A Beauty in the 80s Goes on a Blind Date with Her Child, Captivating the Military Compound - Chapter 97

Xiaojuan Huang was too terrified to speak at first, but with Changmei Gu’s encouragement, she spoke up weakly: “Sister Ting usually… she always forces me to do things I don’t want to do.”

Ting Chen tried to stop her, but she was instantly silenced by the sheer weight of Chengfeng Gu’s glare.

Xiaojuan finally let go and let the truth pour out: “Making me get her meals, fetch hot water, and deliver letters—those were the better things. She… sometimes when she made a mistake, she’d make me take the blame. It’s happened several times…”

“Whenever I showed reluctance, she would hit me immediately. She even used my performance opportunities to threaten me…” As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing dark purple bruises where Ting Chen had pinched her.

Sisi Shen’s eyes widened. Looking at the mottled marks, she felt a wave of nausea at Ting Chen’s cruelty.

Ting Chen lunged forward like a mad dog, baring her teeth as if to bite. “Shut up! You… on what grounds do you say I hit you? Who saw it?”

The crowd scrambled to hold her back. Then, a loud voice emerged from the group: “I can prove it. I saw Ting Chen strike Xiaojuan Huang with my own eyes.”

Another young girl stepped forward. “It’s not just her. I’ve been bullied by Ting Chen too.”

This girl explained that before a performance, Ting Chen had deliberately sabotaged her dress, causing her to humiliate herself on stage. Seizing the opportunity, many others began voicing the grievances they had suffered at Ting Chen’s hands.

Changmei Gu was stunned. “If she was that excessive, why didn’t any of you report it?”

A girl with a ponytail said, “She acted like a tyrant in the dormitory, treating herself like an empress. Plus, she has a powerful boyfriend. We were all angry but didn’t dare speak up, fearing she would retaliate.”

They described Ting Chen’s many methods of torment; she was not someone they dared to provoke. They hadn’t expected her to finally run into a “ruthless” match like Sisi Shen.

Ting Chen tried to argue, but the moment she opened her mouth, she was drowned out by the wave of public condemnation. The crowd was so agitated that if Changmei Gu hadn’t been present, they might have ganged up to tear her apart.

Ting Chen huddled on the ground. Faced with a thousand pointing fingers, she finally lacked the courage to keep causing trouble.

“Quiet! Everyone, be quiet!” Changmei Gu shouted. The noise temporarily died down.

Changmei shot a glare at Ting Chen. “I never knew you were like this in private, bullying so many people… It seems letting you just walk away was too good for you. Dismissal! You must be dismissed!”

Hearing the word “dismissed,” Ting Chen threw all dignity to the wind. She reached out with both arms, trying to cling to Changmei Gu.

Changmei dodged her as if avoiding a plague. She gestured toward the security department staff. “Get her up and take her to the meeting room…”

Ting Chen was dragged away. As she left, she turned back with a venomous glare directed at Sisi Shen. Sisi didn’t back down, glaring right back. “Ting Chen, why are you staring at me? You brought this on yourself. You reap what you sow…”

Amidst the jeers of the crowd, Ting Chen was forcibly taken away. Those who had previously spoken up for her quickly changed their tune. “I really didn’t know she was that kind of person. To think I actually wanted to say a few words for her just now.”

“It seems I misunderstood Director Gu. She wasn’t settling a private grudge; she was removing a local pest.”

“Yes! Removing a pest! Pulling out this tumor.”

Changmei Gu pressed her hands down, signaling for everyone to stay calm. “Rest assured, I will never show favoritism. I will investigate this matter thoroughly and give everyone a fair and just explanation!”

“Director Gu, we believe in you!”

“Now, everyone line up and go to the Secretary to register. Tell them how Ting Chen bullied you. Don’t be afraid; the organization will stand up for you!”

With Changmei Gu’s word, everyone felt relieved and free of worry. The crowd dispersed quickly. Changmei turned to Sisi Shen with an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry, Sisi. I had no idea such a degenerate was in my ranks. She nearly caused you all harm.”

Sisi took her hand. “Aunt, what are you saying? This has nothing to do with you. There’s no need to blame yourself.”

But how could Changmei not feel responsible? She was the one who had transferred Ting Chen to the provincial capital, thinking she was a promising talent. She hadn’t expected a “rotten sprout” with a black heart.

Walking back from the Art Troupe, Sisi Shen and Chengfeng Gu moved side by side under the streetlights. The lights stretched their shadows very, very long.

Chengfeng Gu was uncharacteristically pensive and sullen.

“What’s wrong? Still thinking about Ting Chen?” she asked.

Chengfeng suddenly stopped and took her soft, small hand. “The reason they dared to bully Niuniu and the two of you is that I haven’t done my job as a husband well enough.”

“I’ve been too busy with official business and neglected you both. I think… it’s time to put the wedding on the agenda. Let’s set it for the first day of the Lunar New Year. What do you think?”

He looked down at Sisi Shen with utter solemnity. The sincerity in his eyes was laced with a spark that made her heart race.

“But…” Sisi started. If we do that, what about his childhood sweetheart?

Just as she was about to tell him to forget it, Chengfeng answered for her without allowing any room for argument: “Since you didn’t say no, it’s settled!”

What? Just like that?

She looked at Chengfeng, suddenly wanting to reach out and feel his forehead. Had this guy been hit by some sort of shock?

Since things had come this far, Sisi decided to be clear. She pulled at Chengfeng. “Wait, don’t be impulsive.”

Chengfeng was pulled back by her considerable strength. “I’m not being impulsive. Actually… I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

Sisi’s heart was touched, but she maintained her reason and took a deep breath. “I know you want a wedding to tell everyone that Niuniu and I are your family so no one can bully us. But… if we really do that, what if we divorce? Wouldn’t it be harder for you to marry again…?”

At the mention of divorce, Chengfeng’s eyes darkened, becoming as deep and unfathomable as an ancient well. “Since the day we married, I have never once thought about divorce.”

Sisi’s heart thudded wildly. Did I hear that right? Chengfeng Gu doesn’t plan on divorcing?

“Not divorcing? Then what about your childhood sweetheart…?” Sisi asked in a low voice, her words trailing off.

Chengfeng understood instantly. So the reason she had brought up divorce time and time again was because of his neighbor’s younger sister! It wasn’t because of some other man…

At the thought of all his previous worries, Chengfeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He took a deep breath, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “So it was because of her…”

He tightened his grip on Sisi’s fingers slightly. “Whether you believe it or not, she and I are just neighbors and friends. It is nothing like what you’ve imagined.”

“I have… not a shred of private affection for her!”

For some reason, hearing him explain himself so nervously made Sisi’s heart feel like it had been dipped in honey. So, they really were just friends. To think she had worried for so long, fearing she was blocking his true destiny.

Chengfeng Gu suddenly took a half-step forward, his tall frame blocking out the light as he looked down at her. “Now, do you still want a divorce?”

“Do you still want to avoid having a wedding?