Shi-Han: "No, Grandma! Not once, but a thousand times, I will think about it. Because I also realized that someone had made you misunderstand Jun-Yu. This matter is really making me think now. Why do Uncle and Aunt keep wanting to meet you? Why do they want to marry me to Chen-Yu? And what enmity do they have against Jun-Yu?"
Shu-Yang had been silently listening to everything until then. When Shi-Han stopped after saying this much, Shu-Yang said,
Shu-Yang: "Is that all, Sister?"
As soon as Shu-Yang said this, Shi-Han became uneasy. Elderly Xiao-Lin also developed a worried crease on her forehead. Neither of them could understand what Shu-Yang was actually trying to imply.
Shu-Yang: "Why have you both become so serious? Actually, what I mean is that Grandma is getting old, and the village is quite far from Guolu Town. Why does Grandma live in the village after leaving the city? Besides, from what she said, it seems that she has a very good relationship with your parents. Then why doesn't Grandma live with her son and daughter-in-law?"
Although Shu-Yang said these words with a smile, Xiao-Lin became extremely angry upon hearing them. Because even though Shu-Yang spoke with a smile, suspicion was hidden in every one of his words.
Xiao-Lin: "Young man, just because you became a police officer, do you think you've become too smart? You have a habit of nitpicking about everything, don't you?"
Shu-Yang did not react at all to Xiao-Lin's harsh words. Instead, he smiled and said,
Shu-Yang: "Oh, Grandma, I already understand that both my parents were police officers. And I'm also a police officer, so naturally, there will be a little bit of nitpicking in my blood. But why did you mention suspicion? I didn't say it because I suspected anything."
As soon as Shu-Yang said this much, Xiao-Lin realized her mistake and lowered her head. She understood that Shu-Yang was trying to trap her with his words in a joking manner. Otherwise, he would not have asked the question about suspicion again.
Shu-Yang continued,
Shu-Yang: "I said that because it must be difficult for you to live alone. If you lived in the city with Shi-Han or stayed with Shi-Han's parents, you would receive so much love and care."
After hearing Shu-Yang's entire statement, Xiao-Lin thought to herself,
"No, perhaps the boy didn't suspect anything. But I need to speak carefully around him."
After thinking this much, the elderly woman said in a gentle voice,
Xiao-Lin: "Where I live is my choice, dear. I like the village, so I live here."
As soon as elderly Xiao-Lin finished speaking, Shu-Yang thought to himself,
"I understand very well that your reason for staying in the village is not limited to just that, Grandma. Besides, you have the opportunity to live in a much better environment than this village offers. But you are deliberately not taking advantage of those facilities. You are definitely hiding something, but I still can't figure out what it is. No, after returning to Guolu Town, I need to talk to Shi-Han."
Shu-Yang kept his thoughts to himself.
Jun-Yu held Xiao-Lin's hand and said,
Jun-Yu: "Grandma, because of a misunderstanding, my respect for you was somewhat reduced at first, and it had a negative effect on my feelings toward you. But now I understand that everything was a misunderstanding. So, please give me a chance to remove that negativity from my heart."
After hearing Jun-Yu's words, elderly Xiao-Lin looked at him emotionally.
Xiao-Lin: "Dear grandson, don't make me feel any more ashamed. I feel embarrassed to face you."
Jun-Yu: "Grandma, everyone makes mistakes. You were made to misunderstand me. Besides, I saw that you prepared the herbal extract for me yesterday. But because you felt embarrassed, you sent it through Shi-Han. Even then, you stood beside the door to make sure whether I had drunk it or not."
"You already regret what happened, and you have also apologized to me. So why are you still holding on to this matter? Forget everything, and we will take care of you. At the same time, we will also find out the intentions of Shi-Han's uncle and aunt."
After everyone finished eating, Xiao-Tong and Shu-Yang set off along the winding dirt road of the village. They would return to the city today. They had come only for one day, so they did not have any heavy bags with them. Shi-Han and Jun-Yu had brought some gifts for Xiao-Lin and Shu-Yang's medicines.
