“Comrade Ningning, I heard you got engaged today?”

Sheng Zexi approached from a distance, spotting two figures standing side by side, both facing away from him. One of them, a petite and charming figure, was none other than his soon-to-be wife, Gu Jianing, whom he had just seen not long ago.

As for the other person, Sheng Zexi would recognize him even if he were turned to ashes.

Sheng Zexi’s gaze darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. She had indeed met Wen Zhuqing.

Why? Was it a coincidence, or was it planned?

Before he could get closer, he heard Wen Zhuqing’s question.

Sheng Zexi’s steps halted, stopping just outside their line of sight.

Suddenly, he became curious about Gu Jianing’s answer.

After all, he knew that Gu Jianing had once liked Wen Zhuqing. It was this very affection that had made Sheng Zexi jealous and almost crazy, but Gu Jianing didn’t know it.

At this moment, as he waited, Sheng Zexi felt his breath grow shallow, his heart lifting in anticipation. Even on the battlefield, he had never felt this tense or anxious.

“That’s right, I’m engaged,” Gu Jianing’s voice soon came, carrying a hint of cheerfulness.

“So, Wen Zhiqing, are you here to congratulate me?” Gu Jianing smiled as she looked at Wen Zhuqing.

Her question and smile left Wen Zhuqing momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

Her answer seemed to have caught him off guard.

But Wen Zhuqing quickly composed himself, lowering his gaze and feigning sadness. “I… I thought the way Comrade Ningning treated me before meant she had feelings for me. It seems I misunderstood.”

Gu Jianing’s lips still held a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. This was exactly how Wen Zhuqing had been in her past life—using a pitiful, melancholic demeanor to make her feel guilty, so she would hand over everything he wanted, while he played the innocent, pure-hearted victim.

Thinking of this, a hint of mischievous mockery flashed in Gu Jianing’s eyes. “No, Wen Zhiqing, you didn’t misunderstand.”

To Wen Zhuqing’s surprise, Gu Jianing continued, “I did have feelings for you before, and I even thought about marrying you. But after meeting Brother Sheng, my thoughts changed.”

“Brother Sheng is a promising officer, and he’s from the capital. As for you, Wen Zhiqing, although you’re from Shanghai, you’re still just an educated youth. Who knows when you’ll be able to return to the city? Brother Sheng earns a monthly salary, while you don’t have a job and can’t even earn full work points in the fields. Besides, Brother Sheng is taller, more imposing, and quite handsome.”

“So, I think Brother Sheng is the better choice.”

Originally, Gu Jianing had considered exposing Wen Zhuqing’s true nature, but thinking of her future plans, she decided against it.

For now, she would play the role of a fickle-hearted woman.

As for Wen Zhuqing, though he was usually shrewd, he was clearly stunned by her blunt words.

He hadn’t expected Gu Jianing, who seemed so innocent, to be so easily swayed.

Not far away, Sheng Zexi’s hand clenched, then relaxed, then clenched again.

When he heard Gu Jianing say she preferred him and that he was better than Wen Zhuqing, his lips curled into a wide smile, his eyes sparkling with joy, his heart filled with elation.

But after hearing her subsequent remarks, he was equally stunned.

He thought, wouldn’t this little girl be easily swayed if she met someone more outstanding and handsome than him in the future?

Sheng Zexi’s tongue pressed against his back teeth, and he felt the urge to grab the little girl and give her a spanking.

But he silently noted this in his heart, reminding himself to work even harder to become more outstanding. And as for his face, he couldn’t let it get rough either.

Reaching up to touch his face, Sheng Zexi had never cared much about it before, thinking it was fine for a man to be a bit rough. But now, he felt that his face needed proper care.

Sheng Zexi’s emotions were in turmoil because of Gu Jianing’s words.

“Wen Zhiqing, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now. Oh, and from now on, if we meet, please call me Comrade Gu. I wouldn’t want my fiancé to misunderstand your previous way of addressing me.”

With that, without waiting to see if Wen Zhuqing had anything else to say, Gu Jianing left, masking the hint of hatred in her eyes.

As she walked away, she seemed to catch a glimpse of a gray-clad figure hiding in the distance. Thinking of someone, a plan began to take shape in her mind.

Wen Zhuqing wanted to chase after her and say something, but from afar, he saw a tall, handsome man in an officer’s uniform walking toward Gu Jianing.

The man’s gaze seemed to linger on him, carrying a hint of provocation, causing Wen Zhuqing to stop in his tracks.

When Gu Jianing walked up to the man with familiarity, he realized that this man must be the officer she had gotten engaged to today.

Was he inferior to that officer?

Wen Zhuqing, who had always been praised and admired since childhood, the epitome of the “perfect child” in others’ eyes, felt his handsome face twist slightly in frustration.

But considering the man’s status as an officer and his own current situation, it was best to avoid confrontation for now.

Adaptability had always been Wen Zhuqing’s style.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of resentment toward Gu Jianing.

“Brother Sheng, didn’t you go back to the county town?” Gu Jianing’s round almond eyes were filled with surprise, along with a hint of guilt. She wondered if he had seen her talking to Wen Zhuqing.

Noticing the guilt in Gu Jianing’s eyes, Sheng Zexi inwardly sneered, though he didn’t dwell on it.

He had no intention of bringing up what had just happened.

Suppressing the thoughts in his mind, Sheng Zexi’s usually proud expression softened with a rare hint of shyness. “It’s nothing. I just forgot to discuss with you when we should take our wedding photos and register our marriage.”

So that was it.

Gu Jianing’s thoughts shifted away from Wen Zhuqing, her attention now focused on Sheng Zexi’s words.

“Let’s take the wedding photos tomorrow. Once they’re ready, we’ll go register.”

“Deal,” Sheng Zexi immediately agreed, as if afraid she might change her mind if he hesitated even a second. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning and take you to the county town’s photo studio.”

“Alright.” Then, as if remembering something, Gu Jianing added, “Oh, about that box your grandparents gave me…”

She quietly described the contents of the wooden box.

“…The things inside are too valuable. I can’t accept them.”

Sheng Zexi’s gaze grew slightly distant as he studied Gu Jianing. Her eyes were clear, and the emotions in them seemed genuine.

She truly felt the items were too precious to accept.

This little “treasure-hoarder” usually only took in, never gave out.

He knew she had a bit of a love for wealth.

But he hadn’t expected that, despite her love for wealth, she could be so clear-headed.

He didn’t think there was anything wrong with loving wealth.

A large portion of those jewelry pieces had been part of his mother’s dowry. Later, when his father remarried and he found out that the new woman had dared to misuse his mother’s jewelry, he had made a scene and eventually reclaimed all of his mother’s dowry, including the shops and houses.

Now, Sheng Zexi felt there was nothing wrong with giving them to Gu Jianing.

Thinking this, he said as much.

“…My mother’s things were meant to be passed down to me or to you. As husband and wife, we’re one. Giving them to you now is no different. And since my grandparents have already given them to you, there’s no reason to take them back. Just keep them with peace of mind.”

In the end, after Sheng Zexi’s persuasion, Gu Jianing had no choice but to accept the items.

She decided that once she returned home, she would store the box in her system’s space, ensuring it wouldn’t get lost and that she could carry it with her at all times.