Chapter Twelve: There Are Always Meetings in Life

Zhang Feng, being a seasoned officer, bore the weight of honor on his shoulders and understood that every accolade was hard-won. How could he possibly allow Huang Qian to spout nonsense here? His incisive words thoroughly dismantled Huang Qian’s stubbornness. She slumped weakly over the table, her spirit seemingly adrift—indeed, that was precisely her state.

No one would, nor dared, fabricate the identity of a general. Especially when the documentation was issued straight from the military district—impossible to falsify. The few extra words Huang Qian had said were utterly baseless, born only of youthful pride and a reluctance to yield.

“All right, enough arguing,” Director Chen steadied the room. “Huang Qian, write a self-critique and deliver it to my office tomorrow. For now, go apologize immediately.”

“I understand,” Huang Qian replied, dejected.

“I’ll come too, just in case she causes more trouble,” Zhang Feng said, rising to his feet. As they left, he lectured Huang Qian along the way.

Meanwhile, in the lounge, Qin Mu was leisurely reading some news. Wu Mu had appeared at some point and now stood beside him.

“General, your records have been processed and forwarded,” Wu Mu reported.

Qin Mu nodded, not pressing for details. His personal file was classified at the highest level, locked away in the national vault of secrets. Unless he himself or those at the very top requested it, no one could glimpse even a fraction.

At that moment, Zhang Feng led Huang Qian inside, resembling a parent dragging in a misbehaving child.

“Sir, I sincerely apologize for my previous disrespect,” Zhang Feng said, bowing deeply. At his rank, he understood the gravity of the situation—and knew full well that they were the ones at fault.

“I’m sorry for calling you a spoiled rich kid. I was blind and arrogant,” Huang Qian added, bowing as well, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Qin Mu waved his hand dismissively. She was just a childish girl; he did not take offense. Had this been the military district, anyone who dared to insult a general in such a way would have long since been dragged out for court-martial.

“Where is my friend?” Qin Mu asked.

“You must mean Miss Su. We’ve moved her to another lounge and invited the best doctor to attend her,” Zhang Feng explained. “This way, please.”

He led the way, while Huang Qian was still awed by Qin Mu’s magnanimity, his utter lack of pettiness. Compared to him, she truly felt like an ignorant child.

When they arrived at the other lounge, Su Zhi was lying on a white bed. Having changed out of her alcohol-soaked clothes, she wore an orange dress and was sipping hot ginger tea to warm herself. Though still a little shaken, her complexion had softened.

Upon seeing Qin Mu, Su Zhi quickly set down her bowl and asked anxiously, “They didn’t do anything to you, did they? Officer, this all happened because of me. He was only protecting me. If there’s any blame, let it fall on me—don’t involve him.”

Her hurried explanation left Zhang Feng awkwardly at a loss.

“It’s all right. We’ve got everything sorted. Neither you nor Mr. Qin is in any trouble. Just give your statements when you’re ready, and you can leave at any time,” Zhang Feng assured them. In his heart, he thought—even if there were an issue, he neither dared nor had the authority to accuse Qin Mu of anything.

“Thank you so much,” Su Zhi said earnestly to Qin Mu. Without him, she couldn’t imagine the humiliation she might have suffered that night.

“It’s nothing. Consider it repaying the favor from ten years ago when you lent me those dictionaries,” Qin Mu replied with a smile.

Su Zhi’s brows rose in surprise; she hadn’t expected this playful side of him.

“But you need to be careful. Zhou Ming’s influence far surpasses those young punks’. He truly straddles both sides of the law, and his father, Zhou Dongchen, is a local overlord in Jiangcheng,” Qin Mu warned.

Standing aside, Zhang Feng broke into a nervous sweat. He feared this teacher Su had no idea that the man standing before her was not some minor soldier, but a general of unrivaled status and glory.

“Don’t worry. He can’t afford to cross me,” Qin Mu replied. “If Zhou Ming bothers you again, just call me.”

