Division Commander Pei pushed through the crowd. He had just raised his hand to knock when he suddenly froze.
The woman inside the hospital room was calling out Linzhou’s name. Why did that voice sound so familiar?
At that moment, Director Sun’s vision swam. Her face had turned purple with rage, and her hands and feet felt cold. She struggled to breathe and could barely remain standing.
That was her daughter, Pei Jiaojiao’s voice. How could she possibly fail to recognize it?
“Open the door! Shen Linzhou, you bastard, open this door!” Director Sun screamed and cursed hysterically.
Division Commander Pei was more levelheaded. He grabbed Director Sun just as she was about to kick the door down.
His face ashen, he barked at the crowd, “Disperse! All of you, get back to your own rooms. No gawking, and no gossiping.”
The authority of a division commander instantly silenced everyone. The onlookers scattered instinctively and returned to their rooms, though they all pressed themselves against their doors to listen.
Division Commander Pei’s fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. The commotion outside was so loud that the people inside should have been unable to ignore it, yet there was no response.
The door had been bolted from the inside. Division Commander Pei stepped back several paces and kicked it open.
The light from the corridor spilled into the room, and at a glance, Division Commander Pei saw his own daughter, Pei Jiaojiao.
His fists tightened. His lips trembled with fury, and he was so enraged that he wanted nothing more than to strangle Pei Jiaojiao himself.
The two people inside were also startled back to their senses by the sound of the door being kicked open.
Pei Jiaojiao let out a shriek and yanked the quilt over herself. Although she had arranged for her parents to come, even she had never expected things to turn out like this. She truly hadn’t known the drug’s effects would be so strong. She had completely lost control.
Shen Hai burrowed under the quilt as well, trembling with fear.
Pei Jiaojiao’s voice was choked with tears and pleading.
“Dad, please listen to me explain. Brother Linzhou and I truly love each other. Please don’t be angry. I’m begging you—give us your blessing.”
Pei Jiaojiao felt humiliated and panicked, but she had only done it because she wanted to marry the man she loved. What had she done wrong? Things had already gone this far. As long as she could marry Shen Linzhou, she was willing to risk everything.
Mother Sun rushed forward and began pounding on the quilt-covered figure.
“Shen Linzhou, you bastard! If you liked Jiaojiao, you could have just told me. Why would you do something like this? How is my Jiaojiao supposed to face people after this?”
At that moment, the light in the hospital room clicked on. Chaos filled the room. Clothes were scattered all over the floor, and the air was thick with an unmistakable, suggestive scent.
“What are you doing?”
Shen Linzhou’s voice suddenly rang out.
Pei Jiaojiao jerked her head up and stared fixedly at the doorway. Her heart seemed to stop, and her pupils contracted sharply. Then she looked toward the bulging quilt.
Shen Linzhou was standing there. So who was the person beneath the quilt?
Pei Jiaojiao instantly lost all reason. Her mind went blank. The shame and panic were swept away by overwhelming shock.
Shen Linzhou was clearly supposed to be in the room. He was supposed to be the one with her. Why was he standing at the door?
“Shen Linzhou… How can you be there?”
Pei Jiaojiao threw off the quilt and tried to get out of bed, but Division Commander Pei immediately wrapped her in it, forcing her to calm down.
Pei Jiaojiao’s sob broke into a shriek.
Just then, Shen Linzhou saw Shen Hai’s head emerge from beneath the quilt. He strode over and punched him.
He simply wanted to avenge the version of himself he had seen in his dream.
Ten minutes later, the four of them sat fully dressed in Shen Linzhou’s hospital room.
Shen Linzhou’s tone was calm, though his voice held a trace of coldness.
“Division Commander Pei, I believe I’ve already explained everything clearly. Xiao Mandong’s younger sister is going to school tomorrow. Since her family saved my life, I wanted to take her some things as a token of my gratitude. That’s why I left with Qi Chuan.
“Besides, my younger brother arrived today, and the journey made him tired, so I let him rest in my room. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?
“Before I left, I also informed the doctor and told him that my younger brother was sleeping in the room and not to let anyone disturb him. But for some reason, Pei Jiaojiao showed up there.”
Pei Jiaojiao’s eyes were swollen and red. She screamed hysterically, “Shen Linzhou, what’s so good about that Xiao Mandong? She’s nothing but a country bumpkin from the countryside. How am I inferior to her? Are you blind, Shen Linzhou? You’ve been bewitched by that vixen’s face!
“My father is a division commander. Do you know how difficult it is for you to get promoted and rise through the ranks? If you marry me, it will be like gaining a ladder straight to the heavens. Don’t you understand? Is there something wrong with your brain? Can’t you see who will be able to help you in the future? I’m the one who can advance alongside you!”
“Smack!”
After hearing those words, Division Commander Pei slapped Pei Jiaojiao across the face. Blood immediately appeared at the corner of her mouth.
“Shameless, disgraceful daughter! You’ve made me lose all face! You’ve thrown morality and decency out the window for the sake of a man, and now you’re still spouting this nonsense. You’re beyond saving!”
Division Commander Pei had never expected that, even at a time like this, his daughter would still refuse to admit fault and continue making a scene. How could she be so foolish?
Director Sun hugged Pei Jiaojiao protectively, her heart aching for her.
“Pei Tieshan, what right do you have to hit my daughter? Can’t you see that your daughter was the one who got tricked? You can’t control your own soldiers, so why are you taking it out on my daughter? Isn’t it normal for a young girl to have a few schemes of her own?”
“Shut up! She plotted to get someone into bed, and you’re still indulging her? How far are you planning to spoil her?”
“Do you want to raise her into another member of your Sun family? Is everything acceptable as long as she doesn’t murder anyone or set anything on fire?”
Division Commander Pei was no fool. He could tell that his own daughter had tried to set Shen Linzhou up, only to be outmaneuvered herself.
He was also furious with Shen Linzhou’s actions. No matter how wrong his daughter had been, she could have been reported to him. He would not have let her off simply because she was his daughter. But why use such an extreme method to punish a young girl? This could ruin her entire life.
At the same time, he felt that his daughter was incredibly stupid. She had actually tried to scheme against a soldier using such a clumsy method. Wasn’t she simply digging a pit and jumping into it herself?
“Division Commander Pei, you should take your family matters home and discuss them there. If you want my younger brother to take responsibility, I’ll have my parents come over.”
Shen Linzhou had no desire to listen to their pointless arguments any longer. He opened the door to see them out. He and Qi Chuan still had to return to Red Flag Brigade, and he was not going to stay in this hospital room. Besides, they had to leave early the next morning.
“Shen Linzhou, I want you to marry me! If you refuse, I’ll report your younger brother for misconduct. Your brother can look forward to going to prison!”
Pei Jiaojiao had no intention of marrying Shen Hai. Her reputation was already ruined, so she might as well seize this opportunity and force Shen Linzhou to marry her.
“In that case, Division Commander Pei, you should report this to the authorities. There are too many suspicious details here. My younger brother is also a victim. I suspect someone set him up.”
“Shen Linzhou, why are you being so cruel to me? I love you so much. Can’t you love me even a little? You knew how I felt about you. Why did you never respond to me? You rejected me again and again. Do you know how hurt I was? You forced me into this! It’s all your fault. You have to take responsibility for me!”
Pei Jiaojiao’s voice was filled with resentment, unwillingness, and stubborn determination.
