Chapter 17 Chapter 17 "Killing All Around"

Saturday was uneventful all day. I didn't even see a rat on my way to and from work, so my three-piece anti-wolf self-defense kit wasn't going to be of much use. Aunt Liu also said she hadn't seen any suspicious people in the alley. Besides being curious about the restaurant's salary, the other women didn't gossip about her.

Let’s just ignore it for now.

Anyway, as long as the scumbag Zhu dares to show up, the enhanced pepper spray will definitely be poured all over his head.

In a blink of an eye, it was Sunday, the day for a day trip to the Nancheng Military Region compound.

Liu Mianmian got up earlier than usual. After all, she had to dress properly before going out.

Aunt Liu, however, had become accustomed to her daily routine of waking up at noon, and felt bad for her having to get up early even on her day off. She kept complaining, "You work until nine at night every day, and when you finally have a day off, you have to get up early again."

Liu Mianmian: “…”

It is true that she works until nine o'clock every night, but it is only a few hours.

Shen Weiyun, who was rarely home, was sitting under a pomegranate tree reviewing with a book in her hands. Hearing this, she couldn't help but look up at the sky. The sun was so scorching that she could barely sit still. "Is this getting up early?" Then what did getting up so early to read mean?

Seeing Aunt Liu happily busying herself cooking wontons and steaming buns for Liu Mianmian, Shen Weiyun was even more confused. When did Aunt Liu and this woman become so close?!

Yu Wan was also resting at home. She brought out two net bags and told Liu Mianmian, "These are the souvenirs I prepared for you. They're all Grandpa's favorites. Don't worry about the others."

Liu Mianmian thought that her cheap mother-in-law spoke quite bluntly.

Yu Wan continued, "Also, on the day of your wedding, there happened to be an emergency at the military headquarters. The old man and his youngest son, Shen Wenshan, were both in a meeting. The two younger ones, Shen Weihong and Shen Feifei, also made excuses not to come. In the end, only Shen Weihong's mother, Wu Shuhua, came to their house. They're in the wrong, so you don't have to be too polite if you go over today."

Liu Mianmian smiled slyly: "You asked me to be polite to them, but I don't know how to do that!"

Yu Wan immediately smiled with her eyes curved: "You mischievous ghost!"

Liu Mianmian sighed: "Instead of worrying about this, you should worry about how to clean up the mess if I'm too rude."

Yu Wan laughed even harder, "It's okay, it's okay. Shen Bokang will take care of it if anything goes wrong."

When Shen Bokang was old enough, Shen Zhibang went off to fight in the war. When they met again many years later, the infant had grown into a handsome young man, and his parents divorced again. Shen Zhibang had hardly fulfilled his responsibilities as a father, and felt guilty about it. He never acted like a father in front of Shen Bokang.

Liu Mianmian breathed a sigh of relief, meaning that she could now get into trouble without worry.

Of course, Liu Mianmian felt that she was not a person who liked to cause trouble, but if some people were sarcastic, she was afraid that she would not be able to help but want to hit them.

Shen Weiyun looked out the window at the lively restaurant and became even more confused.

How come her mother has such a good relationship with this woman?

Although her mother treats everyone well and speaks and acts gently and patiently, Shen Weiyun has always known that that is due to her mother's upbringing and habits, and it is actually very difficult to gain her acceptance and recognition.

However, it only took this woman half a month to win her mother's favor.

Shen Weiyun packed up his review materials and went back to his room.

She felt that during the time when she rarely went home, her family had betrayed her.

At ten o'clock in the morning, the car sent by the military district stopped outside Yard No. 9 on time.

Shen Weizhou came out of the study on time. Yu Wan wanted him to carry his things, but Liu Mianmian took them away directly and said, "Just take good care of himself."

Yu Wan laughed: "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

As the car slowly drove away, Yu Wan sighed and said, "Mianmian has a sharp tongue but a kind heart. She's a very good child."

Aunt Liu was with Liu Mianmian all the time and had almost become a die-hard fan of her. She immediately said, "It's better to be articulate. You see, Wei Zhou is a quiet person, and Wei Yun isn't very talkative either. I used to get so nervous when they went there, worried they'd get into trouble! Now you don't have to worry. Mianmian said that if anyone over there says something unpleasant, she'll let them know why the flowers are so red."

They both burst into laughter.

