Chapter 314 Indifference

He was usually a man of few words, as taciturn as a mountain, but today he was even more aloof than usual, his whole being like a cold stone, even his breathing carried a chilling aura.

His brows were furrowed so tightly they could almost trap a flying mosquito, and his eyes revealed a deep sense of vigilance and worry.

Not long after, Fu Lian returned, his steps light and steady, carrying not only a steaming water cup but also four golden oranges.

"I just bought this on the platform. It's cheap and fresh. I'll have some fruit to soothe my throat."

He bent down and carefully picked out the brightest and plumpest orange, deftly peeling off the skin with his fingertips to reveal the glistening, juicy flesh inside, and then gently handed it to Qiao Wanyin's hand.

With such a subtle and almost insignificant gesture, Qiao Wanyin's eyes reddened instantly, and her nose tingled slightly.

At this critical moment when a storm was brewing and everyone was in a state of panic, he still remembered whether she was cold or hungry, and he remembered to bring her something hot and something sweet.

How could she remain unmoved by such a person and such feelings?

How could I not be tempted?

The train let out a long, deep, and resonant whistle, and its wheels slowly started moving, gradually pulling away from the platform.

Qiao Wanyin leaned silently against the window, watching the scenery rushing past outside—the office building where she clocked in every day, the corner shop where she often bought coffee, and the row of neon lights that were always on when she came back from working overtime at night.

All the familiar scenes gradually faded away, stretched into blurry blocks of color by the railway tracks, as if she were being forcibly stripped from her original life.

Her heart felt like a bottle of mixed spices had been spilled—sour, bitter, helpless, anxious, and a faint but stubborn glimmer of hope—all swollen together, making her chest feel tight and unable to breathe.

"Take a nap."

Fu Lian spoke softly, taking off his coat, which was still slightly warm from his body, and carefully draping it over her thin shoulders, his movements as gentle as if afraid of disturbing something.

"It's still more than six hours until we arrive at the station. I'll close my eyes for a while and get some rest."

She shook her head gently, her voice hoarse: "I can't sleep."

She paused, tilting her head slightly towards him, her voice extremely low, almost a whisper: "Li An, do you... do you know Zheng Mingyuan?"

Fu Li'an's eyes suddenly darkened, a cold glint flashing in them, and his voice lowered: "He and my uncle are mortal enemies, and he's long wanted to take his place. He smiles and acts all friendly to you on the surface, but behind your back he's always looking for an opportunity to strike, climbing over others to get ahead. That kind of person is the most ruthless."

Although she hadn't finished speaking, Qiao Wanyin already understood.

The book has already made it very clear that Zheng Mingyuan is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He will stop at nothing to gain power, and he will not flinch or even blink when he breaks the backs of countless people.

"If only... if only we could get solid evidence that he framed my uncle..."

Qiao Wanyin murmured softly, as if she were talking to herself, or as if she were seeking some faint hope.

"Disaster."

Fu Li'an slowly shook his head, his tone grave. "Zheng Mingyuan is always meticulous in his work, never leaving any loopholes. The fact that he dared to make a move at this time shows that he had already made thorough preparations and was proceeding step by step."

Qiao Wanyin bit her lower lip, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm.

The book does mention only one so-called "sinister letter," which claims that the uncle secretly colluded with a foreign company to leak company secrets, but there are no other details.

But was that letter real or fake?

Is it the original, or a meticulously crafted fake?

Is it possible to switch the files?

Is it possible that I was framed?

Her mind was racing, trying to find even the slightest flaw in her memory—

Just then,

"Thump, thump, thump."

The door to the private room was knocked on three times, the rhythm clear and unhurried.

In an instant, everyone in the carriage tensed up, their breath caught in their throats, and their eyes all turned to the closed door.

"Tickets are being checked!"

The train conductor's loud, mechanical voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, breaking the brief silence inside the carriage.

Upon hearing the sound, Fu Xianxiu immediately stood up and opened the door to the private room.

A flight attendant in a dark blue uniform stood outside the door, her epaulets neatly in place, and her face expressionless beneath her hat brim.

Behind him were two unfamiliar men, dressed plainly but behaving cautiously, with sharp eyes, peering through the crack in the door like eagles, watching the activity inside the private room.

"Please show your ticket and ID card."

The flight attendant's tone was rigid and flat, as if it were just a routine matter.

But his eyes kept scanning the private room, his gaze lingering on Fu Lian for a moment before quickly shifting to Qiao Wanyin, his expression one of undisguised scrutiny and examination.

Qiao Wanyin's heart clenched suddenly, as if gripped by an invisible hand.

She instinctively protected her slightly protruding belly, her fingertips were icy cold, and her breathing became lighter.

She unconsciously moved closer to Fu Li'an, as if only by being close to him could she gain a sense of security.

Fu Li'an remained calm and composed, taking out his train ticket and officer's ID from the inner pocket of his uniform. His movements were steady, and his fingertips remained firm as he handed them over without the slightest tremor.

His tone was calm, even carrying a hint of coldness: "What is it?"

One of the men took the document, squinted, and examined it several times.

He held the ticket up to the light and repeatedly stroked the cover of the officer's ID card, as if trying to confirm its authenticity.

After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, his voice drawn out: "Commander Fu... are you heading to Suzhou?"

"Going back to my hometown for a visit."

Fu Li'an remained calm, looking directly at the other person, and asked in a steady tone, "Which unit are you from?"

Upon hearing this, the man's lips curled up slightly, revealing a dry smile, but he never directly answered the question.

Instead of answering, he suddenly turned his gaze to Qiao Wanyin and said in a flippant tone, "This is Commander Fu's new wife? I heard... she's from the countryside?"

Qiao Wanyin's heart sank suddenly, as if struck by a cold current.

These words, like a fine needle, pierced her flesh silently, carrying a hint of sarcasm and disdain.

She kept her head down, her fingers clenching the hem of her clothes so tightly that her nails almost dug into her palms.

She knew that at this point, one's background, even a casual remark, could be magnified infinitely, labeled with unfounded accusations, and used as leverage against one in the future.

"My wife is a teacher in the military family compound, dedicated to educating and nurturing students."

Fu Li'an's voice suddenly turned cold, like ice shards hitting the ground, each word clear and resounding.

His eyes were sharp as knives as he stared directly at the man. "If you have a problem, come at me directly. Don't beat around the bush."

The man was momentarily stunned by the gaze, gave a dry laugh, managed a few forced smiles, but dared not say another word.

He waved his hand, turned and left with another person, his steps hurried, as if the wind was chasing them.