Chapter 72: The Masked Mixer

"What far-fetched evidence!" Si Han sneered, wrapping an arm around his younger sister's shoulders; his posture was slouchy, yet he carried an imposing air. "I brought my little sister to the military base to visit an old friend; what does that have to do with your ill-omened family?"

"Stop trying to drag my little sister into this!" Tian Chang followed up with a fierce glare at Li Xuan.

Si Rong naturally understood her second brother's intent and looked at Li Xuan with a smile. "That's right, Director Chen is asking you for evidence, so why are you bringing me up? I have absolutely nothing to do with you people now. If you don't have any evidence, are you planning on spreading rumors?"

Spreading rumors about a military officer was a crime; Li Xuan's face turned pale.

Shen Lan, lying on the ground, felt a constriction in his chest and was so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Oh! What happened here?" Jiang Yu stepped forward, looking extremely concerned. "Deputy County Magistrate Shen, why are you lying on the ground? Isn't it cold? Look, you're even spitting blood—it wouldn't be tuberculosis, would it?"

Shen Lan:...

"Hello, Director Chen," Jiang Yu said, shaking hands with Chen Shuo, and the two began to exchange very formal pleasantries.

"I only just heard about this matter. As a colleague of Deputy County Magistrate Shen, I must help him find the evidence!"

"To beat Deputy County Magistrate Shen into such a state in broad daylight—even if I have to search all of Huaiyang, I will drag that person out!"

Shen Lan:...

Lying on the ground and staring speechlessly at the sky, he thought there was no need to search all of Huaiyang; the culprit was right in his own house.

He did not believe for a second that Jiang Yu was that kind-hearted.

"Indeed, we must ensure justice for Deputy County Magistrate Shen!" Director Chen echoed.

Jiang Yu changed the subject. "However, Deputy County Magistrate Shen's health is so poor right now, and he's even spitting blood. Our department has discussed it, and we can't let him work so hard."

Shen Lan, on the ground, suddenly widened his eyes.

What did that mean? What was Jiang Yu trying to say?

"True, the capable should do more work," Director Chen clicked his tongue and said. "Since Deputy County Magistrate Shen is in poor health, you all should be more considerate. See if there are any lighter positions available."

"Yes, we've almost finished discussing..." Before Jiang Yu could finish his sentence, Shen Lan endured the pain in his body and scrambled up from the ground.

He could not be demoted!

The pain in his body wasn't entirely feigned, because Li Xuan had said the act had to be convincing, so she hadn't let him take any painkillers.

"I already feel much better!" Shen Lan emphasized. "There's no need to find me another position!"

Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Really? Deputy County Magistrate Shen, you must not force yourself. If you end up coming back to the military base later, then..."

"I won't be coming back; the injuries on my body have already healed," Shen Lan said through gritted teeth.

The farce came to an absurd end just like that; Li Xuan's scheme had failed once again, causing her to suffer a loss of eight thousand to inflict a mere hundred on the enemy.

Jiang Cheng had a stubborn temper.

He had been very angry about being locked in the office by Director Chen, so after he was released, he took away the Tai Sui that Director Chen liked very much.

Additionally, he took the initiative to write a self-criticism; hitting someone was indeed wrong, and he even requested a six-month salary deduction as a penalty.

Soon, the day of the Lantern Festival arrived.

Early in the morning, Si Rong applied light makeup and put on the thickened cheongsam she had custom-made before the new year.

The light purple pattern accentuated her slender and graceful figure.

She wore a cashmere coat of the same color over it.

She had heard from Jiang Cheng that the mixer was in the military base's cultural hall, where there should be heating, so it shouldn't be too cold.

Just as she finished getting ready, Jiang Cheng arrived.

He had even brought her breakfast.

"You mentioned last time that the steamed dumplings Wu Shen makes are delicious, so I brought some."

There was undisguised admiration in Jiang Cheng's eyes.

When Si Rong had visited his home last time and mentioned that her breakfast habits were irregular, he had quietly taken it to heart.

"Thank you."

Si Rong reached out to take the steamed dumplings, and her little finger brushed against Jiang Cheng's broad palm; for some reason, the atmosphere became inexplicably ambiguous.

