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Su Yi wasn’t sure if her being transported into the novel was related to the male lead, but she was certain that as the male lead, Zhou Jinchuan had as much luck as the female lead.
It would be great if she could hitch a ride on this golden leg. Perhaps if she helped him fulfill his promise to escape the female lead, she could return to her original world.
Unfortunately, Zhou Jinchuan was extremely cautious and aloof.
Finding a legitimate reason to get close to him was proving to be quite difficult.
As Su Yi was lost in thought, her stomach suddenly growled loudly.
She quickened her pace, deciding to check into the guesthouse first and then find something to eat.
Upon finally reaching the guesthouse, the front desk staff immediately asked her for a referral letter without a word.
Su Yi was taken aback and hurriedly explained that her luggage, including the referral letter, had been stolen.
“That’s not possible. It’s a rule—without a referral letter, we can’t provide a room.”
Glancing at the time on the wall, Su Yi realized that she might still have a chance if she went back to get a letter from Zhou Jinchuan or Commissar Wang.
Without hesitation, she turned around and ran back.
Just as she arrived breathlessly at the compound, she suddenly heard the sound of a child crying.
It was mealtime, and with everyone at home preparing their meals, the compound was unusually empty.
Su Yi paused and looked around, then spotted a few children in a narrow alley.
The crying came from that direction.
Upon closer inspection, she saw a boy around seven or eight years old lying on the ground, holding a younger girl of about four or five in his arms.
In front of them stood two slightly older boys, who were hitting and scolding the siblings.
“Wild Children with no parents to care for them, still lingering in our compound! Now they even dare to steal! We’ll make sure to drive you out tomorrow!”
Su Yi was anxious to get the necessary documents but was struck by the scene of the children being bullied. It reminded her of her own childhood, when she had been picked on and had fought back. Her heart ached with empathy.
After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to step in to rescue the two children.
“Stop it! What are you doing?”
The two older boys immediately ceased their actions upon seeing an adult. They pointed at the siblings on the ground and said, “They stole our stuff! Beating them is just what they deserve.”
The boy on the ground immediately retorted, “I didn’t! I spent my own money to buy the candied hawthorns for my sister. They weren’t stolen.”
Su Yi looked at the two children who had done the hitting and asked, “How can you prove that these candied hawthorns were stolen by them?”
The two pursed their lips and said, “They’re just unwanted orphans. How could they have money to buy candied hawthorns!”
Su Yi picked up the candied hawthorns from the ground and said, “Well, there’s no name on this. How can you prove that you bought it?”
“I say it’s mine, so it is.”
Su Yi let out a cold laugh. “Alright, if you say it’s yours, then take it back and eat it. If you eat it, I’ll believe it’s yours.”
The two children rolled their eyes at Su Yi. “Where did this fool come from? It’s already fallen on the ground and gotten dirty. How can we eat it? Pay us!”
A cold glint flashed in Su Yi’s eyes as he looked fiercely at the two. “Is this how your parents taught you to bully others? If you don’t eat it, then you’re just guilty. Do you dare to call your parents here? Let’s go outside and confront the candied hawthorn seller!”
The two children were startled when they heard they needed to find an adult. “We don’t want it anymore; let the two of them have it!” they said quickly.
Then they turned and ran out of the alley.
Su Yi casually picked up a small stone and threw it at them. They stumbled and fell to the ground.
They got up crying for their parents and ran away.
The two children on the ground found this amusing and started laughing.
“Thank you, big sister.”
“No problem. Next time something like this happens, go straight to their parents.”
“Got it.”
“Alright, I have some things to take care of. You two should hurry home.”
As she left the alley, the sky had completely darkened, and the streetlights on both sides of the road had turned on.
At this hour, the office was likely empty.
While Su Yi was feeling frustrated, she suddenly saw a tall figure approaching from a distance.
The dim streetlights stretched his shadow long, and Su Yi quickly recognized the person as Zhou Jinchuan.
Feeling as if she had found a savior, Su Yi hurriedly walked over.
“Captain Zhou, are you—out buying groceries?”
As soon as she finished speaking, her stomach growled again.
She wanted the introduction letter, and she also wanted a meal. As for the person in front of her, she wanted to find an opportunity to ingratiate herself with him.
“Captain Zhou, thanks to your help today, I wanted to treat you to a meal! It’s a coincidence that you bought groceries.”
Zhou Jinchuan raised an eyebrow. “Treat me to a meal with the groceries I bought?”
Su Yi awkwardly covered her stomach. “I’m not familiar with this place. Even if I wanted to treat you, I wouldn’t know where to go.”
Seeing her pitiful expression, Zhou Jinchuan couldn’t help but smile. “There’s a state-run restaurant in town. Didn’t you get some compensation? Didn’t you get meal tickets?”
Su Yi quickly covered her pocket and smiled. “I have them, but when I left the compound earlier to find a place to stay, I was turned away for not having an introduction letter. So I came to ask you to write one for me.”
After speaking, she blinked at him.
Zhou Jinchuan thought for a moment and finally agreed. “Come with me.”
He had many unresolved questions. Even if they hadn’t run into each other, he would have found a way to meet her again.
Su Yi immediately took the grocery basket from his hand with a big smile. “Thank you, Captain Zhou. I’ll carry it!”
Zhou Jinchuan’s residence was at the far end of the compound, away from the rows of densely packed houses, in a standalone courtyard.
Su Yi was puzzled. [Isn’t he single? Why does he live in such a big courtyard by himself?]
Zhou Jinchuan glanced at her, as if he could read her thoughts again.
[She seems to know a lot about me.]
Before he could ponder further, the courtyard gate opened from the inside.
Two children, a boy and a girl, came running out immediately.
“Uncle Zhou!”
Su Yi looked down and saw that the two children were the same ones she had just rescued in the alley.
[It’s them? They belong to Zhou Jinchuan?]
Zhou Jinchuan cleared his throat. “These are Ye Xiaowu and Ye Nuannuan. They are the children of a comrade of mine.”
Su Yi suddenly understood and waved to greet them.
She had intended to ask the children if they were okay, but seeing Xiaowu subtly shake his head, she realized he didn’t want Zhou Jinchuan to know about the bullying incident. So, she kept quiet.
Upon entering the courtyard, Su Yi took a look around.
It was too late to see much, but the courtyard felt empty, with a barren expanse of ground that wasn’t particularly interesting.
Inside, the house was quite bright.
It was indeed a house allocated to a regiment commander—spacious, with several bedrooms and a living room, as well as separate kitchen and bathroom facilities.
It was quite different from the cramped single-room units in the front rows.
However, the house was sparsely furnished, with a minimalist feel, and lacked the warmth of a lived-in home.