Unintentionally
On Monday morning, after the two finished eating, Yang Zheng drove directly to the entrance of Shen Anxia's workplace.
Yang Zheng unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to get out of the car to see Shen Anxia inside when Shen Anxia grabbed his arm.
"Don't go down," Shen Anxia said.
"Um?"
“Our unit is full of beautiful dancers,” Shen Anxia blurted out.
"Huh?" Yang Zheng didn't understand.
"I don't want them to see you." Yang Zheng had been seen by others before, so Shen Anxia was reluctant.
"Why?" Yang Zheng asked in surprise.
“Some people noticed you in the video from the Western restaurant before, saying that my boyfriend is so handsome, and even asked when you would pick me up and asked me to introduce him… I don’t want these people to see my boyfriend.” Shen Anxia was not happy when she thought of this scene.
Yang Zheng chuckled and said, "Is this your possessiveness towards me?"
You can understand it that way.
Yang Zheng seemed quite happy, but still said, "As your boyfriend, shouldn't you be even happier and more proud to be praised like this?"
Shen Anxia shook her head: "I'm proud enough without them praising my boyfriend. Besides, I don't just want them to see you, I also don't want you to see them."
"Why is that?"
"Just look at me, I'm pretty too," Shen Anxia said confidently.
Yang Zheng thought for a moment, then ruffled Shen Anxia's hair and said, "Although I don't know why you don't want me to send you inside, I'll do as you say."
Shen Anxia got out of the car with satisfaction, held onto the railing, and slowly moved up the steps, one step at a time. When she reached the last step, she looked back and saw that Yang Zheng's car was still there. She waved to him, and then he drove to the police station.
Shen Anxia arrived unusually late today. Just moments before, someone had asked Anxia why she hadn't arrived yet, and the next second, Jia Yunjie spotted Shen Anxia with her sharp eyes.
"Anxia!" Jia Yunjie exclaimed in shock. She stood up and ran to support Shen Anxia, asking, "What happened to you?"
Shen Anxia wore a stylish black cropped top today, with a low neckline that revealed a corner of her back wound. She wore black shorts and her hair was tied in a low bun. Apart from the deep wound on her waist, the other wounds were more or less visible.
When the others saw Shen Anxia's appearance, they all got up and went to greet her. Everyone was surprised and asked her all at once what had happened to Shen Anxia's body covered in injuries.
Jia Yunjie stopped them, saying loudly, "Let Anxia sit down before we talk!"
Everyone made way for Shen Anxia, and Liu Qin and Jia Yunjie each helped her walk to the long, square wooden bench in the rest area. They helped Shen Anxia sit in the middle of the bench, and Jia Yunjie and Liu Qin sat on either side of her. The three of them occupied one bench.
The others sat on the ground, forming an arc around the bench. Even the usually aloof Bai Yan sat down next to her. Everyone looked at each other, waiting for Shen Anxia to speak.
Shen Anxia looked around and saw that several people she particularly wanted to confirm had arrived.
Shen Anxia laughed and said, "Don't look at me like that, everyone. I'm fine, it's just external injuries."
Jia Yunjie, being impatient, pulled Shen Anxia aside and asked, "How exactly did it happen?"
Shen Anxia sighed and slowly recounted, "After the performance on Friday, everyone went back to the troupe on the troupe's bus. I wanted to get back to my place as soon as possible, so I didn't go back on the bus. I quickly removed my makeup backstage, and after leaving the venue, I took a taxi—I didn't expect that the taxi driver to be a pervert."
A group of people gasped, waiting for Shen Anxia to continue.
Shen Anxia glanced at each of the people in turn, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on in their eyes.
Jia Yunjie angrily complained to Shen Anxia: "I told you a long time ago to apply for a dormitory so you could go back to the troupe to stay if the performance is too late, but you just wouldn't listen!"
Shen Anxia patted Jia Yunjie's hand, which was linked with her arm, to reassure her, and then said, "This taxi driver actually tried to kidnap me to the outskirts of the city—I heard from the police that they've been watching the girls in our troupe for a long time, just waiting for the day a performance ends so they can kidnap one of them, and I'm the unlucky one who ended up running into it."
