At first glance, Bao Shanyan thought this man resembled Wen Zhuqing.
Both had that gentle, refined air about them.
But upon closer inspection, the resemblance faded.
Comparing Wen Zhuqing to this soldier would be an outright insult to the latter.
Though both carried a gentle demeanor, the soldier’s warmth seemed innate, radiating from within—natural, comforting, and inviting. Wen Zhuqing’s gentleness, on the other hand, was a facade, a carefully constructed mask.
Moreover, the soldier was far more handsome than Wen Zhuqing.
Bao Shanyan thought to herself, had this soldier appeared in her life earlier, she would never have given Wen Zhuqing a second glance.
She wouldn’t have fallen into the wretched state she was in now, all because of that venomous snake.
Meanwhile, the soldier—Li Tingxuan—was administering first aid to Qin’s father.
The train conductor, alerted to the situation, immediately halted the train and contacted the nearest hospital.
Thanks to Li Tingxuan’s efforts, Old Man Qin gradually regained consciousness.
The moment he awoke and saw that his savior was a soldier, Qin’s father clutched at his sleeve desperately, as though grasping at a lifeline.
“Comrade Soldier, you must save me! The one trying to kill me—it has to be that bastard Wen Zhuqing!”
“Please, I beg you, you must save me!”
The conductor arranged for Qin’s father to be taken to a nearby hospital. The man who had knocked him down had long since fled, vanishing without a trace.
Qin’s father refused to let Li Tingxuan leave, insisting that he accompany him to the hospital.
At this moment, Qin’s father trusted no one but the soldier who had saved him.
“Alright, I’ll go with you,” Li Tingxuan agreed with a nod.
As it happened, he was on his way to the capital to visit relatives and had no urgent business.
He understood Qin’s father’s mindset. Given his military status and the fact that he’d just saved the man, it was natural for Qin’s father to cling to him as a lifeline.
Soon, Li Tingxuan accompanied Qin’s father to the hospital.
Bao Shanyan, of course, followed with Xiaolang in tow.
The doctor’s diagnosis came quickly.
The person who had knocked Qin’s father down seemed to have injected something into his body. Given Old Man Qin’s already precarious health—teetering on the edge of death—he would have died had Li Tingxuan not intervened.
“It’s Wen Zhuqing—it has to be him!” Qin’s father spat, his voice thick with certainty. “He must have found out we were heading to the capital to expose him, so he sent someone to kill me!”
No one else could be so ruthlessly cruel.
Bao Shanyan shuddered, holding Xiaolang tightly.
If Wen Zhuqing dared to harm Qin’s father so brazenly, then she and Xiaolang were in danger too.
Wen Zhuqing had to die—but how could they ensure his downfall?
Qin’s father gripped Li Tingxuan’s arm, pleading, “Comrade Soldier, I beg you, you must help me!”
Qin’s father had a sharp eye.
He could tell at a glance that this soldier held a high rank.
His accent marked him as someone from the capital—likely a high-ranking cadre’s son from a prominent family.
Perhaps he could help.
Li Tingxuan pressed his lips together, silent for a moment. “Old Comrade, you could report this to the police. When the officers arrive, you can tell them everything.”
He was reluctant to get involved in such matters.
Just then, Bao Shanyan suddenly spoke up.
“Uncle Qin, we can ask Gu Jianing for help in the capital!”
“Yes, Gu Jianing!”
“Given her status now, and her husband being a soldier too—and given that Gu Jianing has a grudge against Wen Zhuqing—they’ll surely help us!”
Gu Jianing?
Li Tingxuan’s previously calm eyes flickered, his fingers trembling imperceptibly.
Gu Jianing—was this the Gu Jianing he knew?
How long had it been since he last heard her name?
It hadn’t been that long, really.
After all, he occasionally saw Gu Jianing in the news, receiving commendations.
Over the past few years, Li Tingxuan had been trying to let go of his feelings for Gu Jianing.
Because he knew that he and Gu Jianing were impossible.
But just as he was about to move on, he would inevitably hear news about her—how she had grown even more outstanding, how her life was flourishing.
Still, it had been over three years since they last met.
Back then, she had been heavily pregnant.
Now, the child must have been born.
Were she and her husband currently in the capital?
Had Sheng Zexi been reassigned to Beijing, and had she followed him there as a military spouse?
If so… would there be a chance to see her during this trip to the capital?
But…
Li Tingxuan pushed those thoughts aside for now. First, he needed to confirm whether the “Gu Jianing” this woman mentioned was the one he knew.
And was that man, Wen Zhuqing, someone who intended to harm Gu Jianing?
He turned to Qin’s father and Bao Shanyan and said, “Could you explain the situation in detail? And who is this Gu Jianing you mentioned?”
Soon, Qin’s father and Bao Shanyan took turns recounting the story.
Li Tingxuan quickly pieced it together.
So, there was a man named Wen Zhuqing.
Years ago, he had been sent to the countryside—specifically, to Gu Jianing’s hometown, Huaihua Village.
Later, he committed crimes and was sent to a labor camp.
But he abandoned his wife and child, poisoned his father-in-law, and now, fearing exposure, had even hired someone to commit murder.
Truly despicable.
And this man was now in the capital.
What’s more, he seemed to have some grudge against Gu Jianing.
“Alright, I’ll help you with this matter,” Li Tingxuan said.
Perhaps this trip would give him a reason to see Gu Jianing—or Sheng Zexi—and inform them about this.
He would never allow anyone to harm Gu Jianing.
For now, Li Tingxuan helped Qin’s father report the incident to the police—there was no avoiding it.
Soon, officers arrived.
Not long after, news came from the police station.
The man who had knocked Qin’s father down and injected him with something had been caught.
Originally, the assailant had already disembarked at the next station.
Given the crowded platform, catching him should have been nearly impossible.
But luck was not on his side.
In his haste to flee, he accidentally bumped into an elderly woman.
Her two sons happened to be standing right beside her.
Seeing the man try to rush off after knocking their mother down, they immediately seized him, sparking an argument that nearly turned physical.
This altercation bought the police enough time to apprehend him.
“After interrogation, we learned he was hired by a man named Zhang Yutang,” the officer explained. “Based on your account, this ‘Zhang Yutang’ is likely Wen Zhuqing, who has assumed a false identity.”
“Since Zhang Yutang is currently in Beijing, we’ll contact the Beijing Public Security Bureau and relay the details. As for how they handle it, we recommend you follow up with them directly once you arrive in the capital.”
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