Chapter 17

Seeing Gu Yu’s expression, Lu Lanlan thought it must be something serious. Otherwise, Gu Yu wouldn’t be begging her like this.

“You should tell me what it is first. Let me see if I can help,” Lu Lanlan said.

Gu Yu glanced back before whispering, “Can we talk about it in our room tonight?”

“Alright, up to you.”

Once they reached the fields, Lu Lanlan started working.

A sturdy female educated youth approached Gu Yu and asked, “Why are you moving rooms to discuss something with her?”

Gu Yu, pretending to grab a tool, took a step back. “She just had a fight with your roommate yesterday. If I move out and leave her to live with your roommate, she might think I did it on purpose to target her.”

“You’re afraid of her?” The sturdy female educated youth was the roommate of the one who didn’t like staying clean.

“I’m not afraid of her, but I’m afraid of Fu Chunian,” Gu Yu replied.

“What’s there to be afraid of? If he’s got the guts, he should get Lu Lanlan to sleep in his room,” the sturdy female educated youth said unhappily.

After Xu Xiangdong escorted someone to the police station, he returned to eat and then went to the fields. When he saw Gu Yu holding a pitchfork towards someone, he immediately called out, “Gu Yu!”

Hearing someone call her, Gu Yu felt a wave of relief and quickly ran toward Xu Xiangdong.

The sturdy female educated youth was displeased by this scene.

Watching Gu Yu run towards him, Xu Xiangdong said, “Slow down! Be careful with that pitchfork.”

“It’s fine. What’s up?” Gu Yu asked cheerfully.

“Nothing, I just wanted to remind you not to point the pitchfork at people. It’s dangerous,” Xu Xiangdong said.

Gu Yu looked at the pitchfork in her hand and let out an “Oh.”

“Go back to work and be careful,” Xu Xiangdong said before turning to leave.

Gu Yu glanced at the field and saw that the sturdy female educated youth was still there. She immediately caught up with Xu Xiangdong and said, “Thank you for what you did that day.”

“It was the right thing to do. Anyone would have helped in that situation,” Xu Xiangdong replied.

“I know, but you also kept my secret,” Gu Yu said sincerely. She had thought about giving Xu Xiangdong something as thanks, but he had refused.

Xu Xiangdong looked at the girl in front of him, who had her head lowered. “That was also the right thing to do. A girl’s reputation is important.”

“Go back to work. I need to get back as well,” Xu Xiangdong said.

Gu Yu glanced at the field again and saw that the person was still there.

Xu Xiangdong noticed her hesitation and asked, “What’s wrong? Did you have a conflict with someone?”

“No, she just keeps clinging to me,” Gu Yu frowned.

“Maybe she likes you and wants to be friends. You could try making more friends,” Xu Xiangdong suggested with a smile.

“I don’t like her,” Gu Yu looked up at Xu Xiangdong. “Can you help me switch to another work area? I don’t want to be so close to her.”

Xu Xiangdong frowned. “I can’t do that. You’d have to ask the village chief. But you all live in the educated youth dormitory—you’re bound to run into each other. If you don’t like her, just ignore her. No need to escalate things.”

“I understand,” Gu Yu said, realizing Xu Xiangdong couldn’t help her. She didn’t press him further.

As soon as Xu Xiangdong left, the sturdy female educated youth immediately walked over.

“You’re close with Xu Xiangdong?”

“Not really. I got lost in town last time, and he was the one who found me,” Gu Yu replied.

“Hmm. Alright, let’s get back to work.” The sturdy female educated youth reached out to grab Gu Yu’s arm.

Seeing this, Gu Yu quickly stepped back and dodged. “My stomach doesn’t feel well. I’m not working today. I’m heading back to the educated youth dormitory.”

After saying that, Gu Yu ran off without noticing the sinister smile on the sturdy female educated youth’s face.

Although she had said she was going back, Gu Yu didn’t actually return to the dormitory. She was afraid the sturdy female educated youth would follow her. If they ended up alone in the dormitory, she’d have nowhere to escape.

Instead, she went straight to find Lu Lanlan.

Lu Lanlan was chatting with Auntie Xu while working when she heard footsteps. Looking up, she saw Gu Yu running toward her with a pitchfork in hand.

Lu Lanlan immediately stood up and backed away a few steps. “Gu Yu, what are you doing? This is a lawful society. If you hurt me, you’ll go to jail.”

Gu Yu was stunned by Lu Lanlan’s reaction.

Auntie Xu quickly mediated. “Comrade Gu, if there’s a conflict, resolve it peacefully. No need to resort to violence.”

“I’m not—” Gu Yu put down the pitchfork. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I came to talk about what I couldn’t say earlier.”

“Oh, you scared me,” Lu Lanlan patted her chest, realizing she had forgotten about Gu Yu’s request.

“Weren’t we supposed to talk about it tonight?”

“I can’t wait,” Gu Yu glanced at Auntie Xu.

Seeing that there wasn’t going to be a fight, Auntie Xu smiled. “Go ahead and talk. I’m almost done here. I’ll work on the other side.”

Once Auntie Xu left, Lu Lanlan saw Gu Yu bending to pick up the pitchfork and immediately said, “Don’t touch that! Just come over and talk.”

Seeing Lu Lanlan’s fearful expression, Gu Yu chuckled. “Lu Lanlan, are you really that timid?”

‘I’m not timid. Who knows if you’ll suddenly go crazy again,’ Lu Lanlan thought.

Out loud, she said, “Yes, I’m super timid. Maybe you should find someone else to help you. I might not be able to handle it.”

Hearing that, Gu Yu immediately stopped laughing and said, “No, you’re not timid—I am.”

Lu Lanlan raised an eyebrow. Today’s Gu Yu seemed completely different from usual.

“Lu Lanlan, I was wrong before. I sincerely apologize,” Gu Yu said and even bowed.

“Just tell me what you want,” Lu Lanlan responded.

“Can you never move out? Let’s always stay in the same room.”

“?”

Lu Lanlan looked at Gu Yu in disbelief. “That’s what you need my help with?”

“Yes.”

“But you were the one who wanted to switch rooms before. Why the sudden change?” Lu Lanlan asked in confusion.

“Do you know why that female educated youth doesn’t like staying clean?” Gu Yu asked.

Lu Lanlan shook her head. “Do you?”

“Yes. Because of her roommate.”

What does not showering have to do with a roommate?

Seeing Lu Lanlan’s confusion, Gu Yu took a deep breath and explained, “Her roommate is a pervert who likes women. At first, she didn’t know, but then her roommate kept finding excuses to sleep in the same bed with her and even hugged her while sleeping. That’s when she started noticing something was wrong.

She tried to switch rooms but couldn’t. When she resisted, her roommate overpowered her. She told the manager and other female educated youths, but no one believed her. She had no choice but to stop showering.

Over time, her bad smell kept her roommate away. That’s why she wanted to switch rooms with me.”

“Her roommate is that sturdy female educated youth?” Lu Lanlan recalled seeing the woman earlier.

Gu Yu nodded. “She found out I was switching rooms and started targeting me.”