Chapter 8
"Excuse me… what's your name?" Gu Xi asked earnestly, her tone solemn. "You've helped me so much. I can't just walk away without knowing who you are."
The man with two bars and one star shook his head, eyes steady behind his dark lenses. "It was nothing. Don't dwell on it."
Gu Xi arched a brow, unconvinced. "Then should I write down your license plate number and ask someone in the army?"
That hit a nerve.
His expression shifted sharply. In one motion, he removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes. His voice dropped an octave, laced with quiet authority.
"Don't look up license plate numbers on your own. That's against regulations."
Gu Xi froze under his gaze. His stare was powerful, commanding—undeniably military. It wasn't just the uniform. It was the man himself.
"I'm sorry," she stammered. "But… I just wanted to write a thank-you letter."
She looked at him with eyes like clear spring water—pure, transparent, and a little unsure. For a moment, he felt unprepared. Her cautious expression and shrinking posture after his rebuke made her look even younger than she was. That tiny, shrinking demeanor chipped away at his defenses.
He cleared his throat and a slight blush crept up his ears. "Qin," he muttered. "My name is Qin Zheng."
Gu Xi nodded, her expression serious. She etched the name into her memory like it was sacred. Qin Zheng. Her savior.
It wasn't a name she heard often… but it stirred something in the back of her mind, like a bell faintly echoing in an empty hallway.
Qin Zheng didn't stay long. After dropping her off, he gave her a firm nod and turned the vehicle around, disappearing down the road.
Gu Xi didn't even have time to watch the car leave. Her father was still at the demolition site—every second counted. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the danger.
The Shuangguan Bridge demolition project was already well underway. A large portion had been razed to the ground, leaving behind only a stubborn core of a dozen households.
These were the final holdouts.
Gu Changan was there for them. Some residents held out over disputes about compensation. Others refused to part with their homes due to sentiment, history, or sheer resistance to change. Despite weeks of negotiations and incentives, they stayed rooted in their old, crumbling buildings.
But time was money. Every day the site remained inactive meant losses for Changsheng Group. After two fruitless weeks, Gu Changan's patience wore thin. He began leveraging personal connections, pushing local officials to intervene. But the response was lukewarm.
The officials, ever-cautious, recited vague promises about "maintaining social harmony" and "ensuring a smooth process." In short, they refused to get involved. It was clear: the enterprise had to solve the problem on its own.
Gu Changan seethed. The contracts were signed. The permits were in place. Yet the construction was paralyzed. Something had to give.
That afternoon, after hours of knocking on doors, appeasing demands, and coaxing residents, he stood in front of the final household, his temper barely in check.
"Zhang Yue, are you certain no one's inside?" he asked, voice low but tight with irritation.
Zhang Yue, his assistant, nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Boss Gu, no sign of them since yesterday. Word is they've already moved out."
Gu Changan narrowed his eyes. "Moved out? Just the day before yesterday, they were still refusing to budge."
"Maybe they gave in overnight?" Zhang Yue offered weakly.
Gu Changan wasn't convinced. Something felt off.
"Let's go in and take a look," he said grimly.