"Let's go. I'll go with you to see the Regiment Commander and explain things. I don't mind that you were eavesdropping this time, and I'll let you off the self-criticism report."
Hearing this, Ning Songyun's eyes lit up, and she threw her arms around Zhao Yu in a big bear hug.
"Yuyu, you're the best!"
Zhao Yu was almost squeezed breathless. "Cough, cough... But you mustn't eavesdrop anymore in the future. What if it had been some confidential matter or official business? What would you have done if you'd been expelled?"
Ning Songyun tightly wrapped her arms around Zhao Yu's neck and nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, Yuyu! I swear I'll never dare do it again!"
With that, Ning Songyun even started fake-crying with a soft "Wuwuwu."
"You have no idea, Yuyu. My mom is so strict. She says it has to be a thousand words, but in reality, she makes me rewrite it so many times. You really saved my little life this time! From now on, you're my best, best, absolute best friend!"
"Alright, alright," Zhao Yu responded helplessly, though a smile gradually filled her eyes.
She never expected that her relationship with Ning Songyun would thaw just like that, and that they would even become good friends.
Thinking back to her past life when she was entirely isolated and helpless, it was probably because those girls looked down on her behavior of sacrificing her own future for a man.
With this thought, Zhao Yu gently patted Ning Songyun's back. "Aren't you going to let go of me? Are we going to the Regiment Commander's office or not?"
"We are, we are!" Ning Songyun quickly released Zhao Yu and excitedly pushed open the training room door to run outside.
"Mom! Just now Yuyu said—"
Ning Songyun pushed open He Fang's office door with a loud bang, only to find Lu Jing and his Regiment Commander, Ji Weiguo, inside.
Seeing Zhao Yu arrive, He Fang beckoned to her directly. "Perfect, I was just about to look for you."
He Fang pointed at Ji Weiguo and gave Zhao Yu a subtle wink. "This is Regiment Commander Ji. He's here looking for me to submit the marriage application."
"What marriage application?" Zhao Yu caught He Fang's drift and smoothly played dumb.
"Lu Jing has already filed his marriage report with you on his end, but you never submitted yours. When I asked Lu Jing, he hemmed and hawed without giving a straight answer, so I brought him here to ask about it."
Ji Weiguo's gentle tone carried no hint of interrogation, which clashed completely with his fierce, almost menacing face.
"Reporting!" Zhao Yu snapped a military salute to the man.
"I was indeed in a relationship with Comrade Lu Jing previously, but due to issues of principle, we have already broken up."
"I didn't agree to it!" Lu Jing blurted out quickly upon hearing this.
"Oh?" Ji Weiguo looked at Zhao Yu with keen interest. "Tell me about these issues of principle first."
"Naturally, it's because he refuses to act like a decent human being!"
Ning Songyun chimed in, wanting to continue, but He Fang pulled her back.
He Fang dragged Ning Songyun down into a seat and warned her in a low voice, "Let Xiao Zhao speak for herself!"
After giving Ning Songyun a reassuring look, Zhao Yu spoke unhurriedly.
"Reporting to the Regiment Commander, before I answer your question, may I ask you one?"
"Go ahead."
"Did Comrade Wang Jianguo lose his life in order to save Comrade Lu Jing?"
Hearing Zhao Yu bring up Wang Jianguo, a trace of sorrow crossed Ji Weiguo's face.
"Yes. He was Lu Jing's squad leader. During a field training exercise, they ran into a mudslide, and he saved Lu Jing."
"Then did Comrade Wang Jianguo have a wife?"
Ji Weiguo frowned. "A wife? He never submitted a marriage report. Where would a wife come from?"
Not expecting Zhao Yu to lay the matter out in the open like this, Lu Jing could only explain in a panic.
"When the squad leader went back to his hometown, he brought his partner along. People back home just took it upon themselves to throw a wedding banquet. As you know, in the older generation's eyes, having a banquet makes them a married couple."
Hearing this, Ji Weiguo's eyes bulged with anger. "Doesn't he know what military discipline is?!"
After roaring, Ji Weiguo pointed at Zhao Yu. "You tell me! What does this have to do with you going back on your word and refusing to marry Lu Jing?"
Ignoring Lu Jing's pleading gaze, Zhao Yu spoke without a hint of politeness.
"Because Lu Jing feels that since his squad leader saved his life, he must take good care of Comrade Jianguo's wife for the rest of his life, and he demanded that I do the exact same thing, caring for her together without a single complaint. I feel this doesn't align with my values of building revolutionary camaraderie and establishing a family of our own, so I decided to part ways with Comrade Lu Jing."
"Absurd!"
As soon as Zhao Yu finished speaking, Ji Weiguo brought his hand down hard on the desk with a loud smack.
"The military doesn't recognize Wang Jianguo's marriage, and the law doesn't recognize it either. What on earth are you caring for?! And expecting a good young woman to look after her right along with you—have you no shame?!"
Ji Weiguo was a rough man, and in his fury, he threw aside all filter, unleashing a torrent of scolding directly at Lu Jing.
Startled by Ji Weiguo's outburst, Zhao Yu accepted a cup of water handed to her by Ning Songyun.
He Fang then patted her shoulder soothingly. "It's fine, Lao Ji just has that kind of temper."
"But Regiment Commander, no matter what, Lin Shu already had a wedding banquet with the squad leader, yet there's no way for her to collect Jianguo's pension. If I don't look out for her too, she'll have no way out."
"They never even got their marriage certificate! What, can't the woman find anyone better just because Wang Jianguo is gone?!"
"Actually, she really can't."
Zhao Yu muttered under her breath, not expecting Ji Weiguo's ears to be exceptionally sharp.
"Comrade Xiao Zhao, what do you mean by that?"
"Because Comrade Lin Shu is pregnant," Zhao Yu had no intention of helping Lin Shu cover it up.
"What are you talking about!" Lu Jing never expected Zhao Yu would dare to reveal even this.
"What did I say wrong?"
Zhao Yu spread her hands and tilted her head. "Isn't that what you told me? You said the one in Lin Shu's belly is Wang Jianguo's only child, and that you're going to take care of them as mother and daughter for the rest of your life to repay the debt of gratitude. Oh, and right! You even said you'd have the child call you Dad."
"I meant having the child recognize me as a godfather! Don't you know how I truly feel about you?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Lu Jing saw that Ji Weiguo's face had turned ashen, and he hurriedly offered an explanation.
"I don't care if you end up being that child's stepfather or godfather."
Zhao Yu rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I'm not going to be anyone's ready-made mother. Whoever wants to jump into a bottomless fire pit like that can go right ahead."
Watching Zhao Yu's reaction, panic gripped Lu Jing's heart.
To repay a debt of gratitude, finding conveniences for Lin Shu or dropping by to help out was one thing.
But in the military, if people got the wrong idea and suspected he had something going on with Lin Shu, the nature of the situation would change entirely.
At best, he would face disciplinary action; at worst, he might lose his position in the military altogether!
"Yuyu, you've really misunderstood." Seizing the moment, Lu Jing reached out to grab Zhao Yu's hand, pulling her toward him.
"Yuyu, don't pick fights with me over Lin Shu anymore. Can't we just live our lives properly?"
Sensing that his words sounded a bit dry, Lu Jing raised his hand and swore with a devout tone.
"From now on, I will definitely put you first, and I'll listen to you on all major household matters. How about that?"
"Oh my, this is quite a lively scene. It's my first time witnessing someone sweet-talking a young girl with my own eyes. A-Yi, have you ever seen this before?"