Qi Fang had always maintained an expressionless demeanor, but the darkening of his eyes made it clear that he not only recognized the person inside the office but harbored deeper feelings about the encounter.
Soon, voices emerged from the office, followed by a man stepping out. "I'll come back later," he said, pausing when his gaze landed on Qi Fang.
The man appeared to be in his late twenties, of average height, with a somewhat ordinary face. However, the narrow gap between his eyebrows gave him an oddly unbalanced look.
From a physiognomic perspective, such features often indicated a narrow-minded, envious, and unforgiving personality. Yan Xue immediately connected the dots—this was likely the person responsible for Qi Fang’s transfer to the forestry station and the one who had blocked his participation in training.
Sure enough, after a brief pause, the man raised an eyebrow at Qi Fang and smirked. "So it’s Qi Fang. How’s life at the forestry station treating you?"
Though his lips curled into a smile, there was no warmth in it—only malice.
Yan Xue frowned and glanced at Qi Fang, noticing that the shadow in his eyes had already receded. He didn’t even dignify the man with a response.
This reaction only deepened the hostility in the other man’s gaze, his smirk twisting into something more mocking. "Seems like the forestry station suits you. Maybe we should’ve sent you there sooner."
"You didn’t have the power to do it sooner," Qi Fang finally replied, his tone indifferent but his words sharp as a blade.
Back then, the man hadn’t just lacked the authority—he’d been completely overshadowed by Qi Fang. No wonder he held such a grudge.
As if struck by a sudden thought, Qi Fang turned back to him, his expression unexpectedly sincere. "Actually, I should thank you for giving me this opportunity."
If not for being transferred to the forestry station, he would never have met Yan Xue.
The more he thought about it, the more genuine his tone became. He looked the man in the eye and repeated, "Thank you for making it happen."
To Chen Jizhong, however, the words sounded like pure mockery. He would’ve preferred if Qi Fang had reacted with anger, accusations, or even violence—anything that would’ve confirmed his own victory.
Instead, he was left floundering, unsure how to respond. This wasn’t the Qi Fang he remembered—the quiet man who preferred tinkering with machinery over socializing.
Back when Qi Fang had been transferred, he’d packed his things without protest, leaving like a defeated stray. His expression had been lifeless, as if he’d lost all motivation. So why was he so spirited now, firing back with every word?
Chen Jizhong scrutinized Qi Fang again. "If you like it so much, then stay there forever. The forestry station is a great place to retire."
The implication was clear: Qi Fang should rot there. Before Qi Fang could respond, Yan Xue cut in.
The young woman smiled sweetly, her expression even more pleasant than Chen Jizhong’s. "No need for your concern. The forestry station is wonderful—simple folk, no scheming, no backstabbing, no social climbing. And at least people there brush their teeth before speaking."
Her sarcastic jab left Chen Jizhong momentarily speechless.
Qi Fang, who had been so sharp-tongued earlier, merely glanced at her, his expression softening. "She’s right."
Chen Jizhong choked on his words again, realizing that the two women with Qi Fang must also be from the forestry station—and his earlier remarks had insulted all of them.
The other woman, though silent, wore a displeased expression. Sensing he was outnumbered, Chen Jizhong shot Qi Fang one last disdainful look before walking away.
Qi Fang remained unruffled. Only when the man was out of earshot did he murmur to Lang Yue'e, "Sorry about that."
"His mouth stinks. Not your fault," Lang Yue'e replied, shaking her head. She didn’t press further. "Let’s wait outside."
Before Section Chief Miao arrived, the rest of the forestry station teams showed up. With Lang Yue'e and the other leaders, over twenty people gathered outside the office.
When Section Chief Miao finally appeared, he led everyone to an open area, calling roll and assigning positions for the performance.
His attention soon landed on Qi Fang and Yan Xue. "You’re from Jinchuan Forestry Station? Stand here," he said, pointing to the center. "Have you memorized the script?"
Yan Xue nodded brightly. "Yes, we have." Qi Fang gave a quiet affirmation.
"Then recite a few lines for me," Section Chief Miao said, unfolding the script.
The couple began simultaneously without even glancing at each other—one voice clear and melodious, the other deep and resonant. Their tones complemented each other perfectly.
