Outstanding people always attract attention.
While Xia Xiao Lan had her share of unwanted suitors, Zhou Cheng’s isolation in his unit couldn’t completely stop his romantic prospects either.
His old rival Lao Fang’s girlfriend, Gao Fei, had taken a liking to Zhou Cheng.
Since she was already dating Lao Fang, she couldn’t directly pursue Zhou Cheng. So Gao Fei devised a plan – she’d offer to play matchmaker for Zhou Cheng.
She claimed to have a cousin who would be perfect for him, with good qualifications all around, and offered to introduce them if he was interested.
The cousin wasn’t as accomplished as Gao Fei – while her family background was decent, her education and looks couldn’t compare to Gao Fei’s.
Gao Fei was like Project Xiang dancing with his sword – how else could she get close to Zhou Cheng if not by playing matchmaker?
After the New Year, Gao Fei had visited the unit three times. Such frequent visits before marriage raised no eyebrows only because everyone sympathized with Captain Fang finally finding a girlfriend at thirty. Lao Fang thought his girlfriend was fond of him, unaware of the green light of jealousy shining from his head.
Just as morning training ended, Zhou Cheng let his men take a break while he rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands.
Gao Fei approached with a sweet smile, “Zhou Cheng, have you thought about what I mentioned last time? My cousin is still waiting for an answer. If you’re free, you could meet her first – how would you know if you’re compatible without meeting…”
Zhou Cheng turned off the faucet.
He thought Lao Fang’s girlfriend was mentally challenged and couldn’t take a hint. He had already mentioned having a girlfriend, but Gao Fei seemed deaf to his words, constantly nattering about introducing her cousin.
Even without his wife, Zhou Cheng wouldn’t want to be brothers-in-law with Lao Fang.
This cousin was not his fortune to enjoy.
“Sister-in-law, I have a girlfriend, and we’re very happy together. We’ll marry when I’m old enough.”
Gao Fei dismissed this, “I’ve heard from others that your girlfriend is from another province? How can her circumstances compare to my cousin’s? Zhou Cheng, marrying a wife from a good family background can help you in so many ways!”
Zhou Cheng found this woman extremely annoying.
She didn’t even know him, clearly showing they weren’t from the same social circle. If he cared about family background, he wouldn’t be considering Gao Fei’s cousin.
When Guan Hui E complained about Xia Xiao Lan’s circumstances, Zhou Cheng was already unhappy – but that was his mother, so he had to endure it. Gao Fei had zero connection to him, and Lao Fang was always passive-aggressive. His girlfriend was just as annoying – they truly were a perfect match.
“My girlfriend’s circumstances are quite good, and I just like her. Sorry, Sister-in-law, but I prefer beautiful women. You should introduce your cousin to someone else.”
Zhou Cheng spoke bluntly – he simply preferred beautiful women.
For Gao Fei to try pushing her cousin onto a man with a girlfriend, the cousin must be quite unattractive.
He wanted to be even more direct and ask Gao Fei if the women in her family were unmarriageable.
“You!”
Gao Fei felt hurt – Zhou Cheng’s words were too harsh.
No matter how beautiful, wasn’t she still from another province? Before Gao Fei could speak further, Zhou Cheng’s liaison officer came running over, face glowing with excitement and breathing heavily:
“Ca-Captain, someone’s here to see you, she says she’s your girlfriend, surname Xia!”
Zhou Cheng was stunned by this unexpected joy.
His usually stern expression before Gao Fei completely transformed – his naturally handsome features became even more striking as his face lit up.
“Surname Xia? Are you sure? Never mind, I’ll go receive her myself!”
His wife had come!
Since receiving that letter, he had been waiting for this day.
Now that she was here, how could Zhou Cheng wait around? Forgetting about maintaining his image in front of others, he ran to meet her.
Zhou Cheng wasn’t naturally serious and rigid – he just acted maturely because of his position in the unit. Young people naturally show their true colors in matters of love, and his whole being radiated joy.
