“Even without knowing the law, how did you get elected as the women’s director?” Gu Yanshen withdrew his gaze from Shen Suyu and glared coldly at the women’s director. That look alone made her panic, and she no longer dared to plead.
“Zhong Yao’s matter is no longer under your control. Take them to the police station and teach them what the law is!” Gu Yanshen showed no mercy, immediately calling two subordinates to take them away. Zhong Yao’s mother screamed and clutched the doorframe, refusing to leave, and was dragged out.
“Captain Gu, thank you for what you did today,” Shen Suyu politely said, watching the scene. She hadn’t expected that with Gu Yanshen present, the situation would be resolved so easily. Zhong Yao’s mother and the women’s director had only caused a fuss—they wouldn’t face severe punishment, maybe just some legal education. As for Zhong Yao, he would probably suffer a bit while inside.
“It’s nothing. It’s what I should do,” Gu Yanshen frowned, thinking about the drowning incident. If he hadn’t been careless, Shen Suyu wouldn’t have gotten into so much trouble afterward. He then took out a sleek black pen, wrote a note, and handed it to her.
“This is the contact for our camp families. If the Zhong family causes you trouble again, you can call me.”
“Thank you.” Shen Suyu sincerely accepted the note. After seeing Gu Yanshen leave the ward, she got dressed. She had only been drenched in water; there was no need to waste hospital money—she should return to the sent-down youth camp.
After Zhong Yao’s mother’s commotion, the sky had already darkened. Not long after Shen Suyu left the hospital, rain began to drizzle.
“So unlucky,” Shen Suyu frowned and hurried along.
Meanwhile, Gu Yanshen, walking back to the camp, frowned at the darkening sky. It was raining. In his mind appeared the slender figure of the young girl—she seemed to have no umbrella. His eyes caught a brother from the same camp running toward him, holding an umbrella. Without a word, Gu Yanshen took the umbrella.
“Borrowing this, thanks,” he said.
The sent-down youth camp was some distance from the hospital. As Gu Yanshen caught up, Shen Suyu was walking carefully on the muddy path, slipping slightly.
“Ah—” she cried out instinctively.
The next second, a large hand firmly caught her delicate wrist. Shen Suyu froze and looked up into Gu Yanshen’s deep, glimmering eyes in the dark night. Above her, the rain seemed to vanish.
Before she could react, a warm leftover jacket was draped over her shoulders, wrapping her petite figure completely, leaving only her fair legs exposed.
“Be careful.” Gu Yanshen’s low, slightly panting voice came as he tilted most of the umbrella toward her. “I’ve kept watch—no one is around. Wear this so you don’t catch a cold or get sick.” He had run all the way here.
Shen Suyu frowned. Was he really being so cautious? Was he afraid her honor would be questioned again?
“Th…thank you.” Shen Suyu felt a little embarrassed, inhaling the lingering fresh scent on his jacket. Her heart thumped wildly. Her cheeks flushed as she quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp, as if shocked by electricity.
Gu Yanshen looked at the empty space where her hand had been and shivered slightly in the cold night wind.
“Your shoulders are soaked too?” Shen Suyu glanced at him and realized that most of Gu Yanshen’s shoulder was wet. His white shirt clung tightly to his skin, revealing the contours of his well-trained, muscular back.
Shen Suyu stared for a moment, nearly unable to hold herself.
“Captain Gu, are you alright? Should I give the jacket back to you?” she asked, trying to take it off. Gu Yanshen immediately stopped her.
“No, I’m fine. But you…” His eyes glanced awkwardly at her chest and quickly turned away, his neck flushed red, veins slightly prominent.
Shen Suyu froze. Looking down at her own wet white clothes clinging to her figure, her face instantly heated.
The air was quiet for several seconds. Shen Suyu walked the rest of the way hunched over in embarrassment.
They walked side by side, forced close by the small umbrella. The faint scent of soap from Gu Yanshen reached her nose. Despite the rain, his body felt warm. Shen Suyu’s heart raced the whole way.
When they were still about a hundred meters from the camp, she stopped. “Cough… Captain Gu, thank you again for your help today.” She handed him the jacket.
Gu Yanshen nodded. The atmosphere between them felt subtly charged. Shen Suyu pursed her lips and turned to leave.
“Wait.” The man’s voice stopped her in her tracks, making her heart beat faster.
“Safety check—remember to hand it in to me.”
Shen Suyu stumbled at his words, nearly falling into a puddle. What the heck? This man was impossible—saying something like that at a time like this, what kind of oblivious steel-man energy is this?
“I got it!” Shen Suyu felt embarrassed and hurried the rest of the way back to the camp.
Behind her, Gu Yanshen watched her slightly flustered figure. After seeing her safely enter the camp, he frowned slightly.
Had he said something wrong?
Shen Suyu, damp with rain, had just entered her room when she immediately sensed something was off. Her face paled as she quickly moved to the bedside.
Her books were scattered all over the floor, and the bedding had been turned over, soaking wet underneath.
“Who did this?” Shen Suyu pressed down her anger and glared coldly at the others in the room.
“What do you mean, ‘who did this’? You have the nerve to question others for what you yourself did?”
“Exactly, you’ve completely shamed all of us sent-down girls!”
“I think she’s just lonely and bored, looking for a man, hahaha…” Several of the girls sneered, their words harsh and crude.
Shen Suyu frowned even more tightly. What had she supposedly done?
“小 Yu, you’re finally back! How could you secretly keep so many birth control items? You’re a sent-down girl, what are you doing with these?”
At this moment, Meng Zhiqing lifted the curtain and walked in, face full of concern, her voice so loud it seemed she wanted to set up a loudspeaker at the village entrance.
“小 Yu, what are we going to do now? The women’s office is already saying you have bad conduct and wants you to write a self-criticism!” Meng Zhiqing looked flustered, then started sniffling, “It’s all my fault. I wanted to help you hide it, but you did something like this—I just couldn’t go against my conscience to cover for you.”
Her screeching voice had already drawn a crowd leaning on the wall to watch the drama. Her words instantly pushed Shen Suyu into the spotlight, yet somehow made her look like some pure and innocent saint.
Shen Suyu felt like vomiting at the sight, and at the same time, Meng Zhiqing, in a sycophantic tone, reached out to grab her hand.
“小 Yu, don’t worry. I’ll definitely beg the director for leniency. Just correct yourself properly, and I’m sure the director will forgive you!”