"You’re a few minutes earlier than I expected. I’ll count these minutes as free. Come on, let’s head upstairs."

"I’m here alone, yet you bring an outsider. Is that appropriate?" Songg Qingwu politely gestured at Yu Minglang, making it clear he disliked outsiders being present.

"I hope this gentleman can trust me with his wife for a while. If she can resolve my troubles, I won’t harm her."

In other words, if Qian doesn’t settle the matter, she’s doomed.

Yu Minglang sneered, "Do you think you get to decide what’s appropriate? Seeing my Qian for treatment and you dare complain? Watch or don’t. If not, scram!"

When it comes to being assertive, Yu Minglang has never lost. This kind of bravado compelled Songg Qingwu to focus on Yu Minglang’s military rank.

He didn’t notice yesterday, but today he did.

"A lieutenant colonel is this arrogant?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"That rank doesn’t mean anything. The department I belong to doesn’t care about rank. What matters is this, understand?" Yu Minglang gestured with his fist, implying he’d beat anyone who disagreed.

"Mr. Chen, what do you think? I paid for you to find a Chinese military man to listen to my private matters?" Songg Qingwu asked Qian.

"He’s not an outsider, he’s an insider—" Qian felt Yu Minglang glaring at her and stuck out her tongue playfully.

’Insider’ suggests ’wife,’ and Yu Minglang glared at Qian realizing this cheeky woman was getting carried away.

"I won’t allow your domestic military to know about my affairs."

"As long as you ensure my fee is paid in full, I can guarantee the military won’t find out. He’s not standing beside me as a soldier now; he’s here as an insider, right, ’insider’?"

Yu Minglang ground his teeth. Was she doing this on purpose? She said ’insider’ so smoothly. Is she secretly planning to take charge? Not that he minded. Lang liked that position too—wait, getting off track.

"Why should I trust you?" Songg Qingwu watched the interaction between Qian and Yu Minglang, feeling both skeptical and reassured.

This woman isn’t interested in Mahadi, such a charming man, yet she’s into this tough-looking guy? From Qian’s gaze, Songg Qingwu sensed her unabashed fondness for the soldier. Why?

"The man you think is great might not be great in my eyes." Qian looked at Yu Minglang but spoke what was in Songg Qingwu’s mind.

Songg Qingwu was slightly taken aback. It was his first time encountering such a woman, one who could read his thoughts.

Such a person, if not used by him then—

"Touch a single hair on her, and I’ll destroy your whole family, starting with your parents and then on to Chrysanthemum Mai. Don’t worry, I’ll leave you breathing so you can watch me finish them off."

This time, it was Xiaoqiang speaking, as if the couple had mastered a mind reading technique.

Qian named this treatment operation ’Flower Delivery,’ and Mai was officially glorified as Chrysanthemum Mai.

"You wouldn’t dare. Chinese soldiers prioritize discipline above all."

"If my wife is bullied, why would I care about discipline? If someone touches my wife, I’ll kill them once the uniform is off. Then end it all with a carefree suicide. I won’t disgrace my family. Our family has served in the army for three generations without ever producing a coward. Protecting my wife is non-negotiable. If I can’t, there’s no point living, coward!"

Songg Qingwu studied Yu Minglang, seeming to gauge the truth of his words.

Qian stepped directly in front of Yu Minglang, a move Yu Minglang occasionally uses when someone eyes Qian. Now it’s Qian’s turn, tables have turned.

"Although my man is outstanding and very handsome, you better not start fancying him. If you dare, I’ll do whatever it takes to kill you. I’ll return the exact plan you envisioned to kill me."

Yu Minglang and Songg Qingwu both stiffened, exchanging glances, then disgustedly turned their faces away.

"Is it appropriate to mess around with your husband like this? Which eye did you use to see me as a sissy homosexual?" Yu Minglang shuddered at what Qian said.

"Mr. Chen underestimates people. I may be fond of men, but not just any man." Songg Qingwu was disgusted too.

"I’ll address Mr. Songg’s issue later; first, I’ll correct my husband’s misconception."

Yu Minglang felt aggrieved. Where was he wrong? Being called an ’insider’ by his own wife was bad enough, now she’s saying he’s wrong?

"As the husband of a psychologist, how can you make common-sense mistakes? Who told you homosexuals are sissy?"

"...Aren’t they?" Yu Minglang recalled that almost-successful sham marriage cheat was indeed a sissy!

"Over 85% of gay men are normal men. From appearance to mentality, they are men who just happen to like men. Those like Ni Jianren are very rare. If you see a gay man with feminine gestures and makeup, he’s more than just gay; he’s a gender identity disorder patient. So, never say gays are sissy. Male gays won’t usually like wearing women’s clothes. Such prejudice is disrespectful to the community, understand?"

"Understood." Yu Minglang nodded, realizing his wife wasn’t saying this just for him.

Indeed, after Qian’s speech, Songg Qingwu, although maintaining an unreadable expression, showed a hint of respect for Qian in his eyes.

"Actually, I believe homosexuality that doesn’t affect society shouldn’t require professional correction, except for those who deceive marriage. If it doesn’t affect others, who they love is their own business. I never considered homosexuality a sickness."

This speech, whether intentionally directed at Songg Qingwu, was taken as a carefully administered psychological remedy that Songg Qingwu welcomed."

"Will Mr. Songg continue chatting below my house? Your time has already passed five minutes."

"I’ll grab the fruits from the trunk." Songg Qingwu did buy several luxury fruit baskets.

"Out-of-season fruits are expensive and tasteless. Looking at what you bought, why not just get a watermelon?" Yu Minglang complained while helping carry. One man couldn’t handle it all; he could open a fruit shop.

"Watermelon?" Songg Qingwu bought exactly as Qian requested: the pricier, the better.

Qian glared at Yu Minglang, this shameless... Still dealing with aunt issues, what are you hinting at!

"Actually, my wife isn’t just skilled at treatment; she’s great with her mouth too." Yu Minglang tossed a flirtatious wink at Qian, speaking with a double meaning.

Shameless... inwardly, Qian helplessly criticized.

All three went upstairs together.

Inside the elevator, the two men carried heavy fruit baskets, while Qian stood in front, looking like ordinary friends visiting a home.

But all three understood that beneath this seemingly calm exterior lay turbulent undercurrents.

If Qian couldn’t resolve this issue perfectly, it would undoubtedly become a life-or-death encounter, even escalating to greater interests.

Yu Minglang and Songg Qingwu seemed calm, but they were both internally competing, whereas Qian was the most normal person here.

For she knew, what lay ahead was her stage.