Chapter 4: Double Beating

“Yes, of course I’m willing!” The surprise came so suddenly that when Sheng Zexi finally processed it, a huge smile tugged at his lips. Afraid Gu Jianing would notice, he quickly tried to suppress the grin, pacing back and forth in the room for a while before finally sitting down.

“I’m so great, and I’m an officer too. Anyone with eyes would know to pick me. At least this time you finally aren’t blind.”

Gu Jianing thought: This guy is good, but his mouth is really vicious.

Sheng Zexi continued to feed her, not stopping until Gu Jianing had finished all the sweet rice wine eggs.

Whether it was the painkillers or the sweet eggs, Gu Jianing’s stomach no longer hurt, and her complexion wasn’t so pale anymore.

“I’m leaving now. Wait for me tomorrow.” He had sneaked in, so he couldn’t stay too long.

His rough, calloused hand gently stroked Gu Jianing’s hair as she lay down. Just as he had come, Sheng Zexi slipped out the window and left quietly.

Gu Jianing stared at the window, now closed again, for a long time before finally looking away.

Sheng Zexi didn’t leave right away. He gazed in the direction of the educated youth camp, his eyes dark and brooding.

By evening, when everyone finished work, Wen Zhuqing limped back to the educated youth camp, his usually refined face clouded with gloom.

At noon, he’d been beaten up. A sack had suddenly dropped over him, and before he could fight back, fists and kicks rained down. By the time he struggled free, there was no one around.

Who could have done it?

Thinking about Gu Jianing jumping into the river today, and the Gu family’s temperament, Wen Zhuqing narrowed it down to one person: Gu Yunzou, the third Gu brother, known for his hot temper, strong fists, and fierce loyalty!

He touched the corner of his eye, wincing at the sharp pain. Wen Zhuqing sucked in a breath, his eyes narrowing. Once he got Gu Yunting’s job, he wouldn’t let Gu Yunzou off!

Thinking that Gu Jianing had jumped into the river today, she probably wouldn’t come see him until tomorrow or the day after to give him the job. Lost in thought, he wandered into a secluded area. When he realized he was alone, a bad feeling crept over him. Sure enough, his instincts were right—a second sack dropped from above, and he was beaten up all over again.

He didn’t know how long it lasted, but eventually the beating stopped. He couldn’t hear any movement; it seemed the person had left.

After struggling for a long time, Wen Zhuqing finally broke free of the sack and breathed in fresh air, feeling like he’d just come back to life.

His once refined face was now swollen and bruised, barely recognizable—like a pig’s head, nothing like his usual self.

Wen Zhuqing was certain the attacker was jealous of his looks—every punch had been aimed at his face.

After a while, Wen Zhuqing braced himself against a tree and managed to stand up, every part of his body aching.

His expression was dark, his eyes cold and vicious.

Who was it this time?

He was sure it wasn’t Gu Yunzou. So who was it? Someone else from the Gu family, or another jealous person from the educated youth camp?

Wen Zhuqing couldn’t even be sure if the attacker was a man or a woman—there had been no footsteps, not even a sound.

Whoever it was, they’d better hope he never found out. Otherwise…

Wen Zhuqing forced himself back to the educated youth camp. When the others saw his battered state, they gasped in shock.

When asked what happened, he just said he’d accidentally fallen, but then casually hinted at Gu Yunzou.

There were plenty of girls at the camp who liked Wen Zhuqing, and they were instantly indignant.

“It must have been that third Gu brother, taking out his anger over Gu Jianing jumping into the river on you,” Zhao Weihong said, clenching her fists and scowling.

“It’s always Gu Jianing pestering you and making your life miserable. She brought this on herself by jumping into the river, but now the villagers are blaming Wen Zhuqing. How could it be his fault that Gu Jianing wanted Gu Yunting’s job?”

In Zhao Weihong’s eyes, Wen Zhuqing was gentle as jade, handsome, kind, and from a good family in Shanghai—the perfect husband. Even though she herself was rather mannish and had a rough voice, after Wen Zhuqing once gave her a white steamed bun, she’d fallen for him and always stood up for him.

Whether in the camp or in Huaihua Village, countless women liked Wen Zhuqing.

But Wen Zhuqing had said: he came to the countryside to help build a new rural China, not to rush into dating or marriage.

Zhao Weihong thought Wen Zhuqing wasn’t just good-looking and kind, but also had high ideals, which made her like him even more.

Of all the girls who liked Wen Zhuqing, the one Zhao Weihong disliked most was Gu Jianing.

Gu Jianing always used her father’s position as village chief to come to the camp and pester Wen Zhuqing. Wen Zhuqing was just too nice, didn’t know how to refuse, and was afraid of hurting people’s feelings, so Gu Jianing kept pushing her luck.

Zhao Weihong worried that, in the end, Wen Zhuqing would give in to public pressure and end up with Gu Jianing.

Just then, Li Juan, with two neat braids and a delicate face, came in carrying a basin of water. “Wen Zhuqing, here, use this to wash your face and put on some medicine.”

Apparently having overheard Zhao Weihong’s indignation, she added, “We educated youth are at a disadvantage in this village. We can’t stand up to the locals. Whatever they say goes, and we just have to swallow our grievances.”

As if offhandedly, she mentioned something else: “Oh, by the way, I heard a matchmaker came to Huaihua Village today. Someone’s coming to see Gu Jianing, and she agreed to it.”

Half-reclining on the bed, Wen Zhuqing’s eyes flashed and his brows furrowed, but after a moment he relaxed.

It must be a lie.

Wen Zhuqing knew how devoted Gu Jianing was to him. She’d even jumped into the river for him today, all to get that job and please him, to be with him. How could she suddenly agree to meet someone else?

The girls didn’t dare confront the Gu family over Wen Zhuqing’s beating, but secretly, they were a little pleased. With Wen Zhuqing unwell lately, it was their chance to show how much they cared for him, to make a good impression and get closer to him.

-

That evening, Sheng Zexi drove back from Huaihua Village to the hotel in town.

Lying on the bed, hands behind his head, his tall frame nearly took up the entire two-meter-long bed. His long legs were casually crossed, exuding a lazy, relaxed air. He glanced at the bag of gifts he’d prepared on the cabinet, and thinking back to his time with Gu Jianing that day, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, his phoenix eyes sparkling.

But then, as if remembering something, his just-softened expression darkened again.

He could tell that Gu Jianing had probably really liked that Wen Zhuqing before.

But now, she’d changed her mind and was willing to give him a chance.

“Wen Zhuqing, you pretty boy!” Sheng Zexi muttered through gritted teeth, jealousy prickling his heart like a tangle of thorns.

Taking a deep breath, Sheng Zexi finally calmed down a little.

He knew Gu Jianing didn’t like him that much—maybe she just had a bit of a crush.

But that was fine.

All he needed to do now was seize this opportunity, get Gu Jianing to marry him as soon as possible, take her with him to the army, and keep her by his side.

Once she was his, he was confident that he’d eventually take root in that silly girl’s heart, grow into a towering tree, and kick that so-called Zhuqing or Juqing out of her life for good.

Heh, anyone who could coax that silly girl into jumping into a freezing river just for a job couldn’t be a good person. Beating him up today was just collecting a little interest in advance.

The only thing was…

When he told them about his health tomorrow, he didn’t know how the little girl or the Gu family would react. Would they reject him?"