When Shen Zhiwei returned to the small courtyard carrying the hefty compensation document, the setting sun was just spilling golden light across the yard.
On one side of the courtyard, a makeshift shower had been set up. The top was open to the sky, and a half-old canvas sheet hung loosely as a meager cover.
She had just stepped in through the side door when she heard the splash of water inside, accompanied by a man’s low humming.
Her first thought was it her older brother?
Instinctively, she glanced over. A gust of wind swept through, lifting the half-hanging canvas.
Through the misty steam, a tall, commanding figure suddenly came into view broad shoulders, narrow waist, water droplets rolling down the firm back muscles.
It was Gu Yanzhou.
Shen Zhiwei froze mid-breath, spun around abruptly, and felt her cheeks ignite with heat.
The water stopped abruptly.
Inside, she heard the faint, hurried sound of a towel being grabbed.
Gu Yanzhou’s voice followed, tense but trying to remain calm “Back already.”
Shen Zhiwei didn’t turn, her voice a little airy “Mm… just got back. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I had the guard, Xiao Liu, check at the factory. I only came back after he confirmed you were fine.” His voice seemed closer now, through the wooden partition. “Everything… resolved?”
“Resolved, thanks to the document you prepared.” She stared at the pomegranate tree in front of her, her heart hammering.
“I have someone keeping an eye on Wang Qiang. He won’t dare make a move for now.”
He spoke casually, but Shen Zhiwei knew this had required pulling a lot of strings behind the scenes.
After a moment of silence, she thought she heard him chuckle softly so low it was almost imperceptible.
“The water’s still warm,” he said again, more naturally this time. “Do you want some? I’m done anyway.”
Shen Zhiwei felt her face heat up another degree.
“No, I’ll go finish packing!” She practically fled, but her mind couldn’t help replaying that fleeting image.
That body who wouldn’t drool?
Night fell, and the courtyard returned to quiet.
Shen Zhiwei lay on the bed but could not sleep. Her suspicions about Li Man grew deeper; in her previous life, there were indeed reasons to doubt her, and Li Jianye’s words were definitely not baseless.
She took a deep breath and put on her coat.
Gu Yanzhou’s temporary guest room had its door slightly ajar, a warm yellow light spilling out.
She knocked.
“Come in.”
He was sitting under the kerosene lamp reading documents, wearing a clean white shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing his strong forearms.
Seeing her, he immediately set the papers down and stood.
“What’s wrong? Is your mother unwell?”
“No, she’s asleep.” Shen Zhiwei stepped closer, lowering her voice.
“Gu Yanzhou, I need to ask you something. I’ve always felt something’s off about Li Man she doesn’t seem like a simple member of the performing troupe. Today, Li Jianye’s words made me even more suspicious.”
Gu Yanzhou’s gaze darkened slightly, signaling her to continue.
The way he listened so intently wrapped around her silently, like the scent of soap nuts lingering in the air.
Shen Zhiwei’s heart began racing again, uncontrollably, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
His gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, then he suddenly leaned forward, coming a little closer.
“I… I suspect… maybe she has some sort of foresight.” Her words stumbled, and seeing him inch closer, she froze instantly.
He, however, only reached out and, with remarkable restraint, brushed the back of his fingers lightly against her cheek.
“Face so red?”
“Were you startled this afternoon? Or caught in the wind? Fever? Should I go call a doctor at the clinic?”
The warmth of Gu Yanzhou’s hand pressed through her skin, reaching her heart.
Shen Zhiwei stepped back sharply, her heartbeat skyrocketing.
“No… no, it’s just… the room’s a bit warm.”
Gu Yanzhou’s hand paused midair, then slowly withdrew, his eyes deep as they met hers.
There was something new in that gaze, no longer just curiosity.
“Mm.”
He murmured softly, not pressing further, and returned to the topic at hand.
“Your suspicion makes sense. Li Man’s background I’ll have someone investigate it more thoroughly.”
Knock, knock, knock.
The room door was knocked on, and her older brother, Shen Jianguo, called out, “Zhiwei? Are you in there? The accounts are settled!”
The intimate moment was instantly broken.
Shen Zhiwei jumped away like a startled rabbit. Gu Yanzhou quickly withdrew his hand, his Adam’s apple bobbing awkwardly.
Shen Jianguo pushed the door open, holding the ledger, his face serious.
“Zhiwei, I’ve gone through the accounts preliminarily.” He paused when he saw Gu Yanzhou in the room.
Gu Yanzhou naturally picked up a document, his tone returning to its usual calm.
“You two talk, I’ll step out for some fresh air.”
He gave Shen Zhiwei a small nod and left the room gracefully, leaving the siblings space to discuss.
Shen Jianguo lowered his voice, fuming.
“Look at this! In these past three years, that bastard Chen Weidong has taken so much money and property from our family! He’s a total bloodsucker!”
Shen Zhiwei looked at the shocking numbers in the ledger.
The humiliation of her previous life surged back.
Her gaze was icy.
“Brother, I will settle this with him, every single item.”
The ledger was densely filled with records.
March 1972: remittance of 50 yuan, claiming Chen Weidong’s mother was ill.
August 1973: took a pair of mother’s silver bracelets, claiming Chen Weidong needed to “grease some palms.”
Spring Festival 1974: took 100 yuan in father’s foreign currency vouchers, claiming Chen Weidong needed to buy New Year gifts.
The more she read, the more shocking it became.
Over the past three years, she had actually subsidized Chen Weidong with over 2,000 yuan.
“And that doesn’t even count what you secretly gave him without the family knowing.” Shen Jianguo’s anger rose.
“This Chen Weidong is a freeloader and an ungrateful wolf!”
“Taking our Shen family’s money and property to pave his way, to support his mistress! This account must be settled with him every single penny!”
She looked out the window. Gu Yanzhou’s silhouette stood tall and steady beneath the pomegranate tree in the courtyard.
Thinking of his earlier words, “I’ll investigate,” and the subtle way he had withdrawn his hand, Shen Zhiwei’s chaotic heart suddenly steadied.
On this path, she was no longer alone.