*

In the car, the "quiet" Shen Weizhuo sat in the back seat. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a light blue skirt spread out on the black car seat, with a corner of the soft fabric pressed under his pants. He coughed lightly and moved his body to the side imperceptibly.

Liu Mianmian still noticed the extremely slight movement. She turned her head to look at Shen Weizhuo, rolled her eyes, and moved towards herself with a big movement.

Humph, who isn’t a little princess who can only be admired from afar?

Shen Weizhou: "..."

I'm still angry from last night.

Shen Weizhuo opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing and turned his head to look out the window.

Shen Weiyun, who was sitting in the passenger seat, would occasionally glance at the rearview mirror, secretly observing the situation in the back row. Seeing this scene, Shen Weiyun suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a relieved smile.

Fortunately, my eldest brother didn’t betray me.

Humph, a smart man like Big Brother will definitely not be easily fooled by this woman's beauty.

The car drove quietly and steadily into the Nancheng Military Region compound.

The military compound has a special solemn atmosphere. The trees on both sides of the wide road are very straight. The buildings not far away are of the same height, length and width, and are arranged in rows in a particularly neat manner.

As the car continued to drive in, the trees gradually became lower from towering to the sky, and among the green trees, a row of small red buildings appeared. This is the famous "Little Red Building" in the Nancheng Military Region compound. All of the residents there are veteran generals with outstanding achievements, so it is also called the "General Building."

The car stopped in front of a small red building. A young soldier in military uniform was waiting in front of the door. When he saw Liu Mianmian and the others get out of the car, he saluted and said, "Comrade Liu, Comrade Weiyun, Comrade Weizhou, the commander is waiting for you inside."

After saying that, he led the three of them into the yard.

Liu Mianmian smiled and asked the young soldier, "You are Xiang Weijun, right?"

The young soldier scratched his head and smiled shyly: "Comrade Liu, it's me."

Liu Mianmian was immediately happy.

Comrade Xiang Weijun, the old man's bodyguard, has been calling Courtyard No. 9 every day without fail these days, and he has been scolded a lot by Aunt Liu on behalf of the old man.

When they were almost at the door, Shen Weihong came out. Seeing Liu Mianmian and the others, he smiled friendly and then said, "Grandpa has finally been waiting for you to come."

Liu Mianmian rolled her eyes and asked, "So, apart from the old man, no one else is very welcoming to us?"

Shen Weihong choked and laughed dryly: "How could that be, sister-in-law, you misunderstood."

Liu Mianmian also smiled and said, "Look how nervous you are. I was just joking."

Shen Weihong: “…”

He just had to have another mouth to feed.

Shen Weizhou hid the smile in his eyes and said lightly: "Go in."

Shen Weiyun glanced at Shen Weihong, then at Liu Mianmian. She didn't like Shen Weihong, and felt that this nominal cousin was two-faced. Seeing him get humiliated, she felt inexplicably happy.

Mr. Shen and Fang Meiyun only had one son, Shen Wenshan. Shen Wenshan had two children, a son and a daughter, Shen Weihong and Shen Feifei. Shen Weihong was currently a senior in college and was about to graduate, while Shen Feifei was still in her second year of high school.

The whole family was waiting for them in the living room, but except for Mr. Shen, the smiles on everyone else's faces were somewhat forced.

"There was an emergency meeting at the military district on the day of your wedding, and it lasted until the early hours of the morning. I only found out when I got home, and none of them showed up." The old man snorted, "I've already scolded them. Xiao Liu, be magnanimous and don't bother with them."

No wonder they all look so unhappy, it seems they just got scolded.

Fang Meiyu coughed and said, "Every March when the weather changes drastically, I tend to catch a cold easily. This illness has been intermittent, and it's been almost a month and I haven't completely recovered. It was just a coincidence that day. I had a slight fever, and Weihong and Feifei are both filial children. Seeing that I was not feeling well, they insisted on staying at home with me."

Liu Mianmian thought to herself that this "Second Aunt" was really good at talking. What she meant was that Shen Weihong and the others were very filial, and if she argued with Shen Weizhuo, she would be inconsiderate.

Shen Weizhou coughed lightly and was about to speak when Liu Mianmian suddenly turned her head to look at him and asked anxiously, "Are you feeling unwell again?"

