Zhao Chun knew that Jiang Jinghuai had the day off, and since the eting place was set at the gymnasium, he specially chose a set of casual sportswear.
eting at the gymnasium didn’t strike Zhao Chun as strange, because Jiang Jinghuai was soone who enjoyed exercising.
"Long ti no see." Zhao Chun greeted warmly, his tone filled with cheer, as he quickly walked toward the austere man on the court. "I heard you..."
"Bang!" Before he could finish speaking, a fist landed squarely on his face.
It was by no ans a gentle punch. Zhao Chun’s body stumbled to the ground, grimacing in pain.
Covering his cheek, his expression mixed with grievance, confusion, fury, and anguish, he raised his head and complained, "Jinghuai, why would you hit ?"
Such a massive "eting gift" was sothing he couldn’t stomach; it hit him hard enough to kindle his temper.
The atmosphere froze. Jiang Jinghuai didn’t reply but instead lowered his head. His deep, pitch-black eyes bore down on Zhao Chun, his tone indifferent: "Get up. Let’s fight."
Zhao Chun was on the verge of tears, his mind clouded. "Co on, man, you’re trained. I’m no match for you. Are you bullying ?"
"I told you to get up," Jiang Jinghuai’s expression darkened further, his voice cold and firm.
His overwhelming presence made Zhao Chun’s body tremble slightly. Finally realizing he wasn’t joking and was completely serious, Zhao Chun scrambled up from the ground, his usually handso face tense.
"You first," Jiang Jinghuai said, raising an eyebrow.
It was always the sa—this dominating aura he’d held over him since childhood. Not explaining anything, just eting him with violence! Zhao Chun’s chest surged with burning anger. Clenching his fists, he launched an attack, but Jiang Jinghuai smoothly dodged it with a slight shift of his body.
Jiang Jinghuai countered with a spinning kick that sent Zhao Chun collapsing to his knees, his bones aching and cold sweat streaming from his forehead.
"Get up. Keep going," Jiang Jinghuai’s voice was calm and low.
Gritting his teeth, Zhao Chun widened his eyes defiantly and stood up again. A real battle between n had officially begun.
Though Zhao Chun wasn’t in the military, he was still a man; fighting wasn’t beyond him—it was all about brute force. However, in the end, Zhao Chun was left sprawled on the ground, gasping for air, battered and bruised, every bone in his body aching.
Though Jiang Jinghuai hadn’t fallen, he too was drenched in sweat.
After such a fight, his whole body felt refreshed. Satisfying—utterly satisfying!
"Jinghuai, I didn’t provoke you, did I?" Zhao Chun wiped his mouth hard, which had definitely been reddened from the blows. "Did you treat like one of your soldiers for training or what?"
Jiang Jinghuai pressed his thin lips together, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, and slowly exhaled.
His gaze beca distant, staring off sowhere faraway. "Tian Sangsang. Do you know her?"
Zhao Chun’s breath hitched, his eyes shooting up to et his gaze.
"She is my wife."
"What?" Zhao Chun seed montarily dizzy, furiously shaking his head to regain clarity, and suddenly everything clicked into place.
"We already have a son, we’re married, we’ve shared a bed."
Zhao Chun’s lashes trembled slightly, pain flashing briefly in his dazed eyes. His dry lips parted: "Sorry, I didn’t know."
"I never thought..." he mumbled.
"Whether you knew or not, whether you thought about it or not, I don’t allow it."
"Let this matter end here." Jiang Jinghuai extinguished the cigarette, extended his hand to pull Zhao Chun up, his gaze heavy. "We’re still friends. Know your limits."
"I’m sorry." Zhao Chun still hadn’t recovered, repeating softly, "Sorry."
Jiang Jinghuai patted his shoulder, picked up his coat, draped it over his own shoulders, and slowly walked out of the gymnasium.
Once he left, Zhao Chun imdiately collapsed back onto the ground, his face pale as he gasped for breath.
**
"Brother-in-law." Ji Yao’er stepped forward sweetly and softly asked, "I just wanted to check on whether there’s any progress investigating that teacher Shui."
"This matter boils down to right versus wrong; the result determines who wins. Don’t you already know the answer?" Lu Chi took a sip of tea and glanced at her lightly.
Ji Yao’er felt a pang of guilt under his gaze, resenting his response. "But Tian Sangsang went too far, beating Teacher Shui like that."
"Just a teacher Shui. Focus on your own issues first. Soone might co to question you about Shui Lian soon. Push all the responsibility onto Shui Lian. There’s no way Shui Lian can stay in the military district. This ti, even I can’t save her—we have to give everyone an explanation."
"Why?" Ji Yao’er grumbled in frustration. "Teacher Shui was trying to help , yet... why does she have to be expelled while Tian Sangsang..." Her grievance wasn’t for Shui Lian’s sake but because Tian Sangsang hadn’t faced any punishnt—it was infuriating!
"Tian Sangsang has Jiang Jinghuai backing her. What does Shui Lian have? If Shui Lian really had so connection to Jiang Jinghuai, she wouldn’t have lost her position. But that day, Jiang Jinghuai clearly shielded Tian Sangsang, that Little Chili." Lu Chi sneered, "In this place, spreading rumors is the most detested thing. Be smart—if you want to accuse Tian Sangsang of an affair, produce evidence. If you can’t, creating baseless chaos will only make you a laughingstock. Do you want the entire world to know you’re accusing Tian Sangsang of seducing your man?"
"Ji Yao’er, the flower of the arts troupe, and yet you can’t keep hold of a man?"
"Or are you hoping they’ll end up together?"
"Of course not." Ji Yao’er quickly shook her head! But with Zhao Chun’s heart not with her, she was naturally anxious. That’s why she had thought to use Shui Lian...
"If you’ve got the energy, spend it on Zhao Chun." Lu Chi shot her a deep look. "Yao’er, rember—don’t ss around in the military district. Even I can’t cover everything. As for Shui Lian, stay away from her moving forward—a failed soldier. And Tian Sangsang, don’t go against her, or you’ll risk being scorched. Besides, Tian Sangsang has a solid relationship with Kunling. I don’t want to stir the pot before achieving anything else and end up irritating her friend."
A bunch of brainless won, constantly stirring up trouble.
"Understood." Ji Yao’er felt a little scared.
Regarding the incident with Shui Lian being beaten, everyone already understood the situation. Any investigations at this point were rely formalities. In the end, the facts were established. Shui Lian was punished and expelled from the military district kindergarten. Official docunts would be issued shortly—Shui Lian was now a stray dog. She carried the few belongings she had, with no sense of where to go, much like her uncertain departure from Sangren County.
Was there anywhere left for her to go?
Once, Jiang Jinghuai had given her hope, only to turn around and ruthlessly stab her in the back.
"Yao’er." Shui Lian clung to Ji Yao’er desperately, like grasping her last lifeline.
Ji Yao’er frowned as she looked at her, while the other girls quickly stepped back.
Shui Lian didn’t look good anymore, her face swollen and red, long gone from her previously elegant appearance. The girls kept their distance, realizing how deceived they had been by her looks in the past. Who would have guessed she was so scheming, always speaking ill of others behind their backs? Better to stay far away from her—who knows what kind of revenge she might plot? People who badmouth others are the worst.
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