Category: Friend(GL)

Chapter 77: Tiantian (Sweetheart)

He Wei instinctively felt that Zhou Tianzui was in a bad mood. Although she had never seen Zhou Tianzui in a good mood, her face always stern and serious, but today, her gaze was especially piercing.

She stood up straight and said, “Dr. Zhou, I’ve finished checking on the patients.”

Zhou Tianzui glanced at her coldly.

He Wei cleared her throat, “I’ve also entered the information into the computer.”

You Ruxu, unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, said, “Thank you, Dr. He.”

“You’re welcome.” Hearing You Ruxu’s voice, He Wei immediately responded, “Let me know if you need anything.”

You Ruxu said, “Thank you.”

Polite, distant, formal.

He Wei understood the underlying message, realizing she had overstepped. Hearing about You Ruxu’s accident this morning, she had rushed over immediately. Seeing You Ruxu was fine, she relaxed and became a little too casual.

They weren’t close, asking You Ruxu to ask her for help.

Wasn’t that a joke?

Thankfully, You Ruxu didn’t seem to mind. He Wei said, “Then I’ll be going.”

She turned to Zhou Tianzui, “Dr. Zhou, I’ll be going now.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded, her gaze softening slightly. After He Wei left, You Ruxu got up. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Where are you going?”

You Ruxu chuckled, “To the bathroom. Why, are you coming too?”

Zhou Tianzui didn’t answer, watching as You Ruxu entered the bathroom. Just before the door closed, she quickly followed, slipping inside. You Ruxu was surprised, “You—”

Zhou Tianzui closed the door behind her and stepped forward, pulling You Ruxu into an embrace. The bathroom was small, barely enough space for the two of them. You Ruxu’s legs were against the toilet, she couldn’t move back any further, so she held onto Zhou Tianzui to avoid falling.

Soft lips.

Zhou Tianzui kissed her gently.

You Ruxu looked at her long eyelashes and playfully bit Zhou Tianzui’s lip.

Zhou Tianzui let out a soft hiss, released You Ruxu, and said, “What was that for?”

“What was that for?” You Ruxu retorted, “I need to use the restroom.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Go ahead.”

You Ruxu: …

She said, “Aren’t you going out?”

Zhou Tianzui, acting shamelessly, “Do I need to?”

You Ruxu, exasperated, pushed her, “Yes, you do!”

Zhou Tianzui walked out and stood in the ward, which was quiet. She walked to the window. It was overcast outside, the sun hidden behind the clouds, a chilly day. You Ruxu came out of the bathroom, saw Zhou Tianzui standing by the window, and asked, “What are you looking at?”

“Looks like it’s going to snow.” Zhou Tianzui said, “The weather isn’t very good.”

You Ruxu looked outside. The cold wind howled, whistling against the windowpane. The weather indeed wasn’t very good. She looked for a moment and asked, “Not busy today?”

“I have surgery this afternoon.” Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang. It was He Wei, saying that patient number sixteen was experiencing abdominal pain. You Ruxu said, “Go ahead, attend to your patient.”

Zhou Tianzui realized she wouldn’t be able to have lunch with You Ruxu, “Then I’ll come back after I’m done.”

You Ruxu smiled, “Okay.”

She watched Zhou Tianzui leave, touched her lips, and smiled to herself.

Chen Xiang entered the ward, carrying a lunchbox. You Ruxu was talking to Captain Zhou. Chen Xiang put down the lunchbox and called out, “Teacher You.”

She recognized Captain Zhou and nodded at her.

Captain Zhou said, “Then that’s settled, contact me if you have any questions, keep your phone on.”

You Ruxu nodded.

Captain Zhou added, “Also, we’ve reached a decision regarding Yao Zhao’s case, we’ll contact her stepfather this afternoon.”

You Ruxu asked, “Is she going back home then?”

Captain Zhou hesitated, “Unless something unexpected happens, yes, she’ll have to go back.”

Home.

Was that still a home?

You Ruxu pursed her lips. She couldn’t tell Captain Zhou the truth. To them, it probably seemed like a child’s “revenge” against her stepfather. Captain Zhou seemed to sense something, she opened her mouth, then closed it, finally saying, “Rest well.”

After she left, Chen Xiang asked, “Teacher You, was she here about the car accident?”

You Ruxu nodded, “Yes.”

The timing of the accident was too coincidental, and with the heated discussions online, it was all very stressful. It wasn’t strange for Captain Zhou to come see her. Chen Xiang said, “I don’t think that man was deliberately targeting you.”

Although she hadn’t met many people in her line of work, she still had some judgment.

You Ruxu said, “The police investigated, he has no connection to Zhou Heng or Fengyuan.”

At least not on the surface. Chen Xiang nodded and handed You Ruxu her lunchbox, “Eat first.”

You Ruxu said, “Thank you.”

She started eating, then said, “Chen Xiang, you can go home and rest after I finish.”

“No way.” Chen Xiang said, “The boss told me to take care of you!”

You Ruxu chuckled, “I’m fine, take half a day off, go home and rest.”

Chen Xiang thought for a moment, “Okay.”

Having been given time off, her spirits lifted. While You Ruxu was having her CT scan, she waited outside, only relaxing after the doctor came out with the results and said everything was fine. Chen Xiang waved at You Ruxu, “Then I’ll be going home now, Teacher You, bye!”

You Ruxu smiled and nodded slightly.

The door closed. You Ruxu lay in bed. She had been so busy recently, suddenly having nothing to do felt strange. Her body seemed to have adapted to the constant work, and now, doing nothing, she felt a little restless.

You Ruxu turned over, wanting to take a nap, but sleep wouldn’t come. She took her phone from the bedside table and browsed the news. The Fengyuan story had died down, replaced by celebrity gossip, but she could still see news about Fengyuan in the current events section. She thought about Xu Jinwan’s words, then absently scrolled through the news.

Her phone vibrated. The caller ID was Wu Xiulian.

You Ruxu immediately answered the call.

“Hello, Aunt.” You Ruxu instinctively sat up straight. Wu Xiulian said, “How are you? What’s your situation now?”

You Ruxu said, “Me? I’m fine…”

“Fine, my foot.” Wu Xiulian said, “I saw the news, you were in a car accident?”

You Ruxu said, “It wasn’t a car accident, just a minor incident.”

“A minor incident that made the news?” Wu Xiulian said.

You Ruxu explained, “They’re exaggerating.”

Wu Xiulian understood what she meant, “So it wasn’t Fengyuan?”

You Ruxu said, “It doesn’t seem so, for now.”

“Then your news…” Wu Xiulian said, “Very interesting.”

You Ruxu was silent for two seconds.

Wu Xiulian continued, “Alright then, as long as you’re okay. I’ll hang up now.”

You Ruxu hung up and called You Shu and Wu Xiulian’s mother, wanting to let them know she was safe. They hadn’t seen the news yet. Wu Xiulian’s mother was especially worried, “Be careful, pay attention when driving, don’t just focus on work!”

You Ruxu said, “Okay, I know.”

Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “You…” she sighed, “Your aunt said she’s going to Jindu soon, I’ll ask her to visit you.”

“My aunt? When?” You Ruxu was surprised, Wu Xiulian hadn’t mentioned it. Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “She didn’t say when, just that she’ll be going soon, for work.”

You Ruxu said, “Okay, I’ll see.”

“Rest well, take care of yourself, don’t overwork yourself.” Wu Xiulian’s mother said, “Tell me if you want to come home, I’ll make arrangements.”

You Ruxu said, “I know, thank you, Mom.”

After hanging up, You Ruxu felt a sense of calm. She messaged Zhou Tianzui: [Taking a nap.]

There was no reply, Zhou Tianzui was probably busy. You Ruxu held her phone and drifted off to sleep, her chat with Zhou Tianzui still open. Her recent dreams had all been about the past. This time, she dreamt of the future.

The future.

She returned to Yuhai, Zhou Tianzui stayed in Jindu, they were both busy, only seeing each other occasionally on weekends or during breaks. They would argue about late replies, about work and personal matters, but they also had sweet moments.

They were like any other long-distance couple, happy and stable, yet also with their bumps along the road.

You Ruxu slept soundly, woken by her vibrating phone. She opened her eyes, it was almost six o’clock. She had slept the entire afternoon. The message was from Zhou Tianzui, saying she had just finished work.

She must have been busy all afternoon.

You Ruxu rubbed her forehead. The ward lights weren’t on, but it was still bright. She turned and saw snow falling outside, she didn’t know when it started, but it was coming down heavily, already covering the ground in a layer of white. You Ruxu got up and walked to the window. Just as she reached it, there was a knock on the door. She said, “Come in.”

“Sister.” It was Yao Zhao. You Ruxu was surprised, “What are you doing here?”

“I heard from my classmates that you were in an accident.” Although still shy, Yao Zhao’s demeanor was more confident than before. You Ruxu said, “How did you know which ward I was in?”

“I asked the nurse.” Yao Zhao finished speaking, and You Ruxu turned on the light, instantly illuminating the room. She saw snowflakes on Yao Zhao’s hair and shoulders, she hadn’t had time to brush them off. You Ruxu said, “Sit down.”

Yao Zhao sat in a chair, “Sister, how are you feeling? Are you okay?”

You Ruxu chuckled, she had heard this question so many times today. She said, “I’m fine, what about you, are you cold?”

Yao Zhao shook her head. She had run all the way here, her face flushed, her breath warm. You Ruxu said, “Want some fruit?”

“I’m not hungry.” Her stomach rumbled as she spoke, and she lowered her head, embarrassed. You Ruxu smiled, “Let’s go buy some dinner.”

Yao Zhao said, “I…”

“I’m hungry.” You Ruxu said, “I want dinner.”

Yao Zhao smiled, “What do you want to eat, Sister?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m not picky, I’ll eat whatever you want.”

She handed her wallet to Yao Zhao, who bit her lip, then took it. You Ruxu said, “Buy whatever you like.”

Yao Zhao nodded, a genuine childlike smile finally appearing on her face.

After she left, You Ruxu picked up her phone. She hadn’t replied to Zhou Tianzui yet. She got up, went to the bathroom to freshen up, adjusted her hair and hospital gown, then left the ward. The corridor was busy. You Ruxu took the elevator to the obstetrics and gynecology department. Exiting the elevator, she walked to the nurse’s station and heard a nurse ask, “Where’s Dr. Zhou?”

“In her office.” Another nurse said, “Why?”

“Patient in bed nineteen is having contractions.” The nurse hurried towards the office. Soon, Zhou Tianzui rushed out. You Ruxu, standing at the end of the corridor, watched as she entered a ward, following her. She saw Zhou Tianzui enter the ward and draw the curtains, her movements quick and practiced. After a moment, she heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Take her to the delivery room for a checkup.”

The nurse agreed and started wheeling the bed out. Zhou Tianzui opened the curtains. A sudden noise, and she looked up, seeing You Ruxu standing at the door.

Their eyes met.

You Ruxu smiled at her.

Zhou Tianzui froze, her heart skipping a beat, a sweet flutter.

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Zhou Tianzui: My wife is so sweet today.
You Ruxu: I’m always sweet.
Zhou Tianzui: …

Chapter 76: They’re Here

Chen Xiang sensed the strange atmosphere in the ward. She paused for a moment, then said, “Teacher You, I’ll go wash the fruit.”

Before You Ruxu could reply, Chen Xiang took the fruit basket and went to the bathroom. You Ruxu looked at Zhou Tianzui and said, “Why are you scaring her?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Am I?”

Not even admitting it.

That look earlier could freeze someone to death. You Ruxu chuckled, “You should go back to work.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I know.” Still worried about You Ruxu, she added, “Don’t move around too much, make sure you rest.”

You Ruxu nodded, “You can come check on me anytime.”

Zhou Tianzui’s lips curved into a smile, she turned and left the ward. Chen Xiang came out after washing the fruit, “Oh, Dr. Zhou left?”

She had even washed a piece of fruit for Zhou Tianzui.

You Ruxu said, “She went back to work. Why are you here?”

“The boss sent me.” Chen Xiang said, “She was arguing with the leader of Team 1 this morning about their report, they were still arguing when I left.”

Otherwise, Shi Qi would have come herself.

Team 1 was so unprofessional, reporting on You Ruxu’s car accident before even knowing the full story, pushing her into the spotlight. The phones at the midday news team’s office had been ringing non-stop before she left. Chen Xiang was annoyed, “That Xu Jinwan is really something, trying to make a big splash the moment she comes back, even using her own colleagues.”

Xu Jinwan had been away for further studies, returning last month, eager to make a name for herself, and now she had latched onto You Ruxu.

And clearly, she was using You Ruxu’s accident to target Fengyuan.

Zhou Heng’s reputation wasn’t good, and the rumors about his involvement in his brother’s accident abroad, and now this major issue with the cars, it wasn’t surprising what kind of speculations would arise. They didn’t even need to embellish the story, many people already suspected it was connected to Fengyuan.

Chen Xiang asked, “Teacher You, do you also suspect Zhou Heng?”

You Ruxu paused for two seconds, “It’s hard to say.”

If it was really Zhou Heng, it seemed a little too hasty, warning her so soon after the investigation began? And using such an obvious method? Anyone would suspect him, was Zhou Heng really that stupid?

