Chapter 4 – Slandering a Military Dependent is a Crime

The figure approaching was none other than Gu Shiqing, who had rushed over from the train station.

He was dressed in military uniform, his posture upright and imposing. Although he had just completed a mission and hurried back to Hu City, there was no trace of fatigue on his face. His expression remained cold and stern, his entire presence emanating an aura that warned others to stay away.

Zhou Shiyu clearly did not expect to see Gu Shiqing here. Shouldn’t he be at the military base at this time? Why had he suddenly returned? Could it be… he already knew about Lin Banxia eloping with another man?

With that thought, Zhou Shiyu quickly stepped forward to greet him.

“Gu… Battalion Commander Gu!”

She remembered how, when she first arrived at the base, she used to call Gu Shiqing ‘Brother Gu’, only to be coldly corrected by him—he insisted she address him as ‘Battalion Commander Gu’. So now, she promptly changed her form of address.

Gu Shiqing gave Zhou Shiyu a glance. He knew her—Zhou Shiyu’s uncle worked with his mother—so they were acquainted, but only just. They were far from close.

He gave a slight nod. That counted as a greeting.

However, Zhou Shiyu did not leave. Instead, she continued speaking. “Battalion Commander Gu, it’s good you’re back. After Lin Banxia found out that something might happen to your family, she actually ran off with another man! Uncle and Auntie must be alone and worrying right now!”

Lin Banxia ran off with another man?

Gu Shiqing’s sword-like eyebrows drew together in a frown. He thought of his wife—Lin Banxia—whom he had not seen since their wedding two years ago.

He could barely remember what she looked like. Just that she was exceptionally beautiful—so much so that it felt absurd. At the time, his comrades had secretly commented that Doctor Lin’s granddaughter looked like a fairy.

Of course, her appearance and her personality were two extremes.

The more beautiful and likable she looked, the more odious and detestable her character was.

Back then, when he and his comrade were out on a mission tracking spies, his comrade was accidentally injured. The area had no access to a proper hospital, so they were referred to Old Lin for treatment. That was when he met Lin Banxia at the Lin household.

Later, after his comrade’s injuries were healed, they planned to leave. The day before their departure, Lin Banxia had fallen into the river and cried for help. Without thinking twice, he had jumped in to save her.

But who would’ve thought that rescue would entangle him in her web.

Lin Banxia accused him of touching her in the water and forced him to marry her—threatening to report him for indecent assault if he refused!

Left with no choice, Gu Shiqing had to grit his teeth and marry Lin Banxia.

Even so, Gu Shiqing did not believe Zhou Shiyu’s words so easily. He fixed his gaze on her and asked: “Who told you that?”

In fact, earlier on his way back, he had run into Uncle Liu from the compound. Uncle Liu had merely expressed surprise at his sudden return and never mentioned anything about Lin Banxia eloping. That meant even if it were true, the rumor hadn’t spread widely yet.

So how did Zhou Shiyu know about it?

Though he did not have a good impression of Lin Banxia, eloping with another man was enough to utterly ruin a woman’s reputation. He would not believe such claims based solely on someone’s word.

Zhou Shiyu froze, meeting Gu Shiqing’s piercing eyes—eyes that seemed to see right through her.

She had heard before that Gu Shiqing once identified a spy on a train just by detecting something off in the man’s eyes.

Zhou Shiyu stammered: “I… I saw her last night sneaking out with a suitcase. And before that, I heard she was very close to a certain man, so…”

Under Gu Shiqing’s scrutiny, she dared not lie, though she deliberately glossed over her own intentions.

At the time, when she hinted things to Lin Banxia, it had not been a kind warning—it was to deliberately push Lin Banxia into eloping with Chen Junming!

“In other words, you didn’t actually see Lin Banxia elope with another man. This is only your assumption.” Gu Shiqing said coldly. “Comrade Zhou, regardless of everything, Lin Banxia is my wife. You made such an accusation without any evidence. That is slander. And slandering a military dependent is a criminal offense.”

