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

The needle in her hand suddenly veered off course and pierced her fingertip, drawing out a bead of bright red blood.

"Oh dear! Fang'er, are you alright?" Chen Zhiyuan quickly came over to check on her.

"It's nothing, I was just spacing out." Liu Fang put her finger in her mouth and sucked on it, her smile still gentle. "I'm happy for the commander. Zhiyuan, the commander is recovering well, so you can finally relax. By the way, is there any mission coming up in the unit lately? I heard from the neighbor that they're transferring a group of people south."

"Yes, that's true." Chen Zhiyuan nodded. "The smuggling case in the south requires cooperation with the local public security bureau, and the higher-ups are selecting personnel. But given the commander's current situation, I can't leave."

"You're just too much of a worrywart," Liu Fang said softly, putting down her needlework and gently massaging his shoulders. "Now that the regimental commander has his wife taking care of him and Dr. Chen watching over him, it's good for you to go out and gain some experience occasionally. Think about it, when the regimental commander comes back, if you don't have any notable achievements to show for yourself, how will you climb the ranks?"

Chen Zhiyuan nodded thoughtfully: "I didn't think about it... but what you said makes sense... if we really make a contribution, it will be an honor for the regiment."

"That's right, a man's ambition should extend to all corners of the world. He should be successful, not always hiding behind Commander Mu, right?" Liu Fang smiled and poured him a cup of hot water. "Think it over carefully. I'll go heat up the food."

She turned and went into the kitchen, her gentle smile vanishing instantly, replaced by a gloomy expression.

Is Mu Qinghan's leg recovering? If he can really stand up again and fly again, when will Chen Zhiyuan be able to take over? And when will she have to wait?

No. She has to think of something.

The next afternoon, Liu Fang made a special trip to the military hospital, ostensibly to deliver a change of clothes to Chen Zhiyuan and to visit the regimental commander. In reality, she circled the nurses' station and quickly found Bai Wei, who was sullenly writing a self-criticism in the duty room.

"Weiwei." Liu Fang knocked on the doorframe, a concerned smile on her face. "I heard you got disciplined? Are you alright?"

Upon seeing Liu Fang, Bai Wei's eyes immediately reddened, and she complained bitterly, "Sister Fang! You have no idea, that old bastard Dr. Chen deliberately framed me! Just because I said a few words to Shen Tang, he tried to make things difficult for me in front of the hospital director! They even said I gave the wrong IV, that it was just an accident. Think about it, everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but it just happened to be brought up at that crucial moment. Isn't that a coincidence? I think it was all targeted at me!"

Liu Fang sighed, sat down next to her, and handed her a handkerchief: "Don't cry, crying won't solve anything. By the way, I wanted to ask you—how was the massage Shen Tang gave the regimental commander? Was it really as miraculous as Dr. Chen said?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Wei scoffed, her face full of disdain: "What's so great about her! What kind of medical skills could a country bumpkin like her know? She's just putting on airs in front of Commander Mu, touching and rubbing here and there, without a shred of shame! Doctor Chen is just a bookworm, fooled by her fancy tricks!"

She grew angrier as she spoke, her voice rising several decibels: "Sister Fang, think about it! A young woman, going around massaging a man's legs every day—isn't that obviously seduction? Aren't she ashamed?! If she really wanted to treat his illness, why doesn't she get a medical license? I think she just wants to stay here!"

As Liu Fang listened, a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

This is exactly the answer she wanted.

"Sigh, what you said makes sense." Liu Fang sighed, as if she felt sorry for Shen Tang. "But since the regimental commander has tacitly approved, we can't really say anything. By the way, Weiwei, where have you been staying lately? Still in the hospital dormitory?"

"You bet! It's so annoying dealing with those gossipy colleagues all the time." Bai Wei pouted.

"Well then—" Liu Fang took her hand, her tone affectionate, "Zhiyuan might have to go on a mission in the next few days, and I'll be all alone at home, it'll be quite lonely. If you don't mind, why don't you move in with me for a few days? We can keep each other company, and it'll save you from being mistreated at the hospital."

Bai Wei's eyes lit up.

Liu Fang's home is in the military compound! It's much closer to Mu Qinghan's compound than the hospital!

"Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Sister Fang!" Bai Wei excitedly grasped Liu Fang's hand, her mind racing with calculations—moving into the compound would allow her to keep a close eye on Shen Tang and Mu Qinghan's every move. Once she caught them red-handed, she'd see how arrogant that country bumpkin could be then!

Liu Fang smiled and patted the back of her hand, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.

Bai Wei's knife is just right for me to use.

……

three days later.

Bai Wei moved into Liu Fang's house and officially became a "temporary resident" of the military compound.

On her very first day in the compound, she couldn't wait to begin her mission.

Evening, by the water trough in the courtyard.

Several military wives were squatting there washing clothes and picking vegetables, chatting idly about this and that. Bai Wei, carrying a washbasin, deliberately chose a spot closest to the group and squatted down. While slowly washing clothes, she spoke in a seemingly casual tone.

"Hey, ladies, do you know what? I saw it with my own eyes at the hospital—"

Several military wives immediately perked up their ears.

Bai Wei lowered her voice, her face radiating an air of superiority as if she were an insider: "That Shen Tang, the one who lives in Commander Mu's compound, she goes to the hospital every day and massages Commander Mu behind closed doors! And it's always his legs! A young girl, neither a doctor nor a nurse, touching a man's legs every day, what kind of nonsense is that?"

"Really?" A military wife asked, her eyes wide.

"Why would I lie to you? I'm a nurse at the hospital, I'm on duty on that floor every day, I saw everything clearly!" Bai Wei said confidently. "And she not only gives massages, she also brings food to Commander Mu every day! Three meals a day, with different dishes each time! Think about it, what does a stranger who's only been here a few days get out of being so attentive to a man?"

"What's the point? It's obvious!" Zhang Cuihua, who had somehow appeared nearby, cracked sunflower seeds, her eyes shining as if she'd discovered a new continent. "Although Commander Mu's leg is crippled, I've heard he's the eldest son of the Mu family in Beijing! His family is powerful and influential! This Shen Tang is just a penniless country bumpkin; what else could he be after but a high-ranking official?"

"Wasn't it said that Shen Tang was just rescued from the countryside and was kicked out by her family to be married off in place of Mu's wife because she was not favored? Her family shouldn't know about Commander Mu's family affairs, right? If they really knew, would she have been chosen?"

"That's not necessarily true," Bai Wei pouted. "Does she mean she doesn't know? The two families have arranged a marriage between their children; how could they not know each other's background? I bet there's something wrong with the Shen family's adopted daughter, and the Shen family is reluctant to give up this good match, so they sent Shen Tang instead. They're not stupid!"

"You mean the Shen family knew? Didn't they even sign some kind of severance agreement?"

"Are you stupid? Blood ties can never be completely severed; even if you break bones, the tendons are still connected..." Zhang Cuihua clicked her tongue. "Given Commander Mu's condition, his legs aren't good either, and it's said that he's also... If she didn't know about the Mu family's affairs, why would a young woman like her not mind and instead go around courting them every day? What else could she be after but money and power?"

A military wife who was usually close to Zhang Cuihua chimed in, "Look at her when she first arrived, all pitiful, saying she had nowhere to go. Turns out she was just playing the victim here, hoping Commander Mu would soften her heart! This woman is too cunning!"

"Exactly! A young woman living in a single man's yard, going to the hospital for massages behind closed doors every day—it sounds awful if word gets out!"