Xiao-Tong had a small bag on her back containing Shu-Yang's necessary belongings. Jun-Yu and Shi-Han were still at the elderly woman's cottage.
Shu-Yang was walking slowly a little behind Xiao-Tong because he was having difficulty walking along the narrow village path. Yesterday, Xiao-Tong had held his hand and helped him walk all the way to Xiao-Lin's house.
And yesterday, Jun-Yu had stumbled several times on this narrow path.
Suddenly, Shu-Yang's foot slipped. Just as he was about to fall, Xiao-Tong steadied him. Shu-Yang and Xiao-Tong looked at each other for a while.
Surrounded by greenery on all sides, their eyes seemed to be sinking deeply into each other's gaze.
At that moment, their heartbeats quickened. When Shu-Yang gave a dry cough, Xiao-Tong came back to her senses. Her face had turned slightly red.
After composing himself, Shu-Yang said,
Shu-Yang: "Thank you."
Xiao-Tong: "There's no need to thank me. But if you want, you can hold my hand while walking."
Shu-Yang: "Well, I mean... yesterday Jun-Yu was with me, but today..."
Xiao-Tong: "Look, even though Jun-Yu and you are good friends, both of you have separate lives. Because of your busy work, you won't always be able to stay beside Jun-Yu, and Jun-Yu won't always be able to stay beside you either. So, someone should be kept as a substitute."
There was an indistinct appeal in Xiao-Tong's words, which Shu-Yang failed to understand.
Shu-Yang: "I didn't understand what you mean."
Xiao-Tong: "You are the Unit Head Officer of the Special Crime Branch, yet you can't understand the simple meaning of such a statement?"
Shu-Yang: "There is a huge difference between investigating a case and understanding a woman's heart. I've learned how to solve cases, not how to examine women's hearts."
Xiao-Tong: "Wow, that's very good. That means you haven't even dated any girl. That's great."
As soon as Xiao-Tong said this, Shu-Yang looked at her in surprise.
Xiao-Tong: "You didn't understand what I meant this time either. Fine, I'll explain. Jun-Yu is your best friend. Now, if I become your friend, then I will be Jun-Yu's substitute friend. Now, let's go. We've been standing under the scorching sun for quite some time."
Saying this, Xiao-Tong took Shu-Yang's hand and began walking. Shu-Yang continued looking at Xiao-Tong strangely. He couldn't understand a single thing about what the girl was saying.
Meanwhile, Xiao-Lin was standing between Jun-Yu and Shi-Han, with Shi-Han's hand placed over Jun-Yu's hand. Jun-Yu was looking at Shi-Han with surprised eyes. Shi-Han couldn't understand Xiao-Lin's behavior either.
But after a long time, feeling Jun-Yu's touch again, a strange thrill was flowing through her heart. Jun-Yu himself also couldn't understand what elderly Xiao-Lin wanted.
Xiao-Lin: "Dear grandson, I don't know how deep your relationship is, but just by looking at you, I can understand that the depth of your hurt feelings and misunderstandings is quite great."
"Jun-Yu, I have only one request. Never let go of Shi-Han's hand. That's all I ask of you. Think about your own feelings."
Jun-Yu was speechless at Grandma's words. However, he remembered the moments he had spent with Shi-Han—the moment when they had made a pinky promise, and the time they had ridden a bicycle beneath a cherry blossom tree on a late afternoon, with Shi-Han held within his arms near his chest.
But were those thrilling surroundings truly feelings of affection coming from deep within his heart? Or were they merely romantic moments created by the environment and circumstances?
Could this relationship really be transformed from friendship into love?
A storm of these questions suddenly rose in Jun-Yu's mind.
Shi-Han thought that perhaps Jun-Yu had never thought about her in that way. So, without embarrassing Jun-Yu, she tried to change the subject of Grandma's words.
Shi-Han: "Grandma, we're getting late."
