Chapter 26: I don’t want some untrue things to affect Suisui.

Gu Cheng looked at his brother’s resigned expression and sighed inwardly—he too gave in. No matter how hard he tried, it was clear he had lost. From the moment Lin Suisui came to join the army as a military spouse, he had already been utterly defeated.

“Since you’re planning to live well with her,” Gu Cheng said, accepting the reality, “then make sure you deal with those flirty women outside in time.” Now that he’d come to terms with it, he began to worry on his friend’s behalf. “You’ve been promoted quickly these past few days. Although it’s based on your capabilities, there are plenty of people watching you, and even more who want to bring you down. Don’t let yourself be branded as having ‘improper conduct’ at such a critical time.”

Huo Changzheng’s eyes flashed sharply as he cut in, “What flirty women? I don’t have any.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course you don’t,” Gu Cheng replied sarcastically. “But you can’t stop the fact that you’re a married man with a kid and still have a bunch of women fawning over you.” He didn’t hesitate to point out the heart of the issue. “Especially Song Xiao—her identity alone is enough to raise eyebrows.”

“I can handle it,” Huo Changzheng said calmly. Then he looked up and, half-joking, half-serious, said, “How about you take her off my hands, save me the headache?”

“Huo Changzheng! I’ve never wronged you, yet here you are trying to screw me over!” Gu Cheng looked like he’d just swallowed dog shit. “That spoiled rich girl is way too much for me. Besides, she likes you, not me.”

“But I just feel like you’re the only one who could actually handle her,” Huo Changzheng raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the situation.

“Screw you. Don’t curse me like that,” Gu Cheng retorted. But even though he complained, he still found a way to escape. “I’m going to check on the training. Suit yourself.” With that, he stood up and ran off.

After he left, Huo Changzheng found sitting alone to be boring. He figured Lin Suisui should be getting off work and heading home about now, so he thought of going back too. But remembering the headache that was Song Xiao, he decided to make a stop at the commander’s office.

When Song Tiezhen saw him walk in, he couldn’t hide his smile. “Changzheng, you did an outstanding job on this mission. Don’t worry—your next promotion isn’t far off.”

“Thank you, sir. I just feel that I’m not yet ready to take on the role of regiment commander.” Huo Changzheng didn’t beat around the bush. “If you really think I did well this time, I’d like to ask for a favor instead.”

Song Tiezhen was intrigued. “What do you want? Just say it. If it’s something I can do, I’ll make it happen.”

“It’s like this,” Huo began, “Song Xiao has always seen me as an older brother, and I’m honored by that. But we’re not that far apart in age, and although I’m married and she’s not, too much interaction isn’t good for either of us. I’ve always tried to keep things at a normal friend’s level.”

He continued, “Now that my wife and child have come to join me, I want to make up for the years I’ve been away. I don’t want any misunderstandings affecting Suisui.”

He spoke tactfully, but Song Tiezhen understood him perfectly. In fact, he already knew his daughter’s feelings. If Huo Changzheng weren’t already married, he would’ve gladly accepted him as a son-in-law. He’d even turned a blind eye to some of Song Xiao’s inappropriate behavior toward Huo over the years, because of his own bias.

But now that Lin Suisui was here, he knew he couldn’t indulge Song Xiao any longer—otherwise, in the end, the one hurt would still be his daughter, as a woman.

“I understand exactly what you’re saying.” Song Tiezhen patted him on the shoulder. “I promise you, I won’t let Xiao Xiao cross any more lines.”

“Thank you, sir.” There had been a subtle threat in Huo Changzheng’s words earlier, but now his gratitude was sincere.

“It’s the least I can do,” Song Tiezhen said. “You’ve got some time off—go home and be with your wife.”

“Yes, I’ll be going then.”

As soon as Huo Changzheng left, Song Tiezhen also stood up and marched straight home.

Zhang Yinglian had just finished hanging the laundry and was about to go inside when the front door was pushed open. She looked up and saw Song Tiezhen striding in quickly. After thirty years of marriage, she could tell right away he wasn’t in a good mood.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” she quickly followed him into the house.

Once inside, Song Tiezhen turned to her, eyes wide with anger. “Where’s Song Xiao? Tell her to come down right now.”