What’s more, their Mandarin was flawless, devoid of any regional accent—a rarity in an era where even teachers struggled with pronunciation, mixing up "rising sun" with "blazing sun."
Section Chief Miao nodded in approval before selecting two others from different forestry stations to stand beside them.
Yan Xue observed the pair—the woman shared her dorm, while the man was unfamiliar, likely from another railway line. Clearly, Section Chief Miao was prioritizing appearance.
In performances like this, important officials always sat front and center. Even in their forestry station’s choir, the best singers with the best looks were placed in the middle of the front row.
After having the newcomers recite a passage, Section Chief Miao frowned. He kept the woman but moved the man aside, replacing him with another—less attractive but with a strong, clear voice.
Just as he was about to continue, one of the female participants raised her hand. "Section Chief Miao, this arrangement isn’t fair!"
The protest came before the lineup was even finalized. Section Chief Miao’s expression froze, but he asked, "What’s unfair about it?"
Qin Ling stood tall, her tone righteous. "Since this is a joint performance by seven forestry stations, each should have equal representation. Having both of them from Jinchuan Forestry Station in the center is unfair to the rest!"
She swept her gaze across the crowd. "Am I right, comrades?"
Her words, delivered with the confidence of someone experienced in rallying groups, quickly drew agreement from others. Even the team leaders chimed in, suggesting that Jinchuan Forestry Station shouldn’t dominate the spotlight—one of them should be replaced.
But who?
Section Chief Miao hesitated. In terms of looks and pronunciation, Qi Fang and Yan Xue were undeniably the best fit.
As he wavered, Qin Ling pointed at Yan Xue. "Replace her. She’s too short."
The height jab made Yan Xue turn sharply. "If we’re talking fairness, shouldn’t every height have equal opportunity? Have I contributed less to national development? Is my pronunciation poor? Or did I not prepare well enough?"
"You’re not as ugly as her," Qi Fang remarked flatly, cutting Qin Ling off before she could retort.
The brutal remark drew laughter from the crowd, further darkening Qin Ling’s expression.
Had Qi Fang and Yan Xue not been selected, Lang Yue'e, true to her nature, probably wouldn’t have spoken up for them.
But now that two people had been selected, someone wanted to take their place. Even Lang Yue'e, who usually had a gentle temper, felt a spark of irritation flare up. "Section Chief Miao placed them in the center because he believed they were the most suitable in every aspect. Is it fair to our Jinchuan Forestry Station if they’re replaced just like that, despite being the right choice?"
Section Chief Miao had already figured it out—Qin Ling was dissatisfied because she hadn’t been placed in the center and was now stirring up trouble.
He waved his hand dismissively. "This is how we’ll arrange it. Anyone who isn’t happy can move to the side."
Qin Ling fell silent but didn’t move from her spot. Clearly, she wasn’t about to step aside just to prove a point.
Section Chief Miao finished arranging the remaining participants before allowing everyone to take a short break. He went to get some water, planning to return later to assign the lines.
Chen Jizhong had been standing nearby. As soon as Section Chief Miao finished, someone introduced him, and he brought up the matter of borrowing the grand theater.
Since his own team also needed to rehearse, Section Chief Miao thought for a moment and didn’t refuse, telling them to come the next afternoon.
Chen Jizhong thanked him and was about to leave when he passed the open area where the group had been practicing. His footsteps paused as his gaze landed on Qi Fang, who was standing in a corner talking to Yan Xue.
"Is that Qi Fang, the one you had removed earlier?" The person beside him had also heard the name and glanced over.
Chen Jizhong gave a curt "Mm" before asking, "What are they doing here?"
"Poetry recitation," the other replied. "Section Chief Miao wants each forestry station to send two people to perform together, celebrating the wonderful life in the forestry stations."
"Wonderful life in the forestry stations?" Chen Jizhong scoffed, clearly annoyed that Qi Fang had resurfaced.
Noticing his expression, the man beside him chuckled. "It’s just a poetry recitation. It’s not like it’ll change anything."
But Chen Jizhong kept staring in that direction, prompting the other to add a warning. "It’s not a good time to act rashly. The bureau just got a new secretary, and no one’s figured out his temper yet."