He handed her a simple business card, on which “Qin Mu” was elegantly written in pen, followed by a phone number. It was plain and unadorned, unlike those gilded, diamond-encrusted cards of the wealthy elite.

“All right. If I ever need help, I’ll call you—don’t leave me hanging then!” Su Zhi said with a bright smile, playing along, though she took it as a jest.

After sending Su Zhi home, Qin Mu had no desire to return to campus for reminiscence and instructed Wu Mu to drive them back. As they were returning to Yan Gui Garden, a Maybach limousine happened to pass by. The military vehicle was so conspicuous that the Maybach’s owner couldn’t help but glance over.

Within those few seconds, the Maybach’s owner suddenly called for the driver to stop.

Qin Mu, ever sensitive to such things, had been resting with his eyes closed when he sensed someone’s gaze upon him. He immediately told Wu Mu to pay attention.

Soon, a young man about Qin Mu’s age stepped out from the Maybach.

“Qin Mu! It really is you!”

Catching sight of the visitor in the rearview mirror, Qin Mu couldn’t help but smile. What a small world—it seemed fate delighted in such reunions. He had just seen Su Zhi at school, and now, by chance, encountered another old friend in his neighborhood.

Xia Yuan.

Unlike Su Zhi, Qin Mu and Xia Yuan had met and become friends in the classroom.

Back then, Qin Mu’s family was not well-off; only Jiang Haishan at home shouldered all expenses, so Qin Mu lived frugally. He usually ate just a big bowl of plain rice with some thin soup. Focused on his studies, he often skipped meals to work on research, and Xia Yuan would bring him food from the cafeteria.

Xia Yuan’s family was in the jewelry business and very wealthy, and he always ate well. Unwilling to see Qin Mu eat so poorly, he would spend his own money to buy extra dishes, telling Qin Mu they were leftovers from the cafeteria.

“It’s been almost ten years, hasn’t it? You’ve made something of yourself!” Xia Yuan strode up and punched Qin Mu lightly in the chest, grinning. “I told you back when you left that you had a bright future. See? I wasn’t wrong—you’re even driving a military vehicle now!”

Even after a decade apart, Xia Yuan still treated Qin Mu as a brother, without any reserve.

“You’re not doing badly yourself. I suppose you’ve taken over the family business by now?” Qin Mu looked at Xia Yuan—his old friend had always been the image of a young noble, talented and charming. Now he was even more polished, his every gesture exuding elegance. Yet, dark circles under his eyes betrayed his exhaustion and worry; it seemed he hadn’t slept in days.

“Ah, it’s all just misery,” Xia Yuan sighed. “I have urgent matters to attend to. Let’s meet up another day for a proper meal and catch-up.”

“What’s happened?” Qin Mu sensed something was wrong.

Xia Yuan hesitated, then finally said, “My father’s ill. It’s a strange sickness. I’ve scoured the country for doctors, but none can offer a solid diagnosis—they just say his vitality is spent and he doesn’t have long left. Just now, a miracle doctor my eldest sister invited sent word that my father might not last the night, and I should hurry back to see him one last time.”

As he spoke, his mouth trembled, fighting back tears. He didn’t want his old friend to see him cry after so many years apart.

Now that Xia Yuan had taken over the family business and was poised for greater things, his father fell gravely ill—possibly fatally so. There is no greater sorrow in life than wanting to care for one’s parents only to find them gone.

“If you trust me, let me come with you,” Qin Mu said seriously.

“Young master, the master’s condition is critical. Shouldn’t you—” the driver began, uneasy.

“Shut up! Not your place to interrupt!” Xia Yuan snapped, then turned to Qin Mu.

Since childhood, Xia Yuan had always sensed that Qin Mu was extraordinary—not because of his background or anything else, but from an instinctive feeling that Qin Mu was destined for greatness. Otherwise, how could just anyone be his brother?

Even if Qin Mu was just comforting him, Xia Yuan didn’t mind.

“All right—get in. Let’s go!”