Xia Anran hadn’t expected Huo Ruifeng to say something like this so abruptly and was caught off guard, coughing violently.  

Huo Ruifeng’s voice wasn’t loud, but the few people nearby heard him clearly, and they all stared at the two of them in shock.  

Wen Fangfang was the first to react. Her eyes widened as she asked Xia Anran:  

“So you’re Big Brother Huo’s fiancée?!”  

Li Yanqiu looked at Xia Anran in disbelief, her mind reeling as she asked in astonishment:  

“Anran, are you really Huo Ruiyang’s fiancée?”  

Huo Ruifeng was more shocked than anyone else. He stared doubtfully at Xia Anran across from him—how was this possible? How could it be?  

She was Big Brother’s fiancée? That shrew?  

Like a single stone causing a thousand ripples, people at nearby seats turned to look—this news was too sudden!  

Xia Anran was actually Huo Ruiyang’s fiancée, that shrew from the countryside?  

When Chen Yu heard that Xia Anran was Huo Ruiyang’s fiancée, his heart sank to the depths. How could this be?  

How was she Huo Ruiyang’s fiancée?  

The very thing Xia Anran had feared had happened. She coughed awkwardly and explained:  

“Let me correct that—former fiancée. We’ve already called off the engagement. There’s no relationship between us now.”  

Huo Ruifeng was even more surprised. Called off the engagement? When did that happen?  

Just a few days ago, when he’d called home, his father had said they were preparing for Big Brother’s wedding in October. How could the engagement be called off in just a few days?  

He observed Xia Anran discreetly and noticed no trace of sadness in her eyes. She spoke so casually, as if she were happy about the broken engagement.  

This was even more baffling. According to Auntie Li, Xia Anran had acted like a madwoman—whenever she heard a girl liked Big Brother, she’d rush over to pick a fight, declaring her sovereignty all over the compound.  

If anyone were to call off the engagement, it should have been Big Brother. How could she be so indifferent?  

Hearing Xia Anran say she had broken off the engagement with Huo Ruiyang, Chen Yu let out a sigh of relief. It was good that the engagement was off—now he could pursue her.  

Thankfully, Huo Ruiyang couldn’t recognize true gold—now he had a chance!  

Regiment Commander Zhou had been chatting amiably with Squadron leader Wei when he suddenly heard Li Yanqiu’s words. He whipped his head around to look at Xia Anran.  

Upon hearing that she had already broken off the engagement with Huo Ruiyang, Regiment Commander Zhou was filled with regret!  

He had thought she was a relative of General Huo, which was why he had been so cautious—he hadn’t even dared to speak up when his niece’s lead singer  role was taken away.  

Only now did he realize she was just a fraud, pretending to be some kind of royalty here!  

General Huo had only arranged for her to join the cultural troupe out of past sentiment. A former daughter-in-law whose engagement had been broken off—General Huo wouldn’t bother with her affairs anymore.  

Good! Good! Good!  

No rush—he’d settle the score with her when they got back!  

…

Wen Fangfang spoke up indignantly for Xia Anran:  

“Why was the engagement called off? Did Big Brother Huo bully you?”

Xia Anran didn’t want anyone misunderstanding Huo Ruiyang, so she replied:  

“No, it’s just that I felt we weren’t compatible. Anyway, let’s drop this topic and eat.”

Huo Ruifeng stayed silent, observing Xia Anran closely. He had expected her to badmouth his brother or complain, but instead, she defended him and took the blame herself.  

This gave him a slightly better impression of her. Watching her eat quietly without making a single sound, she was nothing like the image Auntie Li had painted—someone who slurped noisily while eating!  

Then again, maybe she was just being careful not to speak ill of his brother in front of him.  

But recalling Xia Anran’s performance on stage, Huo Ruifeng simply couldn’t reconcile that image with the idea of her being his brother’s fiancée.  

Even if her words and table manners could be an act, her singing and outstanding performance couldn’t possibly be faked.  

Besides, she was good friends with Fangfang. Though Fangfang was easygoing and good-natured, she wasn’t the type to get close to just anyone—let alone form such an intimate friendship.  

All these thoughts ran through Huo Ruifeng’s mind, though none showed on his face. He turned to Wen Fangfang and said:  

“Fangfang, let’s leave these dishes for your friends. Come on, Brother Ruifeng will treat you to a meal at a restaurant.”

He wanted to question Fangfang thoroughly about Xia Anran—everything he could learn.  

Wen Fangfang hesitated, reluctant to leave. Having just heard about the broken engagement, she wanted to comfort Xia Anran but didn’t know what to say.  

Xia Anran noticed the girl’s concern and teased:  

“Go on, hurry up. That just means more meat dishes for us!”

“You can have them all!”  

Wen Fangfang piled all the meat from her lunchbox into Xia Anran’s, sympathy welling up inside her—after all, she’d been rejected by that icy mountain, Big Brother Huo.  

Remembering the unkind things she’d said about Xia Anran in the dorm, she whispered an apology:  

“Anran, I’m sorry… I said some bad things about you in the dorm.”

Xia Anran smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine. No blame where there’s no ill intent.”

Hearing Wen Fangfang’s apology, Li Yanqiu recalled her own threat to beat Xia Anran up and also mumbled an apology:  

“Anran, I’m sorry too…”

Xia Anran cut her off. “Enough. It’s in the past—no more mentioning it!”

The more magnanimous she acted, the more embarrassed Li Yanqiu and Wen Fangfang felt.  

Under the occasional stares and hushed whispers around her, Xia Anran finished her meal.  

Now that everyone knew she had been Huo Ruiyang’s fiancée, some who had heard of her notorious reputation spread the word. The pilots who had been interested in her backed off immediately upon learning of her past infamy.  

Xia Anran was glad for the peace and quiet. Strong-willed and unbothered by others’ opinions, she wouldn’t tolerate anyone who dared provoke her.  

Her motto? *”If others don’t offend me, I won’t offend them.”*  

…

Later:

From Wen Fangfang, Huo Ruifeng learned about Zhou Yuxin drugging Xia Anran.  

Even if he hadn’t liked this former sister-in-law, hearing that someone had targeted his family made his brows furrow.  

This matter couldn’t be left unsettled. Though Xia Anran had broken off the engagement with his brother, her father had once saved his own father’s life. The Huo family would never allow anyone to bully her.