Chapter 11

The next few days passed peacefully enough. At night, Song Nian and Xu Jin lay on the bed, one to the left and the other to the right, with a clear line between them. Other than occasionally being woken up by Xu Jin bathing in the middle of the night, there was nothing unpleasant.

During the day, she gradually adapted to her work in the workshop.

At first, she had worried she wouldn’t be able to fit in, but after getting to know her coworkers, she realized most people were easy to get along with.

After a few days, she and Liu Pingping had already become friends—especially after Liu Pingping cautiously asked how she managed to keep her threads from breaking so often. Song Nian taught her the trick without reservation.

“Song Nian, you’re so good to me!”

Liu Pingping was touched and even felt a bit guilty.

She had only asked because she noticed how rarely Song Nian’s threads snapped, but she hadn’t expected Song Nian to share her unique looping technique so openly.

In this era, unless you had a formal master-apprentice contract, very few were willing to pass down their personal skills. Everyone knew the saying “teach your apprentice and starve your master.” Skill was one’s livelihood and leverage in the factory.

But Song Nian hadn’t hesitated. She just shared it.

Liu Pingping was so moved that she praised Song Nian to everyone.

And since Liu Pingping already had a good temperament and got along well with people, soon Song Nian became familiar with the other women too. They discovered that although Comrade Xiao Song looked delicate and aloof—almost untouchable—she was actually easy to get along with.

She spoke calmly, never gossiped, and treated everyone with gentle courtesy.

So, when the Production Department Chief came to inspect the workshop that day, several workers reminded her ahead of time. He did monthly inspections—at the beginning, middle, and end of the month—and they encouraged her to perform well and try to secure her permanent contract sooner.

Chief Qin Heng was a well-known rising star in the Red Flag Garment Factory. He had even studied abroad, was highly valued by the higher-ups, and, thanks to his handsome looks, was considered the dream man of many female workers.

Song Nian was surprised when she first heard his name. And when she actually saw him, she realized—it really was the same Qin Heng from her private school days.

But the Qin family came from a scholarly background, while her own family had fallen into ruin. She had no intention of leaning on old ties, so she lowered her head and quietly focused on her work.

Qin Heng, accompanied by the workshop director and team leaders, walked slowly through.

“These two are new workers as well. This is Zhang Man, and over there is Song Nian…”

Qin Heng froze. Song Nian?

He instinctively looked over, and when the face matched the one in his memory, his expression faltered.

It really was her.

But with so many people around, he didn’t show any reaction. When the inspection ended, he used the excuse of “getting to know the newcomers” to call out the eight new workers from Workshop One, one by one. He gave each some words of encouragement.

They all came back with flushed faces, clearly inspired. Some even whispered about how polite and refined Chief Qin was.

Song Nian was the last one called.

Seeing Qin Heng waiting under a tree, she paused, then walked over and greeted him softly: “Chief Qin.”

Dressed in factory trousers and a crisp shirt, he turned to her in her plain work uniform, his expression complex. “Song Nian. It’s been a long time.”

“I looked into your family after I returned to the country. I only knew you had moved to another province… Not long ago, I heard from old classmates about what happened. I… tried to find out where you were.”

His lips pressed together, his tone gentle. “But I never thought… we’d meet like this.”

Song Nian smiled faintly. “It is quite a coincidence.”

There was no bitterness or self-pity in her face, just calmness. Her features were still bright, and Qin Heng couldn’t help but take a step closer. “I’ve been looking for you for so long…”

The emotions he had buried spilled out uncontrollably. He lowered his voice. “Song Nian, I… I can take care of you now. Let me protect you.”

She blinked, slightly startled.

It had been five years since they were classmates. Back then, he had been frail and often bullied at the private school.

Song Nian, the pampered daughter of the Song family, held sway at that school—her family had even funded it. But she never bullied anyone, so she was well liked.

She had stepped in when she saw Qin Heng being bullied, even defended him a few times. But their interactions had never gone beyond that.

Now Qin Heng was no longer that pale, skinny boy. He was tall, confident, and his gaze burned when it fell on her.

With no one around, his heart surged with heat, though he restrained himself from doing anything improper. He only leaned in slightly, his eyes tender and intent. “I can protect you now, Song Nian.”

“Chief Qin.”

She smiled at him. “I have this job. I can take care of myself. And… I’m married.”

His body stiffened. The color drained from his face.

He lost composure, stepped closer. “Married? To who? Did someone force you—take advantage of your situation?”

