Chapter 23: Gu Chengfeng, you are back

The onlookers, faces flushed, were too embarrassed to continue pleading with her.

“Besides, I gave them a chance to clear things up, but they didn’t take it,” Shen Sisi said.

“Exactly!” Li Wenhui arrived breathlessly, her shoes on the wrong feet.  She’d overheard Shen Sisi.

“I heard it. Shen Sisi asked them if they’d seen her with a lover or heard it from someone, and they couldn’t answer.”

“If it were true, why wouldn’t they say so?  They clearly have something to hide!”

Seeing Li Wenhui’s support, Shen Sisi felt a surge of warmth from her trust.

“That’s right, Sister Wenhui heard it too.  Can’t you hear it?”

“Or are you in cahoots with Zhang Xiuhong and Yang Qiuxia?”

Shen Sisi’s gaze was sharp, causing people to back away, fearing they’d be implicated and accused of something.

The previously indignant group, seeking self-preservation, remained silent.

Only an older military wife sighed, “Young lady, be merciful. You’re not even married to Little Gu yet, and you’re fighting in the compound and wrongly accusing people. It’s a bad influence.  What will the leaders think?”

Mentioning Gu Chengfeng, Shen Sisi’s grip loosened slightly.

After a brief moment of distraction, she tightened her grip again.

She showed no panic, only a cold smile. “What will the leaders think? They’ll see with their own eyes!”

“After all, I have evidence. If my suspicions are correct, and that man is dangerous, I’m simply ridding society of a harmful element!”

The older military wife said, “Evidence? What evidence do you have?”

Shen Sisi took a deep breath and calmly said, “This morning, I took my daughter to buy vegetables and saw that man they mentioned at the gate.”

“He was bald, with a missing piece of his ear. He was shouting to see Gu Chengfeng and was stopped by the guards. I immediately sensed something was wrong; he seemed dangerous, possibly seeking revenge. I tried to follow him, but I lost him at the docks…”

Regarding the lover…Shen Sisi found the word distasteful.  “I’m new here; I don’t even know him. Yet, these two insisted he was my lover, describing him vividly.  They must have met him to be so certain.”

Shen Sisi spoke rapidly, logically, and irrefutably.

Everyone understood.

The two gossips had tried to spread rumors about Shen Sisi, only to be caught in their own trap.

If the man was seeking revenge on Gu Chengfeng or was an enemy agent, they would be in serious trouble.

Shen Sisi didn’t need to defend herself; others would investigate Zhang Xiuhong and Yang Qiuxia.

They should be worrying about clearing their own names.

Hearing Shen Sisi, Zhang Xiuhong cried, “I…I didn’t know that man was suspicious!  You’re just unprincipled and blaming others!”

“Whether I’m principled or not, the military authorities are the judges. If I couldn’t enter these gates, it’s my fate, not your right to slander me.”

Shen Sisi, still angry, kneed Zhang Xiuhong, causing her to cry out in pain.

Yang Qiuxia, calmer than Zhang Xiuhong, quickly assessed the situation.

If her husband found out she’d caused such a commotion, he might divorce her!

She hardened her heart, giving Zhang Xiuhong a fierce look.

“Sister Sisi, I’m sorry. I…I also heard from Sister Xiuhong that a man came looking for you, your lover.  I was foolish to believe her lies.”

She squeezed out a few tears, regretting her actions.  “I was blinded by stupidity. Please, let me go.”

Zhang Xiuhong was furious. “You were the one who said it! You said you saw it with your own eyes!  Why are you blaming everything on me…?”

Yang Qiuxia sniffled, feigning innocence. “Sister Xiuhong, I know you don’t want to admit it.  For other things, I would take the blame for you, as I have before. But this is complicated, I can’t take the blame this time. If you really saw it, you have to tell the truth…”

“What do you mean, ‘take the blame’? When have you ever taken the blame for me, Yang Qiuxia?  Explain yourself!”

Zhang Xiuhong was enraged, acting like a madwoman, almost knocking Shen Sisi over.

Even Shen Sisi, despite her initial anger, realized what Yang Qiuxia was doing trying to make her take the fall alone!

If the man was really seeking revenge, she could go to jail, even be executed!  What would happen to her husband and child?

Zhang Xiuhong, fueled by anger, unexpectedly pushed Shen Sisi over.

Shen Sisi was caught off guard and fell backward, but strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.

Strong arms, full of power, effortlessly held her close.

A handsome face was inches away, deep eyes filled with concern beneath strong brows.

Gu Chengfeng. He was back…

Gu Chengfeng knelt, his nose brushing against Shen Sisi’s dusty cheek. Her eyes were red; all her strength and composure melted away at his sight.

“Gu Chengfeng…” Shen Sisi threw her arms around him.

Gu Chengfeng groaned; his shoulder injury was aggravated.  The pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

He’d rushed back from his mission to find this scene!!!

These people had bullied Shen Sisi while he was away…

He’d arrived urgently, not fully understanding the situation.  Someone had told him Shen Sisi had beaten up Zhang Xiuhong and Yang Qiuxia.

If Shen Sisi had fought, she must have been terribly wronged.

Sisi was such a kind and gentle woman; she wouldn’t start a fight.

The only explanation was that those women deserved it!

He’d arrived just in time; any later, and Sisi might have been seriously hurt!

A dark anger flashed in Gu Chengfeng’s eyes. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

Shen Sisi, who hadn’t shed a tear until now, began to cry at his concern.

“I’m fine…” Shen Sisi’s voice broke, tears streaming down her face.

He’d never seen her cry before.  “You’re crying, and you say you’re fine!”

The onlookers: “Is Gu Chengfeng okay?”

The beaten women were on the ground; couldn’t he see?  And he couldn’t handle a few tears from Shen Sisi?

Gu Chengfeng cupped Shen Sisi’s head and held her close, whispering, “I’m sorry, I’m late.”

“Leave this to me…I won’t let anyone who hurt you go unpunished!”

His words were icy, sending shivers down everyone’s spines.

Everyone in the military knew Gu Chengfeng’s temper.

When angered, he was a force to be reckoned with, even the commander feared him.

Zhang Xiuhong and Yang Qiuxia exchanged glances and started fighting each other.

Pulling each other’s hair and kicking, they rolled around on the ground.

Their husbands arrived and pulled them apart.

“What happened?”