Chapter 74: A Man Visits Late at Night

In between preparing to record her dance videos, Zhu Yuan counted the days, checked her bank account balance in advance, and rose early the next day.

Jingjiao Prison.

The day for the monthly visit.

Zhu Yuan stood outside the glass partition, craning her neck and standing on tiptoe, trying hard to search for a familiar figure inside, until she finally saw the lean Zhu Jingyao walk out of that door under the guidance of a prison guard.

"Brother!"

Seeing the girl's eyes redden in an instant, Zhu Jingyao calmly tugged at his sleeve to cover the injury on his wrist, then offered Zhu Yuan a reassuring smile.

Immediately, his brows furrowed.

He sat down, picked up the phone on the side, and signaled for Zhu Yuan to sit properly with his eyes; Zhu Yuan became obedient in a second and picked up the phone as well.

"Why have you lost weight?" The man's clear, gentle voice suppressed his heartache, his fingers clenching.

She was half a size thinner than the last time they met.

Zhu Yuan saw the man's worry and quickly said, "I haven't lost weight. It's probably just that my skin has become firmer, a visual effect. I'm actually hoping to be even thinner; that's what's beautiful."

"I've told you so many times, you are not allowed to lose weight. You are already thin and beautiful enough; health is what matters most."

She feigned an impatient tone, "I know, I know. Even in prison, I can't stop your nagging; you're getting more long-winded as you get older."

"Brother isn't old, I'm only twenty-eight," Zhu Jingyao corrected her.

That's right, he was only twenty-eight.

Zhu Yuan's heart stung, yet he had already been in prison for a year and a half.

If he hadn't gone to prison to save her, he would surely have made a name for himself in the scientific research field by now.

Looking at the lean man in front of her wearing handcuffs, clear and gentle, the top student who had always been the "child of someone else" in the eyes of elders since they were young, he had now become a prisoner.

Zhu Yuan's heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, but she dared not show even a fraction of it; her brother's mind was too sharp.

"Is Grandpa's health okay after the surgery?" Zhu Jingyao thought of his elderly grandfather and felt very guilty that he could not be by his side to fulfill his filial duties.

Zhu Yuan hadn't been able to visit Zhu Jingyao around the time of the surgery, so she had told him through letters.

"Grandpa's condition has stabilized. He will be able to leave the hospital in a while, and by then, Grandpa and I will be waiting for you to come home," Zhu Yuan said with a smile, her eyes full of hope.

She was charming, and when she smiled like that, she became even sweeter, causing the surrounding visiting families and the prisoners in the partitions to cast glances her way.

Zhu Jingyao cleared his throat, "Are your parents treating you well?"

The man was still the same as always, asking her this question whenever they met, terrified that she had suffered grievances in the Zhu Family.

Zhu Yuan nodded, "They're not bad."

After she saved Zhu An'an at the Pei Family Bank last time, they had brought Zhu An'an to find her, but she hadn't seen them.

After Zhu An'an did those things to her, they had acted as if nothing had happened upon seeing the video, which had made her give up on them completely.

"That's good." Zhu Jingyao nodded with relief, and the topic returned to her again, "I have enough money in here. You should keep yours to buy more good food. If I see you've lost weight next time, watch out—I'll deal with you once I get out."

"It's fine, Brother, your sister has money. Besides, I'll soon be participating in a very popular stage play and will get quite a bit of pay. You take the money and spend it however you like."

Zhu Jingyao was amused by her little expression, but he still warned her sternly, "Don't send me any money, you hear me?"

Zhu Yuan agreed verbally, but as soon as the visit ended, she turned around and wired a sum of living expenses to Zhu Jingyao.

After leaving the prison, she went to Dr. Qiao Mai's hospital for a rabies vaccine.

After the injection, Dr. Qiao Mai changed the dressing on the back of her hand and checked her ankle sprain, "It's almost there, but you still need to be careful these next few days and avoid strenuous exercise."

"I have to dance," Zhu Yuan lowered her pant leg.

Dr. Qiao Mai frowned, "That probably won't do."

Zhu Yuan told Qiao Mai about wanting to participate in the casting, "I want to win this role, and I have confidence. If I don't give it a shot, I won't be able to sleep."

"Is it absolutely necessary?" Dr. Qiao Mai looked at her with concern.

Zhu Yuan nodded firmly, then acted cute, "Dr. Qiao, so do you have any special Medicine here that can make my sprain heal faster?"

Looking at such a beautiful girl giving him starry eyes, what could he do?

Dr. Qiao Mai sighed; of course, he would agree!

Before Zhu Yuan left, he gave her an ointment.

"This is something I concocted myself; you can't buy it outside. It can temporarily make your ankle feel like it's perfectly fine, but you can't use it too much. After all, this is a shortcut, an unconventional method."

Zhu Yuan was overjoyed, "Thank you, Dr. Qiao. Once I get the role, I will definitely treat you to a meal."

Dr. Qiao couldn't bear to look and waved his hand, "Go!"

The practice room at the theater troupe had already been occupied, and since Zhu Yuan had no performances these two days, she asked the troupe leader for permission to practice at home.

The troupe leader hadn't had the face to see her before, and now that she had finally extended an olive branch, how could he have any reason not to agree?

Before hanging up the phone that day, he added, "Xiao Fengzheng, you dance well. Although I don't dare to make empty promises to you, this time it will definitely be fair and just."

Fair and just.

Zhu Yuan couldn't guarantee just how fair and just it would be, but at least with an opportunity like this, she had to try.

After finishing dinner and resting for a while, she did a set of stretches and began to dance.

The light filtered through the sheer curtains of the balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows, vaguely outlining the girl's graceful figure as she danced lightly like an elf.

Downstairs in the residential complex, a black sedan pulled up.

This scene fell right into the man's cold, clear eyes.

Tomorrow was the deadline for submitting the casting audition video.

After Zhu Yuan set up her phone and adjusted the angle, she tied her hair back into a low braid, changed into a simple and elegant dance outfit, and prepared to start recording the video.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Zhu Yuan's movements stopped.

Who would come looking for her so late?

Could it be Ji Xiang?

She grabbed a coat to throw over herself, walked to the door, and looked through the peephole; upon seeing Sheng Yu, she reacted quickly and turned off the living room lights.

With a snap, the room went completely dark.

In the darkness, she breathed rapidly, pressing her ear against the door frame to try and hear the movements outside clearly.

However, the next second, her phone rang.

The tinkling ringtone sounded abruptly and crisply; not to mention inside the room, even the person outside could hear it.

Zhu Yuan didn't even have time to hang up, because Sheng Yu's low voice came from outside the door: "If you pretend not to be home again, I will smash this door down."