Chapter 17: The Ugly Cousin-in-law

Hua Cheng, true to his name, carried himself with a natural air of dignity. Refined, courteous, and impeccably mannered, he was clearly the product of exceptional upbringing.

"Hello, Comrade Qian Lai. Thank you for saving my sister. Our family heard about what happened, and we've been worried sick."

He extended his hand to her, and as their palms met, Qian Lai sensed the genuine warmth and sincerity beneath his touch.

"Let's not mention it again. Hua Rui is a wonderful person; she's taken great care of me these past few days on the train."

Qian Lai smiled sweetly, her eyes filled with affection for Hua Rui, and her smile lit up Hua Cheng's heart.

This girl had caught his eye the moment she stepped off the train.

Her temperament was graceful and pure; she wore a French-style sun hat and a pale yellow dress. The breeze gently lifted her skirt, making her look like a fairy stepping out of a painting. When the girl glanced his way, her smile was enchanting, her eyes lively. Even her voice was as refreshing as spring water—crisp and spirited.

Her twin braids lay across her shoulders, carrying the scent of the deep forest, like a mysterious little deer that had leapt into his heart.

Her name was unique as well.

If she were his student, the way she would report herself at orientation would surely be adorable: "Qian Lai, reporting!"

He couldn't help but smile softly.

"Qian Lai, we're friends now," Hua Rui said, pulling a slip of paper from her bag and handing it to Qian Lai. "This is my address and phone number. If you ever need anything, just let me know. You can find me at the newspaper office, or you can go to New University and look for my brother. Either way works."

"New University?"

Why was it always New University? Lu Ximing was there, Qian Xiaozhen was desperate to get in, and now this person was there too.

"Yes, my brother is the youngest associate professor at New University," Hua Rui said, her eyes brimming with admiration.

So that's it!

"By the way," Hua Rui continued, "just before the train arrived, Comrade Qiao was frantically looking for you. He came to ask me at least three times. Are you two...?"

"Just passing acquaintances," Qian Lai replied, thinking back to the scene on the platform, her expression growing serious.

...

Elsewhere, Qiao Muting got into Fang Wenjie's car, speeding off toward the family quarters of the military hospital.

"What’s my cousin’s condition now?" he asked Fang Wenjie.

"Ah, not good," Fang Wenjie sighed. "The military district invited several experts for consultations, all said it's not promising. The chances of him ever standing again are slim..."

"Then, at a time like this, asking him to marry—doesn't that seem terribly unfair to the young woman?" Fang Wenxue interjected.

"The Gu family probably just wants someone to care for him!"

"I heard she's not even nineteen yet? Tsk, tsk, and her family agrees?"

Raised in an officer’s family, Fang Wenxue had been pampered all her life. She couldn't comprehend that some people would willingly sacrifice their children’s lifelong happiness for their own interests.

Qiao Muting's face darkened, his voice icy: "Hmph, it's not a good family either. The parents are scheming to exchange their daughter's marriage for benefits, and the daughter herself isn't exactly well-behaved. I suspect she has ulterior motives."

That morning, when he was about to head to Xiaonan Village to see the Wen family, he happened upon a man dressed like a street loafer pestering a woman in an alley.

Hearing them mention "Gu Hanchuan," he stopped in his tracks.

The man complained bitterly, "Gu's already a cripple, and your family is still willing to let your own daughter marry him? That's heartless!"

The woman replied, "So what? Gu Hanchuan is now a deputy division commander. Who wouldn't want to be an officer's wife? Once he's established, everyone around him will benefit. What do you know?"

The man pressed, "Let's set everything else aside. I just want to know—do you really want to go to New City? After all these years, what about our feelings? What's your plan?"

The woman ruthlessly shook off the man's hand: "Stop talking nonsense! What do I have to do with you? Listen, Gu Haitao, I've made up my mind. I'm going to New City, and no one can stop me!"

Her twisted expression was hideous.

Qiao Muting could no longer bear it and rushed forward.

Even if his cousin was paralyzed, he would never allow anyone to insult him.

"Even paralyzed, Gu Hanchuan is better than you useless people who can walk upright. I'm warning you—don't think about anything else. If you despise him, refuse the marriage outright. The Gu family doesn't care for a selfish daughter-in-law like you!"

"Wait... who are you?" Gu Haitao, seeing someone suddenly appear and berate his beloved, rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

The woman paused, then quickly switched to a mocking tone: "I'm selfish? Isn't the Gu family selfish too? Why didn't they arrange the marriage when he was at his peak? They're just looking for a free nurse to care for a cripple!"

"Exactly!" Gu Haitao banged on a nearby object, demanding, "Who are you, anyway? Mind your own business."

Looking at their faces, Qiao Muting felt this marriage was nothing but an insult to his cousin.

Unfortunately, everything was up to the Gu family; he had no grounds to intervene, nor could he make choices for his cousin.

He clenched his teeth in anger, pointed at the woman, and warned, "I'm telling you, you'd better be decent. If anyone does anything to wrong Gu Hanchuan, every brother in the army will make sure they're not forgiven easily."

With that, he left in fury.

He had no idea that behind him, the venomous woman was smirking.

The moment he appeared, Qian Xiaozhen recognized him as Gu Hanchuan's cousin, the military doctor from the capital.

In her previous life, he had taken his own life due to depression. She hadn't expected to run into him in the southern city this time.

Judging by his words, he must have mistaken her for Qian Lai.

So she decided to push things further, making things even more difficult for Qian Lai as she became more and more disliked.

She deliberately provoked Qiao Muting, showing him her selfish, malicious side, hoping he would relay this impression to the Gu family as soon as possible.

She wanted her good sister to suffer even more than she herself had in her past life.

After meeting his "future cousin-in-law," Qiao Muting felt as if a heavy stone had been placed in his chest.

How could his cousin end up with such a marriage?

Just thinking about the woman made him physically sick.

He had to tell Gu Hanchuan the truth before they got married.

After Qiao Muting finished recounting what he'd witnessed, the Fang siblings drew a sharp breath.

"My idol, Gu Hanchuan—he's going to spend the rest of his life with that kind of woman? Damn, that's even more painful than his paralysis," Fang Wenjie said, grimacing.

"That's why I have to tell my cousin the truth before the wedding. Let him decide for himself."

The car drove for about an hour, finally entering the military jurisdiction on the outskirts.

The hospital family quarters were adjacent to the officers' residential area.

"Where is my cousin living now?" Qiao Muting asked.

"At the cadre convalescent home," Fang Wenjie replied gloomily. "His mood is really bad."

"Once I settle in, I must go see him as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Qian Lai followed Little Li to the Gu family home in the city.

The moment she entered, she sensed the atmosphere was anything but normal.