The few male comrades behind Su Yuan all saw what was happening on the bridge. Four or five young men immediately rushed over together and angrily shouted at Pei Huaiye.
“Let go of that female comrade!”
Su Yuan’s gaze was ferocious, as if he wanted to devour someone alive. “Committing hooliganism in broad daylight—come on, you’re coming with us to the police station!”
Pei Huaiye’s temples throbbed violently. Su Qingyue stepped forward with reddened eyes.
“Second Brother, he’s my lifesaver—not a hooligan!
“He was only stopping me because he was afraid I’d jump into the river.”
She looked at Pei Huaiye with lingering affection. “He’s a good person—he’s really not what you think!”
The enthusiastic men who had been about to argue further withdrew after hearing her words.
When Pei Huaiye heard the words “Second Brother,” he froze. He looked at Su Qingyue again, and the gloom in his eyes softened noticeably.
Only then did Su Yuan realize that this was the man who had saved Su Qingyue in the cornfield.
He immediately stepped forward and awkwardly greeted Pei Huaiye.
“Comrade Pei, thank you for saving my sister. Let me treat you to a meal.”
Pei Huaiye didn’t want to go, yet his feet seemed to disobey him as he followed Su Yuan toward the state-run restaurant.
Su Qingyue walked behind them, her heart full of unspoken words. Looking at the back of Pei Huaiye’s head, she didn’t know how to begin.
At the state-run restaurant, the blackboard menu listed seasonal vegetables, pork, and fish.
Su Yuan ordered four meat dishes and three vegetable dishes in one go, then raised his glass again to thank Pei Huaiye for saving his sister.
Su Qingyue also poured herself a little alcohol, but Pei Huaiye quietly replaced it with water.
“Don’t drink. The intention is what matters.”
Her cheeks were still pink from crying. With shining eyes, Su Qingyue lifted a mug of tea and thanked him.
“Pei Huaiye, thank you for saving me! I’ll never forget your lifesaving grace!”
Pei Huaiye tilted his head back and downed a cup of liquor. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. He lifted his eyes and said coolly,
“It was nothing more than a small effort. Comrade Su, there’s no need to dwell on it.”
Su Qingyue really wanted to explain the matter of her fiancé, but it was clearly not the right occasion.
She could only furrow her brows and look at Pei Huaiye with a pitiful, aggrieved expression.
Under her wronged yet deeply affectionate gaze, Pei Huaiye’s entire body stiffened, unable to move.
Did this woman even know what she was doing?!
She clearly had a fiancé—yet she was still teasing him?
Throughout the entire meal, Pei Huaiye didn’t initiate a single word with Su Qingyue, nor did his eyes linger on her for even a second.
Yet as he chatted and laughed with Su Yuan, he kept one hand hovering protectively near Su Qingyue, shielding her as servers passed by to serve dishes. He placed the meat dishes in front of her, and when her lips reddened from the chili, he even waved for warm water.
Watching the strange, flowing tension between Su Qingyue and Pei Huaiye, Su Yuan’s inner alarm bells rang loudly.
Though he wasn’t married, Su Qingyue’s infatuated gaze toward Pei Huaiye was far too obvious.
Thinking of how the telegram about saving Su Qianqian had been sent by Shen Xunbao, Su Yuan’s heart sank.
He was almost certain that something had gone wrong between Su Qingyue and Shen Xunbao.
Could it be that…
Su Yuan’s brow twitched sharply. He couldn’t just stand by and watch both of his sisters do something foolish.
So after the meal, Su Yuan paid the bill and immediately found an excuse to take Su Qingyue back to the guesthouse.
As soon as they entered, he asked, “What’s going on between you and Pei Huaiye?”
In the past, Su Qingyue would have been willing to confide her troubles to her second brother. But now, thinking of everything her adoptive family had done for Su Qianqian, she suddenly found herself unwilling to trust anyone.
“Nothing,” she said. “I just feel like he dislikes me, and I wanted to ask why.”
Su Yuan relaxed. “Pei Huaiye just looks fierce—that’s all. He’s not targeting you. Alright then, how are things between you and Shen Xunbao lately?”
