Chapter 64: Engagement

  In the golden October, the maple leaves on Xiangshan Mountain were dyed red by the autumn wind, sandwiched in the green forest, like a magnificent oil painting.

  Today is the 58th birthday of Commander-in-Chief Cheng Mingxuan, although it's not a whole number birthday, but there are still many people coming to celebrate his birthday, most of them are military personnel - from generals to lieutenants, for a time, the guests filled the hall, lively and extraordinary.

  Cheng Mingxuan sat with several generals of the same rank on the sofa in the side hall, discussing important state affairs. General Cheng had a robust physique, straight waist, loud voice, and his eyes were even more brilliant and introspective, exuding wisdom, majesty and dignity. Because he took good care of himself, at the age of fifty-eight, he looked like he was just over fifty years old.

  Next to Cheng Mingxuan sat a boy who looked similar to him, wearing a short-sleeved white shirt and suspenders, with a slicked-back part in his hair, looking like he was thirteen or fourteen years old. His expression was deep and introverted, and at a glance, you could tell that this child was the premature type.

  Cheng Mingxuan's gaze fell on the boy, and he let out a very subtle sigh. He was still an unknown regimental commander during the self-defense counterattack war, but after the 1984 Laoshan campaign where he led by example and won fame in one battle, his career path became smooth, and he rose to his current position in one step.

  Add to that the trusted old subordinates he has scattered all over the country for decades, with complex backgrounds and intertwined relationships. With such power, if placed in ancient times, it would be considered a dominant force in the imperial court.

  Only below the knee is desolate, only this one child, although the heart is deep and profound, but absolutely not a material for being a soldier.

  Seeing his expression fell, the guests thought he was tired and politely stood up to bid farewell, leaving only Wang Boan, who had a close relationship with Cheng Mingxuan.

  This Wang Boan was also a general at headquarters, but far from the prestige and status of Cheng Mingxuan. The two were originally comrades-in-arms who enlisted in the same year, and before the Battle of Self-Defense Against Counterattack, they had always been on an equal footing. However, after Cheng Mingxuan gained fame in the Battle of Lao Mountain, their positions in the military became differentiated, with Wang Boan becoming a subordinate who had to ask for instructions from Cheng Mingxuan on all matters as Cheng's prestige grew day by day.

  Wang Bo'an leaned forward slightly and asked in a low voice, "It's your birthday today, didn't Xiao Huan call to congratulate you?"

  Cheng Mingxuan smiled wryly, his eyes unconsciously gazing out the door, feeling a little sentimental, a little excited, and a bit restless. At this moment, he was no longer the intimidating leader, but a father eagerly awaiting his son's return home. "He hasn't recognized me as his father for a long time, it's been twelve years, when did he ever call me?" He patted his younger son Cheng Yan who was sitting beside him: "Go find your friends to play."

  As Cheng Yan walked out of the side hall, Wang Boan glanced at Cheng Mingxuan's profile, seeming to want to say something but hesitating. After a long while, he finally asked, "I heard that he has submitted a love report."

  "Oh?" Cheng Mingxuan straightened his back in an instant: "Love? With whom?"

  "Hey!" Wang Boan let out a deep sigh: "A little girl, I don't know where she came from. I had someone investigate, and it turns out she's the daughter of a former diplomat. Now she's serving as an intelligence officer in the Cheetah Unit. It's said that Xiao Hua was the one who brought her in." As he spoke, he pulled out a photo and a printed document from his briefcase and placed them in front of Cheng Mingxuan.

  Cheng Mingxuan didn't go to pick up the information, he glanced at Wang Boan with a slanted eye. So-called letting someone investigate, it was nothing more than Wang Boan using the intelligence network of the General Staff Department 2 to use the intelligence network to check on a little girl who didn't pose too much of a threat, which made him somewhat disapproving in his heart. But——it was also understandable.

  He didn't speak, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the sofa. As a military man by origin, in his concept, boys need to be trained, tempered and suppressed to make something of themselves; overindulgence would only ruin them.

  So the eldest son, Cheng Hao, began to receive strict military training at the age of five and excelled in it, making his father proud. He never interfered with anything Cheng Hao did because from the time Cheng Hao was old enough to understand things, he realized that he had no ability to interfere, which led to Cheng Hao developing a personality that was arrogant, unyielding, cold-blooded, dangerous, and ferocious. This even led him to announce twelve years ago on a day that could not be recalled, his decision to cut off all ties with his father, even changing his surname...

  Wang Bo's slightly hoarse voice struck his heart through the eardrum: "Chun Yao has been waiting to be your bride since she was 18 years old. Even if there are some unsolved problems between you and your father, it can't delay Chun Yao's whole life, can it? She has already waited for a full twelve years. I'm really worried that one day I'll suddenly die and won't be able to close my eyes in peace. Old brother, Chun Yao is still waiting for you to fulfill her!"

  "Don't say that! When we first arranged the marriage, Xiao Hua had just received his admission notice from military school, and his biological mother was still alive. Now... now everything is different. He doesn't even recognize me as his father, how could he acknowledge this political marriage that wasn't his intention? I don't know why you're so insistent on this matter - now I understand. But my son, I'm at a loss for what to do with him, you understand?" Cheng Mingxuan's words were laced with the calmness and cunning that came from experiencing many trials and tribulations, and Wang Boan felt his heart sink like iron upon hearing them.

  Wang Bo let out a long sigh and stood up: "In that case, I'll have to think of something myself. Older brother, I'm leaving first."

