The news that Zhong Qing had abandoned her husband and children had already spread like wildfire through the residential compound.
Pei Yanshen’s parents had rushed over temporarily to help look after the children. Hearing all the rumors only made them more anxious.
After coaxing the two kids to sleep, they went to find Pei Yanshen.
Pei’s mother spoke earnestly, “Yanshen, give your mother a straight answer. What exactly happened between you and Xiaoqing?”
Pei Yanshen took a deep breath. The exhaustion and disgust in his eyes were undisguised.
He simply handed them the divorce agreement Zhong Qing had left behind.
Their names—Zhong Qing and Pei Yanshen—were written clearly on it.
Pei’s mother was stunned. “This… the rumors outside are true?! But Xiaoyu and Xiao’an are still so young. How can they just lose their mother like that?”
Pei’s father also tried to persuade him. “Husband and wife quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of it. Divorce isn’t child’s play. Think it over carefully.”
Pei Yanshen rubbed his brow. When his gaze drifted instinctively toward the children’s room, a trace of coldness entered his eyes.
“There’s nothing more to think about. Once Xiaoyu and Xiao’an settle down, I’ll submit the report for divorce.”
He had already done everything he could for Zhong Qing.
…
No matter how anxious she was, Zhong Qing couldn’t sprout wings and fly back to the Northwest.
There was still time before departure, so she made good use of it and strolled through Hong Kong’s markets.
She bought imported biscuits, chocolates, and some novelty candies, along with locally produced preserved fruits and shrimp chips.
As a coastal city, Hong Kong had an abundance of seafood products.
Zhong Qing bought quite a lot—after all, she could store everything in her space without worrying about spoilage.
When it was finally time to board, she still felt reluctant to leave.
Even knowing the plot, Zhong Qing had no intention of changing her personality or shortchanging herself.
She booked a first-class seat. There would be transfers along the way, and the entire journey would take thirty to forty hours. Even an iron backside couldn’t endure that!
Besides, as a woman traveling alone, first class was safer.
When the train finally departed, a belated wave of fear and relief washed over her.
Learning of her tragic fate so abruptly—of course she had panicked.
But there had been no time to think deeply.
Now she was already on the return train.
No matter what the future held, at least the most urgent crisis had been resolved.
Soon, she would be home.
With her mind settled, Zhong Qing finally had time to sort through the space.
Earlier, the situation had been urgent. She had only taken a quick glance and hurriedly stuffed everything inside without examining it properly.
On the outside she appeared to be dozing, but her consciousness entered the space.
Only then did she realize the space wasn’t just for storage.
It resembled a paradise.
Everything she had looted from the Zhong family had automatically been placed into a warehouse. With a tap of an “auto-sort” function, items categorized themselves neatly.
Looking at the piles of gold bars gleaming brightly, Zhong Qing had never felt more secure.
Beyond the warehouse, there was land and a spring.
Every new area she stepped into triggered functions similar to the warehouse’s automatic sorting.
Fully automated farming and livestock breeding—extremely convenient for someone like Zhong Qing, who had never done manual labor.
Whether in the Zhong family or after marrying Pei Yanshen, she had always been pampered, never touching housework.
Staring at the crystal-clear spring water, she had a sudden idea.
Could she drink it?
She scooped up some water with her hands and took a sip.
It carried a faint sweetness.
Even more astonishing, the fatigue in her body and mind vanished instantly!
Not only that, her skin even seemed firmer and smoother.
This spring water was incredible!
No wonder, in the plot, Zhong Yuening—who had originally been merely pretty—later became breathtakingly beautiful.
Zhong Qing had once thought wealth simply nourished beauty.
Now it seemed the credit belonged to this spring water.
She became even more eager to try farming and breeding here.
Unfortunately, she had no seeds or livestock on hand yet.
Just then, her stomach growled. She exited the space.
She went to the dining car and bought a boxed meal—one meat dish and one vegetable dish.
She had barely sat down and was about to eat when she paused.
Since it wasn’t mealtime, there weren’t many passengers nearby.
Aside from her, there was only a young woman selecting dishes, with a conspicuously dressed man standing behind her.
Despite the comfortable weather, he had half his face wrapped in a scarf. While pretending to queue, one hand stealthily reached toward the girl’s backpack.
Zhong Qing sprang to her feet, stepped forward in a few strides, and grabbed his wrist precisely.
“Take out what you stole!”
The man jolted, not expecting to be caught on the spot. His face flushed red. “What nonsense are you talking about?! I’m just lining up for a meal!”
He tried hard to shake free but found that this seemingly slender woman had astonishing strength.
When Zhong’s mother had still been alive, she had worried about her daughter.
Worried about her temper, her beauty, and what would happen if she ran into trouble outside.
So Zhong Qing had learned some self-defense.
After all, losing one’s temper required strength.
Otherwise, how could a slap sound loud and crisp?
The girl in front turned around, stunned.
Zhong Qing glanced at her backpack. “Check the bottom. It’s probably been cut.”
The girl instinctively felt around and touched a slit. Her face went pale.
Seeing that he’d been exposed, the man suddenly tried to bolt.
Prepared, Zhong Qing stomped on his heel and, with her other hand, smacked the back of his head mercilessly.
The slap left him momentarily dazed. A razor blade hidden between his fingers clattered to the floor.
“Call the railway police!” Zhong Qing barked at the stunned girl.
But the words “railway police” seemed to trigger something.
The man suddenly erupted with shocking brute force, struggling wildly. Zhong Qing staggered from the impact, nearly losing control.
Her heart sank. Something about this man wasn’t right.
The dining car staff finally reacted. Together, they managed to pin him to the ground.
When the girl returned hurriedly with the railway police, the man seemed like a different person. His ferocity vanished, replaced by helplessness.
“It’s understandable to be cautious when traveling, but I really didn’t steal anything! Comrade, you can check your bag and see if anything is missing!”
There was nothing private in the bag, so the girl dumped everything out in front of everyone.
She examined each item carefully.
The deeper she checked, the more her brows furrowed.