Nor would she let Lin Ni get away with it.
In truth, the concerns Grandma and Wang Fenglan had weren’t really problems at all.
With Zhiyin‘s circulation across the provincial capital, once her explosive article was published, everyone in the city would know that she was the innocent cousin who had been wronged.
And when it came down to it, Zou Zhengting was one of the victims too.
So even if people later found out that Lin Zhaoyang and Zou Zhengting had gotten back together, they would simply say that the two victims had found comfort in each other—or that they were a match made in heaven, rekindling a love that had been unfairly torn apart.
Ideas poured into Lin Zhaoyang’s mind like a spring. In less than half a day, she finished writing the story.
Originally, she had planned to cook herself a simple lunch at home. But then she remembered there were still leftovers from the previous night at Zou Zhengting’s place. If they weren’t reheated and eaten at noon, they’d definitely spoil by evening.
Taking the key to Zou Zhengting’s house, she went next door, reheated the cold dishes and rice, finished lunch, washed the dishes, then returned home for an afternoon nap. After waking up, she polished her manuscript one final time. Once the afternoon sun became less intense, she headed out.
Her first stop was the post office to mail the manuscript.
After that, she went to the park.
Only when she arrived did she realize how lively it was.
Summer vacation had turned the park into a bustling place.
There were elderly people taking grandchildren for walks, young couples strolling together, and countless street vendors.
As Lin Zhaoyang walked around, she saw stalls selling popsicles, clothes, snacks, and all kinds of food. Every stand was surrounded by customers.
Watching the vendors collect money and make change, she became overwhelmingly envious.
Her desire to quit her job grew even stronger.
Eventually, she found the villager Lin Xinhua had mentioned—the one selling watermelons from a three-wheeled cart. She bought a large, perfectly round watermelon and took it home.
After putting the watermelon away, she went next door first.
She knocked on Zou Zhengting’s door but didn’t go inside, simply standing at the entrance and calling his name.
When there was no response, she assumed he hadn’t returned yet and went back home.
But after entering her own house and walking into the backyard, she heard the sound of rushing water coming from the neighboring yard.
She walked over to the shared wall.
The wall was built of old red bricks, and she remembered that one of them had become loose over the years.
Feeling around, she found the loose brick. She gently wiggled it from side to side until it came free.
Then she bent down and peered through the opening, curious about what Zou Zhengting was doing.
What she absolutely hadn’t expected was that Zou Zhengting was bathing naked in his backyard.
The moment she looked through the hole, she happened to catch sight of his bare backside.
He had his back to the wall and was scrubbing it with a towel.
Whether it was because her gaze was too intense or because he had heard the sound of her removing the brick, Zou Zhengting suddenly began to turn around.
“Ah!” Lin Zhaoyang cried out. “Zou Zhengting, don’t turn around!”
She had never moved so quickly in her life.
She shoved the brick back into place, clutched her burning nose, and dashed all the way back into her living room.
Like a thief who had successfully stolen something precious, she sat in a chair with her heart pounding wildly.
As she rubbed her flushed face, she suddenly regretted running away so fast.
“Looking at him for a few more seconds wouldn’t have hurt him!”
“I’d already pried out the brick and acted like a peeping pervert. I should’ve at least gotten my money’s worth!”
“What a waste of all that courage! Why didn’t I seize the opportunity?”
Like an utterly shameless pervert, Lin Zhaoyang began replaying the entire incident in her head.
Zou Zhengting probably thought she was some kind of creep who liked peeping at men while they bathed.
She’d taken the blame for nothing.
After all, she’d only managed to see his firm backside for a few seconds. She hadn’t seen anything else.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring backyard, the moment Zou Zhengting heard Lin Zhaoyang’s scream, he instinctively wrapped a towel around his waist.
But after hearing her hurried footsteps retreating next door, he couldn’t help laughing.
She had always had plenty of lustful thoughts.
Whether she actually had the courage to act on them… depended on the day.
