Chapter 97 Truth and Illusion

Noticing her momentary dazed expression, Liang Shuhe chuckled openly.

“What’s wrong, comrade? Do you disagree with what I said?”

“Feel free to voice any opinions you have.”

“As the Base Political Commissar, I certainly have the magnanimity to hear you out.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an showed a hint of embarrassment between her brows. “I have no objections, it’s just…”

It’s just that the legendary Political Commissar Liang and the real person before her eyes were completely different.

Before meeting him in person, she had assumed Political Commissar Liang would be someone who protected his own.

Now face to face, she realized how narrow and one-sided her assumptions had been.

Indeed, how could someone who became the second-in-command of the Base possibly match her imagined portrayal…

Detecting the pause in her speech, Liang Shuhe keenly sensed something amiss.

He immediately exchanged a knowing smile with Zhou Mugui.

“What’s this, young comrade? Did you think I’d discuss personal matters?”

“As the Base Political Commissar, I have plenty of official duties to attend to.”

“There’s barely enough time to handle important matters, let alone spare any for irrelevant affairs.”

After saying this, he also paused briefly.

“Since we’ve touched on this topic, I should offer Comrade Shen an apology.”

“Although I wasn’t the one who caused the trouble, the person responsible hasn’t been identified yet.”

“Until the involved party can come forward personally, I’ll apologize on her behalf as an elder.”

Facing Political Commissar Liang’s apology, Shen Yi’an quickly waved her hands. “Political Commissar Liang, this matter has nothing to do with you. There’s no need for you to apologize.”

“I already know who spread the rumors in the Family Compound, so I won’t unjustly hold any grievances against you.”

Seeing his nodding smile across from her, she continued, “The conflict between me and Comrade Wang Yadan is a personal matter. It shouldn’t be discussed in official settings.”

“If we meet again, I’ll communicate with her privately.”

After expressing her thoughts, she then asked in return, “By the way, what did you mean earlier about ‘the involved party being unable to come forward’?”

“Did you put her in confinement?”

Though her tone was playful, her meaning was sincere.

After all, she wasn’t his biological niece—why would an elder need to apologize on her behalf?

Sensing the confusion in her voice, Liang Shuhe shook his head somewhat helplessly.

“That’s a long story.”

“But since you’ve been somewhat involved, Comrade Shen, I should explain the actual situation to you…”

As his explanation gradually unfolded, the events from three days ago came rushing back:

After spreading rumors about Shen Yi’an at the life plaza, Wang Yadan returned to Political Commissar Liang’s home.

At that time, Political Commissar Liang’s wife remained unaware, simply assuming her niece had been out socializing with friends as usual, and didn’t pay much mind to her late return.

Around two in the afternoon.

When another young woman from the Family Compound came calling, Political Commissar Liang’s wife tactfully retreated to the bedroom.

The privacy of young people should be respected.

Because they were in her own home, she didn’t fully close the bedroom door.

Before long, an animated conversation drifted into the room.

“…Yadan, I’ve learned a trick from you.”

“If we let the aunties at the plaza escalate this, it’ll have nothing to do with you.”

“That way, the new girl will surely slink away in disgrace—too humiliated to act so arrogantly and look down on everyone.”

Perhaps emboldened by her friends’ words, Wang Yadan raised her voice a few notches.

“You’d better study hard.”

“Don’t think just because the newcomer has Captain Li’s elder as backing, she can surpass me—she’s still too green.”

“Once the aunties in the Family Compound stir up trouble, I can reap the benefits.”

“Driving away the newcomer is just the first step. Most importantly, I can use this chance to curry favor with Captain Li’s elder.”

“By then…”

The conversation in the living room continued, but Political Commissar Liang’s wife in the bedroom trembled with rage.

How had her natal family raised this girl?

She remembered her being perfectly fine before, but how could she change so completely after just over a decade apart?

Look at what she’s become!

Scheming against this person, plotting against that one, even daring to interfere with others’ marriages.

This is… this is sheer audacity!

