Chapter 257

Jiang Yuping frowned, struggling to recall when her younger sister had ever encountered danger, but she couldn't think of anything.

Jiang Yuyue said mockingly, "Can't remember? Let me remind you. The winter of my first year in middle school, I came home one day soaking wet, wearing a man's cotton-padded coat, and the next day I was in the hospital with a high fever."

Jiang Yuping finally remembered: "You mean you fell into an ice hole."

Jiang Yuyue fell into her memories: "That day was a Sunday. I went to a classmate's house and saw people skating on the Jiangzhou River, so I ran out to play too."

At that time, the river had just frozen over, and I didn't know any better. I ran to an area with flowing water; the ice was very thin, and I fell in. The river water was freezing, chilling me to the bone.

No matter how I struggled or called for help, with so many people there, not a single person was willing to reach out and pull me up. You don't know how desperate I was then."

Tears kept streaming down Jiang Yuyue's eyes: "When the ice I was clinging to shattered again and my body began to sink, I had no strength left."

"I thought, 'Just let it be.' Death didn't seem that scary; it was just that the river water was really cold. I don't know how much I swallowed, but the feeling of being unable to breathe was so painful, and the whole world plunged into darkness."

"It seemed like an instant, yet it also felt like countless eons had passed, when a large, warm hand suddenly grabbed me, letting me feel warmth in the freezing river water."

As she spoke, Jiang Yuyue smiled, a very warm smile: "The darkness faded away, and I saw a beam of light. A big boy's face appeared before me. He was looking at me with such anxiety while giving me CPR. It must have been his first time performing first aid; he seemed so clumsy."

Jiang Yuping said coldly: "Zhou Andong?"

Jiang Yuyue ignored her: "Seeing that I had woken up, he took off his cotton-padded coat, wrapped it around me, then carried me, hailed a minibus, and took me to my building."

"At the time, I asked him his name, but he didn't say. Later, however, in the pocket of the coat he left behind, I found a diary. He had only written two entries, and the handwriting was so ugly, just like a spider crawling, but I knew his name was Zhou Andong and he went to the Second High School."

Jiang Yuping's face was frighteningly pale, and she asked with a trembling voice: "So, you fell in love with him, right?"

Jiang Yuyue neither admitted nor denied it, continuing to talk to herself: "I didn't go to find him because he was in his third year of high school, and my appearance might have caused him to lose focus."

"But I kept paying attention to him, inquiring about everything regarding him—where his home was, who was in his family, and what his younger siblings' names were; I knew it all."

"Later, when I found out he had gotten into university, I cheered and jumped for joy for a long time, determined that I would also get into university, and then I would be qualified to see him."

At this point, Jiang Yuyue looked at her sister and gave a miserable smile, tears streaming down once again.

"Do you remember? The day you brought him home was the day I received my university acceptance letter. When he appeared in the house, I was stunned."

"When you introduced him to me, my mind went blank. I don't even know how I got through that day, and then I left for school early."

"When you two got married, I tried so hard to smile, but I cried all night in bed, and the next day I still had to face all of you with a smile. Because I knew that I would never have a chance."

"So!" Jiang Yuping's tears also fell, and she gritted her teeth, saying hatefully: "I get a divorce, and you think you have a chance, is that it?"

"No!" Jiang Yuyue roared, "Jiang Yuping, rest assured, for the sake of your face, for the sake of everyone in our family's face, I will not marry him, never... but remember this: just because I won't marry him doesn't mean I will give up loving him."

Jiang Yuyue turned and walked toward the residential complex. After taking just two steps, she suddenly stopped and, without looking back, said: "Jiang Yuping, I don't want a third person to know about what happened today."

"Especially Zhou Andong. Since you have already divorced, don't go bothering him again. I don't want him to be troubled; just let him keep thinking of me as his younger sister."

"If you dare to go find him, our sisterly bond ends here. You know my temper; I do what I say. Don't challenge my bottom line."

Jiang Yuping leaned against a lamppost, sliding down powerlessly, and slowly sat on the ground. Then she grinned and laughed, but the tears wouldn't stop flowing.

"How could it be like this, how could it be like this? Heaven, tell me, Zhou Andong, what is so good about him, huh?"

The next day, news of Zhao Jianlong being sentenced to death was everywhere. As Zhou Andong and Gu Bing walked through the factory, some workers looked at him with what was actually awe. Clearly, they had heard something too.

Gu Bing teased: "You're notorious now."

Zhou Andong smiled: "That's fine too. Those troublemakers in the factory should be a bit more honest when they see me now."

"Old Du!" Zhou Andong waved at Du Chunlai, who was walking over, "Have you had breakfast?"

Du Chunlai shook his head: "Not yet!"

Zhou Andong said: "Perfect, we haven't eaten either. Let's go eat something together, then head straight to the municipal government guesthouse."

Gu Bing drove his 212, taking Zhou Andong and Du Chunlai to find a breakfast shop.

"Have you heard? Zhao Jianlong was sentenced to death."

"I know. He had a grudge against the winery director, Zhou Andong, and was sent in by Zhou Andong."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I heard that too. It seems it was because of a woman, and Zhao Jianlong wanted to kill Zhou Andong. Didn't expect him to kick an iron plate; Zhou Andong's background is even more awesome than his. He just made one phone call and got him arrested."

"And there's Huo Xing. It's said Zhou Andong wanted his head, and that guy was so scared he wet his pants and then ran away."

Zhou Andong lowered his head, drinking his tofu pudding while listening to the surrounding discussion. His face grew darker and darker; the rumors were getting more and more outrageous.

"Pfft!"

Gu Bing couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud, spraying the tofu pudding he had just put in his mouth.

"Sorry, sorry!" That guy apologized hurriedly.

Zhou Andong looked at the table covered in Gu Bing's spray and helplessly put down his chopsticks, "I'm not eating anymore."

"Old Jiang, two bowls of soy milk, six meat buns, hurry up." Two ruffian-looking guys sat down in the seats behind Zhou Andong.

"Oh my, Brother Dali, Brother Chun, it's been a while since you two came by."

The owner was a middle-aged man in his forties. Seeing these two young men, he brought over the buns and soy milk with a face full of smiles.

"Boss, check please," Gu Bing said.

"Coming!" The boss turned around and took the money Gu Bing handed over.

Zhou Andong stood up. Because space was limited, the front and back tables were a bit close. As Zhou Andong moved, he accidentally bumped into the guy behind him.

That guy was just holding his bowl of soy milk to drink, and his arm shook uncontrollably, spilling the whole bowl of soy milk onto his face.

"F*** your mother, are you blind?"

Zhou Andong turned around, just about to apologize, when the guy opposite suddenly widened his eyes, then stood at attention and said respectfully: "Director... Director Zhou!"