However, those girls had only dared to hint at their feelings or had their families approach him on their behalf.
Never once had there been someone as direct as Fang Manping, who openly confessed her feelings to him.
But…
After the initial shock, Li Tingxuan quickly regained his composure and calmly replied, “Comrade Fang, thank you for your affection.”
“I truly appreciate your feelings for me and your honesty in telling me.”
Li Tingxuan didn’t consider Fang Manping’s confession to be improper or shameless in any way.
If you like someone, you should say it.
“Comrade Fang, you are a brave and passionate young woman, and a good one at that.”
He admired Fang Manping’s courage and fiery spirit.
But…
“However, Comrade Fang, I’m sorry to say that I don’t share those kinds of feelings for you, so…”
Fang Manping’s eyes had initially lit up when she heard Li Tingxuan’s praise, thinking she might still have a chance.
But then his words took a sharp turn, sending her emotions plummeting.
Her heart sank to the depths, shattering into countless pieces.
“Can’t you really consider… being in a relationship with me?”
Fang Manping’s voice was pleading, her eyes reddening as tears began to fall.
“Maybe… maybe once we’re together, you’ll come to see my good qualities?”
“I—I might not be perfect, but I do have strengths. If there’s anything about me you don’t like, you can point it out, and I’ll change. I’ll change…”
Her voice choked with sobs, making her words nearly incoherent.
She looked utterly lost.
At that moment, Li Tingxuan took out a handkerchief and handed it to Fang Manping.
His tone remained gentle. “Comrade Fang, there’s nothing wrong with you, and there’s nothing you need to change.”
“Remember, you are who you are. Unless you yourself want to improve and grow, never force yourself to change for someone else.”
“And never let love make you feel small.”
“I believe that in the future, you will become an even better version of yourself.”
“And that better you may meet someone who cherishes you wholeheartedly, someone who will love and protect you for a lifetime. It’s just…”
“It’s just that person can’t be you, right?” Fang Manping finished his sentence.
Li Tingxuan nodded and gently placed the handkerchief in her hand.
“Comrade Fang, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now. I still need to report to the military district.”
“I wish you all the best in the future.”
With that, Li Tingxuan gave her a nod, got into his car, and drove away.
Fang Manping could only watch as the car grew smaller in the distance.
Clutching the plain white handkerchief he had given her, she replayed his words in her mind.
“Li Tingxuan, you’re always so kind…”
Even his rejection was delivered with such gentleness.
In truth, Fang Manping knew she wasn’t that good or brave.
She was aware that while she hadn’t done anything truly terrible, she had committed her share of petty misdeeds.
She knew there were shadows in her heart.
But Li Tingxuan still thought well of her.
As the car disappeared from view, Fang Manping’s gaze gradually grew resolute.
Truthfully, she had already anticipated his rejection before coming here.
It was just…
Even after being rejected, Fang Manping was unwilling to give up.
But she had no intention of resorting to extreme measures to pester Li Tingxuan.
Since Li Tingxuan thought so highly of her, then…
She would strive to become even better. Fang Manping thought that if she improved herself, maybe—just maybe—there would be a sliver of a chance that Li Tingxuan might come to like her in the future?
Even the faintest glimmer of hope was worth fighting for!
…
That day, Gu Jianing took the car to the Hua residence as usual to treat Hua Zhenrong.
In just two more days, his treatment would be fully completed.
After the session, Hua Zhenrong escorted her out. As he was seeing her off to the car, his sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a figure in the distance.
If it weren’t for Hua Zhenrong’s background as a scout, he might not have noticed.
Li Tingxuan, seemingly out for a casual stroll, was actually observing them—or more accurately, watching Gu Jianing.
Hua Zhenrong frowned slightly.
Ever since he had regained consciousness, he had been the one personally receiving and sending off Gu Jianing at the Hua residence.
And more than once, he had spotted Li Tingxuan nearby.
At first, he had dismissed it as coincidence, but when coincidences piled up, they ceased to be coincidental.
Li Tingxuan kept his distance, yet Hua Zhenrong could tell—his gaze was fixed on Gu Jianing.
And that look in his eyes…
Could it be that Li Tingxuan had feelings for his sister-in-law, Gu Jianing?
Before, Hua Zhenrong had assumed it was accidental and hadn’t mentioned it to his sworn brother, not wanting to stir up unnecessary trouble.
“No, I should still tell Ze Xi.” After all, he had heard that Li Tingxuan would soon be transferred to the Northwest Military District.
With that thought, Hua Zhenrong turned and headed back inside to make a call.
Meanwhile, Li Tingxuan watched Gu Jianing’s retreating figure, suppressing the urge to approach and speak to her.
But when he noticed Hua Zhenrong’s expression, his brows furrowed slightly.
Had Hua Zhenrong noticed something?
Truthfully, ever since making his decision, Li Tingxuan had resolved to keep his distance from Gu Jianing and avoid any intentional contact.
Yet, over the past few mornings, he had unexpectedly run into her—purely by chance.
The irony of it left him both amused and bitter.
Perhaps even coincidental encounters should be avoided from now on. He didn’t want Gu Jianing to be misunderstood by anyone.
With one last deep glance at her fading silhouette, Li Tingxuan turned and walked away.
Back at the Hua residence, Hua Zhenrong checked the time and dialed Sheng Zexi’s number.
When Sheng Zexi heard that there was a call from the communications office, he initially thought it was from his wife—only to find out it was Hua Zhenrong.
“Why are you calling? Did something happen to my wife?” That was the only reason Sheng Zexi could think of.
Hua Zhenrong gritted his teeth at his words. “Sheng Zexi, ever since you got married, you’ve turned into a complete wife-devotee. Every word out of your mouth is about her.”
On the other end of the line, Sheng Zexi fired back without hesitation, “If you married someone as capable and beautiful as my wife, wouldn’t you keep her in your thoughts every second?”
Hua Zhenrong considered it and had to admit—he probably would.
But then Sheng Zexi added, “Then again, you’d never find someone like her. My wife is the best. At most, you might end up with someone slightly inferior.”
Hua Zhenrong: “Sheng Zexi, you—!”
Some things never changed—this guy still couldn’t resist a jab.
“Do you talk to your wife like this too?”
“Of course not.” With his wife, it was all sweet nothings.
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