After saying this, Shi-Han removed her hand from Jun-Yu's hand. Jun-Yu looked at Shi-Han once again. Although he understood the meaning behind every one of Grandma's words, he still wasn't certain about his own feelings.
Even so, he didn't want to disappoint elderly Xiao-Lin's expectations. Therefore, he simply said this before leaving the room.
Jun-Yu: "Grandma, I'll keep your words in mind. And I promise that I'll take care of Shi-Han."
After Jun-Yu came outside, Shi-Han also followed him out. They were walking together. Meanwhile, after Shu-Yang and Xiao-Tong crossed the path between the rice fields, a farmer started a machine to irrigate the field and then left.
The irrigation water had reached the rice field through the narrow space between two earthen paths. Now Jun-Yu would have to walk along these two narrow paths to reach the main road.
But yesterday, he had stumbled several times on the dry paths, and today, the paths were wet with water.
Shi-Han had walked along roads like this before, so she had experience with them. But Jun-Yu had no experience with anything like this. While trying to follow Shi-Han by watching how she walked, he had barely taken one or two steps when he slipped on the muddy ground and fell.
Shi-Han turned around and saw a person covered in mud getting up.
Shi-Han:—Jun-Yu, is that you? Hahaha!
The moment Shi-Han saw Jun-Yu, she could not hold back her laughter. Mud had also splashed onto Jun-Yu's face when he fell. He felt extremely embarrassed because of the fall. But when he saw the expression on Shi-Han's face, he tried to compose himself and laugh.
Shi-Han:—Oh, you should have told me earlier. I would have held your hand and helped you cross the road. You could have just said that you weren't used to walking on village roads. But wait, let me take a picture of you. I'll have it framed and keep it.
As soon as Shi-Han said that, Jun-Yu splashed the muddy water beneath his feet toward her. Shi-Han laughed loudly and ran away from there.
Jun-Yu, still covered in mud, chased after Shi-Han.
Shi-Han had already reached Xiao-Tong and Shu-Yang. When Shu-Yang saw Jun-Yu, he laughed and said—
Shu-Yang:—Ghost, ghost! Sister, who is this? Did you catch a mud-covered ghost and bring it here?
As soon as he said that, Shi-Han and Xiao-Tong, along with Shu-Yang, began laughing loudly. At that moment, Jun-Yu became extremely angry. He said in a serious voice—
Jun-Yu:—Come here, brother Shu-Yang. You're laughing after seeing my condition, right? Come here, come into my arms. Hug this mud-covered ghost.
Saying that, Jun-Yu moved toward Shu-Yang to hug him. Shu-Yang quickly hid behind Xiao-Tong. Xiao-Tong stood in front of Jun-Yu with both hands raised.
Shu-Yang:—No, no! You've been caught by a mud-covered ghost. If you hug me, the ghost will catch me too.
As soon as Shu-Yang said that, everyone burst into loud laughter again. Feeling dejected, Jun-Yu sat down beside the road. He was very upset about how he had been humiliated in front of everyone. Shu-Yang took some tissues out of his pocket, walked toward Jun-Yu, and said—
Shu-Yang:—Here, take this. Clean your face with the tissue. I'm sorry, brother. Right now, I can't do anything for you except give you this tissue.
Jun-Yu had nothing to say to Shu-Yang. Since he had come to the village for only one day, he had not brought any extra clothes with him.
Jun-Yu took the tissue and cleaned his face.
Shi-Han:—Brother, you've been here for so long. But you still haven't found a single vehicle.
Shu-Yang:—Yes, I haven't seen even one vehicle pass by yet.
Xiao-Tong:—Shi-Han, perhaps vehicles have stopped running today.
As soon as Xiao-Tong said that much, the expression on Jun-Yu's face darkened.
Jun-Yu:—Huh? What are you saying? What will happen to me if we can't find a vehicle? I want to go home. Damn it, coming to the village was the biggest mistake I've ever made.