Shen Weizhou paused, and Liu Mianmian patted him on the back twice. "I told you long ago that if you're not feeling well, you should stay home. Look, you're still trying to be stubborn. You should learn from others. No matter what's happening outside, who's getting married, who's calling, even if bombs are hitting your doorstep, you should have the courage to remain calm and stay home."

Fang Meiyun: “…”

Mr. Shen said in a deep voice: "Wrong is wrong, right is right, don't make excuses."

The others' expressions suddenly became even uglier.

Liu Mianmian patted Shen Weizhou on the back, her eyes swept across and fell on Shen Weihong, who was not far away. She suddenly made a sound, covered her nose with her hand, and said, "Comrade Shen Weihong, do you usually not pay much attention to your personal hygiene?"

Shen Weihong: “???”

He looked confused: "Ah?!" He didn't understand why he was suddenly attacked.

Liu Mianmian had a good reason: "Wei Zhou has been in much better health recently. It's just that every time he runs into you, he feels a little uncomfortable. It was like this last time at the department store, and it's the same today. I heard from the doctor at the hospital that people with weak health should be extra careful and try not to go to crowded places, because there are more bacteria and viruses when there are more people."

She said seriously, "I'm just making a scientific and reasonable guess. Wei Zhou might have felt uncomfortable when he saw you because you have a lot of bacteria and viruses on your body. Hey, gay men, it's normal to be careless and not pay much attention to hygiene. Just be more careful next time. Especially when you go out and come home, you should take a shower and change clothes in time. After all, the elderly at home are not in good health. Don't accompany the elderly, or they will make them sicker."

Shen Weihong gritted his teeth: "No, I didn't."

He is not one of those soldiers who trains outside all day long!

Fang Meiyun couldn't stand hearing people say that about her precious grandson, so she couldn't help but chime in: "Weizhou has a congenital disease. How could his discomfort be related to Weihong? This statement has no scientific basis!"

Liu Mianmian gave her a deep look and said, "Medical knowledge is advancing rapidly. I've heard doctors say that even reading books and newspapers every day can't keep up with scientific development. Actually, even without saying that, just look at how meticulously disinfected and hygienic the operating room is."

Mr. Shen waved his hand at Fang Meiyun: "You have been retired for several years, so you may not know some things."

Then he said to Shen Weihong, "You didn't take a shower or change clothes when you came back this morning, right? Go back to your room and change."

Shen Weihong: "...Grandpa!"

Wu Shuhua winked at her son and spoke to smooth things over: "Listen to your grandfather and go back to your room to take a shower and change clothes. This concerns your eldest brother's health. Whether it's true or not, it's always better to be careful."

Shen Weihong's back teeth were almost broken: "Okay."

"Weizhou, do you want to ask a doctor to come and see you?" asked Mr. Shen.

Shen Weizhou shook his head weakly: "No, it's a congenital disease, an old problem, it will be fine after a while."

Fang Meiyu's face froze.

Mr. Shen frowned, snorted, and said, "The nurse's words are not reliable. You have to listen to the doctor."

Fang Meiyu, who used to be a nurse, was so embarrassed that she could no longer sit still. She stood up and said, "I'll go to the kitchen to see how the chicken soup is doing." She was choked with sobs at being humiliated by her husband in public.

As Fang Meiyu hurriedly left, the living room fell into an eerie silence.

Shen Weiyun looked at this and then looked at that, thinking to himself, "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, it can be like this." He thought that Liu Mianmian really did what she said, and she really meant it when she said she was not welcome!

Wu Shuhua stood up and added water to everyone's teacups. She smiled and said, "Mianmian is a high school graduate, right? You know so much. You must like reading books and newspapers. It's a pity. You should try to get into university."

This is a sharp accusation hidden in the cotton-padded jacket. The general meaning is that you, a high school graduate, have the nerve to speak nonsense here and talk about medical knowledge and scientific development to college students.

Liu Mianmian pretended she didn't understand and said, "As the ancients said, every profession has its top scholar. I'm not interested in going to university."

Shen Feifei sneered, "You talk as if you can pass the exam if you want to."

Liu Mianmian looked at her. "You're a sophomore this year, right? You still have more than a year until graduation. You really don't understand the world of graduates. For example, I can say that if I take the exam, I will definitely be admitted to university."

She asked Shen Feifei: “Do you dare to say it?”

