Chapter 29: A Secret Pact for Life

But later, there was an occasion when that man, both openly and subtly, asked Tan Dezheng about Zhong Xiao. Tan Dezheng hesitated for a long time, unsure how to respond.

By then, Zhong Xiao was already seeing Zhou Yongxin.

And it happened right in front of Tan Dezheng.

She tore up the engagement she had agreed upon with that man.

After that, Tan Dezheng often avoided the subject, and the man seemed to have guessed something, no longer asking about Zhong Xiao.

Tan Dezheng was pondering how to break the news in advance, when suddenly Zhong Xiao asked,

“Granduncle, what’s his name again?”

Tan Dezheng was speechless.

She was about to go seek refuge with the man, yet didn’t even know his name.

“He’s called Song Tingshen, the second son of the Song family. He has an elder brother, but...”

“But what?” Zhong Xiao pressed.

A look of regret crossed Tan Dezheng’s face.

“Ah, so young, what a pity, he…”

“Dead?” Zhong Xiao asked, then realized something was off and quickly corrected herself, “Sacrificed for the country?”

Tan Dezheng nearly reached out to cover Zhong Xiao’s mouth.

“What are you saying? It’s not that. He was injured during a mission—his spine, and he’s been paralyzed from the waist down. He’s been bedridden in the military camp for years now, recuperating. I don’t know if he’s gotten any better, or if he’ll ever stand again.”

Zhong Xiao mused, “What kind of injury? Nerve damage?”

“I’m not too clear on the specifics,” Tan Dezheng answered. “The Song family went to Taizhou Island all those years ago, and with constant warfare on the border, they’d hardly finished resting before another mission would come up. They haven’t had a chance to return in all this time. Otherwise, Shen would have definitely...”

Here, Tan Dezheng fell silent.

Instead, he gave Zhong Xiao a meaningful look.

Zhong Xiao didn’t understand. “Definitely what?”

He chuckled awkwardly. “Nothing, nothing.”

Zhong Xiao didn’t dwell on it. She glanced at the time and said,

“Granduncle, time is tight, and the winds in Yuecheng change quickly. I’d better hurry and send word to Taizhou Island, confirm the timing, and set out as soon as possible.”

With that, she gathered her things and went out.

She was off to send a telegram to Song Tingshen.

The telegram Zhong Xiao sent to Song Tingshen was exceedingly simple.

“I’m coming to see you.”

Just a single line.

It sounded as if she was inviting him out for a meal, not going to get married.

Tan Dezheng asked, “With a message like that, what if Shen doesn’t realize you’re coming to marry him?”

Zhong Xiao shrugged. “Marriage or not, either way is fine.”

She wasn’t worried that Song Tingshen would be unwilling to marry her.

Because, as she remembered her grandfather once saying,

The Song family always honored their promises. No matter what, as long as Zhong Xiao was willing to go, she would be family, alive or dead, and they would care for her for the rest of her life.

Besides,

She wasn’t necessarily going there just to marry Song Tingshen.

As long as she made it to Taizhou Island—far from Yuecheng, far from all this turmoil and conflict—she could finally live in comfort.

Perhaps, after a few years, when all this movement ended and the college entrance exams resumed, she could return.

Having lived this life before, Zhong Xiao knew she only had to endure a few more years.

Everything would be all right.

Reform would come, and the exams would return.

It was just a matter of who could outlast the other.

After sending the telegram, Tan Dezheng was about to return to the hospital when Zhong Xiao, parting ways with him, suddenly remembered something and called out to him.

“Granduncle, I need your help with two things.”

“First, Du Huacheng and Du Yinger, after moving out of the Zhong family, will surely be staying at the state-run restaurant’s guesthouse. Keep an eye on their movements for me. As soon as Du Huacheng leaves, send someone to tail him quietly.”

“Second, I have a letter of accusation here. Please take it to the Red Committee right away, time is of the essence. Tonight, I’ll be taking action!”

That’s right.

Once the Du family was dealt with, it would be Zhou Yongxin’s turn.

-

When Zhong Xiao returned to the Zhong residence, sure enough, she saw Zhou Yongxin pacing anxiously outside the main gate.

Zhong Xiao sneered inwardly.

Just as expected—he had come sniffing around like a dog.

She composed her expression and walked up to him.

Zhou Yongxin brightened when he saw her, apparently delighted.

“Xiaoxiao, our goal has been achieved. About us—when can we…”

She interrupted him.

“Yongxin, you should go. Don’t linger here. There are guards all around.”

He was startled.

He looked around.

Saw no one.

“What guards?” he asked.

“Don’t you know?” Zhong Xiao said. “Yang Yuehe was caught for stealing from the Zhong family. Now everyone’s watching this place. They say there’s treasure in the house. I live here alone now, and I’m afraid people have their eyes on me. The police are stationed nearby at all times.”

“You may not see them, but they’re hiding in the shadows. Let’s not alert them.”

Zhou Yongxin was taken in by her story.

He was about to speak,

When he noticed tears glistening in Zhong Xiao’s eyes.

“Yongxin, I really love you. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in the dark, deceived by everyone.”

Her sudden shift left Zhou Yongxin at a loss, and guilt pricked at him instinctively.

Before he could react,

Zhong Xiao went on,

“Yongxin, I can’t wait any longer. I want to give you everything I have!”

He barely needed a second to respond. Desire instantly clouded his mind, banishing all reason.

His eyes shone with base yearning.

“Xiaoxiao, do you mean it?”

“Of course I do,” Zhong Xiao replied. “But the Zhong family is being watched too closely right now. So, Yongxin—”

“Tonight at ten, meet me in the woods at Xizi Grove, the place where you once saved me, where we first met. Let’s pledge ourselves to each other there!”

“Yongxin, tonight at ten. Don’t be late!”