But perhaps Shi Qi’s rejection last night had angered him. You Ruxu hadn’t met Zhou Heng before, didn’t know what kind of person he was, “What did the police say?”

You Ruxu shook her head: “I haven’t seen the police yet.”

Chen Xiang nodded. It was normal that she hadn’t seen them yet, having just woken up. They chatted for a few minutes when someone knocked on the door, it was someone from the traffic department, and the man with the bandaged head.

The man immediately apologized upon seeing You Ruxu, “I’m so sorry, the road was so slippery, are you alright?”

You Ruxu sat on the bed, her hair neatly tied back, her face slightly pale, but her spirits were good, “I’m fine.”

The man kept looking at You Ruxu, a flattering smile on his face, “Miss, could you give me your contact information? Your car is being assessed at the 4S shop, I’ll contact you when the results are out.”

You Ruxu looked at him, paused for a few seconds, then took out a business card and handed it to him. The man said, “Then feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I’m taking the day off today, otherwise…”

“No need.” You Ruxu said, “The doctor told me to rest, I don’t want to trouble you.”

The man looked disappointed, holding the business card, “Then feel free to call me if you have any questions, even about the car, I work at Guiyin, nearby.”

Guiyin.

A record company.

You Ruxu knew it.

She nodded: “Okay.”

Before leaving, the man also gave her his business card. He was fully responsible for the accident, the liability report issued quickly. Chen Xiang said, “It seems unrelated to Zhou Heng, doesn’t it?”

The way that man looked at You Ruxu, the admiration and delight in his eyes, if he was really working for Zhou Heng, there was no need to be so attentive.

Perhaps they were overthinking it?

Was it really just an ordinary car accident?

You Ruxu looked at the man’s business card, silent.

Chen Xiang sat on the edge of the bed. Her phone rang. She answered impatiently, “We’re not interested in an interview, Reporter You is not accepting any interviews at the moment, thank you!”

She hung up, annoyed, “I really don’t understand these people.”

You Ruxu smiled: “What’s wrong?”

“After your accident, so many people called the station, even wanting to interview you.” Chen Xiang said, “We’re in the media ourselves, and they’re asking us if we want an interview.”

She was so speechless she couldn’t even continue.

You Ruxu could understand. Not to mention her recent investigation of Fengyuan was a hot topic, even the “timing” of her car accident was suspicious. If she were in their shoes, she would also wonder if there was a connection.

She said, “Is anyone following up on Fengyuan now?”

“Not yet.” She was in charge of this news story, and since the accident happened this morning, Shi Qi hadn’t had time to reassign it. Chen Xiang continued, “But I think the station might give it to Xu Jinwan.”

You Ruxu looked at Chen Xiang, “Give it to her?”

“Not give it to her, she snatched it!” Chen Xiang said angrily.

“I wouldn’t dare take the credit.” A voice came from the doorway. You Ruxu and Chen Xiang looked over. Xu Jinwan, carrying a flower basket and a bouquet, walked in, her high heels clicking against the floor. She said to You Ruxu, “Reporter You, are you alright?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m fine.”

“This is a small token of concern from our morning news team.” Xu Jinwan said, “I overheard your conversation just now, I apologize, your door wasn’t completely closed.”

Her smile held no apology. Chen Xiang was about to speak, but You Ruxu stopped her, “It’s okay, we weren’t paying attention.”

Xu Jinwan joined the TV station two years before You Ruxu, quickly becoming the anchor for Team 1. She always pursued trending news, boosting the morning news ratings considerably. She had been away for further studies recently, and now, having just returned, she was “stealing credit” again.

As expected, after the pleasantries, she got straight to the point: “The station said you’ve been working very hard, so they gave you a few days of leave, make sure you rest well.”

You Ruxu said, “Thank you, but I’m fine, I can come back to work tomorrow.”

Xu Jinwan looked at You Ruxu, “No need to rush.”

You Ruxu smiled, “It’s not about rushing, I just don’t want to create a false impression.”

She looked at Xu Jinwan, her gaze clear and unwavering. Xu Jinwan raised an eyebrow, not surprised by her words. After all, You Ruxu was smart, she could easily see through it.

The station gave You Ruxu leave to keep her out of the public eye, to imply the severity of her accident.

But You Ruxu refused.

Xu Jinwan recalled her colleagues’ jokes, saying You Ruxu acted like she was above it all, pursuing stories without considering their popularity. Those jokes now seemed.

Apt.

Rejecting the attention, You Ruxu knew that by not appearing, she would generate even more buzz, but she didn’t care, saying she didn’t want to create a false impression.

Xu Jinwan chuckled inwardly. These days, news stories were all embellished to some extent, how else could they generate buzz?

But she didn’t say anything more, just raised an eyebrow, “Suit yourself.”

She looked at You Ruxu, “As for Fengyuan, the station wants me to take over, could you please transfer the information to me, Reporter You?”

Chen Xiang was furious, “Isn’t this a little too much?!”

Xu Jinwan said, “It’s the station’s decision.”

Chen Xiang gritted her teeth.

You Ruxu’s expression remained calm, “I understand.”

Xu Jinwan smiled, said goodbye, and left the ward. Chen Xiang was seething, “Stealing news from another team, is she crazy?!”

“Doesn’t her team have any news of their own?”

“I’ve never seen someone so shameless!”

You Ruxu looked down at her phone. While she was talking to Xu Jinwan, Shi Qi had messaged her, informing her about the news story being reassigned, so she remained calm. She said to Chen Xiang, “Want some fruit?”

Chen Xiang’s outburst abruptly ended. She stared at You Ruxu, her jaw dropped, “What?”

You Ruxu said, “Do you want some fruit? I can peel one for you.”

“No, no, I’ll do it.” Chen Xiang said, “Teacher You, don’t move, I’ll do it!”

You Ruxu enjoyed two minutes of peace. Chen Xiang handed her the fruit. There was a knock on the door. You Ruxu looked up. The nurse reminded her, “You have a CT scan at eleven, please don’t leave the ward.”

Chen Xiang nodded repeatedly: “Okay, okay.”

You Ruxu asked her, “You’re not working today?”

Chen Xiang said, “The boss gave me the day off, I’m here to take care of you!”

You Ruxu took a bite of the fruit.

Chen Xiang said, “Teacher You, what do you want for lunch? I’ll go buy it later.”

You Ruxu said, “Anything is fine.”

Chen Xiang, holding her phone, searched for suitable meals for patients, “Then I’ll go buy it now, there might be a queue.”

You Ruxu nodded.

After she left, You Ruxu received a message from Zhou Tianzui, reminding her about the CT scan. She replied: [I know.]

Zhou Tianzui: [What are you doing?]

You Ruxu: [Lying down.]

Zhou Tianzui chuckled: [Chatting with Chen Xiang?]

You Ruxu: [Chen Xiang went to buy lunch.]

Zhou Tianzui’s finger tapped the screen. Thinking of the soft, almost coquettish look in You Ruxu’s eyes when she woke up, her heart itched. She didn’t reply, but put away her phone, stood up, and walked towards the elevators. Lin Luo was inside. Seeing Zhou Tianzui, she pressed the open button. Zhou Tianzui entered. Lin Luo took half a step back. The faint scent of disinfectant surrounded Zhou Tianzui, but she seemed to smell a hint of perfume as well, a blend of perfume and disinfectant.

Light and fragrant.

Lin Luo couldn’t help but ask, “Dr. Zhou, are you going downstairs?”

Zhou Tianzui nodded and pressed the button for the first floor.

As the elevator descended, Lin Luo, holding her breath, wanted to say something, but Zhou Tianzui had already reached her floor and quickly walked out. Lin Luo hesitated, the words caught in her throat.

The elevator doors closed. Zhou Tianzui reached You Ruxu’s ward. She reached for the doorknob, about to knock, when she heard a familiar voice.

“Teacher You, are you feeling any discomfort?”

“How’s your head? Does it hurt?”

The speaker turned, hearing the noise at the doorway. You Ruxu also looked over. Zhou Tianzui stood there, one hand in her white coat pocket, the other on the doorknob.

He Wei immediately stood up straight and greeted her respectfully, “Dr. Zhou.”

Zhou Tianzui’s lips curved into a strained smile.

Chen Xiang was buying lunch.

He Wei was here.

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Zhou Tianzui: Heh, the ward is quite lively.
You Ruxu: …

Chapter 75: The Car Accident

You Ruxu had been in a car accident. A passerby called the police, then answered You Ruxu’s ringing phone. Zhou Tianzui arrived at the scene just as the ambulance did, and she followed them to the hospital.

“The road was icy, the car skidded, the brakes didn’t work.” A man, his head bandaged, sat in a chair, talking to a doctor. He had undergone a basic checkup, his car’s front was damaged, but he was mostly unharmed. You Ruxu was still unconscious.

When Zhou Tianzui went to see You Ruxu, she was being taken for a CT scan. She had hit her head on the steering wheel. Zhou Tianzui’s heart sank, remembering what she and You Ruxu had talked about that morning, about the “what ifs,” filled with regret.

“Dr. Zhou.” The doctor who performed the CT scan called out to her. “What are you doing here?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Is she okay?”

“No cerebral hemorrhage, thankfully.” Just unconscious. Zhou Tianzui’s heart eased slightly. She looked towards the man in the corridor. It was the emergency room, crowded with people. After the CT scan, You Ruxu was taken to the observation room. Zhou Tianzui walked over to the man.

Captain Zhou was on the phone.

She hung up, seeing Zhou Tianzui, and asked, “Is Reporter You okay?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “She’s fine, was this Zhou Heng’s doing?”

Captain Zhou was surprised, but quickly regained her composure, “We still need to investigate.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Zhou Tianzui said, “The negotiations fell through last night, he probably wanted to teach her a lesson.”

Captain Zhou gave a strained laugh.

It was a common speculation, but they had no evidence, so she couldn’t answer. However, she looked at Zhou Tianzui, “You seem to know quite a lot about Reporter You’s affairs.”

Zhou Tianzui’s expression was calm: “We live together.”

Captain Zhou nodded. Her team member turned around and said, “Captain, we’ve questioned the people who work nearby, none of them are suspicious.”

But she still looked at the man suspiciously. It was too much of a coincidence, wasn’t it? You Ruxu reported on the car issue, and then had a car accident? Moreover, Zhou Heng’s brother, who was abroad, had also requested assistance from the domestic police regarding his own car accident case.

Captain Zhou nodded, “Let them handle it.”

She looked towards the observation room. Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll call you when she wakes up.”

Captain Zhou smiled, “Thank you.”

Zhou Tianzui entered the observation room. A phone in a locker was ringing incessantly; it was You Ruxu’s. Zhou Tianzui took it out, the caller ID an unknown number. She hadn’t intended to answer, but the ringing persisted. After a moment of hesitation, she answered the call.

“Hello, Reporter You, are you free to meet at the TV station at noon today?” It was the manager from Fengyuan. He had contacted You Ruxu before, who only agreed to meet at the station. Public opinion had become difficult to control since last night, so he decided to go to the TV station to see her.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Hello, you’re looking for Reporter You?”

“Who is this?” The manager was surprised. Zhou Tianzui said, “Reporter You is unavailable at the moment, please contact her later.”

The manager gave a small “oh” and hung up. Just then, his assistant rushed in, handing him a tablet, “This morning’s news.”

“From Jindu TV?” The manager frowned, scrolling through the news. You Ruxu had a car accident? This morning? The manager’s forehead was covered in sweat. He asked, “Where’s Mr. Zhou?”

“He hasn’t arrived yet, I heard the negotiations with Jindu TV fell through last night.” The assistant said, “He was furious.”

No matter how furious he was, he couldn’t just act recklessly!

This was absurd!

Now, with You Ruxu’s accident, even if Fengyuan wasn’t responsible, they would still be implicated. As expected, after the news broke, various marketing accounts started speculating online: [Was it because she investigated the Fengyuan car’s brakes?]

[I heard it was You Ruxu who reported on the Fengyuan car issue.]

[What’s going on? What’s happening? Is this still a society ruled by law?]

[Scary, being a reporter is truly a high-risk profession.]

The blame was quickly shifted to Fengyuan, implying they were behind You Ruxu’s accident. The manager’s head ached, his assistant’s phone ringing non-stop. He listened to the call, then said to the manager, “Several of our stores are being swarmed with people demanding refunds.”

The situation was much worse than last time. Last time, Zhou Heng had boasted that anyone who wanted a refund for their V1 could go directly to the store. But because of the discounts and compensation offered, very few people actually returned their cars. But now, with You Ruxu’s accident, things had escalated.

The people demanding refunds were relentless, not even accepting compensation, insisting on returning their cars and getting their money back. Several reporters from newspapers were already at the scene. The assistant said, “There are also reporters waiting downstairs.”

The manager, rubbing his temples, called Zhou Heng.

He couldn’t get through. Just as he was about to give up, Zhou Heng answered, his voice hoarse, clearly just woken up. The manager said, “Mr. Zhou, we have a problem.”

Zhou Heng sat up in bed.

He turned on the TV, a news replay, and saw Jindu’s morning news reporting on You Ruxu’s car accident.

Zhou Heng’s face darkened, his brow furrowed.

Zhou Tianzui also frowned, seeing the news. As expected of the TV station, they wouldn’t let any opportunity slip by. You Ruxu was still in the hospital, not a single colleague had visited, yet the news crew was already there.