In the original book, Shen Feifei, the original male protagonist's biological sister, is a character that holds him back. She failed the college entrance examination, lost money in business, and married a nouveau riche who was involved in affairs of state, which gave the original male protagonist a lot of headaches.

Sure enough, Shen Feifei hesitated and didn't dare to say that she would definitely pass the exam.

Liu Mianmian: KO.

Shen Wenshan frowned slightly, deeply displeased with this sharp-tongued, unruly niece-in-law. He thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Liu said that every profession has its top talent, and I agree. Since you're not planning on going to college, then find a good job. If there's anything you need help with, just let your family know."

This couple is quite interesting. Both of them speak in a soft but sharp way. Wu Shuhua ridiculed her for being a high school student and showing off her knowledge in front of an expert, and Shen Wenshan warned her that she might have to rely on this relationship to find a job or even get a promotion and a raise in the future.

Liu Mianmian smiled and said, "I've found a job. It's a Western restaurant invested by Hong Kong businessmen. It's low-work, high-paying, and close to home. I don't need any help for the time being."

Old Master Shen was surprised and said, "You've already found a job? Originally, your parents said that after you get married, you should rest at home for a while to adjust. But that's fine. We are working people. Laziness is not acceptable. We still have to work."

Shen Feifei gloated: “A Western restaurant, isn’t he serving dishes?”

Liu Mianmian glanced at her and shook her head: "Student Shen Feifei, your tone is not right. The old man said that we are working people, and those who serve dishes are also working people. There is no distinction between high and low jobs. Why do you seem to look down on us?"

Shen Wenshan said quickly, "Fei Fei didn't mean that. She's probably worried that serving dishes is hard work for you, and the salary isn't high."

Liu Mianmian nodded, with an expression that said, "Even though you're talking nonsense, I'm kind enough not to expose you." She smiled and said, "Actually, the salary for serving dishes in our restaurant is not low. But I can play the piano, so I became a pianist. I work five hours a day, and it's not hard. The salary is about three or four hundred yuan a month, which is not too bad."

Shen Wenshan, whose salary was less than 100 yuan: "..."

Old Master Shen chuckled and said, "Mianmian seems to be quite versatile." Then he changed the subject and sighed, "The economic gap between the mainland and Hong Kong City is quite large. A monthly salary of three or four hundred is already higher than most people in South City, but in reality, the average salary in Hong Kong City is over two thousand. The mainland has a weak foundation and a large population. It's already difficult to feed so many people, and developing the economy is even more difficult."

The old man frowned and clicked his fingers on the armrest of the sofa, one by one, with an unusually dull sound.

Liu Mianmian knew that he hadn't said anything more. The million-man military layoff would begin next month, and the employment problem would only become more prominent in the next few years.

"The achievements of economic development in recent years are obvious to all, and they will only get better in the future," Liu Mianmian reassured. "We are working people, and working people are not afraid of difficulties. We will first catch up, and then wait for opportunities to surpass!"

Old Master Shen laughed heartily. "You're right. The working people are not afraid of difficulties. They first catch up, then wait for an opportunity to surpass! As long as you young people have this kind of ambition, there's no need to worry about the country's development! Good, good, good!"

Mr. Shen said three good words in a row, and then said: "You are a good child!"

Shen Wenshan and Wu Shuhua looked at each other, their faces looking extremely ugly.

She wanted to give him a warning, but she failed miserably and ended up catching the old man's eye.

The old man has always had high expectations for his juniors. Apart from Shen Weizhuo, he has never praised other juniors in the family so much.

It's really a case of losing the rice while trying to steal the chicken.

After sitting and resting for a while, Shen Weizhuo's extremely pale face regained some color. Liu Mianmian patted his back and whispered, "Look, there are fewer people, and fewer bacteria and viruses. Isn't that much better? Some people are just stubborn." Her voice was so loud that even the wild cat outside the door could hear it.

Shen Wenshan, Wu Shuhua, and Shen Feifei: "..."

I resolutely kept my mouth shut and didn't respond. Who knows what else she would say next.

Shen Weizhou glanced at Liu Mianmian and said, "I'm much better now. No need to film anymore."

If he were to change his body to that of his previous life, he would probably be torn apart if she took pictures of him like this.

