“Captain Liu, you… how could you do this to me?”
Wen Shengnan covered her face, sobbing. “What… what am I supposed to do now?”
“You just focus on being the captain’s wife from now on.” Liu Wei patted Wen Shengnan’s shoulder gently. “Xiao Wen, don’t worry. I will definitely take responsibility for you.”
“But what about the arts troupe…” Wen Shengnan had sacrificed so much precisely to keep her job at the arts troupe, so naturally she needed a clear promise.
“It’s a small matter. I’ll go say a word to your troupe leader later. I’m sure he’ll give me that face.”
“As for whether you can still perform on stage, first follow your troupe’s arrangements. After that, I’ll pull some strings for you.”
“Really, Captain Liu?”
Wen Shengnan’s eyes lit up, with teardrops still clinging to her eyelashes—which made Liu Wei want to go another round.
“Of course it’s true! Xiao Wen, I’m really happy you came to see me today.”
With that, Liu Wei pressed Wen Shengnan back down beneath him.
Liu Wei was a man of his word. The very next day, he called the leader of the Qianjin Arts Troupe.
They exchanged some official pleasantries, neither saying anything directly, but both understood exactly what was being discussed.
What caught Liu Wei off guard, however, was that what he’d assumed would be a simple matter turned out otherwise. The other party said bluntly: “Old Liu, this thing with Wen Shengnan isn’t that simple.”
“Isn’t it just that professor having some connection with Wu Qingyun from the Red Star Arts Troupe, favoring the young comrade from their troupe while targeting a few of yours?”
“Old Liu, did Wen Shengnan tell you that?”
Liu Wei certainly couldn’t admit that, so he laughed it off. “That’s just what I heard.”
“Old Liu, what you heard isn’t accurate. Professor Tang is indeed friends with Wu Qingyun, but we all know Professor Tang’s character very well. She wouldn’t play favorites—she’s extremely fair.”
“And she hasn’t been targeting our troupe either. She just has issues with Jiang Miao and Wen Shengnan. And those two really did do something wrong—there’s solid evidence.”
“Besides, Wen Shengnan didn’t just offend Professor Tang. She also offended General Yue’s family and Yue Mingyuan.”
“What?! How did she manage to offend General Yue and Yue Mingyuan too?” Liu Wei was shocked.
If Wen Shengnan had truly offended General Yue and Yue Mingyuan, then this was beyond his ability to handle. More importantly, he couldn’t get involved—he didn’t want to be dragged into it and risk his own future.
“Wen Shengnan has a crush on Yue Mingyuan. A lot of us know that.”
The voice on the other end let out a heavy sigh. “You should also know that Yue Mingyuan married a dancer from the arts troupe, Ye Zhiqiu—she’s from Wu Qingyun’s troupe.”
“Whether out of jealousy or some other reason, Wen Shengnan has always targeted that Ye Zhiqiu. She even got someone to ruin her performance costume. That’s why Professor Tang called our troupe.”
“Speaking of this, I’m so embarrassed I wish I could stuff my head in a sack. You have no idea how humiliated I felt when I went over there. I’m dreading the next meeting—I don’t even dare show my face.”
“Yue Mingyuan just came to see me and told me something else—I can’t share the details with you—but Wen Shengnan must face serious disciplinary action.”
“Not because she offended Ye Zhiqiu, but because the things she did were way over the line.”
“Old Liu, you…”
“I was just calling to catch up. Don’t take anything I said to heart.”
Liu Wei now knew the full picture. “Xiao Wen came to see me, crying her eyes out. I just couldn’t bear it, so I thought I’d ask you what was going on. Now that I understand the situation, yeah, she does need to be dealt with seriously.”
“Do whatever you need to do.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries and hanging up, Liu Wei’s expression turned very grim.
He really had underestimated that woman Wen Shengnan. He’d thought she was just a scheming little minx, but it turned out she dared to deceive him.
No wonder she’d turned him down—turns out she’d set her sights on Yue Mingyuan.
The arts troupe had already held a meeting. Even without Yue Mingyuan’s call, they were going to expel Wen Shengnan.
Sure, it would affect the troupe’s operations, but keeping her would damage their reputation even more.
Choosing the lesser of two evils, naturally they had to let Wen Shengnan go.
And with that temperament of hers, if she stayed, everyone in the troupe would be walking on eggshells, always worried about when she might strike next.
“Where did you go last night, huh?”
Wen Shengnan’s mother, Li Cuicui, gave her daughter’s arm a hard pinch. “Were you sneaking off to meet a man?”
“Mom, I’m your daughter. Can’t you talk a little nicer?!”
Wen Shengnan absolutely hated the way her mother spoke—always with such harsh words.
Every time she heard it, it grated on her ears and cut into her heart.
“Stupid girl, you dare talk back?! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after. Take a look at yourself—with that cheap fate of yours, you still think you can marry into the military compound.”
“You just behave and listen to us. Tomorrow, put on something pretty and come with me to meet someone.”
“I’m not going. I’ve already found a man—and he’s a captain.”
Wen Shengnan really didn’t want to tell her family about Liu Wei, but she’d already given herself to him. She had no other choice.
“What? You found a captain? Keep dreaming—look at all those cowhides flying around in the sky.”
Li Cuicui didn’t believe a word her daughter said. “If you could land a captain, you’d have done it ages ago. You wouldn’t have waited till now. You think I don’t talk nice? Look how old you are already. If I don’t help you find a man, you’ll end up an old maid.”
“How do you know I can’t find a captain? I really did find one. I’ll bring him home in a few days.”
Seeing her mother’s expression, Wen Shengnan suddenly felt that Liu Wei wasn’t completely useless—at least his rank was decent.
But then she thought of Yue Mingyuan, who was just as young and already at the same rank as Liu Wei. Word had it that after the commendation ceremony in a few days, Yue Mingyuan would be promoted another level. And just like that, Wen Shengnan looked down on Liu Wei again.
Li Cuicui was about to say something when someone at the entrance of the compound shouted: “Wen family girl! Phone call!”
Wen Shengnan hurried over to the alley entrance to take the call.
It was naturally the arts troupe calling, telling her to come in that afternoon.
Wen Shengnan caught the tone of the caller’s voice, and a bad feeling suddenly welled up in her heart.
Could it be that Liu Wei had lied to her and hadn’t put in a good word for her?
No, she had to go find Liu Wei right away.
Wen Shengnan changed her clothes and went to Liu Wei’s office.
Unlike yesterday, today Liu Wei was cold and distant.
This made Wen Shengnan wonder—could it be that Liu Wei had just used her and now wouldn’t acknowledge it?
“Captain Liu.”
“Xiao Wen, you’re just in time. I have something to discuss with you.”
Liu Wei grabbed his hat, put on his coat, and walked to the door, motioning for Wen Shengnan to follow. “Let’s talk as we walk.”
“Xiao Wen, you’re not being honest with me, comrade.” After they left the regiment headquarters, Liu Wei turned and pointed at Wen Shengnan.
“Captain Liu, what do you mean by that?”
“I won’t beat around the bush with you. Did you or did you not offend General Yue’s daughter-in-law?”
