Lin Shuyao kept her head down as she slowly made her way back to the courtyard. Her steps felt unusually heavy, and her thoughts circled endlessly around the disaster awaiting her sister-in-law’s family.
She possessed the ability to foresee danger, yet she was stranded on the southwestern frontier, far beyond the reach of both her hands and her influence. Worrying alone was useless. A few vague warnings would never be enough to stop ruthless enemy agents. If the Wang family failed to take her concerns seriously, the tragedy would still unfold exactly as before.
“The Ministry of Railways regained its independent structure in 1975, and the wartime preparedness department is jointly managed by both the railway ministry and the military. Ordinary people can’t interfere with it—but Lu Chengjing is different,” Lin Shuyao murmured to herself.
The Lu family had deep roots within the military establishment. Their connections in the Kyoto Military Region ran deep, and Lu Chengjing had once been one of its youngest military officers. If he were willing to help, a simple warning passed to the railway wartime preparedness department—or a request for his former military colleagues to keep a closer eye on the Wang family’s safety—would be a hundred times more effective than anything she could say herself.
The moment the thought surfaced, however, she hesitated.
Though she and Lu Chengjing were husband and wife in name, they had spent little time together. The original Lin Shuyao had treated him with indifference and humiliation. Their relationship had only recently begun to improve. Was it really appropriate to ask such a huge favor now?
Moreover, this involved military affairs and confidential matters concerning the Ministry of Railways. It was no small issue. As a soldier, Lu Chengjing followed regulations strictly. Without a convincing reason, he would never interfere lightly.
Leaning back in her chair, Lin Shuyao closed her eyes in frustration.
At present, the only person capable of protecting her brother, her sister-in-law, and the Wang family was Lu Chengjing.
No matter how difficult it was to ask, she had to try.
She could not stand by and watch the plot repeat itself.
She could not allow her brother to meet such a tragic end.
Nor could she allow her sister-in-law to lose her child and spend the rest of her life trapped in sorrow.
As she wrestled with her thoughts, the courtyard gate opened.
Looking up, she met Lu Chengjing’s deep gaze.
“You’re back?”
Taking a deep breath, Lin Shuyao suppressed the anxiety and unease in her heart before standing to greet him. Her expression was more serious than usual, lacking its usual calm confidence and carrying a hint of nervousness instead.
Lu Chengjing immediately noticed something was wrong.
His brows drew together slightly.
“Did something happen at home?”
He knew she had called her family. Judging from her appearance, something must have happened.
Lin Shuyao looked directly into his eyes.
After biting her lower lip, she finally made up her mind.
“Ajing, I have something I want to ask your help with.”
It was the first time she had called him Ajing.
Not for appearances.
Not as an act.
But as a genuine plea for help.
Even Lin Shuyao didn’t know why the word had slipped out so naturally. It sounded a little like an attempt to please him and a little like a deliberate effort to bring them closer.
Lu Chengjing froze for a moment.
Then his expression settled.
He looked at her quietly and replied in a low voice.
“Tell me. As long as it’s something I can do.”
There was no hesitation.
No unnecessary questioning.
Just that simple sentence.
Yet it made Lin Shuyao’s nose sting with emotion.
“My sister-in-law’s grandfather works in Kyoto’s railway wartime preparedness department. He’s responsible for northern defense preparations.”
Steadying herself, she carefully avoided mentioning her foreknowledge of future events and instead explained what she could.
“Today, during my call home, my sister-in-law mentioned that unfamiliar people have been appearing around him frequently. She also said she’s been feeling unusually uneasy for no apparent reason…”
In short:
There was a sense of danger, but no evidence whatsoever.
Nothing except a woman’s intuition.
“I know you used to serve in the Kyoto Military Region and still have connections there. I’d like to ask whether you could pass along a message to some of your former colleagues. Ask them to pay extra attention to the security around the wartime preparedness department and be on guard against enemy agents. I know this isn’t exactly proper procedure, and I know it’s troublesome.”
After speaking, Lin Shuyao stared at him intently.
Her palms had begun to sweat.
She feared he might refuse.
Even more, she feared he would demand an explanation.
Her heart was filled with anxiety.
After hearing her out, Lu Chengjing’s expression gradually became serious.
His probing gaze swept across her face.
If enemy agents were truly attempting to steal classified information, then it was never a trivial matter.
Yet based solely on Lin Shuyao’s explanation, there was no way to draw any firm conclusions.
After a moment of silence, Lu Chengjing nodded.
“All right. I understand.”
He actually agreed?
Lin Shuyao had not expected him to accept so readily.
Light instantly appeared in her eyes.
Still…
He hadn’t explained what he planned to do.
“Thank you, Ajing. Thank you so much.”
She understood boundaries.
Pressing for details would be inappropriate.
The fact that he was willing to help at all was already an enormous favor.
“You don’t need to thank me.”
Looking at her reddened eyes, Lu Chengjing’s tone softened.
He gently patted her shoulder.
“Just focus on preparing for your interview.”
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice and fell upon the two of them.
It chased away the chill lingering in Lin Shuyao’s heart.
And it made her place even greater expectations on the man before her.
She understood his character.
Whenever he gave his word, he followed through.
Since he had agreed to help, he would do everything he could and would never treat the matter carelessly.
Suppressing her gratitude, she chose not to mention it further and instead shifted the conversation to her upcoming interview. She didn’t want him to feel as though she only approached him whenever she needed help.
“The interview at the experimental station is in three days. I’ve already organized most of my materials. I’ve also worked through my breeding proposals and adaptation plans for Southwestern soil conditions. I should be able to handle it smoothly.”
Confidence shone in her eyes.
She wanted him to know that her decision to come to the Southwest was sincere.
She intended to put down roots here and devote herself to meaningful work.
As expected, Lu Chengjing seemed pleased.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just perform normally. I believe in your abilities.”
It was only a simple sentence.
Yet it was more reassuring than a thousand words.
The certainty in his voice reflected complete trust.
The two chatted for a while longer before Lu Chengjing returned to his own room.
He appeared calm on the surface.
But his eyes remained filled with gravity.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Lu Chengjing never mentioned Kyoto again.
Instead, he quietly brought food back for Lin Shuyao every day.
Most of it consisted of vegetables and coarse grains.
Occasionally there would be meat dishes.
Rarer still were the biscuits and fruit candies that appeared from time to time.
He was doing everything he could to take care of her meals.
His silent tenderness was hidden within countless small details.
Lin Shuyao understood perfectly.
Whenever she accepted something from him, she would softly thank him.
The atmosphere between them grew increasingly harmonious.
The awkward distance that had once existed between them had quietly disappeared.
On the day of the interview, Lin Shuyao dressed neatly and efficiently.
She wore a clean, practical outfit, her two thick braids arranged neatly, and her expression remained calm and composed.
“I’ll take you to the experimental station. Don’t be nervous.”
Lu Chengjing had deliberately made time in his schedule to personally accompany her.
Partly because he worried she might be treated unfairly.
Partly because he feared someone might deliberately interfere with her interview.
Su Xiaohong’s previous provocation had already suggested that something was unusual.
Lu Chengjing had quietly investigated the matter.
Those half-true rumors spreading around did indeed originate from people within the experimental station.
And some of them…
Had come from Bai Qiaolan as well.