Gao Huabin couldn’t help but shudder.

He remembered that voice!

Turning around stiffly, he indeed saw the familiar face.

That scar splitting the eyebrow in half was unforgettable!

“You—”

Don’t come over here.

Gao Huabin was extremely wary, afraid Pan Baohua would grab his neck again – his throat still hurt, and his voice remained hoarse.

Bai Zhenzhu stood beside Pan Baohua, not objecting to anything he said.

So this fierce character was Bai Zhenzhu’s boyfriend?

Yes, one without femininity and the other a fierce brute – these two were quite well-matched!

Gao Huabin inexplicably felt like he had been cuckolded. Not daring to confront Pan Baohua, he turned to accuse Chang Ying:

“Sister Chang, you never said Zhenzhu had a boyfriend! If she had one, why did she go on a blind date with me? You’re bullying people, and you must explain yourself today!”

The neighbors were all watching. The Bai family had lived here for many years, and all the neighbors knew them well. Before Chang Ying could speak, someone defended her:

“Young man, you’re being unreasonable. Zhiyong’s wife already told you that you weren’t suitable for Zhenzhu. They explained it clearly, so naturally, she could find someone new. Does going on one blind date mean she has to stay single for you forever?”

“That’s right, young man, this is a new society, not the old days!”

“Such a handsome young man, why must you persist…”

Gao Huabin’s face reddened from the neighbors’ comments.

He knew how to use public opinion but never expected it to backfire and become a weapon against him.

Young people still lack social experience. He thought himself clever but didn’t consider where he was. The Bai family wasn’t disliked by their neighbors, and as longtime residents, people would naturally stand up for them.

Chang Ying quickly explained:

“Little Gao, Zhenzhu disagreed after your blind date. Her grandmother and I were the ones urging her to give you a chance, but you two never really got to know each other. Not only did I tell you to let it go, but your workplace matchmaker told you the same, right? If you keep harassing us, we’ll have to speak with your supervisors. My sister-in-law never married you or got engaged, and never even accepted a single thread from you – why can’t she find someone else!”

Chang Ying was angry but also felt guilty – how did she find such a “Little Gao” for her sister-in-law?

And now causing this scene in front of Pan Baohua – what if he misunderstood Zhenzhu!

Chang Ying’s explanation was meant not just for the neighbors but mainly for Pan Baohua.

Finally, Chang Ying asked Bai Zhenzhu: “When did you and Comrade Pan start dating? Your sister-in-law hadn’t heard about this.”

“…Just now. Third Brother and I talked and found we’re quite compatible.”

Bai Zhenzhu replaced “fought” with “talked.”

That settled it – they had just started dating, she wasn’t two-timing!

Chang Ying’s question was meant to let the neighbors know her sister-in-law and Pan Baohua had just begun dating.

Gao Huabin’s face reddened, and as he tried to say something else, Pan Baohua reached out and put an arm around his shoulders: “It’s normal that you like Zhenzhu – with someone as great as her, multiple suitors aren’t surprising. But blocking people’s doorways isn’t right. Come, let’s talk over there, we can resolve this in a more manly way.”

No!

I don’t want to talk on the side!

Gao Huabin strongly refused, but his strength wasn’t enough as Pan Baohua guided him downstairs by the shoulder.

The neighbors watched and thought, oh, Zhenzhu’s boyfriend is quite good – a man shouldn’t start trouble, but he can’t fear it either. How else could he support a family?

Everyone congratulated Chang Ying and teased Bai Zhenzhu.

Bai Zhenzhu didn’t feel embarrassed – she neither took Gao Huabin seriously nor felt she and Third Brother’s decision to date wronged anyone.

Chang Ying thanked the neighbors and pulled Bai Zhenzhu inside:

“Are you two dating?”

“How could that be fake?”

“That’s good, that’s good… I mean it’s great, go ahead with it. Your judgment is better than your sister-in-law’s.”

Chang Ying didn’t ask anything else.

Truthfully, as long as Bai Zhenzhu found a man, the Bai family would probably accept anyone who wasn’t a criminal… and now Bai Zhenzhu had found someone far exceeding their expectations.

Chang Ying could only say how wonderful it was!

What else could she say?

Less than 20 minutes later, Pan Baohua came upstairs.

Chang Ying didn’t know how to address him – calling him Third Brother Pan wasn’t appropriate anymore, and she couldn’t call him Director Pan.

“Sister-in-law, just call me by my name – isn’t that what names are for? By the way, I had a good talk with Little Gao. After serious consideration, he recognized his mistake and decided to forget about the blind date with Zhenzhu. He won’t appear before Zhenzhu or you again. I think Little Gao is quite sensible, so I let him go.”

Pan Baohua spoke casually, while Chang Ying was half-skeptical.

Little Gao had been as clingy as a leech – would he give up so easily?

But then she thought, such people might seem troublesome to ordinary folks like her.

In Pan Baohua’s eyes, they probably meant nothing!

He must have handled far trickier situations – how could Gao Huabin compare to the enemies he’d faced on missions?

Yesterday he visited as White Zhiyong’s colleague and Bai Zhenzhu’s friend.

Today he visited as White Zhiyong’s colleague but became Bai Zhenzhu’s boyfriend.

Pan Baohua’s status in the Bai family was rising rapidly.

The unpleasant Little Gao disappeared from the conversation as Grandmother Bai showered Pan Baohua with attention from head to toe. Then he realized – he wouldn’t have to deal with a difficult father-in-law.

This was his luck but Zhenzhu’s misfortune, as her parents had passed away early.

Bai Zhenzhu felt confused when Third Brother’s gaze suddenly became so gentle.

Well, she had agreed to upgrade their relationship, so she should respond positively to Third Brother.

So Bai Zhenzhu smiled back at Pan Baohua.

Seeing their “affection,” Grandmother Bai and Chang Ying were surely overjoyed.

As for how Pan Baohua “talked” with Gao Huabin downstairs – does it matter?

Pan Baohua straightforwardly “thanked” Little Gao – without this clingy leech, his relationship with Zhenzhu wouldn’t have developed so quickly.

At Luohu Customs.

Xia Xiaolan repeatedly assured Tang Hong’en:

“Uncle Tang, Little Yu is crying because she’s overjoyed – this is really good news. My mother and I will go to the hospital first, don’t worry about staying in Pengcheng.”

Tang Hong’en couldn’t just go to HK whenever he wanted.

Unlike Xia Xiaolan who could leave at will – in this regard, Tang Hong’en had even less freedom than Liu Fen.

So this time, Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen would go first to check things out.

Tang Hong’en felt anxious.

He knew there would be good news – fate wouldn’t just torment one poor soul endlessly. When something is taken away, hope must remain.

“Mm, you go first. If possible, I’ll try to come over.”