Chapter 4 – Jumping into the Fire Pit

“Come on, I’ll go with you to the Captain and explain. I don’t mind you eavesdropping this time, so you can skip writing that review.”

Ning Songyun’s eyes lit up instantly. She threw her arms around Zhao Yu in a bear hug.

“Yuyu, you’re the best!”

Zhao Yu was nearly strangled. “Cough, cough… but don’t you dare eavesdrop again in the future. What if it’s something confidential or official business? What if you get expelled then?”

Still clinging tightly around Zhao Yu’s neck, Ning Songyun nodded vigorously. “Don’t worry, Yuyu, I swear I’ll never do it again!”

She even started fake-crying with exaggerated sniffles.

“Yuyu, you don’t know how strict my mom is. She said a thousand words, but in reality, she makes me copy it over and over again. You really saved my life this time! From now on, you are my most, most, most important friend!”

“Alright, alright,” Zhao Yu answered helplessly, though her eyes slowly filled with a smile.

She hadn’t expected that just like that, she and Ning Songyun would ease their tension—and even become good friends.

Thinking back to her past life, when she was isolated and alone, it was probably because these girls all looked down on her for throwing away her future for a man.

With that thought, Zhao Yu gently patted Ning Songyun’s back. “Still not letting me go? Aren’t we going to the Captain’s office?”

“Going, going!” Ning Songyun quickly released her, then dashed to the training room door and flung it open.

“Mom! Just now Yuyu said—”

Bang! Ning Songyun pushed open He Fang’s office door, only to see Lu Jing standing there with his Captain, Ji Weiguo.

Seeing Zhao Yu arrive, He Fang waved her over. “Perfect timing, I was just about to look for you.”

She pointed at Ji Weiguo, giving Zhao Yu a meaningful look. “This is Captain Ji. He came to ask me for your marriage application report.”

“Marriage application report?” Zhao Yu caught her cue and feigned ignorance.

“Lu Jing already filed a marriage report with me, saying it’s with you. But yours never came. I asked him, and he just dodged the question, so I brought him here to clarify.”

Ji Weiguo’s voice was calm and even, which didn’t match his fierce, intimidating face at all.

“Report!” Zhao Yu saluted.

“Previously, I did date Comrade Lu Jing, but because of certain principles, we’ve already broken up.”

“I did not agree to that!” Lu Jing quickly refuted.

“Oh?” Ji Weiguo looked at Zhao Yu with interest. “Why don’t you tell me what principles you’re talking about?”

“Of course—because he doesn’t do the right thing!”

Ning Songyun blurted out, but He Fang yanked her down into a chair and whispered sharply, “Let Little Zhao speak for herself!”

Zhao Yu gave Ning Songyun a reassuring look, then spoke calmly.

“Report, Captain. Before I answer your question, may I first ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Wasn’t it Comrade Wang Jianguo who lost his life saving Comrade Lu Jing?”

At the mention of Wang Jianguo, Ji Weiguo’s expression dimmed.

“Yes. He was Lu Jing’s squad leader. During a field drill, a landslide occurred, and he saved Lu Jing.”

“And didn’t Comrade Wang Jianguo have a wife?”

“Wife?” Ji Weiguo frowned. “He never filed a marriage report. How could he have a wife?”

Lu Jing hadn’t expected Zhao Yu to bring this up openly. Panicked, he explained,

“Squad Leader brought his girlfriend home once, and the folks back home just went ahead and held a banquet. You know how the older generation thinks—if there’s a banquet, it’s basically a marriage.”

At that, Ji Weiguo’s eyes widened in anger. “Doesn’t he know what military discipline is?!”

After roaring, he jabbed a finger toward Zhao Yu. “And you—what’s this got to do with you refusing to marry Lu Jing?”

Ignoring Lu Jing’s pleading gaze, Zhao Yu spoke firmly.

“Because Lu Jing thinks his squad leader gave his life for him, so he must take care of Wang Jianguo’s wife for the rest of his life. He even expects me to help him, without complaint, to take care of her as well.

I don’t think that matches my ideals of building a revolutionary partnership and a family. So I chose to break up with him.”

“Nonsense!”

The moment Zhao Yu finished, Ji Weiguo slammed the desk so hard it rattled.

“That so-called marriage isn’t recognized by the army, nor by the law! Take care of her, my ass! And you want to drag another young woman into it too? How thick is your skin?!”

Ji Weiguo was a blunt man, and in his fury he didn’t care if he was swearing—he let Lu Jing have it.

Zhao Yu jumped at his roar. He Fang quickly had Ning Songyun pass her a glass of water and whispered comfortingly, “It’s alright, Old Ji’s just like this.”

“But Captain, no matter what, Lin Shu already held the banquet with Squad Leader. Yet she can’t get Jianguo’s pension. If I don’t help her, she won’t survive.”

“No certificate, no marriage! What, she can’t find another man besides Wang Jianguo?”

“She really can’t.”

Zhao Yu muttered softly, but Ji Weiguo’s sharp ears caught it.

“Comrade Zhao, what do you mean by that?”

“Because Comrade Lin Shu is pregnant,” Zhao Yu answered bluntly.

“You’re talking nonsense!” Lu Jing hadn’t expected her to expose this too.

“How am I wrong?”

Zhao Yu tilted her head, spreading her hands. “Didn’t you tell me yourself? That the child in Lin Shu’s belly is Wang Jianguo’s only son, and you’ll take care of her for life to repay his sacrifice. Oh! And you even said you’d have the child call you Dad.”

“I only meant as a godfather! Don’t you know how I feel about you?”

Lu Jing caught the sight of Ji Weiguo’s face darkening, and scrambled to explain himself.

“I don’t care if you’re the kid’s stepdad or godfather,” Zhao Yu rolled her eyes. “But I’m not going to be a cheap stepmother. That’s a bottomless fire pit—whoever wants to jump in, let them.”

Lu Jing felt panic rising.

Helping Lin Shu now and then was one thing—but if the army misunderstood him as having an affair with her, that was something else entirely.

At best, he’d be disciplined. At worst, he might lose his position in the army altogether!

“Yuyu, you’ve really misunderstood me.” Desperate, Lu Jing grabbed Zhao Yu’s hand, trying to pull her closer.

“Yuyu, don’t get mad at me over Lin Shu anymore. Let’s live well together, alright?”

Feeling his words were a bit dry, he stretched out his hand solemnly, as if swearing an oath.

“From now on, I’ll put you first in everything. All major family decisions, I’ll listen to you. Will that do?”

A mocking voice suddenly cut in—

“Well now, this is entertaining. First time I’ve ever seen someone sweet-talking a girl like this. Ah-Yi, have you ever seen it before?”