Liu Mianmian, who met his gaze, said: "...Okay." Taking the opportunity to take revenge and being discovered, as long as you are thick-skinned enough, you can pretend that nothing happened.

Perhaps it was because Liu Mianmian scolded everyone one by one, so when it was time for dinner, no one made any trouble and everyone ate quietly.

After the meal, several elders gave red envelopes to the newlyweds. In addition to giving a particularly thick red envelope, Mr. Shen also gave Liu Mianmian a wooden box the size of a book.

Liu Mianmian was so happy to receive the red envelopes that her face was beaming with joy, and her words became much sweeter. When she left, she said goodbye to everyone with a smile, saying that she had a very pleasant day and would come again when she had time.

“…”

When everyone except Mr. Shen heard this, their expressions almost couldn't hold back.

You are happy, but others are not.

"Xu Huilan is so smart all her life but so foolish for a moment. She arranged such a marriage for her grandson. She is pretty, but she is sharp-tongued and mean. How can she be a good person?" Fang Meiyu whispered.

"Mom!" Shen Wenshan turned around and looked into the house.

Fang Meiyun shook her head: "What are you afraid of? Your father is already very satisfied with seeing his grandson and granddaughter-in-law. He would have gone back to take a nap early."

"I heard that the Jiang family girl came back from Hong Kong. When she learned that Shen Weizhou was getting married, she hid in her room and cried bitterly that night." Wu Shuhua said the news she had heard, sighing, "She is deeply in love with Shen Weizhou. In comparison, she and that Liu Mianmian are really worlds apart."

Shen Wenshan sneered: "What's the use of being sharp-tongued? You only care about your own happiness when doing things and talking. How much can you achieve in the future? We are not in the same circle, so don't worry about us." If Shen Weizhuo died of illness, the house in Courtyard No. 9 would be finished.

Although Shen Wenshan was unhappy about being rejected by Liu Mianmian, he also felt that marrying such a person into the No. 9 Courtyard was actually good news for them.

The three elders were chatting, and no one noticed how ugly Shen Weihong's face was when they talked about "that person from the Jiang family" who was deeply in love with Shen Weizhuo.

After everyone else returned to their rooms, Shen Weihong stopped Shen Wenshan and said, "Dad, I want to ask you something."

Shen Wenshan paused: "Hmm?"

Shen Weihong hesitated and said, "I remember you have a comrade working at a fertilizer factory? My friend needs a batch of fertilizer and I'd like to use some connections."

Shen Wenshan frowned: "Where did you get your friend who needs fertilizer?"

Shen Weihong scratched his head and smiled, "Actually, it was my classmate. He couldn't buy fertilizer in his village, so he called the school for help. He was desperate and tried everything he could."

Shen Wenshan's expression eased slightly, and after a moment's hesitation, he said, "If that's the case, I'll call Lao Zhou tomorrow, and you can go find him later."

Shen Weihong said happily: "Okay, Dad, thank you!"

Shen Wenshan nodded with satisfaction and reminded him, "These are all trivial matters. You should focus more on your studies."

Shen Weihong's eyes flickered slightly and he nodded in agreement.

*

On the way back, Shen Weiyun kept peeking at the rearview mirror. But this time, he wasn't trying to observe how his brother and sister-in-law were getting along, but simply to observe Liu Mianmian.

Shen Weiyun knew that this woman had a bad temper and spoke harshly and venomously, which could really make people angry to death. In fact, when she was angry at people at home, she could really make people vomit blood. But when she was angry at others outside the house, especially at those she didn't like, it was really satisfying to watch!

I wish I could let her poisonous mouth grow on me to vent my anger.

It even feels like she isn't that annoying anymore.

How on earth did she come up with those words? She told her brother to learn from Ms. Fang and stay at home even if bombs hit the doorstep. She said that Shen Weihong didn't pay attention to personal hygiene and his body was full of bacteria and viruses. She asked Shen Feifei if she dared to say that she would definitely be admitted to university. When her uncle and aunt ridiculed her, she retorted with a simple move... From childhood to adulthood, this was the first time she saw that family in such a mess.

God knows she pinched her palms so hard not to laugh that they almost turned red.

In fact, thinking back now, Shen Weiyun still wanted to laugh, but she was afraid that if she really laughed, the other three people in the car would think she was crazy.

