After a long moment, the girl shook her head at Zhong Qing. “Everything’s here. Nothing’s missing.”
She paused, then added, “But just because nothing’s missing doesn’t mean you didn’t do anything. My bag was clearly cut, and there was a blade in your hand!”
Since Zhong Qing had stepped forward and taken a risk to help her, the girl naturally stood on her side.
But the man acted as if he had completely forgotten what he had done. Instead, he looked puzzled. “A blade? Comrade, I know your bag was damaged and you’re upset, but you can’t just falsely accuse someone like this!”
As he spoke, he stretched out both hands to prove his innocence.
Aside from a silver ring, his hands were empty.
The railway police searched the surrounding floor and corners but found no blade.
With both sides insisting on their own version and no solid evidence, and with the man putting on a cooperative show, even expressing understanding, the railway police were put in a difficult position.
In the end, they could only have both parties apologize and let the matter go.
The man had already left, yet Zhong Qing still felt an uneasy stirring in her heart.
That unease skyrocketed the moment she learned the girl’s name was Ye Guxue.
She remembered that in her dream, there had been a major accident on a train.
One of the passengers who died accidentally was named Ye Guxue.
Because of the severity of the incident, it had even made the newspapers. That was why Zhong Qing remembered the name so clearly.
She didn’t hesitate and went back to the railway police, her expression serious.
“Comrade, I can guarantee that I saw a blade in that man’s hand just now. I didn’t see it wrong.”
“If a blade can disappear into thin air under these circumstances, that’s an even bigger problem. Quite a few people came to help just now, and that man’s clothing was strange.”
One of the officers tried to reassure her, saying there was no need to overthink.
But the leading officer understood what Zhong Qing was implying. His brow furrowed deeply.
Better safe than sorry.
He took a deep breath and said solemnly, “Thank you for the reminder. We’ll conduct a focused investigation.”
She had done what she could. The rest was no longer within her power.
Back in the dining car, her meal was still warm.
A staff member smiled. “It’s fine—if it gets cold, I’ll heat it up again. A brave citizen shouldn’t have to eat cold food!
“But you’re traveling alone too. You need to watch your own safety.”
The staff looked at Zhong Qing in amazement.
The girl looked delicate and refined, yet she had taken on a grown man alone. They had been terrified watching.
Who would’ve thought she wasn’t timid at all?
Zhong Qing knew they meant well and quickly nodded.
In truth, she wasn’t impulsive. She had assessed his build before making her move.
Ye Guxue insisted on treating Zhong Qing to a meal no matter what.
When she learned Zhong Qing had already paid, she looked regretful.
She was about to ask Zhong Qing’s destination so she could properly treat her at a state-owned restaurant after they arrived—when she noticed blood seeping from Zhong Qing’s sleeve.
“You’re hurt?!” Ye Guxue cried out.
Zhong Qing was startled. She must have been scraped during the struggle, but the wound wasn’t deep, so she hadn’t noticed.
Ye Guxue felt even more guilty.
If Zhong Qing hadn’t helped her, she wouldn’t have been injured.
She quickly asked the attendant for first-aid supplies.
As they treated the wound, they chatted.
Zhong Qing learned that Ye Guxue was also heading to the Northwest to visit relatives.
Even more coincidentally, the relative she was visiting lived in the airport residential compound.
Whatever Zhong Qing felt, Ye Guxue was thrilled.
Living in the same compound meant plenty of chances to meet in the future!
Now that she knew Zhong Qing’s address, Ye Guxue suddenly realized the name sounded familiar.
Her older sister had mentioned Zhong Qing before.
…Just not in flattering terms.
But seeing her in person, Ye Guxue wasn’t the type to believe rumors.
Since they shared the same destination, they naturally traveled together for the rest of the journey.
Zhong Qing didn’t refuse. As long as they were still on the train, what had happened in the dream could occur at any time. Two people together were safer.
The railway police came to them again midway to ask for more details about the man.
Zhong Qing answered honestly and learned that they had searched the entire train but couldn’t find him.
Yet the train was still moving—how could a living person simply disappear?
Ye Guxue grew uneasy as well.
That man was definitely suspicious.
After a moment of thought, Zhong Qing said calmly, “Perhaps you could try looking for someone with a similar silhouette to this comrade.”
She was certain Ye Guxue wasn’t the man’s accomplice.
He had cut Ye Guxue’s bag but taken nothing. The only explanation was that he had mistaken her for someone else.
His goal wasn’t theft—it was to pass along a message.
The officer suddenly understood. After thanking Zhong Qing seriously, he instructed them not to wander around until the person was found.
Ye Guxue broke out in goosebumps.
Though she didn’t know how she had been mistaken, she changed her coat and hairstyle to feel slightly safer.
After that incident, railway police patrolled frequently.
Perhaps those people sensed something was wrong, because no further trouble occurred.
Until Zhong Qing and Ye Guxue both got off the train, nothing else happened.
Ye Guxue patted her chest in lingering fear. “That was terrifying. Just taking a train and something like that happens. I wonder if they caught him.”
Zhong Qing knew the original outcome.
Whether they caught him or not, the fact that there were no casualties was already the best possible result.
At the entrance to the airport residential compound, the sentry on duty spotted a graceful figure approaching from afar.
The stern expression on his face froze for a moment as he stared in disbelief while Zhong Qing came closer, her familiar face gradually becoming clear.
There was no mistake.
This was Captain Pei’s wife!
With that face, there couldn’t possibly be a second one like her in the entire compound!
Since Zhong Qing had always lived there, everyone knew her. She didn’t need to register.
But Ye Guxue was visiting for the first time and had to fill out a form, so Zhong Qing stayed by her side.
The sentry kept his eyes on the form but couldn’t stop sneaking glances at Zhong Qing.
Hadn’t everyone said she ran off and abandoned her children?
Then why was she back?
After registration, the two parted ways and went home.
After what happened on the train, Ye Guxue had no appetite. She just wanted to hurry home and reassure her family she was safe.
They could talk about dinner after they’d both rested.
Zhong Qing agreed verbally, but her thoughts had already drifted far away.
She had really come back.
On the journey, she had thought only about returning home.
But now that she was standing here, she felt a strange hesitation—like someone returning to their hometown after a long absence.
According to the dream, she hadn’t been back for a very long time.
Zhong Qing took a deep breath.
After bracing herself, she finally stepped toward home.