In her past life, Jiang Wanting guarded a tombstone for fifteen years—a tombstone that had sustained her for those fifteen years. The name carved upon it was Lu Yuan.

On that fateful night in her previous life, Jiang Wanting encountered a group of thugs. Without a word, they dragged her into a deserted alley, dislocated her arms, tore off her clothes, and attempted to assault her.

Jiang Wanting screamed until her voice grew hoarse. At her most desperate moment, Lu Yuan rushed over, shielding her and fighting desperately to protect her. Outnumbered and facing opponents armed with weapons, Lu Yuan gradually lost the upper hand.

By the time the thugs realized something was wrong and fled, Lu Yuan had already stopped breathing. Only later did Jiang Wanting learn that Lu Yuan had returned that day with a medal, recuperating from a mission where he had risked his life. After being resuscitated in the hospital for half a month, he had finally stepped out for some fresh air when he encountered Jiang Wanting.

For fifteen years, Jiang Wanting guarded his tombstone, burdened by guilt all that time. She tormented herself: if she hadn’t insisted on going out at night to wait for Wang Jianmin, she wouldn’t have been in danger; if she hadn’t been in danger, Lu Yuan would still be alive. Such an exceptional young man, with immeasurable potential, had lost his life for someone as ordinary as her. Her life, compared to his, seemed utterly insignificant.

During those fifteen lonely years, if not for the need to make her life seem less worthless, if not to ensure Lu Yuan’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain, she might have long followed her parents to heaven.

Throughout those fifteen years, with Lu Yuan’s tombstone as her companion, whether she was happy or despondent, she always had someone to confide in.

And that very confidant was now standing right before her.

She remembered his face, though he looked much younger now—because in this life, they had met seven years earlier.

The Lu Yuan before her was vibrant and unruly.

“Don’t cry. I got your money back. This is all yours, right?” Lu Yuan took the roll of cash from Zhou Jie and handed it to Jiang Wanting. “Were you hurt just now?” he asked with concern.

Jiang Wanting shook her head, wiping her tears. “I’m fine,” she said, taking the money and putting it in her pocket. “Could you please help me take these two to the police station?”

She wanted to see more of this living, breathing Lu Yuan, not a cold, lifeless tombstone.

“Of course. There’s no way you two girls could’ve restrained them,” Lu Yuan said. He then turned and, together with Zhou Jie, tied the two men up and placed them in the back of the vehicle.

They all rode in Lu Yuan’s Dongfeng truck to a large compound.

Lu Yuan threw the tied-up men into the courtyard. Zhou Jie voluntarily stood guard over the thugs, while Lu Yuan led Jiang Wanting and Cuini inside.

“This isn’t the police station, is it?” Jiang Wanting asked.

It was different from where she had gone to report the incident last time. The county police station she had visited before was a small, simple building by the street. This was a large compound, much bigger than the police station.

“This is the county government building. The county public security bureau is inside. Robbery cases have to be handled by the public security bureau.”

Makes sense. As expected of Lu Yuan.

Jiang Wanting quietly followed behind, her eyes fixed on Lu Yuan’s broad back.

Lu Yuan led them directly to the criminal investigation division of the county public security bureau. As soon as they entered, he asked, “Where’s your captain? I’ve brought two robbers!”

A junior officer inside immediately went out to summon someone.

“What brings you here, Young Master Lu?” a deep voice echoed as a man walked in from outside. “I heard you’ve brought me some credit. Have those two outside been taken to the interrogation room?”

“They’ve been taken there. We can start the interrogation soon,” the junior officer said.

“What brings you here today?” Captain Gao Feng asked warmly, patting Lu Yuan on the shoulder. His gaze then fell on Jiang Wanting. “And who is this?”

“The victim. If I hadn’t happened to pass by, you’d probably be dealing with a major criminal case.”

Gao Feng turned to Jiang Wanting with concern. “Were you hurt?”

“No,” Jiang Wanting shook her head.

“Can you give a statement now?”

“No problem.”

Seeing that the young girl was still in good spirits after the robbery, Gao Feng knew just how timely Lu Yuan’s arrival had been.

After more than an hour of giving her statement, the junior officer escorted Jiang Wanting out. They saw Lu Yuan still waiting in the courtyard. The junior officer asked, “Is he a relative of yours?”

Jiang Wanting replied, “A kind stranger who stepped in to help.”

The junior officer had initially wanted to strike up a conversation with Jiang Wanting but held back. “I’ll leave you here. I have work to attend to and can’t stay away for long.”

Jiang Wanting quickly said, “Thank you for your trouble. Please go back.”

After bidding farewell to the junior officer, Jiang Wanting approached Lu Yuan. “Who are you waiting for?”

“You,” Lu Yuan said, tilting his head. “Get in the truck. I’ll take you two back.”

After Jiang Wanting and Cuini got into the truck, they noticed one person was missing.

Lu Yuan said, “He’s inside handling matters. Don’t worry about him. Where are you headed?”

Jiang Wanting glanced at the sky. Delayed by the incident, it was already afternoon, and none of them had eaten. “You haven’t eaten, right? If you’re not busy, let us treat you both to a meal.”

“No need. It was just a small effort. I’ll have something to eat when I get back,” Lu Yuan declined politely.

