Was It So Hard to Stay Engaged to Me?

Han Xiao was a little surprised. "Not at all! After such a terrible scare, don't you need some rest? Zhou Yunzhi asked the Arts and Culture Troupe for half a month off as soon as she got back! She nearly checked herself into the hospital!"

"Oh!"

Song Ning said, "A scare? Not really! Besides, putting in a few needles doesn't take much physical effort."

A kidnapping of that caliber had barely taxed Song Ning's mind or body.

Han Xiao gave her a thumbs-up.

"Since Elder Zhou has already said so, you don't need to go there for the next few days. As for Lu Changqing, decide for yourself!"

Song Ning nodded in acknowledgment.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Qianjin came to the Guesthouse early the next morning.

The moment he saw her, he snapped off a salute.

"Hello, Ning! This is Company Commander Lu's allowance for this month. He asked me to give it to you and said you could spend it however you liked!"

As he spoke, he handed her a stack of banknotes in various denominations.

Song Ning looked at the money in her hand, baffled.

Why was he giving me his allowance?

And sending someone over specially to deliver it?

She glanced again at Zhang Qianjin standing before her and asked:

"Comrade Xiao Zhang! What does Lu Changqing mean by this?"

Zhang Qianjin looked a little awkward. "C-Company Commander Lu meant... I think he said you'd only just arrived and didn't know the place or anyone here..."

He hesitated before continuing:

"Ning! Company Commander Lu is actually quite sensitive! He was in low spirits all yesterday afternoon! He seems to care a lot about what you say!"

Song Ning almost laughed in exasperation.

She really didn't know what to make of Lu Changqing.

She nodded to Zhang Qianjin.

"All right! I understand. Thanks for making the trip, Comrade Xiao Zhang!"

Only then did Zhang Qianjin dash off like the wind.

She had wanted to explore Rong City properly yesterday, but Zhou Yunzhi's interference had ruined her plans.

Originally, she had planned to look around the neighborhood again today.

Now Song Ning wasn't in the mood. She checked the time and went straight to the hospital.

Lu Changqing was delighted to see Song Ning.

Song Ning waited until the nurse had left before taking out the money and asking:

"What did you mean by giving me money?"

Looking somewhat ashamed, Lu Changqing said:

"I should have given it to you long ago! You've only just arrived. There are plenty of things you'll need money for. There's money in the drawer in my quarters... but you probably wouldn't have taken it if I'd told you to back then! So I asked Xiao Zhang to collect this month's allowance for me..."

"Thank you! I have money. Keep this for yourself!"

Lu Changqing faltered. "Song Ning! Even if there's nothing special between us, I should still look after you! After all, Doctor Song entrusted you to me..."

Song Ning said coolly, "If you'd given it to me on the first day I arrived, I might have accepted it!"

Back then, she hadn't had a penny to her name.

Song Ning tucked the money beneath Lu Changqing's pillow.

Lu Changqing wanted to stop her, but with an IV in his hand, he couldn't move easily.

Afraid that Old Zhang nearby might overhear, he lowered his voice.

"Song Ning! You don't have to treat me like an outsider!"

Song Ning watched him silently. There were things she didn't want to keep repeating.

Seeing her attitude, Lu Changqing didn't insist again, but pointed to the drawer in the small table beside him.

"Song Ning! There's something else. It's... the family quarters have been approved. The keys are in the drawer."

Song Ning opened the drawer. Sure enough, two keys on a ring lay inside, with a piece of tape attached bearing the room number.

Song Ning left the keys untouched and simply looked up at Lu Changqing.

Lu Changqing hurried to explain. "Don't misunderstand! I was thinking that my fracture won't heal anytime soon... You can stay there for now. It'll be more convenient than the Guesthouse! You can't keep staying at the Guesthouse forever!"

Song Ning said, "These quarters were approved for us to get married, but we aren't getting married. Don't they have to be returned?"

"Song Ning-"

Lu Changqing said anxiously, "Can we leave that aside for now?"

He turned to glance at Old Zhang. Only after confirming that he wasn't paying attention to them did he continue:

"Just consider it a favor to me. Can we wait until my leg is a little better before bringing this up?

"Song Ning! Just help me out! Is it so hard to stay engaged to me for a few more days?"

Lu Changqing was practically pleading.

Song Ning watched him quietly for a moment before speaking.

"Lu Changqing, we are definitely calling off the engagement! Only military dependents can live in family quarters. This would mean deceiving the organization, and I don't want things to spiral out of control in the end."

Lu Changqing fell silent for a while before explaining:

"Actually, the Military District allocates family quarters in two situations. One is for dependents living with military personnel, and the other is for visiting family members.

"You have to be at least a deputy battalion commander to apply for the former. What I applied for... was only accommodation for visiting family.

"So you don't need to worry! I just don't want you to have to put up with poor conditions!"

Song Ning was very surprised.

Lu Changqing always thought several steps beyond most people.

To get her to move into the family quarters, he could twist and turn his way through so many arguments and reasons.

"I applied for the place for a year. Stay there for now! Later, later I can live there myself!"

Song Ning didn't even glance at the keys.

"I'm not putting up with anything! If I decide to stay here long-term, I'll find somewhere else to live!"

Song Ning didn't want to keep talking to him.

No matter how much she said... it seemed to make no difference.

He was gentle and accommodating on the surface, but relentlessly focused on his goals.

No matter how often she said something he didn't want to hear, he simply chose not to hear it.

Her patience was running out.

Since his "mission" couldn't be revealed to a third person, she had already... done her best not to undermine him.

Song Ning went to give Gu Zheng acupuncture at the appointed time, only to find him absent.

The nurse told Song Ning that Regimental Commander Gu hadn't returned to his ward the night before.

Thinking of what had happened last night, she supposed they might be busy with the case.

She didn't need to visit Elder Zhou either.

Song Ning turned and returned to the Guesthouse.

By now, she had a fairly good understanding of how Lu Changqing operated.

If something benefited him, he would spare no effort in pursuing it.

He seemed unwilling to relent until he had squeezed every bit of value out of their "engagement."

For a "rank-and-file soldier" with no one to help him, without that kind of determination...

He could never have risen to his current position as "Company Commander Lu" in just a few years.

She could see his "self-interest" and "scheming," and she deeply disliked his efforts to "keep her" and his "pestering."

But-

She knew he was burdened with a heavy "mission."

She couldn't judge whether this behavior of his was right or wrong.

She had already shown Lu Changqing more than enough patience.

But she had no more to give.

That afternoon, Wang Ze came to see her.

He said Professor Yang wanted her to come over that afternoon to discuss something.

Song Ning arrived at Elder Zhou's ward on time.

This time, she saw not only Professor Yang in the ward, but also a tall, thin young man.

Professor Yang introduced him. "This is my younger son, Zhou Yuanhang.

"He's just rushed back from Shanghai City. He came specifically to see you!

"He has something extremely urgent that he needs your help with!"