It wasn’t exactly attraction – her eyes just sparkled extraordinarily bright. Like a modern-day fan encountering their idol, her gaze radiated pure admiration!

Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng were thinking along the same lines, though Jiang Yan remained a lingering concern. After Jiang Yan’s expulsion from the Jiang family in Jinling, Pan Bohua pledged to look after her.

“They weren’t together. Jiang Yan never had feelings for Third Brother.”

Zhou Cheng understood the situation better than Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan glared at him – so if she didn’t like Third Brother, she must have liked you instead?

Men truly were all heartless scoundrels.

Zhou Cheng had accidentally stirred up jealousy. At moments like these, panic wasn’t an option – if he showed any anxiety, even non-issues would transform into old grievances being dredged up.

“Jiang Yan didn’t have feelings for Third Brother, and Third Brother felt nothing for her either. I don’t think Third Brother harbors a romantic interest in anyone.”

He even mocked himself about fearing his father-in-law and complained about the troubles of finding a wife.

What was so amusing about that?

At least now he could hold his wife’s hand, while Third Brother could only hold his own hands.

Xia Xiaolan muttered, “Bai Zhenzhu hasn’t awakened to it either. These two match perfectly in combat ability, but everything else needs evaluation…”

Speaking of Bai Zhenzhu, Pan Bohua lived unbound by trivial matters. He treated Jiang Yan like a sister and likely viewed Bai Zhenzhu, who could match his fighting prowess, as a brother – this was the consequence of being single based on martial prowess; no one could change his perspective.

But what about Bai Zhenzhu – was she merely an admiring fan, or did she truly respect him?

Xia Xiaolan decided she needed to understand Bai Zhenzhu’s true feelings first.

She wasn’t trying to meddle needlessly, but Pan Bohua and Bai Zhenzhu, one a straightforward man and the other a straightforward woman, both possessed hearts of steel. Expecting them to realize their feelings independently seemed virtually impossible.

Regarding Jiang Yan’s situation, Xia Xiaolan felt no obligation.

If someone harbored feelings for Pan Bohua, they should express them directly.

If no such feelings existed, what right did anyone have to prevent Bai Zhenzhu from pursuing him?

Looking up, she witnessed Bai Zhenzhu surrounded by people showering her with flattery. They had misunderstood both her gender and status.

Pan Bohua waved his hand impatiently:

“What instructor? Sister Zhenzhu and I were having a private sparring match. Are you all envious? Want to line up for a beating?”

Bai Zhenzhu had fought him until exhaustion.

These others wouldn’t even qualify as her opponents.

Everyone’s jaws dropped in shock.

What?!

“Sister Zhenzhu—”

How could Leader Pan say such things – how could this person be a woman?

True, upon closer inspection, the eyebrows and eyes lacked masculine roughness, and though the skin was dark, it didn’t have the coarseness of a man’s weather-beaten complexion, nor any trace of stubble.

She… she was a woman…

And what a woman! To fight Leader Pan to a standstill!

Everyone’s gazes toward Bai Zhenzhu shifted dramatically.

Bai Zhenzhu paid no attention to these amateurs. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t find sparring partners – her family’s martial arts school had plenty of fellow disciples to train with.

She had specifically traveled to Qiong Island just to challenge Pan Bohua.

If she was going to fight, it had to be against the strongest man – that’s what made it worthwhile!

Bai Zhenzhu held firm principles about this.

Dunking her head under the faucet, she washed her face with cold water, her short hair still wet as she wiped her face with her hand:

“Third Brother, I’ll come back in a few days.”

Pan Bohua, having found a worthy opponent, showed rare social awareness: “Do you have a place to stay? Why not stay at the unit’s guesthouse? It’s convenient!”

Convenient for more sparring matches, that is.

Bai Zhenzhu considered it and nodded.

Xiaolan was here visiting family and being married to Zhou Cheng, the couple naturally needed to stay together.

As an outsider, she couldn’t brazenly impose herself between Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng – what would she do, sleep on the floor in the living room while they took the bedroom?