Su Qingyue hid a trace of doubt. When she raised her head again, her face returned to that pure, innocent look.
“We’re doing well. He cares a lot about me.”
Su Yuan asked a few more detailed questions. Su Qingyue fabricated answers about how well Shen Xunbao treated her.
Burning with urgency to meet Pei Huaiye alone, Su Qingyue said anxiously, “Second Brother, I still have something to do. I’m leaving first!”
“Qingyue, I’ll take you to the station.”
No matter what, Su Yuan refused to let her ride alone. Only after personally seeing her onto the bus did he feel at ease.
Once Su Qingyue saw that Su Yuan was gone, she walked to the front of the bus and pleaded,
“Comrade driver, I’m sorry—I forgot something. Could you please stop the bus?”
Seeing her anxious expression, the driver pulled over to the roadside.
Su Qingyue turned and ran.
She didn’t know where Pei Huaiye’s unit was, so she went straight to the police station.
The officers recognized her—they were handling her case recently. After reporting inside, they let her in.
Liu Qiang was writing a report. Seeing her, he motioned for her to sit.
“You’re here to ask about the outcome of the case?”
Su Qingyue nodded. “Comrade officer, may I ask what the situation is now?”
Liu Qiang sat upright.
“The server at the state-run restaurant testified that Zhou Wenfang did indeed invite Zhang Jun to share a table.
“Zhou Wenfang also admitted that she misled Su Qianqian and Zhang Jun into targeting you. Zhang Jun admitted to hugging you in the cornfield.
“However, since no substantial harm was caused, Zhou Wenfang will be sent to a farm for reform through labor.
“Zhang Jun will be detained for one month for criticism and education, and his work unit has already demoted him to a Level Three worker.”
Su Qingyue let out a heavy sigh. “Then… what about Su Qianqian?”
Liu Qiang’s shoulders slumped slightly, his voice slowing.
“Su Qianqian—released without charge. The official document will be issued tomorrow.”
Disappointment flashed across Su Qingyue’s face. She adjusted her tone and continued,
“Comrade officer, lastly, I’d like to treat my lifesaver, Comrade Pei Huaiye, to a meal to thank him, but I can’t find him. Could you help me?”
Liu Qiang didn’t know where Pei Huaiye’s secret base was—and even if he did, he wouldn’t dare say.
After thinking it over, knowing that Pei Huaiye or Yuan Guang came by daily to coordinate tasks, he handed her paper and pen.
“Leave a note. I’ll pass it on to him.”
Su Qingyue’s eyes lit up. She uncapped the fountain pen and quickly wrote several lines, then folded the paper again and again.
Liu Qiang sealed it in front of her. “Alright.”
After thanking him, Su Qingyue went to the agreed place to wait.
……
After finishing his task, Pei Huaiye had just lain down in the dormitory when Yuan Guang woke him.
“Colonel! Boss! You’ve got a letter—Su Qingyue left it.”
Pei Huaiye’s eyes flew open. He snatched the letter from Yuan Guang’s hand and scanned it in a few quick glances.
“Pei Huaiye, I have something important to tell you. I’ll be waiting for you under the big bridge at noon. If you don’t come, I won’t leave. —Su Qingyue”
His brows knit tightly. “What time is it now?”
Yuan Guang handed him two aluminum lunch boxes. “Almost seven. If you don’t eat now, it’ll get cold.”
The bus back to Shuangqiao Commune left around six-thirty. She definitely wouldn’t have been able to catch it.
Pei Huaiye immediately jumped out of bed, his face grim. He put the lunch boxes into a net bag, grabbed a canteen, and headed out.
“I’m going back to the village tonight. I’m taking the bicycle.”
Su Qingyue sat quietly on the bridge pier, watching the sunset. The sun, like a burning fireball, slowly sank into the river, dyeing the horizon a golden red.
Time flowed on like water. The sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the sky gradually darkened, and night was about to fall.
Su Qingyue’s heart sank with it, the light in her eyes slowly fading.
*Ding-ling, ding-ling.*
The sound of a bell rang out as Pei Huaiye pushed his bicycle toward her from the darkness.