Hearing this, everyone felt even more uneasy. They were both relieved that the taxi hadn't run into them and heartbroken for Shen Anxia, wondering what they would do if they were in that situation.
"Are you alright?" Chang Yun asked worriedly.
"Luckily, my family was nearby and called the police in time, which prevented this person from taking me to a more distant place," Shen Anxia continued.
"Then, what about the driver?" Koko asked.
"Oh, I was taken away. The police said they need to take my statement."
"Thank goodness," Jia Yunjie patted her chest, "Fortunately, the police arrived in time."
"Did you fall and get this injury?" Liu Qin asked.
“Yes, I tripped and fell into the bushes when I got out of the taxi,” Shen Anxia continued. “However, the driver was quite strange. The police said he kept insisting that he was not the mastermind and that someone had bribed him, saying that he had call records and cash transactions. So the police are still investigating in those two directions.”
"Bribed? Bribed a taxi driver to kidnap people from our group?" Liu Qin asked in surprise. "Why would they do that? They should know it's illegal!"
Shen Anxia shook her head: "I don't know either, it's still under investigation!"
Chang Yun comforted Shen Anxia: "Fortunately, you're alright. The police are quite fast at solving cases these days. If this driver really had someone instigating him, they might be able to catch the person by following the clues through the call records."
Shen Anxia agreed: "Yes, the public security surveillance system is becoming more and more advanced, with surveillance cameras everywhere. If there really is such a person, it won't be difficult to find him."
Bai Yan, who was standing to the side, rarely spoke up: "You're injured like this, why don't you ask the group for a few days off to rest?"
Shen Anxia smiled slightly: "On the one hand, I wanted to tell everyone about this, since we don't know if the other party has any accomplices. It's best for the sisters not to go out alone at night. On the other hand, I heard last week that there will be a new dance rehearsal this week, so I have to be there to watch. Besides, this injury looks scary, but it's just an external injury, and it will be fine in a few days."
Shen Anxia's words were a mix of truth and falsehood. She only said what she wanted to say, omitting the fact that Yang Zheng had beaten someone up, so as not to give anyone else any ulterior motives.
Everyone nodded. Some said not to go out at night, some said to take taxis less often in the future, and others said they didn't expect there to be such people in Xinfeng, where the public security is so good. They should be more careful in the future.
Everyone was discussing the matter animatedly. Jia Yunjie, who was standing next to Shen Anxia, asked, "Will your boyfriend pick you up and drop you off these next few days?"
Yes, I will.
"That's good. I was just thinking you could just stay in the dorm." Jia Yunjie said worriedly, "Speaking of which, how can your boyfriend let you live alone in a rented apartment? Can't you move in with him?"
Shen Anxia remembered that Yang Zheng had previously said he wanted her to live in Peacock City, and replied, "I did say that, I'm still considering it."
Jia Yunjie lectured Shen Anxia with a look of exasperation: "Consider? No, are you stupid? He has a good job and his family is rich. Do you even need to consider him?"
"Is your boyfriend the one who's rumored to be in the municipal government?" Liu Qin interjected from the side.
Shen Anxia laughed and said, "That's just a legend."
"Huh? Isn't that right?" Jia Yunjie had always thought that Shen Anxia's boyfriend worked in the municipal government.
"Alright, stop talking about him! Aren't you going to stretch today? Hurry up and warm up." Shen Anxia nudged Jia Yunjie.
Jia Yunjie then remembered the important matter, jumped up from the bench, and patted Shen Anxia on the shoulder: "Go warm up, you sit for a while, or the leader will scold me when he comes."
Jia Yunjie is the kind of person who is highly talented but doesn't work hard. She has always been complacent and just gets by. Recently, the troupe has been keeping a close eye on her, and it seems that they are using her as a scapegoat. Therefore, Jia Yunjie is a bit paranoid.
Liu Qin also stood up and said to Shen Anxia, "I'll come and keep you company after I rest for a while. You can sit down by yourself for a bit first."
