I emptied my family's possessions to join the army, and my abstinent superior doted on me.

Chapter 33: Just a Passerby
Gu Hanchuan understood the question in Hua Cheng's eyes and said calmly, "Qian Lai is my sister, a good sister who is worth protecting."

"Brother, what are you talking about? She is clearly..."

"Alright!" Gu Hanchuan sternly stopped Gu Yue, then added, "From now on, I never want to hear you make things difficult for her again. Even if we were legally married, no one could restrict her from making friends. Remember that. Go back and tell the Gu family not to make things difficult for her. Do you understand?"

Ignoring Gu Yue's livid face, Gu Hanchuan adopted a different attitude and said gently to Qian Lai, "If you didn't finish your meal, you can continue. I'll wait for you downstairs."

"Oh, no. I'm done eating. Let's go back."

Turning to Hua Cheng and his sister, he said, "Brother Cheng, I'm sorry, I spoiled the fun today. Thank you for treating me to dinner, I'll treat you next time."

After saying that, he picked up his things, bid farewell to the two men, and hurriedly followed Gu Hanchuan back to the retirement home.

In the private room, only the Hua siblings remained, staring at each other in bewilderment.

Tonight is destined to be no peaceful night; someone in the military hospital is also experiencing a storm.

Qiao Muting, who had just returned from the retirement home, was cornered in the dressing room by Fang Wenjie as soon as he went upstairs: "Old Qiao, why did you go out this afternoon? You missed a visual feast."

"This afternoon, a celestial beauty came to our hospital. A celestial beauty! I've never seen such an otherworldly woman. Her figure, her temperament, her looks even surpass my Wenxue's."

Fang Wenjie had always firmly believed that Fang Wenxue was the most beautiful woman in the world. But today, that belief seems to have crumbled.

Seeing that Qiao Muting had no reaction, he added, "The key point is, a fairy came to the cafeteria today. Fairies eat human food too, buddy."

Qiao Muting looked at Fang Wenjie's silly, lovesick expression and wanted to laugh.

"Didn't you chat with the fairy for a bit? When you get to the moon, you 'Marshal Tianpeng' might not be able to find her."

Yes, just like him.

"What?! Don't just laugh at me. I guarantee that if you saw that beautiful woman, you wouldn't be as steadfast as I am."

"Don't believe me? Ask everyone. We all saw it. That girl had incredibly fair skin, long legs, a slim waist, and...tsk tsk, if anyone could marry her, they'd be intoxicated every night, forgetting all about politics."

"So she was Daji!"

Qiao Muting laughed at him and slammed the locker door shut: "I advise you to calm down. Fairies only exist in heaven, don't get carried away with your feelings on earth."

After saying that, he strode out of the locker room, leaving Fang Wenjie far behind.

As soon as I entered the ward, I saw Wen Nuan and Wen Quan surrounding Commander Wan's bedside, and Lan Shuangqin was talking to them.

"Wen Nuan, why did you bring your younger brother to the hospital today?"

On weekdays, after school, Wen Nuan would go to Grandma Ma's house to pick up Wen Quan, and then the two of them would go to the canteen in the compound together. After eating, they would go home together.

By the time Qiao Muting arrived home, the two little ones had usually already washed up and were fast asleep.

With such warm care, Qiao Muting was relieved of a lot of worries.

But why did she bring hot springs to the hospital today? Did something happen?
When Lan Shuangqin saw Qiao Muting coming over, she quickly recounted everything that had happened that day.

Qiao Muting clenched his fists in anger, his knuckles cracking.

“Deputy Director Qiao, please don’t be angry. Now that we’ve discovered the problem, let’s think of another solution. There are only two months left before the child can go to daycare. We can manage for those two months. If all else fails, a few of us family members can take turns helping you take care of the child.”

"Thank you, sister-in-law. I'll think of something else."

"Oh, by the way, this afternoon, that woman seemed to be quite familiar with Wenquan. Wenquan even said she was his favorite auntie. Do you know who she is?"

What, Auntie?

My favorite... could it be!

Qiao Muting's heart pounded. He knelt down, hugged Wenquan, and asked, "Who is your favorite aunt?"

"It's that pretty lady on the train."

"boom"!
His mind was bursting with ideas.

It really is her! She's still in Xinshi, nearby?!

Qiao Muting was overjoyed.

It would be wonderful if she lived or worked here!
Qiao Muting couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips. Suddenly, the figure he had seen on the stairs opposite the sanatorium flashed through his mind. "Sister-in-law, was that girl wearing a sky-blue dress today?"

“Yes, yes, it’s a sky-blue dress. How did you know?” Lan Shuangqin’s eyes lit up, with an expression that said, “I knew you two were something special.”

"boom"!
My mind started blooming again.

That figure on the stairs really is her!
Qiao Muting felt a mix of sweetness and bitterness. Sweet because she had appeared again, nearby. Bitter because they had missed each other again, and he didn't know if there would be another chance.

Then I remembered what Fang Wenjie had said: a fairy had appeared in the hospital.

That's her!

He instinctively wanted to rush out to find someone, but Lan Shuangqin saw through his intentions as soon as he took a step.

"She left a long time ago. I think she went to the city." Lan Shuangqin saw the panic in his heart, and she secretly smiled.

I've never seen Deputy Director Qiao smile and then act helplessly for any girl.

They went to the city!?
Could it be that she just happened to be visiting the military region?
The search area has expanded, making him even harder to find.

"Sister-in-law, did she say where she lives, or where we can find her?"

Lan Shuangqin thought about it for a while, then shook her head.

Qiao Muting was extremely disappointed, but it was all in vain.

After settling in the warmth and hot springs, he returned to his office, his face still clouded with worry.

After dropping the two children off at home, he subconsciously circled the military dependents' compound two or three times, hoping that he might bump into the girl by chance.

However, dreams are not reality, and reality often leaves people with headaches.

The regret of missing out so close, yet missing it completely, struck his heart hard.

Just a little bit closer!

In the office, he sat there blankly, unable to hide his bewildered expression, and Fang Wenjie immediately came over.

"What, are you blaming yourself for not seeing a celestial being?"

Indeed! The celestial being was his dream girl.

"Wenjie".

"Ok?"

"I"

"talk!"

"If you were looking for someone, what would you do?"

"Who are you looking for? That celestial beauty?"

"."

"Didn't you say she went back to the Moon Palace? Hehehe, now you're in a hurry to find her?"

"never mind."

Qiao Muting simply couldn't bring himself to reveal his true feelings to his buddies.

He was ashamed to talk about his "strange illness." And even he himself couldn't discern the true nature of his feelings for the girl.

forget it!
Perhaps they are just passersby who brush past you.

If fate allows, they might meet again.

However, that very night, his body honestly told him the answer.

　This chapter has been revised again and again, as if it could never perfectly capture Old Joe's disappointment and despondency.

　　Please give me a tip, please vote for me, please read along! Love you all!
　　(End of this chapter)