Chapter 30: Contrast and misunderstanding, my heart aches
The atmosphere at the charity dinner became more subtle due to Lin Weiwei's "official appearance" and Deputy Chief of General Staff Lin's undisguised favoritism. Su Wanqing could clearly sense that the gazes directed at her were filled with some indescribable complex meanings - sympathy, comparison, scrutiny, and even gloating.
Lin Weiwei mingled effortlessly among the various commanders and their wives, her manners graceful and cheerful, a true center of attention. From time to time, she would return to Deputy Chief of General Staff Lin, coquettishly tethering her arm to her father's, her gaze always drifting vaguely in Huo Tingxiao's direction, a hint of resentment and intimacy that seemed to be wanting to be spoken but could not.
Huo Tingxiao's reaction remained cold. He stood silently by most of the time, conversing quietly with a few familiar generals and occasionally responding to questions from Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lin. He was courteous yet distant. Whenever Lin Weiwei glanced at him, he either ignored her or glanced away briefly, betraying no emotion.
But this deliberate neglect, in the eyes of others, especially those who know the "past", is more like a repressed and unspeakable special emotion.
A lady who was on good terms with Huo Meilin approached Su Wanqing, glass in hand, and whispered affectionately, "Wanqing, don't take it too seriously. Vice Director Lin raised Weiwei, and she's just like his own daughter—a bit more lively, but not malicious. She and Tingxiao grew up together, so it's normal for them to be a bit familiar." These words sounded comforting, but in reality, they were a reminder to Su Wanqing of Lin Weiwei's "uniqueness" and "historical origins."
Another lady also agreed with a smile, "Yes, Weiwei is a well-known talented woman in our compound. She's beautiful, comes from a good family, and she's doing very well at the Ministry of Culture. I heard that the military cultural exhibition she recently planned even received an award from the higher-ups! Like father, like daughter!"
Their voices were neither too loud nor too low, just loud enough for the few people around them to hear. Their conversations drew a subtle yet sharp contrast between Lin Weiwei's background, talent, and career, and Su Wanqing's status as a "substitute bride" and her current "idleness."
Su Wanqing held the wine glass, her fingertips slightly cold, but she maintained a decent smile on her face: "What the two aunts said is true, Miss Lin is indeed very outstanding."
She couldn't refute it, because it was the truth. Lin Weiwei was like a meticulously polished diamond, gleaming brilliantly under the spotlight. Her family background, looks, talent, and career were all perfect. Meanwhile, Su Wanqing was like a pearl carelessly discarded in a corner: gentle, quiet, yet dull, even her origins unknown.
This ubiquitous contrast was like fine needles, piercing her heart and causing her dull pain.
She subconsciously glanced at Huo Tingxiao. He was talking to a general, his face hard and stern, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents unfolding here. Why didn't he explain? Why didn't he stop it? Even with a glance of affirmation?
At this point, the banquet entered the charity auction. A commemorative military badge, donated by a former military commander, was presented on the stand, with a high starting price.
Lin Weiwei suddenly smiled and raised her hand, her voice clear and crisp: "On behalf of the Youth League of the Ministry of Culture, I support our old tradition!" She quoted a high price, which drew applause and admiration.
The host smiled and asked, "Is there any higher bid?"
The venue quieted down for a moment.
Suddenly, a deep voice broke the silence: "Double."
It’s Huo Tingxiao.
He still stood there, his expression calm, as if he had just casually reported a number.
The entire audience fell silent, all eyes focused on him in astonishment. Even the general next to him glanced at him in surprise.
Lin Weiwei's smile froze. She looked at Huo Tingxiao in disbelief, her eyes filled with astonishment and a hint of... hurt? He was... openly competing with her in the auction? And for what? Just for that badge?
Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. She didn't understand why he did this. Was it for charity? Or...?
The host reacted and quickly said, "Chief Huo's bid... Uh, Miss Lin, do you want to increase it?"
Lin Weiwei took a deep breath, forced herself to maintain a smile, and shook her head: "Chief Huo is determined to win, so I won't take away what is wanted by others." There was a hint of grievance and anger in her tone that was barely perceptible.
In the end, Huo Tingxiao bought the badge at a high price.
The staff member handed him the badge. Huo Tingxiao took it with his left hand, without even glancing at it, and casually handed it to Su Wanqing beside him, saying calmly, "Here."
Su Wanqing was completely stunned, and subconsciously took the badge, which still carried the warmth of his palm. The cool metal felt incredibly hot to her touch.
He...he paid a high price for this thing, and he just gave it to her like that? What did this mean? Was he trying to help her out? Or...a disguised form of compensation or appeasement?
She couldn't understand him at all.
This scene, in the eyes of everyone, triggered countless speculations and misunderstandings.
To most people, Huo Tingxiao's behavior was full of contradictions: he first ignored Lin Weiwei, then suddenly outbid her, and finally gave the spoils to his "unwelcome" wife. This seemed more like an act of anger towards Lin Weiwei and a perfunctory attempt to appease his wife.
Lin Weiwei looked at the badge in Su Wanqing's hand, her eyes reddening slightly. She quickly lowered her head, took Deputy Chief of General Staff Lin's arm, and whispered something. Deputy Chief of General Staff Lin patted the back of her hand and glanced at Huo Tingxiao, his eyes filled with a hint of disapproval and helplessness.
Several ladies exchanged glances, as if to say, "See, I told you this wasn't a simple relationship." "Chief Huo is furious." "Poor Wanqing, she's like a prop."
Su Wanqing held the heavy badge, feeling it weighed down like a thousand pounds, suffocating her. She didn't want this "gift" filled with misunderstandings and comparisons. She would rather he did nothing.
The dinner finally ended in a weird atmosphere.
On the way back in the car, the air pressure was terrifyingly low.
Huo Tingxiao closed his eyes to rest, his expression even colder than when he first arrived, and he exuded an aura of keeping strangers away, as if the person who suddenly bid at the banquet just now was not him.
Su Wanqing looked at the colorful lights rapidly receding outside the window, tightly clenching the badge in her hand. The sharp edges of the metal hurt her palm.
Finally, she couldn't help herself and whispered, her voice trembling and aggrieved, even though she herself didn't notice it: "Why...why are you filming this?"
Huo Tingxiao didn't open his eyes, but just parted his thin lips and uttered two cold words: "Do you need a reason?"
Su Wanqing's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
Do you need a reason?
Yes, he is the leader. What reason does he need to take pictures of something? And what does he need to explain to her?
In his heart, she was nothing. Perhaps everything that had happened tonight was just a whim, or perhaps it was some kind of game between him and Lin Weiwei that she couldn't understand. And she had simply been caught up in it, becoming an awkward prop.
Misunderstandings wrapped around her heart like vines, tightening more and more, making it difficult for her to breathe.
She stopped talking and just stared out the window, trying hard to push away the bitterness in her eyes.
She was so ridiculous in comparison.
She was so embarrassed by the misunderstanding.
The dull pain in my heart became more and more obvious.
She suddenly felt that perhaps all her efforts and persistence were just a futile joke in front of this iceberg and his "white moonlight".
The car drove into the silent courtyard and stopped in front of the cold building.
Huo Tingxiao got out of the car first and walked into the room without looking back.
Su Wanqing followed him slowly, looking at his resolute and indifferent back, the badge in her hand felt as hot as a branding iron.
No one slept that night.
The gap is deeper than ever before.
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