She was tricked into marriage for three years, then remarried a childless, tough guy and became preg

The man stood in the alley, head down, hands hanging at his sides, fiddling with his trousers, looking utterly lost.

Shen Tang didn't believe him at all. What distant relative would need to be so secretive?

"Who exactly are you?" Shen Tang asked again.

She stared at him coldly, clenched her fists, tensed her body, and prepared to run at any moment.

The man looked up at her, his eyes red-rimmed, his lips trembling, and he spoke in a hoarse voice:

"My surname is Chen, and my name is Chen Zhongyi. Your father, Shen Qingshan, helped me when he was driving a truck."

Shen Tang frowned. The original owner's memories did not include the name "Chen Zhongyi," but the person in front of her should indeed know her father, Shen Qingshan.

"What has he ever done for you?" Shen Tang asked.

"That winter, I was heading south when I fainted from hunger on the way and almost died." He spoke slowly, his voice a little hoarse. "Your father was driving by and stopped to give me a ride. He cooked me some soup noodles and saved my life. Your mother even gave me the sweater she had knitted. Your father gave me a ride all the way, and when we arrived, he gave me money, which is how I survived."

Shen Tang didn't speak, but looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I came here to see my benefactor, but who knew..." Chen Zhongyi frowned.

Shen Tang stared at him for a while: "You haven't come all these years, but they've been gone for so many years before coming?"

"I... went in." Chen Zhongyi lowered his head. "Something happened, and I was sentenced to more than ten years. I only got out a few years ago. It took me a long time to find you."

Shen Tang didn't press him further. She noticed a dark, old scar on his wrist, like a knife scar.

"My father and mother passed away one after the other three years ago," Shen Tang said.

"You... I heard you joined the cultural troupe, you're really promising." Chen Zhongyi had a kind smile on his face, with tears glistening in his eyes.

Shen Tang felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. "It's getting late, I'm going back. You can go now."

"Your name is Shen Tang, right?" Chen Zhongyi asked.

Shen Tang looked at him. "Yes. My parents are gone, I don't need you to repay any debts. You don't need to come looking for me anymore, and don't follow me."

Shen Tang always felt that the man's gaze was strange, which made her very uncomfortable.

Chen Zhongyi rubbed his hands together, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face. "Okay, I won't bother you anymore. I just want to see if you're doing well."

As he spoke, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, took out a bunch of coins from it, all of them small change.

He handed this to Shen Tang with trembling hands, saying, "Take this. The Paramount Ballroom is not a good place. Don't go there."

Shen Tang frowned as she looked at the rolled-up bill. The bills were old, as if they had been saved for a long time.

"Don't be disgusted, this is all clean money. I earned it by carrying sacks," Chen Zhongyi explained.

He reached out his hand, but Shen Tang didn't take it. He stood there awkwardly, his hand frozen in place.

"Although it's not much money, it's a small token of my appreciation," Chen Zhongyi asked in a low voice.

He looked up and said, "I found a job at the docks, and I earn quite a bit each month. I'll give it to you once I've received my wages."

Shen Tang's gaze swept across his face.

This man was actually quite handsome, but he was very tanned and his skin was a bit rough. His eyes were especially beautiful, somewhat like fox eyes.

A melodramatic plot, common in period dramas, flashed through Shen Tang's mind.

"I don't need the money, and I'm not going to the Paramount to work. Take your money back and don't come back again." Shen Tang turned and walked away.

Chen Zhongyi lowered his hand, clenched the rolled-up money in his palm, and squeezed it tighter and tighter.

He watched Shen Tang's retreating figure, tears welling in his eyes. He stood there, watching Shen Tang's figure disappear around the corner. He quickly walked forward, watching Shen Tang walk into the military compound from afar.

Huo Xiuyuan came forward and took the package from Shen Tang's hands.

"Where did you go? If you don't come back soon, I'm going to go out and look for you in the streets," Huo Xiuyuan said.

"I didn't expect Commander Huo to be such a clingy person," Shen Tang said with a smile.

Huo Xiuyuan raised his hand to rub his nose, then took Shen Tang's hand.

"The commander is away for the past few days and won't be back for half a month. Our marriage application can only be approved when he returns."

"Mm," Shen Tang replied, her mind preoccupied with Chen Zhongyi's matter.

Huo Xiuyuan turned to look at her and stopped in his tracks.

"Did you run into anyone just now?"

"Hmm?" Shen Tang looked up. "No."

Huo Xiuyuan looked at her, remaining silent for a long while. A slight smile played on his lips. "Let's go, I'll take you back to your dorm."

As soon as Shen Tang arrived at the dormitory building, Zhao Wenjing came out to greet him.

"Shen Tang, you're back!"

Zhao Wenjing looked to be in a good mood, her face beaming with a smile.

She greeted Huo Xiuyuan, "Hello, Commander Huo. I heard you're going to marry Shen Tang?"

Huo Xiuyuan nodded and said, "Yes."

"I'm going up first."

Shen Tang took the package, turned around, and went upstairs with Zhao Wenjing.

Zhao Wenjing leaned closer to Shen Tang and whispered, "I'm dating Zhang Dawei."

"Really?" Shen Tang asked in surprise.

Zhao Wenjing nodded shyly.

"That's right, Zhang Dawei is a better match for you than Ji Huaizhou. A woman should choose someone who treats her well," Shen Tang said with a smile.

Zhao Wenjing nodded and said shyly, "He held my hand."

"Did you kiss?" Shen Tang teased her.

"Ouch—" Zhao Wenjing covered her face and turned her body to the side.

Geng Yan walked up from behind, and Zhao Wenjing immediately dropped her shy demeanor and gave her a cold look.

Since being warned by Commander Ge last time, Geng Yan has been much more well-behaved and hasn't caused any trouble. She even avoids Shen Tang and Zhao Wenjing when she sees them. After all, causing trouble again would mean being expelled from the performing arts troupe.

Geng Yan walked into the dormitory with her eyes downcast. Li Meihua was sitting in the dormitory reading a book.

Geng Yan walked over and whispered something in her ear. Li Meihua frowned. "Really?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes," Geng Yan said.

Li Meihua bit her lip, her eyes darting around.

Geng Yan looked at her and said in a low voice, "I'm not involved in this, it has nothing to do with me."

"Don't worry," Li Meihua said, but she began to think about it in her mind.

She looked up and saw Shen Tang walk in, giving her a cold glance.

Shen Tang didn't even look at her. She put down her bag and carried the basin to the bathroom.

Zhou Nan just walked in and saw Shen Tang. His face lit up with joy. "Shen Tang, you're finally back."

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Shen Tang asked.

Zhou Nan pulled her aside and handed Shen Tang several thick envelopes.

"Here you go," Qin Zheng said, "this is your design fee."

Shen Tang tore open the envelope, looked inside, and said with a smile, "I got quite a lot."

"Qin Zheng said that as soon as the samples of this batch of clothes came out, the orders were overwhelming," Zhou Nan said with a smile. "He said he'd let you design a few autumn outfits, and the price is negotiable."

"Wow, you're starting to look like a boss lady," Shen Tang said with a smile.

"You're just making fun of me." Zhou Nan blushed and ran away.

Shen Tang turned back, stuffed the envelope under the covers, and rushed off to take a shower, as the hot water in the bathroom was about to stop.

Zhao Wenjing looked in the mirror and left the dormitory, while Geng Yan clutched her stomach and ran to the toilet.

Li Meihua was the only one left in the dormitory.

She stood up, glanced at the door, and quickly walked to Shen Tang's bed.