Shu-Yang:—Jun-Yu, my phone ran out of charge last night. Call our driver and ask him to come here now.
As soon as he said that, Jun-Yu took his phone out of his pocket. But his phone had been damaged when it fell earlier, so it was no longer working.
Jun-Yu:—My phone fell into the muddy water, and now it isn't working.
Shi-Han:—Wait, don't worry. I'll book a cab right now.
Saying that, Shi-Han took out her phone and tried to book a cab, but then she noticed that her phone was also dead, just like Shu-Yang's.
Shi-Han:—I'm sorry, Jun-Yu. I didn't notice when my phone's battery ran out. Xiao-Tong, where's your phone? You book a cab.
Xiao-Tong:—What are you saying? Did you forget that I gave my phone to a repair shop the day before yesterday?
Shi-Han:—Oh, yes! You're going to collect your phone from that shop when we return today. Oh—look, a vehicle is coming!
As she said that, Shi-Han noticed a vehicle approaching.
Shu-Yang:—But it's coming from the opposite direction. And it's a cargo truck.
Jun-Yu:—Brother Shu-Yang, do something. Ask the driver to take us there.
Shu-Yang tried to stop the vehicle, but it passed by him without stopping. Everyone became disappointed. However, after a while, another vehicle appeared. It was also coming from the direction of Guolu Town.
This time, Jun-Yu managed to stop it.
Jun-Yu:—Can you tell us why vehicles are not running on this road today?
Driver:—Vehicles don't usually run very frequently on this road anyway. If someone from the village needs to go to the city, they either use their own vehicle to reach a designated station or book a cab in advance to go to the station. The vehicles haven't stopped running.
Shi-Han:—We know that, but today it seems like there are fewer vehicles than on other days.
Driver:—That's because the Shanghai police have set up a checkpoint on the road from Guolu Town to this road.
Shu-Yang:—Why? Can you tell us why the police have set up a checkpoint?
Driver:—Sir, only the police know that. I just deliver company goods from one place to another.
Jun-Yu:—Listen, I'll give you 50 yuan if you take us to Guolu Town.
Shu-Yang:—Jun-Yu, don't make such a foolish offer.
Jun-Yu:—Oh, shut up! You're enjoying laughing at me in this condition, but I want to get home at any cost.
Driver:—Sir, why are you getting so angry? In any case, I can't take you there because the company pays me a monthly salary for this job. If I take you there today for 50 yuan, the company will fire me tomorrow. So even if you give me 1,000 yuan, I still won't be able to go.
Saying that, the driver drove past Jun-Yu and left.
Still covered in mud and water, Jun-Yu felt extremely restless and irritated. The more irritated he became, the more Shi-Han and the others hid their faces and laughed at him.
After waiting for a long time, a private car was heading toward Guolu Town. Shu-Yang went in front of the car and asked for a lift. The car stopped, but it had only four seats, including the driver's seat.
Shu-Yang managed to explain their situation to the man. But when the driver saw Jun-Yu covered in mud, he said—
Driver:—Look, there are only three passenger seats in the car. Besides, that man is wet and has mud all over him. You can come with me, but I won't be able to take him.
The driver's words made Jun-Yu extremely sad. He remembered an incident from the past, when he had fallen ill because he was allergic to cats, and Shi-Han had stood in the middle of the road at night, shouting for help.
Jun-Yu:—You all get there safely. I'll make my way home.
Jun-Yu stopped after saying that in a serious voice. This time, seeing Jun-Yu's actual condition, everyone felt sad.
Shu-Yang:—Jun-Yu, wear my clothes and return to the city. I'll wait for you at Grandma's house.
Jun-Yu:—There's no need for that. You still haven't fully recovered physically from being shot a few days ago. So it wouldn't be good for your health to wait for me from now on.
After saying that, Jun-Yu left them despite feeling upset. He took off his coat and began walking toward Guolu Town. Guolu Town was approximately 15 kilometers from Chingshan Village.