Chapter 12

After Fang Siyue opened the door and saw Song Yuntang inside, the smile on her face instantly vanished.

The moment she spoke, it was an impolite accusation:
“Hey, where did this country bumpkin come from? How did you get into Brother Weicheng’s office? This is the military headquarters—do you think it’s a place you can just wander into? Get out right now!”

Feeling the hostility coming at her, Song Yuntang let out a cold laugh and shot back,
“And who are you? I don’t see you in uniform either—you’re not a soldier. Since you know this is the military office, how did you get in so casually? Don’t tell me you’re a thief here to steal confidential documents?”

Fang Siyue flushed red with anger. “Who are you calling a thief?! I’m Brother Weicheng’s fiancée—his future wife! I came here specially to bring him food.”

Fang Siyue, the daughter of a political commissar, had grown up pampered in the capital’s military compound. She had never been spoken to like this before.

And seeing Song Yuntang dressed in worn-out clothes, dirty and undernourished, without a single redeeming quality—someone like that wouldn’t even be worth speaking to normally. Yet here she was, in Fu Weicheng’s office! It infuriated her.

A fiancée?

Song Yuntang narrowed her eyes slightly, sizing Fang Siyue up again. Aside from being arrogant and unreasonable—with her nose practically in the air—she wasn’t exactly unattractive.

If Fu Weicheng already had a fiancée, why was he unwilling to divorce her?

What a scumbag.

Song Yuntang cursed inwardly, but seeing Fang Siyue’s haughty attitude, she chose not to reveal the truth just yet.

Crossing her arms, she said calmly,
“So you’re Fu Weicheng’s fiancée. Then do you know he’s already married?”

“Of course I do,” Fang Siyue snorted disdainfully. “So what if he was married? He’s still the most promising young officer in the entire military district. Besides, his wife died long ago. Hmph—a country girl trying to latch onto him? She deserved to die early!”

Being insulted to her face—and even told she deserved to die—made Song Yuntang’s anger flare.

But she kept her composure and asked,
“Then do you know who I am?”

“I don’t care who you are! This isn’t a place for you—get out!”

Fang Siyue was seething. She had chased after Fu Weicheng for so long and had never once gotten close to his office. Today she had only managed to sneak in by some means—yet this woman was sitting here openly. This was the first time another woman had appeared by his side.

A woman’s intuition was sharp—especially when it came to rivals.

Fang Siyue felt that Song Yuntang would be a major threat. She had to get rid of her as soon as possible.

Just as the two were locked in confrontation, Song Yuntang noticed Fu Weicheng appearing at the door. An idea immediately formed in her mind.

Her expression changed instantly. With a sweet smile, she called out softly,
“Hubby~”

Fu Weicheng froze on the spot, his body stiffening slightly, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

Song Yuntang strode over. Calling him “hubby” wasn’t enough—she hooked her arm through his and leaned against him like a delicate little bird.

Clang!

The lunchbox in Fang Siyue’s hands dropped to the floor. She stared in shock, her eyes darting between the two of them as if they might pop out.

“You—you—what did you just call him?!”

“Hubby, of course.” Song Yuntang replied matter-of-factly, smiling as she introduced herself. “Comrade, I’m the ‘country wife who deserved to die early’ that you were talking about. Sorry to disappoint—I’m not dead. Looks like you won’t be becoming his fiancée after all.”

Fang Siyue’s face flushed red with fury.

Fu Weicheng frowned deeply, piecing together what had just happened from the words exchanged.

“I don’t believe it!” Fang Siyue shouted. “You’re lying! She’s been dead for years—how could you be his wife? Brother Weicheng, say something!”

“Enough.” Fu Weicheng’s voice was low and cold as ice. “Comrade Fang, I already rejected the marriage arrangement with you a month ago. You are not my fiancée. Please mind your identity.”

