Xu Qingru’s brows drew together slightly and she stood up at once. “Sister you have come all this way why leave so soon” the man across from her hurried to stop her. At the same time with a loud bang the door through which Xu Qingru had just entered slammed shut.
“If you will not hand it over I will come take it myself” Saying this the man actually started to rise and step toward her. In the black market this was a grave violation of the rules.
“Do you mean to break the code” Xu Qingru fixed him with a stare a pinch of powder appearing in her hand something she had prepared beforehand. One dose of this and he would drop instantly.
“What code Just business” The man was utterly unconcerned.
Xu Qingru was just about to act when another loud bang rang out outside. A gunshot The man jumped in surprise.
“Boss soldiers are coming We have to go now” Two thugs burst in through the side door breathless and urgent. The man glanced at Xu Qingru with obvious reluctance he wanted both the money and her but self preservation won out. He and his men fled leaving Xu Qingru alone.
Outside chaos had erupted. The shots had been fired as a warning by the military patrol but the warning had done little good. Xu Qingru knew at once she could not stay but the moment she stepped out she came face to face with several uniformed soldiers advancing with grim purpose. She froze. All she had wanted was to sell a few small gold bars to Ma Xiulan for a dowry and she had not even made the sale
She shrank back but the footsteps drew closer. She had been spotted.
“Come out” The voice was steady commanding and strangely familiar. Xu Qingru stepped forward and found herself looking straight into Zhou Zhenguo’s face. She had seen him once before late at night but she had studied him long enough then and his features were so strikingly unmistakably bold that she could never forget him. Meeting his gaze however she felt an inexplicable flutter of guilt. Had he recognized her She decided he probably had not his expression was as blank as if they were strangers.
“Take her away” At Zhou Zhenguo’s order Xu Qingru was led off without resistance. Secretly slipping the gold bars from her bag into her personal storage space she breathed a small sigh of relief. If they found nothing the worst she would face would be a written self criticism and a stern lecture nothing she could not get past.
She walked at the back of the group head bowed all the way to the police station. What rotten luck
“Xu Qingru” A voice laced with confusion came from behind her. A figure stepped into her line of sight. She looked up and saw Dong Yunzhou’s cool impassive face. Of all days
“What are you doing here” Dong Yunzhou asked.
“I I” She fumbled for words.
Dong Yunzhou stepped forward showed his identification to the soldiers escorting them exchanged a few brief words and quickly grasped the situation. He looked back at her bold was his unspoken verdict. Xu Qingru ducked her head under his gaze feeling thoroughly guilty. He turned back to the soldiers then came over.
“Come with me”
She followed him like a quiet quail glancing up at him now and then before quickly looking down again terrified he would ask why she had been at the black market. How could she answer To sell gold bars They were not close enough for that. What if he handed her straight back over to the authorities
They reached his car. “Get in the back” Dong Yunzhou said. Only then did she notice another man sitting in the front seat she clamped her mouth shut and said nothing. The ride passed in silence. By the time Xu Qingru found her voice to ask where they were going the car had stopped. The man in the front got out.
“Out” Dong Yunzhou said.
She stepped out to find herself facing a heavily guarded compound sentries posted every few paces eyes watching her every move. She looked to Dong Yunzhou bewildered. This looked like a research institute. What was she doing here
“I am not supposed to go in am I” She knew places like this were top secret strangers were routinely detained as spies. Entering would be unthinkable.
“The directions you gave yesterday were exceptionally accurate” Dong Yunzhou said. “You are welcome to come in and see if you spot any room for improvement”
Reassured she followed him inside into a world she had never once set foot in during her past life. Back then Chen Jiashu had kept her far from the institute to protect his cover he had only ever let her use a private laboratory at home. Watching researchers in white coats hurrying purposefully about her heart swelled. If only she could be part of this
Dong Yunzhou noticed the change in her expression. She was staring at the scientists at work her eyes wide with wonder. If it had been anyone else he would have suspected espionage but her gaze was pure unfeigned admiration. He slowed his pace letting her take it all in. And if she did have ulterior motives He would have her stopped before she could do any harm.
They reached an inner laboratory where the atmosphere was even more focused and intense. Dong Yunzhou pushed the door open no one paused in their work. He clapped his hands gently.
“Everyone this is the person who identified the errors in our experimental report. Her name is Xu Qingru” He hesitated over whether to say more about who she was but hearing her call him Comrade Dong kept him from sharing too much. “She will be observing and participating for a while”
Young and inexperienced she stood out among the seasoned researchers but no one questioned someone Dong Yunzhou had brought. Before long she was engaging with them naturally.
“Director Dong you are wanted on the phone” Someone knocked and signaled him over. Dong Yunzhou glanced back seeing her settling in well he left without worry. Nothing could happen to her here not on his watch.
Xu Qingru barely noticed he had gone. She was deep in conversation with the team and realized several of them were legendary figures she had only ever heard of in her past life. Her excitement grew.