Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Clearly, he didn't want to burden his parents, a quality rarely seen in young people these days.

After buying the clothes, Zhao Dong took his parents for another stroll around the mall. He bought a watch for Zhao Kangyou and a jade bracelet for Zhang Cuimei.

Zhao Dong used his old trick again, telling his parents the watch and bracelet only cost a few thousand yuan.

In reality, that wasn't the case at all. Zhao Kangyou's watch alone cost over 200,000 yuan, and Zhang Cuimei's jade bracelet was close to 400,000 yuan.

The elderly couple was blissfully unaware, their faces brimming with happy smiles. They didn't care how much the gifts their son gave them were worth. Even if it were just one yuan or ten, they would be incredibly content and overjoyed.

After the three of them came out of the jade store, they spotted two women sitting on a bench not far away. One was Ding Lan, and the other was her best friend, Zhu Xiaoxiao.

Ding Lan had the day off and was feeling a bit down, so she had asked her best friend, Zhu Xiaoxiao, to come out and cheer her up. The two of them chatted idly, Ding Lan's pretty face showing a trace of weariness.

After a moment, Zhu Xiaoxiao exclaimed in disbelief, "Lan, you're not kidding, are you? Zhang Shaowen was hospitalized because Zhao Dong beat him up?"

As Ding Lan's best friend, Zhu Xiaoxiao knew her relationship history.

Ding Lan gave a bitter smile. "Why would I joke about that? But Zhang Shaowen is getting discharged this afternoon. I'll probably go see him in a little while."

Zhu Xiaoxiao sighed, "What a cliché drama. Zhao Dong is such an idiot. Can he afford to offend Zhang Shaowen? Zhang Shaowen will definitely come after him for this. You were right to break up with him!"

Ding Lan lowered her head in silence, her expression complicated.

Zhu Xiaoxiao patted Ding Lan's shoulder comfortingly. "Lan, as your best friend, I know you. You and Zhao Dong dated for three years. Even though you've broken up on the surface, you still have feelings for him, don't you?"

Ding Lan averted her gaze. "Xiaoxiao, don't say things like that. I'm dating Zhang Shaowen now."

Zhu Xiaoxiao smiled. "Come on, I know you. Dating someone doesn't mean you love them. I still remember how you and Zhao Dong were madly in love. When you broke up, you cried for days and lost over twenty pounds. I know you haven't completely let go of him. The only reason you two broke up was pressure from reality, and you don't even really like Zhang Shaowen. Am I wrong?"

Ding Lan hesitated, her watery eyes filled with an unspoken sadness.

Zhu Xiaoxiao continued, "If this were three years ago, I might have advised you to follow your heart. But now, I'm telling you to forget Zhao Dong. Just stick with Zhang Shaowen, date him, marry him, and have his children. His family is rich and powerful, and he can give you a respectable life. And Zhao Dong? He's just a useless veteran with nothing. People have to be realistic sometimes. He's no longer good enough for you, not now that you're a physician at East Sea Hospital!"

Ding Lan sighed softly. She didn't say a word, but that sigh was heavy with countless heartaches and grievances.

She gave a self-deprecating smile. "Thank you, Xiaoxiao. I'll remember what you said. I suppose... people ultimately have to be realistic."

"Exactly. You can only blame Zhao Dong for being useless. If he were rich and powerful, things would be fine, but he's not. Hey, Lan, I'm suddenly curious. If Zhao Dong really were rich and powerful now, would you regret being with Zhang Shaowen?"

Ding Lan gave Zhu Xiaoxiao a deep look, paused for a moment, and then nodded lightly.

"I would… but that's impossible."

Just then, Zhao Dong walked past with his parents. Neither he nor Ding Lan noticed the other.

They had only walked a few meters when the sharp-eyed Zhu Xiaoxiao spotted the shopping bag in Zhang Cuimei's hand and exclaimed, "Lan, look! See that bag in the old woman's hand? It's from Yuding Pavilion! Their jade costs hundreds of thousands of yuan! They must be loaded!"

Ding Lan looked up and saw the backs of Zhao Dong and his parents in the distance. She froze.

Why does that person's back look so familiar?

She thought for a moment, and her expression suddenly changed.

That back... it looks so much like Zhao Dong. Could that really be him?

The thought had barely formed before Ding Lan dismissed it, startling even herself.

How could it possibly be Zhao Dong? It's impossible.

She considered following them to get a better look, but then another thought occurred to her. How could Zhao Dong's family possibly afford a bracelet worth hundreds of thousands? Besides, the elderly couple's clothes were clearly from high-end brands. A single outfit likely cost tens of thousands—more than even she could afford.

At this thought, Ding Lan breathed a sigh of relief.

I must have been mistaken.

Meanwhile, Zhao Dong and his parents got into a taxi. He was taking them to Wang Han's home, as Wang Jianguo had called earlier and invited them over before dinner. The car soon arrived at an upscale residential community in East Sea, and the three of them got out.