“Xiao Xiao’s in her room sleeping. She rarely gets a break, so she’s sleeping in a bit,” Zhang Yinglian said, her tone nervous—she knew her husband hated it when their daughter lazed around.

“It’s already late morning, the sun’s halfway up the sky! It’s not like she’s been out fighting a war for three days. Go get her up right now!” Song Tiezhen snapped.

Zhang Yinglian didn’t dare hesitate. She rushed upstairs and yanked Song Xiao out of bed.

“Xiao Xiao, what trouble have you gotten into this time? Your dad’s downstairs furious—he looks like he’s ready to eat someone alive.”

Song Xiao, annoyed from being woken, looked confused at first. But when she heard her mother’s words, she immediately sobered up.

In their house, the scariest thing was when her dad got mad. But she’d been on her best behavior lately—no trouble at all.

“Mom, I’ve been really good lately. I’ve been going to rehearsal every day.”

“Well, your dad specifically asked for you. If it’s not you, who else?” Zhang Yinglian urged her. “Don’t talk nonsense. Throw on something and go down. If he waits too long, even if you’re innocent, you’ll end up guilty.”

That made perfect sense. Song Xiao didn’t dare delay. She grabbed a jacket from the wardrobe, threw it on, and followed her mother downstairs.

“Dad, you wanted to see me?”

Even though she was sure she hadn’t done anything wrong, her conditioned fear of her father kicked in.

Song Tiezhen looked at her for a while before speaking. “You’re 25 now—already an old maid. If you don’t find someone soon, you might not get married at all.”

He opened with marriage pressure, leaving Song Xiao almost stunned. Her father rarely involved himself in her love life—he always said that was a woman’s responsibility. So for him to suddenly bring it up now, she was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Dad, I just got the opportunity to perform a solo dance. I really want to do well, so I’m not planning on getting married anytime soon.”

“Who says you can’t dance after getting married?” Song Tiezhen replied. “Don’t try to divert the topic. If you want to focus on your career, I support that. But you can still get married now, and maybe have a child in a couple of years.”

“…”

Song Xiao finally realized her father was dead serious about discussing marriage today. Since she couldn’t dodge it, she spoke directly: “I want to marry someone I love. Right now, I don’t have anyone I like.”

“Feelings can be developed over time. As long as the person has good character and a clean background, that’s enough,” Song Tiezhen said matter-of-factly. He had only met Zhang Yinglian three times before they got married, and there was no talk of love or romance—yet they’d managed all these years just fine.

“Dad, it’s a new era now. People pursue love freely. That old-fashioned blind marriage stuff doesn’t fit anymore,” Song Xiao argued with conviction.

“I know it’s a new era,” Song Tiezhen replied. “And I don’t care whether you choose free love or a blind marriage—but you’re my daughter, Song Tiezhen’s daughter. You should know the difference between what’s moral and what’s not.”

He stared at her, as if seeing right through her.

Song Xiao’s heart trembled under his gaze. She knew the kind of person her father was. Most likely, her little moves hadn’t escaped his attention—he probably already knew about her feelings for Huo Changzheng, maybe even that she had gone to confront Lin Suisui.

Ha… that village woman Lin Suisui must’ve gone tattling to Huo the moment he came back. Song Xiao was so furious she wanted to rip her mouth off right then and there.

She realized now that head-on confrontation with her father wouldn’t work. She could only pretend to comply. “I’m willing to go on blind dates, but I’ll only marry someone I truly like. You can’t force me.”

After all, she had no intention of liking anyone other than Huo Changzheng.

“Fine. I’ll have your mother find more promising young men to introduce to you.” After saying that, Song Tiezhen gave another warning: “You’re a daughter of the Song family—act with dignity. Don’t do anything immoral.”

Seeing that he was about to launch into another long lecture, Song Xiao quickly agreed and fled back upstairs, using the excuse of washing up.

“I don’t think I’ve got any good candidates left,” Zhang Yinglian said once Song Xiao had gone. “Don’t you have a bunch of soldiers under you? Isn’t there at least one good one?”

Song Tiezhen thought for a moment and said, “Invite Gu Cheng over for dinner tonight.”