Though sleeping on the floor wouldn’t be impossible… Zhou Cheng probably wouldn’t approve.

So the guesthouse was indeed the better choice.

“Then I’ll follow Third Brother’s arrangement.”

As people of the martial world, this kind of informality was natural – being too polite would feel out of place.

In Bai Zhenzhu’s mind, when Pan Bohua visited Pengcheng and Yangcheng, her territory, she would naturally host him well, ensuring his comfort.

Here in Qiong Island, at his workplace, wasn’t this Pan Bohua’s territory? So she should follow his lead!

Thus, on her very first day in Qiong Island, Bai Zhenzhu had already made a name for herself.

Word spread quickly through the unit about a woman who had fought Pan Bohua to a draw. The news reached all the other squadrons and naturally made its way to Jiang Yan’s ears.

Who could fight Third Brother Pan to a draw?

Jiang Yan was curious.

Upon inquiry, she learned that Zhou Cheng’s family member had arrived, and the person who could match Pan Bohua in combat had come with them.

Jiang Yan had initially wanted to watch the excitement, but now felt she should keep her distance.

However, when Bai Zhenzhu and Pan Bohua fought their second match at the training ground, others dragged Jiang Yan to watch, and she recognized Bai Zhenzhu.

On Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan’s wedding day, Bai Zhenzhu challenged Third Brother, and now this woman had pursued him to Qiong Island.

Jiang Yan pondered this thoughtfully.

Looking up, she caught Xia Xiaolan watching her with an ambiguous smile.

What was so amusing?

She had said she would let go, so how could she still cling to Zhou Cheng?

Unexpectedly, Xia Xiaolan beckoned to her, and Jiang Yan could only shuffle over slowly.

“Did you need something?”

“I wanted to ask you something, but it’s too noisy here. Let’s find a quieter place to talk.”

Xia Xiaolan led Jiang Yan aside and asked directly:

“I heard Third Brother made you a promise – if you couldn’t find a suitable match, he would wait to marry until you did?”

Yes, there was such a promise.

Jiang Yan herself didn’t care about it anymore, and couldn’t understand why Xia Xiaolan would ask about this.

“Aren’t you overstepping? Whether there’s a promise or not, it’s none of your business.”

Xia Xiaolan pointed toward the training ground, “Look over there yourself.”

Yes, she could see Third Brother sparring with Bai Zhenzhu.

Jiang Yan had to admit, that Bai Zhenzhu was indeed skilled – even more capable than herself before her injury.

Women’s strength couldn’t match men’s, so they had to rely on technique to compensate.

Bai Zhenzhu didn’t appear to be all muscle, yet somehow she had developed such remarkable martial skills.

She had only noticed Bai Zhenzhu’s impressive abilities, not understanding what Xia Xiaolan was trying to convey until Bai Zhenzhu was defeated again. This time, she didn’t need Pan Bohua’s helping hand – she steadied herself.

“…I lost again!”

Pan Bohua grinned, “You’ve been studying my moves, haven’t you? This isn’t losing – you just have less combat experience than me!”

How strange, Third Brother rarely smiled so happily.

Recalling Xia Xiaolan’s mysterious questioning, Jiang Yan began to understand something. She turned around, but Xia Xiaolan had already returned to Zhou Cheng’s side, standing on tiptoe to whisper something in his ear.

What was Xia Xiaolan suggesting?

Did she fear Jiang Yan would hold onto Third Brother as a backup plan?

She was judging through a crack in the door, underestimating her character.

Was she the type of petty person who would prevent others from pursuing Third Brother just because she didn’t like him herself?

Jiang Yan decided she must speak with Xia Xiaolan to clarify this matter.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t find an opportunity that day, and when she tried to catch her the next day, Xia Xiaolan had already left the unit – not only had she departed, but she’d taken Bai Zhenzhu with her.

Jiang Yan couldn’t help but ask Zhou Cheng:

“Where are they? They came for just two days and left?!”