The elderly woman hugged the ashes urn, her eyes blurred with tears. Suddenly, she saw Wen Zhiyu and several doctors passing by, and her crying grew even louder.
“Why… why didn’t you save my Dazhuang!”
After shouting, she suddenly scrambled up from the ground, grabbed a rusted sickle leaning against the wall, and charged straight at Wen Zhiyu. Her steps were fast, and she swung the sickle toward her with practiced force.
Everything happened too quickly—no one expected the old woman to actually attack Wen Zhiyu.
Just then, someone suddenly appeared.
He didn’t block in front of Wen Zhiyu, but instead kicked the old woman hard in the chest. With a muffled groan, she was sent flying backward.
Wen Zhiyu froze when she saw Shen Lifeng suddenly appear.
They were the last ones to leave—he should have already gone back, shouldn’t he?
“Are you alright?” Shen Lifeng turned to look at her. Seeing her shake her head, he finally relaxed.
As for the old woman, she lay on the ground crying, likely still mourning Dazhuang’s death.
Wen Zhiyu shook her head.
She refused treatment before—what was the point of crying now?
They left directly. Not pursuing responsibility was already Wen Zhiyu’s greatest mercy toward her.
Shen Lifeng left with Wen Zhiyu and the others, and informed her that accommodation near the hospital had already been arranged for him, and his work had also been transferred there.
“Comrade Shen, isn’t it a waste of your abilities to do such small things?” Wen Zhiyu asked.
She didn’t think Shen Lifeng would come to the hospital just because of her feelings.
But Shen Lifeng replied seriously, “I didn’t understand your identity before. You are a very important scientific researcher for our country. Protecting you is my duty. Your existence brings great development potential to the nation and its people!”
He was extremely earnest.
Before Wen Zhiyu could respond, a familiar male voice came from behind.
“Comrade Zhiyu!”
Just from that address, she already knew who it was.
It was Ruan Yue’s older brother, Ruan Qingyang.
After Ruan Qingyang woke up, they had interacted for a while. Wen Zhiyu had a good impression of him and was willing to be friends.
Although he was in the military, his personality wasn’t rigid at all—on the contrary, he was very lively. The way he called her “Comrade Zhiyu” was something he had personally chosen.
When he said it, his handsome face was full of bright smiles, to the point that Wen Zhiyu even felt her name sounded quite nice.
Ruan Qingyang walked over and looked at Shen Lifeng.
“Captain Shen, we meet again!”
Shen Lifeng nodded.
“You know each other?” Wen Zhiyu asked curiously.
Ruan Qingyang explained, “My sister and I were assigned to rescue Captain Shen. We found him injured during the mission.”
Wen Zhiyu understood.
Shen Lifeng then said, “If it weren’t for Comrade Ruan saving me, I would’ve already died out there. I should be thanking him.”
The two of them exchanged polite praise.
Then Ruan Qingyang added, “Comrade Zhiyu, you just came back from the countryside. Yueyue booked a table for you tonight. Come have dinner with us—it’ll help you get rid of bad luck.”
Wen Zhiyu considered Ruan Qingyang and Ruan Yue her friends, so she naturally agreed.
Ruan Qingyang happily said, “Then I’ll wait for you tonight.”
He said goodbye to Shen Lifeng and left.
Wen Zhiyu turned and asked, “Captain Shen, do you want to join us?”
Shen Lifeng shook his head. “You should have dinner with your friends. I won’t intrude.”
And he meant it.
That night, they ate in a private room at the hospital cafeteria. Shen Lifeng’s people were stationed nearby for protection, but he did not follow them.
They drank a little alcohol.
Ruan Yue grabbed Wen Zhiyu’s hand and placed it onto her brother’s.
“Zhizhi, I’m giving you my brother. From now on he’s yours!”
Wen Zhiyu tilted her head slightly, already a bit tipsy but not drunk.
“Yueyue… do your parents know about this?”
Ruan Yue waved her hand. “Everything in our family is up to me!”
Wen Zhiyu couldn’t help laughing. If she hadn’t seen Ruan Yue being chased around by her father and grandfather before, she might have believed her.
Ruan Yue leaned against her, mumbling, “Zhizhi, just agree already… I’m telling you, if it’s you, my parents will definitely agree to give you my brother!”
When they left, Wen Zhiyu told Ruan Qingyang, who was still relatively sober:
“Brother Ruan, don’t take Yueyue’s words seriously. She’s just drunk.”
Ruan Qingyang hesitated for a moment, then masked his emotions.
“Alright, I know. I was actually worried you might take it seriously.”
Wen Zhiyu smiled. “I don’t plan to get married. I want to dedicate everything to the country and serve the people.”
In the end, Ruan Qingyang helped Ruan Yue back.
Wen Zhiyu walked out of the cafeteria alone. A cold wind blew, and the alcohol slowly started to hit her.
She steadied herself and went upstairs. When she tried to open the door, she realized it wasn’t locked.
Frowning, she pushed the door open.
Something felt off about the room, but it was already dark. She staggered forward, and after falling onto the bed, she touched a man’s muscular body.
In the darkness, the man who had been unable to sleep opened his eyes wide, shock filling them.
This… this…!
Meanwhile, Ruan Qingyang had been carrying Ruan Yue, but later ended up having to carry her on his back. When they arrived at the guesthouse, Ruan Yue grabbed his hand.
“Brother, Zhizhi only comes once—work harder! Once this opportunity is gone, it’s gone!”
Although drunk, she spoke very clearly and seriously.
Ruan Qingyang smiled bitterly.
Was it possible she simply didn’t like him at all?
The way Wen Zhiyu looked at him was just too clear—too unclouded.
As if sensing his thoughts, Ruan Yue dragged him to the guesthouse lobby sofa and said very seriously:
“Brother! As long as Zhizhi isn’t married, you still have a chance! Didn’t you say you two had common topics, that you—”
Before she could finish, she fell asleep on his shoulder.
She actually meant to say that it might be difficult for her brother to “marry” into the situation, which is why she said “give him to her,” but she passed out from drunkenness.
The next morning, Wen Zhiyu woke up and felt that the fabric of the bed was different.
Turning her head, she saw a man with dark circles under his eyes lying beside her.
Her breathing stopped for a moment, and she suddenly sat up—unusually unsettled.
“I… how did I get here…”
Shen Lifeng also sat up, calmly adjusting his posture.
Last night, Wen Zhiyu had touched and even hugged him; he hadn’t dared to move at all.
His body was still slightly stiff.
“You drank last night and went to the wrong dormitory,” he said evenly.
Wen Zhiyu suddenly remembered fragments of last night’s dream—and her expression darkened slightly.
Last night she dreamed…