Xu Xiaoyue strode forward, while the man followed at a leisurely pace not far behind.  

She turned out of Lian Street’s alleyway, her steps carrying her in an entirely different direction.  

A cold smirk tugged at Yan Ye’s lips—he’d expected this little liar wouldn’t tell the truth.  

The address was fake, and likely those indignant words from earlier were mostly fabricated too.  

Yet realizing she’d deceived him, Yan Ye felt an odd sense of relief.  

Pushing his bicycle, he trailed Xu Xiaoyue until the surroundings grew increasingly familiar.  

As he rounded a corner to keep pace, a voice suddenly called out beside him.  

“Yan—Regiment Commander Yan!” A woman’s voice, pitched higher with unmistakable delight.  

Sun Ningning never imagined she’d run into Yan Ye in this neighborhood.  

She glanced behind him—no one else was there.  

“It’s so late—where are you headed?”

The young woman’s cheeks flushed pink as she gazed up at him with tender eyes, her voice soft.  

Yan Ye recognized her—Sun Ningning from the cultural troupe.  

His brow furrowed. “Nowhere in particular. Just taking a walk.” 

He adjusted his grip on the bicycle handles, signaling his intent to leave.  

Sun Ningning hurried forward, her hand abruptly landing on his bike.  

This rare chance to speak with Yan Ye alone—she couldn’t let it slip away.  

“Remove your hand.”

His tone was glacial, dark eyes boring into the audacious fingers curled around his handlebars.  

His severe aversion to others touching his belongings was well-known, let alone when it involved a barely acquainted female comrade.  

Sun Ningning recoiled from his stare, embarrassment flashing across her face.  

“Regiment Commander Yan, I—I didn’t mean to. It’s just… walking alone at night frightens me, and since you’re riding, might I trouble you for a lift?”

She lowered her lashes demurely after speaking, posture meek.  

Internally, she congratulated herself—how fortunate she’d refused when her admirer offered to escort her home after the movies earlier.  

Had Yan Ye seen her with another man, he might have mistaken her for being taken.  

At twenty, Sun Ningning faced increasing family pressure to marry.  

But she believed only an officer could match the effort she’d invested to join the cultural troupe.  

After hundreds of performances, she’d observed countless officers and soldiers—most either married, too old, or from undesirable backgrounds.  

Yan Ye alone stood out as the prize catch.  

The youngest regiment commander in the corps, his future prospects were limitless.  

His family background needed no elaboration.  

Though his mother—a capitalist’s daughter—had donated much of their wealth during the political campaigns, even a lean camel outweighed a horse.  

More crucially, Sun Ningning had noticed Yan Ye from her very first day in the troupe.  

Were it not for fear of Ruan Wei, few female comrades would overlook this man.  

Now, with night fallen and the street deserted—with Ruan Wei absent—it felt like heaven itself was aiding her.  

When Yan Ye remained silent, Sun Ningning pressed on undeterred.  

“Regiment Commander, why so quiet?” Her voice dripped sweetness as she blinked up at him through dewy eyes, lips slightly pursed in a coquettish pout.  

Yan Ye furrowed his brows, finding it all very strange.  

The same action—if performed by Xu Xiaoyue—didn’t seem to bother him nearly as much.  

But when it came from the female comrade before him, Yan Ye felt nothing but disgust.  

His expression darkened as he pushed his bicycle back with one hand, deliberately putting distance between them.  

“Comrade Sun Ningning, I must ask you to maintain some self-respect.”

With that, he didn’t even glance back before swinging his leg over the bike and riding off.  

Sun Ningning stomped her foot in frustration, her resentment almost palpable as she glared at his retreating figure.  

She had swallowed her pride, only for the man to reject her outright.  

Yet even so, she couldn’t let go of Yan Ye. *Men like him have every right to be proud,* she consoled herself. *Even Ruan Wei can’t get the better of him, can she?*  

Yan Ye pedaled ahead, scanning the streets.  

Sun Ningning had wasted too much of his time—Xu Xiaoyue was nowhere in sight now.  

A flicker of regret crossed his face, though the evening hadn’t been a total loss. *Fine. If necessary, I’ll just find her at the state-run supermarket another day.*  

…

Meanwhile, when Xu Xiaoyue returned to the Yan residence, the house stood empty save for Aunt Wang in the kitchen.  

Hearing the door, Aunt Wang emerged. “Xiaoyue? You came back alone so late?”

Changing into slippers, Xu Xiaoyue forced a smile. “Aunt Wang, what are you cooking? It smells amazing. I just got back from the hospital.”

She kept her meal with Yan Ye to herself.  

Fortunately, with Zheng Jiaojiao’s sprained ankle and the drama between her and Yan Shuli, the family’s attention was fixed on those two—no one cared about her whereabouts.  

“Director Liu asked me to make bone broth. There’s extra—want some?” Aunt Wang moved to ladle her a bowl.  

“No need, Aunt Wang, don’t trouble yourself. I already ate. Let me deliver the soup for you.” 

Xu Xiaoyue waved her off and took the thermos from the table. *Perfect timing.* After being absent all day, even for appearances’ sake, she ought to visit Zheng Jiaojiao at the hospital.  

…

Arriving at the hospital, she heard loud voices the moment she entered the corridor.  

“I’ll say it again—the train tickets are already bought.” A weary woman’s voice.  

“And I’ll repeat—I’m not going back to our hometown. Give it up.”

The second shout was unmistakably Yan Shuli’s. Xu Xiaoyue paused, hesitating. A mother-son argument wasn’t something an outsider should witness—it would only make things awkward.  

“Shuli, must you be like this?” Another quarrel seemed to erupt, Liu Ye’s tone resigned.  

Hurried footsteps approached. Xu Xiaoyue looked up to see Yan Shuli storming her way. *Just my luck,* she thought, lowering her head.  

“What’s the point of eavesdropping from the shadows? If you’ve got the guts, step forward and listen properly.” Yan Shuli’s dark eyes bore into her as he sneered.  

“Hear what? I just got here.”  

Clutching the food container, Xu Xiaoyue blinked at him in feigned confusion.  

Staring at his scowling face, she fantasized about teaching him some manners—*if only I weren’t living under their roof.* His lecturing tone was worse than her own father’s.  

*Besides, it’s just an argument. What’s there to eavesdrop on?*  

Yan Shuli narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her for several seconds before scoffing.  

“Better if you didn’t.”