Chapter 23: Going to the Army Base to Break Off the Engagement, Secretly Obstructed         

These past few days, Li Zhi had been studying at the library continuously. She timed it so that on the first day Lu Yanzhi returned to the army after his vacation, she could go and formally request to break off the engagement.

Li Yongge arranged for a delivery driver from the factory to take her to the base. The journey from the Li family home to the army base took about two hours—not exactly close.

Two hours later, the vehicle stopped in front of the base entrance.

She told the driver, “Uncle Chen, you can go ahead and return. Applying to break off the engagement involves a lot of paperwork—it’ll take at least half a day. I’ll go back on my own once I’m done.”

Driver Uncle Chen replied, “I don’t have anything else to do today. The boss told me to wait and return with you.”

This place was very remote—it would take a 30-minute walk to reach the nearest bus stop, and even then the bus didn’t go directly to the destination. Transfers were needed, which was very inconvenient.

It was also dangerous for a young girl to walk alone in such a secluded area.

“I know which bus to take back. You can’t park outside the base too long. Please just go ahead, I’ll be careful.”

“Alright then, I’ll head back to the factory to pick up a load. If you can’t get a ride, call the office and I’ll come back to get you.”

“Okay.” Li Zhi nodded with a smile.

After watching Uncle Chen drive off, she walked toward the base entrance.

Two young soldiers stood guard, posture upright, eyes sharp, rifles on their backs.

They glanced at Li Zhi, momentarily stunned by her beauty. This female comrade was truly striking.

Li Zhi had long, shiny black hair that fell neatly down her back, with side-swept bangs on her forehead. Her facial features were delicate and well-defined—her brows and eyes like a painting, her nose high and straight, lips naturally rosy, and skin fair and smooth. She looked both pure and radiant, the kind of beauty that left a lasting impression.

She wore a bright yellow dress with a simple and elegant design. The V-shaped neckline was accented with white lace trim, and the sleeves featured sheer ruffled edges that revealed her fair and slender arms.

The waist was gently cinched, highlighting her slim figure. The hemline, which reached just to her knees, had multiple layers of sheer white fabric peeking out like a blooming gardenia.

The lightweight skirt fluttered gently as she walked, like a flower in full bloom.

Her calves were straight and slender, and she wore pale-colored high heels.

Had they not seen her arrive by car, they might have mistaken her for a fairy descending from the heavens.

One of the guards stepped forward and asked, “Comrade, may I help you?”

Li Zhi nodded slightly. “Hello, my name is Li Zhi. I’m the fiancée of Commander Lu from the 3rd Regiment. I need to see him regarding a personal matter.”

“Please wait a moment. We’ll call Commander Lu to come meet you.”

Military regulations required that any family or partners visiting needed to be received by someone familiar from the base and undergo strict identity verification and registration to ensure the security and confidentiality of the army.

Li Zhi had been to the base before and knew about this rule. “Alright.”

One of the soldiers rode a bike to a nearby phone booth to call the switchboard.

The switchboard was responsible for connecting calls and handling communications—essentially the core of the base’s communication system.

He returned shortly after and told Li Zhi, “Commander Lu is reportedly out on field training.”

“Field training? When will he be back?”

“Sorry, I’m not sure.”

Li Zhi began to suspect that Lu Yanzhi was deliberately avoiding her.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “Then could you help me find Commissar Wu? I’d like to submit a request to break off the engagement and explain the reason in person. I’ve spoken to him on the phone before.”

The soldier went to make another call.

A short while later, he returned and said, “Apologies, Commissar Wu is currently in a meeting.”

“How long do these meetings usually last?”

“Sometimes one or two hours; longer ones can take an entire morning.”

Li Zhi grew anxious—if she couldn’t finalize this today, it might drag into tomorrow. She wanted to get it over with quickly. Next month school would start, and she had a lot to catch up on academically.

Should she contact Fu Tingzhou?

But she was afraid it might inconvenience him.

