Gu Mingzhou felt he had gone off on a tangent: "Old Lu, let's not discuss whether that was a savage or not. Let's talk about our business."

"What business could I possibly have with you?"

"Actually, it's not between you and me, but between you and Qingyan. Lao Lu, I'm not stupid. I can tell that you're so good to Qingyan, helping her with chores and giving her things. Ha, you're definitely up to no good."

"What?"

Lu Zhengting's brows furrowed immediately as he looked at Gu Mingzhou in disbelief. He knew this guy was unreliable, but he never expected him to be this outrageous.

He felt like crying and laughing at the same time, and asked Gu Mingzhou, "I have ill intentions towards Comrade Lin? I think you're the one with ill intentions."

"Old Lu, I have something serious to tell you. Although I've broken off my engagement with Qingyan, we grew up together and are still friends even without the engagement. So, I can't just stand by and watch you ruin her life. I'm asking you to stay away from her and not look for her again."

Lu Zhengting raised his hand to rub his forehead. "Old Gu, you think my approach to Comrade Lu is out of malice? How did you come to the conclusion that I have malice towards her? Have I done anything inappropriate to her?"

"No, that's not true. But that's because you feel the timing isn't right, it's not at that level yet. If you did something to Qingyan now, she probably wouldn't be able to accept it."

Lu Zhengting looked up at the sky speechlessly.

"Old Gu, I've always considered myself to be honest and upright, and to have a clear conscience in everything I do. I never imagined that I would be seen this way in your eyes."

"Old Lu, you can know a person's face but not their heart. On the surface, everything you do is impeccable, but that's all in the military camp. Now that you're here, you're not bound by military regulations, so why do you still need to worry about so much?"

"No matter where I am, I am the same. Why do you think so much about me and Comrade Lin Qingyan?"

"It's very simple, Lao Lu. Most people know your style of doing things in the army. You never get close to women. If any girls in the cultural troupe want to get close to you, you will try your best to stay far away."

"But ever since you came here, you've been constantly getting close to Qingyan. Putting aside Qingyan's looks, just the fact that she's frail and sickly makes you seem like there are many girls in the world better than her. Yet you insist on pursuing her, simply because you think she craves love and protection, hoping to gain her favor so you can abandon her once you've achieved your goal. Old Lu, I advise you to stop immediately and stay away from Qingyan."

After listening to Gu Mingzhou's analysis, Lu Zhengting really wanted to punch this hypocrite who judged others by his own petty standards.

But he also found it incredibly ridiculous.

"Old Gu, what can I say to you? Some people are narrow-minded and naturally jealous, so they will find fault with many people. What others do that is right will become crooked and evil in their eyes, while they will think that what they did wrong is right."

"Old Lu, are you saying I can't distinguish right from wrong, or that I can't tell black from white?"

“You should know what kind of person you are. My relationship with Comrade Lin is completely open and honest. I helped her deliver things simply to repay her for the help she gave me back then. It's not as despicable as you make it out to be.”

Gu Mingzhou narrowed his eyes: "If it's just about repaying a debt of gratitude, don't you think that's going a bit too far?"

“I don’t think so.” Lu Zhengting paused for a moment, then said, “Gu Mingzhou, what happens between Comrade Lin and me is our business. You’re meddling far too much. Ha, you’re no longer Comrade Lin’s girlfriend. What right do you have to interfere in Comrade Lin’s affairs? Even if there’s something between us, let alone if we’re just ordinary friends, it’s none of your business.”

"Old Lu, do you really have feelings for Qingyan?"

Lu Zhengting didn't speak, but looked at Gu Mingzhou with disdain.

Gu Mingzhou said angrily, "Old Lu, you can't be sincere with Qingyan. You have ulterior motives. I have already delivered my warning. If you refuse to listen and your conduct is improper, I will write a letter to the army to report you."

"Suit yourself! I've done nothing wrong, go ahead and report me. Good luck. If you fail, you're framing me, and I won't let you get away with it."

After Lu Zhengting finished speaking, he turned and walked away.

Gu Mingzhou clenched his fists in anger.

"Lu Zhengting, you're a cunning old fox, a scoundrel, a bastard!"

He said he wouldn't listen to Lin Qingyan, and Lu Zhengting wouldn't listen to him either, which really infuriated him.

He had no other choice now. Since Lin Qingyan wanted to be with Lu Zhengting, if she was deceived and regretted it later, it was her own fault.

But the thought of Lu Zhengting and Lin Qingyan together made his heart ache.

He could no longer tell whether she couldn't bear to see Lin Qingyan being deceived, or simply didn't want Lu Zhengting and Lin Qingyan to be together.

No, he decided to just leave it at that.

Lu Zhengting, I won't let you succeed.

When he returned to the educated youth settlement, the educated youth had already started eating.

Lin Sisi brought him a bowl of rice: "Mingzhou, it's time to eat. This is for you."

Feeling annoyed, Gu Mingzhou raised his hand to Lin Sisi in refusal: "I don't want to eat."

He went straight back to the male educated youth dormitory.

"Mingzhou, what's wrong?"

Lin Sisi wondered what Gu Mingzhou had said to Lu Zhengting when he went out to chase after him, and why he was in such a bad mood as soon as he came back.

Could it be that they had a fight because of that hunting tool?

Just then, Song Qingfang said sarcastically, "If anyone can't do that in the future, they shouldn't say it so easily. It's so disheartening to make others wait so long with high hopes only to get nothing in return."

Shen Man chimed in, "I even boiled a pot of water, all my effort was for nothing."

Lin Sisi could tell that the two men were mocking her.

Hmph, when they hear there's meat to eat, they all fawn over her, showering her with compliments. But when they don't get any meat, they mock and ridicule her. What kind of people are they?

She ignored these people and went to Lin Guanghui.

She had come to her brother's place hoping for some comfort, but unexpectedly, Lin Guanghui was also complaining to her.

"Sis, how come your husband is so stupid? He can't even catch a pheasant."

He remembered that Lin Qingyan's younger brother had meat to eat at noon, but he hadn't, and he was filled with anger.

Lin Sisi had completely lost her arrogance at this point.

"Guanghui, your brother-in-law isn't feeling well, so don't blame him."

Lin Guanghui was still not satisfied. Gu Mingzhou had come over, but the siblings had hardly gained any advantage. On the contrary, Lin Qingyan and Lin Zhiheng were very pleased with themselves.

"Sis, that brat keeps getting gifts and is really showing off. Why don't you ask your husband to buy us some gifts too? He only has seven days off and he'll be going back soon. We can't let him come all this way for nothing."

Lin Guanghui actually wanted to squeeze something out of Gu Mingzhou through Lin Sisi, so that he, as Lin Sisi's younger brother, could also benefit from Lin Sisi's influence.

Lin Sisi suddenly remembered the gift after hearing his words.