“He Qiu, you have truly wronged me.”

Just as everyone was rallying to He Qiu’s defense, a cool, clear voice suddenly rang out from the doorway of the room.

Shen Tang leaned against the wall as she stepped out, her beautiful face pale as paper. She wore a white blouse with green military trousers, a black leather belt cinching her waist to emphasize its slenderness. Her curvaceous figure was impossible to conceal in this outfit, which only added a touch of allure to her already cool and elegant demeanor.

Everyone secretly thought, What a fox spirit.

It was said that Shen Tang was thick-skinned and loved to flirt, yet there wasn’t a woman who didn’t envy her.

Shen Tang was exceptionally beautiful—long, curled lashes, captivating autumn-pool eyes, a delicate nose, cherry lips, and soft, slightly wavy hair lazily cascading down her back. Even if she were wearing a burlap sack, she would still carry an ethereal, cool aura.

Standing at 168 cm, her proportions were perfect—a slender waist, long legs, and skin as fair as moonlight. Anyone who saw her couldn’t help but steal a second glance.

Because she was chasing after Han Zhongguo, every unmarried man in the military district wished they could knock Han Zhongguo flat.

Even Han Zhongguo’s regiment commander wished he could drill him into the ground.

Damn, she really is something to be jealous of.

After speaking, Shen Tang’s pupils contracted slightly as she noticed the crowd gathered outside. Under the gaze of so many people, her socially anxious self nearly turned right back around. She was so nervous she almost stuttered.

If it weren’t for He Qiu’s white-lotus act grating on her ears, she wouldn’t have pushed through her headache to speak up.

Zhou Ling, seeing her emerge, quickly asked, “Tang Tang, why are you out? Are you feeling better?”

Shen Tang, her face still pale, nodded. “Much better, Auntie.”

In her previous life, her aunt had neglected her own child to help the original Shen Tang, resulting in her newly adopted three-year-old falling into a well and drowning. Her aunt’s husband, disillusioned, divorced her.

And all she got in return was the original Shen Tang saying, My aunt chose to help—I never asked her to.

After that, her aunt was heartbroken and passed away at just forty, consumed by depression.

Having been an orphan all her life, Shen Tang felt a pang of sadness. If the original owner didn’t want such a wonderful aunt, I’ll take her!

Suppressing her nerves, she said in a trembling voice, “Auntie, could you help me set up a ladder by the courtyard gate?”

Her voice quivered as she spoke, betraying her anxiety.

This was mainly because she had never confronted anyone before, nor had she ever done anything so bold.

But—

Today, Socially Anxious Shen Tang was determined to stand her ground and play the female lead for once!

That’s right, everyone here was just an NPC—no one was going to hijack her attention!

No one understood what she was doing.

Even Zhou Ling was confused but followed her instructions instinctively.

Then, everyone watched as Shen Tang, mustering her strength, carried half a bucket of water, scurried up the ladder, and poured it directly over He Qiu’s head.

Instantly, the stench of garbage water filled the air.

Everyone took two steps back in shock, staring at her in disbelief.

Has this girl lost her mind?

Shen Tang was still suffering from a headache and didn’t have much strength, making it impossible for her to lift the half-bucket of water normally.

But now, with the advantage of height, she managed to pour the foul-smelling water—who knew what it had been used to wash—all over He Qiu from head to toe.

He Qiu, caught off guard by the drenching, couldn’t hide the venom in her expression. “Shen Tang, how dare you do this to me?”

Shen Tang shook the bucket, realized there was still water left, held her breath, and said coldly, “Why wouldn’t I dare?” Then she poured the remaining water over He Qiu’s head.

After emptying the bucket, she even gave it a couple of shakes for good measure.

While climbing down the ladder, her legs went weak and she nearly stumbled. Luckily, Zhou Ling, quick-eyed and swift-handed, caught her in time.

He Qiu was so furious she wanted to hit someone. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Han Zhongguo arriving. Instantly, her venomous eyes turned red and filled with tears, leaving Shen Tang inwardly clicking her tongue in disbelief.

“What’s going on here?”

“Battalion Commander Han is here.”