Seething with suppressed anger, she waited until the sound of the front door closing echoed through the living room again, signaling that everyone had left.

Without leaving the bedroom, she called out toward the living room.

“Xiao Dan, come in here!”

“Coming!” Hearing her aunt’s voice, Wang Yadan took a sip of water to moisten her throat before entering the master bedroom.

Having talked too much earlier, her throat now felt parched.

Seeing her enter, Political Commissar Liang’s wife initially tried to contain her anger.

“Xiao Dan, what did those girls want with you?”

“Don’t they need to help with dinner preparations at home?”

Wang Yadan failed to detect anything amiss and replied with her usual attitude.

“They’re quite cunning—they always say they need to see me right before mealtime.”

“After chatting for an hour, they return home where their families neither scold nor question them.”

“After all, with Uncle being the Political Commissar, their parents wouldn’t dare pry.”

Upon hearing this response, Political Commissar Liang’s wife exhaled heavily.

“I thought I heard you mention something about ‘having an elder as backing’ and ‘stirring up trouble’—what was that about?”

“Which elder were you referring to? And what trouble were you planning to stir up?”

“Care to enlighten me?”

At these words, Wang Yadan’s face instantly turned ashen.

Had her aunt overheard?

Had she heard their entire discussion?

Whether from terror or fear of losing her most powerful ally, Wang Yadan immediately fell to her knees with a thud.

“Aunt, you… you must have misheard!”

“We were just discussing typical Female Comrade topics—how could we possibly be talking about Captain Li’s elder or the Family…”

Before she could finish, Wang Yadan realized she had slipped up.

Her aunt had only mentioned vague phrases like “having an elder as backing” and “stirring up trouble” without specifying any names.

She had essentially confessed without being pressed.

Her fear magnified exponentially, compelling Wang Yadan to scramble forward and cling to Political Commissar Liang’s wife’s legs.

“Aunt, please listen to me!”

“It’s not what you think—I can explain!”

“Aunt…”

“Silence!” Before Wang Yadan could continue, Political Commissar Liang’s wife sharply cut her off.

“What exactly do you plan to explain?”

“How you incited the Family Compound residents to be your vanguard? Or how you planned to drive out the Female Comrade staying at the guesthouse to ingratiate yourself with Captain Li’s elder?”

“Well? Are these what you intended to explain?”

The first time she saw her aunt’s cold expression, Wang Yadan’s heart twisted with pain.

She was both afraid her goal wouldn’t be achieved and terrified her aunt would drive her away.

When her fear reached its peak, she simply stood up with nothing left to lose.

“That’s right, Auntie, you’re correct. I am indeed instigating those brainless family members to be my vanguard.”

“When they make a big scene, I can take the opportunity to achieve my goal.”

“After marrying Captain Li, I can legitimately live in the Family Compound and never have to hear people say I’m just here temporarily again.”

“Isn’t that better?”

Hearing this, Political Commissar Liang’s wife suddenly felt the niece before her was extremely unfamiliar – so unfamiliar it was as if she was meeting her for the first time.

Holding onto her last shred of hope, she asked her:

“Xiao Dan, is this the real you now?”

“Was everything before fake?”

After a moment of silence in the bedroom, wild laughter suddenly erupted.

“Auntie, don’t tell me you’re only realizing this now?”

“Why do you think I came to the Family Compound?”

“Mom and Dad were afraid if I stayed home any longer, they wouldn’t be able to go on living normally.”

“Just when they were racking their brains, they received your call inviting me to the Family Compound. They practically sent me off like they were seeing off a deity.”

Remembering her parents and relatives back home, extreme disgust flashed in Wang Yadan’s eyes.

“They’re the ones who told me since childhood that I never need to bear anything alone – that I have them and my brothers.”

“If clothes get torn, someone will buy new ones. If dolls get old, they can be replaced with new ones.”

“Even if I didn’t want to go to school, I could take leave and rest at home.”

“Since they said all that, why wouldn’t I do as they instructed?”

“But what did it get me in the end?”

As she spoke these last words, her already unpleasant expression became even more twisted and terrifying.