He lowered his head and, without saying a word, gave her a loud kiss on her smooth forehead.
"Do you think I don't know whether you're asleep or not? You little liar."
Zhou Qiqi nestled comfortably in his arms, her arms naturally draped over his lean waist, her voice languid and soft:
"Alright, alright, go ahead and say it. What's the matter that Political Commissar Lei came all this way so late at night? He looks so worried."
Shen Huaichuan tightened his arms around her, his chin brushing against the top of her head, and succinctly recounted the whole story of the jade pendant, Zhou Shuhua's breakdown, and how she asked him to find Captain Li to investigate Jin Daya's clues.
Finally, he paused, his arm tightened, and his voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension:
"Qiqi, I've already taken the liberty of agreeing to this. I'll go see Captain Li tomorrow. Will you...?"
Before he could even utter the words "It's your fault," the little woman in his arms nudged his chin with her head, a gentle but forceful nudge that carried a hint of spoiled protest.
"What are you saying!"
Zhou Qiqi tilted her head back, her two big eyes shining in the darkness.
"What do you take me for? Why would I refuse such a thing? Besides, didn't I tell you before? I won't stop you from having a relationship with your master and mistress. I'll help if I can."
Shen Huaichuan felt a warmth in his heart, and the anxiety he had been feeling instantly subsided. He couldn't help but lower his head and peck her lips.
"but,"
Zhou Qiqi snuggled closer to him, poking his chest with her finger, full of curiosity.
"What exactly happened to Zhou Shuhua's younger brother, Zhou Jianbang?"
Shen Huaichuan remained silent for a moment. In the darkness, he lowered his voice further and began to recount that heavy past.
More than 20 years ago, the Zhou family was sent to the countryside for reform because of their bad class background.
At that time, Zhou Shuhua was already a university teacher. Because she had secretly kept several foreign language books, she became a key target and was to be sent to the most remote and difficult place for reform.
But the whole family knew that she had been pampered since childhood and had poor health. She couldn't possibly endure going to a remote mountainous area.
Finally, it was the younger brother, Zhou Jianbang, who knelt down and begged his parents, using the last bit of family connections and influence, that managed to switch the locations where the siblings were sent to the countryside.
The older sister, Zhou Shuhua, went with her parents to a nearby rural area for reform.
The younger brother, Zhou Jianbang, went to the remote mountainous area in place of his sister.
By the time Zhou Shuhua found out, her brother had already boarded the train, and she had no time to stop him.
The two places are thousands of miles apart, and communication is difficult. It usually takes one or two months to receive a letter.
The following winter, Zhou Shuhua hadn't received a letter from her brother for almost half a year. When she finally received one, she was met with the devastating news that her brother had passed away.
Zhou Jianbang disappeared in a flash flood more than half a year ago. For more than five months, he was neither found alive nor dead.
Zhou Shuhua and her family wanted to search, but they didn't even have a direction.
The devastating blow came when both parents passed away.
When the injustice was finally redressed, Zhou Shuhua was left all alone in the once-large Zhou family.
She wanted to go to the place where her brother last disappeared, but time had passed, things had changed, and there were no clues left.
"This thorn has been stuck in her heart for twenty years."
Shen Huaichuan's voice was low and suppressed.
“Over the years, she has never given up. Every year around Zhou Jianbang’s birthday, she would try to go to the county where he was sent to work in the countryside, even if it was just to wander around the county town or walk along the river, as if that would bring her closer to him.”
"Also, the reason she was so good to Lei Ming... was because Lei Ming's features when he was little were so similar to the younger brother in her memories. And Lei Ming's birth date was exactly Zhou Jianbang's birthday. Looking at Lei Ming was like watching her younger brother grow up..."
Shen Huaichuan paused, tightening his grip on his arm, a hint of helpless amusement in his voice:
“Even when I first joined the army, because my physique and demeanor were somewhat similar to what my mentor’s wife remembered her younger brother as he grew up, she took extra care of me and protected me, not allowing any bad people or things to get close to me.”
Zhou Qiqi listened quietly, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside her.
"No wonder……"
She used to think Zhou Shuhua was unreasonable, but now she understands that there are reasons why she is so stubborn.
She sighed softly and buried her face in the warm crook of Shen Huaichuan's neck.
"This person is suffering from inner demons. Their obsession runs too deep."
After a moment of silence, she sighed again.
"However... their sibling relationship is truly wonderful. The younger brother endured that suffering for his sister, and the sister searched for him her whole life. If Zhou Jianbang were still alive, knowing that his sister searched for him like that, his heart... would surely be warmed, wouldn't it?"
"Mmm." Shen Huaichuan responded, gently patting her back soothingly with his large hand.
"I support you in this matter."
Zhou Qiqi raised her head, her tone regaining its firmness.
"Do your job well, and if you need any help from me, just let me know."
"good."
Shen Huaichuan felt a warmth in his heart. He lowered his head, found her lips, and gently placed a long, tender kiss on them.
"I just called Captain Li and we agreed to take two days off to keep a close eye on Jin Daya's case and see if we can find any clues."
"Okay, go to sleep."
Zhou Qiqi adjusted her position in his arms, snuggling against him contentedly like a kitten that had found a comfortable nest.
"Get plenty of rest so you can work hard tomorrow."
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