Outright Sabotaging Someone Else's Marriage!

Everyone looked outside and saw two soldiers squeezing through the crowd.

"Excuse us! Please let us through!"

The newcomers were Han Xiao and Chen Liang.

"Chief of Staff Xu!"

The two saluted Chief of Staff Xu, whose expression was thunderous, before Han Xiao spoke:

"Chief of Staff Xu, we came to explain something to everyone. Yesterday morning, Comrade Song Ning risked her life by jumping into a debris flow alone to save a child. She was lucky to escape alive!

"We searched for nearly eight hours yesterday before finding her more than seven kilometers from Rockhorn Village. After taking her to Gao Ping last night, we went to repair the roads. This morning, we heard that people on the medical team were saying unkind things about her, so we came specifically to clear things up!"

The usually taciturn Chen Liang added:

"Regimental Commander Gu said she probably had injuries and needed rest."

Silence fell over the room again.

She had jumped into a debris flow alone?

Saved a child?

Been swept more than seven kilometers away?

This skinny young woman had done something so extraordinary, yet she hadn't mentioned a word of it after coming back?!

And here Chen Yuting was, still making one unreasonable demand after another!

Insisting that she apologize!

Demanding that she consider the feelings of a "family member"!

They hadn't liked Chen Yuting much to begin with, and now everything about her rubbed them the wrong way...

Zheng Chang'an had fetched Song Ning's bag. Now he couldn't help feeling regretful. He had only known that she had been swept away, not that it had happened because she was saving someone...

And he had even forgotten to ask whether she was hurt!

Ugh! I'm doing a terrible job as her little bro. Absolutely terrible...

When no one spoke, Han Xiao asked another question:

"Oh, right! Comrade Song Ning! I asked around for you! Comrade Lu Changqing is here in Gao Ping. I heard he was injured. Have you seen him yet?"

Everyone present froze at those words!

Including Song Ning.

Well! I was just wondering how to reveal my 'hidden identity' at exactly the right moment.

Unexpectedly, these two comrades had appeared out of nowhere, immediately established her moral standing, and put her on a pedestal. Then they had even said everything she needed said. Under these circumstances, did she need to consider changing her "persona"?

At that thought, she pinched her thigh hard...

Everyone turned to look at Song Ning, only to discover that the woman who had been speaking so confidently just moments ago had now lowered her head...

"Han Xiao! What do you mean by that?"

Chen Yuting couldn't help asking, "Why was she asking about Lu Changqing?"

Han Xiao hadn't heard their earlier conversation, nor did he know that Chen Yuting was already calling herself Lu Changqing's "family member." Bewildered, he said:

"Comrade Song Ning came here to find Company Commander Lu in the first place! She's his fiancée! She came to the army to marry him!"

At those words, the room erupted into a hubbub.

What a juicy revelation!

Dr. Chen had been going on and on about being his "family member" and calling him "Changqing" so affectionately!

Yet the woman standing opposite her was actually his intended bride!

Wasn't this outright sabotaging someone else's marriage?!

With that kind of relationship, never mind removing her stitches!

She should count herself lucky she hadn't been stabbed a couple of times!

Chen Yuting's face went white!

She shrieked:

"Impossible! How could you possibly be Changqing's fiancée! You..."

"Enough!"

Chief of Staff Xu finally lost his patience and slammed his palm onto the table.

He had been summoned here overnight to clean up Chen Yuting's mess. He hadn't expected that not only had her conduct fallen short of proper standards, but now it seemed her morals... were questionable as well!

Chief of Staff Xu turned to Song Ning and softened his voice.

"Comrade Song Ning, is what Comrade Han Xiao said true?"

Only then did Song Ning slowly raise her head...

Everyone now saw tears glistening in the eyes of this young woman who had returned from saving a life without saying a word about it.

Her small face was pale and haggard. Compared with Chen Yuting's arrogant demeanor, it made them feel even more sympathy for her.

Song Ning said nothing. She took her bag from Zheng Chang'an, pulled out a plastic bag, and unwrapped its many layers one by one. Finally, she handed Chief of Staff Xu two documents.

One was her letter of introduction, bearing the official seal of the Anping Public Security Bureau.

The other was the statement Director Hao had issued for her, bearing the official seal of the Bijie County government.

The letter of introduction specified her identity and where she came from.

The statement explained why she had joined the medical team and repeatedly asked the comrades of the Southwest Military Region to help her find her family member as soon as possible.

After reading them, Chief of Staff Xu fell silent for a moment. Then he stood, returned both documents to Song Ning with both hands, and solemnly assured her:

"Comrade Song Ning, you've been wronged! We will make sure this matter is handled properly!"

Chief of Staff Xu clasped his hands behind his back and paced a couple of steps around the room. Then he fixed Chen Yuting with a piercing gaze and snorted.

"Hmph! A family member?! Chen Yuting! How much longer are you going to keep up this nonsense? Answer me truthfully! Did you already know that Lu Changqing had a fiancée?"

Panic spread across Chen Yuting's face. "She... she really is Changqing's fiancée? H-how is that possible?"

Chen Yuting looked at Song Ning. Changqing had clearly said that woman was a country bumpkin. She should barely have been literate, too timid to raise her voice or even lift her head when she walked. How could she be this woman, who had both good looks and medical skill?

She pointed at Song Ning. "I don't believe it! If she's Changqing's fiancée, why didn't she say so all along? She clearly asked his name yesterday!"

Song Ning pinched her thigh again. When she looked up, tears trembled in her eyes, ready to fall.

"Yesterday, Dr. Chen repeatedly said she was his 'family member' and repeatedly expressed her concern for Company Commander Lu. The two of you were clearly in love. Under those circumstances, wouldn't acknowledging our relationship have been... inviting humiliation?"

With that, she lowered her head, covered her face, and said no more.

Her acting skills were limited. This was the best she could manage...

But everyone's imagination filled in the rest. To them, she was already in unbearable anguish!

Chief of Staff Xu said sternly, "Enough! Chen Yuting! Do you still not recognize your mistakes? You're still standing there bullying her! Whether Comrade Song Ning acknowledged the relationship or not, there are serious problems with both your conduct and Lu Changqing's! The organization will deal with this matter severely!"

"Chief of Staff Xu! We chose to fall in love! Changqing and she have an arranged marriage! There's no affection between them at all! It doesn't count!" Chen Yuting blurted out.

"Nonsense!" Chief of Staff Xu snapped.

He stared at Chen Yuting for several seconds, then called:

"Wang Ze!"

"Present!"

The guard who had remained beside Chief of Staff Xu answered.

"Report to the military region immediately. Comrade Chen Yuting committed a grave error while carrying out disaster relief duties and has failed to acknowledge her mistakes. She has evaded responsibility, concealed facts, displayed an appalling attitude, and refused to repent. She and Comrade Lu Changqing of the 7th Regiment have violated organizational principles in their personal conduct, seriously tarnishing the image of military personnel and causing an extremely adverse impact. In light of these circumstances, I recommend that both be suspended from duty immediately and subjected to stringent disciplinary action afterward!"

"Yes, sir!" Having received his orders, Wang Ze turned and left.

"No-no! Uncle Xu! I know I was wrong! Please! Please don't suspend us!"

Only then did Chen Yuting realize the gravity of the situation, and she burst into loud sobs.