Nan Jin also knew that surveillance systems were not yet in place at this time, and many aspects were still underdeveloped, making it difficult to investigate matters thoroughly.
“Whatever, I’m leaving anyway. Starting a new life from now on can be considered a farewell to the past.”
“Will you go back to the Gu family to say goodbye to them?”
“Is it necessary?” Of course, she wouldn’t bid them farewell. Why invite trouble? Wouldn’t it be better to slip away quietly?
Yuan Zheng didn’t press the matter further. “After you finish eating, pack up. We’ll leave soon and stay at a guesthouse near the bus station tonight.”
The bus was scheduled for 7 a.m., and it would take over an hour to get there from here. If they were to catch the bus in the morning, they’d have to wake up around 5 a.m.—it was just too rushed.
Hearing that they would head to the bus station that night, Nan Jin immediately agreed. “Alright.” She buried her head in her meal, eating quickly, and washed the dishes afterward.
“What about this aluminum lunchbox?”
It didn’t belong here, so there was no need to leave it behind. Besides, Gu Shaoxuan probably wouldn’t come back here now.
“Bring it along. It might come in handy on the train.”
Nan Jin packed it without hesitation, as she didn’t have much luggage anyway.
She went back to her room to gather her clothes and came out. Yuan Zheng helped her with her bags.
She left the key in the center of the table, picked up the lock, and walked out.
Yuan Zheng glanced at the key before shifting his gaze back to her.
After locking the door, she followed Yuan Zheng out.
By then, it was already dark. Some households in the residential compound had their lights on, with parents helping their children with homework. Others had gone out to chat with neighbors, while a few sat outside in the courtyard to enjoy the cool evening breeze.
As the two walked out, curious eyes followed them. However, in the dim light, with Nan Jin walking behind Yuan Zheng, his tall frame obscured her smaller figure, making it difficult for onlookers to see clearly.
Only after they had passed did some people feel that the woman’s silhouette looked familiar.
“Who was that? The man seemed to be carrying luggage, as if they were moving out.”
“That woman looked like Nan Zhu. Could it be that she found another man right after her divorce and left with him?”
“She’s an orphan, and after a miscarriage and divorce, how could she find another man so easily?”
“Even though it was hard to see clearly, that man had a great physique. His upright posture and the way he walked reminded me of a police officer.”
“A police officer? Could it be that she got into trouble and is being taken away again at night?”
“That must be it. She even brought clothes with her—she’s probably going to be locked up for a long time this time.”
“She always seemed like such a decent woman, but who would have thought she’d turn out like this?”
“Maybe she’s resentful after Teacher Gu divorced her?”
“Actually, she’s quite pitiful—an orphan with nowhere to go after the divorce.”
“Pitiful people often have their own flaws. She brought it upon herself.”
Whispers and speculations followed them, and Nan Jin, walking behind, caught snippets of the conversation.
Yuan Zheng glanced back at her, but she simply smiled without saying a word.
Once they left the residential compound, she saw a police car parked outside. Yuan Zheng led her to the car, which made her feel somewhat awkward.
If she had known a car was waiting, she wouldn’t have taken so long.
“Xiao Zhu, this is my friend Chu Lingfeng. He’s giving us a ride to the bus station so we won’t have to rush tomorrow.”
Yuan Zheng actually introduced the identity of the young man in the car to her—a youth dressed in blue police uniform.
Of course, sitting in the back, she couldn’t clearly see his facial features and had no idea what he looked like.
But since Yuan Zheng had already introduced him, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to say nothing.
“Hello, Comrade Chu. Sorry to trouble you,” she greeted politely.
Chu Lingfeng smiled faintly in return. “Hello, Comrade Nan! It’s no trouble at all.”
Yuan Zheng actually introducing him to a female comrade was truly unexpected.
If the timing weren’t so inappropriate, he would definitely have chatted with him for a while.
Nan Jin didn’t continue the conversation, as she wasn’t familiar with him, and fell silent.
Instead, Yuan Zheng and Chu Lingfeng chatted all the way to the bus station, discussing the Gu family’s burglary case.
At this hour, the bus station was already sparsely populated. Chu Lingfeng dropped them off at the guesthouse across from the station.
“Give me a call to let me know you’ve arrived safely,” Chu Lingfeng said to Yuan Zheng, who was about to close the car door after getting out.
Yuan Zheng agreed, then went to help Nan Jin with her luggage and waved goodbye.
“Thank you, Comrade Chu,” Nan Jin said before getting out and closing the car door.
Only after Chu Lingfeng drove away did Yuan Zheng lead her into the guesthouse.
He booked two rooms facing each other on the second floor, making it convenient for him to keep an eye on her movements at all times.
“The guesthouse can be a bit chaotic. I’m right across from you—if anything happens, just call out loudly.”
The guesthouse room was simple: a bed inside, a table in the middle, and two aluminum buckets and enamel basins with a vintage feel placed behind the door.
The public toilets and showers were located at the back of the first floor. Yuan Zheng checked her room and the window, confirming there were no safety hazards, before heading downstairs with her.
“I’ll take you downstairs to buy some daily necessities and toiletries. You can also take them with you on the bus tomorrow.”
Nan Jin put her things away, taking only her crossbody bag, and went out with him.
The shops downstairs were still open, though business was rather slow.
Yuan Zheng tried to pay for her, but she absolutely refused.
She considered herself somewhat wealthy now—no, she was actually quite rich, with an entire shopping mall at her disposal, able to take whatever she pleased. In this era of scarce resources, wasn’t that the definition of a wealthy woman?
Yuan Zheng couldn’t persuade her, so he let her have her way.
At this hour, the bathhouse at the back was nearly empty. Under the dim yellow light, it felt a bit eerie.
Nan Jin went to the restroom first, but even before getting close, the overwhelming stench nearly made her vomit up everything she had eaten.
Public restrooms at this time weren’t as advanced or convenient as in later years. They weren’t like rural outhouses either—instead, they consisted of an open trench without partitions.
People squatted over the trench to relieve themselves. Though there was running water, the smell was overpowering. The cleaning lady only gave it a cursory sweep each day.
When she rushed out, her face was slightly pale. Seeing the dimly lit shower room under the yellow light, her expression grew even paler.
“Go on in. I’ll keep watch outside for you,” Yuan Zheng said, noticing her hesitation.
Only then did Nan Jin go inside, washing up as quickly as she could.
When she came out to do her laundry, he went in to take a shower.
While Yuan Zheng was showering, Nan Jin stood by the washing area doing her laundry, illuminated only by a dim yellow light.
Outside, there were noisy sounds—mostly the clatter of bicycles, conversations among pedestrians, and hurried footsteps.
Under the faint yellow light, the woman’s shadow stretched long. Feeling somewhat anxious, she hurriedly finished washing her clothes.
In the quiet surroundings, a sudden sound of footsteps emerged behind her.
Nan Jin swiftly turned her head to see a man and a woman approaching, carrying an iron bucket and a ceramic basin. They seemed to be whispering something to each other, appearing very intimate.
Nan Jin glanced at them briefly, assuming they were also residents here, and paid no further mind before turning back to continue washing her clothes.
Soon, the two began walking toward her, and she instantly felt her hair stand on end.
It was a strange sensation—or perhaps it should be called a woman’s intuition.