Chapter 24: Surveillance

Ji Anguo parked the car outside the cake shop, quickly running to the other side to open the door and help Shen Yunhe out. As they entered the shop, Jiang Banyue immediately smelled the strong stench of alcohol. Frowning, she looked toward the door.

Shen Yunhe pushed Ji Anguo aside and staggered toward Jiang Banyue. He embraced her, rubbing his face against hers affectionately.

“Wife, I’m back!”

“Let go! Who’s your wife? You bastard!” Jiang Banyue struggled in his arms, and Shen Yunhe, unsteady on his feet, was pushed back a few steps. Ji Anguo hurried over to steady him, smiling as he tried to mediate.

“Sis-in-law, calm down. It was me who dragged him into drinking. We’re comrades; we haven’t seen each other in a long time. He just drank too much.”

“Why does it have anything to do with me?” Jiang Banyue shot Ji Anguo a confused look.

“You two can leave. I still have business to attend to!”

“Sis-in-law,” Ji Anguo said, helplessly, “Even if you’re angry, you can’t just leave your husband like this when he’s drunk!”

“My husband? What nonsense are you talking?” Jiang Banyue, furious, pushed both of them outside.

Ji Anguo and Shen Yunhe retreated step by step. “Sis-in-law, let’s talk calmly…”

Helpless, Ji Anguo could only support Shen Yunhe and return him to the car.

“What did you do to make your wife so angry? She won’t even let you inside the door!”

Shen Yunhe slowly sobered up, rubbing his face with his large hand. His eyes, fixed on the busy woman inside the shop, spoke volumes.

“Anguo, thanks for bringing me back.”

“No problem, but your wife…” Ji Anguo trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Shen Yunhe took a deep breath, his expression filled with regret as he replied, “We’re divorced.”

“Ah!”

Ji Anguo looked at Shen Yunhe with a complicated expression. His lips moved, unsure of what to say. No wonder they kicked you out, after all, you’re divorced, and yet you’re still bothering her. Shen Yunhe clearly regretted it—he wanted to remarry!

“You should go. I’ll be alone for a while,” Jiang Banyue said.

“Alright, I’ll leave,” Ji Anguo replied.

After Ji Anguo left, Shen Yunhe sat silently in the car. After dusk, the shop quieted down. Shen Yunhe got out of the car, took out the things he had bought, and stuffed all the money and notes from his pockets into a bag. He then walked into the shop.

Jiang Banyue, clearly irritated, snapped, “Why are you here again?”

“Banban, I bought some things for the kids. I’m leaving tonight, just let me spend a little more time with them, okay?”

Seeing the pitiful look on his face, Jiang Banyue softened. She reluctantly agreed. Shen Yunhe happily set the items down, then went to hold the children, playing with them until they fell asleep.

Unwillingly, he kissed all three of them, then turned and walked downstairs. He stood in front of Jiang Banyue, reluctantly saying goodbye.

“I’m leaving. I’ll send money back every month for the kids’ living expenses.”

“No need, I can raise them on my own.”

Jiang Banyue didn’t want to accept his money. Shen Yunhe gazed at her with burning eyes. Jiang Banyue felt as though she had been burned by fire, her body feeling hot all over.

“Just leave if you’re going. It’s already late, I need to close the shop!”

“Okay, I’ll leave now, but I’ll send money every month!”

“Do whatever you want!”

Shen Yunhe gazed deeply at her one last time, then turned and strode out. Jiang Banyue let out a sigh of relief, closed the door, and headed upstairs.

Shen Yunhe drove for two hours and finally arrived at the army base. He returned to the family building, took a shower, changed out of his military uniform, and walked toward the office. Under a tree in the family compound, a simple-dressed woman was sitting. When she saw Shen Yunhe return, she quickly stood up and rushed to the cultural troupe to find Liu Juan.

“Team Leader Shen is back! I’ve been watching his house for you. He just came back!”

“Really?” Liu Juan’s face flushed with excitement.

Zhang Xiufen rolled her eyes in disdain. Everyone in the base knew Liu Juan shamelessly clung to Shen Yunhe, and no one respected her. But Liu Juan had money—who would turn down money?

Liu Juan gave Zhang Xiufen money to keep an eye on Shen Yunhe’s movements. If it weren’t for the small income she was getting, Zhang Xiufen wouldn’t want to deal with the woman. But she was poor, supporting two grown sons and her elderly parents, and her husband’s salary wasn’t enough.

“Give me a dollar!” Zhang Xiufen extended her hand, and Liu Juan happily gave her the money.

“Here, and remember to report everything about Team Leader Shen’s activities to me!”

“Okay!” Zhang Xiufen took the money, grinning widely. It was so easy to make a dollar, and she was already thinking of buying some meat at the market.

Liu Juan hurried back to her dorm, took out her makeup and clothes, and began preparing herself. Her dormmates stared at her, sneering.

“She’s putting on makeup and changing clothes. Who’s she trying to hook up with?”

“Team Leader Shen, who else?”

“But isn’t Team Leader Shen on leave?”

“This morning, I saw Team Leader Shen driving back!”

“How would Liu Juan know if she’s been staying in the dorm?”

One girl mysteriously whispered, “Why does Liu Juan always seem to know about Team Leader Shen? Is she spying on him?”

“Don’t scare us, that could be a crime!”

“Otherwise, how does she always know what Shen Yunhe’s doing? She just went out, came back, and started putting on makeup. Someone must be sending her information. I’ve always thought it was strange—she always knows where he is first. Team Leader Shen is definitely being watched.”

The dorm fell silent. If this was true, Liu Juan would not only be kicked out of the military but also face a military court.

Liu Juan stood by a white poplar tree, waiting for Shen Yunhe. She had inquired about his schedule—once he returned, he would report to the office, and when he came out, he’d walk past here. She just needed to stand there and wait.

A while later, Liu Juan saw Shen Yunhe walking toward her. She adjusted her clothes and hair, lowered her head, and walked ahead. As she approached him, she planned to “accidentally” fall, hoping he’d help her up. With so many soldiers around, she’d use the opportunity to threaten him into marrying her.

Though Liu Juan lowered her head, she kept an eye on her surroundings. As she got closer to Shen Yunhe, she closed her eyes, swayed, and fell.

Shen Yunhe, who had been looking down at his files, noticed something moving toward him and instinctively kicked his long leg out.

“Ah…” Liu Juan was kicked into the tree with a loud thud, falling to the ground.

The surrounding soldiers stifled their laughter, pretending to remain calm as they walked away. Who dared to laugh? After all, it was Team Leader Shen who had kicked her. Anyone who laughed would face extra training as punishment.