  Cheng Mingxuan also stood up, patted Wang Bo'an's shoulder and invited him to stay: "If we can't be relatives by marriage, can't we even have a meal together? It's rare that I'm having a birthday today, let's have dinner together before you go back."

  Wang Bo'an said coldly: "No, let Chunyao come and wish you a happy birthday later."

  As he watched Wang Boan walk away, Cheng Mingxuan poured himself a glass of red wine and sat down on the sofa with it. He picked up the materials and photo that Wang Boan had handed him and examined them closely. The girl in the photo had a pair of clear eyes as warm as water. "Love?" A cold smile played on his lips. He was known as a ruthless hero, and being heartless was his guiding principle. Apart from his son who could inherit his legacy, he didn't care about anyone else.

  Cheng Mingxuan tossed the photo onto the coffee table, leaned back and took a deep breath of the slightly cool air, his expression gradually turning stern and icy: "Shenchang, go figure out what this girl's purpose is."

  "I understand." The young soldier who had been standing motionless in the shadow of the side hall responded with a low voice, his face expressionless as he retreated.

  ……

  In the late afternoon, a elegant and beautiful woman came to the Cheng's house, wearing high-end handmade suits, looking like a female boss, with a hint of submissiveness in her eyes, she was that kind of mature woman who could make men fall for her - capable, gentle, elegant and refined.

  "Qin Yi." The woman slightly bowed. Her perfect, slender figure was subtly visible under the suit, and the knee-length skirt further accentuated her proportionate leg lines, this woman was exquisite in every detail.

  Madam Cheng Qin Fangyi was directing the servants in the front hall to move various longevity gifts, as soon as she saw her face, she immediately came forward warmly and held her hand, "Chun Yao, why did you just come? Your favorite lotus chicken shreds and jade shrimp have been kept for you all along, be sure to eat dinner before leaving."

  Wang Chunyao smiled and chatted with Qin Fangyi, but in her heart, she looked down on this woman 120 million times. If it weren't for giving birth to a illegitimate child and driving the original wife of Cheng Mingxuan to death, how could she have had the good fortune to marry into the Cheng family? However, her lowly origins made Qin Fangyi unable to show off the prestige of an official's wife, even if she could fly high, she didn't have the ability or the wrist.

  Cheng Ya, the second son of the Cheng family, stood coldly at the entrance of the front hall. His gaze swept over him, and Wang Chunyao, with her dense thoughts and clear temperament, couldn't help but smile to herself. This was a very awkward young man - sensitive, fragile, aloof, selfish, overbearing, tyrannical, self-righteous, arrogant, and cold-hearted. Compared to his older brother who always had a large group of followers wherever he went, Cheng Ya was really unimpressive and lacked grandeur.

  But she also knew that once she married into the Cheng family and became a daughter-in-law, due to the existence of this little illegitimate child, there would inevitably be an unavoidable struggle between her and Qin Fangyi. Qin Fangyi, who had grown accustomed to the luxurious life in high society, would not return to her own ordinary world no matter what, and in order to maintain all of this, she must stand up for herself and fight for the immediate interests of herself and her son.

  "Thank you, Aunt Qin." Wang Chunyao smiled at Cheng Yan without thinking much of it and nodded slightly to Qin Fangyi, "I'll go wish Uncle Cheng a happy birthday first."

  "Go ahead." Qin Fangyi smiled and looked at the predetermined daughter-in-law of the Cheng family, walking elegantly towards the side hall.

  After some polite conversation, Wang Chunyao responded to the silence in a timely manner. Cheng Mingxuan liked women who could be both gentle and charming in private gatherings, but also extremely capable when handling official business. As a result, for twelve years she had been demanding this standard of herself, which had already made her lose her original self.

  "Afternoon, your dad came over and mentioned you. Chunyao, you're already thirty years old, don't wait any longer." Cheng Mingxuan's face was obscured by the dim light, his expression seemed somewhat gloomy, but his tone was gentle.

  Wang Chunyao tightly grasped the teacup, a bitter smile. Hasn't she waited long enough? She has loved him for twelve years now, her heart beating only for him, not just because of his extraordinary good looks and dignified demeanor, but also because of those deep, dark eyes that have driven her to madness, emitting intense flames in the midst of extreme coldness, as well as that fiery passion and icy calmness and clarity of mind. That man who was like both ice and fire was untouchable, yet he had a fatal attraction that lured people's hearts.

  But for twelve years he has ignored her and treated her as if she were nothing, now another woman appears and she feels like her heart is going to break.

  She didn't speak, and Cheng Mingxuan broke the silence. "You have to understand, I also can't grasp him. I've watched him grow up, and apart from being amazed at what he does, I've never been able to grasp his true thoughts. I can only try to figure out his ideas by observing his actions. Originally, this is something I wouldn't say to others, but child, I really don't want to see you waste another twelve years."

  "Cheng Shu, I will wait, because he must marry me. No matter how many women he has outside, his wife can only be me! Wang Chunyao lowered her head, but the words she spoke were extremely firm. "My father has already arranged for me to transfer to the C Military Region as a staff officer in two days. I will let him know who is the one he really needs."

  Cheng Mingxuan's discerning gaze fell on her lowered face, "Let him know? What a big tone!" He couldn't help but think: "If he wanted to know, he would have known 12 years ago. Why wait until now when his wings are full to think of this relationship?" But he said nothing, just nodded and downed the red wine in his cup, "Then I'll wish you good luck."