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Jiang Zhi Ning looked into his deep eyes and reached out to take it. “Thank you.”
The moment she bit into the fruit, a sweet and refreshing taste spread across her mouth.
“Mm, so sweet.” Jiang Zhi Ning smiled brightly.
Her smile was so sweet and charming that Song Yuzhou quickly lowered his head, picking out all the sweet fruits to give her, eating only the sour ones himself.
Seeing this, Jiang Zhi Ning felt that the wild fruit in her mouth tasted even sweeter.
Once they were full, the two resumed their journey.
Because Jiang Zhi Ning was wearing small heels, she kept stumbling on the muddy, uneven path and nearly fell several times.
“Comrade Yuzhou, could you lend me a hand?” she asked, sweat beading on her forehead from the pain.
Song Yuzhou hesitated for a moment, then offered his hand.
Jiang Zhi Ning held onto his arm, walking carefully.
“You don’t seem like you’re from the village. How did you fall down the mountain?” he asked in a low voice.
“I was switched at birth and raised in Beicheng. I was pushed off the cliff this time.”
Since she still needed his help to get out of this place, she chose not to hide the truth.
Song Yuzhou was stunned. “Pushed off the cliff?”
Jiang Zhi Ning nodded, looking sad. “If it weren’t for you, I’d probably be dead. Comrade Yuzhou, I want to report this to the police. Can you be my witness?”
There had been no third person when Shen An’an pushed her, but Song Yuzhou was a soldier—his word carried weight.
“Okay,” Song Yuzhou agreed without hesitation.
Looking around at the towering trees at the bottom of the cliff, Jiang Zhi Ning worried, “I just hope we can make it out of here alive, or we’ll starve to death in the wilderness.”
Just as she finished speaking, footsteps approached from ahead. Song Yuzhou immediately shielded her behind him.
Soon, a few soldiers came running up joyfully. “Commander, we finally found you!”
Jiang Zhi Ning peeked out curiously. “They’re your comrades?”
The soldiers were stunned when they saw the beautiful girl beside their commander. Weren’t they supposed to be separated? Where did this little beauty come from?
“Yeah,” Song Yuzhou’s expression returned to the cold and stern demeanor he had when they first met. “What’s the situation?”
“It’s been handled,” the soldiers quickly responded.
“Good,” Song Yuzhou replied briefly, then led the group forward.
Seeing Jiang Zhi Ning holding onto Song Yuzhou’s arm, the soldiers exchanged curious glances—what was their relationship?
Once they regrouped, the party quickly left the bottom of the cliff. True to his word, Song Yuzhou accompanied Jiang Zhi Ning to the police station.
“Sorry, Miss Jiang, but if it’s just your one-sided claim, we can’t open an investigation,” the officer said apologetically.
The suspect she accused was the daughter of the steel factory’s director—a tricky situation.
“I barely escaped death. Isn’t that proof enough? It was just the two of us there. Officer, I’m not lying. This comrade can vouch for me.”
She pulled Song Yuzhou forward.
“You saw it happen?” the officer asked, scrutinizing him.
“I didn’t witness the actual push,” Song Yuzhou replied seriously, “but when I found her, she was badly injured and nearly bitten by a snake. No one would joke with their life like that.”
“You two might be in on it together,” the officer said coldly.
“Officer, are you questioning the integrity of a soldier?” Jiang Zhi Ning exclaimed.
Song Yuzhou’s expression turned serious. “I didn’t know this lady before. Here’s my military ID.”
The officer took the ID, and his demeanor changed instantly. He snapped to attention with a salute. “So you’re Commander Song. Apologies, Commander. Of course you wouldn’t lie.”
“Anything concerning the people is a serious matter. Investigate thoroughly,” Song Yuzhou ordered coldly.
“Yes, of course! We’ll take it seriously,” the officer said, bowing repeatedly.
With a faint nod, Song Yuzhou turned and left the police station.
Seeing the officer start filing a report, Jiang Zhi Ning left with him. “Thank you, Comrade Yuzhou, for speaking up for me.”
“It’s nothing,” he replied simply. “I have something else to do. I’ll leave first.”
“Wait, Comrade Yuzhou,” Jiang Zhi Ning called out. “Could you give me your unit’s phone number? Once I handle my family matters, I’d like to treat you to a meal.”
This man was the biggest hidden gem in the book. Jiang Zhi Ning figured it wouldn’t hurt to keep in touch—he might become a valuable ally.
“No need. It was just a small favor,” Song Yuzhou declined and left with his soldiers.
“Ah…” Jiang Zhi Ning stood there with puffed cheeks. “What a pity.”
Now that she’d successfully reported the crime, it was time to settle the score with the would-be murderer.
If she hadn’t transmigrated into the novel, the original Jiang Zhi Ning would’ve died in vain—her body devoured by snakes and left to rot in the wild.
This grudge must be avenged!
Following the memories in her mind, Jiang Zhi Ning headed off.
What she didn’t know was that after she turned a corner, Song Yuzhou glanced back, watching her silhouette as she left.
As soon as Jiang Zhi Ning stepped into the family compound, she noticed the house was unusually lively.
Recalling the timeline, today was the day Shen An’an and the original fiancé were officially getting engaged.
The original Jiang Zhi Ning had died tragically, yet the murderer was now celebrating her engagement!
Not even wasting a single day!
Jiang Zhi Ning crossed the threshold and entered with a smile on her face. “What’s the big occasion today? No one thought to invite me?”
Her sudden appearance drew everyone’s attention.
“Isn’t that the Jiang family’s adopted daughter? Showing up now—she’s not here to crash the wedding, is she?” the gossiping housewives whispered loudly.
“Wasn’t she always dolled up before? Why does she look so disheveled today? Her dress is torn and her shoes are covered in mud.”
Four middle-aged people sat in the main seats, their expressions mixed.
Shen An’an’s pupils widened, her heart racing: Didn’t she already die?
Lin Chunmei was shocked. “Zhi Ning, you’re not…”
Jiang Zhi Ning stepped forward, her smile unchanged but unnerving. “Not what? Not already dead from falling off a cliff? That’s what Shen An’an told you, right, Mom?”
Jiang Zhenhai stood up, putting on a kindly face. “Child, we’re just glad you’re home safe.”
Looking at his fake concern, Jiang Zhi Ning sneered inside.
Since she was young, Jiang Zhenhai and his wife had spoiled the original Jiang Zhi Ning.
She was a well-known beauty, and they had high hopes of leveraging her to climb the social ladder, so they pampered her lavishly.
But when they learned she wasn’t their biological daughter, their affection quickly shifted—to the point they wanted to send the original Jiang Zhi Ning away and hand her fiancé over to their real daughter, Shen An’an.
“Sister, it’s good you’re back. I was so worried when you fell,” Shen An’an said sweetly, grabbing her hand.
“Yes, we were all worried. An’an didn’t sleep a wink last night,” Lin Chunmei chimed in, trying to paint Shen An’an as a kind and caring girl.
Jiang Zhi Ning chuckled. “Of course she didn’t sleep—she was afraid I’d come back as a ghost to haunt her.”
Everyone around them gasped. “Haunt her?!”
Jiang Zhi Ning pulled her hand away, her voice calm but loud enough for all to hear. “I didn’t fall. I was pushed—by Shen An’an.”
“Sister, what are you talking about?” Shen An’an looked fragile. “I know you’re upset that I’m marrying Hao-ge, but you shouldn’t accuse me like this.”