Chapter 22: The Key

Leng Mohan arrived at the logistics department, politely but firmly requesting the necessary keys. After obtaining them, he inspected several courtyards near the regiment commander’s house, finally settling on the vacant one next door.

Entering the house, Leng Mohan was greeted by a stunning sight. The walls were pristine, the doors and windows intact, and the brick floor gleamed, clearly well-maintained.

This starkly contrasted with the dilapidated state of the surrounding area, as if two completely different worlds existed side-by-side.

Intrigued, Leng Mohan carefully examined each room—bedroom, kitchen, bathroom—leaving no corner unchecked. The renovations were clearly meticulous, each detail exuding a unique charm.

Before arriving, he had surveyed several nearby courtyards. Those, both externally and internally, were in disrepair; some were even more dilapidated inside than out. This, however, was like a hidden treasure in the corner of the military base, quietly awaiting its destined owner.

The previous courtyards looked unremarkable from the outside, but inside were dilapidated and dirty, clearly neglected by previous occupants.

This courtyard, however, was different. Its exterior appeared dilapidated and worn, yet within lay a different world.

Clearly, the previous occupants were shrewd, masters of “hiding their wealth,” meticulously maintaining the interior while keeping the exterior unassuming.

Leng Mohan was satisfied. He found no need to search further; this was his new home. He briefly registered at the logistics department and received the keys.

With his housing settled, Leng Mohan immediately went to the broadcasting room.

He would clarify things with Zhou Wenwen before telling Luo Jiaojiao about the house.

Next came the task of decorating his new home and buying furniture. Of course, there were also long-overdue debts to settle. Once everything was settled, he would invite a few close friends for a meal, a chance to introduce Luo Jiaojiao.

Leng Mohan strolled towards the broadcasting room, his next four days already meticulously planned, awaiting execution.

The guards at the broadcasting room entrance were surprised to see him, puzzled as to his presence. They didn’t ask, however, knowing the answer would soon be revealed.

“Commander Leng,” the guard saluted.

Leng Mohan nodded slightly. “Is anyone inside? I need to borrow two minutes to clarify some things.”

“Yes, Comrade Liang Yin is inside preparing for a broadcast,” the guard replied.

Leng Mohan frowned slightly. Liang Yin? The name sounded familiar, but he had no time to ponder it. He simply instructed, “Good, I’ll go in. You continue your guard duty.”

The guard nodded, watching Leng Mohan enter.

Leng Mohan paused, connecting the name to the person before him. Liang Yin, from the bustling capital city, was like a natural enemy to Zhou Wenwen.

She was one of many women pursuing him, but her demeanor was wild and arrogant, making her difficult to approach. Despite this, her unique voice was quite charming, earning her some support from families with connections, allowing her to live comfortably.

However, compared to Zhou Wenwen, Liang Yin paled in comparison. Zhou Wenwen’s elegance and intelligence led everyone to believe Leng Mohan was deeply infatuated with her. In this comparison, Liang Yin seemed merely a supporting character, her presence causing little stir. Everyone tacitly chose silence.

Undeniably, if Leng Mohan didn’t even care for Zhou Wenwen—a girl considered well-behaved, capable, and beautiful—how could he possibly care for the capricious and spoiled Liang Yin?

Leng Mohan didn’t care who was inside, so he knocked without hesitation.

“Who is it? Don’t you know people inside need to rest and prepare for the upcoming broadcast?” Liang Yin opened the door, her voice laced with sleepiness and annoyance. “How are the guards doing their job? Didn’t I say not to disturb me? Even guarding the door properly is beyond you, you’re useless!”

Leng Mohan looked deeply at Liang Yin; his knock had clearly woken her. His brow furrowed, his displeasure evident.

“Liang Yin, don’t you know the broadcasting room isn’t a place to sleep?” His voice held a hint of reproach.

Liang Yin rubbed her sleepy eyes, vaguely seeing a figure before her, still not fully awake. She asked hazily, “Hey, who are you? How dare you talk to me like that?”

Leng Mohan looked at her with a sarcastic expression, seeing her still half-asleep. He said sternly, “I’m Leng Mohan. Sleeping in the broadcasting room is inappropriate, and I’ll report this to the person in charge.”

Liang Yin finally woke up. She blinked, carefully examining Leng Mohan.

Realizing she might be in trouble, she quickly explained, “I’m sorry, I really didn’t know sleeping here was forbidden. I was just so tired, worried about performing poorly later, so I rested here for a bit.”

Leng Mohan said without any mercy, “This is a public place, it can’t be used as a rest room.”

The broadcasting room had a special rule. Five minutes before the daily broadcast, a special service was offered to the soldiers.

Whether it was requesting songs, confessions, or reading love letters, anything was possible. But there was only one slot per day, and it cost fifty cents.

This money went towards food and drinks at the unit’s annual banquet.

This small broadcasting room had witnessed countless touching stories, connecting countless hearts yearning for warmth. Every word, every note, was filled with sincerity and affection.

Liang Yin assumed it was a soldier wanting to express his love to a female soldier through the broadcasting room.

In her opinion, officers often disdained such frivolous expressions or were too proud to do such a thing, so only soldiers would use this method to confess to their crushes. Therefore, Liang Yin dared to be so reckless.

Leng Mohan looked at the still-unclear Liang Yin, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

This woman facing imminent crisis was still so arrogant. It seemed she knew nothing about her family’s situation. He wondered if she would still be so self-important once she learned the truth.