll.  

Fortunately, the woman didn’t cause any more trouble for the rest of the journey.  

And so, Ruan Qingzhi enjoyed some peace and quiet.  

After a day and night on the train, it finally arrived at Shengyang City Station.  

Ruan Qingzhi followed the bustling crowd off the train, casually scanning her surroundings but seeing no one there to meet her.  

She wasn’t sure if Li Qiuhua had informed the Shen family to pick her up today, nor did she know the situation with Shen Zhanwu.  

Ruan Qingzhi wasn’t one to sit around waiting.  

If no one came for her, she’d find her own way. No matter what, she needed to divorce Shen Zhanwu as soon as possible!  

Not far away, a group of new recruits was assembling.  

Ruan Qingzhi paused mid-step, thought for a moment, then turned and walked over.  

She spoke softly, “Excuse me, Comrade Soldier.”  

Zuo Xincheng looked at the young girl before him—her face fair, two braids hanging over her chest, her dark eyes bright and composed.  

He raised his hand in a military salute. “Can I help you, comrade?”  

Ruan Qingzhi: “I’d like to ask about someone. His name is Shen Zhanwu, from the Eastern District Command. He was injured a few days ago. I’m family here to take care of him. Do you know him?”  

Zuo Xincheng guessed, “Are you his younger sister?”  

He and Old Zhan had been comrades for years, and he’d heard him mention having two younger sisters before.  

Judging by the girl’s age, she was probably the youngest one.  

Just as he was making the connection, the girl shook her head slightly. “I’m his fiancée.”  

Zuo Xincheng was stunned. “What? You’re Old Zhan’s fiancée?!”  

Old Zhan had a fiancée?!  

Ruan Qingzhi arched a brow. Sometimes, what you seek far and wide comes effortlessly.  

This man was actually Shen Zhanwu’s comrade.  

“Where is he now?”  

Zuo Xincheng snapped out of his daze, his expression darkening slightly as he remembered something. “At the city hospital…”  

…

Outside the train station, there were many pedicabs soliciting passengers.  

The fare to the city hospital was twenty cents.  

Ruan Qingzhi got out, paid the fare, and headed straight for the inpatient department to find Shen Zhanwu.  

Just as she reached the building, she saw a middle-aged woman carrying a child hurriedly exiting the lobby on the first floor, her expression flustered, her beady eyes darting around shiftily.  

The woman glanced warily at Ruan Qingzhi before brushing past her in a rush.  

Ruan Qingzhi narrowed her eyes and quickly turned around.  

Before the woman could leave, she hooked an arm around her shoulder: “Big sis, where are you taking my little brother?”  

Her dark lashes lifted slowly, her eyes pitch-black and terrifying, like the King of Hell himself had descended.  

The air froze for a moment.  

The woman tilted her head slightly, glancing at Ruan Qingzhi from the corner of her eye.  

Her voice was rough like sandpaper as she hissed a low threat: “Little brat, I suggest you mind your own business!”  

Ruan Qingzhi smirked coldly. “Old hag, I suggest you be smarter. This is a hospital—if I shout, people will swarm over in seconds. If they see you kidnapping a child, do you really think you and your accomplices can escape?”  

As soon as she finished speaking, the hand on the woman’s shoulder suddenly tightened, dislocating her collarbone with a sharp twist.  

The woman gasped in pain, sweat instantly beading along her temples.  

What the hell did this girl just do to me?

How could it hurt this much?!

Gritting her teeth, the woman abruptly turned and hurled the “piglet” in her arms at Ruan Qingzhi, then clutched her arm and bolted into a nearby alley.  

Ruan Qingzhi caught the child effortlessly.  

She looked down and saw the little boy staring at her intently…  

Ruan Qingzhi grinned and teased, “Hey, kid, you almost got kidnapped just now. Lucky for you, I dropped out of the sky just in time. So? Impressed by my wit and bravery, huh?”  

“…Why so quiet? Where are your parents? Letting you run around like this—”  

Suddenly, her words cut off.  

Her hand had just brushed against two empty pant legs.  

The boy had no lower legs.  

Ruan Qingzhi swallowed hard, then hugged him tightly.  

Unable to find the boy’s parents, she had no choice but to temporarily hand him over to the nearby police station.  

She also grabbed paper and a pen, quickly sketching the kidnapper’s likeness and handing it to the officers: “Her collarbone’s dislocated—she might seek medical help in the next few days.”  

After sorting everything out, she returned to the inpatient department.  

After asking a nurse for Shen Zhanwu’s bed number, she headed upstairs.  

Outside the ward, she paused, steadying her slightly uneven breath before stepping inside.  

It was a private room.  

The room was quiet, the two white-painted wooden windows wide open. The ceiling fan swayed lazily, stirring a faint, cool breeze.  

Her gaze landed on the hospital bed—  

The man lay with his eyes closed, still asleep. The light from the window traced the sharp lines of his face, half in shadow, half in light—coldly handsome.  

Ruan Qingzhi froze, her pupils trembling, her heart skipping a beat.