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

These words were spoken with heartfelt emotion and tears streaming down her face. The military wives present nodded in agreement as they watched Liu Fang's selfless act of putting family aside for the greater good.

"Liu Fang is right, Bai Wei, why aren't you getting out of here?"

"That's right, stop causing Liu Fang any more trouble. She kindly took you in, and look what you've done."

"Liu Fang is kind and soft-hearted; you've dragged her into this."

Bai Wei looked at Liu Fang in disbelief—the woman she thought was a "good older sister" was now looking at her with tender pity, her eyes full of reluctance, but she felt a strange indifference.

Bai Wei finally understood.

From beginning to end, she was just a knife in Liu Fang's hand. Once she was done using her, she should be thrown away.

"Okay...okay..." Bai Wei trembled all over, her lips quivering. She pointed at Liu Fang, wanting to say something, but seeing the disgusted and contemptuous looks around her, she ultimately said nothing.

Because speaking out wouldn't make others think she's more despicable, and Liu Fang would be even more deserving of sympathy.

She gritted her teeth, staggered to her feet, and walked towards the gate of the compound without looking back.

His back view was extremely disheveled.

……

After Bai Wei left, the atmosphere in the courtyard became noticeably more relaxed.

Several military wives who had previously spread rumors approached Shen Tang sheepishly, stammering apologies: "Sister Shen... we were wrong before, we believed everything we heard. Please don't take it to heart."

Shen Tang was squatting on the ground wiping away Niu Niu's tears when she heard this. She looked up and smiled, "It's okay, it's all over now."

She genuinely didn't care.

Bai Wei was never her match, nor even an obstacle that could distract her.

From beginning to end, her goal was clear—to heal Mu Qinghan's leg, preserve the space jade bracelet, and settle down in this great Northwest to conduct scientific research.

As for those rumors and gossip? Just like she told Wang Xiulian—let the results speak for themselves.

Now, the result is in: Bai Wei is gone.

Wang Xiulian squeezed through the crowd, grabbed Shen Tang's shoulder, and exclaimed excitedly, her face flushed, "Girl! Did you see that?! All those people are on your side now! That troublemaker Bai Wei is finally gone! That's great!"

Shen Tang patted the back of her hand and shook her head with a smile: "Sister-in-law, don't be too happy yet. Bai Wei is gone, but—"

Her gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Liu Fang, who was being comforted by the military wives in the distance. The woman was wiping away tears with a handkerchief, looking innocent and as if to say, "I'm a victim too."

Shen Tang looked away, without saying the rest of her sentence.

Some things are better left unsaid.

Some foxes need to show their tails before you can catch them.

……

What she didn't know was that the jade bracelet she desperately wanted to protect was facing a real crisis.

That afternoon, a military green jeep drove from the end of the road and slowly stopped at the gate of the military compound.

The sentry saluted and let them pass.

Two people got out of the back seat of the jeep.

The man walking in front was a young man, about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a slender figure, wearing a well-tailored military uniform, without any rank insignia.

His features were five or six parts similar to Mu Qinghan's, but he lacked Mu Qinghan's cold and sharp aggression, and instead had a gentle and warm demeanor.

His gaze swept across the layout of the courtyard at a leisurely pace, a perfectly measured smile always playing on his lips. He walked with a calm and composed demeanor, as if strolling leisurely.

This man was Mu Chengyuan, the eldest son of the Mu family.

He is currently a staff officer in the Operations Department of the General Staff Headquarters in Beijing, and the true leader of the Mu family in this generation.

Following behind him was a young woman in her early twenties. She wore a smart, grass-green military uniform, a belt around her waist, and her ponytail was tied high, revealing a bright and dignified face. Her features weren't particularly refined, but they were well-defined, and she exuded a spirited and confident air, a quality cultivated in the military compound.

Her name is Su Mingyue, the youngest daughter of Su Zhenguo, the commander of the Northwest Military Region. She was also the blind date that the old lady of the Mu family originally wanted to arrange for Mu Qinghan.

Dr. Chen was already waiting at the entrance of the compound. As soon as he saw Mu Chengyuan get out of the car, he immediately went up to him and the two shook hands firmly.

"Chengyuan, you must be tired from your journey." Doctor Chen looked his old friend up and down. "You've lost some weight. Could the lucrative food in Beijing have helped you?"

"The General Staff's lucrative business isn't as good as your Northwest mutton soup." Mu Chengyuan smiled, his voice gentle and deep, possessing a magnetic quality that puts people at ease. "Old Chen, long time no see."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Dr. Chen's gaze shifted to Su Mingyue behind Mu Chengyuan, and he raised an eyebrow slightly.

Mu Chengyuan noticed his gaze, turned his head, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "She wanted to come herself. I couldn't stop her."

"Does Commander Su know?"

"I know. The old man's exact words were—'Let the young people handle their own affairs. Whether they go and see for themselves, or give up or try again, it's better than them worrying about it at home.'"

Dr. Chen paused for a moment, then led the two men toward the inpatient department without asking any further questions.

Su Mingyue strode up and, without flinching, saluted Dr. Chen: "Hello, Brother Chen! I've come to see Brother Qinghan!"

"Alright, alright." Doctor Chen nodded with a smile, but secretly sighed in his heart.

This Miss Su and Mu Qinghan had known each other since childhood, practically childhood sweethearts who grew up together in the grand courtyards of Beijing. Su Mingyue was a tomboy from a young age, always following Mu Qinghan around, constantly saying she wanted to marry him when she grew up. Later, Mu Qinghan went to the Northwest, and Su Mingyue joined the military arts troupe, and the two gradually lost contact.

When news of Mu Qinghan's injury reached the capital, Su Mingyue couldn't sit still and insisted on coming to the military region to see him, but Mu Qinghan stopped her with a telegram.

Su Mingyue had been holding back for so long—now that Mu Chengyuan was coming to the Northwest to see his younger brother, she was determined to go with him.

Mu Chengyuan couldn't refuse her. He thought that letting her see her brother's condition with her own eyes would give her a better idea of ​​whether it was good or bad, which was better than her wondering blindly in the capital. So he brought her along.

……

Second floor of the inpatient department, special care ward.

Mu Qinghan leaned against the headboard, a military magazine spread out in front of him. He looked quite well today; the dietary therapy and massage he had been receiving for days had restored a healthy glow to his complexion. Although he was still thin, his mental state was much better than it had been half a month ago.

"Click." The door was pushed open.

Mu Qinghan looked up and saw Mu Chengyuan walking at the front, but there wasn't much surprise in his eyes. Ever since Dr. Chen mentioned that "your brother is coming," he knew this day would come sooner or later.

"Qinghan." Mu Chengyuan walked to the bedside, his gaze gently surveying his younger brother's complexion, a familiar slight smile playing on his lips. "Your complexion is much better than I expected."

"Big brother." Mu Qinghan's voice was calm, which served as a greeting.

The brothers' way of getting along has always been like this—Mu Chengyuan is like water, always gentle and composed; Mu Qinghan is like a knife, cold and direct, too lazy to even exchange a single word of pleasantries.

Mu Chengyuan didn't take it to heart; he knew his younger brother too well. Qinghan had always been like this—the more he cared about something, the less he would show it; the more upset he was, the more he would pretend to be indifferent.

"Brother Qinghan!"

Su Mingyue peeked out from behind Mu Chengyuan, strode to the bedside, her eyes slightly red as she looked at Mu Qinghan, her voice filled with suppressed heartache: "You've lost so much weight."