Even with his eyes closed, he could still feel the soft warmth of her when she threw herself into his arms.
He was a man—he understood exactly what his body’s reaction meant at this moment.
His sharp brows furrowed slightly as he forced himself back to rationality.
He had come to Yong’an County to track down enemy agents hidden here. To avoid causing panic or alerting the enemy, both the operation and his true identity were kept strictly confidential.
Everything had been progressing smoothly—he would soon be able to close the net.
And then Wen Wan appeared at this critical moment.
They had only known each other for two days, yet she already showed him unconditional trust and dependence.
The enemy had used honey traps more than once to corrupt revolutionary comrades.
He was supported by the people, and he had to be responsible to them.
He could not let personal feelings lead him to act against the interests of the country and the people.
And there was more than one suspicious point about Wen Wan.
How could someone accustomed to housework end up soaking herself completely just from washing a duvet cover? The cover hadn’t even been wrung out properly before being hung up.
The washbasin had been left carelessly by the sink, with dirty water still inside.
No one used to housework would behave like that.
There were many other subtle abnormalities.
These seemingly trivial details were precisely the easiest to overlook.
No—he had to verify everything again.
Xu Cheng’an did not return to the station. Instead, he went to the steel factory residential compound to make inquiries.
When he arrived at the courtyard, he happened to run into Granny Zhao chatting with neighbors.
He handed out the pastries he bought on the way. “Aunties, I came today to ask about something.”
Granny Zhao smiled knowingly and cooperated. “You’re here about the Wen family, right? Ask whatever you like—we’ve been neighbors for over ten years.”
The others quickly echoed her. After all, they had accepted his pastries, and it was just answering a few questions.
“How did Wen Qingfeng treat Wen Wan before this incident?” Xu Cheng’an asked.
Granny Zhao shook her head. “Wen Qingfeng listens to Zhao Yan in everything. Zhao Yan sounds gentle, but she’s actually cruel. Wen Wan had to do chores as soon as she got home from school. The poor girl lived alone in the kitchen—freezing in winter, scorching in summer. She never had a single good day.”
“That’s right,” another added. “Wen Qingfeng originally planned to stop her schooling after middle school. It was Director Liu who insisted she continue. Later, he even helped her secure a recommendation for a worker-peasant-soldier university. But Wen Qingfeng forced her to give the spot to Lin Zhenzhen. When Director Liu refused, Wen Qingfeng used the excuse of not wanting her to leave home to stop her from going.”
Xu Cheng’an noted everything down and asked, “Since her life was so hard, did Wen Wan ever resist? Run away from home or ask others for help?”
Granny Zhao shook her head again. “That child has the gentlest temperament. She never spoke ill of her father or stepmother in front of others. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered—this time, they truly broke her heart. Wen Wan takes after the Lu family more. Though the Lu family used to be wealthy, their family values are upright—they raised good children.”
“Everyone in our county has benefited from the Lu family. During the famine in the 1960s, they sold off their assets to buy grain. We all remember it. Their descendants died fighting the invaders—there’s no one left in the family. Who could she even turn to for help?”
Xu Cheng’an nodded. The patriotism of the Lu family ancestors was beyond doubt.
But it still couldn’t be ruled out that Wen Wan, being young and having experienced such a drastic change from her childhood life, might have been exploited by bad people.
He continued, “She looks so delicate—yet she managed all that housework. She must be quite resilient.”
Granny Zhao replied, “Wen Wan was raised like a treasure by her grandparents. How would she know how to do chores? She was forced to learn. But honestly, she’s always carried an air of nobility. No matter how Zhao Yan tried to wear her down, she’s still more beautiful than Lin Zhenzhen. That fair skin that never tans—she got it from her mother. She shines in a crowd, like a golden phoenix. Officer Xu, I think you and Wen Wan are quite well-matched—truly a handsome pair!”
As soon as she said that, everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed, the two looked very compatible.
“Officer Xu, you don’t have a partner yet, do you?” Granny Zhao teased with a smile.
If he didn’t, it would be perfect for him to be with Wen Wan. Then no one would dare bully her again.
Xu Cheng’an cleared his throat lightly and continued asking whether Wen Wan had ever left the county over the years or had any close classmates.
After gathering information, he went to her school to ask her teachers.
The situation matched what the neighbors had said—Wen Wan had never left Yong’an County and had no contact with strangers.
Back at the station, Xu Cheng’an also investigated the social connections of the Wen family, the Lu family, and even a distant aunt in Shanghai.
He also reviewed the life trajectory of the suspected agent at the train station—there were no abnormalities.
He interrogated Wen Qingfeng and Sun the Lame again. Their testimonies matched—Wen Qingfeng forcing his daughter into marriage and attempting to poison her was undeniable.
Xu Cheng’an rubbed his temples. He had been overly suspicious.
A trace of guilt surfaced in him.
The young girl was simply delicate by nature, and because she lacked a sense of security, she trusted him more than others.
It was he who had let her down.
Once the verdict for Wen Qingfeng’s case came out, he would personally inform her.
…
Wen Wan went to the state-run store to buy fabric and was about to ask around for a tailor shop when she spotted Aunt Zhang standing at her door from afar.
“You came back just in time. I made some flatbread—it’s still warm,” Aunt Zhang said with a smile.
She had knocked earlier with no response and was about to leave when Wen Wan returned.
She worked at the cotton mill and had received kindness from the old factory director. She was also close to Wen Wan’s mother, so now that Wen Wan had moved back, she wanted to look after her.
Yesterday, her husband had only helped move some furniture, yet he brought back several pieces of sponge cake. She couldn’t accept that for nothing.
“Auntie, I can’t eat all of this,” Wen Wan said, looking at the plate full of flatbread.
“You’re too thin—you should eat more. If you don’t feel like cooking in the future, come eat at my place. Don’t be polite. Your grandparents helped our family a lot back then,” Aunt Zhang said.
Seeing that she couldn’t refuse, Wen Wan accepted.
They opened the gate and walked into the yard while chatting.
“Auntie, do you know where there’s a tailor shop? I bought some fabric this afternoon and want to make a duvet cover and curtains,” Wen Wan asked.
“Why look for a tailor shop? I can make them,” Aunt Zhang replied.
“Really? That’s great!”
Wen Wan showed her the curtain design she had drawn. She had searched a long time at the store to find the white gauze suitable for lace.
“I didn’t expect curtains could be made like this—it’s so beautiful,” Aunt Zhang praised.
When her son got married and prepared a new house, she would make curtains like this too.
Before leaving, Wen Wan insisted on giving Aunt Zhang one yuan as a labor fee. She couldn’t take advantage of her kindness for free.
Aunt Zhang initially refused, but seeing Wen Wan’s sincerity, she accepted it.
This child really took after the Lu family—honest and kind.
That evening, Wen Wan only ate a few pieces of flatbread, then took some strawberries from her space and made herself a cup of flower tea—dinner was settled.
Early the next morning, Wen Wan went to the cotton mill.
As it happened, the factory’s broadcaster had recently passed an exam and transferred to the county radio station.
Wen Wan had a high school education, was well-read, and had a pleasant voice—she was perfect for the position.
Director Liu immediately made the decision.
“Director Liu, now that Comrade Wen Wan has taken the broadcasting position, what about Lin Zhenzhen, who was temporarily filling in before?”