After rinsing the soap off, Zou Zhengting got dressed and carried two fresh bamboo shoots he’d brought back from the countryside over to her house.
“Zhaoyang, your aunt asked me to bring these bamboo shoots to you.”
At first, Lin Zhaoyang had no intention of opening the door.
But the moment she heard they were from her aunt, she rubbed her face hard, forced herself to look displeased, and opened it.
The instant the door opened, she held out her hand.
“They’re a bit heavy. I’ll carry them inside for you,” Zou Zhengting said, avoiding her hand as he walked in himself. “Your uncle dug them up in the mountains early this morning. After I finished my deliveries, I made a special trip to the village to pick them up.”
“You…” Lin Zhaoyang quickly seized the initiative. “Are you some kind of pervert? Running around naked in your backyard in broad daylight!”
Zou Zhengting nearly choked on his own saliva.
After placing the bamboo shoots in the cool corner of her kitchen, he straightened up and hurriedly explained.
“The bathroom in my house has never been renovated. The walls have been peeling badly, so I replastered them this afternoon. They need a couple of days to dry.”
There was no one else living in his house.
When he came back earlier, he’d actually stopped by to look for Lin Zhaoyang, but she hadn’t been home.
“Then why didn’t you answer when I called your name at your front door?” Lin Zhaoyang demanded, hands on her hips, sounding even more righteous.
“You came looking for me?” Zou Zhengting genuinely hadn’t heard her. “Just now? I was probably filling water in the backyard. The water was pretty loud, so I must’ve missed it.”
Realizing they couldn’t continue talking about this, he quickly changed the subject.
“Did you need something? Were you hungry?”
Lin Zhaoyang shook her head.
“I bought a big watermelon. I wanted to ask if you’d like some. If you do, I’ll give you a quarter of it.”
She had deliberately chosen a large one.
One quarter for herself.
One quarter for Zou Zhengting.
The remaining half would be taken to her parents.
Yesterday she’d eaten at his place, so today it was her turn to treat him to watermelon.
“I’d love some.”
Anything Lin Zhaoyang bought, Zou Zhengting would never refuse.
“Now, or after dinner?” she asked.
“After dinner.”
That would give him another excuse to come over.
“I ran into someone slaughtering pigs in the village today,” Zou Zhengting said. “I bought some fresh pig’s blood from the villagers, along with a big radish.”
He knew those were among Lin Zhaoyang’s favorite dishes.
“Tonight I’ll make a pig’s blood stew, bamboo shoot pork rib soup, and stir-fried vegetables.”
Lin Zhaoyang swallowed instinctively.
But remembering how Wang Fenglan disliked seeing her get too close to Zou Zhengting, she still shook her head.
“From now on, I’ll cook for myself. I won’t be eating at your place anymore.”
“Thank you for treating Xinhua and me to dinner last night. That’s why I’m treating you to watermelon today.”
After saying that, she walked out of the kitchen first.
Zou Zhengting remained standing where he was, stunned.
Yesterday, before he’d left, she hadn’t treated him like this.
Had her family said something to her after he’d gone?
A chill crept into his heart.
Lin Zhaoyang loved pig’s blood dishes and bamboo shoots more than almost anything.
If even those couldn’t tempt her anymore…
Did she intend to treat him as nothing more than an ordinary neighbor from now on?
“Zhaoyang.”
He hurried after her.
“Lin Ni contacted me. She said she’ll bring me the money tonight. Tomorrow morning we’ll go finalize the divorce.”
“Congratulations.”
Lin Zhaoyang hadn’t expected Lin Ni and Yang Wen to gather the money so quickly.
“I heard Yang Wen sold his watch and fountain pen,” Zou Zhengting continued. “He also sold his new suit and leather shoes, and even borrowed two hundred yuan in advance on his salary from the factory.”
Lin Zhaoyang wasn’t surprised.
Teacher Yang would never give Yang Wen the money, and none of his coworkers would lend him that much either.
Selling his few valuable possessions had been his only option.