Chapter 204: Stopping the Car

Previously, Li Tingxuan had wanted to transfer to the Northwest Military District—not because he was afraid of taking on this mission, but because he wanted to find the doctor from his dreams, Gu Jianing.

He just hadn’t expected that he would actually find Gu Jianing, only to discover that she was already married.

Li Tingxuan thought, in that case, there was no longer any need for him to transfer to the Northwest Military District.

He didn’t want to disturb Gu Jianing’s life.

He just wanted to quietly watch over her from afar.

But…

It was a little too late.

His application to transfer to the Northwest Military District had already been approved.

He had to go.

Li Tingxuan thought, well, he’d just go. After a year, he could apply to transfer back, or maybe to another place.

It’s just that…

When he was in the Northwest Military District, he’d have to restrain himself.

That night, Li Tingxuan was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly startled awake by the faint sound of a cat’s shrill cry.

He immediately sat up, but when he listened carefully, he heard nothing.

After a long while, Li Tingxuan finally drifted back to sleep.

At that moment, in the room next to his, Li Shuyao sat under the cold, pale light, her face set and a little ashen.

She was gripping the cat that had scratched her earlier that day, a cold and sinister smile on her lips. “You little beast, I’m your owner, and you dare scratch me? You’re really out of line. If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll never know you’re wrong…”

And then there was Li Tingxuan, and the old man…

Thinking of those two, Li Shuyao’s eyes grew even darker.

—

The next morning, while eating breakfast, Li Tingxuan saw the cat lying obediently at Li Shuyao’s feet, looking perfectly fine.

“Brother, why are you looking at my cat? Do you want to keep it?” Li Shuyao, also eating breakfast, noticed Li Tingxuan’s gaze and couldn’t help but ask.

Li Tingxuan shook his head, his eyes falling on her bandaged hand. “Take care of that injury. Don’t get it wet.”

Li Shuyao snorted coldly and didn’t reply.

Li Tingxuan didn’t say anything else. After finishing his meal, he put down his chopsticks, got up, and left the Li house.

As the car drove out of the compound, someone suddenly appeared in front of the vehicle. The driver braked abruptly, catching Li Tingxuan off guard and making him lurch forward.

“What’s going on?” Li Tingxuan asked.

“Commander Li, there’s a young lady blocking the car.”

Soon, Li Tingxuan saw the girl walk up to the window and knock.

Squinting, Li Tingxuan recognized her, thanks to his good memory.

He rolled down the window. “Comrade Fang, do you realize how dangerous your behavior just was?” Li Tingxuan’s tone and expression were a bit stern.

If the driver hadn’t braked in time, she could have been hit.

Outside the car stood Fang Manping.

Fang Manping knew her actions had been dangerous. The car had stopped less than half a meter from her.

To be honest, she was scared—her heart was still pounding wildly.

But she had to stop Li Tingxuan. She had to find a chance to talk to him. Otherwise, once he left for the Northwest Military District, it would be even harder to find or see him.

“Brother Li, could you get out of the car? I want to talk to you alone,” Fang Manping pleaded, her eyes full of hope.

Li Tingxuan’s handsome brows furrowed slightly. “Comrade Fang, if you have something to say, just say it.”

He didn’t feel there was any need for a private conversation with Fang Manping.

After all, he wasn’t close to her.

He only knew her because he’d seen her around his sister from time to time.

His sister had mentioned her occasionally, so he remembered her. That was all.

He really couldn’t think of anything he needed to discuss with Comrade Fang.

“Brother Li, please, I really have something important to say. Just give me a little time, I promise I won’t hold you up for long.” Fang Manping pleaded again.

Li Tingxuan thought for a moment. In the end, considering she was his sister’s friend, he got out of the car.

He and Fang Manping walked to a quiet corner, with the driver waiting nearby to avoid any misunderstandings.

Fang Manping glanced at the driver, who had his back to them, bit her lip, but said nothing.

“Comrade Fang, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Fang Manping looked up, wanting to meet Li Tingxuan’s eyes, but she didn’t quite dare—she was timid.

To Fang Manping, Li Tingxuan was too dazzling; she didn’t even dare look at him directly.

Remembering why she’d come today, she clenched her fists and finally spoke: “Brother Li, I heard you’re transferring to the Northwest Military District?”

Li Tingxuan frowned. How did she know?

“It—it was Yao Yao who told me.”

Li Tingxuan pressed his lips together. Looks like he’d have to talk to Yao Yao—some things shouldn’t be casually told to others.

Although his transfer wasn’t a secret, it wasn’t something to be spread around either.

“Yes.” Since Fang Manping already knew, Li Tingxuan didn’t deny it.

Li Tingxuan’s straightforward answer reassured Fang Manping that she’d come at the right time.

She was afraid that if she waited any longer, Li Tingxuan would leave for the Northwest Military District, and then how would she find him? Was she supposed to go all the way there?

Fang Manping felt that if she couldn’t seize the chance to be with Li Tingxuan while he was still in the capital, she’d have even less of a chance once he left.

So, no matter how nervous or hesitant she’d been for days, she’d come.

Now, facing Li Tingxuan, Fang Manping clenched her hands and finally summoned her courage. “Brother Li, do you remember the first time we met? Back then…”

Fang Manping recounted how Li Tingxuan had saved her.

As she recalled that moment, her heart filled with sweetness and nostalgia, and her expression softened.

As for Li Tingxuan…

Listening to Fang Manping, he did remember.

But…

Could he admit that, at the time, he’d just helped out without even seeing whether he’d saved a man or a woman?

At that moment, Fang Manping looked up at him, her eyes burning with intensity. “Brother Li, do you know? From that moment on, I liked you.”

“Brother Li, how do you feel about me? Would you… would you be willing to date me?”

Fang Manping finally summoned the courage to say what she’d kept hidden in her heart for years.

No one knew how much courage it took, but she knew that if she didn’t say it now, she’d never have another chance.

Li Tingxuan was stunned by Fang Manping’s sudden confession.

He never expected that she’d stopped him just to confess her feelings.

In fact, as the outstanding heir of the Li family, Li Tingxuan had always attracted plenty of admirers.

Li Tingxuan was written as the devoted second male lead—he belonged to everyone, but not to the heroine."