“She is indeed my wife, Song Yuntang. There were misunderstandings in the past, which we will resolve ourselves. You are an outsider—no right to interfere, and certainly no right to insult my wife. If I hear you say such things again, don’t blame me for being rude.”

“This is the military office. You shouldn’t be here. Please leave.”

His tone was so cold it felt like falling into an ice cave—even Song Yuntang felt a chill. So this was what he was like when he was truly angry. Compared to that, he had been quite restrained with her.

Just moments ago, Fang Siyue had been telling Song Yuntang to get out. Now Fu Weicheng was telling her to leave.

Her face turned pale. She stood frozen, glaring resentfully at Song Yuntang.

Fu Weicheng added, “Do I need to call the guards to escort you out?”

That wasn’t a request—it was a threat.

Unwilling to lose face, Fang Siyue stomped her foot and left, shooting Song Yuntang a vicious glare before turning away.

Song Yuntang raised her eyebrows and returned the look.

Once Fang Siyue was gone, Song Yuntang quickly let go of Fu Weicheng’s arm. He glanced down at the empty space, his brows knitting slightly—there were still many issues between them that needed resolving.

“We—”

“Fu Weicheng, so this is why you don’t want a divorce, huh?”

Song Yuntang spoke first, suddenly enlightened.

Fu Weicheng was taken aback. What?

She pointed in the direction Fang Siyue had left. “You don’t like that woman, but you can’t get rid of her, so you need a shield. Am I right?”

Fu Weicheng lowered his gaze, his thoughts racing.

It was a convenient explanation—as long as it kept Song Yuntang from divorcing him for now.

“Yes,” he admitted.

Song Yuntang thought it over. She had just arrived in the capital and wasn’t yet settled. What he said earlier made sense too—military divorces weren’t easy to process, and with his status, it might take half a year.

Besides, from his explanation, he hadn’t really been at fault back then. He had done what he could. It wouldn’t be fair to strip him of his role as the children’s father.

“Fu Weicheng, until the divorce is approved, we won’t make it public. I’ll be your shield—and give you time to bond with the children.”

Fu Weicheng wasn’t entirely satisfied, but he let out a breath of relief.

At least he had managed to stabilize her—for now.

“Niannian and An’an should be awake. Let’s go check on them.”

They headed to the lounge. The two children had just woken up. Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings and not finding anyone they knew, An’an’s eyes turned red and she started crying, while Niannian grew anxious too.

The moment Song Yuntang appeared, both children cried out, “Mama—” their small voices trembling with tears, tugging at the heart.

“My sweet babies, don’t cry, don’t cry. Mama’s here!”

Song Yuntang hugged them tightly, kissing their little faces, her gentle and tender demeanor completely different from when she had confronted Fang Siyue.

After calming them down, they left the military building and walked in another direction.

Niannian asked, puzzled, “Mama, where are we going?”

“To a guesthouse,” Song Yuntang guessed. “We need somewhere to sleep—there are beds there—”

“Not the guesthouse,” Fu Weicheng interrupted. “We’re going to the family quarters.”

The children didn’t understand what that meant. Song Yuntang was slightly stunned—moving in together this quickly?

But since she had agreed to be his shield, and they were still legally married, it made sense.

Fu Weicheng watched her reaction closely. Seeing her nod, he lowered his head and told the children, “Mama was mistaken—we’re going to the family quarters.”

“Mama, what’s a family quarters? Is it better than the cowshed we lived in? Does it have a roof?”

Hearing this, Fu Weicheng clenched his fists tightly.

His wife and children… had been living in a cowshed?!

…

At the same time, inside the military building:

Commander He picked up the phone on his desk and had the operator connect a number. Soon, a voice came through.

Chuckling, he said,
“Old Fu, do you know who I saw on the train today? … Your daughter-in-law! She’s not dead—alive and well… even gave your family a grandson and granddaughter… Yeah, she must’ve suffered all these years—she’s demanding a divorce from Weicheng…”

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Commander He: Watching the drama unfold and loving every second of it.