Fu Tingzhou had said she could come to him anytime if she needed help. Although she already owed him a favor, and it didn’t feel right to keep troubling him, she had come all this way just for this. If it meant breaking off the engagement smoothly, she would just owe him one more favor and repay it later.

“Excuse me, is Regiment Commander Fu of the 3rd Regiment in a meeting?”

“Uh… we’re not sure either.”

“Could I trouble you to help me contact him as well?”

The guard was surprised she even knew Commander Fu.

“You know our Regiment Commander?”

He had served as a guard in the 1st Regiment’s office for two months and was very familiar with their phone system.

No need to call the switchboard again—he could directly contact them himself.

If they could help her, they’d be glad to.

Li Zhi nodded. “Yes, I know him—he’s a friend, you could say. Please just tell him Li Zhi is at the base gate, wanting to speak with the commissar about breaking off the engagement. If it’s convenient, he can come meet me; if not, I’ll just wait for the commissar to finish his meeting.”

“Alright, I’ll call the commander’s office directly. Please wait a moment.”

“Okay, thank you so much.”

The guard turned red and stammered as he smiled at her.

“N-no problem…”

He was only about twenty years old and hadn’t married yet.

Commander Lu’s fiancée was really too beautiful—like a fairy from heaven.

It was the third time the guard had gone to make a call.

Li Zhi didn’t expect much. If the commissar was in a meeting, Fu Tingzhou might be in it too.

But this time, the guard came back quickly, smiling. “Commander Fu said he’s available and will come pick you up right away. Please wait a few minutes.”

Li Zhi quietly let out a breath of relief. “Alright, thank you.”

She had thought she’d have to wait all afternoon. This place was so remote—it’d take 30 minutes to walk to the nearest town. Going back and forth would waste a lot of time and energy.

But she wondered if the commissar had spoken with Lu Yanzhi ahead of time.

If Lu Yanzhi was truly out on field training, she worried she wouldn’t be able to break off the engagement on her own.

Just then, a green military jeep drove toward her.

The vehicle stopped, and Fu Tingzhou got out and walked toward her. “Li Zhi.”

He hadn’t expected her to come looking for him.

He was genuinely happy that she did.

After hearing her say the other night that she had no interest in him, his hopes had dimmed—but now they reignited.

Once she broke off the engagement with Lu Yanzhi, he would pursue her openly—without affecting her studies.

At thirty-something, it was the first time he’d ever felt this way about a girl. He didn’t want to miss this chance.

“Commander Fu, I’m sorry to trouble you. I heard Commander Lu went for field training and the commissar is in a meeting, so I had no choice but to come to you.”

“It’s no trouble. I just happened to be free.”

Fu Tingzhou helped her register, then had her get in his vehicle and drove her into the base.

He first parked the car in the lot, then led her toward the office building.

They had to walk halfway around the training field to get there.

It was training time, and many soldiers were in the field.

When they saw Commander Fu walking with a young, beautiful woman, the same thought crossed all their minds:

[Who is that pretty female comrade?]

[Is she the commander’s girlfriend?]

[They look great together.]

They were all puzzled—so the commander had a girlfriend? He’d hidden it well.

Even the training officers grew curious and ran to ask Zhou Yufeng.

He and the commander were close; he must know.

“Old Zhou, does Fu Commander have a girlfriend? Do you know? She’s quite pretty.”

“He does? I’m not sure.”

“Come on, stop pretending. Spill the truth!”

“Yeah, they’re heading toward the commissar’s office.”

“I really don’t know. Asking me is useless. I’ll go check it out—training’s on you for now.”

Zhou Yufeng patted the lieutenant’s shoulder.

“Sure, I got it. But when you finish eating the melon, make sure to tell us!”

Commander Fu was thirty-eight and still unmarried. So many female comrades liked him, but he wasn’t interested in any of them. Everyone had begun to suspect he liked men.

Zhou Yufeng walked quickly to the gate and waved at the others. “Wait here, I’ll be back.”