Chapter 42: A Curious Engagement

Hou Manling fell silent.

She had indeed heard about this matter, but... Song Tingshen himself had never admitted it.

The rumor had first surfaced among the members of the Work Study Group, when their leader was chatting with the hospital director and brought up Song Tingshen’s future, offering to help introduce someone. The director politely declined, hinting and then plainly stating that Song Tingshen already had a fiancée back home in Yuecheng.

In no time, countless dreams among the young women of the military region were shattered. The news spread rapidly, and eventually reached Hou Manling’s ears.

Hou Manling had liked Song Tingshen for years. She had even requested a transfer to the military hospital for his sake; everyone knew it. Unwilling to give up, she went to ask Song Tingshen herself.

He neither confirmed nor denied, only asked, “Weren’t you here to deliver medicine? What does this have to do with delivering medicine?”

Hou Manling, a little embarrassed, smiled and said, “Everyone’s curious, so I thought I’d ask while I was here…”

Song Tingshen replied, “Are you curious?”

Hou Manling, then somewhat nervous, answered, “I’m not curious.”

He responded coolly, “In that case, there’s no need to ask about my private affairs.”

Hou Manling returned to the hospital, feeling somewhat dejected, and told her colleagues what had happened. One young nurse asked, “Did Commander Song really ask if you were curious?”

Not quite understanding, Hou Manling nodded.

The nurse, excited, said, “I think Commander Song might be interested in you, Manling!”

Everyone wanted to know why. Hou Manling protested, “Don’t joke about such things,” yet couldn’t help but lean in, eager to hear the nurse’s analysis.

The nurse explained, “Think about it—Commander Song could have just told you, but instead he specifically asked if you were curious. Clearly, he wanted you to be interested in his private affairs, so he could explain!”

“But when you said you weren’t curious, Commander Song must have felt disappointed, thinking you didn’t care about him, and so told you not to ask anymore.”

“Doesn’t that make sense?”

After her analysis, the others agreed it sounded logical, and all turned their gaze to Hou Manling.

“Manling, do you think Commander Song likes you?”

“Could it be that you two have feelings for each other, but neither realizes it?”

“Maybe Commander Song has always liked you, but because of that supposed engagement, he’s reluctant to express his feelings?”

The more they speculated, the more excited they became, each imagining a dramatic story unfolding in their minds.

Hou Manling protested shyly, “How could that be? Don’t talk nonsense,” but couldn’t help feeling joy inside, following their reasoning in her own mind.

For him, she had transferred from Yuecheng Hospital to the military hospital on Taizhou Island, despite the poorer treatment and living conditions. All she wanted was to be closer to Song Tingshen.

If…

Hou Manling couldn’t help but think. If Song Tingshen liked her too… then everything she’d done would not have been in vain.

She had finally steeled herself, gathering her courage, ready to go to Song Tingshen and ask him directly.

If he truly liked her, she would face the old engagement together with him.

Moreover…

Thinking of this, Hou Manling pursed her lips and turned to Yuan Tianqing, saying, “Actually, I think Tingshen doesn’t have an engagement. He’s never returned to Yuecheng since birth, over twenty years now. If there really was an engagement, he’d have gone back to get married, or the girl would have come to Taizhou Island to find him. How could she still not have arrived?”

Yuan Tianqing considered this. It was true.

Commander Song was born on Taizhou Island and had hardly left all these years. Even if there was an engagement arranged by the elders, times had changed—no one followed parental orders or matchmakers anymore. Everyone pursued love freely.

Yuan Tianqing said, “When Commander Song returns, you should confess your feelings. If he likes you too, you two should hurry and make it official.”

“That way, even if that rumored engagement does exist, you’ll already be a done deal.”

Hou Manling’s face flushed; she shoved Yuan Tianqing. “What are you saying?”

Yuan Tianqing just laughed.

Hou Manling sighed. “All we can do now is pray that Tingshen can turn misfortune into blessing and return safely.”

“Oh my, you’re already praying for him and you’re not even married yet?”

“Tianqing, you’re terrible!”

“Hahaha—”

—

Meanwhile, Zhong Xiao and her companions finally reached Fuzhou by train. From there, a day and a half by boat would bring them to Taizhou Island.

Sun Yangzhong had bought the tickets, and the group queued to board.

Qin Dezheng took Zhong Xiao’s luggage, frowning. “Why is it so heavy, Xiaoxiao? What did you bring?”

Zhong Xiao replied, “Nothing much. I was worried resources might be scarce on Taizhou Island, so I brought extra.”

Sun Yangzhong laughed, “Actually, Taizhou Island has developed quite well these past years. It’s not as barren as you imagine. The city has several department stores selling everything. The only issue is the military district—tickets are tight. We save up for ages just to get a few, and many people send their ration tickets back home, so everyone lives pretty frugally.”

He added, “But don’t worry. Our Commander won’t let you suffer—everything will be prepared for you!”

Sun Yangzhong was, apart from Commander Song and Director Zuo, the only person in the military district who truly knew that Zhong Xiao and Song Tingshen were engaged. The others only speculated, lacking any evidence.

Sun Yangzhong had learned of it when assigned the task. He still remembered Song Tingshen’s instructions:

“I know you keep secrets well. This is my private matter—I don’t want too many people to know.”

“And, for everything I’ve entrusted to you, when you meet her, say it was all arranged by my father, not by me. Understand?”

After giving these instructions, Song Tingshen went to the front line. Sun Yangzhong didn’t know his reasons, but followed them faithfully.

Now, the group boarded the boat. Qin Dezheng felt seasick, so Zhong Xiao rummaged in her bag for some motion sickness medicine and handed it to him.

Qin Dezheng asked, “Where did you get this?”

Zhong Xiao laughed, “Yang Yuehe and the others bought it before. When I left, I took it all with me.”

Qin Dezheng said nothing, but when Sun Yangzhong wasn’t paying attention, he quietly asked Zhong Xiao, “Xiaoxiao, we’ll arrive at Taizhou Island tomorrow. Are you nervous?”

Zhong Xiao shrugged. “What’s there to be nervous about? Right now, the priority is to find him. If we can’t, then moving here is just a change of scenery—the days won’t be any different.”

Besides, she’d heard Taizhou Island boasted rich seafood and fertile land. She imagined herself buying a plot with gold, living in a house, growing vegetables and raising fish, without anyone coveting her wealth.

How wonderful.

But soon, Zhong Xiao dismissed the idea. No matter what, she still hoped Song Tingshen would return safely.

It wasn’t about romance.

She simply wished every soldier defending their country could return home unharmed.

Zhong Xiao gazed at the swaying, boundless sea.

Song—Ting—Shen—

She softly traced the syllables with her lips, imagining the man she’d been engaged to for two decades, yet never met.

What did he look like?