“Zheyan, your romantic luck seems a bit strong.”
In the car, Chen Qi, who had just been sent out from the interrogation room, said sympathetically.
Chen Qi was a man brought up by Old Master Si. The Si family had shown him great kindness, and he had grown up alongside Si Zheyan, so he spoke very directly.
Si Zheyan frowned slightly. Since childhood, his looks had been outstanding, making him the center of attention wherever he went. He had been admired by countless girls, so he immediately understood what Lin Keke meant with just one glance earlier.
That direct, goal-oriented stare made him instinctively feel uncomfortable.
“Brother Qi, stop teasing me.”
“Honestly, instead of that fiancée of yours, you might as well take this one.”
“Your fiancée…” Thinking of Lin Yunchu earlier—who clearly had already lost her innocence but still desperately denied it—Chen Qi made a complicated expression. “At least this one is openly into you.”
“Brother Qi, since when did you become a matchmaker? If you like her so much, why don’t you marry her yourself?” Si Zheyan said unhappily, glaring at him. “I came all the way here to help you catch criminals, and you still won’t stop? I’m going home to sleep!”
He had just returned home for a visit, luggage not even unpacked, when his grandfather dragged him out to assist special police in catching criminals.
No credit, only hardship.
“Alright, alright! I’ll stop talking.”
Chen Qi looked at him with sympathy. “About your fiancée… has Old Master Si said what he plans to do yet?”
Si Zheyan’s brows furrowed even deeper.
All his life, he suddenly learned that he had a fiancée. He didn’t even know who she was or what she looked like.
Even worse—this fiancée had gotten drunk and lost her innocence on the street at night.
Before even getting married, he was already metaphorically wearing a green hat.
Thinking of this, another image suddenly flashed in his mind—the fierce little girl who had helped subdue the attacker with a kitchen knife earlier.
No, that fiancée—he absolutely would not accept her.
“Comrade, I’d like a Seagull camera.”
Lin Yunchu walked into Yue City’s largest department store and pointed at the camera in the display cabinet without hesitation.
The saleswoman couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times. Even in Yue City, very few people could afford—or were willing—to buy a camera.
Not only was the camera expensive, but film was expensive too. One roll cost fourteen yuan, and developing it also cost fourteen yuan. A single roll cost at least thirty yuan in total.
The store had brought in two units, and even after being on display from last year to this year, one was still unsold.
The girl in front of her had bruises on her face and bandages on her hands—could she even afford it?
“Whether I can afford it or not, you should at least let me take a look first, right?” Lin Yunchu smiled, clearly seeing through her doubt.
“That’s not what I meant.” The saleswoman took it down. “Here, the camera costs four hundred yuan.”
“Oh.”
Four hundred yuan—yesterday she might have thought it was expensive.
But now… it was nothing.
She currently had 1,360 yuan in her pocket.
“Give me two rolls of film as well.”
“Total is 428 yuan, correct?”
“I’ll pay now.”
She paid directly.
In an era where monthly wages were only thirty to forty yuan, spending over four hundred in one go made her feel like she was throwing money around.
And she liked that feeling.
In a quiet, empty corner, Lin Yunchu took out Wang Xiujun’s notebook from her bag and snapped photos of its important contents.
She could have copied them by hand.
But her principle was simple—if money could solve it, she would never waste effort.
After finishing the important shots, she took the film and went to Haiyan Photo Studio.
“Yunchu, I’ve been looking for you! What happened last night?”
Haiyan Photo Studio was run by Pang Dahai, the older brother of her friend Pang Xiaoyan. Seeing her, Pang Xiaoyan was both surprised and worried.
“Yanzi, I’m fine. But I need your help with something. Please develop these photos for me. Don’t let anyone see the contents, and don’t spread anything after you’ve seen them.”
What she photographed absolutely could not be discovered by Wang Xiujun. After thinking it over, Pang Xiaoyan’s family was the safest choice.
“No problem at all,” Pang Xiaoyan nodded. “By the way, you still haven’t answered me. I even went to your house earlier. They said your mother is going to send you back to the countryside?”
“Don’t go back there. Life in the countryside is unbearable—working from sunrise to sunset, exhausting labor, barely enough food or clothes. If it really comes to it, you can work at my place.”
For the first time since transmigrating into the book, warmth spread through Lin Yunchu’s heart. So the original host really did have a true friend.
“Yanzi, if I need your help, I won’t hesitate. I’m really fine—I know what I’m doing.”
She held Pang Xiaoyan’s hand, smiling firmly.
“Comrade Lin Yunchu, Old Master Si is looking for you.”
Two plainclothes officers walked into the small photo studio with firm, steady steps.
She recognized them—they were former subordinates of Old Master Si.
Wang Xiujun had gone to the Si household with Lin Keke, but Old Master Si had not received them there. Instead, he came to find her?
“Alright.”
Lin Yunchu followed the two officers into the car.
Old Master Si was inside. When he saw her, he didn’t mention anything about last night.
Instead, he took out a photograph.
The person in it was very familiar to her.
It was the same photo that had been mixed in with the pile Chen Qi had shown her earlier—but now Old Master Si had singled it out.
Confused, she looked at him.
Wasn’t he here to talk about breaking off the engagement with his grandson?
“Yunchu, have you seen him before?” Old Master Si asked gently.
“…”
Her eyes were full of caution, and she did not answer.
“Yunchu, you can trust Grandpa Si.” His gaze was wise and warm, tempered by years of experience. “I am looking for him. He is one of my comrades. He is in danger, and I must bring him back alive.”
Lin Yunchu studied him carefully.
Given his status and lifetime of integrity, he had no reason to lie.
Out of so many photos, he had only taken this one.
She suddenly felt a sense of relief.
When things were unclear, she had worried he might be an enemy.
But he wasn’t.
He was one of their own.
And it was “one of their own” who had saved her.
“Yes. I saw him at Crystal Alley. When Black Ghost and his men came, I covered for him. After they left, I fainted. When I woke up, he was gone.”
Since Old Master Si had been honest, she had no reason to hide anything.
“Good child. Thank you.” The old man’s tense heart eased slightly. There was finally progress in the long search.
“Grandpa hopes you keep this matter confidential.”
Lin Yunchu nodded. “I understand. I won’t tell anyone.”
“I’ll get going now.”
“Alright.”
Lin Yunchu got out of the car.
Not far away, Wang Xiujun and Lin Keke—who had been waiting at the Si residence for most of the day without seeing Old Master Si and were heading back—were walking along the main road.
From a distance, they saw a black Hongqi jeep parked by the roadside. They were very familiar with it—it was Old Master Si’s official vehicle.
Just as they were about to greet him, they saw a familiar figure in light green clothing step out of the car.
Taking a closer look—
It was Lin Yunchu, who was supposed to be recovering at home.