Chapter 80: Not Only Blind but Also Oblivious

“Halt!”

“Password!”

The firm and clear loud voice not only startled Shen Yi’an but also visibly frightened the four members of the Song family.

The first to regain composure was Song Chaoxu.

After all, he had participated in military enlistment selection, so his reactions were naturally quicker than others’.

Seeing the sentry holding a steel rifle in a vigilant stance, he didn’t approach but instead stood about ten steps away to respond.

“Hello, comrade. My name is Song Chaoxu.”

“I’m here to see Li Beichen. Could you please help notify him?”

After speaking, he pointed toward Shen Yi’an not far away.

“We came together. Her husband is also at the base.”

“If possible, could you help notify him as well?”

After stating their purpose, he waved to those behind him.

“Comrade Shen, tell them who you’re looking for.”

“The sentry comrade will help notify them.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an knew that what was bound to come had arrived.

But what could she do? They were looking for the same person, and this scene before them was simply unavoidable.

Without hesitation, she comforted Chen Rongying and then walked over to stand beside Song Chaoxu. “Soldier comrade, I’m also looking for Li Beichen.”

“You just need to tell him his fiancée is here.”

As soon as these words were spoken, not only the sentry was shocked, but the entire stunned Song family as well.

Yet the first to respond was the sentry, his gaze toward Shen Yi’an filled with suspicion.

“Comrade, think carefully—did you get the name wrong?”

“There is someone named Li Beichen at our base, but he’s single. He doesn’t even have a girlfriend, let alone a fiancée.”

“If you’re providing false information, even as a civilian, you’ll be held legally responsible.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an showed not the slightest concern; instead, a smile appeared on her face. “Soldier comrade, I’m not joking with you.”

“Whether I’m his fiancée or not, won’t it be clear once Li Beichen comes out?”

To add credibility, she added two more sentences: “If I’m lying, I’m certainly willing to bear legal responsibility.”

“So, can you help notify him now?”

Seeing her expression didn’t seem deceitful, the sentry withdrew his scrutinizing gaze.

Although he agreed to relay the message, his actions—taking a step and then looking back—were rather amusing.

Finally entering the guard post, his hand trembled several times as he picked up the landline.

“This is the guard post. Please connect me to the Falcon Flight Squadron…”

The guard post was built with special glass, achieving complete sound isolation.

Thus, no one could hear what the sentry said on the phone.

But this didn’t lessen the shock felt by Song Chaoxu and Chen Rongying at that moment.

“Comrade… Comrade Shen, are you really Fourth Brother’s fiancée?”

As he asked this question, Song Chaoxu felt as if he were floating on clouds.

To stay clear-headed, he even bit his tongue hard to maintain focus.

“But how come we never heard about this?”

“Could it have happened after we left Jingshi?”

Hearing this, Chen Rongying was the first to slap his arm.

“Are you still dreaming?”

“When did we leave Jingshi? And what time is it now?”

Glaring at Song Chaoxu, she immediately grasped Shen Yi’an’s wrist.

“Comrade Shen, have you really gotten engaged to that boy Beichen?”

“No, how could someone as wonderful as you take a liking to him?”

“That young man may seem cheerful and smiling on the surface, but he’s actually quite aloof at heart.”

“Finding someone as warm-hearted as you—I’d say he must have accumulated eight lifetimes of good fortune.”

Noticing Song Chaoxu’s distracted expression and Chen Rongying’s enthusiastic demeanor, Shen Yi’an smiled and countered, “Aren’t you worried that I might be lying?”

“We’ve been walking together for a while, and your conversations haven’t been private.”

“Aren’t you concerned I might be taking advantage of overhearing your discussions to deliberately cozy up to you?”

Hearing this, Song Chaoxu and Chen Rongying did freeze momentarily.

But as soon as they regained their composure, they immediately dismissed the possibility.

“What you described could indeed happen, but we don’t believe it’s true in your case.”