"I thought Director Liu was taking over? How did a new one get assigned?" Chen Jizhong was surprised.
"Who knows? Maybe he has strong connections. He was directly appointed from above and isn’t even forty yet."
That was indeed young. Chen Jizhong lowered his voice. "What about Director Liu?"
"He’s been furious these days. There’s bound to be some drama. That’s why I’m telling you not to make any moves. If you end up in someone’s crosshairs, you’ll be in trouble."
Chen Jizhong didn’t say anything more, but his eyes remained fixed on the open area. Soon, his gaze shifted to Qin Ling, who stood on the other side.
Qin Ling had been a class monitor since childhood and was a key figure in her forestry station, always striving to be the best. She had prepared for this for a long time, only to have someone else steal the spotlight.
Naturally, she wasn’t in a good mood. So when someone approached her with a "Hello, comrade," she frowned at first.
But since this person wasn’t from any of the forestry stations and had spoken with Section Chief Miao earlier, she nodded and returned the greeting.
The man immediately pointed at Yan Xue in the distance. "Do you know that female comrade over there? What’s her relationship with that male comrade?"
"How would I know?" The mention of Yan Xue darkened her expression.
The man dropped the subject, but after a while, he tried again. "I thought you were all together. She seems quite close with that male comrade."
"We’re not from the same forestry station," Qin Ling snapped, her tone even sharper.
But then she paused, her eyes narrowing as she studied the pair more carefully.
Now that she thought about it, the two from Jinchuan Forestry Station did seem unusually close.
After lunch today, they hadn’t returned to the guesthouse to rest—where had they gone together?
When Section Chief Miao returned, he assigned the lines based on their positions, and the group spent most of the afternoon rehearsing and adjusting.
With time running short, Section Chief Miao didn’t let them off in the evening either. "We only have two days left. Bear with it a little longer—after dinner, come back and run through it a few more times."
Not only the forestry station members but even Section Chief Miao himself returned after dinner, watching from the sidelines and correcting the pronunciation of those who struggled with standard Mandarin.
Only when the night grew chilly did he check his watch and dismiss everyone, keeping back a few particularly weak performers for one-on-one coaching in his office.
Yan Xue and Qi Fang weren’t among those held back. As they were about to leave, Qi Fang noticed something out of the corner of his eye. "Let’s not go back yet."
Yan Xue followed his gaze discreetly and saw Qin Ling, the woman who had tried to take her spot earlier.
She couldn’t figure out what was going on with this woman—all afternoon, she had been staring at her and Qi Fang, especially during breaks, sneaking glances their way.
She acknowledged Qi Fang first before lowering her voice. "You think she’s up to something?"
"Sneaky and scheming, no good intentions," Qi Fang summarized in eight words.
Sure enough, once they left the forestry bureau and didn’t head toward the guesthouse, Qin Ling quietly began following them.
Was she planning to take them both down single-handedly so they couldn’t participate in the rehearsal and performance? Or was she planning to shadow them 24/7 to dig up dirt?
Yan Xue glanced at Qi Fang’s tall, imposing figure and concluded it must be the latter. She poked him lightly. "Do I look that easy to bully?"
Chengshui Town had electricity, and the main road was dotted with dim streetlights at intervals. The warm yellow glow stretched their shadows, making her seem even smaller and more delicate.
Qi Fang thought about how light she was when he held her, and how her eyes always reddened by the end. "You do."
Yan Xue stopped in her tracks, looking at him, then considering Qin Ling behind them. In the end, she just raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
The question seemed tricky to answer. Qi Fang hesitated. "No, you’re formidable."
Especially given their size difference.
Whether it was the darkness or the fact they had stepped out of the streetlight’s reach, Yan Xue thought his gaze had deepened.
She poked him again, nodding toward Qin Ling. "What do we do? Just let her keep following us?"
"Let’s see what she’s after," Qi Fang said. "If we can settle it, better to do it sooner."
Yan Xue leaned closer to ask what he had in mind when he suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into a nearby grove of trees.
Those shameless lovers—they really were involved!
Qin Ling, watching from behind, was both shocked and furious. How could Jinchuan Forestry Station have sent these two?