Gao Fei hadn’t processed what happened.
How could it be such a coincidence that just as they were discussing Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend from another province, she appeared?
The liaison officer stood there grinning foolishly, as excited as if it were his girlfriend who had arrived.
“Did you see Captain Zhou’s girlfriend?”
The liaison officer nodded vigorously.
“How does she look?”
The young liaison officer’s face turned red:
“Be beautiful!”
Before Gao Fei could ask more, the liaison officer couldn’t describe anything else. Beautiful meant beautiful! He didn’t dare look too much – knowing she was his captain’s girlfriend, the liaison officer was overwhelmed with excitement. His announcement hadn’t been quiet, and Zhou Cheng’s men had heard, gathering around.
“Brother, you say the Captain’s girlfriend is here? Is it real?”
“Has our sister-in-law arrived?”
“Is she pretty, is she pretty?”
The chatter erupted in various accents, leaving Gao Fei no chance to interject.
Lao Fang, not seeing Gao Fei come out to find him, noticed the First Squad’s commotion and Gao Fei standing silently nearby. He pulled her aside:
“What’s going on with them? I saw Zhou Cheng running toward the gate.”
Gao Fei snapped back to reality, “They say Captain Zhou’s girlfriend came to visit him at the unit, so Zhou Cheng went to receive her.”
Lao Fang became interested.
Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend from another province?
This was worth comparing – he was completely confident in Gao Fei’s qualities: beautiful figure, good family background, excellent education. Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend from another province couldn’t possibly surpass Gao Fei.
Gao Fei was equally confident.
Zhou Cheng had just rejected her, and she wanted to see just how beautiful this woman was whom the liaison officer described as “beautiful.”
Everyone waited expectantly, but Zhou Cheng didn’t return with anyone.
When Zhou Cheng reached the gate and saw his long-missed girlfriend, he completely ignored everyone else.
He even overlooked Kang Wei’s presence. Xia Xiao Lan stood there gracefully, and Zhou Cheng resisted the urge to rub his eyes, wondering if his longing for Xia Xiao Lan had created an illusion.
“Zhou Cheng!”
Xia Xiao Lan waved a hand in front of him, and Zhou Cheng grabbed those delicate fingers.
Soft and slightly cool in the March morning, it was indeed the familiar touch. Zhou Cheng squeezed gently – if the hand was real, the person must be real too.
He hugged Xia Xiao Lan:
“Wife, I’ve missed you.”
His voice had none of its usual cool, domineering tone – instead, he sounded like he was spoiling her.
Xia Xiao Lan thought to herself, that this man with such a face, standing at 1.85 meters tall and acting spoiled, made her heart uncontrollable.
The guards’ eyes were about to pop out – was this their familiar Captain Zhou?
But indeed, Captain Zhou’s girlfriend was exceptionally beautiful. If they could find such a girlfriend, they’d hold on tight and never let go. Kang Wei, the single dog, endured the loving couple’s display of affection. In the early March wind, only Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiao Lan tasted sweetness – everyone else tasted sourness.
This wouldn’t do – this was the unit’s entrance, not suitable for such intimacy.
Xia Xiao Lan seemed to read Zhou Cheng’s thoughts and laughed softly: “Are you planning to let me stand in the cold wind at the gate? Aren’t you going to show me around the unit?”
Of course, he had to show her around.
Xia Xiao Lan and Kang Wei had already completed their registration – they just needed Zhou Cheng’s confirmation to enter. Zhou Cheng forgot his friend at the sight of beauty, his eyes only on Xia Xiao Lan, leaving Kang Wei behind… Kang Wei’s heart ached – he needed to wait at the gate for someone to deliver sheep, but did they have to be so heartless?
A crowd surged toward the gate – everyone had heard that Captain Zhou’s girlfriend had arrived, and after waiting so long without seeing them return, they all came to look.
That was Captain Zhou’s girlfriend?
–She was f*cking beautiful!