“Mm,” Shen Anxia replied.
The others also got up to do their morning exercises. Shen Anxia watched them silently. Once everyone had gone to the barre, she got up and walked towards the team leader's office.
Commander Wang has not yet arrived at his office.
Shen Anxia waited outside the office for a while before Commander Wang strolled in.
"Anxia?" Upon seeing Shen Anxia, Commander Wang was taken aback, looked her up and down, and asked, "What happened to you?"
Shen Anxia smiled and said, "Commander Wang, I have something to tell you."
"Okay, come in." Commander Wang opened the office door by scanning his face and helped Shen Anxia inside.
"Sit here." Commander Wang first helped Shen Anxia to sit on the sofa next to him, and then sat down opposite her.
"Thank you, Commander Wang," Shen Anxia said.
"What's wrong with you?" Commander Wang was still in shock.
Shen Anxia briefly explained the situation, omitting the details of Yang Zheng beating people and the mastermind being in the group. She first thanked Commander Wang for not telling anyone in the group about her resignation, and then mentioned that she hoped he would continue to keep it a secret, as she hoped she could spend these last days with everyone without any pressure.
Commander Wang nodded and promised, "I promised you last time that I would keep it a secret, so you don't need to worry about it. But..." Commander Wang paused and asked Shen Anxia, "Does Secretary Liu know about this?"
Shen Anxia hummed in agreement: "I understand. Secretary Liu found out that very night, and that's why Director Chen brought people to rescue me in time."
"You found out that very night?" Commander Wang was even more shocked.
“Well,” Shen Anxia said, avoiding the main point, “My family and the secretary happened to be attending the banquet together, so the secretary found out.”
Commander Wang: "..."
"So, are you planning to take a paid leave today?" Commander Wang asked.
“I want to cherish this last bit of time I can spend with everyone, so I don’t plan to take leave. I came to see you today to apologize. I originally planned to keep performing, but now it seems that I probably won’t be able to participate in the performances after this.”
“These are not important matters. Your health is the most important thing. Besides, we had an accident on our way to and from get off work, which is considered a work injury. Your medical expenses will be reimbursed by the group.”
"No need, Commander Wang, these are just external injuries. I'm sorry to have troubled you," Shen Anxia sincerely apologized.
"Don't be so polite, Anxia. We've worked together for a year, and your character is impeccable. Even without the Party Secretary, the troupe wouldn't have treated you unfairly, let alone with the Party Secretary's connection to you."
"Thank you for your care, Commander Wang. Thank you all for your help," Shen Anxia said politely.
"There's just one thing I don't understand," Commander Wang said, puzzled. "How much effort did you put into keeping the regiment here? Are you really willing to leave now?"
"I'm quite reluctant to leave, and it's a little sad to face this choice, but ultimately one has to look forward."
Commander Wang patted Shen Anxia on the shoulder: "Yes, look forward. Even if you leave our regiment, you will still have a good future. If you need anything in the future, just let us know."
"Thank you, Commander Wang. You can continue with your work now." Shen Anxia stood up to take her leave.
"Do you need me to take you there?"
"No need, I can walk by myself."
After closing the door for Commander Wang, Shen Anxia breathed a sigh of relief. She decided to utilize all available resources to guide the situation and act accordingly. As for the specific effects, she would have to wait and see.
At noon, Shen Anxia ate lunch in the staff canteen as usual. Yang Zheng was also busy trying to find out the mastermind behind it all. In the evening, he picked up Shen Anxia at the agreed time, and the two went back to the apartment together.
Yang Zheng helped Shen Anxia to the sofa, first looking at the injury on her back, then squatting down to check her ankle: "Is your ankle swollen?"
"It's not swollen, it's been elevated all day." Shen Anxia asked Yang Zheng, "How's the injury on your back? I can feel it has already scabbed over."
"I'm feeling better. Sit down for a bit, I'll go cook." Yang Zheng stood up.
"Can I take a shower now? I haven't showered for four days, and I feel so uncomfortable."
“No,” Yang Zheng refused. “Let’s hold on for two more days.”
Shen Anxia's face fell.
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