Xu Yingying forced herself to perk up when she saw Chen Jiashu. “Why have you come again?”
“Yingying you haven’t seemed yourself lately what’s wrong? Is there anything I can do to help?”
Thanks to Xu Hui’s influence Chen Jiashu’s name had been removed from the list of those sent down to the countryside. Now he worked as Xu Hui’s assistant with an official post which meant he called on Xu Yingying far more often. Chen Jiashu could not make sense of the looks Xu Hui and Xu Yingying kept giving him nor where their quiet hope sprang from. He knew only that he must stay with Xu Yingying and win her affection otherwise he would lose his job. His family’s political standing was poor his parents had donated nearly all their property just to remain in the capital. Xu Yingying was his only hope now.
“Brother Jiashu how are you getting on working for my father?” Xu Yingying asked testing the waters.
Chen Jiashu paused. Xu Hui asked him much the same thing back at the lab and the truth was he struggled with research most of the time he barely grasped what was going on. Xu Yingying seeing how Xu Qingru was flourishing wanted to push Chen Jiashu to try harder. She knew his supposed future achievements were nothing but fiction but she pushed down her disdain and drew closer speaking gently “If things feel difficult right now don’t lose heart. I truly believe you can do this.”
As she leaned in and he caught her perfume Chen Jiashu’s ears flushed pink. “I I will I’ll work so hard” he stammered.
Xu Yingying smiled. “I believe in you. And when you’ve made something of yourself I’ll marry you.”
Those words I’ll marry you made him nod without hesitation. Xu Yingying was his best and only option. Seeing him so captivated Xu Yingying finally regained the sense of self worth she’d lost these past days. She gave his hand a light squeeze. “Nothing’s official between us yet Father doesn’t want us too close but please believe Brother Jiashu it was love at first sight for me”
His face lit up. Marriage to her suddenly felt certain. Thinking of the questions Xu Hui and Xu Yingying kept asking he added “Yingying I’m actually doing well at the lab. Ideas about research keep coming to me all on their own.”
Her heart raced with excitement. “That’s wonderful Whatever you need just tell Father”
Meanwhile Zhou Zhenguo had gone to find Dong Yunhuai. “Yunhuai I think I’ve fallen for someone.”
Dong Yunhuai shot upright hands braced on his desk staring in disbelief. What Zhou Zhenguo In love Their friends had long joked no one would ever marry him off he was far too particular. Beautiful refined fashionable strong willed none had caught his eye.
“Who is it?” Dong Yunhuai asked already planning to look into her the moment he heard the name.
Zhou Zhenguo smiled and said softly “Xu Qingru.”
“Xu Qingru?” Dong Yunhuai frowned the name sounded so familiar. Then it clicked the daughter of the old man’s beloved. He pictured her at the compound gate and his face twisted with distaste. Of all people why her
“You know her?” Zhou Zhenguo asked.
“She’s my father’s future wife’s daughter” Dong Yunhuai said.
Zhou Zhenguo’s eyes brightened that meant plenty of chances to see her.
Dong Yunhuai decided to speak plainly old friendship or no. “Zhenguo she’s not the easy sort materialistic shallow. You two are wrong for each other.”
“When’s your next family gathering?” Zhou Zhenguo asked at once. “Take me with you.”
Dong Yunhuai shook his head. “You’ve lost your mind completely lost.”
“Just invite me along next time” Zhou Zhenguo said.
Xu Qingru was in good spirits back at the lab finding a way to use her skills. But as she reached the dormitory building someone called to her “Qingru your mother’s been hurt she’s at the hospital”
At the hospital a crowd filled the hallway. Inside the ward arts troupe leaders stood around Ma Xiulan a bandage wrapped round her forehead. She argued fiercely only to be overridden at every turn face burning with anger. Xu Qingru pushed through. She already knew what had happened a stage light had fallen mid performance. She’d ducked just in time to save her life yet shards had still gashed her forehead.
“Xiulan you’ve been with us a long time” one leader was saying. “Don’t stir things up give the troupe peace of mind. We’ll give you twenty yuan and let it go.”
“We don’t want twenty yuan” Xu Qingru said stepping forward. “Who’s responsible Was it negligence or something worse Investigate everything thoroughly or we call the Public Security Bureau.” She stood before her mother blocking their predatory looks.
Ma Xiulan relaxed seeing her daughter then straightened she should be the one protecting her child. She pulled Xu Qingru aside. “Exactly you want this buried. Is it because it wasn’t an accident?”
The leaders’ faces darkened. Xu Qingru saw it clearly and her blood ran hot this was about life and death. “Mother I’ll call them right now.” She made as if to leave but one man blocked her path.
“Xiulan you know your situation” he sneered. “So you’ve remarried well everyone’s talking about it more than ever. If we hadn’t covered things up you’d have been out on your ear long ago.”