Song Nian shook her head and laughed softly. “No one forced me. I haven’t suffered. I don’t need anyone’s protection. Please don’t imagine tragedies where there are none. But still… thank you for caring.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.”

She nodded to him, then turned—only to see Xu Jin, holding his military jacket, walking by with Xiao Dingguo.

They weren’t far, so she smiled politely. “Director Xiao, Representative Xu.”

With others present, Xiao Dingguo didn’t tease her as usual, just nodded. Then he glanced at Qin Heng, smiling slyly. “Chief Qin, back from your trip?”

“Deputy Director. Representative Xu.”

Qin Heng’s face was visibly strained. Xiao Dingguo raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong, Chief Qin? Why do you look so pale?”

Qin Heng faltered. But since Song Nian had revealed she was married, and they would keep crossing paths in the factory, hiding it would only be awkward. After a beat, he said: “Nothing. Just ran into an old classmate.”

“Little Song Comrade is your old classmate?”

Xiao Dingguo was surprised. “Now that’s fate.”

Qin Heng forced a smile. “Yes.”

Not wanting her to be around someone like Xiao Dingguo, Qin Heng turned to her, lowering his voice. “Comrade Xiao Song, you should get back to work. If you need anything… come find me.”

Song Nian nodded, saluted the other two politely, and walked back.

Xiao Dingguo caught the look Qin Heng gave her back, his eyes glinting with interest. He shot Xu Jin a meaningful look.

But Xu Jin’s expression didn’t change. He just turned. “The military district called. I need to handle some matters. Come to the liaison office if you need me.”

Xiao Dingguo replied casually. “Go on, then.”

Then he threw an arm around Qin Heng’s shoulders. “Come, Chief Qin, let’s talk about your trip. What’s going on with Changxing Garment Factory…”

That afternoon, Song Nian left work as usual.

At the factory gate, she saw Qin Heng heading for his car. He froze when he spotted her.

But with so many people around, he held back for fear of harming her reputation. He just stood there, watching her board the crowded bus.

Seeing the once-glorious daughter of a wealthy family now dressed simply, squeezed among strangers, his chest ached.

If she had been bitter, resentful, or broken, maybe it would have hurt less. But she faced everything with calm, still carrying that bright, soft smile. Compared to her current circumstances, that only made him ache more.

A jeep roared past. Xu Jin, inside, glanced coolly at the man watching Song Nian, then turned away with icy detachment.

That evening, while Song Nian was reading, Xu Jin returned earlier than usual.

She thought he would go back out, but instead he showered and climbed into bed, faint traces of steam clinging to him.

“Are you going to sleep already? I just want to finish this page,” she asked.

“Mm,” he replied, adjusting the lamp brighter. “Go ahead.”

After a while, she marked her page and put the book away. The moment she lay down, he switched off the light.

“Am I disturbing you—” she began, but stopped when she felt a hot hand on her belly.

His voice was taut. “Are you clean?”

Her cheeks heated. She murmured, “Yes.”

The quilt lifted, and suddenly his body pressed down over hers.

As always, there was no foreplay. But her body reacted strangely—just feeling his heavy breath above her made her weak in the waist.

He was rough, direct, his breathing heavier and heavier.

She thought it would be like before—wordless, unchanging—but then he suddenly stopped.

“You know Qin Heng?”

His voice was husky.

She squirmed uncomfortably, answered vaguely, “We were classmates, you—”

She wanted to tell him to move, but feared he’d scold her for being unchaste, so she bit her lip and bore it.

His voice, dark and low, pressed on. “Just classmates? You and him—”

She cut him off quickly. “Just classmates. He thought I’d fallen on hard times and showed some concern. I told him I’m married.”

In the dark, Xu Jin’s tense features eased. He was about to continue when he felt her restless movements beneath him.

His throat tightened. He gripped her firmly. “What are you doing?”

Nearly in tears, she begged, “You… move, a little…”

Hearing her trembling, desperate plea, his breath faltered. A sharp light flickered in his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently. Through clenched teeth, he rasped, “Be more reserved!”

And with that, he thrust suddenly, her stifled cry muffled by her bitten lips.

But tonight, he was especially fierce. A few whimpers escaped despite her efforts to hold them back, and Song Nian shivered, trembling in his arms.

In her hazy daze, she thought bitterly how different he was tonight—wasn’t this too much? Yet at the same time, she felt a shameful flicker of relief: even when she’d cried out like that, he hadn’t scolded her for being unreserved…