Jiang Yan stopped the eager Pan Baohua.

“Third Brother, can I talk to you about something?”

“Personal or work-related?”

Pan Baohua wasn’t just Jiang Yan’s superior; he also outranked Zhou Cheng. Of course, this was the position Pan Baohua had earned for himself, and Jiang Yan had never been jealous.

When they first met at the front, Jiang Yan only had respect for Pan Baohua.

It remained the same now.

Third Brother was a good person and her hero, but he wasn’t her type. She couldn’t selfishly hold him back.

Third Brother had a strong sense of responsibility and excellent character; he would be a good husband to whoever he married.

Precisely because of this, she wouldn’t marry him.

Third Brother deserved someone better, someone who loved him.

Like Bai Zhenzhu…

“It’s personal! Third Brother, what do you think of Bai Zhenzhu?”

Pan Baohua was puzzled: “I think Sister Zhenzhu is quite good – straightforward, tough, and easy to communicate with.”

Her strong martial arts spirit wasn’t a flaw.

Jiang Yan nodded, “I think so too. Everyone has their way of living, and all kinds of women have people who appreciate them. Unfortunately, the public opinion outside our unit isn’t friendly. They judge a woman’s worth by whether she’s a good wife and mother if she can raise children, do laundry, and cook. It’s as if women must have long hair, and wear makeup and skirts. They might as well bind women’s feet again and keep them at home serving their husbands and teaching children, unable to go anywhere!”

Pan Baohua sensed something.

Had something happened to Sister Zhenzhu?

But why was Jiang Yan so indignant? He remembered these two weren’t very close.

“Jiang Yan, speak plainly, don’t make me guess.”

Pan Baohua frowned.

“Third Brother, do you know why Bai Zhenzhu came to Qiong Island?”

Jiang Yan watched him quietly.

Pan Baohua didn’t voice his thought of “to challenge me to fights.”

Fighting matches wouldn’t last this long.

Would she abandon her business in Peng City?

So many people relied on Bai Zhenzhu for their livelihood.

Pan Baohua was perceptive beneath his rough exterior. So if Bai Zhenzhu came to Qiong Island, besides sparring with him, there must be other reasons.

Jiang Yan was implying something!

“Just say what you mean, we’re not strangers.”

“Bai Zhenzhu is being forced into arranged marriages by her family!

She came to Qiong Island with Xia Xiaolan to avoid this pressure. She may be living freely now, but eventually, she’ll have to face everything. Third Brother, I hope you can figure out your feelings soon, don’t leave yourself with regrets…

Perhaps, once you understand your feelings, you’ll understand why I don’t want to marry you.”

If she were to marry, it had to be someone she loved.

Sibling affection wasn’t enough.

Colleague relationships weren’t enough.

It had to be romantic love between a man and a woman.

Jiang Yan left after speaking, letting Pan Baohua digest this information.

Forced into arranged marriages?

Having to grow long hair, wear makeup, and put on skirts to cater to men’s preferences?

Would Bai Zhenzhu still be Bai Zhenzhu after such changes?

It wasn’t that Bai Zhenzhu couldn’t follow the path of ordinary women, but it should be her own choice, not forced change… Pan Baohua felt uncomfortable.

Jiang Yan asked him to clarify his feelings, but how could he sort them out so quickly?

With these thoughts weighing on his mind, he was distracted during his sparring session with Bai Zhenzhu, losing to her move for the first time.

The spectators cheering them on were stunned – Leader Pan… lost?

Damn, Comrade Zhenzhu was fierce!

Bai Zhenzhu could hardly believe it herself.

She had pinned Pan Baohua down, her arm pressed against his neck.

Wow, she beat Third Brother Pan?

She felt she could brag about this for life!

Bai Zhenzhu grinned, her tanned skin making her teeth appear especially white and even.

Sister Zhenzhu looked quite pretty when she smiled. How blind would someone have to be to mistake her gender?

Pan Baohua was dazzled by that smile.

Then he became acutely aware of certain feminine characteristics – this position had pressed something soft and resilient against his arm… Pan Baohua was stunned for several seconds.

During their previous sparring matches, physical contact with Bai Zhenzhu had been unavoidable.

But he had never noticed before!

With an upright heart, one wouldn’t think improperly.

So why wasn’t he upright now?

It was because Jiang Yan had brought attention to it, making Pan Baohua conscious of Bai Zhenzhu’s gender.

Bai Zhenzhu finally noticed Pan Baohua’s strange behavior.

“Third Brother, are you alright?”

She jumped up first, then reached out to help Pan Baohua. He hesitated, avoiding her extended hand and springing up from the ground himself.

“I was a bit distracted.”

“I thought so, wondering how I suddenly won…”

Ah, it wasn’t that her skills had suddenly improved, but that her opponent wasn’t focused.

“Third Brother, is it work-related?”

Pan Baohua nodded vaguely.

Bai Zhenzhu didn’t know what to say.

Was she disrupting his work by constantly asking him to spar?

That made sense – this was a workplace, not a martial arts hall, and Third Brother Pan was a senior leader with lots of work.

For a moment, both were lost in their thoughts, saying nothing.

The next day, Bai Zhenzhu didn’t come to work.

Nor the third day.

On the fourth day, still no sign.

By the fifth day, Pan Baohua felt uneasy.

“Has Sister Zhenzhu left Qiong Island?”

He asked Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan nodded worriedly: “Yes, Zhenzhu’s grandmother suddenly fell seriously ill, so she rushed back to Yang City.

I heard her grandmother’s condition isn’t good. The old lady refuses to cooperate with medical treatment, saying death comes to everyone eventually. She mentioned that Zhenzhu’s brother is already married with children, while Zhenzhu is still alone. She says she can’t rest easy about this even in death.

Zhenzhu’s sister-in-law suggested she humor the elderly woman by going to some matchmaking sessions, to put her grandmother’s mind at ease!”

This must be a lie, right?

If someone were seriously ill, they’d be too busy with treatment to arrange marriages.

But what if it was true?

Some elderly people can be quite obsessive.

Bai Zhenzhu was a filial granddaughter.

Pan Baohua couldn’t determine the truth.

Or rather, he wasn’t sure what to do next.

Thinking of Bai Zhenzhu having to change herself to please men, such a forthright and generous woman having to endure such humiliation, being scrutinized in the marriage market by men – Pan Baohua felt uncomfortable.

Xia Xiaolan observed his expression and added fuel to the fire:

“I’m planning to go check on them too. At Grandmother Bai’s age, illness can be fierce. If anything happens, I can help Zhenzhu.

Ah, Zhenzhu hasn’t had it easy these past few years, supporting the Bai family alone. Her brother is always at work, and her sister-in-law isn’t very capable…”

Sister-in-law Bai, I’m sorry, but for Zhenzhu’s happiness, I have to speak ill of you!