Chapter 74: After a divorce, people generally avoid seeing each other.

Several major events have occurred

in the Asian Union this month. The military has been embroiled in a series of turbulent events, with Commander Cen Yuean's name at the forefront of public opinion.

Military Commander Cen Yuean was exposed for having released a European Union spy several years ago. A deeper investigation into the seven-year-old case has revealed more and more issues, including violations of military intelligence encryption procedures, missing patrol records, and the reassignment of officers involved.

Details of the European Union's Alpha spy's escape have been exposed, and it's rumored that three pieces of classified military intelligence were leaked from the spy.

Inquiries have been pouring into the commander's office, and black official vehicles from the Supervisory Office have been circling the military building day and night. Even Cen Yuean's personally promoted subordinates are quietly wavering.

Cen Yuean's position as commander is truly precarious, even on the verge of self-ignition.

Before the suspension order was issued.

Cen Yuean tactfully resigned his command, acknowledging full responsibility for the espionage incident and agreeing to cooperate with the subsequent investigation.

This was a major event.

When Chen Huixing received the gift from Pei Jiqing, he unconsciously tapped his fingertips on the table twice. After showing it to a few subordinates, he muttered, "What does Pei Jiqing mean by this?" He

seemed to be questioning his subordinates, but also himself.

A young and straightforward subordinate excitedly said, "Isn't it obvious? This means Cen Yuean is doomed."

Another subordinate chimed in, "The madam is still on your side."

Chen Huixing suddenly chuckled, then reached out and pressed his temples, his knuckles casting a small shadow on his cheekbone. "He's giving me a thank-you gift."

"Pei Jiqing is thanking me for letting him go." Some inexplicable emotion danced in Shen Huixing's pupils, making his eyes look like the surface of a frozen lake. "He's telling me we're even."

No one owes anyone anything.

Chen Huixing knew he had to move up. Only when he reached the highest position would Pei Jiqing truly feel he had let go.

The position of commander-in-chief ultimately fell to Chen Huixing. News coverage was everywhere, and the awarding ceremony was grand and almost extravagant. Guards in crisp military uniforms lined the stage, and flashbulbs lit up the red carpet in a dazzling sea.

Chen Huixing stood on the stage, the golden tassels on his epaulettes gleaming faintly in the bright light, accentuating his stern expression.

But it was clear the man himself lacked the enthusiasm he had initially sought, as if his emotions had been drained away.

His seniority and military achievements stood in the way, and no one dared to surpass him.

Others didn't know, but didn't the military also know about the years Cen Yuean had been marginalized by Chen Huixing?

Online reviews were harsh and accurate, describing

Chen Huixing as uninspired and handsome. He truly had a sense of decadence.

Throughout the ceremony, Chen Huixing embodied a profound expressionless expression.

Promotion, wealth, and no wife.

Someone half-jokingly summarized Chen Huixing's current life situation, and it was quite apt.

Although some had previously declined to comment on Pei Jiqing's posts flaunting her husband and affection, the occasional resurfacing of them still stirred a subtle stir.

Some scoffed, some lamented, and most were simply onlookers. The internet was awash with all sorts of opinions, a mix of truth and fiction.

— They should have separated. Chen Huixing held such an important position, an S-rank Alpha at that. Marriage was no joke; it was a matter for the entire Asian Union. Selfishness was not an option. And how could they have separated last year? Hadn't they been photographed together at the beginning of the year?

They must have announced their separation because the truth had been revealed. — Was a separation necessary? Even if their compatibility was low, it had been years without any problems. Could compatibility really mean everything? To tear a family apart? Damn, worldly views. It was simply unreasonable.

Chen Huixing tapped the screen lightly, liking the last comment. His account, adorned with a prominent real-name verification logo, sent the entire comment section into a frenzy.

— He saw it.

— He thought so, too.

And that, subtly, confirmed the widespread public opinion that the couple had been forced to separate.

Pei Jiqing barely read online news, having delegated the separation matters to his lawyers. He was most grateful that Chen Huixing wouldn't fight for Zhizhi's custody.

He also promised Chen Huixing that Zhizhi would never be unfamiliar with anyone in the Shen family. Then, he plunged into the final work on Linhe, the piles of reports and meeting minutes becoming the perfect waste of his time. With

the Asian Union's top officials debating whether to establish a restricted zone, Pei Jiqing initiated an online vote and personally traveled several times to the downtown area, interviewing many residents who had previously suffered glandular lesions.

Pei Jiqing was away on business for a few days, leaving his daughter to her biological Alpha father.

VIVI's group had become incredibly popular with Chen Huixing. She was his only female assistant, and Zhizhi had always been fond of her.

So Pei Jiqing handed Zhizhi's suitcase to her. VIVI looked radiant. She stretched out her hand in front of Zhizhi and said, "Little beauty, come with me." Zhizhi

held VIVI's hand, touched her nail polish, her eyes shining, as if she had discovered a treasure.

Pei Jiqing suffered greatly from having his nail polish painted.

Chen Huixing was not spared either. The scene of the commander-in-chief with a cold face allowing his daughter to paint her fingertips with colorful nail polish still makes people's scalp tingle when they think of it.

Pei Jiqing pushed the suitcase over: "You must be very busy recently."

VIVI smiled brightly when she took the suitcase, and even the curled ends of her hair showed her high spirits: "Fortunately, Madam didn't go up to take a look. The commander-in-chief's office is so big and magnificent."

Pei Jiqing's lips just raised a little arc, but before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the voice from behind. Chen Huixing stood not far away, his military jacket draped over his arm, two buttons undone at the collar, revealing an old scar on his collarbone. His voice drifted over

, neither soft nor heavy, "What are you talking about?" Pei Jiqing's smile remained frozen as he lowered his head to rub Zhizhi's hair. He said goodbye to his daughter, told Chen Huixing to take good care of her, and left.

Chen Huixing stood still, staring at the back of the car. Vivi heard him suddenly ask, "Do I have a virus?"

Vivi shook her head, then, covering Zhizhi's ear, said, "After a divorce, people tend to avoid seeing each other." Chen

Huixing didn't say anything, but after hearing about the divorce, she felt that he seemed to have lost some of his composure.

Vivi covered her mouth to excuse her

slip of the tongue. Chen Huixing didn't respond.

But she could clearly see the slightest slump in his shoulders, as if someone had suddenly removed the bone that held him up.

The joke that's been circulating in the Commander's office lately is true; their boss is now a divorced man who's easily hurt. Any word about emotional discord could poke an invisible hole in him.