How brazen, sneaking into the woods in the dark!
She hurried after them but was careful not to step on fallen leaves, afraid the rustling would give her away.
Luckily, the shameless pair couldn’t wait—just a short distance in, the man pressed the woman against a tree.
When Qi Fang pushed her shoulders back against the trunk, Yan Xue was exasperated. "This is your plan?"
"Mm." One of his hands cushioned her back as he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Haven’t you noticed? Every time you poke me, her reaction gets more intense."
So she was here to catch them in an affair? Yan Xue was even more speechless. "Does she not know we’re married?"
It wasn’t necessarily obvious, since neither the forestry farm registration nor Lang Yue'e’s introductions to others had any reason to emphasize that they were married.
Yan Xue was tilting her head up to speak to Qi Fang, but from Qin Ling’s perspective, the two looked like they were already kissing.
Not just kissing—they were going at it with enthusiasm, lingering for what felt like ages without pulling apart.
This filled Qin Ling with both fury and excitement, as she felt she had finally caught Yan Xue in a major scandal that could bring her down.
But this alone wasn’t enough. She decided to wait a little longer, to let them commit even more disgraceful acts before catching them red-handed.
Meanwhile, Yan Xue couldn’t help glancing in Qin Ling’s direction and whispering to Qi Fang, “Why hasn’t she left yet?”
“Maybe she doesn’t think it’s enough.” This time, Qi Fang actually pressed a quick kiss to Yan Xue’s lips.
She smacked his arm. “Are you doing this on purpose?”
Qi Fang didn’t answer, only tightened his arms around her. “Are you cold?”
Late September in the northeast was quite chilly at night, but this man was like a giant furnace. The moment he drew close, warmth soon radiated between them.
Yan Xue murmured, “Not cold,” then rose on her tiptoes to peek over his shoulder. “She’s still there. Does she really expect us to put on a live show for her?”
Yan Xue had no interest in outdoor escapades for thrills, and even if she did, she certainly wouldn’t perform for an audience—especially one who wouldn’t even tip.
Qi Fang clearly wasn’t keen either. After a brief frown, he released her and began unbuttoning his woolen Mao suit.
Yan Xue immediately grabbed his hand. “Don’t. She didn’t pay for the show.”
Qi Fang gave her a deep look. “If she paid, it’d be fine?”
“That’s not what I meant.” Yan Xue quickly corrected herself. “I had to wait almost half a year after marriage to see this. Why should she get a free show?”
Only then did Qi Fang’s expression soften slightly. “Relax, I’m just taking off the jacket.”
Soon, the Mao suit was draped over both of them, shielding them from view beneath the fabric.
From Qin Ling’s vantage point, she could no longer see what they were doing, but the way the jacket swayed suggested nothing good.
She immediately turned and ran, straight into Section Chief Miao’s office. “Section Chief Miao! There are people taking advantage of our poetry recital rehearsal to engage in illicit relations—right in the nearby grove!”
Section Chief Miao had been correcting a recital participant’s intonation and was momentarily stunned. “What did you say?”
“People are using the rehearsal as cover for indecent behavior,” Qin Ling repeated. “I saw it with my own eyes—they’ve even taken their clothes off!”
In this era, improper relations between men and women were heavily frowned upon. Even engaged couples could face criticism or punishment for premarital intimacy.
But regardless of the era, catching people in the act had always been a favorite public spectacle. The moment someone heard clothes had been shed, voices rose. “Where?”
Section Chief Miao could no longer focus on coaching. He, too, was irritated that while everyone else was diligently rehearsing, some were exploiting the occasion for misconduct.
The group hurried out of the forestry bureau toward the grove, flashlights sweeping the trees until they landed on two figures—Qi Fang and Yan Xue from Jinchuan Forestry Farm, also here for the recital rehearsal.
But when the light caught them, they weren’t doing anything scandalous. In fact, they stood half a meter apart, walking out of the grove, looking genuinely surprised at the sudden audience.
“What’s going on?” Yan Xue thought the Oscars owed her a statuette—her expression of innocent confusion was flawless.
No one spoke at first. Their gazes shifted from her to Qi Fang, then settled on his jacket draped over her shoulders.
