Ye Chen checked the Mission Hall for assignments, but found no missions offering high military merits; those offering significant merit points required at least a General rank to claim.

After glancing around for a moment, amidst the surrounding mocking whispers, Ye Chen turned and left the hall. Just as he reached the exit, he spotted a girl in white standing not far away. She wore a white T-shirt and denim shorts, her long, beautiful legs accentuating her graceful figure, resembling a lily blooming quietly by the roadside, drawing the gazes of passersby.

This girl was Murong Xue. Seeing Ye Chen emerge from the hall, her eyes lit up. She quickly trotted over, blinking her bright, watery eyes, and asked with an innocent expression, "I'm sorry, did I bring you a lot of trouble?"

Ye Chen glanced at her, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and offered a wry smile. "You've already brought me trouble. Look around—they probably want to tear me apart. If what was said before was just rumor, now I truly have no way to clear my name."

Murong Xue paused, then glanced around. She noticed many people looking at Ye Chen with unfriendly expressions. She realized the situation here would spread quickly. Frowning slightly, she looked at Ye Chen with a wronged expression, disheartened. "I actually just wanted to apologize to you, I didn't expect..."

Ye Chen gave her a helpless look. "Let's go. To my quarters; it's not convenient to talk here."

Murong Xue was surprised. "Aren't you afraid of misunderstandings?"

Ye Chen shrugged dismissively. "Since I'm already being misunderstood, why bother explaining so much?"

Murong Xue froze for a moment, then looked closely at the man. His nose bridge was high and flawless, his eyebrows sharp as blades, his eyes dark with a hint of coldness. In the sunlight, his hands appeared broad and long, his fingernails clean and transparent, and his skin fair. At first glance, he looked somewhat like a spoiled young master, yet the most striking difference was the tone of his voice.

'Since I'm misunderstood, why explain?' Murong Xue silently repeated the phrase, then gave a self-mocking smile. 'Right, why should I trouble myself over rumors?'

Even facing the ridicule of the entire world alone—what of it?

In that instant, this grassroots youth and the noble young lady shared a profound sorrow: loneliness!

No one understood their solitude, no one trusted their isolation, the loneliness of having no one to confide in...

"Let's go!" Ye Chen led the way.

Murong Xue quickly followed, secretly glancing up at the profile of Ye Chen's face, feeling a strange sensation stir within her.

"Look, where are they going?"

"Hmph, a pair of shameless adulterers!"

"A pervert! Desperate for a man, she picks a pretty boy like this, utterly shameless!"

"This man has no backbone; he's a disgrace to men."

The surrounding crowd sneered relentlessly.

Ye Chen brought Murong Xue to his quarters. Opening the door, they immediately saw Qing He washing clothes in the living room; the basin was full of blood, a rather gruesome sight. Upon seeing him, Qing He managed a smile, but then his gaze fell upon Murong Xue standing next to Ye Chen. He froze, then instantly jumped up, exclaiming in shock, "Th-this isn't the Commander-in-Chief's daughter?"

Ye Chen nodded. "Her name is Murong Xue."

Qing He nearly spat blood, almost shouting, "Of course I know her name! I mean, she's the Commander-in-Chief's daughter!! Why did you bring her here? You should have taken her to a high-class hotel in the city at least!"

The base city had constructed hotels, but only Generals were qualified to enter, and the cost was exorbitant.

Murong Xue quickly interjected, "No need for such trouble; this place is fine."

"En," Ye Chen agreed with a nod, showing no pretense of politeness.

Seeing Ye Chen show no courtesy or offer any invitation to decline, Qing He nearly choked with frustration.

'Truly shameless, not an ounce of gentlemanly conduct!' Qing He fumed inwardly. 'The finest flowers are being thrown onto cow dung.'

Murong Xue chuckled lightly, somewhat surprised by Ye Chen’s demeanor, yet unconcerned. In fact, she found him even more intriguing. In the peaceful era, sons from powerful conglomerates used to line up to invite her out to the most luxurious venues. After the apocalypse, her father underwent super-evolution under the virus, becoming incredibly powerful and seizing military authority, quickly establishing the base city.

These high-ranking Generals and Commanders had to smile sweetly and offer her gifts just to curry favor.

Although she had grown up surrounded by flattery and appeasement, Murong Xue never developed a spoiled attitude, never believing everyone should bend to her will. She understood clearly that everything she possessed today came entirely from her father!

These people weren't truly trying to please her; behind their false smiles hid ferocious visages.

Only Ye Chen treated her without deference to her father's towering prestige, treating her as an ordinary person. Though they stood in a dilapidated small building, this place felt more reassuring and brought her greater happiness than any luxurious venue.

For the first time, she could escape her father's shadow... and be herself!

Ye Chen's treatment of her was genuine respect!

...

At the entrance of Military Camp 108, two luxurious BMWs sped toward the gate, startling the on-duty personnel. They dared not stop them, quickly straightening up and rendering a military salute.

The two cars drove to the center of the compound, attracting the notice of many onlookers who stopped to watch.

As the doors opened, two young men emerged. One wore a white casual suit and sneakers; he was handsome with refined features. The moment he stepped out, he made the surrounding onlookers dizzy with desire, wishing they could instantly transform from sparrows into phoenixes. However, some remained rational; after all, not every woman valued money and status above all else.

From the second car emerged a youth in black, clad in tight-fitting gear, muscles defined, with a close-cropped buzz cut, looking exceptionally imposing. His looks, however, were considerably less striking than the young man in white.

The two exchanged a look, a cold glint in their eyes, before they strode toward a large building, heads held high. The people lining the path quickly gave way, murmuring amongst themselves.

...

Ye Chen poured Murong Xue a glass of plain water. "You really didn't need to come all this way just to apologize. This matter has nothing to do with you; you can only blame my bad luck. We shouldn't have met."

Murong Xue lightly bit her red lower lip, apologizing, "I'm sorry..."

Qing He, still washing clothes nearby, nearly vomited blood, wanting to slam his head against the wall. The daughter of the esteemed Commander-in-Chief was demeaning herself to apologize to a mere soldier. He couldn't decide whether she was foolish or excessively kind and honest.

Few people ever considered that apologies know no distinction of status or rank.

"No need to say sorry," Ye Chen said casually. "This has affected you too, so we were both terribly unlucky and got set up."

"What about you?" Murong Xue looked up at him, speaking softly. "Many people might cause you trouble in the future. Why don't I ask my father to grant you a General position?"

Ye Chen shook his head. "I don't need it."

"Why?" Murong Xue asked, surprised. She hadn't expected Ye Chen to refuse. Wasn't the offer of a General rank appealing to him?

Qing He, hearing Ye Chen refuse without hesitation, nearly lunged forward to choke him. Refusing a free General rank? Was his head malfunctioning?

"I will become a General myself soon enough!" Ye Chen said casually. For him, becoming a General was not difficult; he didn't want to owe anyone a favor for it, and besides, how many people would respect a position gained through a woman?

Bang!

Just then, the door was kicked open, and a white athletic shoe slid inside, planting itself firmly on the smooth tile floor.