An older woman's love was more than he could bear!

Wang Ze gave a knowing smile and said in a rather cryptic tone:

"There are probably some things no one's told you... You know Comrade Chen Yuting's father was our former regimental commander. He had her late in life, so he inevitably spoiled her a little. How should I put it? She used to have a boyfriend... but he wasn't in the army!"

"A boyfriend?" Song Ning was a little surprised.

"A young civilian she met outside the base. He claimed he'd been to Flower City and Harbor City and seen the world. I happened to meet him once. His clothes and his whole look were just... downright shady! He didn't even have a proper job! But somehow Chen Yuting fell for him! Regiment Commander Chen was absolutely furious over it! Things got so bad that father and daughter were barely on speaking terms!"

"Later, I heard she broke up with that boyfriend. I don't know exactly why, but apparently Regiment Commander Chen started arranging blind dates for her. She went on several during that time! But whether she couldn't forget that other guy or just wanted to defy her father, she didn't like a single one of them. Instead, she turned around and started pursuing a young fellow in the recruit company! She scared that poor raw recruit half to death. She kept cornering him until he even missed drills, and in the end he went crying to the chief of staff!"

The recruit was far too green! An older woman's love was more than he could bear!

Song Ning couldn't help bursting out laughing. Chen Yuting really was something else.

She pressed him. "Then what happened?"

"Then Regiment Commander Chen gave Chen Yuting another fierce scolding, and the two had another huge fight. Honestly, I was surprised to see Chen Yuting in Gao Ping, too! I had no idea when she'd taken a liking to Lu Changqing! The last I heard, she was still cornering that young recruit!"

Song Ning watched the road ahead without speaking.

"I'm telling you all this because I think Chen Yuting probably initiated things with Lu Changqing, too," Wang Ze said. "Lu Changqing said he never agreed to date her! Besides, as soon as he got back, he submitted both his marriage application and his application for family housing. I think he wants to build a good life with you!"

Song Ning said little. If Chen Yuting and Lu Changqing had never dated, then his behavior in Gao Ping was all the more intriguing-

If he had no feelings for her, why had he declared in front of all those people that he would use his military merits to offset Chen Yuting's wrongdoing? That was an unmistakable show of favor.

Besides, she didn't care whether Chen Yuting and Lu Changqing were dating or merely flirting. With or without Chen Yuting, she would never marry Lu Changqing.

What she most wanted to find out now was exactly what had happened between Lu Changqing and Grandpa Song.

The car drove on for a while before Wang Ze spoke again:

"Regimental Commander Gu is back. Once Chief of Staff Xu has discussed it with him, they should decide how to deal with Lu Changqing. Honestly, your stance is very important in determining what happens to Company Commander Lu!"

Song Ning glanced at Wang Ze.

Wang Ze smiled at her. "I might as well be frank. Chen Yuting will definitely face disciplinary action over what happened in Gao Ping! Mainly because she made a professional error that nearly cost someone their life! But what happened between her and Lu Changqing is a matter of personal conduct. Since neither of them is married, your stance is crucial."

"You're his fiancée. He was engaged to you first. Getting romantically involved with someone else before settling things with you might not break regulations, but it's morally wrong!"

"So if you're upset about this and insist on breaking off the engagement, once the repercussions spread, the army will certainly treat it as a conduct issue. Not only would Lu Changqing receive no commendation for his recent achievement, he might even face disciplinary action."

"Of course, if you don't mind, then what happened between them can be considered a misunderstanding! Lu Changqing would probably get a warning at most, and his achievement might still count! Naturally, from the army leadership's perspective, we hope you two can work things out amicably. After all, you're already engaged! Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone could be happy?"

Wang Ze certainly lived up to his administrative role. Once he got started, the words just kept coming.

But what Song Ning was thinking was-

Lu Changqing changed his attitude so quickly. Could it be... that he just doesn't want to face disciplinary action?

Inside the office building at the 7th Regiment headquarters.

Holding a large tea mug, Chief of Staff Xu was telling Gu Zheng about Lu Changqing and Song Ning...

"...I deliberately held off on this for a few days to give them more time together! Yu Ting's having a spat with her father, but we can't let that affect an engaged couple's relationship!"

"Just a few days ago, Lin Xiaoming came here crying, saying Military Doctor Chen kept cornering him everywhere and insisting he date her! And now, only a few days later, she's off pursuing a romance with Lu Changqing? She even made such a scene in Gao Ping that everyone knew about it! I'm embarrassed just being associated with it..."

"I also consulted Regiment Commander Chen. He said we should deal with Yu Ting however we ought to and teach her a lesson! He specifically told us that if Lu Changqing really had been dragged into this because of her, we shouldn't blow it out of proportion. After all, he knows his own daughter! She's an expert at stirring up trouble!"

"Hey, Gu! Don't just sit there listening! Tell me what you think!"

Gu Zheng looked serious. He picked up his tea mug and took a long drink before saying:

"Have you asked... what Song Ning thinks? Can she accept all the trouble Chen Yuting caused?"

"Song Ning must be upset!" Chief of Staff Xu said. "Any girl would mind, at least a little! That's why I'm giving them time to get along first. They'd never even met before, so they need to get to know each other! And you've only just returned, haven't you? Once we agree on what to say, I'll go talk Song Ning around..."

Gu Zheng set down his mug. After a long pause, he said:

"We should... respect Song Ning's wishes in this."

"Of course! Of course we should respect her wishes! That's why I'm taking the indirect approach! It isn't easy for our comrades in the army to start a family. They're already engaged. What a shame it would be if they didn't end up together!"

"And let me tell you, Song Ning really is a fine young woman! She's confident and gracious, clever and pretty! Most importantly, her medical skills are outstanding!

"So many people try to curry favor with Elder Zhou and his wife without getting anywhere! Yet not only do they trust Song Ning's medical skills, they're full of praise for her as a person! Tell me... wouldn't it be a shame to let such an exceptional young woman go?"

The more Chief of Staff Xu spoke, the more convinced he became that they had to keep her. He stood, took a couple of steps, and said thoughtfully:

"Hey, Gu! Do you think I should go talk to Lu Changqing and get him to take more initiative and try harder?"

Gu Zheng picked up his mug again to take another drink, only to find it was empty.

He thumped the mug down on the desk and said:

"Xu, I still think we should hear what Song Ning wants first..."

Before he could finish, someone called from the doorway:

"Reporting in!"

"Come in!" Chief of Staff Xu replied, turning toward the door.

The door opened, and Wang Ze came in to report to Gu Zheng and Chief of Staff Xu on the arrangements for the wounded.

Only afterward did he say to Chief of Staff Xu with an air of mystery:

"Chief of Staff Xu, guess who came to regimental headquarters with me just now?"

"Who? Stop keeping us in suspense!" Chief of Staff Xu said.

"Song-Ning," Wang Ze announced with great ceremony.

"Song Ning... she's here at headquarters?"

This time, it was Gu Zheng who asked.

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