Ten minutes later, the train arrived at the station, and Gu Xiaoxi and her companions disembarked.

Shortly after, a few people from the station approached and led them to the nearest guesthouse for officials.

These people helped carry their luggage to the room before leaving.

Seeing that there was no one else around, Gu Xiaoxi, still confused, finally spoke up. “What’s going on?”

Lu Jiansen raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry. Someone will come by later to ask you a few questions. Just answer truthfully. They might need your help with something.”

Gu Xiaoxi was a little surprised. “Help? Does that mean the man who picked up the cigarette pack was really suspicious?”

Lu Jiansen nodded but didn’t elaborate. “Go take a shower first and get some rest.”

“Oh!” Gu Xiaoxi had indeed been looking forward to freshening up. Seeing that the guesthouse provided hot water, she grabbed a clean set of clothes from her bag and headed straight to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Lu Jiansen closed the door gently and stood guard outside.

Half an hour later, several officials arrived. They shook hands with Lu Jiansen and exchanged a few words.

Lu Jiansen nodded slightly before returning to the room and calling his little girl outside.

One of the officials, surnamed Hao, paused in surprise upon seeing Gu Xiaoxi. “You’re… Xiaoxi, aren’t you?”

Gu Xiaoxi also froze, staring blankly at the man in front of her.

“And you are?”

Director Hao chuckled heartily. “You little rascal, you’ve grown so much you don’t even recognize Uncle Hao anymore? I used to carry you around when you were little! Just last year, I saw your photo at your grandfather’s place.”

Seeing his familiar smile, Gu Xiaoxi suddenly remembered. “You’re Uncle Hao, who used to live next door to my grandfather’s house?”

Director Hao was delighted that she had recalled. He nodded repeatedly. “That’s right! It’s me. I never expected to run into you here. How’s your grandfather? And your mother?”

Gu Xiaoxi nodded. “Mom is doing well, but Grandpa was pushed down a while ago and broke his leg. He’s still in the hospital, but he should be discharged this week.”

Director Hao’s expression darkened slightly. “Next time I’m in Huaicheng, I’ll make sure to visit him. Xiaoxi, tell me—how did you notice those two counter-revolutionaries?”

(Reactionaries” refers to individuals who oppose political or social progress and seek to maintain or return to a previous state of affairs, often resisting reform or revolutionary changes. In a historical or political context, particularly in communist or socialist discourse, “reactionaries” are often seen as enemies of the state or counter-revolutionaries who oppose the ruling ideology.)

Gu Xiaoxi was taken aback. “You mean that man and woman?”

Director Hao nodded. “Yes, them.”

At that moment, someone nearby coughed lightly. “Director, should we continue this conversation in the meeting room?”

Director Hao agreed. “Let’s go to the meeting room.”

With that, Gu Xiaoxi was taken to a small room on the second floor of the guesthouse.

Before they could even ask, she took the initiative to recount everything in detail, from beginning to end.

After hearing her explanation, Director Hao couldn’t help but laugh. He never expected that the whole situation had started because the little girl thought the cigarette pack in the man’s hand looked too new and clean.

The other officials also found it amusing. A child’s perspective was indeed unique—who else would pay attention to a discarded cigarette pack?

But those spies had really been bold, thinking that acting in broad daylight would make them less suspicious. They had dared to pass information right under people’s noses.

“Xiaoxi, do you remember what the man who threw away the cigarette pack looked like?”

Gu Xiaoxi nodded. “If I see him again, I should recognize him.”

Director Hao smiled. “Then come with us to identify him.”

“Okay.” Gu Xiaoxi was very cooperative.

Ten minutes later, Gu Xiaoxi saw a group of people in the temporary holding room at the train station. Director Hao’s intention was for her to go in, deliver some hot water, identify the person, and then come back to report.

But when Gu Xiaoxi returned, she shook her head. “The person isn’t inside.”

Director Hao and the other officials exchanged glances. “Not there? Are you sure?”

Gu Xiaoxi nodded firmly. “Yes, he’s not among them.”

Director Hao immediately pulled aside the officer in charge. “Are all the researchers traveling from Ancheng Scientific Research Institute to Pingze for the meeting accounted for?”

“Yes, all seven of them are here.”

“Go double-check the situation.”

“Yes, sir.”

Just as the officer left, Gu Xiaoxi suddenly tugged at Lu Jiansen’s sleeve, staring intently at a man in the distance carrying luggage.

“It’s him… It’s him!”

Lu Jiansen followed her gaze and, without hesitation, sprang into action.

The man, sensing danger, panicked and suddenly broke into a run.

Director Hao quickly snapped back to attention. “Go after him!”

In less than two minutes, the man was pinned to the ground by Lu Jiansen.

After that, there was no further need for Gu Xiaoxi’s involvement. Director Hao had someone escort her back to the guesthouse.

With nothing else to do, Gu Xiaoxi decided to wash her clothes.

But after washing just one item, she changed her mind and tossed her dirty laundry into the old goods storage.

The next moment, she was stunned to see her clothes reappear in the New Products Display Hall—freshly cleaned and neatly pressed, as if they had been ironed.

Gu Xiaoxi felt like heaven had just set her free—she never had to scrub clothes by hand again!

Especially in winter, no more freezing her hands in cold water.

Humming a tune, she tossed the rest of her dirty clothes into the old goods storage, along with the damp clothes Lu Jiansen had changed out of on the train.

To avoid suspicion from suddenly having dry clothes, she even sprinkled a bit of water on them and hung them near the window.

She also activated the Garbage Cleaning & Sorting function to tidy up the entire room.

After using it, she discovered that the feature could even remove tiny specks of dust from the windows and hard-to-reach grime from the top of the wardrobe. It was incredibly efficient.

With the room spotless, she even changed the bed sheets and organized the food supplies her parents had packed for her.

They had sent a lot—mainly preserved foods like spicy sauce, meat paste, fried fish fillets, fish balls, and even some dried sausage.

One look, and she knew—her parents had sent her all the best food they had.

Then she turned to the package from Lu Jiansen’s aunt.

She fell silent for a moment.

Inside were a small bag of rice, a bag of premium flour, and even salt, MSG, and various seasonings.

But what truly surprised her was the second package.

Inside was a small iron pot, a clay pot, two bowls with red “double happiness” characters, and two pairs of red chopsticks.

The thoughtfulness of the gift made Gu Xiaoxi’s eyes well up with emotion.

She realized—Lu Jiansen’s aunt was hoping she and Lu Jiansen would live well together.

After neatly reorganizing everything, she lay on the bed, lost in thought.

When would Lu Jiansen be back?

Just as she was thinking about him, the door creaked open.

Gu Xiaoxi sat up and saw Lu Jiansen step inside.

“Are you sleepy?” He closed the door, set a takeout meal on the table, and sat beside her.

“A little. Are we staying here tonight?” Gu Xiaoxi rubbed her eyes.

Lu Jiansen nodded. “Yes, we’ll rest here tonight. Our train leaves at 5:10 AM. I’ll take a quick shower. You eat first.”

“Mm, go ahead. I’ll wait for you.” Gu Xiaoxi flopped back onto the bed, making no move to start eating alone.

Lu Jiansen’s lips curled into a smile.

So this is what it feels like to have a wife—someone waiting to eat with him.

He quickly showered, not wanting to keep his little girl waiting.