Chapter 161: Relationship

Chapter 161: Relationship

"Captain Gu, your wife, you're shopping at the mall too?" Seeing them, Gao Yue greeted them awkwardly, placing the clothes back on the counter.

The saleswoman asked, "Do you want this piece of clothing?"

Gao Yue didn’t respond, but the man next to her decided, "Yes! Wrap it up and give us the receipt."

The man was wearing military attire. He was about forty, average-looking, not very tall, and a little heavy. These days, it was rare to see someone who was overweight.

His weight suggested he lived comfortably.

Su Zhaozhao didn’t recognize the man, but Gu Heng did. "Director Peng," he acknowledged.

"Ah, Captain Gu, what a coincidence!" Director Peng laughed heartily and stepped forward to shake Gu Heng's hand.

Su Zhaozhao blinked, realizing that Director Peng seemed to hold a fairly high position.

She was curious why Gao Yue was shopping with Director Peng. And earlier at the cinema, she must have been watching a movie with him too, right?

A man and a woman watching a movie and shopping together—they were clearly seeing each other.

Gao Yue’s smile faltered, and she felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She hadn’t expected to run into Captain Gu’s family.

This made her extremely embarrassed. She knew everyone would eventually find out about her relationship with Director Peng, but she hadn’t anticipated it happening so soon and in such a public manner.

Especially now, seeing Gu Heng, she couldn’t help but compare him to the older, less striking man beside her. Her previously uncertain heart began to waver again.

Was she really going to pursue a relationship with this man, who was older and not particularly attractive?

Gao Yue lowered her head, feeling a sense of reluctance.

She was afraid that Su Zhaozhao and Gu Heng would ask about her relationship with Director Peng.

However, they didn’t.

After exchanging a few words with Director Peng, Gu Heng led Su Zhaozhao and the others to another counter.

Once they had moved a little further away, Su Zhaozhao asked, "Is Director Peng from the military district too? Which department is he in?"

"The Logistics Department."

"And what’s his rank?" Judging by how he spoke to Gu Heng, he seemed to be of higher rank than Director Chen, who was in charge of military families' resettlement.

"He's a regimental-level cadre."

No wonder.

"Is Director Peng divorced?" At his age, he definitely couldn’t be unmarried.

Gu Heng glanced at her, "No, his wife passed away from complications during childbirth about two years ago."

Su Zhaozhao nodded, "And how old is he?"

"He’s about thirty-seven or thirty-eight. Why do you ask?"

Su Zhaozhao blinked, "You tell me."

You can't guess?

It's so obvious.

Gu Heng smiled, his lips curling into a grin. "Not guessing."

Pshaw!

……

At 2:50 PM, Xiao Fang promptly parked by the roadside of the shopping mall. He had barely parked when another car pulled up behind him.

Xiao Fang turned his head and saw a familiar face—it was a vehicle from the logistics department!

"Hey! What are you doing in town?"

The person from the car behind him got out and handed him a cigarette. "I'm just following the boss around! What about you? Why are you here?"

Xiao Fang took the cigarette but didn't light it, tucking it into his shirt pocket. "I have a mission, just dropping by to pick up Director Gu and the others on the way back."

"I'm going to tell you something, but don't spread it around." Even guys like to gossip sometimes.

Xiao Fang's curiosity was piqued. "Tell me."

"Director Peng is dating someone!"

Xiao Fang rolled his eyes, thinking it wasn’t that big of a deal. "His wife passed away two years ago, it's normal for him to date someone, what's with the mystery?"

"It's normal, but do you know how old his girlfriend is?"

"How old?"

"Eighteen or nineteen! No more than twenty!"

Xiao Fang's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Director Peng is almost forty, right? Is he looking for a girlfriend or a daughter?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! You dare gossip about a senior officer?" The man looked around nervously.

Xiao Fang clicked his tongue twice. "What kind of girl would go for an older guy like that? We young fellows can't even find a girlfriend."

Feeling a little jealous, since they were still single.

"Director Peng is a regiment-level officer, what about us? Didn't you go on a blind date recently? How did it go?"

Xiao Fang shook his head, deciding not to continue—it only made him more upset.

Xiao Fang was stunned when he saw Gao Yue and Director Peng emerge from the shopping mall, laden with bags.

He mechanically saluted Director Peng and watched as Gao Yue and Director Peng got into the car behind him...

He didn't even notice his comrade-in-gossip blinking at him.

Gao Yue, Gao Yue is Director Peng's girlfriend.

Xiao Fang's heart was weeping.

His heart felt like it was breaking into pieces.

"Xiao Fang."

He only snapped out of his daze when Gu Heng called him.

"C-Commander."

Gu Heng frowned. "What's wrong?"

He looked lost, which was clearly off.

Xiao Fang wanted to cry but held it in.

He already knew that she hadn't been interested in him. No matter who she dated, it wouldn't be him.

Why did she have to go for someone old enough to be her dad?!

Director Peng has a few kids, and the oldest is nearly grown, just a few years younger than her.

If she went for someone closer to her age, it wouldn't hurt so much.

Does rank really matter that much?

"Commander, I'm fine. Let's hit the road, Su Zhaozhao."

Noticing Xiao Fang was about to cry, Su Zhaozhao pulled a bag of peach pastries from her net bag and handed them to him. "I bought these for you. Take them and eat."

Xiao Fang waved her off. "Keep them for the kids, Su Zhaozhao."

Gu Heng grabbed the bag and shoved it into his hands. "They have theirs. These are for you. Get in the car!"

"Yes, sir!"

As soon as the commander gave the order, Xiao Fang hopped into the driver's seat, clutching the peach pastries.

His heart ached, and he wanted to cry, but he didn’t have time for that.