Zhou Tianzui chuckled in exasperation.

There was a knock on the door. She turned around. Chen Xiang was standing there, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Zhou Tianzui, “Dr. Zhou!”

She hurried inside.

Lowering her voice slightly, “Teacher You still hasn’t woken up?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t you have any other news to cover?”

She knew Chen Xiang was referring to the TV station’s report on You Ruxu’s car accident. Chen Xiang chuckled awkwardly. Shi Qi had just had a huge argument with the leader of Team 1. The morning news team insisted they hadn’t done anything wrong, that they were just reporting on You Ruxu’s accident, nothing more.

Did they need to say more?

It was practically connecting Fengyuan to the incident. She had checked Weibo before coming here; it was a complete mess, everyone demanding that the person in charge of Fengyuan come forward and give an explanation.

They were even digging up You Ruxu’s past interviews. You Ruxu was already a public figure, so it wasn’t exactly big news, but this method of pushing their own people into the spotlight for ratings and attention.

Chen Xiang found it despicable.

And because of this, facing Zhou Tianzui now, she felt a little guilty, chuckling awkwardly, “When will Teacher You wake up?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I don’t know yet.”

Chen Xiang nodded, “Will she be transferred to a regular ward?”

Zhou Tianzui replied, “She can only be transferred after she wakes up.”

Her tone was cold and indifferent. Chen Xiang swallowed, why hadn’t she found Zhou Tianzui this intimidating before? Dr. Zhou seemed particularly cold today.

And with that coldness, her presence was even more imposing.

Chen Xiang shifted uncomfortably. She touched her hair, stood on her tiptoes, then fidgeted with her phone to alleviate the awkwardness. The trending news online had already shifted from You Ruxu’s car accident to a celebrity scandal. Chen Xiang casually scrolled through a few pages, nothing caught her interest. She put away her phone and said to Zhou Tianzui, “I’ll go buy some fruit.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded.

Just as Chen Xiang left, the person on the bed moved slightly. Zhou Tianzui looked down and immediately focused on You Ruxu’s face. Her closed eyes slowly opened. You Ruxu, seeing Zhou Tianzui, was startled, “Why are you here?”

Then she felt a sharp pain in her neck and lower back. She reached out to touch the spots, but Zhou Tianzui grabbed her hand, “Don’t move.”

You Ruxu’s mind was clear. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Do you remember what happened?”

“A car accident.” You Ruxu said, “I was hit by a car.”

She remembered the moment she woke up and looked at Zhou Tianzui, “Am I okay?”

“You’re fine.” Zhou Tianzui said, “You’ll stay here for observation today, and we’ll do another CT scan at noon. Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?”

Her voice was unconsciously much gentler.

You Ruxu didn’t feel any particular discomfort, just the lingering pain in her neck and lower back, a dull ache, nothing serious. She shook her head.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Just lie down and rest for a bit, let me know if you feel any discomfort.”

You Ruxu nodded.

Zhou Tianzui called a colleague, who examined You Ruxu again, then wheeled her to a regular ward. Zhou Tianzui handled the paperwork. The man involved in the accident went for further checkups. You Ruxu hadn’t seen him yet, nor the police, Zhou Tianzui probably took care of it.

She suddenly felt a sense of security, of having someone to rely on.

You Ruxu smiled faintly, touching her neck. Zhou Tianzui entered the ward and said, “Didn’t I tell you not to sit up?”

“I’m fine.” You Ruxu said, “I think I can be discharged soon.”

Zhou Tianzui sat on the edge of the bed, “So you can continue investigating Fengyuan?”

You Ruxu looked at her.

After a few seconds, she smiled, “Aren’t you working today?”

“No surgeries this morning.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t change the subject.”

You Ruxu said, “I’m not changing the subject, I have to continue reporting on Fengyuan.”

“I’m afraid you won’t have the chance.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Many people are watching Fengyuan closely now.”

You Ruxu sensed something in her words. Zhou Tianzui handed her her phone. She saw the news and abruptly sat up straight. Zhou Tianzui, seeing this, thought perhaps she really could be discharged.

She was still thinking.

You Ruxu gripped the phone tightly. News wasn’t just about accuracy, but also timeliness. And Team 1 had certainly achieved that, even using her as news.

The report was by the morning news anchor, Xu Jinwan, whom You Ruxu had met before, a person who was extremely punctual. Not only did she report on You Ruxu’s accident, but she also included a segment about Fengyuan at the end, clearly intending to pursue the story, to sink her teeth into it.

You Ruxu pursed her lips.

Zhou Tianzui said, “So just focus on resting here.”

She took the phone from You Ruxu’s hand. You Ruxu looked up at Zhou Tianzui, wanting to take it back, but knowing Zhou Tianzui was displeased, and remembering their conversation about accidents this morning, she felt a twinge of guilt, a hint of appeasement in her eyes, almost like, acting cute.

Although they didn’t speak, the ward quiet, a pink bubble of unspoken intimacy seemed to surround them.

Zhou Tianzui, meeting her gaze, felt a warmth spread through her. She wanted to take You Ruxu’s hand, when a noise came from the doorway. Chen Xiang’s cheerful voice called out, “Teacher You!”

The pink bubble instantly burst, along with the soft look in You Ruxu’s eyes. Zhou Tianzui turned around and heard You Ruxu say, “Come in.”

Chen Xiang pushed the door open and entered.

Carrying a basket of fruit.

She smiled: “Teacher You, you’re awake?”

You Ruxu nodded. Chen Xiang said, “Dr. Zhou’s still here.”

Zhou Tianzui smiled at her.

Chen Xiang’s grip on the fruit basket tightened.

She suddenly felt a chill.

---

---

---

Zhou Tianzui: Didn’t get to hold my wife’s hand, unhappy.
You Ruxu: …

Chapter 74: It’s Not

Zhou Tianzui had never seen this side of You Ruxu before, actually voicing a request. Although it was Zhou Tianzui who had initiated it, You Ruxu’s willingness to participate, to express her desire, made Zhou Tianzui very happy. And this happiness, unrestrained, led to them being entangled until late into the night. You Ruxu’s fair skin was flushed, partly from bites, partly from the lingering alcohol. The next day, when she woke up, her chest ached, even more so than her head.

You Ruxu frowned and looked down; the red marks were still there, faint, but a dull ache remained when she touched them.

She moved slightly, and Zhou Tianzui woke up.

Her slender hand reached for the bedside table, grabbing her phone, “It’s only six, not sleeping anymore?”

You Ruxu couldn’t sleep. After releasing her pent-up emotions last night, she woke up feeling a little dazed, followed by a rare clarity, her rationality returning, putting everything back in its place. You Ruxu said, “I’m not sleeping anymore, do you want to sleep a little longer?”

Zhou Tianzui turned over, “Just five more minutes.”

She was actually still in bed. You Ruxu chuckled, tucked her in, got out of bed, and put on her pajamas. Yao Zhao was already awake, reading in her room. Hearing the noise outside, she came out and offered to make breakfast.

Her movements were even more practiced than You Ruxu’s.

You Ruxu said, “I’ll do it.”

“I know how.” Yao Zhao said, “Sister, you and Dr. Zhou have been taking care of me for so long, it’s the least I can do.” She bit her lip, “And Sister, I’m moving back to the school dormitory.”

You Ruxu looked at her, hearing this.

Yao Zhao looked up slightly at You Ruxu. It was still dark outside, the kitchen light illuminating You Ruxu, who was wearing a black pajama set, her hair loose, her bangs tucked behind her ears, revealing her fair forehead and delicate profile.

You Ruxu asked, “When?”

Yao Zhao looked at You Ruxu and said, “In the next couple of days. I talked to my homeroom teacher yesterday, she told me before school ended that I could apply for boarding. Sister, you even paid the fees for me, I’ll…”

“Just focus on your studies during the summer break.” You Ruxu said, “Call me if you need anything.”

Yao Zhao paused.

She had no experience with owing money. She had never even borrowed fifty cents from her classmates before, because she wasn’t sure if she could pay them back. She never participated in any school activities either. When it came to group purchases of extracurricular books, the class representative would always skip her, saying, “She clearly can’t afford it.”

People would laugh at her, calling her “Little Mute,” and she wouldn’t even retort.

She was quiet and withdrawn, no one wanted to be friends with her. She would always endure such remarks in silence, because they were right.

She really couldn’t afford it, she was just a mute whenever such matters arose.

You Ruxu paying her school fees was a big deal to her, but You Ruxu’s casual attitude, as if it was just a small, insignificant gesture.

Made Yao Zhao yearn, yearn to be able to do the same one day, to easily help others in need.

The seed You Ruxu had planted in her heart was growing steadily, about to blossom.

You Ruxu continued making breakfast, putting the buns in the steamer. After finishing, she went back to the living room. The documents she hadn’t finished organizing last night were still on the coffee table. You Ruxu sat down and started sorting through them. Yao Zhao sat beside her and asked, “Sister, are you working?”

“Just some documents.” You Ruxu put them aside after organizing them and heard a noise from the bathroom. She turned; Zhou Tianzui was awake.

Zhou Tianzui casually put on a pajama top, a languid look about her. You Ruxu looked at her, “What’s for breakfast?” She could already smell the aroma.

You Ruxu said, “Plain noodles and steamed buns.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded, walked over to the sofa, and sat down. Yao Zhao was still a little afraid of her, not daring to approach, staying close to You Ruxu. You Ruxu put her laptop in her bag and received a call from Shi Qi.

Shi Qi didn’t seem to be in a good mood, asking directly, “Xiao Xu, has Zhou Heng contacted you?”

You Ruxu said, “He sent a friend request, but I haven’t accepted it yet, why?”

“Negotiations broke down last night.” Shi Qi said, “Be careful.”

You Ruxu frowned, “How did they break down?”

Shi Qi said, “He wanted us to apologize, to say there’s nothing wrong with the cars.” She scoffed, “He said he would pay any price.”

Fengyuan’s headquarters wasn’t in Jindu, just a branch office. Zhou Heng had come to deal with the V1 incident. He had originally planned to stay for half a month, but with the New Year approaching, the matter still wasn’t resolved. Several board members were unhappy with him. Zhou Heng, already frustrated, was naturally aggressive during the negotiations last night.

He thought everyone was afraid of Fengyuan.

If he had been reasonable, Shi Qi would have given him face, they could have sat down and discussed it properly. But coming in with guns blazing, Shi Qi didn’t have to put up with it. She rejected him outright.

Zhou Heng didn’t say anything, just smiled and left.

Shi Qi, after much deliberation, still decided to warn You Ruxu. Although it was she who offended Zhou Heng last night, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t target You Ruxu, as it was her news report after all.

You Ruxu said, “I understand.”

She hung up and looked at the friend request, staring at Zhou Heng’s name for two seconds, lost in thought. Zhou Tianzui walked over, “What’s wrong?”

You Ruxu turned around, about to say “nothing”—

Then changed her mind, “It was the boss, she said the negotiations with Zhou Heng broke down last night.”

Zhou Tianzui’s brow furrowed. Yao Zhao looked at them. Although she didn’t know who Zhou Heng was, she instinctively felt that You Ruxu was in trouble, but she couldn’t help.

She bit her lip. You Ruxu glanced at her, “Let’s have breakfast.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded.

The three sat at the dining table. Yao Zhao, in a very adult-like manner, served them noodles and steamed buns. Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu and said, “Should I drive you to work after breakfast?”

You Ruxu shook her head, “I’m going out today, it’s more convenient to drive myself.”

She was always like this.

Zhou Tianzui suddenly thought of the missing infant case You Ruxu had investigated. It seemed unrelated, but she couldn’t help but make the connection. Back then, You Ruxu had insisted on investigating, publishing the story even after receiving three warnings. Someone had provided a tip to the police based on her report, and the subsequent arrests were swift and successful. Everyone thought the case was closed, but You Ruxu was attacked.

In broad daylight, stabbed.

If the blade had deviated even slightly, she would have lost You Ruxu.

Seeing Zhou Heng in the ward that day had made her heart clench. His eyes, filled with malice, reminded her of the attacker, the resemblance unsettling. The thought made Zhou Tianzui’s face darken. You Ruxu, just as she was about to leave for work, pulled her into the bedroom, “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “A Ran…”

“I know you’re worried.” You Ruxu said, “But Zhou Heng is the owner of Fengyuan, he wouldn’t resort to something so drastic.”

Indeed, there was no need.

Zhou Tianzui’s expression relaxed slightly, but she was still worried, “What if?”

You Ruxu said, “You really don’t wish me well.”

“It’s not about wishing you well or not.” Zhou Tianzui said, “It’s a possibility.”

You Ruxu said, “Any job carries risks.”

It was just that the risks associated with her job were slightly higher.

Zhou Tianzui couldn’t argue with that. She just looked at You Ruxu, who smiled at her, “I have to go to work now.”

She left the room. Yao Zhao was standing in the living room. Usually, You Ruxu would drive her to school, but today, she said to Zhou Tianzui, “You take her, I’m running late.”

She usually left at this time, saying she was running late was just in case, so Yao Zhao wouldn’t be late if something happened.

Saying she didn’t care, but still preparing for the worst.

Zhou Tianzui felt a surge of frustration. In the car, Yao Zhao, sensing her mood, sat up straight, her body tense. Stopping at a red light, Zhou Tianzui asked, “Are you tired?”

