He was a disabled military officer who doted on his research work in the Northwest.

As Bai Wei walked through the compound, she could clearly sense a change in the way the military wives looked at her. The respect they once showed to the educated nurses had vanished, replaced by a dismissive and perfunctory politeness.

Some people would avoid her if they saw her from afar, and others would greet her with a noticeably stiff smile.

The rumors she had painstakingly spread before—such as "Shen Tang seduced Commander Mu," "climbing the social ladder," and "being immoral"—are now like spilled dirty water, not only failing to splash onto Shen Tang but also splashing all over herself.

That evening, Liu Fang went out to find Chen Zhiyuan, leaving her alone at home. She felt restless in Liu Fang's house; she knew she couldn't stay there any longer.

Shen Tang, a wild girl from the countryside, has an engagement that Commander Mu doesn't even acknowledge. Why is she so arrogant? Why does everyone have to side with her? What's so great about her? All she can do is cook a few dishes, and she always smells of cooking oil. Where's her femininity?

Bai Wei grew angrier the more she thought about it, and finally couldn't hold it in any longer, so she pushed open the door and went out for a walk to clear her head.

As dusk settled, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of the courtyard. Bai Wei wandered aimlessly, and before she knew it, she had arrived near Mu Qinghan's secluded courtyard.

She subconsciously slowed her pace, her gaze peering over the waist-high courtyard wall—and then she froze, as if nailed to the spot.

In the courtyard, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the lush green vegetable patch, where Shen Tang was squatting by the flower bed tending to the garden. Today, she wore a light blue cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her fair and slender forearms. Her long hair was not tied up, but loosely draped over her shoulders, with a few stray strands blowing against her cheeks in the evening breeze.

And Mu Qinghan—

His wheelchair was parked less than a meter away from the flower bed.

He wasn't reading a book or looking at documents; instead, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Shen Tang's profile. Those dark eyes, usually as cold as an icy pool, now, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, revealed a softness she had never seen before...

Shen Tang seemed to say something, and Mu Qinghan's thin lips moved slightly, as if in reply. Then—

He reached out his well-defined hand and very naturally tucked a stray strand of hair that had fallen beside Shen Tang's cheek behind her ear.

The movements were very light and slow, as if afraid of disturbing the butterflies.

Shen Tang paused slightly, glanced up at him, muttered something under her breath, and then lowered her head to continue weeding. Mu Qinghan withdrew his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips, before reverting to his usual aloof expression.

But that look in her eyes—Bai Wei saw it clearly—wasn't exactly innocent.

That's definitely not the look you should give to someone insignificant.

Bai Wei's fingernails dug deeply into her palms, her knuckles turning white, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Disowning the marriage contract? Is this what Liu Fang meant by disowning the marriage contract?

What was that look in your eyes just now? And what was that gesture of tucking her hair back?

Bai Wei felt like a huge joke.

She went to great lengths to get close to Mu Qinghan at the hospital, only to be kicked out, disciplined, and ridiculed by her colleagues, losing all her dignity. And Shen Tang? That country bumpkin did nothing, just squatted there pulling weeds, and Mu Qinghan took the initiative to come up and brush her hair?

Why should I?!

Bai Wei turned and walked away quickly, her mind buzzing.

No. She couldn't just give up like that.

What does Shen Tang rely on to win people's hearts? Isn't it just cooking and that broken mold? She can't compete with pleasing adults, but pleasing children—who can't do that?

Bai Wei's mind raced.

child.

Yes, child.

Children are the easiest to fool.

Those military kids in the compound are all over Shen Tang now, calling her "Sister Shen Tang" this and "Sister Shen Tang" that—it's disgusting. She has to bring those kids back. As long as the kids like her and not Shen Tang, the attitudes of those military wives will naturally change.

Thinking of this, she felt great, as if she had found the key to bringing down Shen Tang.

……

The next afternoon.

Bai Wei went to the supply and marketing cooperative and spent 50 cents to buy a big bag of roasted peanuts. She put it in a brown paper bag, tucked it into her pocket, and appeared smiling in the open space of the courtyard.

This is the time when children are running around wildly in the yard after school.

"Kids—" Bai Wei crouched down, her face beaming with an exaggerated smile, and waved to several children who were chasing and playing, "Auntie Bai Wei has something delicious here! Fried peanuts! They're fragrant and crunchy! Who wants some?"

Several children stopped and looked at her warily.

Tiger was the first to frown, pulling his friend's hand and taking a step back: "Don't go! She taught me the wrong words! My mom said I can't play with her!"

"Oh dear, Tiger, Auntie didn't mean to!" Bai Wei smiled even sweeter, opening the paper bag and releasing the aroma of roasted peanuts. "Here, have a taste, they're delicious. Auntie isn't teaching you today, just treating you to some good food."

Tiger remained unmoved, but several younger children nearby were attracted by the aroma.

A little girl, about three or four years old, with her hair tied in a topknot, was the daughter of a soldier from the Second Company. Her name was Niu Niu. She sniffed, stared longingly at the bag of peanuts, and reached out her little hand involuntarily.

"Niu Niu, don't go!" Tiger cried out anxiously.

But Niu Niu had already grabbed a handful of peanuts and sat around Bai Wei with the other children, chewing peanuts while listening to her talk.

While distributing peanuts, Bai Wei lowered her voice and told stories to the children.

The children loved listening to stories and were completely engrossed in them.

Bai Wei was smug. Look, what's so hard about coaxing children? It's just a matter of some good food and fun toys.

After talking for a while, she saw that the children had almost all gathered around, so she rolled her eyes and began to talk about the main purpose of the day.

She changed the subject and began telling them ghost stories.

The children were a little scared, but Tiger spoke up, "Auntie, please stop talking. There are no ghosts in this world."

Bai Wei smiled mysteriously, "Who said there isn't? Auntie will tell you a secret today—do you know that Sister Shen Tang?"

"Yes! Sister Shen Tang gave us star-shaped carrots!" a child answered innocently.

"Shh—" Bai Wei put her index finger to her lips, deliberately lowering her voice to a sinister tone, "You don't know, do you? She's not actually human."

The children's eyes widened instantly.

Bai Wei was smug. She hated children the most, and if it weren't for dealing with Shen Tang, she wouldn't bother to coax these little brats here.

She wanted more than just to get the children to be close to her and win over the military wives in the compound; she also wanted to smear Shen Tang and make the children afraid of her.

"She's a mountain demon in disguise." Bai Wei's voice grew lower and more eerie, "She specializes in transforming into a beautiful older sister, using delicious food to lure children away. Once the children go with her, at night, she will—"

Bai Wei's eyes widened suddenly, and she reached out as if to grab someone—

"Eat the children!!"

"ah--!!"

The children screamed in fright!

Niu Niu was timid to begin with, and she still had a large, unchewed peanut in her mouth. Startled, she gasped sharply—

"Cough—! Cough cough cough—!"

The peanut went straight into his trachea!