Chapter 17: Not Wanting to Be Part of the Male and Female Leads’ Play

They hired two rickshaws, and in the thin morning mist, the four members of the Song family arrived at the train station.

“So many public security officers? Did something big happen?”

The moment they got off, they saw public security comrades around the station checking passing vehicles, paying particular attention to cargo trucks.

Lin Wanjun understood perfectly well what was going on, but she feigned ignorance and followed closely behind Song Zhanjin into the waiting hall.

“Hey, the last time I took the train, I didn’t see this many public security officers. Did something happen?”

A few travelers nearby were chatting, and Lin Wanjun quietly pricked up her ears.

“You don’t know? Several supply and marketing cooperatives were robbed last night. I heard they were completely cleaned out— even the shelves are gone!”

Lin Wanjun’s consciousness slipped into the dimensional space to take a look.

Ah… sorry about that—she’d been in such a rush at the time that she’d hauled in the shelves along with everything else!

Another person chimed in.

“How can you call it a robbery? Sure, the supply and marketing cooperatives were emptied out, but they left money behind. Strictly speaking… that can’t really be considered stealing, can it?”

In her heart, Lin Wanjun silently agreed—exactly, exactly. At most it was a case of forced buying, hardly something illegal, right?

Li Yuetang let out an “Oh my!” and looked utterly shocked.

“This sounds an awful lot like what happened at Guanyu’s factory—everything gone, but money left behind.”

Song Mingcheng’s brows furrowed slightly. “Emptying out a supply and marketing cooperative? Just the goods from one could fill two trucks. What kind of extraordinary skill would it take for a thief to clean out so many in one night?”

In the dead of night, more than a dozen trucks driving openly through the city—there was no way they wouldn’t be noticed!

But the fact remained: the goods really were gone. Otherwise, the authorities wouldn’t have deployed so many public security officers for a citywide search.

To borrow Li Guanyu’s words, it was simply that the times were unsettled, and strange, inexplicable things were happening more and more often.

Still, the Song family was like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river—barely able to protect themselves—so how could they spare the time or energy to meddle in other people’s troubles?

Seeing it was almost time for ticket inspection, Lin Wanjun got up to use the restroom. After all, using the toilet on a hard-seat train was a truly miserable experience.

Noticing several shifty-looking people loitering near the restroom entrance—likely either pickpockets or human traffickers—Song Zhanjin followed after her.

“I’ll go with you.”

But just as they reached the restroom doorway, a hand suddenly shot out and clamped tightly around Lin Wanjun’s wrist.

She was startled, half-afraid that her clearing out of the supply and marketing cooperatives had been discovered.

She couldn’t help letting out an “Ah!”—and in the next instant, Song Zhanjin pulled her into his arms.

Once she’d steadied her breathing and looked closely at the person, Lin Wanjun felt a flicker of surprise, but quickly calmed.

It was Dong Yingying.

Seeing how protective Song Zhanjin was toward Lin Wanjun, and then catching the impatience and anger in his gaze when he looked at her, Dong Yingying felt a pang in her heart.

But now was not the time for dwelling on matters of affection.

“Lin, just what are you trying to do…”

Though her expression was furious, Dong Yingying kept her voice carefully restrained, clearly not wanting outsiders to overhear.

Lin Wanjun already had a good idea of what this was about.

“It’s fine. Don’t hold me so tight—people are watching!”

Breaking free from Song Zhanjin’s arms, she smiled and said, “Is Miss Dong here to see my husband off? Such deep devotion—it’s enough to move me to tears.”

Song Zhanjin, displeased, gave her waist a firm pinch.

“What deep devotion? Stop talking nonsense.”

Lin Wanjun pouted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “And how am I talking nonsense? Miss Dong chased you all the way to the train station—if she’s not here to see you off, then is she here for me?”

“Oh? And you swore up and down that you had nothing to do with her? This is what you call ‘nothing’? Song Zhanjin, you and I are far from done!”

With that, Lin Wanjun turned and headed into the restroom. As expected, Dong Yingying followed right after.

“Was it you who emptied out the supply and marketing cooperatives?”

Dong Yingying seized Lin Wanjun by the collar, her voice low and sharp.

“Are you out of your mind? What ‘emptying out’ are you talking about? Your framing methods are vicious beyond belief—first you accused me of stealing a man, now you’re accusing me of stealing goods.”

