Night had fallen.

Yan Lin sat in a chair with two bowls of dumplings on a wooden table. An urn containing ashes sat on a chair opposite him. A large bowl of dumplings filled with steam was placed on the side of the table.

He picked up a dumpling and took a bite.

In a daze, he seemed to hear his wife's coquettish laughter: "Yan Lin, you are amazing. Your cooking skills are top-notch. I will never be able to eat food cooked by anyone else in my life. If I leave you, I might starve to death."

"I want to eat twenty dumplings, and you're not allowed to take them from me."

"Yan Lin, how about we have dumplings for dinner tonight?"

"Waaaah, my stomach is growling with hunger, only dumplings can fill it up—"

Her constant praise spurred him to cook with great enthusiasm, giving him an indescribable sense of accomplishment. Whenever he had free time, he would research and prepare delicious dishes.

He took a bite of the dumpling, then pulled out a piece of dried meat from his backpack. His eyes were unusually gentle as he looked at the chair and said, "Zhizhi, this is a pheasant I caught. The meat is very fragrant. You can roast it, braise it, or stir-fry it with garlic sprouts. I'm sure you'll like it. I'll make it for you next time."

In the courtyard, there is soy sauce he brewed himself, as well as dried chili peppers. Under the peach tree in the courtyard, there are several jars of wine... all of which he learned to make by his own means.

He studied very diligently and worked very hard.

My heart is full of strength.

Time may dry up the food, but it may deepen the bonds of affection.

He spoke softly, hoping to make her happy, but when he looked up, under the dim, yellowish light, there was no sign of his wife, Zhizhi.

A dull pain shot through my chest.

He picked up the bowl and ate the dumplings in big mouthfuls, but they tasted sour and bitter. A tear slowly rolled down his cheek, and his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

At the border, the heart is like wood.

But as soon as he returned to Lin Garden, he saw her everywhere, yet she was nowhere to be found. His heart seemed to revive, slowly regaining its senses, slowly feeling the pain again.

"Eat quickly, it'll get cold soon." His mouth was full of dumplings, and his words were indistinct, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a sour taste rolled up in his throat, and he couldn't swallow it.

Knock knock.

The knocking on the door interrupted his memories.

He quickly wiped away his tears, turned to look at the figure outside the door, put down his bowl, and asked, "Is there something you need? I don't remember calling you."

The person who arrived was none other than Qian Lei, whose face was half-ruined.

Qian Lei's face was suddenly ruined.

But he was exceptionally capable and worked his way up from the bottom, becoming the town's Party Secretary in just five years, and was even introduced to many potential marriage partners.

Qian Lei noticed that his eyes were red and roughly guessed what was going on.

He said calmly, "I've come uninvited, but I want to tell you something. I hope you don't mind."

"Speak."

Yan Lin picked at his bowl and chopsticks, eating dumplings as if no one else was around.

Qian Lei walked to the table and saw the urn on the chair. His eyes flickered. Thinking of Ye Qiqi's ruthlessness back then, he said, "You saw it too. My face was ruined by Ye Qiqi's poison. She's a vicious woman."

Swoosh.

Yan Lin's eyes immediately turned cold.

He glanced coldly at Qian Lei, giving him a "get lost if you have nothing to do" look.

Qian Lei said awkwardly, "No, that's not what I meant. I wanted to tell you that five years ago, when Linyuan was on fire, Wang Jianguo, Ye Qiqi's undercover agent, bought tung oil."

"What did you say?"

Yan Lin suddenly stood up, grabbed Qian Lei by the collar, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Since Xu Manzhi told him five years ago not to investigate her cause of death anymore, he hadn't bothered to investigate further. Unexpectedly, the clue he gave up back then was reconnected with Qian Lei.

Qian Lei quickly raised his hand to deflect the sharp remark.

He forced a smile and said, "I also found out by chance. Ye Qiqi caused an explosion with the help of Wang Jianguo, who was close to her. I was also injured by her and had been secretly tracking her. I overheard it by chance and came to tell you."

Yan Lin's eyes fell silent.

He never really trusted Qian Lei.

Who knows if he's being two-faced and trying to use her to deal with Ye Qiqi?

Although he didn't like Ye Qiqi either.

But if your hands get dirty for no reason, it's a different story.

"I understand. If there's nothing else, you can leave now. Don't come to Lin Garden again," Yan Lin said coldly.

"Okay, okay, I'll be going now."

Qian Lei left in a hurry.

As soon as he went out, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness.

"So, does Yan Lin believe it now?"

"I'd say... I'm half-believing, half-doubting."

After the man left, Qian Lei touched the scar on his cheek, his eyes filled with malice and ruthlessness.

Ye Qiqi is really ruthless.

I used to think she was just a love-struck fool, but I never expected that once she turned evil, she would abandon him, her husband from two lifetimes, and even pretend to be intimate with him while poisoning him.

The only way to lure out Ye Qiqi is through Yan Lin.

A gentleman would not leave this grudge unavenged.

He must personally kill that poisonous woman, Ye Qiqi!

**

The next day.

After leaving Linyuan, Yan Lin participated in an event organized by the Haicheng Military Region. During his lunch break, he was stopped by a group of leaders from the military region.

“Yan Lin, it’s been five years. You should move on from the past. If Comrade Xu were alive, he certainly wouldn’t want you to be alone for the rest of your life, right? I happen to know a nice girl who is also single. Her name is Fang Manzi, and she’s just as beautiful as Comrade Xu—” Division Commander Lü Liang said with a smile.

Fang Manzi is from Beijing.

She is an important healer in the capital. When he was seriously ill last time, she came to take care of him. She is beautiful and kind-hearted, a good girl, and quite a good match for Yan Lin.

Yan Song patted Yan Lin on the shoulder and comforted him, "If Man Zhi could know this from beyond the grave, she would hope that you would live a good life and stop hurting yourself."

For the past few years, Yan Lin has refused to come back.

He tried calling, sending telegrams, and all sorts of other methods, but the guy just wouldn't budge, which left him feeling quite frustrated.

This time, he earned a first-class merit while guarding the border, which is why he was forced to return to Haicheng to receive commendation. Otherwise, he probably still wouldn't have been willing to go back to Haicheng.

When people mention the Black-Faced Yama, who doesn't admire him, who doesn't envy him, and who doesn't want to witness his splendor firsthand?

His appearance at the conference caused a sensation.

No longer the terrifyingly ugly Yama of the past, beneath his military uniform and imposing presence lies a strikingly handsome face that attracts the attention of many young women.

His face is the kind of face that attracts romance.

Many people secretly inquired about him, eager to make a move.

Yan Lin's eyes were icy and chilling.

Even when it came to his superiors, Yan Lin didn't hesitate and refused without a second thought: "Thank you for your kind offer, but I have no such plans. Marriage is a major life event, and I'll just get married once."

"You're such a stubborn person."

Lü Liang wanted to make some more arrangements, but ultimately didn't say anything more. He thought that perhaps Yan Lin would be moved after meeting him, so he planned to make some arrangements that evening.