Jiang Wanting didn’t insist. “Then I’ll treat you next time we meet. Where do you live?”

Lu Yuan honked the horn, and the gate opened. As the truck drove out, he finally replied after a long pause, “That’s confidential.”

Following Jiang Wanting’s directions, Lu Yuan dropped them off at the intersection where they had encountered the danger. The two girls got out of the truck and said goodbye to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan reminded her, “Next time you go out, make sure to bring your introduction letter. I’m afraid inspections will be stricter recently.”  

“Okay, I understand,” Jiang Wanting waved to Lu Yuan as the Dongfeng truck turned around and drove back.  

“Sister, aren’t you scared at all?” Cuini finally spoke up. From the incident until now, she hadn’t dared to say a word.  

“Scared of what? With the guardian of the people here, there’s nothing to fear.” She watched the departing truck, but Lu Yuan’s figure lingered in her mind. In this lifetime, she wanted to keep Lu Yuan far from danger. To keep him alive.  

Following their original plan, Jiang Wanting accompanied Cuini to a village. In the afternoon, a group of children ran around playing, covered in mud. They spotted Cuini immediately. “Hey, the little beggar is here!” one child shouted. “Quick, go get a broom and chase her away!”  

Cuini had been explaining which families in the village were kind when a child interrupted her. Hearing those words, her face turned pale.  

If she had come alone, she wouldn’t have cared—they could say whatever they wanted about her, as long as she could get some food.  

But today, Jiang Wanting was with her. Being treated with such disdain, would Jiang Wanting now dislike her?  

“S-Sister…” Cuini wanted to explain but didn’t know what to say. She hung her head low and stood frozen.  

“What are you afraid of?” Jiang Wanting patted her head. “You haven’t stolen or robbed anyone. You’ve done nothing wrong.”  

With that, Jiang Wanting took out a ten-cent coin and held it up. “Who wants this ten cents?”  

A group of children immediately crowded around, reaching out to grab it. “Me! Me! Me!”  

“Whoever grabs for it won’t get it!” Jiang Wanting said sternly.  

The children quickly withdrew their hands, but their eyes remained fixed on the coin.  

“I can give each of you ten cents, but you have to go home and deliver a message to the adults. Tomorrow morning, I’ll come to buy lingzhi mushrooms—one and a half yuan each, but they must be of good quality. Whichever family can gather them will get this ten cents.”  

“Me! Me! My family can gather them!” the boy who had called Cuini a little beggar earlier reached out for the money.  

Jiang Wanting raised her hand higher. “You bullied my sister just now. I won’t buy lingzhi from your family. All of you, listen carefully: from now on, whoever bullies my sister, I won’t buy lingzhi from their family!”  

The children instinctively distanced themselves from the boy.  

Jiang Wanting then gave each child a ten-cent coin, except for that boy. The children happily took the money home to deliver the message. The boy pointed at Jiang Wanting and shouted, “Who wants your lousy money? My dad has way more money than you!”  

Jiang Wanting ignored him and led Cuini back to Jiang Village.  

Because of Lu Yuan’s reminder, Jiang Wanting had no choice but to ask the village chief for an introduction letter. But she felt uneasy. Since that day, she still didn’t know what had happened to Niu Zi—whether he had seen her or, after she left, whether he had died.  

With a nervous heart, she dragged Chen Meiling along for courage, and the two went to the village chief’s house.  

“Uncle,” Jiang Wanting called out from outside the door. “Is anyone home?” She sneakily pressed her ear against the door to listen for movement.  

The house was completely quiet.  

She tried knocking on the door, but still, no one came out.  

“No one here?” Jiang Wanting glanced at Chen Meiling, feeling both disappointed and somewhat relieved.  

Chen Meiling stepped forward and knocked vigorously on the door. “Brother, are you home?”  

This time, there was a response. The village chief came out of the house. “What’s the emergency?”  

“Is it convenient to talk inside?” Chen Meiling asked.  

“Sure,” the village chief opened the door and let them in. “Did the Jiang family bully you?”  

“No,” Jiang Wanting glanced around. “Uncle, I’d like you to write me an introduction letter.”  

“You’re going out?” the village chief asked doubtfully.  

“Yes. Lying around at home isn’t doing any good. I want to go out and find some work to help support the family a bit. My mom is the only one working, and I can’t do physical labor. I’m grown up now—how can I still rely on my mom to support me? Besides, if I starve along with my mom, that old hag will definitely laugh at us!”  

For some reason, the village chief asked again, “You haven’t gone out these past few days?”  

“No,” Jiang Wanting widened her eyes, feigning innocence.  

Chen Meiling stepped in front of her. “Before we left the Jiang family, she nearly drowned twice. After we left, she’s been listless and just resting at home. Today, she finally felt better and insisted on going out to find work. I’m afraid she’ll make herself sick staying cooped up at home, and she can’t do any work in the fields anyway, so I agreed. That’s why we came to you, brother.”  

“Alright, come with me to the brigade to get it stamped.” Seeing that their story was flawless, the village chief agreed readily.  

On the way, the village chief sighed heavily. Chen Meiling asked concernedly, “What’s wrong, brother?”  

“Ah!” the village chief walked ahead, fuming. “Some son of a bitch beat our Niu Zi so badly he’s in the hospital.”  

Jiang Wanting glanced guiltily at Chen Meiling.