The sun was setting in the west, and the orange-red afterglow bathed the entire Red Flag Brigade in a gentle light.
The educated youth quarters were not far ahead, and wisps of cooking smoke already rose into the air.
She quickened her pace, taking a shortcut through the backyard of the youth quarters.
Just as she rounded the corner and passed the woodshed where supplies were stacked, a low-toned conversation slipped out through the door crack.
The voices—one male, one female—were painfully familiar.
Su Wanqing’s steps froze instantly, and she instinctively held her breath.
It was Lu Zhenting and Lin Zhaodi!
She silently pressed against the earthen wall of the woodshed. The tiny cracks in the wall allowed her to see inside.
The interior was dimly lit. Lu Zhenting stood with his back to the door, facing Lin Zhaodi.
He had abandoned the arrogance he showed earlier in the day, wearing a gentle smile as he deliberately drew closer: “Comrade Zhaodi, I noticed you didn’t seem to get along well with that Comrade Su today?”
Lin Zhaodi, who had been looking down, suddenly raised her head in surprise.
Was Lu Zhenting… concerned about her?
Could it be…
She quickly pursed her lips, looking wronged.
“Comrade Lu, you don’t understand. I was just being kind, wanted her to drink some hot water since she looked unwell. But she insisted she brought her own brown sugar water. That capitalist girl, always pretending, looking down on us villagers!”
“Brown sugar water, big deal?”
Lu Zhenting felt disdain in his heart.
It really wasn’t a big deal!
Lin Zhaodi’s eyes reddened as she spoke, her voice trembling, taking on a pitiful tone, making herself look fragile and wronged.
Especially in front of the handsome city boy Lu Zhenting, she exaggerated her vulnerable posture to the fullest.
A flicker of contempt crossed Lu Zhenting’s eyes, but his face displayed just the right amount of sympathy and indignation.
“So that’s it. Comrade Su really is… a bit uncooperative,” he said, following Lin Zhaodi’s words.
His goal was to pull this foolish girl to his side, to have her do favors for him in the brigade.
“Comrade Lin, don’t take it personally. Capitalist girls are naturally delicate, unlike your kind heart.”
The words “kind heart” made Lin Zhaodi melt inside.
She shyly lowered her head. “Comrade Lu, you’re very nice too.”
Su Wanqing wanted to gag.
Are these two flirting with each other at this very moment???
Seeing the opportunity, Lu Zhenting lowered his voice to reveal his true purpose: “Comrade Zhaodi, I see you know everyone in the brigade and can get along with anyone. Could you… do me a favor?”
“What favor?” Lin Zhaodi immediately looked up, her eyes sparkling.
“Don’t misunderstand,” Lu Zhenting put on an upright and sincere expression, “I just want to perform well in the brigade, earn more work points, and maybe eventually return to the city. But I’m new here and clueless. I don’t know what tasks are important or what the brigade leaders value. So I hoped you could keep an eye on things and let me know if any opportunities arise.”
“Rest assured, if there’s a chance, I’ll bring you with me to the city.”
[Oh wow, the scumbag’s promising her things now?]
[If he didn’t, how could he have played that fool Lin Zhaodi so easily?]
Lin Zhaodi’s eyes rolled with excitement.
Return to the city?
It would be wonderful to go with Lu Zhenting, but there are so many charming women in the city—he might be led astray.
I need to make sure this works.
Now is the perfect chance to get close to Lu Zhenting.
If she can help him and make him owe her a favor, he won’t be able to leave.
If she could even pull him away from that despicable Su Wanqing…
The thought made her heart burn, and she immediately puffed out her chest, agreeing enthusiastically.
“No problem! Comrade Lu, don’t worry. I’ll handle everything in the brigade!”
Lu Zhenting was secretly pleased. His goal accomplished, his smile grew even more genuine: “Comrade Lin, you’re truly wonderful.”
Su Wanqing could no longer bear it.
Since these two had teamed up, she would need to be even more careful from now on.
But just as she turned to leave, her foot struck something.
“Snap!”
The crisp sound of a dry branch breaking echoed sharply in the quiet dusk.
“Who’s outside?” Lu Zhenting’s harsh voice came from the woodshed.
Immediately followed by hurried footsteps and a door being flung open.
Su Wanqing’s heart leapt. It’s over!
Without thinking, she bolted toward the yard exit.
But just as she moved, a shadow lunged from the side. A strong hand clamped over her mouth from behind, another arm wrapped around her waist, and she was irresistibly dragged into an adjacent empty compartment of the woodshed.
“Mmph!”
Her startled cry was completely muffled by the warm palm covering her mouth.
She was pressed against the cold earthen wall, her back flush with it, enveloped in the tall, unfamiliar presence of a man.
Amid the dust and wood shavings, a faint, pleasant scent of soap lingered.
It was Gu Yanshen!
She didn’t even need to turn—just by the presence and undeniable strength, she knew it was him.
“Don’t move. Don’t make a sound.”
His low, husky voice sounded right by her ear.
Warm breath brushed her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine.
Su Wanqing stiffly nodded, forgetting to even breathe.
“Squeak—”
Lu Zhenting and Lin Zhaodi searched outside, looking around the yard.
“Where is she? I clearly heard something!” Lu Zhenting’s voice was full of alertness.
“Maybe it was a wild cat?” Lin Zhaodi shrank back, a little scared.
After searching the yard with no luck, they cursed and left.
Their footsteps faded, and quiet returned.
But inside the compartment, the tension was even more intense.
Su Wanqing could clearly feel the heat radiating from his waist.
Burning.
Scorching.
Gu Yanshen’s chest was firm.
Through the thin fabric, pressed tightly against her back.
The hand covering her mouth was rough with calluses, yet warm.
His breath came in quick bursts, brushing her ear and neck repeatedly.
Her heart pounded like a drum over an open flame, fast and loud, as if it might leap out of her throat any second.
They were so close.
One slight move would touch him.
Nose to nose.
Su Wanqing’s cheeks burned fiercely. She didn’t dare move an inch, stiffly pressed against the wall, completely enveloped by this unfamiliar, overwhelmingly masculine presence.