Yao Zhao, as if being questioned by the principal, immediately straightened her posture further, “No.”

Zhou Tianzui, suppressing her frustration, actually chuckled.

She said, “Why are you so nervous? Do I look like I’m going to eat you?”

Yao Zhao said, “No, you don’t.”

The light turned green. Yao Zhao looked at Zhou Tianzui’s profile and asked softly, “Dr. Zhou, are you unhappy?”

“Is it because of Sister?”

Zhou Tianzui’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, hearing Yao Zhao ask, “Is Sister’s job dangerous?”

“Yao Zhao,” Zhou Tianzui asked, “What do you think of reporters?”

Yao Zhao thought carefully. To her, reporters seemed glamorous, appearing on TV every day, always elegant and composed. She said, “I think reporters are amazing.”

Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “Omnipotent?”

Yao Zhao, slightly embarrassed, nodded. To her, reporters did seem somewhat omnipotent.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Actually, it’s the opposite.”

Not only were they not omnipotent, they were also often constrained. Yao Zhao didn’t quite understand. She looked at Zhou Tianzui, who said, “Do you know how high the mortality rate is for reporters?”

Yao Zhao shook her head.

But she could imagine.

Yao Zhao murmured, “Is it that dangerous?”

Not only dangerous, but the unpredictable nature of their work was also a major factor. Besides all the occupational hazards, reporters also had to follow up on events, keeping a close watch even after everyone else had moved on.

Yao Zhao whispered, “Then Sister must be very scared.”

Zhou Tianzui’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her frustration growing, although her expression remained unchanged. They arrived at the school. Yao Zhao got out of the car and politely said goodbye to Zhou Tianzui. Zhou Tianzui watched her walk into the school, Yao Zhao’s words echoing in her ears: “Then Sister must be very scared.“

Perhaps she shouldn’t have said those things this morning.

Zhou Tianzui felt a pang of regret.

She should have hugged You Ruxu this morning.

She should have held her close.

Zhou Tianzui, thinking this, called You Ruxu. The ringing echoed in the car. Several rings, but no answer. Zhou Tianzui frowned.

Was she driving?

She would be using Bluetooth, no need to hold the phone, there was no reason for her not to answer.

Zhou Tianzui’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately called You Ruxu again, the ringing now sounding impatient and echoing in the empty car. Her palms were sweating. Just before the last ring, the call was answered.

But it wasn’t You Ruxu’s voice.

Chapter 73: Is That Right?

You Ruxu seldom cried like this, or rather, she seldom had such emotional outbursts. She tended to suppress her feelings, enduring them until they became numb, no longer knowing what pain or discomfort felt like. But being with Zhou Tianzui, that heavy sense of guilt had always weighed on her, and finally, she couldn’t hold back anymore, crying in Zhou Tianzui’s arms until she fell asleep.

Zhou Tianzui held her, offering no comfort.

Right now, You Ruxu didn’t need comfort, she needed to release her emotions, letting them out was better than keeping them bottled up.

Although Zhou Tianzui didn’t know what You Ruxu and Yu Qiao had talked about today, she could guess it wasn’t pleasant. Her father’s death had been a huge blow to Yu Qiao, the rumors and gossip even more so. For a while, Yu Qiao had been in a daze, constantly sleeping, and when she woke up, she would say, “Xiao Tian, I dreamt about your father, he said he felt wronged.”

He had been wronged, anyone in his situation would feel wronged.

She and her mother had endured so much ridicule and abuse, things they shouldn’t have had to bear. She had thought of countless ways to take revenge, what she would do if she ever met that little girl again. But why You Ruxu?

Why, of all people, You Ruxu?

Those carefully crafted revenge scenarios mocked her helplessness.

Zhou Tianzui couldn’t remember how she felt when she first realized You Ruxu was that little girl. Disgusted? Twisted? Every time those dark thoughts surfaced, seeing You Ruxu, they would vanish.

She couldn’t deny it anymore.

She loved You Ruxu.

Loved her so much that even knowing who she was, she couldn’t let go.

She had let go of the past, she didn’t want to dwell on it anymore. She wanted to slowly, embrace the future with You Ruxu. The past hatred gradually faded, replaced by love. She could deceive others, but not herself.

And she didn’t like to lie.

Love was love. She accepted it. But clearly, You Ruxu hadn’t moved on yet. Zhou Tianzui held You Ruxu, gently patting her back, her back so slender that Zhou Tianzui could easily wrap her arms around her. The person in her arms gradually calmed down, her breathing evening out. Zhou Tianzui didn’t open the car door, just held her.

After a long, long time, she finally called out, “A Ran?”

This nickname.

She had never changed it.

She knew why You Ruxu had told her this nickname, she was revealing her identity, but You Ruxu didn’t know that she already knew who she was.

Zhou Tianzui also knew that every time she used that name, You Ruxu’s guilt lessened, because there were no secrets between them.

You Ruxu was still asleep.

Zhou Tianzui called out again, “A Ran?”

There was no response. Zhou Tianzui’s lips twitched slightly, wanting to smile, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She got out of the car, walked to the passenger side, and gently shook You Ruxu’s shoulder. You Ruxu was light, barely any weight in her arms. She wasn’t a picky eater, yet she never gained weight.

Zhou Tianzui had once told her, “Should you eat more?”

And You Ruxu had retorted, “I already eat two bowls of rice!”

Yet she remained slender, her mind burdened with too many worries. Zhou Tianzui helped You Ruxu out of the car and into the elevator. You Ruxu, slightly more awake now, asked, “Are we home?”

She rubbed her eyes, “They hurt…”

Zhou Tianzui took her hand, “Don’t rub them, they’ll swell.”

You Ruxu said, “Why do they hurt so much? Am I going blind?”

Such drunken nonsense. Zhou Tianzui chuckled and said, “Have you forgotten? You were crying.”

You Ruxu said, “Crying? Why was I crying?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “You had a nightmare.”

Half-truth, half-lie.

The nightmare was real.

The rest was a lie.

Zhou Tianzui said, “In the dream, I was breaking up with you, and you were heartbroken, you kept crying even after you woke up.”

You Ruxu frowned and looked at Zhou Tianzui, her mind hazy, the alcohol clouding her thoughts, not as clear-headed as usual, but her body’s reaction was honest. She had been crying, and for a long time.

Just because of a dream?

You Ruxu said, “Impossible.”

Clear-headed when she shouldn’t be, muddled when she should be. Zhou Tianzui chuckled in exasperation, “Then tell me, why were you crying?”

You Ruxu thought carefully and slowly remembered, she seemed to have dreamt about her mother.

Memories surfacing, she looked at Zhou Tianzui and said, “I think so.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Think what?”

You Ruxu said, “I think I dreamt that you broke up with me, and I was heartbroken.”

Zhou Tianzui’s expression turned serious.

You Ruxu asked, “Will we break up one day?”

Ding.

The elevator arrived.

Zhou Tianzui was about to speak when she saw Yao Zhao standing outside. Yao Zhao, worried after finishing her homework and not seeing You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui return, had been waiting by the elevator. After a long wait, she finally saw them.

Yao Zhao smiled shyly: “Sister, Dr. Zhou, you’re back.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“I, I couldn’t sleep.” Yao Zhao said, “What’s wrong with Sister?”

“She had a bit too much to drink.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Let’s go inside.”

Yao Zhao bustled around, pouring water, getting a pillow for You Ruxu, worried about her, her gaze fixed on You Ruxu. You Ruxu said, “I’m fine now, you go to bed, you have school tomorrow.”

Zhou Tianzui also said, “Go and rest.”

Yao Zhao nodded and watched them enter the bedroom.

You Ruxu lay on the pillow, this position more comfortable, not as elegant and poised as in front of the camera, like a small animal curled up, too tired to even extend its paws. She didn’t want to move. Zhou Tianzui said, “Not removing your makeup?”

You Ruxu said, “Will you do it for me?”

Her tone almost coquettish.

Zhou Tianzui wondered if she was the one who was drunk. She touched her earlobe and said, “I’ll do it for you.”

She led You Ruxu into the bathroom, which was small, making it difficult for them to even turn around. You Ruxu stood in front of the mirror, her reflection’s face flushed, her eyes slightly unfocused. She picked up a cotton pad. Zhou Tianzui took it from her, made her sit on the edge of the bathtub, then sat behind her. You Ruxu leaned her head back slightly and closed her eyes, waiting for Zhou Tianzui to remove her makeup.

What she got was a kiss.

A soft kiss on her forehead, her eyelids, her eyelashes, the tip of her nose. You Ruxu opened her eyes, about to speak, when Zhou Tianzui cupped her face and kissed her on the lips, a soft, sweet kiss. The words You Ruxu wanted to say remained unspoken.

She wrapped her arms around Zhou Tianzui’s waist. Zhou Tianzui leaned closer.

The bright bathroom light reflected in her eyes, blurring into a soft glow. Her hair brushed against You Ruxu’s neck. Zhou Tianzui kept her head lowered, her back bent, although she was in a dominant position, she seemed to be surrendering to You Ruxu, completely and without reservation.

She was willing to surrender, willingly and completely.

They embraced, the makeup removal process lasting for over half an hour. You Ruxu wanted to take a shower, but Zhou Tianzui, worried she might be too unsteady on her feet, thought it best not to risk it. Falling would be a bad idea. You Ruxu compromised and just wiped herself down with a warm towel, then changed into her pajamas.

When she came out, Zhou Tianzui was standing at the door. You Ruxu said, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Waiting for you.”

You Ruxu said, “I can go back to my room myself.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m afraid you’ll go to the wrong room.”

You Ruxu said, “I won’t.”

Zhou Tianzui held up a finger, “What number is this?”

You Ruxu took Zhou Tianzui’s hand and said, “I don’t know.”

“See, you’re drunk.” As if having found justification, You Ruxu chuckled. Zhou Tianzui let her, letting herself be pulled into the bedroom. The room was quiet, only the sound of the wind howling outside, and the occasional car speeding past. You Ruxu walked to the window and looked down at the twinkling lights below.

She turned and saw Zhou Tianzui lying on the bed, holding her teddy bear, leaning against the pillows, a casual and relaxed posture. Seeing You Ruxu look over, she asked, “What’s out there?”

You Ruxu said, “Nothing.”

“Then why are you looking?” Zhou Tianzui stood up, walked to the window, and drew the curtains, “Am I not pretty enough?”

You Ruxu looked at her. Zhou Tianzui’s features were striking, a rare blend of depth and strength, her eyelashes long and thick. You Ruxu remembered Chen Xiang saying that her colleagues called her “Lash Queen” behind her back. Although slightly exaggerated, her eyes were truly beautiful.

“You’re beautiful.” You Ruxu said, “You’re the most beautiful.”

Her tone was so serious that Zhou Tianzui couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic.

But You Ruxu didn’t seem like the sarcastic type.

Zhou Tianzui accepted the compliment, “Then keep looking.”

She pulled You Ruxu onto the bed, making her sit facing her. You Ruxu felt that her gaze was different from usual, or perhaps she herself was drunk. She reached out to cover Zhou Tianzui’s eyes, but Zhou Tianzui took her hand and held it in hers.

You Ruxu’s fingers were slender and delicate, her wrist adorned with the red string bracelet, a peach pit dangling from it, engraved with Zhou Tianzui’s name. Zhou Tianzui held her hand, her thumb tracing the inside of You Ruxu’s wrist where the bracelet rested, then tightened her grip on the peach pit, looking at You Ruxu.

You Ruxu’s skin was flushed from the alcohol, her mind hazy, she just felt uncomfortable, but she couldn’t pinpoint where. She turned to look at Zhou Tianzui, her eyes unfocused.

Her lips were pressed into a tight line.

Stubbornly refusing to speak.

Zhou Tianzui asked, “What’s wrong?”

You Ruxu mumbled, “Nothing.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Are you drunk? Or are you feeling unwell?”

You Ruxu opened her mouth, then closed it without speaking.

Zhou Tianzui looked down and asked, “Is it your stomach? Do you feel like throwing up? Or is it something else? You’re usually quiet, but you’re even more so when you’re drunk.”

You Ruxu mumbled, “I don’t feel that bad.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu, “Then you’re still uncomfortable? I’ll get you some warm water.”

You Ruxu looked at her, still not speaking, her lips pressed together. Zhou Tianzui, both amused and exasperated, couldn’t help but say, “Little mute?”

The person beside her glared at her.

Chapter 72: Cry

You Ruxu rarely took the initiative like this, even kissing her in the car. Zhou Tianzui found it unbelievable. She asked, “What’s the special occasion today?”

You Ruxu said, “I saw your mother today.”

Zhou Tianzui responded with a puzzled “mm-hmm.” You Ruxu, remembering Yu Qiao’s request not to mention the cemetery, quickly added, “I ran into her outside and drove her home.”

“Oh?” Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “You’re this happy about driving my mom home?”

She looked at You Ruxu’s lips. “Should you do it more often then?”

You Ruxu pursed her lips.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Going home?”

You Ruxu said, “I have a dinner gathering.”

She had told Zhou Tianzui about it yesterday. Zhou Tianzui, caught up in the moment, had forgotten. She nodded, “Where?”

You Ruxu said, “In the city center, are you going home first?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll drive you there.”

