Chapter 83: Abusing Power

The light passing through the glass window shone brightly behind the figure who had appeared.

A pale yellow dress fluttered gracefully with each step she took.

A faint, mixed fragrance of white peach wafted through the air, as enticing as ripe honey peaches in winter.

Her skin was nearly translucent, and her black hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders.

Paired with eyes as bright as stars, it inexplicably gave off an illusion of unattainable elegance.

Upon seeing her, Shen Yi’an’s tone turned even colder, “Comrade, who are you looking for?”

Hearing this, Wang Yadan snapped out of her daze.

But no matter how she tried to adjust, her facial expression could no longer return to its initial confidence and disdain.

She simply gave up pretending and spoke in her most genuine manner.

“I heard you’re here to see Captain Li?”

“Then I advise you to leave as soon as possible!”

“Someone like Captain Li is not someone an unknown person like you should covet.”

From just these two sentences, Shen Yi’an roughly guessed this person’s identity.

Nothing more than one of Li Beichen’s unwanted admirers!

But hearing the unfamiliar way she addressed him as “Captain Li,” she knew the two weren’t particularly close and might not have even met properly.

Feeling more assured, she replied lightly, “You mean Li Beichen, right?”

“You guessed correctly. I’m here to see him.”

Hearing Shen Yi’an admit it outright, Wang Yadan’s eyes flashed with intense jealousy.

“There are many female comrades at the base who have feelings for Captain Li, each talented and skilled.”

“There are dancers from the Cultural Troupe, communicators from the Information Section, and medical orderlies from the hospital.”

“Someone like you? No chance!”

Though she was doing her utmost to belittle the person before her, Wang Yadan knew the truth all too well.

There were indeed many at the base who admired Captain Li, and each had their own strengths.

She had never paid them any mind before, solely because she was confident in her own looks.

A pretty face always held absolute priority.

But when her proudest asset was compared to the person before her, it clearly fell short by more than a level.

It could even be described as a crushing defeat.

Men are all drawn to beauty—this she understood well.

Since her advantage in appearance no longer existed, she would use work to crush her opponent.

She might not have a job, but others who had feelings for Captain Li did.

Borrowing others’ strengths to defeat the strongest competitor—once this person before her retreated in defeat, her victory would be undeniable…

Though she lacked the ability to read minds, watching the changing expressions on the other person’s face, Shen Yi’an knew this woman was scheming.

But with a clear conscience, she had no reason to beat around the bush. “You have no right to say these things to me.”

“Whatever my purpose in coming to see him, it’s a matter between us.”

“And you—you’re neither his family member, nor, from how you address him, are you his friend.”

“A stranger showing up to meddle—I wasn’t aware the base had such customs.”

Faced with this retort, Wang Yadan flushed with anger.

“Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like this?”

“Do you even know who I am? My uncle is the Base Political Commissar, the second-in-command of the base!”

“If you don’t back off, I’ll have him throw you out of the base. Let’s see how tough you are then.”

While delivering her harsh words, she didn’t forget to plant her hands on her hips to emphasize her imposing manner.

Hearing this arrogant speech, Shen Yi’an couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. “When you abuse power outside, have you ever considered your uncle’s position?”

“Since he’s the second-in-command at the Base, it means his conduct and interpersonal skills have been recognized by senior leadership.”

“If he knew you were using his name as your protective shield outside, what do you think he would do?”

At this point, she slightly bent down to meet eyes with the person standing a head shorter than her. “Would he turn a blind eye out of consideration that you’re his wife’s niece?”

“Or would he make you face due consequences for your ignorance?”

“Hmm?”

This response, both threatening and warning, instantly drained the color from Wang Yadan’s face.

Since arriving at the Base, she had frequently used her uncle’s position as Base Political Commissar to throw her weight around.

Those she had intimidated would always avoid her whenever possible, only offering awkward greetings when completely unavoidable.

After numerous such experiences, even the aunties in the Family Compound began cozying up to her – for the simple reason that her uncle was the Base’s second-in-command.

But when her usually effective tactic was fearlessly thrown back at her by the person before her, she finally felt genuine fear.

Indeed, if her uncle discovered she was leveraging his authority to bully others, he might truly expel her from the Base, or even make her face legal consequences.

Her aunt’s pleas for mercy would likely prove useless.

Because while the Base Political Commissar acted as the amiable ‘Life Committee Member’ in daily life, he would instantly transform into a resolute Commander when work matters were involved.

The mere thought of her uncle’s expressionless stare made Wang Yadan shudder uncontrollably.

Though terrified deep down, when meeting Shen Yi’an’s eyes reflecting her own image, she instinctively retorted defiantly.

“You’re the ignorant one! Your whole family is ignorant!”

“Let me tell you, my aunt calls all the shots in my uncle’s household.”

“As long as my aunt protects me, my uncle won’t say anything at all. Stop daydreaming!”

Seeing her frantic, discomposed appearance, Shen Yi’an immediately lost interest in continuing.

Straightening up, she cast a casual glance at her. “Fine, believe what you will.”

“I hope you can maintain this confidence indefinitely.”

“You!” Wang Yadan completely lost her composure, her voice rising several decibels.

“None of your business!”

“Pack your things and get out of the Base immediately! I don’t want to see you again!”

“Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” Before she could finish her bluster, Chen Rongying opened her door, disturbed by the noise.

Seeing a stranger yelling viciously at Shen Yi’an, she quickly walked over to stand by her side.

“Comrade Shen, are you alright?”

“Who is this person? How dare she shout at you like this?”

“Does the Base Family Compound harbor mentally ill patients too?”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “I don’t know her.”

“I was resting in my room when I heard knocking. I came out and found her here.”

“She didn’t introduce herself, just started demanding I leave the Base, saying someone like me with unclear origins shouldn’t covet Captain Li.”

“I couldn’t resist chatting with her for a couple of sentences, and now she’s flying into a rage out of humiliation.”

Understanding what had happened, Chen Rongying looked at Wang Yadan with unmistakable exasperation in her eyes.

“Comrade, are you alright?”

“You said she’s of unknown background and shouldn’t be coveted, but do you know what her status is?”

After saying this, she pointed at herself.

“Let’s not talk about her identity for now – let’s discuss mine instead.”

“My husband’s family has been longtime friends with Captain Li’s family that you mentioned. Isn’t such status sufficient as in-laws?”

“I don’t have any objections to her, what right do you have as an outsider to say these things?”

“What, do you think we’re easy to bully just because we’re newcomers?”

Wang Yadan had been furious with this person ever since Chen Rongying interrupted her.

And because the interruption was so sudden, she hadn’t reacted immediately.

When she learned that the person who interrupted her was from a family with longstanding ties to Captain Li’s family, she knew things had gone wrong – she had made a very bad first impression.

She wanted to explain urgently, but couldn’t find an opportunity to interject.

Finally, when the other finished speaking, she quickly tried to defend herself with an anxious expression.

“No, it’s not what you think, comrade!”

“It’s… I, I heard someone had come looking for Captain Li and wanted to see who it was.”

“When this comrade saw me, her expression wasn’t very friendly, so I thought she was someone with ulterior motives who came knocking. In the heat of the moment, I said some unpleasant things.”

“You, this elder sister from the longtime friend family, you mustn’t just believe her one-sided account.”

“You might not know yet – some people may have flower-like appearances, but their inner thoughts aren’t necessarily the same, truly!”

Before Chen Rongying could give her most direct reaction, Song Yao, who had overheard their conversation, came running over with quick footsteps.

She spread her arms like an eagle protecting Shen Yi’an, her eyes filled with frank and clear disgust.