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

"Won't they start fighting?" Song Zhiyi asked, her eyes wide.

Lin Manni and Shen Tang remained calm, saying, "Let them fight if they want!"

The two said in unison.

"Huh?" Song Zhiyi blinked in confusion, then stopped asking and started eating her meat.

Gu Siming followed Huo Xiuyuan into a private room next door where no one was.

Huo Xiuyuan grabbed Gu Siming by the collar. "What exactly do you want?"

"What do you want to do?" Gu Siming asked calmly.

He patted Huo Xiuyuan's hand, "Let go first."

Huo Xiuyuan shook his hand and let go of him.

Gu Siming pulled up a chair and sat down, saying, "I genuinely like Lin Manni. I was young and impulsive back then. But all these years, I've never let her go. To be honest, we've kept in touch, though it's just me showing concern. She's only inquired about you through me."

Huo Xiuyuan frowned and sat down next to him. "You two have been communicating all along? You've been planning this for a long time!"

Gu Siming frowned. "You'd better watch how you talk to me in the future. We used to be brothers, but now we're from different generations."

"Get out." Huo Xiuyuan was speechless with anger.

Once Lin Manni makes a decision, no one in her family can stop her. Just like when she insisted on getting a divorce and going abroad, no one could stop her. Now, if she really wants to be with Gu Siming, Huo Xiuyuan can't stop her either.

"You know, I haven't had a woman in my life all these years. It's not that I don't want to find someone, but I always feel like something's missing. None of them are as suitable as Lin Manni," Gu Siming continued. "I'm sincere towards her, and I'll treat you well."

"Get lost. Who needs your kindness?" Huo Xiuyuan turned to look at him. "And when did you meet with Shen Tang?"

Gu Siming licked his lips, somewhat guiltily asking, "We've never met before?"

Huo Xiuyuan stopped speaking and stared at him with cold eyes.

Gu Siming felt a chill run down his spine under his gaze, and said helplessly, "Yes, I have met her. She wrote a few songs for me and mentioned the beef jerky incident in the meantime."

"However, there's nothing between us!" Gu Siming clarified.

"Of course I believe there's nothing between you two. Shen Tang's judgment isn't that bad." Huo Xiuyuan's mood was somewhat low.

He didn't understand why Shen Tang wouldn't let him come with her to see Gu Siming. She wrote and sold songs, so why couldn't he know?

He didn't like the secrets between them.

Gu Siming patted him on the shoulder, "You don't understand women's minds."

"You understand?"

"I don't understand either. But I know that if we don't go back soon, we won't be able to have this meal later."

The two returned to the dining table one after the other.

Shen Tang picked up a piece of meat and held it to Huo Xiuyuan's lips, whispering, "Husband, eat."

Huo Xiuyuan took the meat; the meat was sweet, his heart was sweet, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a wild smile.

"I have something to tell you all," Huo Xiuyuan cleared his throat and said, "Shen Tang is getting married. The marriage application has been submitted, and the military housing has been allocated to her."

"Huh? Sister Shen Tang, you just married him like that?" Song Zhiyi pouted. "I even called my brother to come see you!"

Huo Xiuyuan looked at her coldly, and Song Zhiyi shut her mouth and lowered her head to drink her soup.

Lin Manni turned around, took out a jade bracelet from her bag, stood up, and walked to Shen Tang's side.

"This was given to my mother by my maternal grandmother, then given to me by my mother, and now it's being passed on to you."

Lin Manni lifted Shen Tang's hand and slipped the jade bracelet onto her wrist.

Shen Tang stared at the jade bracelet, her eyes wide with amazement. The luster and the smoothness of the jade—it was truly a top-quality piece!

"Just a bracelet?" Huo Xiuyuan, who was sitting next to him, said.

Lin Manni glanced at him, took out a bankbook from her pocket, and pushed it to Shen Tang.

"Consider this a red envelope I gave myself; the bride price is separate."

She looked at Huo Xiuyuan and said, "Will you live in the military base after you get married? I'll get you a house nearby! It's better to have a bigger house when you have children."

Huo Xiuyuan did not refuse, "That works too."

Lin Manni glanced at him sideways. "Now you're not going to keep your distance from me anymore?"

Huo Xiuyuan pretended not to hear and served Shen Tang a bowl of soup.

Gu Siming stood up and gave Su Tang a bundle of brand-new coins. "I wasn't prepared either. Happy wedding."

Su Tang looked at him and smiled, "In what capacity were you given this?"

Gu Siming smiled and looked at Lin Manni, "What do you think?"

Lin Manni gently pushed him away, "It's your own business, what does it have to do with me?"

Gu Siming smiled and sat back down with her.

Huo Xiuyuan glared at him. "This meal is on you."

Gu Siming laughed, "Okay, it's my treat."

After they finished their meal, Huo Xiuyuan took Shen Tang to the Paramount Ballroom and then returned to the military compound with her.

Shen Tang returned to her dormitory, which was empty. She quickly washed her face and went to the rehearsal hall.

Li Meihua didn't return until training started in the afternoon.

She looked at Shen Tang, her face once again revealing that sneer of waiting to see a good show.

Shen Tang glared at her, feeling somewhat annoyed.

After training in the afternoon, Shen Tang found Li Meihua.

"Li Meihua, what exactly do you want? If you're still not giving up on Huo Xiuyuan, go ahead and chase after him, I won't stop you."

Li Meihua snorted coldly, "I don't need to chase after him. In just a few days, Huo Xiuyuan will be back by my side."

A smug smile spread across Li Meihua's face. "Just wait until you're completely ruined!"

Shen Tang frowned. What leverage did she have over her?

Could it be about selling songs and design drafts? The military doesn't allow people to engage in business or run enterprises, but this is her payment for creative work, so strictly speaking, it doesn't cross the line.

Thinking of this, Shen Tang smiled slightly, "Then I'll wait. But you'd better hurry."

"I will." Li Meihua gritted her teeth and turned to leave.

Shen Tang muttered to herself, "This is so annoying."

Two days later, Huo Xiuyuan couldn't sit still any longer and went to the leader's office early in the morning.

The leader was reviewing documents with his head down. When he saw him come in, he glanced at him and then continued with his work.

"Please sit down to the side first," the leader said.

Huo Xiuyuan had no patience left to sit still, and he asked:

"Sir, has my marriage application been approved? Wasn't it supposed to take three days?"

The leader looked up at him again, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Wait here while I finish reviewing the documents I have."

Huo Xiuyuan stood to the side without sitting down. After waiting for a while, he couldn't wait any longer.

"Commander..."

The leader put down his pen, raised his hand, and looked at him.

"There's been a problem with the approval process; the marriage application cannot be approved."

The leader's voice was calm, but Huo Xiuyuan's heart was in his throat.

"What's the problem? Shen Tang is a member of the cultural troupe," Huo Xiuyuan paused, looking at his superior, "is it a problem in my family?"

The leader stared at him, took a piece of paper from the drawer, placed it in front of him, and tapped it.

"See for yourself."