Chapter Seven: The Stumbling Figure

Wang Chuxin continued to murmur softly.

“But I’m only a trainee nurse now. I guess that soldier wouldn’t even look at me.”

Jiang Shiyi looked at Wang Chuxin, who was about her age, and seeing the pure expression on her face, she smiled warmly.

“It doesn’t matter. Clothes make the man, and horses need saddles. After work, come to my place. I’ll help you get ready properly. I promise you’ll shine tomorrow and catch that officer’s eye.”

Hearing this, Wang Chuxin’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Thank you so much!”

Soon, it was time for the social dance.

Because the neighboring village had suffered a landslide, the dance was held in the communal square of Changle Village.

Shy, Wang Chuxin followed Jiang Shiyi into the venue, where many men and women were already chatting and laughing, or dancing to the music.

As they entered, dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward them simultaneously.

Wang Chuxin immediately grew nervous, lowering her head and avoiding their gazes.

Jiang Shiyi remained calm, pulling Wang Chuxin to a vacant spot to sit.

“Shiyi, I feel a bit nervous.”

Wang Chuxin sat with her head down, twisting her fingers anxiously. “Do I look good like this?”

Since they left, Wang Chuxin had asked repeatedly. Seeing this innocent young girl, Jiang Shiyi smiled like a caring mother.

She gently reassured her, “Relax. I guarantee the sergeant you like will come find you soon.”

Saying it so plainly, Wang Chuxin blushed and coquettishly replied, “I’m not just dressing up for him.”

Jiang Shiyi teased, “Then I guarantee you’ll captivate everyone.”

“Shiyi, you’re making fun of me.” Wang Chuxin bit her lip shyly, but the joke eased her tension.

Jiang Shiyi smiled. Today, she had transformed the girl into a charming young lady, enhancing her best features with a twenty-first-century hairstyle and style, completely different from her usual modest look.

They hadn’t exchanged many words when a young man invited Wang Chuxin to the dance floor.

Seeing her shy and nervous demeanor, Jiang Shiyi knew that young man was the one she liked.

Jiang Shiyi sat alone for a while before a young officer approached nervously.

“Miss, may I have this dance?”

“Thank you, but I don’t know how to dance,” Jiang Shiyi politely declined.

The young officer felt awkward and turned away.

Jiang Shiyi found a quiet corner, took a plate of fruit, and scanned the crowd, but couldn’t find the person she was looking for.

During this time, she declined several other invitations to dance from officers.

After so many refusals, she grew quite annoyed.

After a full sweep of the crowd, she was certain the man was not at this social dance.

Her good mood vanished instantly.

He knew she would attend tonight, yet he was nowhere to be found.

Clearly, he was avoiding her.

It seemed the last move had hit him hard.

But it didn’t matter.

If the mountain won’t come to me, I shall go to the mountain!

Just as Jiang Shiyi prepared to look for Huo Yixun, someone called out to her.

The voice was unfamiliar. She glanced back.

A man in his thirties stood opposite her, looking somewhat refined but shorter than Jiang Shiyi. His narrow eyes held ill intent.

He wore a half-smile, neither fully friendly nor hostile.

Jiang Shiyi searched her original memories but found no information about him.

Then the man spoke.

“Hello, I’m Chen Hongbo. Aunt Hongmei introduced me as a match for you.”

Jiang Shiyi immediately realized and looked at him with disdain.

Normally, she would have scolded him harshly, but tonight was the military’s last stop. She needed to focus on winning over the male lead.

Chen Hongbo didn’t mind Jiang Shiyi’s attitude. To him, no matter how pure a woman was, once married, she had to accept her fate. He even found conquering such a woman thrilling.

So Jiang Shiyi’s attitude meant nothing to him.

He was attending the dance representing the medical system. When the orders came, he had complained about coming to the countryside, but upon hearing Jiang Shiyi was here, he wanted to see for himself.

When Aunt Yu Hongmei showed him Jiang Shiyi’s photo, he was captivated by her beauty.

Now, seeing her in person, he thought she surpassed the photo.

Her stunning natural beauty, combined with her bold fashion, ignited a fire within him.

Seeing Jiang Shiyi about to leave, Chen Hongbo immediately took out a drug his friend had brought from abroad.

This drug was colorless and tasteless, and most importantly, it entered the body through the respiratory tract. He had tested it on several attractive girls before, never failing.

Afterward, he only used his position to have those girls sign formal employment contracts.

Coincidentally, Jiang Shiyi worked at a clinic under his jurisdiction, so he had thought through the worst-case scenario.

At worst, it would be a one-night affair, and then he would fire her since she wasn’t a permanent employee.

Seizing the moment, Chen Hongbo tapped Jiang Shiyi’s shoulder and leered, “Don’t rush off. If fate brought us together, why not sit and have a drink?”

Jiang Shiyi wanted to shake off this persistent pest quickly and replied coldly, “If you don’t have a mirror at home, you can just pee and look at yourself properly. If you bother me again, I’ll report you for harassment to the Women's Federation!”

Having scolded him, Jiang Shiyi walked away.

Chen Hongbo’s plan succeeded, and he followed her slowly.

At the military camp, Huo Yixun sat upright in his uniform, reading some documents with a slight frown.

“Brother, if you don’t like me, just say so. Why torture me like this?”

Huo Shaoqin, freshly punished with 100 push-ups, lay on the ground in despair.

Huo Yixun’s eyes darkened. “Don’t you have enough energy to take a walk?”

“Who told you to stop? Get up and do fifty planks.”

Huo Shaoqin was speechless.

Who could understand such despair? He had planned to boldly confess to Jiang Shiyi at tonight’s dance.

He even asked Huo Yixun to borrow his phone to save her contact. Instead, he was denied and forced into extra physical training.

Maybe it was the family bloodline pressure. The once fearless young heir from the capital was now afraid of his own brother.

Especially when alone with Huo Yixun, this spoiled younger brother didn’t dare make a sound.

The tent echoed with Huo Shaoqin’s frustrated yells.

Annoyed, Huo Yixun stepped out of the tent just as a stumbling figure caught his eye.

His sharp senses instantly recognized her.

Jiang Shiyi!

Expressionless, Huo Yixun withdrew his gaze.

At that moment, his piercing eyes caught the man trailing not far behind her.

His brows furrowed deeply.

For some reason, he couldn’t help but approach the woman.

At that moment, Jiang Shiyi’s body swayed uncontrollably, her lips parted, breath hot and heavy.

Huo Yixun grabbed her firmly, lifting his gaze to see her face turned up, delicate and fair, with a trace of pale pink at the corners of her eyes, misty and flushed, gasping for breath.

He immediately sensed something was wrong. “What’s wrong with you?”

Jiang Shiyi froze, her remaining rationality recognizing his voice.

She grabbed his arm desperately, voice trembling, “Help… please help me… I feel so bad…”