Zou Zhanyang was in a hurry to leave and responded casually, “I’ll go right away.”
Zhou Weiguo stood in place, hesitated, and then asked, “Commander Zou, did a young lady come looking for me just now?”
“It’s like this. I had an appointment with someone here—it’s the daughter of Chief of Staff Shen,” Zou Zhanyang replied. Being from the same compound, Zhou should recognize her.
“A blind date?” Zou Zhanyang’s voice dropped slightly, as if recalling something.
Zhou Weiguo was puzzled. “Yes… it’s been half an hour past the scheduled time. I don’t even know if she’s still around. Well, maybe I should just go to the Shen residence to look for her.”
As he spoke, his voice grew quieter. For some reason, he felt that Zou Zhanyang was displeased.
Strange. He hadn’t offended him… yet Zou’s expression grew darker. He could have sworn Zou had even glared at him.
“No need,” Zou Zhanyang said in a low tone. “I saw it just now. She left after not finding you and even said she’d never be with someone who isn’t punctual.”
“So… you’re out of luck.” Zou Zhanyang added seriously, in case Zhou didn’t understand.
Zhou Weiguo’s face immediately fell.
Zou Zhanyang patted him on the shoulder, his voice earnest. “I remember your leave is almost over. I happen to have a task for you.”
…
No sooner had Zou Zhanyang submitted the marriage report than Lu Siyuan appeared.
“Old Zou, that wasn’t fair! You left without telling me, made me wait in the park for nothing!” Lu Siyuan flopped onto the sofa and gulped down the contents of his water bottle in one go.
“Sorry.” Zou Zhanyang apologized half-heartedly. “Do me a favor—I need information on the Shen family.”
“The Shen family? Which one? There are two Shen families in the compound.” Lu Siyuan’s eyes lit up instantly, and he straightened up. “I didn’t expect you to be interested in gossip. Recently, the whole double-Shen heiress scandal was all over the place.”
“Tsk, it’s such bad timing. Just when the Shen family is about to be sent down, we realize it. That poor daughter of Chief of Staff Shen—she was only just recognized and now has to go down to the countryside with her family. It’s tough down there; I wonder if a girl can survive it.”
Lu Siyuan rambled on, his mouth dry from talking. “I’ll help you investigate the Shen family, but you have to agree to one condition. It’s not much—the army is about to hold a social gathering. I’m not asking you to attend, just go through the motions, that’s all.”
Zou Zhanyang gave Lu Siyuan a lazy glance, feeling that something was off about the look.
Before Lu could figure it out, Zou Zhanyang slowly said, “I already have someone, it’s not appropriate.”
Lu Siyuan: ?!!
…
When Shen Qingjun arrived at her front door, she hadn’t even opened it before someone pulled her aside.
Shen Qingjun shook off Sun Lanzhi’s hand. “What are you doing here? Didn’t we agree we wouldn’t have anything to do with each other? Why are you here today?”
Strangely enough, the original self had lived safely in the same compound as the real heiress for over a decade, without knowing her true parentage. But just as her biological parents were about to be sent down, she found out—and coincidentally, Shen Hanyang and Sun Lanzhi had arranged a disastrous match for her.
“Do you think I care to look for you? I came to ask when you’re transferring your household registration!” Sun Lanzhi threw the household register into Shen Qingjun’s hands, glancing around nervously to avoid being seen.
Everyone knew the Shen family was on the brink of disaster. Anyone associated would be unlucky. If it weren’t for the household registration issue, she wouldn’t have bothered coming.
The reminder made Shen Qingjun remember:
The adoption process had been rushed. With Shen Hanyang and Bai Yue busy with the investigation, and Shen Zhigao and Sun Lanzhi unwilling to intervene, the matter of transferring the household registration fell to the original self, who had never actually moved it.
In other words, her household registration was still at Shen Zhigao’s house.
Seeing Sun Lanzhi look around cautiously, Shen Qingjun smiled. The household registration would be transferred, but Sun Lanzhi had no say in where.
Shen Qingjun put the register away. “Got it.”
“Tomorrow, you and Weiwei better get the household registration transferred back. If you dare play tricks, I’ll throw you to Ma Daqiang’s house. You know what happens if you end up there, right?” Sun Lanzhi threatened fiercely.
