Although I had agreed to help, I still didn’t know how to even start the conversation.
Especially asking Shen Jianqing—he might demand something in return.
By evening, Shen Jianqing returned.
“Li Yuze, is your foot still hurting?”
He entered, placing a plate of glutinous rice cakes and honeyed fruits on the table, then came to check my foot.
I had thought he was just asking casually, but he had really brought sweets.
I shook my head. “It’s fine now.”
A strange, almost regretful look crossed Shen Jianqing’s eyes. He turned, picked up the treats, ate one himself, and said, “Try it.”
I wasn’t fond of sweets, and with so much on my mind, I helplessly obeyed, taking a piece of candied fruit.
The sweet-and-slightly-sour taste spread instantly in my mouth.
Suddenly, I realized this was one of the rare moments we were together peacefully. Sharing a plate of candied fruit, eating rice cakes—it almost felt like we really lived together, and our hearts were devoted to each other as lovers.
Shen Jianqing suddenly said, “Actually, my mother loved honeyed fruits.”
I froze. How did the topic shift so suddenly to his mother?
“They were always at home when I was little. But after my father died, my mother lost interest and rarely spoke to me.”
Many people believe that childhood loss or unhappiness creates lifelong attempts at compensation.
I believed Shen Jianqing was being truthful—he had no reason to lie now. At least, his parents must have loved each other.
I thought of my own parents, and spoke quietly, “My parents are still alive, but they divorced. Each has their own life now, leaving me behind as a symbol of their failed marriage.”
“Divorced?” Shen Jianqing sounded curious.
I explained, “It means the marriage ended due to broken emotions. It’s common in the outside world.”
“Hmph!” Shen Jianqing snorted disdainfully. “If I choose someone, that’s the only person for life. No one else can change it—not even themselves.”
He spoke in a way that bordered on obsessiveness.
Sure, love can be deep and mutual now, but who knows if it might sour one day? Every couple enters marriage full of hope, but everyday trivialities often erode affection.
Well, Shen Jianqing probably wouldn’t understand such things.
I thought for a moment and asked, “When did you come back last night?”
Shen Jianqing said, “Around dawn, I think.”
“And… what did you do?”
Of course, I knew. But I wanted to steer the topic toward the task they had asked me to handle.
Before I could speak, Shen Jianqing suddenly looked at me with a strange expression—a complicated gaze. Curious, pensive, almost enlightened. For some reason, the mood suddenly grew cold.
“I should have guessed. They’ll come looking for you, and you…” Shen Jianqing murmured something I didn’t hear clearly.
But I realized he must have guessed my intention. He didn’t hide it and finally said, “You went to catch the traitor, didn’t you? How do you plan to deal with him?”
Shen Jianqing lowered his eyes, long, dense lashes shadowing his thoughts. “Everything will follow the village rules.”
I said, “But Wan Ying and the others told me you have the authority to change the punishment.”
“I do,” Shen Jienqing answered, his face turning cold. “So you want me to go easy on him, is that it?”
He let out a short, sharp laugh. “Let me guess how they convinced you. Oh—right! They must’ve told you A Song only defected to save Qiu Lu, Wen Lingyu, and those other idiots, didn’t they?”
I kept my eyes on him, silent.
Shen Jienqing forced a smile through gritted teeth, arching his brow. “Of course I can, Li Yuze. If it’s your request, I’ll do it. But… I also need something from you.”
My stomach dropped. Still, I asked, “What is it?”
“It’s nothing urgent. You can take your time.” He said calmly, “I can change the sentencing. But according to the rules of the village, defecting is a major crime. After the change… the punishment might be even harsher.”
I said, “As long as he’s alive, anything is fine.”
“Great. And since you’ve been so curious about the fate of those three idiots, I’ll let you see for yourself tomorrow.”
Their fate?
The parasites he mentioned before?
My heart gave a heavy thud, unease rising like cold water beneath my ribs. Fear won out in the end.