Chapter 46: Finding Help

When Zhan Nanhui got tired of studying, he looked up at the room inside and saw that Yi An’an was still awake. He didn’t feel so lonely, so he lowered his head and continued reading.

Yi An’an finally couldn’t hold on any longer, set the book aside, and lay down on the bed to sleep.

Late at night, Zhan Nanhui came inside, his eyes bloodshot from staying up. When he saw the algebra book Yi An’an had placed to the side, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

This woman used to be all about money, counting cash at home all day. He even knew about the money she had stashed under the heated bed. Who would have thought she’d be reading a math book tonight?

Over the past few days, Zhan Nanhui had asked around the village and more or less confirmed Yi An’an’s background. He was now certain that the night she ran into the pigsty, it had indeed been out of desperation—not some kind of scheme. It really was a case of mutual benefit between them.

As Zhan Nanhui was thinking, he saw Yi An’an turn over slightly, and the algebra book fell off the bed.

With a quick step, he caught the book in midair and gently placed it on the table nearby.

Looking up at her palm-sized face, fair skin like jade, Zhan Nanhui couldn’t help but stare.

She looked so peaceful and beautiful while asleep. Especially her rosy lips—he didn’t know how many times he’d kissed them in his dreams.

As he gazed at her, slowly and almost involuntarily, he leaned forward. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, Yi An’an suddenly opened her eyes.

Zhan Nanhui quickly dropped to one knee and bent down beside the bed.

Yi An’an rubbed her eyes and looked at him searching on the floor. “What are you looking for?”

Zhan Nanhui replied awkwardly, “A pen—I dropped my pen.”

Yi An’an quickly sat up. “Do you want me to help you look for it?”

“No need. Let’s just go to sleep. Tomorrow—” Before he could finish, Yi An’an suddenly rolled off the bed.

Zhan Nanhui hurriedly caught her.

Yi An’an must’ve been half-asleep and in a rush, causing her to tumble forward.

His hands caught her shoulders just in time, and her head tilted downward, with her nose lightly brushing his lips.

Even though it was just her nose, Zhan Nanhui immediately felt a wave of heat flood his entire body. He looked up at her—those dark, bright eyes seemed to speak, her flawless pale skin, vivid red lips, and the elegant curve of her exposed neck made her look irresistibly attractive.

Zhan Nanhui sat stiffly on the floor, at a loss for words or action.

Yi An’an hadn’t expected such a result from merely trying to help. Embarrassed, she smiled awkwardly. “Could you give me a push? Yeah—I can lift myself up if you help.”

When she mentioned her waist, Zhan Nanhui’s gaze drifted to her slender waist—just the right size to hold in one hand… He had no idea how many times he had held it in dreams…

He quickly lowered his head, trying not to let her see his embarrassment. He used both hands to push her back onto the bed, then turned away and said in a low voice, “I just remembered—I still have some chores to finish in the pigsty. I’ll go do that and come back to sleep later.”

Zhan Nanhui hurriedly got up and left.

“Did you find your pen?” Yi An’an called out.

Zhan Nanhui waved without looking back, shut the door to the hut, and left.

Yi An’an frowned. After thinking for a moment, she got down to help him search for the pen, but couldn’t find it even after a long while.

That night, she didn’t know when Zhan Nanhui came back or what time he left in the morning. All she knew was that breakfast had been prepared—so he must have returned at some point.

Remembering her promise from the day before, Yi An’an didn’t go to the town but instead headed to Chenjia Village.

There, she visited the home of her middle school classmate, Chen Yanmei.

Chen Yanmei was the daughter of the village chief in Chenjia Village. Back in middle school, she had been a close friend of Yi An’an’s. Last year, she started working as a cashier in a town restaurant and was rumored to be dating someone from the city.

In Yi An’an’s previous life, Chen Yanmei ended up divorcing that man due to his affair with a mistress. She didn’t get a dime in the divorce—only inherited a mountain of debt.

Eventually, she lost her grip on reality and jumped off a building with her ten-year-old son…

Yi An’an sighed at the memory and hesitated a bit before knocking on the door. Soon, a girl opened it—it was Chen Yanmei.

Chen Yanmei was briefly stunned when she saw her. Then she grabbed Yi An’an’s hand, excitedly saying, “It’s you, An’an! You’re even more beautiful now. No wonder you were the school beauty back then. I almost didn’t recognize you!”

Yi An’an smiled. Actually, she was planning to head to town afterward. Chenjia Village was wealthier than Yanjia Village, and ox carts ran from there to the town, though they were a bit pricey. So she had worn her red wool coat.

“That coat is gorgeous!” Chen Yanmei tugged at it admiringly. “I saw an identical one at the supply and marketing store in town. Your hair looks great too—where did you get it permed?”

Yi An’an replied with a smile, “Answer my question first, and I’ll answer yours.”

Chen Yanmei blinked, then looked her over. “You’re sneakier than before! Alright, what do you want?”

Yi An’an asked about Wang Xiaohuan.

Chen Yanmei frowned and replied with displeasure, “Nonsense. That Wang Xiaohuan was a sent-down educated youth living at the zhiqing point. Sure, the village boys liked her and sometimes flirted, but to say she was bullied and got pregnant? No way. My dad’s the village chief—he wouldn’t let that happen.”

Yi An’an frowned. Was Chen Sisi lying to Zhan Nanhui?

“But Wang Xiaohuan did jump into the river. It wasn’t suicide though—it was an elopement with another male zhiqing. They pretended it was suicide to avoid getting caught!” Chen Yanmei added. “Wang Xiaohuan can swim. I saw her swimming and bathing in the river myself this past summer. How could she die from jumping in?”

Yi An’an asked in a low voice, “But running off like that—no ID, no hukou—what’s the point?”

Chen Yanmei sighed. “That male zhiqing married a village girl two years ago. Because of that marriage, he didn’t have to do hard labor and even became a supervisor. But then he started having an affair with Wang Xiaohuan. She really did get pregnant, and when it looked like the truth would come out, the two of them decided to run away.”

Yi An’an nodded, finally understanding the situation.

“Now tell me—where did you get your hair done? It’s really nice!” Chen Yanmei eagerly asked again.

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