It was Chen Rongying who spoke these words.

“Although we just met on the train, the experiences we’ve shared have been anything but ordinary.”

“Setting everything else aside, the fact that you single-handedly dealt with the female boss of the human traffickers and even got injured in the process proves you’re a brave and meticulous comrade.”

“If someone like you would resort to petty tricks to gain favor, then our decades of life experience would count for nothing.”

“In that case, what more is there to say?”

Agreeing with his wife, Song Chaoxu promptly added a couple of points.

“She’s absolutely right.”

“Comrade Shen, you might not know this, but I used to work in market regulation.”

“Though I was just a minor official, my judgment of character has never failed me.”

As he spoke, he pointed two fingers toward his own eyes.

“You dared to take the risk of reporting your findings to the train conductor—that shows you have a strong sense of social responsibility.”

“Then you remained calm and composed during that kid Bei Zhao’s interrogation, which proves you’re both courageous and resourceful.”

“And that’s not all—you even risked your own safety to confront the female boss of the human traffickers.”

“With such boldness and determination, if we still couldn’t see your true character, it would mean we’re not just poor judges—we’d be blind.”

Faced with their heartfelt praise, Shen Yi’an felt somewhat embarrassed.

The compliments were just too direct!

Although everything they said was true, being praised so openly felt rather awkward.

Waiting until her bashful expression faded, she finally looked at the couple before her.

“Comrade Song, Comrade Chen, you’re exaggerating a bit.”

“I’m not as remarkable as you say—at most, I’m just a little brave.”

After a brief pause, she continued, “Besides, if others encountered similar situations, they might handle it even better than I did.”

“Not necessarily!” Song Chaoxu waved his hand dismissively.

“While there are many good people, those with both intelligence and courage are rare.”

“Comrade Shen, you’re the first person we’ve met who possesses both.”

Just as Shen Yi’an was about to respond, she was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Song Yao.

“Auntie, please don’t refuse anymore!”

“When I escaped from those people and ran all that way, I did come across what you’d call good folks.”

“But as soon as they heard human traffickers were chasing me, they immediately gave up on helping.”

“Some even pushed me back—so hard it felt like they were shoving me right into the traffickers’ hands.”

Recalling her harrowing escape, the light in Song Yao’s eyes flickered uncertainly before finally settling into a strange calm.

“You were the only one, Auntie!”

“You’re the only one who, upon first seeing me, asked nothing and chose to hide me under the hospital bed.”

“When those human traffickers chased into the ward, you rushed out to buy me time, not even caring about the baby in your belly.”

By the end of the sentence, his voice clearly carried a sob.

“Auntie, you’re a good person!”

“Even if you weren’t Uncle Li’s fiancée, I’d still ask Mom and Dad to protect you.”

“You saved me and have been so kind to my sister. In my heart, you’re the most amazing person ever!”

As the last word fell, he lifted his sleeve and wiped his tears fiercely.

Then he stared intently at Shen Yi’an, as if willing her to feel his determination.

When Song Chaoxu and Chen Rongying kept praising her, Shen Yi’an only felt slightly awkward—she rarely received such effusive praise from someone she hadn’t known for long.

But when it came from eight-year-old Song Yao, what she felt was an indescribable tenderness.

Her eyes grew sore and swollen, with a choked-up helplessness. “Turns out you’re quite the sensitive little one!”

While saying this, she reached out to ruffle Song Yao’s hair. “Saving you was instinctual—you don’t need to overthink it.”

“Thankfully, the hard days are over now, and you’re back with your parents and sister.”

“From now on, look forward—that’s where the bright future lies.”

“As for the past, you can reminisce about it slowly when you’re old.”

Some word must have triggered the “laughter” switch.

The moment Shen Yi’an finished speaking, the room erupted in waves of laughter.

Just as the atmosphere grew particularly cheerful, the sentry’s voice abruptly cut through.