Lin Wanjun shoved Dong Yingying away and shouted, “Dong Yingying, if your brain’s not working, go to a hospital. If that doesn’t help, head straight for the crematorium. Stop acting like a damn lunatic every day, seeing ghosts in every shadow!”

As she spoke, Lin Wanjun suddenly called out toward the restroom door.

“Husband! This crazy woman, Dong Yingying, is bullying me—she’s saying I stole—wuuu…”

Dong Yingying clamped a hand over Lin Wanjun’s mouth just in time.

“What are you shouting for? Did I say you were a thief?”

Her gaze flickered with a hint of panic and confusion. “Even if it was you, I wouldn’t turn you in!”

Lin Wanjun wrenched free from her grip and snapped back fiercely,

“What did I do? If you think I’ve done something wrong, go ahead and report me right now! Dong Yingying, you’re not just stupid—you’re mean. No wonder my man doesn’t want you!”

Seeing Lin Wanjun’s fiery, furious manner, Dong Yingying faltered for a moment.

Could she have guessed wrong?

Could it be that Lin Wanjun still didn’t know the secret of the ring?

“Where’s the ring? That ring—where is it?”

Dong Yingying demanded urgently, reaching out to grab Lin Wanjun’s hand.

Lin Wanjun’s slender fingers were pale and graceful like scallion stalks, but completely bare—there was no sign of any ring.

She glanced at the faint red mark on her ring finger and decided to make her test more direct.

“I’m wearing it—this is the ring. Here, take a closer look!”

She deliberately pointed to the indentation left where the ring had fused, her gaze never leaving Dong Yingying’s eyes.

Dong Yingying jerked her hand away, her expression twisting with anger.

“You lunatic—did you sell the ring?!”

Clearly, even with Lin Wanjun pointing it out, Dong Yingying couldn’t see the red mark. That confirmed Lin Wanjun’s earlier suspicion.

This meant Dong Yingying also didn’t know the ring’s secret—its ability to fuse with its owner. Had the original plot mentioned this?

Yes, she remembered now!

In the original story, Dong Yingying had once accidentally lost the ring, but eventually found it again—proof that it had never fused with her.

For a moment, Lin Wanjun found herself puzzled.

What was going on? Could some kind soul please explain to her why events were unfolding so differently from the original plot?

Lin Wanjun curled her lips into a cold smile.

“That was something the Song family gave me. Who I choose to sell it to is my business—since when is it yours to worry about?”

The implication was clear—she was admitting the ring was no longer in her possession.

Dong Yingying’s face flushed with fury. Gritting her teeth, she spat, “You actually sold the treasure that saved the Song family’s life? You… you hopeless fool!”

Seething, she strode quickly toward the door.

Just as Lin Wanjun let out a small breath of relief, Dong Yingying suddenly stopped.

She turned back to look at Lin Wanjun and walked over again.

“If—and I mean if…”

Drawing a deep breath, Dong Yingying forced her tone into something calmer.

“If the ring is still with you, if you already know its secret, Lin Wanjun, I’m begging you—don’t be so selfish. Whether out of pity or charity, give the Song family a chance to survive.”

As she spoke, her eyes glistened faintly with tears, tugging at something in Lin Wanjun’s heart.

Dong Yingying truly wanted to save the Song family. No matter how deep the rift between them, no matter how little the Song family trusted her, her feelings toward them were sincere and fervent.

With such earth-shaking devotion, could the male and female leads possibly not end up together in the end?

Mm, all the more reason to find an opportunity to slip away early—before becoming part of the male and female leads’ “play” and meeting a tragic death.

Lin Wanjun covered her mouth, adopting an expression of deep regret, and urgently grabbed Dong Yingying’s wrist.

“Huh? The ring has a secret? What secret? Ah—if I’d known it was a treasure, there’s no way I would’ve let my mother’s honeyed words trick me into selling it to the Lin family for just a thousand yuan!”

At those words, Dong Yingying’s expression shifted slightly.

She flung Lin Wanjun’s hand away and turned on her heel, leaving quickly.

Watching Dong Yingying’s figure disappear, Lin Wanjun’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Even if she was gone, she wouldn’t let the Lin family or Lin Yaozu have an easy time of it.

Dong Yingying was no pushover—she would surely throw the Lin household into utter chaos next!

And that was just as well. This way, Yaozu and his leech-like parents would have no chance to disturb Big Sister Lin Pandi’s peaceful life.