Shen Weiyun took another peek and thought to herself, this woman was just defending her brother so much, always asking about his well-being, and the two of them seemed to have a very good relationship. How come as soon as she got in the car, she sat eight hundred meters away from her brother, as if they had nothing to do with each other?

In other words, Liu Mianmian couldn't hear what she was thinking, otherwise she would definitely say, "That was just acting, and I'd be a dog if I cared about him after it's over."

Shen Weiyun held it in all the way. After returning to Qiuzhi Lane, he immediately rushed into the yard and pulled Yu Wan, who was sitting under the pomegranate tree reading a book, up: "Mom, let's go inside, let's go inside."

Yu Wan was puzzled: "What's wrong?"

Shen Weiyun pulled her into the main bedroom: "Mom, you know that woman, okay, okay, I know, it's not that woman, it's my sister-in-law. Do you know what my sister-in-law did over there today?"

"What did you do?"

"As soon as we sat down, Grandpa brought up the day my brother got married, and then Ms. Fang said... and then my sister-in-law said... and then my sister-in-law said..."

Blah blah blah.

From time to time, surprised gasps and giggles could be heard from the main bedroom.

Liu Mianmian, who had no idea that her "glorious deeds" had been spread immediately, the first thing she did after entering the yard was to drag her small bag into the house to count the money.

The red envelope given by Shen Wenshan and Wu Shuhua totaled sixty-six yuan. Shen Weizhou also received one, so the two red envelopes totaled over a hundred yuan. Well, not bad, not bad. Almost as much as Shen Wenshan's monthly salary plus allowances, right? Although this couple may be annoying, they're not stingy.

Fang Meiyu's red envelope was also sixty-six yuan.

It seems that the mother and her two daughters are arguing with each other.

The old man’s red envelope was the thickest, a full three hundred yuan, which was quite generous.

There was also the small wooden box in her shoulder bag. Liu Mianmian had always been curious about what was inside, but she had never had the chance to open it before.

Now it's finally open.

Oh my!

Liu Mianmian immediately smiled happily.

The old man is also a real person!

A box of gold jewelry, gold bracelets, gold necklaces, gold earrings, gold rings and so on.

This trip, I got 432 yuan in cash and some gold and silver jewelry, which was worth the money.

This was the scene Shen Weizhuo saw when he walked in.

Someone who had been "dominating" the old man's business not long ago, was holding a few red envelopes and a small box of gold jewelry, and was so happy that his teeth were not visible, just like a little squirrel that found a bunch of hazelnuts.

He placed three red envelopes on the desk and said, "Please keep these too."

Without even raising her eyes, Liu Mianmian said, "Mind your own business."

Shen Weizhou: "..."

This person is quite popular.

He didn't say anything else, took a towel and went into the bathroom to wash up.

Liu Mianmian happily counted the money again before putting the red envelope and the wooden box away. She thought to herself that she already had over two thousand yuan on hand, and it wouldn't be appropriate to just leave it there. She had to find a way to make more money, or buy something that would appreciate in value.

Take your time.

After a long day of exhaustion, Liu Mianmian decided to take a break. She moved the reclining chair from the house out again and placed it under the pomegranate tree, next to Yu Wan's chair. Then she lay down on it and closed her eyes comfortably.

After washing up, Shen Weizhuo came out and didn't see Liu Mianmian. He subconsciously looked at the desk. The three red envelopes were still there, and even the angle of placement had not changed.

He suddenly remembered that on the day he returned home, she had muttered, "Some people are just too possessive of other people's money. It's a disease and needs treatment."

She likes money.

But she only likes her money.

Is this Liu Mianmian?

During this period of time, this question appeared in Shen Weizhuo's mind almost every day: Is this Liu Mianmian?

Finally, he gave himself an answer that had already been obvious to him.

This can't be Liu Mianmian.

Liu Mianmian would not say that every profession has its top talents, nor would she say that there is no distinction between high and low jobs. She looks down on the lower-class workers and only wants to live a "good life" with money.

Liu Mianmian would never say "We are working people". She hated her adoptive parents in the countryside as much as she hated her "tuberculous" husband.

Shen Weizhou stood by the window, looking at the person sleeping comfortably under the pomegranate tree outside. The sunlight shone through the gaps between the branches and leaves onto her. It was clearly the same person, yet it seemed like a completely different person.

But, if she is not Liu Mianmian, who is she?