Soon it was lunchtime.
“Qianyi, are you going to the cafeteria?” Wang Lan asked, picking up her lunchbox.
“I’m not. I’ll go home,” Lin Qianyi replied. She didn’t want to eat the cafeteria food, and besides, wherever she appeared, all eyes would be on her. She really didn’t want to endure that kind of attention.
The two of them walked downstairs together.
“I’ll go ahead,” Wang Lan said, heading toward the cafeteria with her lunchbox.
Lin Qianyi got on her bicycle and rode home. Back at her place, she didn’t enter her space. She simply boiled a bowl of noodles in the kitchen, took a short nap, and then got ready to go back to work.
Over the next couple of days, Lin Qianyi commuted to work peacefully. Ma Zhenqiang didn’t show up at all—no sign of him. Lin Qianyi had also become very proficient with using her space. She had tested its preservation ability: whatever food she put in remained the same when taken out. Items placed from outside, however, were not replenished; the space only refilled what had originally been inside.
She also had a good sense of how different amounts of spirit spring water affected her. With the right amount now, Lin Qianyi’s body had reached an excellent state: her flexibility and agility were remarkable. She felt light and comfortable, with energy and stamina abundant. Her skin was even more flawless—fair, smooth, and radiant. Her already striking facial features now seemed to carry an ethereal, almost celestial charm. Looking in the mirror, Lin Qianyi couldn’t help but admire herself. With this spirit spring water, she could forget about makeup and skincare entirely. It was pure joy—what girl wouldn’t want to look gorgeous?
…
That afternoon at work, Lin Qianyi sat at her desk, sorting the files that the director had just given her. She was efficient, and it didn’t take long to organize and categorize them carefully.
“Lin Qianyi, your partner is on the phone,” a figure appeared at the office door—it was the old man from the reception desk downstairs.
“Partner?” Lin Qianyi paused, then realized immediately. This must be her revolutionary partner calling. The office fell silent; everyone looked at her with sympathy and curiosity. They all assumed it was Ma Zhenqiang.
“Thanks,” Lin Qianyi said politely as the man walked away. She went down to the reception desk and picked up the phone.
“Hello, this is Lin Qianyi.”
“It’s me, Meng Junchuan,” came the familiar deep, magnetic voice.
“Oh, it’s you. Finished your work?” Lin Qianyi asked cheerfully.
“Yes, I just arrived in town. I’ll come by to pick you up after work,” he replied.
“Okay, great.” Lin Qianyi hung up and returned to her desk with light, happy steps. Nobody dared to ask anything, seeing her so relaxed.
She checked the time—work would be over soon. She finished her tasks and waited until the clock struck the end of the day.
When it was finally time to leave, she gathered her things and walked out of the office. At the building entrance, she noticed a crowd had gathered—why were so many people packed around the gate? The girls were all whispering excitedly.
Stepping outside, it was clear why: her devastatingly handsome revolutionary partner was sitting in a car in full uniform. The open window framed his striking face perfectly.
Meng Junchuan saw Lin Qianyi walking through the crowd. The moment she appeared, everything else seemed to fade into the background. Her radiant presence outshone all else. Her glowing pale face, big watery eyes, perfectly arched brows, a straight, delicate nose, and petals-like rosy lips with a slight blush on her cheeks—all were captivating. Her two braids looked stylish rather than stiff, and her fitted outfit made her appear tall and elegant, ethereal and graceful.
Meng Junchuan felt his heart skip a beat. She had been beautiful before, but in just two days, she had become even more stunning. He opened the car door and stepped out. Around them, people gasped.
“Wow, he looks even more handsome standing up.”
“So imposing!”
“Check that uniform; must be high-ranking.”
“But so young…”
“…”
“You’re here,” Lin Qianyi said, stepping past the murmurs.
“Yes, I’m here to make my identity clear,” Meng Junchuan replied, a slight smirk on his lips. Lin Qianyi couldn’t help but laugh, which made his eyes flicker.
“Finished work?” Meng Junchuan glanced at his watch.
“Yes, it’s time to leave,” Lin Qianyi nodded. They had a relatively early dismissal time.
The crowd in front of the building grew thicker, but Meng Junchuan’s aura was so strong that even the curious dared not approach.
“Why is everyone gathered here?” Zhang Xiuying, the union chairwoman, frowned as she saw the packed entrance.
“Look,” someone pointed outside.
“Lin Qianyi?” Zhang Xiuying saw her talking to a young officer. She pushed through the crowd.
“Qianyi, what’s going on? Who is this comrade?”
“Hello, I’m Qianyi’s partner,” Meng Junchuan said immediately. He recognized Zhang Xiuying as one of the factory leaders.
“My partner,” Lin Qianyi said boldly.
The crowd erupted in astonishment. What was going on with Ma Zhenqiang?
“Partner?” Zhang Xiuying was stunned. This girl really surprised her—she had been urged to find a partner, and not only did she manage to find one, but she found someone who clearly wasn’t ordinary. Just from his outfit, it was obvious his rank wasn’t low, and his presence was incredibly commanding.
“Yes, Sister Zhang, this is my partner, Meng Junchuan. Meng Junchuan, this is our factory’s union chairwoman, Sister Zhang,” Lin Qianyi introduced the two.
Meng Junchuan knew the union chairwoman would take an interest in employees’ major life decisions, and since this was the perfect moment to make his identity clear, he simply introduced himself briefly.
Zhang Xiuying, though having a thousand questions, knew it wasn’t the right time to ask too much. After exchanging a few words, she let them go. She thought to herself, “This girl seemed completely cornered, yet now, all of a sudden, everything has turned around.”
The young officer was exceptionally handsome, and the key point was that he was so young yet already held a deputy regiment-level rank. Lin Qianyi was truly fortunate. The two of them were perfectly matched—both outstanding in appearance.
The staff from the factory office also came down and, seeing the extraordinarily matched pair from afar, were all astonished. “This is Lin Qianyi’s partner? No wonder she’s been in such a good mood these past few days—so cheerful and lively. Who wouldn’t be happy with a partner like that?”
Lin Qianyi got into Meng Junchuan’s car, leaving her bicycle in the rack—it wouldn’t get stolen anyway. Sitting in the car, both of them were natural and relaxed, showing no awkwardness or unfamiliarity. Perhaps it really was fate; judging from their seamless coordination earlier in front of the office building, no one would guess these two had just met.