“Battalion Commander Han, you have to stand up for He Qiu! This Shen Tang has gone mad—she poured water all over He Qiu!”

Han Zhongguo walked over to He Qiu. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes and drenched appearance, his face immediately darkened.

Since the summer sun was blazing, several people had gathered at the courtyard gate for shade. The bucket of water Shen Tang had poured hadn’t just drenched He Qiu—it had also splashed half of He Chunhua, who was standing nearby.

He Qiu, doused directly from head to toe, looked as if she’d just been pulled out of a pond, reeking of foul socks.

Han Zhongguo turned to Shen Tang and scolded her harshly: “Shen Tang, how many times do I have to tell you? I don’t like you. Please stop pestering me. Besides, He Qiu is my fiancée—show some respect!”

Han Zhongguo had a stern, upright appearance, with dark skin and a height of about 180 cm. In an era where many struggled with hunger and poverty, he stood out as tall and robust.

Shen Tang couldn’t understand why the original owner—a young lady from a well-off family—had been so hopelessly devoted to someone like him.

He’s not even that handsome, is he?

“Stop!” Shen Tang interrupted him, her voice trembling. “When did I ever say I liked you?”

Han Zhongguo, noticing her shaky voice and pitifully pale face, assumed she was just putting on a brave front. As a man, he usually wouldn’t bother arguing with a girl, but today Shen Tang had gone too far.

He sneered, “You never said it directly, but—”

“Since I never said it, how dare you slander my reputation?”

Han Zhongguo was stumped. Any grown man would recognize that adoring look in her eyes.

But it was true—Shen Tang had never actually confessed to him. Every time she tried to speak, he had cut her off.

“Regardless, He Qiu is your friend. Pouring a bucket of water over her for such a trivial matter shows how kind-faced yet cruel-hearted you are—how vile and coarse! I, Han Zhongguo, swear this: no matter how much you target He Qiu, I will never like you.”

“Now, apologize to He Qiu!”

Shen Tang gritted her molars in anger. What nonsense! Apologize?

“Battalion Commander Han, given your age, I suppose your hearing is starting to fail. If I’m ‘kind-faced yet cruel-hearted,’ then what does that make the woman beside you? A venomous snake?”

“If I’m ‘vile and coarse,’ then what does that make you—a man who only finished two years of elementary school, isn’t much to look at despite your age, and fits the saying ‘ugly people cause more trouble’? Blind in both eyes and heart?”

“Oh, wait—I forgot your vision is failing too. You can’t even see the person right beside you clearly. What a blind fool!”

Han Zhongguo’s face instantly darkened. “Shen Tang!”

“What do you want?”

Shen Tang swallowed, her throat dry, palms sweating from nervousness.

But her thoughts were gradually becoming clearer.

“First, I need to clarify something.”

“Battalion Commander Han, the only reason I ever stopped you was because I’m young and couldn’t bear to see you being deceived—not because I liked you!”

“Since you’re willing to be fooled, I won’t interfere in your matters ever again.”

Han Zhongguo frowned, clearly not buying her explanation.

Shen Tang then turned her gaze to someone who was looking guilty. “As for your mention of ‘friends,’ sorry—but I don’t consider someone who uses me as a stepping stone a friend!”

“He Qiu, let me ask you: when I first joined the song and dance troupe, didn’t you beg me desperately to bring you along? Didn’t you say you were just visiting a distant relative—Aunt He—here in the military unit?”

He Qiu bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling that the person before her seemed unfamiliar.

Shen Tang had always been foolish and stuttered when talking to strangers—so why was she suddenly so assertive?

“That’s true, but—”

“Good, you admit it.” Shen Tang cut her off. “Everyone, think about it: since when do distant relatives come to military units for visits?”

“He Qiu has two older brothers and a younger sister. After graduating high school, she faced being sent to the countryside if she couldn’t find a job. When she heard that the military unit’s middle school was recruiting teachers, she begged me to bring her here for a try. Out of regard for our years of friendship, I agreed.”

“With so many job opportunities in the capital, why did He Qiu insist on coming to our military unit?”

“Could it be because she failed the exams?”