Chapter 8 – Can’t Shake Her Off

Zhao Yu tilted her head and glanced to the side. It didn’t take much effort to spot Lin Shu hiding not far away.

Following her gaze, Lu Jing also looked over. The moment his eyes landed on Lin Shu, a trace of disgust and impatience flashed across them.

“Isn’t she right there? Go ask her yourself.”

Wang Lin followed Zhao Yu’s line of sight and turned his head. “Sister-in-law? What are you doing here?”

“Oh, seems like quite a few people knew about Comrade Wang Jianguo’s wedding. You and Lu Jing really live up to being such close brothers.”

The moment Zhao Yu opened her mouth, her tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Head lowered, Lin Shu tiptoed her way over. She came to Lu Jing’s side, leaning close to him cautiously, in an almost clingy posture.

“Eh?” Wang Lin was confused. “Brother Lu… you two…?”

“There’s nothing between us.” Lu Jing immediately took a step sideways, putting distance between himself and Lin Shu.

Lin Shu bit her lower lip, looking aggrieved at his reaction.

“Yuyu, look at her,” Ning Songyun whispered by Zhao Yu’s side, muttering, “She’s wasted in the art troupe—she should really be performing opera.”

“You dare to say anything, don’t you.” Zhao Yu tugged on Ning Songyun’s hand.

Ning Songyun stuck out her tongue and shook Zhao Yu’s arm. “Alright, alright, I won’t say anymore. Let’s just go. Seeing them is bad luck.”

Zhao Yu didn’t move. Instead, she lifted her gaze toward Ning Songyi.

“You all go ahead. We should be leaving too,” Ning Songyi said, his tone surprisingly gentle.

Zhao Yu nodded. When she passed by Lu Jing on her way out of the state-run restaurant, she didn’t spare him so much as a glance.

Zhao Yu and Ning Songyun strolled leisurely through the streets. Every so often, Ning Songyun would cast Zhao Yu hesitant, searching looks.

“What is it? If you want to ask, just ask.”

The moment Zhao Yu loosened up, Ning Songyun latched onto her like a plaster.

“I’ve never seen my brother speak so gently to anyone before. How did you manage that?”

Zhao Yu fiddled with two differently colored hair clips in her hands as she answered, “Comrade Shi and I…”

She paused, realizing that using Ning Songyi’s childhood nickname, “Stone,” in front of his sister might not be appropriate. So she changed her words.

“Comrade Ning and I knew each other back when we were kids in Heilongjiang.”

“You grew up in the Heilongjiang compound too?” Ning Songyun was stunned. “Then… back then, besides you, did my brother have close friends there?”

Her voice grew more and more shocked. “Don’t tell me… those letters he wrote were meant for you?”

“You know about the letters too?” Zhao Yu was genuinely surprised.

“Of course I know.” Ning Songyun lifted her chin with a hint of pride.

“Back then, my brother would sit at the gate every day, waiting for a reply. When no letters came, he wouldn’t say anything, but the air around him grew so heavy it was suffocating.”

Recalling this, Ning Songyun shivered involuntarily.

“At that time, he had just returned. I wasn’t close to him yet, and seeing him like that scared me so much that even half a month after he came back, I didn’t dare speak to him.”

“How long… did he wait?” Zhao Yu lowered her head, her movements at the counter slowing.

“Almost two months, I think. Every day he’d rush out, and after training, he’d sit at the compound gate until night fell, only to return under a dark cloud.”

Zhao Yu pressed her lips together. “By then, I had moved away. I never received his letters.”

“I knew it!” Ning Songyun clapped her hands in realization.

“I thought maybe my brother had offended someone before leaving, that’s why there was no reply. Turns out it was because you moved! No wonder he’s been acting strange ever since he saw you again. Did you ever explain it to him?”

She picked up a sky-blue hair clip Zhao Yu had set on the counter. “My brother’s such a block of wood. Unless you explain, he’ll suffocate himself before asking anything.”

“He asked.” Zhao Yu took the hair clip Ning Songyun had chosen and headed to the cashier.

“He… he asked?” Ning Songyun’s eyes widened in disbelief. She hurried after Zhao Yu. “You have to tell me everything later.”

“Okay.”

After paying, Zhao Yu put the hair clip onto Ning Songyun’s head.

“For me?” Ning Songyun’s eyes sparkled with surprise.

Zhao Yu nodded. “You treated me to a meal, so here’s a little gift in return.”

“But that was my brother’s money.” Ning Songyun thought about it. “I’ll go buy the goose-yellow one too, then we’ll both wear them. That way, everyone will know we’re best friends!”

Not waiting for Zhao Yu’s reply, she hopped back to the counter.

Zhao Yu shrugged, smiling helplessly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of something else on a nearby shelf. After hesitating for a moment, she walked over and picked it up.

“Yuyu, what are you doing?” Ning Songyun came back just as Zhao Yu slipped the item into her pocket.

“Just looking. You done?”

“All done!” Ning Songyun reached out and placed the new clip on Zhao Yu’s head. “So pretty!”

“You look pretty too.” Zhao Yu smiled at her compliment.

But the good mood didn’t last.

On the way back to the dorms, Zhao Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that people were giving them strange, sidelong glances, whispering behind their backs.

Ning Songyun had clearly noticed too. “Yuyu, what’s going on with them?”

“Don’t know. Let’s get back first.”

They quickened their pace. Just as they entered the dorm building, a clamor of voices reached their ears.

“Lin Shu, is what you said true? Zhao Yu actually shamelessly seduced people and then even slandered you?”

“That’s way too much!”

“I knew it! Just look at her vixen-like face—it’s no surprise she’d do something like that.”

Catching those words, Zhao Yu and Ning Songyun exchanged glances. Both instantly understood why people had been acting so strangely on the way back. It all led back to Lin Shu.

At that moment, Lin Shu spotted Zhao Yu too. She pushed past the girls surrounding her and threw herself, sobbing, at Zhao Yu’s feet.

“What are you doing!”

Startled, Ning Songyun jumped back several steps.

“Yuyu, it’s my fault. But since you already have Comrade Ning Songyi, someone much better, please don’t hold it against me anymore. Please, beg the regiment leader to let me return.”

Zhao Yu instantly understood the meaning behind all those looks she’d been getting.

So this was the “credit” Lin Shu had been spreading around.

“Your expulsion was the regiment leader’s decision. What does that have to do with me?”

“You’re the regiment leader’s future daughter-in-law. I was expelled back then because I offended you, wasn’t I? Please, just spare me this once.”

“Nonsense!” Ning Songyun immediately exploded, pointing at Lin Shu. “My mom made it very clear—it was because you broke the rules by secretly marrying and getting pregnant that you were expelled!”

Lin Shu shuddered, then pretended to look frightened and corrected herself. “Yes, it was my fault. It has nothing to do with the regiment leader or Zhao Yu.”

“You—!”

Ning Songyun had never met someone like Lin Shu before. It was like punching into cotton, leaving her fuming, unable to breathe.

Zhao Yu pulled her behind her and patted her shoulder. “Don’t be angry.”

Then she turned her gaze on Lin Shu. “You’re making this scene today because Lu Jing said he wouldn’t marry you, isn’t that right?”