She took the dumplings, went to the kitchen to pour some rice vinegar and sesame oil, and asked Jiang Cheng, "Would you like to eat some too?"

There were over twenty steamed dumplings; she couldn't finish them all.

"Okay."

Jiang Cheng took the chopsticks she handed him and sat down opposite her.

Si Rong always ate in small, dainty bites.

She looked just like a little cat.

It was a bit cute, making one want to reach out and pat her head.

He had only been thinking about it, but Jiang Cheng hadn't expected his hand to actually do it without his own consent.

Looking at the hand resting on the top of Si Rong's head.

Jiang Cheng:...

Damn hand! What are you doing?

Si Rong looked up, confused, her apricot eyes blinking gently.

"Um, your hair... it was sticking up," Jiang Cheng said, thinking of such a lame excuse in his haste.

Si Rong did not doubt him, mainly because Jiang Cheng's expression was truly too serious.

It was nothing like what that lecherous Ming Zi had said—about him wanting to strip her clothes off with his eyes or anything of the sort.

"Oh, thank you."

Si Rong thought that it seemed she needed to change the hair care products from her beauty salon; how could her hair suddenly stick up like that for no reason?

After finishing the steamed dumplings, Wang Ma brought them some millet porridge.

The millet porridge was a bit thick today; Si Rong started drinking it in small sips with a spoon, but later, seeing Jiang Cheng finish his in a few gulps, she worried about keeping him waiting and began to drink it in large mouthfuls too.

"Alright, let's go!"

"Wait," Jiang Cheng pulled a tissue from the dining table, his gaze landing on the millet porridge smeared on the corner of Si Rong's lips.

He then crouched down slightly, the tall man bowing his back, and carefully wiped the porridge from the corner of Si Rong's mouth.

The heart has a fierce tiger, sniffing the rose.

These eight words suddenly surfaced in Si Rong's mind.

And then she felt her cheeks grow slightly warm.

"Alright, let's go!"

Wang Ma watched the backs of the young lady and Jiang Cheng, the more she looked, the more she felt they were a perfect match, praying in her heart that the young lady's relationship this time would go smoothly.

At the entrance of the military base, Si Rong ran into Fang Ting.

She was still wearing a proper military uniform, her hair combed all the way back, looking clean and sharp.

Because she had helped her block Shen Yun's clutches last time, Si Rong took the initiative to greet her first, "Fang Ting, you've come so early, let's go in together!"

Fang Ting had intended to wait for Jiang Cheng anyway.

Today, she found Si Rong exceptionally eyesore.

This woman was damnably beautiful.

Beautiful enough that even she, a woman, felt a bit moved.

However, she also had confidence in herself; she was going to perform boxing later and planned to make things difficult for Si Rong along the way.

So that Jiang Cheng could see clearly that she was the more outstanding one.

How could a delicate little woman like Si Rong be worthy of Jiang Cheng?

In her heart, Jiang Cheng was the Lv Bu among men!

Unrivaled in bravery!

The youngest fighter pilot, having received countless medals.

The three of them walked toward the hall together, attracting many looks along the way.

Everyone was curious about the identity of the woman beside Division Commander Jiang.

"I heard she's Division Commander Jiang's partner; she's really beautiful!"

"Doesn't that mean Company Commander Fang has no chance? She's been waiting for Division Commander Jiang until now!"

"If these two women were placed in front of you, who would you choose?"

Fang Ting didn't want to listen to these discussions; they were just a bunch of commoners.

She quickened her pace, and soon, the group arrived at the hall.

At the entrance, someone was handing out opera masks.

"What kind of trick is this?" Fang Ting asked as she took one, examining the mask full of theatrical elements.

The female soldier handing out the masks smiled and said, "It's what the director ordered; he said he was afraid these officers would be too shy, so everyone attending the social mixer today must wear an opera mask and find a partner according to their own heart."

Fang Ting felt a surge of joy; wearing a mask was good. By then, Jiang Cheng wouldn't be able to recognize Si Rong, and she had absolute confidence that she could recognize Jiang Cheng!

To ensure nothing went wrong, Fang Ting suggested, "Then find a military uniform for this female comrade too; I'm afraid her outfit will affect the dancing later."

Once Si Rong put on a military uniform and wore an opera mask, she would be exactly the same as her and many other women.