They switched seats. Zhou Tianzui drove, occasionally glancing at You Ruxu, who was looking out the window, lost in thought. Her phone vibrated. She looked down and saw a friend request, a simple and direct introduction: [Zhou Heng].

He must have added her personally since she didn’t agree to meet with his manager.

You Ruxu didn’t accept the request immediately, just turned off the screen and placed her phone aside, tilting her head back slightly. Zhou Tianzui asked, “A colleague?”

“The owner of Fengyuan.” You Ruxu said, “About the V1 news report.”

Zhou Heng, the owner of Fengyuan.

Zhou Tianzui had met him this afternoon, at Yin Lanlan’s ward. Less than thirty years old, young, arrogant, and unpleasant-looking. She had heard the nurses discussing how the previous owner of Fengyuan, Zhou Heng’s father, had suddenly passed away from a heart attack, and his older brother, having been injured in an accident abroad, Zhou Heng naturally took over the company.

It was rumored that his brother’s accident wasn’t entirely unrelated to him.

He wasn’t a good person.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Be careful around him.”

You Ruxu nodded. Her investigation was more thorough and comprehensive. She had initially been focusing on the V1’s brake disc issue, never expecting it to lead to Zhou Heng’s brother’s car accident.

It was more complicated than before.

You Ruxu rubbed her temples and said to Zhou Tianzui, “Are you going straight home after this?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes.”

You Ruxu said, “It’s on your way, can you pick up Yao Zhao?”

Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “Sure.”

She said, “I suddenly feel like a mom.”

Always saying the most unexpected things.

You Ruxu paused, looked at Zhou Tianzui, and pursed her lips, “Nonsense.”

The tension in the car dissipated, the atmosphere lightening. They arrived at the hotel. You Ruxu got out of the car. Zhou Tianzui asked what time she would be done. You Ruxu said, “Probably around eight or nine, I’ll take a taxi back if it’s late.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Call me beforehand.”

You Ruxu started to say, “No need, I…”

Zhou Tianzui interrupted her: “It’s your duty as a girlfriend.”

You Ruxu looked at her for a few seconds, then smiled faintly, “I know.”

A playful glint in her eyes. Zhou Tianzui said, “Go on in.”

You Ruxu entered the hotel. Chen Xiang and the others had arrived after work and were playing cards. Chen Xiang was browsing the news when You Ruxu arrived.

“Hey, have you seen the news about Zhou Heng?”

“The gossip?”

“What gossip?”

Chen Xiang, holding her phone, said, “Apparently, Zhou Heng’s brother’s car accident abroad was related to him. His brother even sued him…”

You Ruxu walked in, “Teacher You, have you seen the news?”

She nodded, “I saw a little on the way here.”

The V1 brake disc incident escalating to Zhou Heng’s brother’s car accident was unexpected, but it was already spreading rapidly online. Zhou Heng being a suspect was also being circulated by various marketing accounts, but no official media outlet had reported on it yet. Jindu TV, the first to report on the V1 incident, was silent, while other TV stations were actively trying to contact Zhou Heng’s brother, vying for an exclusive.

Zhou Heng didn’t know how things escalated to this point. Initially, it was just a reporter covering the V1 incident, which he hadn’t cared about. Now, with his family involved, he was annoyed.

You Ruxu hadn’t accepted his friend request, seemingly declining any further discussion.

This irritated him even more.

Just a reporter, what could she possibly do? He gritted his teeth and told his manager to “invite” You Ruxu over, no matter what.

You Ruxu sat in the private room. The dinner hadn’t started yet. Shi Qi was busy, taking one call after another, then she looked at You Ruxu and waved her over. You Ruxu sat beside her for about ten minutes while Shi Qi finished her calls and finally had a sip of water.

“I have to leave early.” Shi Qi said, “You’re in charge.”

You Ruxu frowned, “Leaving early?”

Shi Qi said, “It’s about Fengyuan.”

You Ruxu understood and said, “Okay.”

Shi Qi patted her shoulder. The dinner started soon after. You Ruxu rarely attended such gatherings, so it was a novelty. After Shi Qi left, she was pressured to drink, various drinking games ensued. You Ruxu’s luck wasn’t very good tonight, she kept losing, and ended up drinking quite a bit, red wine, white wine, beer. They were all young and got a little carried away. You Ruxu was slightly tipsy. She watched Chen Xiang nudge the cameraman, “You call that a tolerance for alcohol? Don’t even try to compete with me!”

Chen Xiang looked completely drunk. You Ruxu chuckled, picked up her glass, and took a sip, a burning sensation.

There were also colleagues who didn’t drink, tasked with sending the drunk ones home. With Shi Qi gone, this task fell to You Ruxu. She thoughtfully arranged for the sober female colleagues to take Chen Xiang and the other women home, the men taking care of each other. You Ruxu stood at the entrance and heard a colleague ask, “Teacher You, what about you?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m waiting for someone.”

The person beside her chuckled, “Waiting for your partner, Teacher You?”

Then, remembering You Ruxu’s stance on marriage, and that she didn’t have a partner, gave an awkward laugh. You Ruxu pursed her lips. At this moment, she really wanted to say, yes, she was waiting for her partner.

But she didn’t.

She just smiled.

Cars left one after another. Soon, another car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, and the person inside smiled and called out, “Teacher You.”

It was Zhou Tianzui’s voice.

You Ruxu was a little drunk, but still relatively clear-headed, just a little unsteady on her feet. She rarely drank this much, even during work dinners, she always knew her limits. Zhou Tianzui watched her get into the car, her hand resting on her chin, “What’s with you today?”

She had been acting strangely since picking her up from work, and even more so at the dinner. She wouldn’t normally drink this much.

You Ruxu said, “Me?” Then, after a pause, “I’m fine.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Happy?”

She had just landed a big news story, so being happy was understandable, but You Ruxu had covered countless big stories before, and she had never been like this.

You Ruxu looked at her, her throat tightening slightly, “Happy.”

She wasn’t happy.

Zhou Tianzui looked at her for a few seconds, unable to get anything more out of her. She took a blanket from the backseat and handed it to You Ruxu, “Take a nap, I’ll wake you when we get home.”

You Ruxu nodded.

She leaned back against the seat. Zhou Tianzui’s right hand rested on the center console. You Ruxu looked at it for a moment, then reached out and took her hand. Zhou Tianzui turned, chuckled softly, and held You Ruxu’s hand tightly in return.

She released You Ruxu’s hand after leaving the hotel, seeing from the corner of her eye that You Ruxu had closed her eyes, resting.

You Ruxu had a dream. She dreamt of when she was very young, newly arrived in Jindu. Her mother was taking her to look for an apartment. The landlord, a middle-aged man, kept touching her mother’s hand while they talked. She had tilted her head, looking at her mother, whose face was grim, muttering, “Shameless…”

Fragments of conversation, and then they left that place.

Later, they rented a place near the hospital. The apartment was bare, just a bed, a dining table, and a black and white TV. She would sit by the door every day, waiting for her mother to come home from work. A child from next door, who went to kindergarten, would ask her, “Why don’t you go to school?”

Why didn’t she go to school? She didn’t know. Her mother said they couldn’t afford it yet, that she would enroll her as soon as she got paid.

She waited and waited, her mother coming home later and later each day, a man always with her. Her mother would cry whenever she saw him. They would often disappear into a room, a room her mother wouldn’t let her enter.

She felt fear and loathing, a daily dread.

Then, one day, her mother was gone.

You Ruxu woke up from the dream and saw Wu Xiulian standing by her bed, holding a glass of warm water, “Ruxu, are you awake?”

She was disoriented, her voice hoarse from the persistent fever. She opened her mouth, trying to speak, finally managing a weak, “Mom.”

“How are you feeling?” Wu Xiulian said, “Have some water, okay?”

You Ruxu said, “Okay.”

The warm water soothed her throat. There was a knock on the door, visitors, friends of Wu Xiulian’s, coming to see her. She lay in bed, listening to their words of comfort, then heard Wu Xiulian say she would see them out.

The visitors were standing at the door. You Ruxu, on her way to the bathroom, saw them and walked over, hearing them mention her name.

“How is she feeling?” Her friend asked. Wu Xiulian said, “She’s alright.”

“This must have cost you a lot again.” The friend handed Wu Xiulian a red envelope. Wu Xiulian tried to refuse, but her friend insisted, “Take it, buy the child something to eat.”

“You’ve been so kind, treating her like your own daughter for so many years. I hope she’ll appreciate it, treat you well in the future.”

Wu Xiulian said, “She’s a good child.”

“Even if she is, she’s not your own, her heart will always be with her own family.” Her friend said, “I really don’t understand you two, adopting a child, and a child like that. I’m not being prejudiced, but like father, like daughter, her father was that kind of person, she’s a ticking time bomb, you never know. Your husband is a proud man, if she does anything to shame him in the future, you’re practically driving him to his death.”

She froze, her hands and feet turning cold.

The words she wanted to say to her mother were caught in her throat. Even swallowing was difficult. Her fever spiked again that night. Wu Xiulian stayed by her side. She remembered Wu Xiulian saying, “You’re our daughter, a child of the You family. Let’s forget about the past. From now on, you are Ruxu.”

She had said, “Ruxu, don’t disappoint Mommy.”

Zhou Tianzui, parking the car, heard You Ruxu call out, “Mom, Mom…”

She touched You Ruxu’s arm, “A Ran?”

“Mom!” You Ruxu woke up with a start, her eyes meeting Zhou Tianzui’s. She was disoriented for a moment. Zhou Tianzui said, “Did you dream about your mother?”

You Ruxu said, “Yes.”

She wanted to say more, but didn’t know how.

She had dreamt about her mothers, both of them. You Ruxu felt a little dazed, leaning back against the seat. She remembered seeing her mother’s body under the white sheet, her face disfigured, the wounds crisscrossing her skin. You Ruxu shuddered, a chill running through her. She remembered the day she mailed the notebook, how it was lost, how her anxiety had turned into a high fever, how she had wanted to tell Wu Xiulian, and how, standing outside her door, she heard that woman say, “You’re practically driving him to his death.”

And Wu Xiulian saying, “Ruxu, don’t disappoint Mommy.”

She gripped the blanket tightly, lowering her head. In the end, she hadn’t disappointed Wu Xiulian. She had buried the truth deep inside, hidden it for so many years. She was shameless and selfish, meticulously maintaining a facade of normalcy. Tears welled up in You Ruxu’s eyes, she couldn’t tell whether it was from the lingering alcohol or the overwhelming guilt. Zhou Tianzui, seeing her motionless, leaned closer, “A Ran?”

You Ruxu looked up, her eyes glistening with tears, the corners red. She pursed her lips and suddenly called out, “Zhou Tianzui.”

Zhou Tianzui was puzzled.

You Ruxu heard Yu Qiao’s words echoing in her ears.

“I would never forgive her, not even in death.”

And Zhou Tianzui saying, “Hate? How could I not hate…”

You Ruxu closed her eyes. Zhou Tianzui asked, “What’s wrong…?”

Arms wrapped around her neck, You Ruxu, like when she had greeted Zhou Tianzui at the car earlier, buried her face in Zhou Tianzui’s embrace, only this time, her embrace was tighter, desperate. Zhou Tianzui’s collar was damp with You Ruxu’s tears as she repeated her apologies over and over, “I’m sorry, Zhou Tianzui, I’m sorry…”

I’m sorry…

I’m sorry…

She seemed capable of only these words, her voice choked with sobs. Zhou Tianzui’s heart ached. She didn’t speak. Even You Ruxu’s crying was subdued, her joy carefully contained, her sorrow also carefully contained. Zhou Tianzui’s nose tingled, she held You Ruxu and said, “A Ran, just cry, don’t hold back.”

You Ruxu’s crying intensified, then paused, catching her breath. Hearing Zhou Tianzui’s words, she cried like a child, her sobs unrestrained.

Chapter 71: Getting Off Work

You Ruxu froze, looking at Yu Qiao, momentarily breathless. The cold wind swirled around them. Yu Qiao walked over to her and asked, “Xiao Xu, what are you doing here?”

“I—” Her usually eloquent tongue felt tied. You Ruxu paused, then said, “I came to see Uncle.”

She lowered her head, “I heard he also worked at our station.”

Yu Qiao smiled, “Yes, he used to be on the midday news team.”

Yu Qiao didn’t suspect anything, just looked at the tombstone and said, “You’re so thoughtful, even bringing flowers. He loved buying flowers, he would always bring me a bouquet when he came home. He used to say flowers have lives, just like people.”

You Ruxu stood behind her.

Yu Qiao said, “Aren’t you cold?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m fine.” She glanced at the photo on the tombstone, wanting to call Yu Qiao “Godmother,” but the words wouldn’t come out. She bit her lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood. Her face paled slightly. She watched as Yu Qiao bent down and wiped the photo on the tombstone, “I come here whenever I’m free, don’t tell Xiao Tian, she’ll worry.”

You Ruxu nodded, exhaled softly, and said, “I understand.” She finally called out, “Godmother.”

Yu Qiao smiled, looking at the smiling man in the photo, “This is our goddaughter, just like you, a reporter, she’s so thoughtful, even remembering to visit you, bringing you flowers…”

You Ruxu stood beside her, listening to her soft murmurs, her head lowered.

Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Xu, are you not working today?”

You Ruxu said, “Nothing much this afternoon, should I drive you home?”

Yu Qiao said, “Oh, alright, I made some chicken soup, would you like some?”

You Ruxu nodded.

Yu Qiao’s leg wasn’t completely healed yet, she still had trouble walking, her steps slow. You Ruxu supported her as they walked towards the car. Yu Qiao said, “I dreamt about him at noon, so I wanted to come see him.”

You Ruxu noticed that her demeanor was much warmer than usual.

They chatted as they walked. In the car, after You Ruxu fastened her seatbelt, Yu Qiao said, “It’s good that I ran into you, it would have taken ages to get a taxi. Why did you come here today?”

You Ruxu gripped the steering wheel and said, “I heard my colleagues talking about your husband today.”

“Oh…” Yu Qiao sighed, “What did they say?”

You Ruxu said, “They said he was wrongly accused.”

Yu Qiao’s expression changed. She looked out the window at a flock of birds flying past, leaving no trace, and said, “Xiao Xu, don’t listen to those rumors, your uncle wasn’t a bad person.”

You Ruxu said, “I know.”

She looked at Yu Qiao, her expression sincere, “I know he wasn’t a bad person.”

Yu Qiao visibly relaxed, “Do you know about his case?”

You Ruxu hesitated and lied, “I know a little.”

Yu Qiao said, “Your uncle was investigating it, he was trying to help, but he was mistaken for—”

Her voice rose slightly, as if she still hadn’t let go of the past, then she abruptly stopped. You Ruxu knew.

Zhou Qiming had been investigating a sexual assault case, but after his death, he was mistaken for the perpetrator. He had fallen from the rooftop along with her mother and another man. They had argued on the rooftop, and somehow, all three of them fell, dying on the spot. The sexual assault case Zhou Qiming was investigating hadn’t been made public, but her mother’s colleagues had pieced together some of the truth from their casual conversations. A reporter had interviewed You Ruxu, who was still young then, asking if she knew about her mother’s assault, and looking at Zhou Qiming’s body, she had said it was him.

That it was this man.

If it wasn’t for Zhou Qiming, her mother wouldn’t have been crying every day, wouldn’t have been so depressed. She hated Zhou Qiming, convinced that if anyone had assaulted her mother, it must be him.

But the TV station vehemently denied it, saying Zhou Qiming was investigating the sexual assault case. To protect the victim, he hadn’t revealed too much to his colleagues. But they couldn’t find his reporter’s notebook, they didn’t know the truth. The two sides were at a standstill. The police couldn’t find any evidence either, but the accusation that Zhou Qiming was the assailant, having been spread by You Ruxu, had already taken root.

The TV station was accused of covering up for a criminal.

The police were accused of inaction.

Everyone believed her, convinced that a young child wouldn’t lie. They believed her. You Ruxu closed her eyes and heard Yu Qiao say, “For so many years, every time I close my eyes, I see Xiao Tian’s father asking me, why didn’t anyone believe him?”

You Ruxu’s eyes burned.

Yu Qiao continued, “Xiao Xu, you’re also a reporter, how could people do this to him? He spent his entire life helping others restore their reputation, proving their innocence, yet he couldn’t even clear his own name, even in death.”

Such injustice, such a wrongful accusation.

You Ruxu pursed her lips, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian always tells me to let it go, but I’m old now, I can’t let it go. All these years, I’ve been wanting to ask that little girl, was it really our Lao Zhou who did it?”

It wasn’t.

It wasn’t Zhou Qiming.

You Ruxu bit her lip, but she couldn’t say a word.

She asked, “If, if that little girl realized she was wrong, that she had wrongly accused someone, and came to apologize, would you forgive her?”

Yu Qiao didn’t hesitate: “No.”

You Ruxu’s breath caught in her throat.

Yu Qiao said, “I would never forgive her, not even in death.”

You Ruxu’s heart pounded, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She almost drove into the wrong lane. The car was silent for a few minutes. Then Yu Qiao said, “Thank you, Xiao Xu.”

She said, “Thank you for believing that your uncle wasn’t a bad person.”

For so many years, Yu Qiao had heard enough ridicule, enough insults. They called Zhou Qiming a rapist, they called Zhou Tianzui the rapist’s daughter, their faces twisted with malice, so many, so many times that she had become numb to it.

So, for someone to believe her.

It was a rare and precious thing.

You Ruxu, gripping the steering wheel, said, “He wasn’t a bad person.”

Yu Qiao seemed to find the topic too heavy and changed the subject, chatting casually with You Ruxu about everyday things. Talking about Zhou Tianzui, she said, “Xiao Tian said you have an aunt?”

You Ruxu nodded: “Yes, I have an aunt.”

Yu Qiao said, “What does she do?”

“She works at the NRTA.” Afraid Yu Qiao wouldn’t understand, she explained, “The National Radio and Television Administration.”

Yu Qiao wasn’t familiar with it, but it sounded important, presumably a high-ranking position. She said, “Your family is very accomplished.”

You Ruxu said, “They are.”

“You’re also very accomplished.” Yu Qiao said, “I heard about that news report, they said you were instrumental in solving the case.”

You Ruxu smiled, continuing to chat calmly with Yu Qiao, avoiding the heavy topic, their conversation light and casual. Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Xu, I heard from Xiao Tian that you’re not planning to get married?”

You Ruxu paused, pursed her lips, and after a few seconds, said, “I don’t have any plans to get married, yes.”

“You young people, I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.” Yu Qiao’s tone was lighthearted. “Xiao Tian also said she doesn’t want to get married, you should talk to her, what’s the point of not getting married?”

You Ruxu lowered her gaze and said, “She probably has her own reasons.”

“That child.” Yu Qiao nodded. “Yes, she’s always been independent. You saw it last time, she even tried to introduce me to—” Yu Qiao shook her head, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

You Ruxu’s lips curved into a smile, hearing this.

She soon arrived at Yu Qiao’s apartment. They took the elevator together, You Ruxu supporting Yu Qiao. There were other people in the elevator, who seemed to know Yu Qiao and greeted her.

Yu Qiao said proudly, “This is my goddaughter, she works at the TV station.”

“Oh, I know! That reporter, right?” A woman said, “My son even has her photo in his room!”

Yu Qiao beamed, “Yes, she’s a reporter, a very capable one, always reporting on big news!”

It seemed that without the burden of the past, Yu Qiao was just like any other mother, proud of her daughter. But You Ruxu couldn’t bear such praise, especially with Yu Qiao’s earlier words still echoing in her ears.

She had said she wouldn’t.

She had said she would never forgive herself.

You Ruxu looked down. They soon reached the apartment. Yu Qiao served her a bowl of soup. You Ruxu’s phone rang, an unknown number. She answered the call while sipping the soup.

It was the manager from Fengyuan, wanting to meet with her.

You Ruxu suggested meeting at the TV station. The manager was hesitant, “Reporter You, meeting at the TV station, is that appropriate?”

You Ruxu said, “That’s the only time I’m available. If it doesn’t work, then let’s forget it.”

The manager gritted his teeth, politely tried to persuade her, then hung up.

You Ruxu looked at her phone, paused for a few seconds, and finished her soup. Yu Qiao came out of the bedroom. You Ruxu stood up and said, “Godmother, I’ll be going now.”

Yu Qiao said, “Come have dinner with Xiao Tian this weekend.”

You Ruxu nodded, “Okay.”

Yu Qiao, pleased with her agreement, walked her to the door. You Ruxu entered the elevator. Back in her car, she rolled down the window halfway, resting her arm on the window frame, her long, slender fingers reflected in the rearview mirror. After two minutes, she started the car and left the complex.

Zhou Tianzui had been busy all afternoon, two surgeries back-to-back. Just as she left the operating room, Zhao Mingqi asked, “Dr. Zhou, are you going to the dinner tonight?”

Without hesitation, Zhou Tianzui said, “No.”

Zhao Mingqi wasn’t surprised.

The deputy director position had been filled, by Fu Shushu, who was treating everyone to dinner tonight. Everyone except for those on duty would be there. Fu Shushu had invited Zhou Tianzui earlier, but she said she wasn’t free.

Fu Shushu hadn’t taken it personally.

After all, they had been rivals for so long, and Fu Shushu knew how she got the position. If it wasn’t for Zhou Tianzui taking the blame for He Wei last time, it was hard to say who would have gotten the position. Everyone congratulated her on the surface, but what they said behind her back, Fu Shushu wasn’t foolish. So, Zhou Tianzui’s absence avoided any awkwardness.

Zhao Mingqi hadn’t wanted to go either, but with Fu Shushu as the new deputy director, things were different. He didn’t dare follow Zhou Tianzui’s lead and obediently went to the dinner.

Zhou Tianzui lingered after work, only leaving after most people had left. The second basement level was almost empty, the after-work rush hour over, only a few cars remaining. Zhou Tianzui always parked on this level, as it was less crowded, more space, and of course, her car was more conspicuous.

She spotted You Ruxu’s car immediately.

Parked in the third spot from the elevators, the windows rolled up. She walked over. The tinted windows made it impossible to see inside, she couldn’t even tell if You Ruxu was in the car. Zhou Tianzui took out her phone, about to call, when she heard a click, the car door opened, and You Ruxu looked out.

Zhou Tianzui looked at her for a few seconds, walked around the car, and got into the passenger seat.

Asking, “What are you doing here?”

You Ruxu said, “Picking you up from work.”

Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “What’s the occasion? You’re picking me up from work? Is it because you…”

Before she could finish, You Ruxu reached out and pulled her into an embrace. Zhou Tianzui sat there, her hand, reaching for the seatbelt, pausing. The car’s interior lights suddenly went off, plunging the car into darkness, only their breaths mingling.

In the darkness, Zhou Tianzui’s lips were kissed, a sweet and intoxicating fragrance. Just as You Ruxu was about to pull away, Zhou Tianzui wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close, and kissed her back deeply.

This way of being picked up from work.

She liked it very much.

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Zhou Tianzui: Coming tomorrow too?
You Ruxu: …

Chapter 70: Flowers

Fengyuan recently launched a cost-effective car targeted at young working women. The car featured a pink interior and was mostly available in white, with classic blue and black options also available. Upon release, it became quite popular with decent sales figures. The price was affordable, the interior cute, and well within the budget of the target demographic. So, it was a common sight on the roads. You Ruxu had seen three accidents involving this car in the past two days.

All the same model. She suspected it wasn’t just a road condition issue, so she went to the transportation department and joined a few online car owner groups to learn more.

[Is it the Fengyuan V1? I bought one too, haven’t driven it yet.]

[My sister had an accident last week, said there were cracks in the brake disc, ridiculous, a brand new car with brake problems.]

[I contacted the 4S shop, they don’t admit there’s a problem.]

And there was more than one similar complaint. Fengyuan was an established brand, with no major issues in the past, so many car owners simply considered themselves unlucky, especially since the reasons given by the 4S shop were plausible.

High speed or continuous braking could indeed cause cracks in the brake disc. If anyone made a fuss, they would be offered compensation. The 4S shop’s attitude was always, we can offer compensation, a full refund, even, but if you want to buy the car again, there will be no discount.

The initial discount for this car was quite substantial, equivalent to a few months’ salary, and the compensation offered by the 4S shop was unconditional replacement of parts and a monetary compensation, which, combined, was still less than the original discount. So, very few people chose to return the car, but there were still many complaints. You Ruxu, while gathering information, heard a whole day’s worth of complaints. After Chen Xiang contacted Yin Lanlan, and she agreed to be interviewed, You Ruxu immediately added a news segment about the Fengyuan car issue.

The phones at the Fengyuan 4S shop started ringing off the hook that afternoon.

The staff reported to the manager, the manager reported to the boss, who sneered while holding his phone, “Can’t even handle a single reporter?”

The manager’s forehead was covered in sweat. This new boss took over last year, and having spent a few years abroad, thought his ideas were superior, refusing to listen to advice, preferring to spend his time partying with his friends. This brake disc issue was due to subpar quality. They had strongly suggested using a different supplier, but the boss insisted on using his “good buddy’s” company, claiming his friend wouldn’t dare to shortchange him. The test results showed there were indeed problems, but the boss refused to listen, instead increasing the discount and offering compensation or replacements if any issues arose. He had even said nothing would go wrong. Now that something did go wrong, he started shifting the blame.

The manager, bitter and frustrated, had to appease the customers while dealing with the chaos at the 4S shop, spinning like a top.

Fengyuan’s internal affairs were also in disarray. With the New Year approaching, who would have expected such an incident? They used to spend their free time gossiping about others online, now they were the center of gossip.

[I heard Fengyuan has a new boss, not very competent.]

[The new boss’s name is Zhou Heng, his character is questionable.]

You Ruxu didn’t pay attention to the online discussions, but Shi Qi stopped her: “When did you find this lead?”

You Ruxu said, “Before lunch.”

“Even kept it from me.” Shi Qi said, “You have to make it up to me tonight.”

You Ruxu smiled.

Chen Xiang rushed over excitedly, “Teacher You!”

You Ruxu looked at her. Chen Xiang said, “I just received a few calls, people willing to provide evidence. They just bought the car, also brake problems, the 4S shop offered compensation, but they haven’t gone yet.”

You Ruxu said, “Tell them not to go yet.”