There were indeed two people in the grove, and clothes had indeed been removed—but it wasn’t quite what they’d imagined.
Had they already finished? Were these two really that quick?
Now all eyes turned to Qi Fang, who frowned. “Out for a walk too?”
“A walk? Who do you think you’re fooling?” Qin Ling hadn’t expected them to wrap up so fast, but with the crowd already here, she couldn’t let the opportunity slip. “A man and woman alone in a grove at night, clothes off—what, do you think we’re all idiots?”
The jacket was indeed suspicious, and a man and woman sneaking into a grove at night was hard to explain.
Just as Section Chief Miao was about to speak, Qi Fang lazily lifted his gaze. “My wife was cold. I gave her my jacket—what’s the problem?”
Wait—what did he just say?
His wife?!
Everyone froze, especially Qin Ling, who looked like she couldn’t believe her ears. “You’re saying she’s your wife?”
“Yes. We registered our marriage on February 14th. Need me to show you the certificate?”
“Where is it?” Qin Ling clearly wasn’t ready to give up, but Section Chief Miao had already lost patience with her antics. “What a waste of time.” He turned and left.
The others, too, were caught off guard by the revelation, some awkwardly murmuring, “So you two are really married?”
“Why would we lie?” Yan Xue smiled. “When everyone from the forestry farm arrives in a couple of days for the performance, you can ask around. It’s common knowledge.”
That settled it. The crowd grew even more uncomfortable.
This was all Qin Ling’s fault—losing the competition fair and square, then resorting to baseless accusations, even stalking a married couple at night.
Now everyone instinctively distanced themselves from her, making excuses to leave, leaving Qin Ling standing there, face alternating between red and white.
Neither Yan Xue nor Qi Fang bothered with further words—or perhaps they simply couldn’t be bothered. Only after walking some distance did Yan Xue chuckle and ask, “Did you really bring our marriage certificate?”
Qi Fang didn’t answer until they reached the guesthouse. Then, with a slow lift of his peach-blossom eyes, he murmured, “Want to find out?”
“Just go back to your room. It’s not like you can tell me tonight anyway.” She pushed him toward his door.
Later, Qin Ling returned, either having paid extra or for some other reason, and promptly packed her things to leave—likely realizing she’d been played by Yan Xue and Qi Fang.
But even if she had figured it out, there was nothing she could do. She’d walked right into their trap with ill intentions.
And they were a married couple, while she only had a male colleague from the same forestry farm. If things escalated, she’d gain nothing.
So Yan Xue happily enjoyed a room to herself—though the security here was stricter than at the forestry farm, with three nighttime checks for her travel permit.
The next day, Section Chief Miao revised the performance lineup and assigned lines, moving Qin Ling to the very edge and leaving her with only a few shared lines.
The lines she lost were all redistributed to Yan Xue and Qi Fang. Though others were envious, considering they hadn’t been accused of misconduct, there was nothing they could say.
Section Chief Miao often helped organize bureau performances and had connections at the theater. After a quick rehearsal, he led the group there.
When Chen Jizhong entered with the team from the repair factory, his gaze immediately landed on Qi Fang, who stood out strikingly at the center of the stage, his handsome features making him impossible to miss.
Not only was Qi Fang still there, but he was positioned front and center, and his lines were noticeably more substantial than the others'. Chen Jizhong asked around and soon learned about the previous night's incident. He wasn’t sure whether to blame himself for not gathering enough information or to resent Qi Fang’s sheer luck.
As he mulled it over, two pairs of eyes suddenly locked onto him from the stage—one from Qin Ling in the corner, the other from Qi Fang himself. Their gazes were deep, dark, and piercing, staring down at him as if they could see straight into his soul.
For a moment, Chen Jizhong felt a chill crawl down his spine, though he quickly regained his composure.
It was just a poetry recital—did Qi Fang really think he could claw his way back up, let alone surpass him?
Chen Jizhong ignored Qi Fang and Yan Xue, and naturally, they had no time for him either. But on the day of the actual performance, he was surprised to spot a familiar face seated in the front row of the audience.
Qi Fang: Who said we were fooling around? We’re legally married—got the certificate to prove it!
