Since it was meant as compensation, Lu Wanwan had no problem accepting it, which prevented any awkwardness.
Seeing that she didn’t resist, Zhou Yushen turned to pick up the bag. But to his surprise, someone had already opened it, and the hair ornament inside was now perched on Fang Anqian’s head.
Fang Anqian didn’t seem to notice anything wrong. Smiling, she said to Zhou Yushen, “Shen-ge, Sister-in-law also thinks I look pretty with this hair ornament. Thank you, I really like it.”
A chill ran through Zhou Yushen, and suppressing his anger, he said coldly, “That was for Comrade Chen. She was treated unfairly at the Zhou house yesterday—this is to make it up to her.”
“Oh, I didn’t know, Shen-ge. I thought the bag you put on the table in front of me was for me. I’ve already put on the ornament—should I pay Comrade Lu for it?”
“That’s not the same thing.” Zhou Yushen was about to respond when Lu Wanwan’s calm voice came from behind him.
“I don’t usually wear hair ornaments, so I don’t need it. What happened yesterday is over—I don’t need it converted into money.”
It wasn’t that Lu Wanwan didn’t want to pursue the slap Fang Anqian had given her yesterday; she still needed to continue caring for Xiaobao at the Zhou household, and this job was necessary for treating Yuanyuan’s illness.
Chen Shu’s attitude had been clear: Fang Anqian was still her friend and a guest at the Zhou household.
Zhou Yushen pressed his lips into a thin line, a fierce glint in his eyes, unwilling to look at Fang Anqian any longer. When he turned back, Lu Wanwan was already holding Xiaobao, taking him out to enjoy the sun and help him nap.
He didn’t follow, knowing that anything he said or did now would be useless.
Fang Anqian, smugly wearing the hair ornament, left the Zhou household. Not far from the door, someone complimented her: “Anqian, that hair ornament looks great—must’ve been expensive, right?”
“I don’t know the price. Shen-ge gave it to me.”
Everyone knew Fang Anqian liked Zhou Yushen, so hearing it was from him, they immediately assumed something was happening—these two were probably about to become close.
When Chen Shu returned to the living room after a phone call, she noticed that Fang Anqian had left her handkerchief on the sofa.
As she picked it up to follow her, she overheard Fang Anqian talking to someone and held back from exposing her, but an idea formed in her mind.
Chen Shu didn’t call out to Fang Anqian. She returned with the handkerchief and made a phone call.
On the phone, she urged her husband: “Last time I asked you to keep an eye out for a match for Yushen—how’s that going? Your own brother, pay some attention.”
“I’m swamped right now. I don’t know the lists others give me. Why don’t you come visit the unit, check him out yourself? If it works out, they can arrange a proper match.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.”
Knowing her own husband well, Chen Shu took his advice seriously.
Zhou Yushen couldn’t stop thinking about the birthmark he had seen on Lu Wanwan’s chest—it looked familiar.
The mark was in a private spot, so he couldn’t look recklessly. After thinking for days, he focused his suspicion on the twins.
That day, he brought some White Rabbit milk candies to the twins, who were playing in their room.
“Tuantuan, Yuanyuan, Uncle brought you some candy.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
“Thank you, Susu.”
After spending time together, the twins were already familiar with Zhou Yushen. When he asked about the birthmark on Lu Wanwan, Yuanyuan opened her mouth to answer, but Tuantuan quickly covered it.
They had often seen the special birthmark on their mother—it was unique and pretty.
Tuantuan already understood the difference between boys and girls. For example, he avoided Yuanyuan when she changed clothes or used the bathroom. He returned the candy to Zhou Yushen.
“Uncle, that’s covered by clothing. We can’t say.”
Yuanyuan didn’t understand, but she copied Tuantuan, returning her candy as well and tapping her head firmly. “Yes, don’t say.”
“Uncle gave you candy because he likes you, not to bribe you.”
No matter how Zhou Yushen coaxed, the two children refused to take the candy again.
He felt some admiration—Lu Wanwan had truly raised the twins well. He even felt a bit envious. If he had such adorable and sensible children, how wonderful it would be!
After Zhou Yushen left, Tuantuan told Lu Wanwan what had happened.
Lu Wanwan was surprised and took the opportunity to sternly express her stance to Zhou Yushen:
“Captain Zhou, if you’re curious or want to know something, you can ask me. Don’t try to tempt the children—they’re too young to understand. If they’re used to speaking for small favors, they’ll betray their own mother and become increasingly unscrupulous. They could do anything for personal gain.”
This wasn’t exaggeration. Many people make mistakes as adults because of experiences in childhood.
Zhou Yushen realized the seriousness of the issue. Though unmarried and childless, he now had nephews and liked Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, so he naturally understood the importance of educating children properly.
“I’m sorry, Comrade Lu. I didn’t consider this carefully. I promise, this won’t happen again.”
“I hope you mean it. And your curiosity should have limits as well.”
Lu Wanwan only wanted to raise the twins properly—she had no thoughts of remarriage.
Zhou Yushen felt his face flush as he looked at the slightly angry woman in front of him—graceful, moving, with those large, sparkling peach-blossom eyes that seemed to burn with quiet fire, making him unconsciously soften his breathing.
“Ahem, Comrade Lu, I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that last time, I accidentally saw the red mark on you—is it a birthmark or a scar?”
“It’s a birthmark. I’ve had it since I was little. Why?”
Lu Wanwan could tell that Zhou Yushen’s gaze was sincere, without any impure thoughts.
Zhou Yushen remembered that the woman he had been with that night had a similar birthmark. He suspected she was the same woman—but that woman had been over 200 pounds, nearly crushed him.
Without solid evidence, he couldn’t say anything. He needed to investigate further to be sure.
Zhou Yushen vaguely said, “It looked like a gunshot wound, so I asked.”
Gunshot wounds were not ordinary injuries—they required caution and verification.
Lu Wanwan nodded in understanding, realizing that it was reasonable given Zhou Yushen’s line of work.
Chen Shu, holding Xiaobao, hurried downstairs. Seeing them, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yushen, can you do me a favor? Take Wanwan to the supply store to buy some things for Xiaobao?”
Items for Xiaobao required careful selection. Previously, Chen Shu would buy them quickly while Xiaobao was asleep, but today she had a bit of diarrhea and couldn’t go.
Zhou Yushen didn’t hesitate and nodded. “Sure.”