“I know, I already told them.” Chen Xiang said, “As expected of Teacher You, when you make a move, it’s always big news!”

Although it was close to the New Year, with major news stories emerging constantly, the news about Fengyuan still spread like wildfire, becoming bigger and bigger. It was a matter of safety, no one would ignore it. You Ruxu lowered her head to reply to Zhou Tianzui, Chen Xiang standing beside her, “By the way, Teacher You, is Yao Zhao still staying at your place?”

You Ruxu’s typing paused. She looked up at Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang said, “Editor Qiao is asking about her, did she contact you?”

Editor Qiao was in charge of secondary coverage. Shi Qi had told You Ruxu that Yao Zhao’s story wouldn’t make it to prime time and would be published online instead, so it was assigned to Editor Qiao, who had reserved a spot for it. But You Ruxu hadn’t provided any updates, not even a single word, making Editor Qiao wonder if she had forgotten about it.

You Ruxu said, “She hasn’t contacted me, Yao Zhao’s case is a little complicated, I’ll talk to Editor Qiao.”

Chen Xiang breathed a sigh of relief: “Okay.”

You Ruxu pursed her lips.

She sat in the car, watching the busy street outside, and after a moment of thought, called Zhou Tianzui.

Zhou Tianzui had just come out of a ward. She had just received You Ruxu’s message and hadn’t had time to reply when she received her call, chuckling, “Not busy today?”

You Ruxu said, “Not really, just taking a break, what about you?”

Zhou Tianzui waved to He Wei beside her, “I’m also free.”

She asked You Ruxu, “Chen Xiang’s at the hospital, a new case?”

You Ruxu said, “Not a case, there’s a problem with Fengyuan’s cars.”

Zhou Tianzui hadn’t had time to watch the news at noon, so she didn’t know about the Fengyuan incident yet. She hummed in response and heard You Ruxu ask, “Did you submit the report to the police?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, why?”

You Ruxu said, “Nothing, what did the police say?”

Zhou Tianzui: “Are you scared?”

Her words hit You Ruxu’s sore spot. You Ruxu was silent. Zhou Tianzui mentally chided herself for being so blunt, although You Ruxu understood these things.

She wasn’t projecting her mother onto Yao Zhao.

But Yao Zhao’s situation mirrored her mother’s in many ways.

Domestic violence, sexual assault, even the ubiquitous rumors, the predictable harm… Zhou Tianzui’s voice softened, “Sorry.”

You Ruxu chuckled softly, “What are you apologizing for?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I shouldn’t have said that.”

You Ruxu said, “You didn’t say anything wrong.”

She was scared, afraid Yao Zhao wouldn’t be able to overcome this. Zhou Tianzui had said she was overly concerned about Yao Zhao, while she had accused Zhou Tianzui of being too rational. Actually, Zhou Tianzui wasn’t wrong, she was overly concerned about Yao Zhao, lacking objectivity.

You Ruxu rubbed her temples and heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Don’t always treat her like a child.”

“But she is a child.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “A smart child.”

You Ruxu chuckled. She said, “I have to go.”

Zhou Tianzui asked, “Busy?”

You Ruxu said, “I need to call Captain Zhou.”

Zhou Tianzui chuckled, her tone unreadable. You Ruxu, before hanging up, called out, “Zhou Tianzui…”

A soft, almost soothing tone, a stark contrast to her usual clear and crisp voice. Zhou Tianzui’s annoyance dissipated, “I know.”

You Ruxu chuckled softly and hung up, calling Captain Zhou.

Captain Zhou said, “Yes, we received the report, I still need to talk to Yao Zhao, she’s staying with you now, right?”

You Ruxu said, “Yes, will she be punished?”

Although Yao Zhao had acted out of self-preservation, calling the police and the ensuing media attention had a significant social impact. If her stepfather decided to press charges, Yao Zhao could be held responsible. Captain Zhou said, “She should be, but she’s still young, so it will probably be a warning. We’ve also taken her age into consideration, it’s best not to publicize this matter too much, so I suggest not reporting on it.”

You Ruxu’s main concern wasn’t the report, but Yao Zhao’s stepfather.

If the case was closed like this, Yao Zhao would have to go back home. Legally, the man was still her guardian, he had the right to take her home. The only way for her to avoid this now was to tell the truth, but then what would happen to her future?

It was a dead end.

Either path was difficult.

You Ruxu hung up the phone and looked out the window, the crew was still filming. Chen Xiang and Shi Qi were chatting. Chen Xiang, after receiving a call, looked towards the car. You Ruxu saw her run over and rolled down the window. Chen Xiang said, “Teacher You, the sales manager from Fengyuan wants to invite you to dinner.”

You Ruxu’s phone had been busy, so the manager contacted Chen Xiang.

“Dinner?” You Ruxu said, “That won’t be necessary.”

She knew what such dinner invitations entailed, and she declined politely. Chen Xiang gave a small “oh” and turned around to relay the message. You Ruxu, looking at her, pursed her lips, then opened the car door and got out.

The wind was cold.

You Ruxu took her car keys. Chen Xiang had hung up the phone. You Ruxu said, “I’m leaving.”

Chen Xiang said, “Hey, Teacher You, what about dinner…”

“Send me the address for the team dinner.” You Ruxu said, “I’ll go directly.”

Chen Xiang made an “okay” sign with her fingers. You Ruxu got into the car, her mind still in turmoil. Aimlessly, she drove, unknowingly arriving at the cemetery. The wind howled outside. She got out of the car. There were no flower shops nearby, only a shop selling paper offerings. You Ruxu drove around, then finally bought a bouquet of flowers and walked towards the cemetery.

Before, she wouldn’t even bring a bouquet, just picking some inconspicuous wild flowers by the roadside.

Today was an exception.

She stood before the tombstone, holding the bright and vibrant flowers. The man in the photo was smiling, his expression gentle. You Ruxu remembered the first time she saw him, when her mother came home from work, and he was behind her, her mother’s eyes red and swollen. She had heard her mother say, “A Ran, go watch some TV, Mommy needs to talk to Uncle.”

She had sat nearby, watching her mother cry.

She had thought the man made her cry, a seed of hatred planted in her heart, carrying all her malice, growing rapidly. It felt like a distant memory, yet so vivid every time she recalled it.

You Ruxu placed the flowers in front of the tombstone, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the gray stone. The man in the photo was still smiling gently. You Ruxu stood there for several minutes, then lowered her head, about to leave, when she heard a familiar voice: “Xiao Xu?”

She looked up and saw Yu Qiao.

Her hand clenched.

Yu Qiao looked at her, then at the tombstone, and asked, slightly puzzled, “What are you doing here?”

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You Ruxu: Zhou Tianzui, I ran into your mom.
Zhou Tianzui: It’s okay, she’s your mom too.
You Ruxu: …

Chapter 69: News

You Ruxu, wearing her pajamas and light makeup, emerged from the bedroom, her skin looking even fairer. Zhou Tianzui took a chicken leg from the takeout box and handed it to You Ruxu, asking, “Are you hungry?”

You Ruxu, remembering how weak and pliant she had been just now, completely lacking strength, understood the implication, glanced at Zhou Tianzui, and ignored her.

Yao Zhao sat on the sofa, eating fried chicken with her head lowered. She was well-behaved and quiet, barely making a sound, easily overlooked if she wasn’t sitting there. You Ruxu sat beside her and asked, “Have you finished your homework?”

Yao Zhao nodded, “I’ve finished it all.”

She had even started previewing the next unit’s material, her voice more energetic. Yao Zhao looked at You Ruxu. Although she had only been here for two days, it felt much longer. Thinking about You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui, she felt a strange sense of strength surging within her.

That strength told her that if she worked hard enough, she could also become someone capable.

And because of this strength, she was less afraid of her stepfather now.

You Ruxu said, “That’s great.”

Zhou Tianzui, hearing this, chuckled softly, the sound making You Ruxu feel inexplicably annoyed. She glanced at Zhou Tianzui, “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.” Zhou Tianzui turned on the TV and heard You Ruxu ask, “Aren’t you going back tonight?”

“No.” Zhou Tianzui said, “My mom’s leg is much better now.”

Yu Qiao, seeing that Zhou Tianzui had also returned to the hospital, worried she would be tired running back and forth, so she told her to rest at home over the weekend. Zhou Tianzui didn’t object. Yu Qiao had been in a good mood recently, perhaps scared by the mention of blind dates, she hadn’t been pressuring Zhou Tianzui to find a partner lately, even often asking about You Ruxu.

After all, having gained a goddaughter, it was natural to be concerned.

Yu Qiao was quite pleased, even asking Zhou Tianzui to bring You Ruxu home for dinner over the weekend. Zhou Tianzui wasn’t quite sure what it meant to be a godmother, but she could guess, so she agreed to bring You Ruxu home.

You Ruxu said, “My team’s having a dinner gathering tomorrow.”

Zhou Tianzui glanced at her, “You’re quite busy.”

She had been quite busy this week, the team dinner, dinner at Zeng Jing’s, dinner at Zhou Tianzui’s mother’s. She hadn’t had many social engagements before, her life much more fulfilling now. But Yao Zhao—You Ruxu looked at her.

Yao Zhao was nibbling on a chicken leg, wanting to say she didn’t need to be taken care of, but staying here indefinitely wasn’t an option either. You Ruxu had kindly taken her in for a few days, and the case was almost closed, her lie exposed, so there was no reason for You Ruxu to continue caring for her.

After much deliberation, Yao Zhao couldn’t bring herself to say anything. After finishing the fried chicken, she went to wash up, then peeking into the living room, seeing You Ruxu, she called out softly, “Sister.”

You Ruxu looked over. Yao Zhao’s heart was filled with emotions, but in the end, she just said, “Good night.”

You Ruxu smiled, “Good night.”

She looked down, returning to her work.

Her slender neck, gracefully lowered, the pale blue earrings against her fair skin, a touch of color, like flawless gems, a beauty so captivating it was almost blinding.

Zhou Tianzui came out of the bathroom and stood behind You Ruxu, gently pinching the back of her neck. You Ruxu paused and turned around, seeing Zhou Tianzui, fresh from the shower, wearing a milky white nightgown. Seeing You Ruxu look over, she deliberately pulled the nightgown down slightly, revealing she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. You Ruxu’s expression changed slightly. She immediately glanced at Yao Zhao’s door, which was closed. She said, “Go back to your room.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll wait for you.”

“I’ll be a while.” You Ruxu resisted the temptation, “You go first.”

Zhou Tianzui sat down beside her, “I don’t mind waiting.”

You Ruxu kept glancing at Yao Zhao’s door, then finally, unable to resist, took her laptop and went to the bedroom with Zhou Tianzui.

The room was dark, only the faint light from the laptop screen, which soon went dim. Two figures, intertwined, moved against each other.

Late into the night, Yao Zhao sat by the window, unable to sleep. She didn’t have many belongings, just a few things You Ruxu bought her, new clothes, new shoes. She hung the new clothes by the bed, carefully folding them before going to sleep, so she could see them the moment she woke up. To her, these clothes were like a source of strength, giving her courage she didn’t usually have.

She had yelled at that man today.

She could imagine what she would face when she went back, but she wasn’t afraid.

Yao Zhao, her hands still trembling slightly, got under the covers, the bedding carrying a pleasant fragrance. She pulled the blanket over her head and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Zhou Tianzui had a regular meeting. You Ruxu made breakfast. While they were eating, she said to Yao Zhao, “I’ll drive you to school later.”

Yao Zhao said, “Sister, I can go by myself.”

She lowered her head, “I don’t want to trouble you too much.”

You Ruxu said, “It’s no trouble, it’s on my way.”

Yao Zhao looked up at You Ruxu, the sunlight streaming through the window casting a warm glow around her. She nodded: “Okay.”

It wasn’t far from You Ruxu’s apartment to the school. On the way, they encountered a car accident, two cars collided, not a serious accident, no casualties, but You Ruxu still got out to talk to the drivers. Yao Zhao waited in the car. When You Ruxu returned, she said, “Sorry, that took a while.”

Yao Zhao quickly said, “It’s okay.”

She said, “Sister, I like watching you work.”

You Ruxu turned to her, “Watching what?”

Yao Zhao said, “Watching you work, you’re so focused, so beautiful.”

You Ruxu chuckled, “What about you? What do you want to do in the future?”

“Me?” Yao Zhao had never had any aspirations before, but after these two days, a small seed of hope had been planted in her heart, growing steadily. She said, “I want to be a police officer.”

This was the first time she had told anyone her dream.

Because she knew You Ruxu wouldn’t laugh at her.

And You Ruxu didn’t laugh. She just looked at Yao Zhao, then reached out and pulled the hood of her jacket over her head, adjusting her clothes slightly, and said, “Good, work hard.”

Yao Zhao smiled.

Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

She quickly lowered her head, remaining silent until they reached the school. You Ruxu dropped her off at the entrance. Yao Zhao watched You Ruxu drive away, stood there for a few minutes, then turned and entered the school. Before class, she went to see her homeroom teacher, inquiring about boarding at the school. The teacher, although aware that it was almost the end of the semester, and arranging boarding at this time wasn’t usually allowed, considering Yao Zhao’s situation, decided to apply to the principal, asking, “Where are you staying now?”

Yao Zhao said, “I’m staying at Reporter You’s place.”