Shen Qingjun’s steps froze, her eyes cold. She hated being threatened.
She called out to Sun Lanzhi, who was about to leave: “Shen Xinwei is at home. Aren’t you going to talk to her?”
“What? Weiwei is at your house?” Sun Lanzhi’s face changed.
“Yes. She seems so happy, calling out ‘Mom, Dad’ every day. You and Shen Zhigao are useless. Even her foster parents are about to be sent down, and she doesn’t choose you. Tsk tsk… what does that make you, if not useless?”
Shen Qingjun’s words were like a fishbone caught in Sun Lanzhi’s throat—impossible to swallow or spit out. Her face twisted with frustration and anger.
Shen Qingjun knew when to stop. Before Sun Lanzhi’s rage could explode, she dropped a line: “Wait here, I’ll call someone,” and walked off.
Back at the Shen residence, Shen Xinwei rushed up eagerly. “How did it go?”
“What do you mean how did it go? Didn’t you say you had a stomachache?”
Shen Xinwei was impatient. “I’m fine. I mean the afternoon meeting—did the man like you?”
Shen Qingjun was too lazy to answer. She interrupted: “Your mom is at the door waiting for you.”
“My mom isn’t…” Shen Xinwei froze. Perhaps remembering she had another mother, she zipped her mouth and went out.
At the door, Sun Lanzhi grabbed Shen Xinwei, trying to pull her away. Shen Xinwei resisted. “Mom, let go! I’m not going with you.”
“You’re not going? Do you want to stay at the Shen residence? Don’t you know the Shen family is about to fall? You want to go down with them?” Sun Lanzhi glared at her. “If I’d known you’d keep running to the Shen house, I wouldn’t have agreed to help you in the first place.”
Sun Lanzhi was angry and hurt. Shen Qingjun’s words had struck a nerve.
Seeing Sun Lanzhi genuinely angry, Shen Xinwei immediately tried to sweet-talk her. “Mom, don’t be mad. I know you care for me. You never treated Shen Qingjun as your own, so when I asked you to help me come back, you agreed. I know you love me.”
Though Shen Xinwei hadn’t grown up with her, Sun Lanzhi’s love wasn’t lacking; she even felt guilty for the past swap. If she hadn’t been briefly misled into switching the children, Weiwei wouldn’t have suffered. But who knew Shen Zhigao would rise so high and Shen Hanyang’s family fall?
There’s no cure for regret. Talking about it now is too late.
Sun Lanzhi sighed. “What exactly are you thinking? Tell me. If you can convince me, I’ll convince your father.”
Shen Xinwei’s eyes lit up, and she whispered something into Sun Lanzhi’s ear.
At first, Sun Lanzhi was indifferent, but her eyes brightened as she listened. “Really? You’re not lying?”
Shen Xinwei nodded. “Of course. If it weren’t for the Shen family’s matters, why would I come back to suffer?”
Sun Lanzhi still felt uneasy. “The countryside isn’t like the city. There’s work to do. I think you should take Shen Qingjun with you. She’ll handle the chores. I can tell that Shen Hanyang and Bai Yue genuinely care for you. With you there, Shen Qingjun won’t cause trouble.”
“Mom, I know what I’m doing.”
Shen Xinwei felt it made sense. If Shen Qingjun married Zhou Weiguo, all the better. If not, she could still be served by her in the countryside. Thinking this, she felt her future was bright and promising—the life of a wealthy lady awaited.
They spoke a bit more. Before leaving, Sun Lanzhi reminded Shen Xinwei to keep an eye on Shen Qingjun’s household registration. Shen Xinwei nodded perfunctorily and went back inside to ask Shen Qingjun to help her register for the sent-down youth program the next day.
“All right,” Shen Qingjun agreed happily.
…
A night of peaceful dreams, the day to obtain the marriage certificate—a good day.
As usual, Shen Qingjun drank the Lingquan water. Her pale face gradually regained color, a sign her body was recovering.
Stepping into the living room, she saw a scene of family warmth. Shen Xinwei was whispering something to Bai Yue, who laughed heartily. Shen Hanyang looked on fondly, and Shen Hao smiled sweetly.