Is 26 really that obvious?

The three of them originally planned to return to Xitang early the next morning, but due to the drunkenness of Song Jiuchen and Cui Sitong, they had to postpone their departure until noon.

Factory Director Wu thoughtfully prepared a generous amount of local specialties for the group to take back, inviting the three of them to come back and visit again when they had time, and also welcoming them to contact him anytime if they had any questions.

The three expressed their gratitude to Director Wu for his care over the past few days and invited him to visit and provide guidance when their cannery resumes production.

After exchanging pleasantries, the three of them embarked on their journey back to Xitang.

Fang Shuning was driving, while the other two people complained of headaches and feeling weak.

Finally, around 8 PM, they arrived back in Xitang. Aside from Song Jiuchen relieving Fang Shuning for two hours on the way, Fang Shuning drove the rest of the time. She declined the invitation to dinner; Fang Shuning was too tired to do anything but go home, take a shower, and get some sleep.

Song Jiuchen looked hesitant to speak, while Fang Shuning squinted, appearing utterly exhausted. "Let's talk after I wake up," she said.

After finishing, he went home without looking back.

Upon seeing this, Cui Sitong said that he was also on a diet and wouldn't eat, so he went home as well.

In the blink of an eye, only Song Jiuchen was left. He went straight back to the village committee.

It was late at night, and Song Jiuchen lay on his small bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time. He knew he had drunk too much again last night, and his memory was fragmented, unable to recall the complete story. He didn't know what had happened. Only a fragment flashed through his mind: he was holding Fang Shuning!

A belated sense of fear crept in; alcohol truly emboldens the timid. How could he dare? For whatever reason, how could he dare to hug Fang Shuning?

Apart from Fang Shuning, no one knew what else had happened. Song Jiuchen lay in bed, two little voices arguing in his mind. One said, "Just hug her, so what if I get scolded and beaten?" The other said, "It's immoral to take advantage of someone when they're drunk..." Heavens above, earth below, who can save him?

Song Jiuchen swore once again that he would never drink again.

However, a man's vows still sound like a dog's bark.

Unable to sleep, tossing and turning, Song Jiuchen was very annoyed. He wanted to talk to someone, and after thinking it over, he called Fu Yuanzheng.

Fu Yuanzheng had been very busy these past few days, running around factories and overseeing building materials. Sometimes the trucks would arrive in the middle of the night, and he'd have to work all night. When Song Jiuchen called, Fu Yuanzheng had just fallen asleep and was woken up, wanting to yell at him. But he still tiptoed from Fang Shuning's house to the village committee.

When Fu Yuanzheng arrived, Song Jiuchen was lying on the bed pretending to be a corpse with his eyes wide open.

Knowing the way well, she entered the room, took out a folding bed and blankets and pillows, found a comfortable position to lie down, and then spoke, "So, what did Fang Shuning do to you this time?"

How do you know it's because of Fang Shuning?

"Then what else could it be? Think about it yourself, besides your relationship with Fang Shuning, when have you ever done anything like this?" Fu Yuanzheng rolled his eyes inwardly, even though his eyes were closed. He had always thought Song Jiuchen was quite intelligent, but he didn't understand why Song Jiuchen turned into a moron when he was around Fang Shuning.

Song Jiuchen suddenly sat up in bed, startling Fu Yuanzheng. "Am I that obvious?"

"Never mind whether it's obvious or not, just tell me what exactly happened this time." Fu Yuanzheng just wanted Song Jiuchen to finish what he had to say so he could go to sleep.

Song Jiuchen rattled off a detailed account of their journey from Xitang to their return, telling Fu Yuanzheng everything that had happened. Fu Yuanzheng, intrigued, sat up from the folding bed, and the two sat facing each other.

Fu Yuanzheng looked like he'd just stumbled upon some juicy gossip. "You mean, Fang Shuning kissed you, then acted like nothing happened and distanced herself from you? And even though you were drunk and couldn't remember exactly what happened, you hugged Fang Shuning, and she neither hit nor yelled at you?"

"right."

Fu Yuanzheng rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "This shouldn't be. I'm so obedient, yet she still beats and scolds me. Why doesn't she scold or beat me?"

Looking at Song Jiuchen with a serious expression, she said, "I don't understand how things are going."

So all Song Jiuchen said was like talking to a brick wall.

"Sigh~" Song Jiuchen sighed and lay back down on the bed, feeling a bit sleepy. But Fu Yuanzheng was intrigued, thinking; waking me up and expecting me to sleep? No way!

Fu Yuanzheng took two steps onto Song Jiuchen's bed. The small bed creaked, as if to say that it was bearing a burden it shouldn't have to bear.

Shaking Song Jiuchen, he said, "Don't sleep, get up. Let's go to Fang Shuning's house. We'll squat outside her door and ask her for clarification as soon as she wakes up."

Then, late at night, the two of them tiptoed to Fang Shuning's house.

Without any hesitation, the two of them lay down on the carpet in the central hall and fell asleep.

Fu Yuanzheng thoughtfully took out his own blanket and covered the two of them with it.

What are these two up to? When did their relationship become this good?

Perhaps sensing the gaze upon him, or perhaps because he hadn't slept soundly to begin with, Song Jiuchen opened his eyes and met Fang Shuning's gaze. How terrifying! How could he open his eyes and immediately see Fang Shuning? Then, he saw Fu Yuanzheng sleeping beside him—even more terrifying.

Song Jiuchen stood up from the carpet in surprise, but lost his balance and stepped on Fu Yuanzheng. Fu Yuanzheng was jolted awake and, still groggy, asked, "Was it an earthquake? Help me."

Fang Shuning closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes.

Song Jiuchen wanted to explain something, but didn't know how to start, so he kicked Fu Yuanzheng awake first.

Once the two had regained their senses, Fang Shuning finally spoke, "Tell me, what happened between you two?"

"It's not my fault, haha. It was Secretary Song who said he had something to say to you and insisted on keeping me here to wait for you to wake up. Otherwise, why would I sleep on the floor when I have a bed? What serious illness do I have?" Fu Yuanzheng was the first to distance himself from the situation. "Well, I'll go buy some breakfast. You guys eat first."

As long as Fu Yuanzheng runs fast enough, Fang Shuning's slap won't land on him.

He gave Song Jiuchen a look that said "good luck" and then slipped away.

Song Jiuchen could only curse "traitor" in his heart.

Fang Shuning didn't speak, but gestured to Song Jiuchen with her eyes, urging him to hurry up and speak, as she was running out of patience.

"Well, I haven't brushed my teeth yet. How about I go back and wash up first, then I'll talk to you." He made a move to get up and leave.

"Sit down and speak."

"Well, I couldn't sleep last night, so I started chatting with Fu Yuanzheng, and we ended up..."

Get to the point!

By the time Fu Yuanzheng leisurely returned after buying breakfast, Song Jiuchen had already left.

Looking around the room, Fu Yuanzheng didn't see Song Jiuchen. Curious, he asked, "Why did he leave? I even brought him breakfast. Are you finished talking?"

Fang Shuning didn't want to pay attention to Fu Yuanzheng's questions and started eating breakfast. "Why don't you tell me about the factory's progress first?"

Serious matters are the most important.