Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  When he received Qiao Nan’s phone call, that good mood of Zhai Sheng dissipated thoroughly. If it was just phone calls, Zhai Sheng could also do so while he was in the camp. Wasn’t the reason that he wanted to go home was to meet Qiao Nan face-to-face during her school vacation?

  Fortunately, although the Qiu family had a plot, Zhai Sheng also had his strategy.

  The next day, Zhai Sheng simply brought Miao Jing with him to the house of the Qiao family.

  Hence, unknowingly, Miao Jing had been ‘deceived’ under the cover of a diversion.

  It could be said that the relationship between Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan was known to everyone in the Zhai and the Qiao family. Not taking into account Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin, Miao Jing was the only one that was not in the know.

  At the sight of the muddle-headed Miao Jing, Qiao Dongliang found it too awkward to stay at home. Each time Miao Jing visited, Qiao Dongliang would find an excuse to leave the house.

  Although he was also the ‘victim’ and Zhai Sheng was the wolf who wished to prey on his daughter, from another perspective, he had to admit that his own family’s Nan Nan had also abducted other people’s son.

  “Nan Nan, why do I keep feeling that your dad leaves every time I come? Is he unhappy about my visit?” Miao Jing looked at Qiao Dongliang’s back sullenly. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “.……”

  “.……”

  As the ‘main culprits’, Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan exchanged looks with each other. Zhai Sheng explained, “Mom, Auntie Ding is not at home. Uncle Qiao is a man and the lady owner is not around. It’s not convenient for him to entertain you. You should understand Dad’s temper.”

  “What has it got to do with him? I’ve never seen him finding it inconvenient or cautious when he entertained Qi Minlan alone,” Miao Jing said unhappily. She could not be too close with another man. Then, on what grounds did Zhai Yaohui have to be on such good terms with Qi Minlan?

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  “Don’t talk about your dad. I feel angry at the mention of him. Why couldn’t he let me go back to my hometown? Why!”

  Qiao Nan, who was ‘arrowed’ again, bowed and dared not speak.

  At the sight of the guilty look on Qiao Nan, Miao Jing understood. Miao Jing looked at Zhai Sheng. “Zhai Sheng, I’m thirsty, but I don’t feel like drinking water. Can you help me buy some drinks back? Remember, I want something cold. I don’t want it if it’s not cold enough. Hurry and go.”

  Zhai Sheng looked at Qiao Nan to confirm that Qiao Nan could handle this. He then left according to Miao Jing’s wish.

  “Nan Nan, do you have anything to explain to me?”

  “Yes.” Qiao Nan nodded. “Auntie Miao, I feel that Chief Zhai actually cares a lot about you. He will be jealous because of you. Maybe the person in Chief Zhai’s heart is not Qi Minlan but you.” A man’s reaction could not fool others.

  The domineering attitude that a man had toward a woman could be due to selfishness. Nevertheless, it could also be due to the importance of the woman in his heart.

  If Chief Zhai did not have feelings for Auntie Miao, his expression that day would not show any uneasiness or unhappiness, but tremendous anger. He would feel that he had been betrayed and shamed, not hurt.

  “You’re just a child. What do you know?” Miao Jing did not believe the outcome of Qiao Nan’s test this time. “No matter what your reason is, even if it’s for my own good, don’t let this happen again. Understand? In the past, my heart had no freedom. Now, even my body does not have any freedom.”

  In the past, Zhai Yaohui did not care about where she went. Now, Zhai Yaohui watched her like a hawk. It was as if he was a dog guarding his own dog house.

  Damn, what kind of description was that? Zhai Yaohui was a dog, but not her.

  When she heard Miao Jing’s words, Qiao Nan could only shut her mouth. If Miao Jing could not sort out her thoughts, it was useless for her to explain further as Miao Jing would not listen to any of it.

  “Auntie Miao, can I ask you about another matter?” Qiao Nan was suddenly inspired.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “You’ve been objecting to Brother Zhai finding a woman from an ordinary family to marry. Does this have something to do with your experience with Chief Zhai?” No matter how she saw it, she did not think that Auntie Miao would shun a girl from becoming her daughter-in-law because of the latter’s family background. It did not seem like Auntie Miao favored the rich to the poor.

  Miao Jing gave a bitter smile and touched Qiao Nan’s head. “I hope you will never know the answer.”

  In other words, Miao Jing would never tell Qiao Nan the reason. Nevertheless, judging from Miao Jing’s attitude, Qiao Nan already had the answer in her heart.

  The ten days of leave seemed like a short time for Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan. In the blink of an eye, Zhai Sheng had to return to the army.

  Zhai Sheng and Zhai Yaohui had a prior agreement. Zhai Sheng must never cast the matters of the army and the country aside because of Qiao Nan.

  “Fine, don’t look anymore. Quickly go back. If I find out that you change your route halfway, ahem……” Zhai Yaohui gave Zhai Sheng a warning when he sent the latter off. Zhai Yaohui had found out about the previous occasion where Zhai Sheng secretly went to see Qiao Nan before returning to the army.

  In the past, Zhai Yaohui did not know why he routed there but he was aware now. As a father, he knew Zhai Sheng better than Zhai Sheng himself. Hence, he was well aware of Zhai Sheng’s route to the army.

  Zhai Sheng narrowed his eyes and gave Zhai Yaohui an unhappy glance. “I know.”

  Zhai Yaohui snorted coldly. Zhai Sheng belonged to the Zhai family. He could not let him mess around with some matters.

  After Zhai Sheng got into the car, he smiled and looked at Zhai Yaohui. He then faced Miao Jing and said, “Mom, I’m going back to the camp first. If there’s any matter at home, call me.”

  “Of course, other people are not as reliable as my son. I’m already of this age. Who else can I look for besides you?” Miao Jing smiled. Her son did not mind helping her. Was there anything more blissful than this?

  When he saw that he had successfully made Zhai Yaohui’s face turn black, Zhai Sheng felt much better. “Mom, I’m leaving. Bye.”

  “Drive slowly. No hurry.” Miao Jing waved her hands. It was only when Zhai Sheng had driven a distance away and was out of sight that Miao Jing was willing to go home.

  Zhai Yaohui was frowning badly. Three deep vertical lines were showing on his forehead. He would be at home. If Miao Miao really encountered any matter and needed somebody’s help, he would be around. Did she still have to look for Zhai Sheng?

  So, the mother-son pair decided to treat him as nonexistent?

  Zhai Yaohui, who was depressed, sat on the sofa when he arrived home. He did not manage to read a single word in the newspaper that he had been holding for a long time.

  Ring! Ring! Ring!

  At this juncture, the phone of the Zhai family rang in an urgent manner. The auntie had a shock.

  When the auntie saw that Zhai Yaohui did not intend to pick it up, she could only run over and do so. “Hello, good day. Yes, he’s around. Chief, the army called. They are looking for you.”

  “Okay.” Zhai Yaohui took over the phone. “Yes, it’s me. The army is organizing an event? Of course, I’ll definitely agree to it. We, as soldiers, have to keep up with the times. Okay, what event will that be? Can you tell me in detail? Yes…… Oh, English?!”