Chapter 7: We’re Really Not That Close

At this moment, the awkwardness seemed to freeze the air itself.

Song Huaiwen was pondering what to say next when his sister suddenly dropped her shocked expression from before. She didn’t even bother to pick up the bamboo basket on the floor; instead, she quickly came over to him, pulled him down to sit beside her, her face blazing with gossip-fueled excitement.

“Come on, spill it. What’s that girl like? How did you two meet?” Song Huaizhi’s eyes sparkled, her eagerness palpable.

It was rare for Song Huaiwen to talk about the opposite sex, and to describe someone as “special” was even rarer—like a tree blooming iron flower, a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.

Song Huaiwen scratched his head awkwardly. “It’s way too soon to say anything, really nothing to talk about.”

But Song Huaizhi wouldn’t give up, repeatedly pressing him, yet he remained tight-lipped.

“Sis, the kids should be out of school soon. I’ll go pick them up,” Song Huaiwen glanced at his watch and stood up briskly, clearly wanting to avoid continuing the previous topic.

Song Huaizhi was itching with curiosity about this “special” person. She knew as long as Song Huaiwen didn’t want to talk, she wouldn’t get a single word out of him, so all she could do was stomp her feet in frustration.

If the people in the regiment knew that the usually unflappable commander could get this impatient, they’d definitely be shocked.

“So… do I know this person?” Song Huaizhi’s curiosity didn’t die down as she followed him to the door.

Song Huaiwen nodded, opening and closing the door in one smooth motion.

She knew her!!

The first thought in Song Huaizhi’s mind was that she must be from their army compound. She mentally filtered through the eligible girls and came to one conclusion:

It had to be Zhao Wenjun.

Zhao Wenjun had been his little follower since childhood—wherever his younger brother went, she followed. When his brother took the military academy exam, she insisted on joining the army too. Her family, knowing she was too delicate for the hardships, gave her a harsh talking-to that finally made her give up. Now she worked at a state-run store in charge of purchasing.

Over the years, only she could chat with his brother for a few words; any other girls, his brother would avoid.

The girl was cheerful and pretty, and their families knew each other well. The more Song Huaizhi thought about it, the more convinced she became. Her mood instantly lifted, and she hummed a tune unconsciously as she picked up the bamboo basket and went out to buy groceries.

---

That evening, Shen Nanqing and the other two arrived as planned, just before lights out.

At first, Xu Ruyan was suspicious of their coming and going together. She even tried to subtly ask Su Xiangqin about it, but that person was tight-lipped and gave no useful answers.

She also tried asking Ling Zhen, but Ling Zhen just gave her a cold glare.

From what she understood, it was probably just coincidence—these three couldn’t possibly be involved with each other.

The arrival of Song Huaiwen, the troupe’s “hot commodity,” caused quite a stir, though it soon calmed down. He was like a tasty treat everyone wanted a bite of.

Zhu Xiaomeng and Liu Huixin nudged each other before Liu Huixin stepped forward. She followed Shen Nanqing at a comfortable distance, looking hesitant, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

“If you have something to say, just say it,” Shen Nanqing said. Although she didn’t like them, she wasn’t about to start a fight. Unlike Xu Ruyan, who was openly spiteful—basically just plain mean and stupid.

Liu Huixin rubbed her palms nervously and then shyly asked, “Do you know if Song Huaiwen has a girlfriend?”

Shen Nanqing: “…”

Come on, she really wasn’t close with Song Huaiwen—at best, just acquaintances, and the one time they spoke was when she was snapping at someone, completely losing face.

Why just couldn’t these people believe her?

“I think you should just ask the commander or someone close to him directly,” she said coolly.

At this moment, Li Zhen was the most clear-headed among them. The few chosen for the retest were training separately, so although she hadn’t seen Song Huaiwen’s close acquaintances, she had heard the rumors about him.

Given his background and abilities, plus his looks, he was definitely a coveted catch.

“Shen Nanqing and Song Huaiwen aren’t even in the same social circle. Whatever she knows is probably just polite small talk out of courtesy. You guys who haven’t even met are just jumping to conclusions based on hearsay.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Shen Nanqing glanced sideways at her—rare to see Li Zhen so sharp.

As the lights went out, Xu Ruyan, lying on her bed with her eyes closed, slowly opened them, a confident smile of determination in her gaze.

Such an outstanding person—of course, only she was worthy.

---

The rehearsal hall didn’t have the usual normal practice today. Instead, everyone sat cross-legged on the floor, forming a circle around the center area.

Tomorrow was the retest for the cultural performance. The political commissar organized everyone to watch four comrades’ solo dances—both to cheer them on and to remind everyone that opportunities go to those who prepare, encouraging a serious attitude in future training.

Xu Ruyan always aimed to be the best. She lightly flicked her hair, a gentle smile on her lips, and raised her slender wrist high.

“Commander Song, I’ll go first.”

On stage, Xu Ruyan followed the stirring drumbeat with a flurry of moves—spins, leaps, backbends—each step precise and powerful. Her technique was flawless, every muscle taut or relaxed showing professional skill, drawing applause from everyone.

When her dance ended, Commander Song gave some comments and praise. She smiled modestly, but when her gaze swept past Shen Nanqing, a faint trace of barely perceptible disdain flashed in her eyes before quickly returning to an innocent expression.

Next, the others took turns, with the men performing last.

Compared to the praise for Xu Ruyan, Li Zhen and Su Xiangqin received “not bad, keep it up.”

Now Xu Ruyan’s pride was impossible to hide—she seemed certain of victory.

Faced with her smug challenge, Shen Nanqing remained indifferent. Xu Ruyan was indeed stronger than Li Zhen and Su Xiangqin, but she had a fatal flaw: emotional instability.

It was like she had worn a mask for so long she couldn’t take it off.

Tender scenes were her forte, but when the plot reached the climax of conflict, where it should have been sharp and fierce, it turned into lingering love talk. Her eyes always shimmered with soft moisture. The gentle gaze clashed awkwardly with the dramatic rhythm, lacking that soul-stirring impact.

Besides, Li Zhen and Su Xiangqin had their own trump cards. Let her be proud all she wanted!

The higher you climb, the harder you fall.

---

The blazing sun hung high. The cultural troupe’s canteen was boiling hot. Usually, most people didn’t want to crowd in there to eat—they preferred to take food back to their dorms. But today, the canteen was unusually lively.

No surprise—after all, the coveted “golden son-in-law” was dining there too.

After everyone’s diligent inquiries, it spread that Song Huainan was not only single, but also young and accomplished as a regiment commander. There were other eligible men in the troupe, but as cultural soldiers, the career prospects were limited. Who wouldn’t want a better option?

“You really don’t have to eat in the canteen with me,” Song Huaizhi complained with her mouth, but inside she felt warm—he’d finally woken up to caring for others.

She said it was too hot now, and though the family housing compound wasn’t far, coming back and forth was tiring. He suggested eating lunch at the canteen and dinner at home.

“Eating in the canteen isn’t bad either,” Song Huaiwen said, his gaze briefly drifting somewhere as he looked down to eat. Years of military experience made him eat quickly, but not greedily; his manners were actually quite decent.

As they ate, suddenly someone carrying utensils approached them softly.

“Excuse me, may I sit here?” the voice asked gently.