Early the next morning, Shu Cheng’an brought his grandmother to the Zhou residence, stayed to accompany her for a while, then apologized and left early.
Zhou Jihuai saw him out: “Heading back to the Public Security Bureau?”
Shu Cheng’an: “I need to go to Jianghe Village.”
Zhou Jihuai narrowed his eyes: “Something with the team?”
“No, my aunt’s orders. I have to go take care of it immediately.”
Zhou Jihuai understood and didn’t press further.
Shu Cheng’an opened the car door—Xiao Liu was already inside.
He got in and rolled down the window: “Brother Huai, could you check on my grandmother while I’m away?”
Zhou Jihuai agreed, then turned back toward the house.
Soon, a group of uninvited guests arrived.
Leading them was the Zhou family’s second son, Zhou Yusheng.
Zhou Yusheng hadn’t expected to run into his older brother right at the entrance and shrank back: “Brother.”
Zhou Jihuai responded indifferently with a hum, then walked past him toward the center of the living room.
Zhou Yusheng breathed a sigh of relief and went to find Ye Qin: “Grandma! I brought my classmates to wish you a happy birthday.”
“Look, these are all my classmates.”
The students offered their congratulations in a lively chorus.
Ye Qin smiled, her eyes crinkling: “Very good, very good. Such fine children.”
Zhou Yusheng pulled a girl forward: “Grandma, this is my deskmate, Wen Nuan.”
Zhou Jihuai stood not far away, his back to them, his eyes flickering slightly.
He wondered if the young girl he’d rarely bothered to give a ride to had settled in alright.
“This is Grandma’s friend, call her Grandma Qu,” Ye Qin’s displeased voice sounded from behind.
Zhou Yusheng, who had been too focused on introducing Wen Nuan and forgotten his manners, quickly added: “Hello, Grandma Qu.”
As he finished, Wen Nuan spoke up: “Grandma?”
Her eyes darted about, looking uncomfortable.
Qu Jinghong smiled and nodded, introducing her to Ye Qin: “This is Xiao Ying’s daughter, my granddaughter.”
Ye Qin looked closely at Wen Nuan: “This child’s nose resembles yours—very delicate.”
Wen Nuan wasn’t pleased to hear that.
She had dressed up carefully today, wearing light makeup and a pale pink dress with layered tulle skirt.
It was foreign merchandise Shu Ying had bought for her from the Foreign Exchange Building a few days ago for her birthday—costing a hundred yuan for just this one dress.
She had picked it out herself; Shu Ying hadn’t actually approved of this dress, but couldn’t dissuade her.
She really had no taste—this dress suited her so well, as if tailored just for her.
How could Zhou Yusheng’s grandmother be so bad with words, only complimenting her delicateness?
Even just for the sake of the dress, she should have said she looked pretty!
“Grandma Zhou, may you live as long as the heavens.”
Ye Qin handed her a handful of preserved fruits: “That’s very thoughtful of you. Go play with Yusheng. Yusheng, take good care of Nuan Nuan.”
Wen Nuan was eager to leave.
She didn’t want to stay too close to her grandmother.
Zhou Yusheng couldn’t wait to take Wen Nuan out, but she paused by the sofa, looking at Zhou Jihuai as she asked: “Zhou Yusheng, how old is your older brother?”
A sense of crisis rose in Zhou Yusheng: “Why are you asking? He’s already twenty-four.”
Wen Nuan’s eyes shifted, lost in thought.
Zhou Yusheng grabbed her hand and pulled her away: “My brother always has a cold face, he’s hard to get along with. When he’s ruthless, he can be deadly. Stop looking at him—if you make him angry, you’re done for.”
Wen Nuan still glanced back at Zhou Jihuai.
Zhou Jihuai was talking with guests who had come to offer birthday wishes, his expression calm, every bit the image of a young talent.
Although he seemed difficult to approach, his looks were infinitely better than the easygoing Zhou Yusheng’s.
How come she never knew Zhou Yusheng had such a handsome older brother? If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have bothered getting close to Zhou Yusheng.
……
Wen Zhile went out to buy breakfast and stopped by the supermarket to pick up some snacks, casually noting the calendar hanging on the wall.
June 17, 1989. Lunar calendar: May 14th. Saturday.
Since her parents had no classes scheduled on Saturdays in early May, she decided she wouldn’t go to school either.
Before leaving, Wen Zhile glanced at the beautiful woman in the photo on the upper half of the calendar.
The woman sat comfortably on the beach in a sleeveless dress, looking utterly at ease.
She felt a twinge of envy.
She wanted to wear dresses too. In her previous life, her wardrobe had been filled with them.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t wear them now.
In her past life, she had been tall with long legs, a full bust, a slender waist, snow-white skin, and a rosy complexion. But in this life, she was stuck with a malnourished, frail body and lackluster skin. Wearing a dress wouldn’t look good on her, especially since her arms and legs were covered in scars.
[Sister, I can help you improve your physique and remove your scars.]
Wen Zhile returned to her room: “How?”
[Eat more, sleep more, exercise more, and get more sun.]
[You have naturally fair skin, so you won’t tan—you’ll just look healthier.]
[In three months at most, or as little as one month, you’ll definitely have glowing skin and a healthier body than you do now.]
[If you want faster results, why not take a two-pronged approach? See a traditional Chinese medicine doctor at the same time to target your health issues.]
[The Traditional Chinese Medicine Department at the General Hospital of the Army recently developed a Scar Removal Cream. It’s still in the trial phase and not available to the public, but you could try to get a few bottles.]
[As for your height, you’re still young—you should be able to grow taller.]
Wen Zhile nodded. Everything Xiao Jiu said made sense, but she had hoped for some quick, miraculous solution. Clearly, you can’t become fat in one mouthful.
She had already considered most of what Xiao Jiu mentioned. The last point about her height didn’t worry her either.
In her previous life, she had shot up at sixteen, growing rapidly from 160 cm to 170 cm.
Out of all that, the most useful advice was the second-to-last sentence.
The General Hospital… wasn’t her aunt the director of the General Hospital of the Army?
And around 1989, wasn’t she the head of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department?
Wen Zhile’s eyes curved into a smile, a small weight lifting from her heart.
She stood in the sunlight on the street for a moment before leisurely walking back to the hotel. “Sister Xiuxiu, I brought you a cup of soy milk. Drink it while it’s hot.”
Fang Xiuxiu felt too embarrassed. She took the soy milk and initially thought about paying for it but worried Wen Zhile wouldn’t accept the money. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “My shift ends at noon today. I’m planning to go to the market this afternoon to buy some new clothes. Do you want to come?”