Song Tian felt a wave of anxiety twist in her chest.
She hurriedly explained, “It’s true. This mangosteen is really spoiled. If the flesh is translucent, you can’t eat it, or you’ll get gastroenteritis.”
“So you think I’m trying to harm you and Beizhen?” Jiang Xiaoyu looked even more aggrieved. “Beizhen, how could I possibly be that kind of person?”
As she spoke, Jiang Xiaoyu grabbed two mangosteens, peeled them, and stuffed the translucent flesh into her mouth.
“If I really get gastroenteritis, I…”
Before she could finish, someone suddenly came sprinting down from upstairs.
It was Zhou Yi.
Clutching his stomach and holding tissues in his hand, his normally gentle face was now pale with a waxy hue.
When he reached the three of them, his path was blocked, and he could only weakly say, “Move… move aside.”
“What’s going on?” Lu Beizhen furrowed his brows, his voice low and serious.
Zhou Yi’s voice trembled. “The mangosteens… were spoiled. Everyone’s got diarrhea… all the bathrooms upstairs are full.”
No sooner had he spoken than his stomach let out a sharp, clear gurgle.
His expression tensed instantly, legs clenching tightly. “Hurry… let me go to the bathroom!”
He couldn’t hold it anymore!
Lu Beizhen stepped aside and watched as Zhou Yi stumbled toward the downstairs bathroom.
Turning his gaze, he saw Jiang Xiaoyu’s face looking just as pale.
The mangosteens were really spoiled?
Impossible!
But everyone was having diarrhea…
Jiang Xiaoyu remembered the two mangosteens she had just eaten and felt a dull pain in her stomach. She hurried off toward the bathroom.
With the commotion over, Song Tian also intended to leave.
“Wait.” Lu Beizhen called after her.
Song Tian looked at him. “Commander Lu, is there something else?”
Surely he wasn’t going to confront her about the mangosteens just now?
“Where did you learn all this?” Lu Beizhen asked in a deep voice.
He stepped closer, closing in on her, cornering her against the wall.
His strong, commanding hands braced on either side of her, forming an unshakable cage that wrapped Song Tian entirely in his embrace.
There were too many suspicious things about her.
She claimed she could repair a car just by watching someone else, and now she could even discern whether rare imported fruit was spoiled.
He was genuinely curious—where had Song Tian learned all this?
The man’s overwhelming, crisp aura enveloped her completely.
Even the medals on his uniform brushed against her cheek.
Cool… yet somehow scorching, making her whole face burn.
Song Tian’s heart raced uncontrollably. She forced a calm expression, pretending nonchalance. “I… read about it in books.”
“Are you sure?”
“What’s wrong? Is it illegal to gain knowledge by reading?” Song Tian countered. Naturally, it wasn’t illegal.
“You stopped schooling after eighth grade, yet you were so willing to study… that surprises me,” Lu Beizhen said, raising a brow.
With that slight lift, his stern face carried a hint of mischief, and his dark eyes, like whirlpools, seemed intent on swallowing her whole.
Song Tian’s palms broke out in cold sweat.
This man had actually investigated her!
It seemed he had put a lot of effort into ensuring a smooth divorce six months later so he could marry Jiang Xiaoyu.
“I dropped out because my family wouldn’t let me continue. After all, I was just an adopted daughter. Studying was a waste of money to them. Not studying doesn’t mean I didn’t like reading.”
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled like the brightest stars in the sky.
Even Lu Beizhen felt a heat from her gaze.
Suddenly, he realized how little he truly knew about this woman.
The mischievous glint in his eyes just now faded, returning to its dark, cold sharpness.
Slowly, he said, “About the mangosteens just now, I—”
Before he could continue, the fleet driver poked his head from downstairs. “Song Tian, have you signed the forms?”
Flustered, Song Tian quickly wriggled out from Lu Beizhen’s restraining embrace and hurriedly straightened her clothes.
Lu Beizhen watched her, his thin lips pressing into a straight line.
Did this woman really fear everyone finding out about them that much?
Song Tian didn’t notice, just shouting, “Yes! Just signed them!”
The driver stepped forward, finally realizing that Lu Beizhen was standing in the previous blind spot.
He didn’t know who Lu Beizhen was, but seeing the uniform, the medals, and the shoulder insignia, he knew he was a superior.
Quickly forcing a smile, he said, “Hello, sir. I’m the mechanical plant’s driver, here for Song Tian.”
Lu Beizhen’s face was dark as iron as he nodded and went upstairs.
The driver patted his chest, still shaken. “Song Tian, this is the leader you were signing for—thank you for your hard work!”
Song Tian, such a lovely girl, and that man kept a stern face—what kind of attitude was that?
The driver regretted not agreeing earlier to let Song Tian help with unloading.
It wouldn’t have been real labor anyway—just standing by as a cheerleader, giving encouragement would have been enough.
Anything, just not letting Song Tian endure that hardship!
Back at the mechanical plant, Song Tian didn’t idle, finding more work to do.
By six in the evening, work was over.
Song Tian intended to take the bus home, but as she exited the plant, she saw Fang Shuqin.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” she asked in surprise.
Fang Shuqin’s face held a mysterious smile. She came forward and covered Song Tian’s eyes. “Come, follow me.”
Song Tian didn’t know what was going on but obediently followed.
Blindfolded, she had no sense of distance.
After three to five minutes, Fang Shuqin stopped and released her.
Song Tian opened her eyes to find a bicycle in front of her!
A “28-inch bicycle”!
This bicycle, common in the ’70s, had a long horizontal bar between the handlebars and seat. The wheels were 28 inches, hence the name.
The one in front of her was old but polished spotless by Fang Shuqin. The chain had been oiled, and two red silk flowers were tied to the handlebars, adding warmth.
“To celebrate my little Song Tian starting work, I got you this gift. You can ride it to and from work. Do you like it?”
Before Song Tian could answer, Fang Shuqin looked a bit nervous. “When you married into the family, you only received ten yuan as a betrothal gift. I’ve always felt guilty and wanted to make it up to you. Now, I could only get you an old bike since we didn’t have a bike ticket. Later, when I get one, I’ll exchange it for a new one!”
Song Tian shook her head. “This is perfect, thank you, Mom!”
She hopped on, then turned to pat the back. “Comrade Fang Shuqin, ready to feel the thrill of speed?”
Fang Shuqin laughed and climbed onto the back.
Though Song Tian spoke casually, the 28 Da Gang was actually difficult to ride, and this old one creaked at every joint.
After a short ride, Fang Shuqin got off, worried the bike might fall apart.
“On the way here, Mom bought a sugar cake. I’m so full now, walking will help digest it.”
Song Tian knew this was just an excuse.
She chose to walk too. “I also had some biscuits from a colleague, Mom. We can chat as we walk.”
Pushing the bike, the two of them walked for almost an hour before reaching the residential compound.
Fang Shuqin immediately went to the kitchen to prepare something delicious for Song Tian.
Song Tian went to the yard, toolbox in hand, and started tinkering with the old bicycle.
To reinforce it, she had to take it apart first.
She removed the wheel, which bounced and rolled away.
Panicked, she ran after it.
A few steps later, a large, well-defined hand pressed the wheel down. Above it was a green military uniform, perfectly pressed without a wrinkle…