Su Tong could clearly see the joy in Xing Dongyang’s eyes. He was a young man with a kind heart and an open, honest spirit.
He was sincerely concerned about the original owner of this body, and he did not hesitate to express his feelings. It wasn’t only because she had once helped him. He had come from the city to the countryside of Yunshan Village, and compared to its backwardness and isolation, he had ideas, knowledge, and enthusiasm. Over the past few years, he had helped many people in the village—elderly widows, children who had dropped out of school, and struggling youths.
She was only one of them.
However, Tian Qingrong’s expression changed slightly. She coughed and teased from the side:
“Brother Dongyang, Wu Tong only said a few words to you, and you’re already this happy? What you’re saying… she might not even understand!”
“No, she can understand!”
Xing Dongyang smiled and refuted her.
“From the moment I heard she smashed her head against a pillar to resist an arranged marriage, I knew this girl had finally awakened. She finally fought for herself once!”
“Look—after that, she even performed a meritorious act, risking her life to exchange that child back.”
Xing Dongyang looked back at Su Tong.
“Today when I saw Wu Tong, I felt she had completely transformed. She will only get better from here.”
Su Tong also smiled.
“Yes, Brother Xing! That collision with the pillar snapped me awake—it was like being reborn. From now on, I will live properly. Not only live—but live brilliantly!”
Tian Qingrong could no longer keep her composure.
Wu Tong had always been the most inconspicuous and least liked girl in the village. She was always silent, head down, barely speaking all year. Especially in front of the educated youths from the city, she would lower her head so much it seemed it might sink into the ground. She was deeply insecure.
She had come today with her own intentions. Although she hadn’t interacted much with Wu Tong before, she had assumed Wu Tong was easy to manipulate. Unexpectedly, after smashing her head against a pillar, the girl seemed completely changed. Not only had her courage increased, even her temperament and speech had transformed.
Although she still had dull yellow skin and rough complexion, Brother Dongyang had never shown such concern for her before. He treated Zhang Yaping well enough already, but now he was paying so much attention to this ordinary girl too.
She had clearly seen the bundle of nutritional supplements he brought—brown sugar, malted milk powder, canned syrup fruit—all expensive items.
She herself had not drunk brown sugar water in over half a year, let alone malted milk powder, which was hard to buy even with money. Yet he brought an entire bundle without hesitation. The thought made her chest feel tight and uncomfortable.
Tian Qingrong smoothly changed the topic:
“Brother Dongyang, have you replaced the tractor parts yet?”
“Not yet. I came to the hospital first. I’ll go to the agricultural machinery station after seeing Wu Tong.”
“Brother Dongyang, can I ride back to the village on your tractor later? The bus won’t come until very late.”
“Of course.”
He paused slightly.
“But I don’t know how busy the machinery station is. I’m not sure what time I’ll be done.”
“Then I’ll go with you. That way we won’t miss each other.”
Xing Dongyang looked at Su Tong, then at the book on the bedside table.
“Aren’t you going to stay with Wu Tong?”
Tian Qingrong felt a little embarrassed. She had originally said she came to accompany Wu Tong, but she did not want to miss the chance to be alone with Xing Dongyang.
Su Tong spoke up:
“Brother Xing, let Comrade Tian go with you. I don’t need anyone to stay with me. I can read when I’m bored. Don’t worry about me.”
Sister Dong, a middle-aged woman in the ward, finally found her chance to speak loudly from the opposite bed:
“Go, go! I’ll watch her IV drip. I can call the nurse if needed—I’ve got a loud voice!”
After some polite exchanges and concern, Xing Dongyang and Tian Qingrong left, and the ward finally became quiet.
Sister Dong glanced over thoughtfully and concluded:
“That girl likes that man. That man doesn’t like her. The girl sees you as just incidental—she probably came here mainly to wait for that man.”
Su Tong gave her a thumbs-up.
When Xing Dongyang walked out of the inpatient building, he saw a man standing at the entrance in military training uniform. He stood tall and upright, radiating a sharp presence, speaking to a nurse.
The nurse said, “Captain Qin, the visitors for Wu Tong have left. You can go in now.”
Qin Yi nodded, briefly examined Xing Dongyang and Tian Qingrong, then passed them.
After walking a few steps, someone called after him.
“Are you Captain Qin?”
He turned around and saw the young man who had just come out. Though simply dressed, he was handsome and scholarly, carrying a refined air.
“Captain Qin! Hello! Are you the one handling Wu Tong’s case?”
Qin Yi’s gaze sharpened.
“And you are?”
“I’m from Yunshan Village. My name is Xing Dongyang. I’m Wu Tong’s friend. Could we… speak privately?”
Xing Dongyang?
Qin Yi quickly recalled the name—it was the only young male, aside from family members, recorded in Wu Tong’s investigation file.
Qin Yi nodded and walked into the courtyard first. Xing Dongyang told Tian Qingrong to wait and quickly followed.
Tian Qingrong reached out as if to stop him, but she was a step too slow.
The two stood beneath a holly tree in the courtyard.
Xing Dongyang spoke first:
“Comrade, hello. I understand you have discipline rules, so I want to clarify—I’m not here to ask about the case. I just want to know whether all the fugitives have been captured.”
“Are there any accomplices outside?”
“Wu Tong stepped forward to save that child. The town and village have already publicized her actions, and her identity has been exposed. Will she face any potential danger in the future?”
Qin Yi was slightly surprised.
After all this time, people from the town and county had come forward thinking only about publicity and honors. This was the first time someone had genuinely considered Wu Tong’s safety.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
“You care about her safety?”
Xing Dongyang paused, then nodded.
“Yes. That girl has no standing in her family, and because of rumors she is also discriminated against in the village. She has always lived a very difficult life. Even when we wanted to help her, we could only do so much.
She nearly lost her life this time. It is already a miracle she survived. That act of saving someone was likely the bravest thing she will ever do.
I don’t want her to face retaliation from criminals afterward. That would… make her lose faith in the world completely.
To be honest, I don’t want this incident to be publicized repeatedly. For Wu Tong, before she has learned to protect herself, these honors may become pressure—something heavy that crushes her. It may even harm her.”
Qin Yi looked at the young man in front of him.
This was someone who truly cared about Wu Tong. No wonder, in her nearly empty personal records, his name appeared.