Shen Zhiwei stayed for two nights in Gu Yanzhou’s military compound.
It really seemed to shut out the outside world’s chaos and noise for a while.
Her father Shen Guodong’s case had been resolved, and now there was the matter of her relationship with Gu Yanzhou… just as she was thinking this, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open.
Gu Yanzhou came in, his military jacket draped over his arm. He wore only a military-green shirt, two buttons at the collar undone, slightly open.
It revealed the clear lines of his collarbone, softening his usual sternness with a hint of casual, at-home ease.
He carried a mesh bag containing a few tomatoes, a bunch of greens, and a small piece of pork wrapped in oiled paper.
“Back?” Shen Zhiwei naturally went to meet him and took the bag from his hand. “Everything went smoothly?”
After these past two days of his frequent visits and bringing all sorts of nutritious food, the initial stiffness and formality between them had faded, replaced by an unspoken, almost instinctive rapport.
Gu Yanzhou hung his jacket over a chair in the courtyard and rubbed his brow. “There’s been new progress on Li Man’s case.”
Her heart tightened slightly as she looked up at him.
“She was closely connected with a former deputy director of the Security Department at the city’s Mechanical Factory. Their financial dealings were frequent,” Gu Yanzhou’s voice was low and clear.
“And just the night before last, the third workshop of that same factory, where Engineer Shen used to work, had a major fire that destroyed a lot of equipment and semi-finished products.”
“The point of origin is suspicious. Preliminary investigation points to arson.”
“Li Man is a suspect? Did she want to destroy something? Or stir up confusion and divert attention from the investigation?”
Her mind reacted quickly. This was indeed strange. If Li Man, like her, was also a reborn person, then whatever was being burned at the Mechanical Factory must have been something that couldn’t be seen by anyone.
Gu Yanzhou glanced at her focused side profile and a faint smile flickered in his eyes.
He didn’t answer directly but naturally shifted the topic. “It’s hard to think on an empty stomach. Let’s cook first, and we can talk while eating.”
“You? You can cook?”
In this era, especially in the military, officers of his rank almost never touched kitchen work.
Gu Yanzhou seemed to notice her surprise, and a faint warmth colored his ears. “I spent a few years in field units. I rotated through the cooking squads, so I know a little.” He paused, rolled up his sleeves, revealing strong forearms.
“You’ve been taking care of Engineer Shen, too. Rest. Dinner will be simple.”
Shen Zhiwei blinked in surprise and nodded. “Alright, I’ll help you.”
He smiled slightly at the corner of his eyes. “You go rest.”
Shen Zhiwei didn’t actually rest.
She brought a small stool and sat in the shade of the jujube tree, quietly watching him.
She watched this man, so commanding and unyielding outside, now in this tiny courtyard, cooking for her and her father. A subtle, unspoken thrill crept through her, like a summer stream quietly soaking into her heart, washing away the fatigue of the past days.
So, even the cold and hardened Gu Yanzhou had this delicate side.
The kitchen was a small, separate room, rather cramped.
Shen Zhiwei couldn’t help standing and leaning gently against the doorframe to watch him.
His tall figure looked slightly confined in the small space. The stove seemed a little low for him, but he moved with steady, methodical precision. His side profile, blurred in the rising steam, somehow appeared soft and gentle.
“It’ll be ready soon,” he said without turning around, yet it was as if he knew exactly where she was behind him.
Dinner was simple: stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, a plate of baby bok choy, and a soup with sliced meat topped with chopped green onions.
The dishes were ordinary, but steaming hot.
They didn’t eat inside but carried the meal out to the stone table in the courtyard.
“Xiao Gu, what happened with that Li Man case you mentioned earlier?” Shen Guodong asked, concerned about the progress.
Gu Yanzhou put down his chopsticks, his expression regaining some of the calm composure he wore at work. “There’s a new lead in Li Man’s case, but the evidence is still insufficient to definitively prove her guilt.”
Shen Guodong glanced at his daughter, then at Gu Yanzhou, a knowing smile flickering in his eyes.
“Engineer Shen, you rest well. I’ll head back to the compound.”
But Shen Guodong called after him, “Representative Gu, wait a moment.”
He paused and turned respectfully. “Engineer Shen, is there something you need?”
Shen Guodong gestured to a chair beside him, inviting him to sit. “Xiao Gu, these past few days, we really owe you. If it weren’t for you, Micro and I wouldn’t know how much suffering we’d have gone through.
How could we have moved in here so smoothly and eaten peacefully?”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the fatigue on Gu Yanzhou’s face, and continued, “I see you running back and forth every day from the compound to here it takes over three hours, right?”
“You’ve worked so hard. And the case isn’t fully resolved yet; I’ve been uneasy.”
Shen Zhiwei’s heart skipped a beat, sensing what her father was about to say.
Shen Guodong’s tone softened further. “You see, there’s still a vacant guest room in this little courtyard. This is also your home. Seeing you stay elsewhere makes us uneasy.”
“And Li Man’s accomplices aren’t all caught yet. If you stay here, Micro and I will feel more at ease. What do you think?”
For a moment, the air fell silent.
Gu Yanzhou had not expected Shen Guodong to suddenly make this suggestion, and his body stiffened visibly.
He instinctively glanced at Shen Zhiwei. Her eyes were slightly widened, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. She lowered her head in mild embarrassment, unconsciously twisting the apron strings, but did not object.
A sudden warmth surged up Gu Yanzhou’s ears and spread to his neck.
He felt his cheeks and ears burning, lowered his gaze, and dared not look at Shen Zhiwei.
His Adam’s apple moved nervously as he tried to restrain himself, making his voice sound low, hoarse, and stiff. “Yes. Engineer Shen, you’ve thought this through carefully.” He almost followed Shen Guodong’s lead in speaking.
“Li Man’s accomplices are not fully caught, and indeed… there’s a potential security risk. If I stay here, I can also help protect you both.”
He emphasized “protect,” as if it were merely part of the job.
But the redness in his ears, almost bleeding, and the way he deliberately avoided her gaze betrayed the awkward vulnerability of a young man’s emotions.
Shen Zhiwei looked at his rare flustered state, and hearing his earnest explanation, a shy warmth bloomed in her chest, turning into a tender, soft, sweet feeling.
She murmured softly, “Then I’ll go tidy things up.”
And almost as if fleeing, she turned and walked into the house.
Gu Yanzhou stood there, unsure where to put his hands or feet, and respectfully said to Shen Guodong, “Then I’ll trouble you, Engineer Shen.”
“No trouble at all! No trouble!” Shen Guodong laughed, the wrinkles around his eyes relaxing. He waved his hand. “Go help Micro, she can’t manage alone.”
“All right.” Gu Yanzhou responded, and with some awkwardness, followed her inside.
Shen Guodong watched the two young people disappear into the house, one after the other, and a relieved, satisfied smile spread across his face.
Night deepened.
The lights in the little courtyard gradually went out, and silence settled.
Shen Zhiwei lay on the bed in the inner room, clearly hearing faint movements from the guest room just across the wall.
She knew he was awake too.