If Ye Wenshu hadn't made a scene at the military headquarters, and if it hadn't involved a romantic relationship and concerned his and Xu Xinghe's reputations, Jiang Linchuan wouldn't have said so much.

To him, this was simply a pointless waste of breath.

In the past, if he encountered something like this, he would simply order his men to drive the person away with a cold face.

The nurses at the hospital later disliked him because he was too stubborn and never showed any mercy in his words and actions. Regardless of whether the other person was a woman or not, he treated everyone the same and never made any concessions once they crossed his bottom line.

But things are different now.

He has toned down his sharp edges quite a bit, especially in front of Xu Xinghe, where he always subconsciously shows her his gentlest side.

Ye Wenshu's face drained of color inch by inch, her lips trembled, and after a long while she could only manage to squeeze out three words, "I don't believe it!"

Jiang Linchuan's expression remained unchanged. "To you, I wouldn't even consider you a friend."

If you're not friends, you're a stranger.

Who would have even the slightest extra affection for a stranger?

Ye Wenshu came full of fantasies, thinking she could get closer to Jiang Linchuan, but now it felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice water over her head. Her heart ached terribly, her body trembled uncontrollably, and she couldn't utter a single word.

Jiang Linchuan turned his gaze to Lin Wanqiu, "Return everything you took to Ye Wenshu. If you don't, the military will handle it according to regulations. Taking things without asking is stealing."

Lin Wanqiu's face was even paler than Ye Wenshu's.

Ye Wenshu was spoiled and was naive and stubborn, and didn't understand what it meant to be ashamed.

But she was different. Growing up amidst the belittling of others, she had long since learned to hide her thoughts and please others.

In the educated youth settlement, she was always the one who took the initiative to help fetch water and cook, just to avoid giving others cause for gossip.

But now, everything is ruined!

She dared not imagine how others would look at her when she returned to the educated youth settlement, or how the rumors in the village would spread.

Jiang Linchuan stopped looking at them and turned to the soldiers beside him, instructing, "Send them away. If they refuse to leave, force them to leave according to the rules."

Military personnel are not allowed to linger in the area for extended periods, let alone cause a disturbance here for personal matters.

If this continues, we'll have no choice but to take real action.

After giving his instructions, Jiang Linchuan lowered his head and looked at Xu Xinghe, his coldness instantly disappearing.

In front of everyone, he gently took her slightly cool fingertips and put them into his coat pocket. "Let's go back."

"Mm," Xu Xinghe responded without turning around.

She had done everything she could to advise and say what she needed to say. It was Ye Wenshu's own fault for not appreciating her kindness. What happened next was none of her business.

I just hope this girl won't regret it.

Because there's no going back in life.

In the end, Ye Wenshu was taken away by several educated youths who were half-pulled and half-persuaded.

As she left, her once bright eyes completely lost their luster.

He was publicly rejected by the person he loved so deeply, and his words were so harsh. Even when he turned away at the end, all his tenderness was reserved for Xu Xinghe.

So what does my fuss mean?

He's just a clown who makes a fool of himself in public!

Lin Wanqiu kept her head down the whole time, not daring to say a word, wishing she could shrink herself into a ball, afraid that others would bring up the matter that Jiang Linchuan had just exposed.

But running away is useless; what must be faced will inevitably come sooner or later.

Liu Mengyao held Ye Wenshu's arm and gently comforted her, "This can't be blamed on you. In the end, you were also deceived. If you had known that Commander Jiang hadn't received anything, you wouldn't have come here to suffer this injustice."

“Deceived…” Ye Wenshu suddenly raised her head, her eyes blazing with anger. She turned to look at Lin Wanqiu, who was trembling beside her, and slapped her across the face.

With a sharp crack, Lin Wanqiu stumbled.

"Lin Wanqiu! No wonder you always volunteered to help me deliver things, it turns out you embezzled them all! You lied to me! Was my fall that day something you deliberately did? I treated you as a friend, I was completely open with you, and this is how you betrayed me!"

Ye Wenshu was furious and lost all reason. She grabbed Lin Wanqiu's hair and scratched her head hard with her nails.

Lin Wanqiu covered her face in pain and subconsciously looked at the male educated youth in the crowd, whom she had been trying to please.

Most of the things she swindled from Ye Wenshu were given to him. Shouldn't he stand up for her now?

But as soon as the male educated youth met her gaze, he quickly turned his head away, pretending not to see her.

He was already fed up. He had thought those things belonged to Lin Wanqiu, but it turned out they were stolen. He might even have to return them intact.

If people found out that he, a man, wanted something from a woman, he would lose all face!

As for Lin Wanqiu's life or death, what does it have to do with him?

I must stay away from this woman who's always lying.

Lin Wanqiu watched helplessly as he turned his face away, swallowing back the plea for help that was on the tip of her tongue.

If the male educated youth are exposed now, their hope of returning to the city will be completely lost.

Perhaps... if she takes all of this on herself, the other party will think she is sensible and might even gain her some favor.