Volume One, Chapter 20: A Chance Encounter at the Bookstore

Li Shuhe took a step back and spoke softly, "I understand, Teacher Fang. I won’t disturb you any longer. Goodbye."

"I’ll see you out."

Unexpectedly, Fang Shenzhai spoke up.

The two walked in silence to the entrance of the residential complex.

Li Shuhe stood in the shadow of a large stone at the gate, looking up at Fang Shenzhai, both silent.

"Do you have something to say to me?" she finally asked after a long pause.

Her home was right next door to Fang Shenzhai’s, their yards separated only by an iron fence. There was no need for him to escort her outside unless he wanted to speak privately.

Fang Shenzhai said nothing in response but pointed to the doll hanging at Li Shuhe’s waist. His eyes were shielded by the reflective lenses of his glasses, making his expression unreadable.

"Is there something you want to say to me?" he countered.

Li Shuhe knew exactly what he meant.

It had been a coincidence that Fang Shenzhai saw the doll that night, and she never imagined he would inadvertently become neighbors with Duan Xiadong.

"When you go to the capital this time, when will you come back next?" Li Shuhe evaded the question.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is busy, and my schedule is uncertain. Maybe I won’t return for many years," Fang Shenzhai replied, his gaze fixed on her, the sense of familiarity growing stronger in his heart.

"Alright," Li Shuhe said clearly, "then when you return next time, I’ll answer you."

By then, she would have severed ties with Duan Xiadong.

"If at that time you still want to find me, show me this," she said, pointing to the doll at his waist.

Fang Shenzhai stared at her steadily.

Five years ago, they had planned to board a ship together at the dock to go to the port city. The night before departure, Li Shuhe received a call from the provincial prison; the village party secretary said her mother’s health had deteriorated. That night, she took the bus away.

Fang Shenzhai only learned of this the next day when he went to Li Shuhe’s home. He tried to contact her but to no avail.

He gave up the trip and went to the provincial capital to look for her, but the prison staff ignored him. He knew nothing of Li Shuhe’s or her mother’s situation.

Five days later, he finally got news of her and hurried back to the village to see her, only to be met with her insults.

"Look at you, you’re filthy, just a poor student. Do you really think going to the port city means you have a future? Ridiculous. Don’t contact me again."

The disdain in her eyes was unmistakable; he could feel it—she truly despised him.

He refused to believe it and wanted to understand what had happened.

Li Shuhe slapped him hard, leaving him stunned.

"Get lost! I like men like Duan Xiadong—he’s going to be the richest man someday. Who are you? You’re not even worth a finger from Duan Xiadong."

Fang Shenzhai looked at her in disbelief, trying to see through her facade in her eyes, but there was none. She genuinely loathed him.

He wanted to ask more but was chased out by Duan Xiadong wielding a broom.

Later, Fang Shenzhai tried to meet Li Shuhe alone to ask if she had been coerced, but instead, she came with others to mock him. They said he was a toad lusting after a swan, shamelessly harassing women, even threatening to send him to prison.

In the end, it was her mother who used his teacher’s position as a guarantee that kept him out of jail, but she lost her job because of it.

Since then, he gave up entirely and went alone to the port city, managing to register on the final day.

During his four years at university, Fang Shenzhai received letters every year from Duan Xiadong, describing how Li Shuhe was flattering him, along with photos of her groveling before him.

"Alright," Fang Shenzhai said, snapping out of his memories. Meeting Li Shuhe’s hopeful gaze, he agreed.

After leaving the complex, Li Shuhe took the bus to the city.

She first stopped by her aunt’s house to discuss her recent situation.

Her aunt was supportive of her taking the college entrance exam, but because of the village’s redevelopment and relocation, all the old books she had used were discarded. To review, she had to buy new ones.

Li Shuhe was penniless now; the money she had was what her aunt gave her after her hospital discharge. The factory hadn’t advanced her wages, and Duan Xiadong wouldn’t kindly give her money either, so she only bought the essentials.

In truth, she had saved some money through years of working while studying, as well as some savings left by her parents, but all had been spent trying to please Duan Xiadong. In fact, the startup capital for Xiadong’s car factory came from her!

At the bookstore, Li Shuhe ran her fingers over the pristine textbooks, the prices printed on the back daunting her.

"Teacher, are you ordering books? Our bookstore cooperates with the education bureau, and we get books directly from the manufacturer. Ordering five hundred copies gets a discount, the more you order, the bigger the discount," the clerk leaned toward Li Shuhe, having observed her lingering in the textbook section for a while. Judging by her age and appearance, she looked like a teacher, possibly placing a large order.

Receiving no response, the clerk pressed on brazenly, "Which school do you teach at?"

Li Shuhe remained silent, but someone spoke on her behalf.

"What kind of teacher is she?" came a voice from behind.

Li Shuhe recognized her—Li Manyu, her former high school class monitor and once one of her closest friends.

After graduation, Li Manyu had been assigned as a primary school teacher.

Their relationship had gradually faded and even soured due to Li Shuhe’s changes.

The clerk glanced at Li Shuhe, then at Li Manyu. Seeing Li Shuhe did not deny it, he disdainfully looked at her, thinking he had anticipated a big order.

"If you’re not buying, don’t touch," the clerk said, abruptly shifting from warm to cold, waving her off.

Li Shuhe did not move but stared at Li Manyu for a long time.

Li Manyu was confused by the stare. She touched her face, found nothing amiss, and asked suspiciously, "What are you looking at? Why are you acting so strange? Haven't seen you act this dumb in a long time."

Li Manyu rolled her eyes.

Li Shuhe snapped out of it. Five years had passed; things had changed, and people who once shared everything had become strangers.

She said nothing and turned to leave. She truly couldn’t afford the books and planned to look for second-hand ones at the recycling station.

"Hey, why are you ignoring me?" Li Manyu felt something was off. By Li Shuhe’s usual character, she’d be sitting on the ground crying, playing the victim.

But Li Shuhe now said nothing, which unsettled Li Manyu.

"I’m talking to you!"

Li Manyu blocked her path but stopped half a meter away, afraid Li Shuhe might falsely accuse or slander her.

"Well, who’s this? Li Manyu, a primary school teacher, what are you doing in the high school district?" came a voice behind Li Shuhe.

The enemy appeared where least expected: Duan Xiaoqiu’s voice rang out once again.