“That Reporter You, I remember her.” Among all the reporters, she had a strong impression of You Ruxu, not only because of her beauty, but also because she had asked so many detailed questions about Yao Zhao, clearly wanting to help her. The teacher had thought then, perhaps this reporter could really change this child’s life.

She said, “Reporter You also asked me about boarding.”

Yao Zhao said, “She did?”

The teacher nodded, “She even went to the principal with you to apply for your accommodation for next semester, she even paid the fees in advance.”

Yao Zhao stood there, frozen, remembering You Ruxu’s casual “work hard,” and tears welled up in her eyes. They were strangers, yet You Ruxu had gone above and beyond for her, even arranging her living situation for the next semester.

Yao Zhao returned to the classroom, her eyes red. She borrowed her deskmate’s phone and, after much deliberation, messaged You Ruxu: [Sister, thank you.]

Three simple words, light as a feather, yet carrying all of her emotions.

You Ruxu received the message just as she arrived at the station. She was about to call Chen Xiang when she saw the message, an unknown number, no signature, but she knew it was from Yao Zhao. You Ruxu smiled. Chen Xiang called out, “Teacher You!”

You Ruxu looked up, “I was just about to talk to you.”

Chen Xiang’s face lit up, thinking it was gossip. You Ruxu said, “It’s about work.”

Chen Xiang gave a small “oh” and followed her.

They spent the morning filming at the train station, and during their break, they met with a few interviewees and went to the transportation department. Shi Qi, seeing them constantly on the go, curiously asked, “What story are they working on?”

Her team members shrugged, “Teacher You didn’t say.”

Shi Qi hadn’t received a report from You Ruxu either. There wasn’t any major news at the moment, so she didn’t call her. The midday news proceeded as usual, several news items reported. You Ruxu was responsible for the live broadcast again. Half an hour before it started, she started applying her makeup, standing in front of the train station. After a few minutes, she asked the makeup artist, “Has Chen Xiang returned yet?”

The makeup artist chuckled, “I haven’t seen her.”

You Ruxu nodded, occasionally glancing at her watch, her hair neatly styled. The makeup artist adjusted her bangs, revealing her beautiful and expressive eyes.

Chen Xiang arrived at the hospital at noon. She asked at the nurse’s station, “Hello, which ward is Yin Lanlan in?”

The nurse looked up.

Zhou Tianzui, coming out of her office, saw a familiar face and called out, “Chen Xiang?”

Chen Xiang turned around, her eyes lighting up, almost tearing up at seeing Zhou Tianzui, “Dr. Zhou!”

The nurse looked at Zhou Tianzui, “Dr. Zhou, you know her?”

Chen Xiang said, “I told you, I’m from the TV station—”

The nurse was still verifying the information. Zhou Tianzui nodded slightly, “Yes, she’s from Jindu TV. Who are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for Yin Lanlan.” Chen Xiang said, “She was admitted this morning, right?”

Zhou Tianzui thought for a moment, then nodded: “Yes, this morning.”

A car accident, possible signs of miscarriage, so she was still under observation. Chen Xiang said, “Can I see her?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Ward 306, her family is outside, you can talk to them first.”

Chen Xiang profusely thanked Zhou Tianzui and hurried to the ward. After she left, the nurse said, “Dr. Zhou, is there another case?”

They had seen many reporters during the fireworks factory explosion incident, so they were used to it, just curious. Zhou Tianzui said, “I don’t know.”

She took out her phone and messaged You Ruxu.

At the same time, Chen Xiang called You Ruxu, who was standing by the car. After listening to what Chen Xiang said, she nodded and immediately gestured to Shi Qi, who rushed over, hearing You Ruxu say, “We have breaking news.”

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Zhou Tianzui: Fried chicken, or me? Which is better?
You Ruxu: …

Chapter 68: Breathing

You Ruxu arrived home and saw Zhou Tianzui sitting on the sofa. Yao Zhao was reading in the bedroom. Zhou Tianzui, busy with her phone, looked up and glanced at You Ruxu, hearing her enter.

You Ruxu thought she was looking at her strangely.

She asked, “What are you doing?”

“Ordering takeout.” Zhou Tianzui said, “What do you want for dinner?”

You Ruxu said, “I’ll cook.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Aren’t you tired?”

You Ruxu moved her arms, they did ache after a whole day of standing and filming. But with Yao Zhao here, she felt it wasn’t appropriate to order takeout. Zhou Tianzui called out, “Yao Zhao.”

Yao Zhao came out of the bedroom and politely greeted You Ruxu, “Sister, you’re back.”

You Ruxu smiled at her.

Zhou Tianzui said, “We’re ordering takeout tonight, what do you want to eat? Fried chicken?”

Yao Zhao’s eyes lit up. She licked her lips, glanced at You Ruxu, her desire clear, but remembering her manners, she said to Zhou Tianzui, “Whatever you’re having, Sister.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Alright, go back to your reading.”

Yao Zhao returned to the bedroom.

You Ruxu sat on the sofa. Zhou Tianzui said, “Then I’ll order.”

Seeing Yao Zhao’s expression, You Ruxu agreed, figuring the child hadn’t had takeout often at home. After ordering, Zhou Tianzui placed her phone on the coffee table and saw You Ruxu pick up the file folder.

She said, “Yao Zhao’s injury assessment report.”

Yao Zhao seemed to hear her name. The TV wasn’t on, the apartment was quiet. She heard the sound of You Ruxu opening the folder. Their voices weren’t loud, and she only vaguely heard her name.

You Ruxu opened the folder. Yao Zhao had multiple injuries, but the more serious ones were self-inflicted. There were also traces of her stepfather’s abuse, but they weren’t obvious. If her stepfather claimed that Yao Zhao provoked him, it would be difficult for Yao Zhao to argue, as she had lied first.

You Ruxu sighed, “So we can’t sue him?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “No, not with this report.”

You Ruxu said, “What if we do another assessment?”

“It will be the same.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Unless we change…”

She stopped mid-sentence, looking at You Ruxu, seeing a dangerous glint in her eyes. Zhou Tianzui chuckled in exasperation, “Are you crazy? Don’t even think about it!”

You Ruxu, scolded, lowered her head, “I think I might actually be crazy.”

For a moment, she really had considered tampering with the report. Yao Zhao was just a child, coming forward about the abuse had taken immense courage. What she would face if her classmates found out about her stepfather’s actions was unimaginable. For a child her age, a single word could cause lasting damage. Those rumors, seemingly harmless to outsiders, were like sharp blades to Yao Zhao, leaving her vulnerable and scarred.

Many people had already been hurt by rumors and gossip, she didn’t want Yao Zhao to be another victim.

Zhou Tianzui knew what she was thinking. No one understood the power of rumors better than her, but even knowing this, she couldn’t do anything that violated her professional ethics.

Every problem had a solution, and what they could do was minimize the harm to Yao Zhao. She looked at You Ruxu.

You Ruxu smiled at her, her face pale, “Am I being unreasonable?”

She, a reporter, had actually considered such a thing. It wasn’t just unreasonable. Zhou Tianzui didn’t scold her, only tolerance in her voice.

Zhou Tianzui looked at her intently and said, “You’re not being unreasonable, it’s human nature.”

You Ruxu looked down. Those thoughts were just a fleeting moment of desperation. She leaned her head back against the sofa, looking at Zhou Tianzui, her expression unusually vulnerable. Zhou Tianzui felt both anger and heartache. She glared at You Ruxu and said, “Come with me.”

You Ruxu asked, “What for?”

“To give you a massage.” She pulled You Ruxu into the bedroom, closed the door, and made her lie face down on the bed, her hands gently pressing against You Ruxu’s back. You Ruxu lay there, hearing Zhou Tianzui ask, “Going back to the train station tomorrow?”

You Ruxu said, “Not sure yet, probably.”

Zhou Tianzui’s pressure was just right, not too light, not too heavy, as she massaged You Ruxu’s shoulders, soothing her tense muscles. You Ruxu, lulled by the massage, closed her eyes, almost drifting off. Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “Teacher You, aren’t you being a little ungrateful?”

You Ruxu opened her eyes and looked at Zhou Tianzui, “What do you mean?”

“No compensation for the massage?” Zhou Tianzui said, “You even promised to be my model this morning.”

This morning?

You Ruxu remembered the CPR simulation, her face flushing slightly in the dim light, “I forgot.”

Zhou Tianzui leaned closer: “Forgot or didn’t want to?”

You Ruxu said, “I didn’t not want to.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded, “Then come on.”

She tilted her chin, gesturing for You Ruxu to lie down on the bed. You Ruxu pursed her lips, looking at Zhou Tianzui, “It’s really just first aid practice?”

Zhou Tianzui corrected her, “A simulation.”

She said it so seriously that You Ruxu felt her own thoughts were inappropriate. She lay down without hesitation. Zhou Tianzui stood beside her, looking down.

It was a standard CPR procedure, but You Ruxu couldn’t help but turn her head, wanting to laugh. Zhou Tianzui gently turned her face back, “Can a model laugh?”

You Ruxu said, “Why not?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “You’re breaking the rules, let’s start over.”

Her tone serious and unsmiling, as if they were truly conducting a CPR simulation.

You Ruxu put away her playful thoughts, her expression serious, tilting her head back slightly, taking her role as a model seriously. A faint amusement flickered in Zhou Tianzui’s eyes as she leaned down. After a few seconds, You Ruxu asked, puzzled, “What’s this?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Rescue breaths, have you learned this before?”

You Ruxu remembered learning CPR in university, but they had used mannequins, even the first aid training at the TV station. She had learned about rescue breaths, but not like this. She glared at Zhou Tianzui, wanting to move, but she was held in place. She called out, “Zhou Tianzui.”

Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “Hmm?”

You Ruxu turned her head slightly, amusement in her eyes, and said, “Tricking me?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Tricking you how?”

You Ruxu said, “You weren’t practicing CPR at all.”

Not only that, but acting so serious. You Ruxu had been tricked.

Zhou Tianzui chuckled softly.

It was the laughter of someone caught red-handed but unapologetic, or perhaps she was laughing at You Ruxu finally realizing it. You Ruxu, unable to bear her laughter, grabbed her wrist and pinched the back of her hand.

Zhou Tianzui cried out in surprise, trying to pull away. You Ruxu sat up and grabbed her other hand. Zhou Tianzui, breathless from laughter, whispered, “A Ran, that hurts.”

Just one word, and You Ruxu’s heart softened. She released Zhou Tianzui’s hands, about to push her away and sit up, when Zhou Tianzui, who had just cried out in pain, suddenly pulled her into an embrace.

You Ruxu was enveloped by her warmth, the faint scent of disinfectant coming through her thin clothes. Zhou Tianzui always had this faint mix of perfume and disinfectant, not overpowering, a scent You Ruxu liked. She remembered when they first met, she always liked to sit close to Zhou Tianzui during meals, because she liked her scent.

Now, besides liking the scent, it also brought a sense of comfort.

No matter what she was doing, just thinking of this person brought an inexplicable sense of peace. You Ruxu looked up at Zhou Tianzui. Zhou Tianzui looked down, “What are you looking at?”

You Ruxu smiled at her and said, “Guess.”

Zhou Tianzui frowned. Seeing this, You Ruxu’s smile widened, and Zhou Tianzui also chuckled softly.

The apartment was quiet. Yao Zhao, after finishing her homework and reviewing her lessons, still didn’t see You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui come out, so she figured they were busy and didn’t dare disturb them. She sat on the sofa.

The apartment was clean and tidy. She felt that You Ruxu was a bit of a neat freak. Once, she had seen Zhou Tianzui casually place the remote control on the table after watching TV, and You Ruxu put it back in its designated box. Yao Zhao looked at the remote control, picked it up, wanting to turn on the TV, then glancing at You Ruxu’s bedroom door, put it back.

The doorbell rang. She went to answer the door. The takeout had arrived. Yao Zhao took the food and returned to the coffee table. The bedroom door opened slightly, and Zhou Tianzui poked her head out, “Who is it?”

“The takeout’s here.” Yao Zhao said, “Are you and Reporter coming out to eat?”

“You eat first.” Zhou Tianzui said, “We have some things to discuss, we might be a while. You eat, and you can watch some TV.”

She treated her like a child, and Yao Zhao obediently listened, or rather, she wanted to watch TV and eat fried chicken, things she had never dared to dream of before. It was You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui who gave her this opportunity.

Yao Zhao swallowed, opened the box, wanting to wait for them, but the aroma of the food was tempting, her stomach rumbling. She turned on the TV, hoping to drown out the sound, but it only made her hungrier.

She couldn’t resist, taking a piece of fried chicken and eating it slowly.

Zhou Tianzui returned to the bedroom. You Ruxu asked, “Is dinner here?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Not yet.”

You Ruxu frowned, “Then what was that just now?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Nothing.”

She pulled You Ruxu closer, “Let’s continue.”

You Ruxu chuckled, “Continue what?”

Zhou Tianzui: “Teaching you CPR.”

You Ruxu pushed her playfully. Zhou Tianzui looked at her, their eyes meeting. They sat on the edge of the bed. You Ruxu’s hair was slightly messy, a smile in her eyes. Zhou Tianzui leaned closer, her gaze deep and intense, her voice much lower, almost a murmur, “Otherwise, Teacher You can teach me.”