Gu Shiqing interrupted Zhou Shiyu, his tone cold and sharp as he reminded her sternly. His deep, dark eyes were filled with an unmistakable chill.

It wasn’t that he had deep feelings for Lin Banxia. But no matter what, she was still his wife. Until he had seen the truth with his own eyes, he could not allow outsiders to slander her at will.

Zhou Shiyu had not expected that even at this point, Gu Shiqing would still be speaking in defense of Lin Banxia.

She responded quickly: “Battalion Commander Gu, I’m sorry. I won’t speak like that again.” but inside, her heart was sour with jealousy.

Lin Banxia didn’t deserve someone as good as Gu Shiqing!

Gu Shiqing was still worried about his parents and had no time to argue further with Zhou Shiyu. After casting her another warning glance, he turned and strode into the compound.

Zhou Shiyu watched his tall, upright figure from behind, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration. Once Gu Shiqing gets home, he’ll realize she hadn’t slandered Lin Banxia. Lin Banxia really had eloped!

When that time came, she would accompany him with gentle attentiveness, and Gu Shiqing would finally understand who truly liked him and treated him well.

At that thought, a renewed determination burned within Zhou Shiyu.

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Gu Shiqing hurried home and found that the door wasn’t locked. He pushed it open and stepped inside.

The house was quiet. His mother, Xu Minzhi, was nowhere to be seen, nor was there any trace of Lin Banxia. What alarmed him most was that his father, Gu Honglang, was lying motionless on the sofa—he looked as though he had fainted!

At that moment, a terrible thought flashed through Gu Shiqing’s mind.

His father suffered from cerebral infarction. Could it be that news of Lin Banxia eloping with another man had provoked him so badly that he passed out?

And where was his mother? Had something happened to her as well?

Thinking of this, Gu Shiqing suddenly felt it was laughable how he had defended Lin Banxia in front of Zhou Shiyu just now. He had actually spoken up for that malicious woman.

If anything truly happened to his parents… he would never forgive Lin Banxia!

But the most urgent matter now was to take his father to the hospital! With his condition, any delay could mean missing the best window for emergency treatment.

“Dad, Dad! Are you okay? Where’s Mom? Hang in there, I’ll take you to the hospital right away!”

As he spoke, Gu Shiqing reached out to support Gu Honglang’s body, trying to help him up from the sofa and carry him to the hospital on his back.

Gu Honglang had just been resting his mind after drinking the medicinal meal Lin Banxia had prepared for him the night before. He had just risen that morning and was quietly relaxing when he was suddenly lifted up without warning, with someone insisting on carrying him to the hospital.

Startled, Gu Honglang immediately opened his eyes and was astonished—and delighted—to see his long-absent son standing before him.

He asked quickly: “Shiqing, why are you back?”

Neither he nor Xu Minzhi had informed Gu Shiqing of the situation at home. At this time, wasn’t Gu Shiqing supposed to be at the military base?

Gu Shiqing explained: “The Division Commander told me the family had been reported and would be investigated. He approved leave for me to come home and check on things. Dad, with something this serious, why didn’t you send a telegram? If the Division Commander hadn’t informed me, I wouldn’t have known.”

Gu Honglang explained: “When we last spoke, you said you had an upcoming field mission. Your mother and I were afraid that if we told you, it would worry you and affect your work. So we decided to wait.”

Ah, the heart of a parent—forever thinking of their child. His parents had been worried for him every moment, while he hadn’t been able to return in time. Worse, he had even married a woman like Lin Banxia who brought them distress. Gu Shiqing was filled with guilt.

“Forget it, Dad. Let me take you to the hospital to get checked.” Gu Shiqing said.

But Gu Honglang quickly responded: “No need for the hospital. Last night, Banxia already performed acupuncture on me and made a medicinal meal. I drank it this morning and felt completely at ease. Honestly, it worked far better than any of the medications prescribed at the hospital!”