71: Chapter 71 There is no standard answer to love.

Singularity Technology's office area has been filled with a subtle low-pressure atmosphere lately.

Zhang Fan sat in his office, but his gaze kept drifting unconsciously toward Zhou Yurou's workstation. She was looking down, organizing the cooperation documents for Liwen Group, and the movement of her pen tip across the paper was half a beat slower than usual, clearly lost in thought as well.

Ever since the two agreed to "keep business and personal matters separate," their formerly tacit eye contact had turned into deliberate avoidance, to the point where even discussing work required pulling in Liu Ruyan or Wang Chengsi as a "buffer."

Liu Ruyan had taken "avoiding suspicion" to heart. Previously, she would take the initiative to find Zhang Fan to discuss the details of the "stardust leap" star engine, but now every time she reported on work, she would first knock on Zhou Yurou's door and wait for Zhou Yurou to enter Zhang Fan's office together.

Even at lunch, she deliberately staggered their times, either eating with Wang Chengsi or bringing her own lunch to eat at her desk.

"If this keeps up, our company is going to become a 'Cold War site'," Gu Jingshen complained, leaning over Zhang Fan's desk and lowering his voice. "You and Sister Zhou are clearly interested in each other, yet you insist on acting like strangers; Ruyan is nervous too, and the whole team is uncomfortable."

Zhang Fan rubbed his temples and said nothing—it wasn't that he didn't want to break the stalemate, but every time he saw Zhou Yurou's deliberately distant gaze, the words that reached his lips were swallowed back down.

"I have an idea." Gu Jingshen's eyes lit up, and he slapped the table. "We haven't properly thanked Qin Xue for helping us deal with the internet trolls last time. I'll organize a dinner tonight and invite her. You and Sister Zhou should come too, consider it a team dinner, and it'll smooth out the atmosphere along the way."

Zhang Fan hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. He also wanted to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Zhou Yurou.

At 7:00 PM, in a private room at a time-honored Sichuan restaurant in Jiangcheng, the atmosphere was not as relaxed as Gu Jingshen had anticipated.

Qin Xue was wearing casual clothes—a black hoodie and jeans. She lacked the sharp intensity of her police uniform and looked more refreshing, but as soon as she opened her mouth, there was still a hint of "gunpowder": "Gu Jingshen, you ordered so many spicy dishes, are you trying to murder me?"

"Who's murdering you?" Gu Jingshen retorted. "Didn't you say 'you can't live without spice' last time? Besides, if you don't order spicy dishes at a Sichuan restaurant, what are you supposed to eat?"

While the two were bickering, Zhang Fan picked up a piece of non-spicy sweet and sour pork ribs for Zhou Yurou. His hand froze halfway, then he awkwardly changed direction and placed it in his own bowl. "You... serve yourself."

Zhou Yurou lowered her head and smiled, picked up the serving chopsticks to grab some vegetables, and said nothing.

Gu Jingshen sat on the side, pretending to focus on his phone, but in reality, he was secretly observing the two and sighing inwardly.

The meal barely became lively amidst the bickering between Gu Jingshen and Qin Xue.

After the meal, Gu Jingshen suggested going to the night market: "A handmade ice jelly shop just opened at the Jiangcheng night market, it's delicious. I'll take you all to try it."

The night market was bustling with people, the aroma of various snacks mixed with hawking, and it was so crowded that one had to be careful even when turning around.

Qin Xue was attracted by a stall selling handmade silver jewelry. Just as she crouched down to pick up a bracelet, she caught sight of a man in a black jacket diagonally in front of her, pressing against a girl's bag, his fingers already half an inch inside—it was a thief!

"Watch out!" Qin Xue stood up abruptly to warn her, but it was too noisy, and the girl didn't hear her at all.

Gu Jingshen, quick-witted and wanting to show off in front of Qin Xue, immediately pushed through the crowd and rushed up, reaching out to grab the thief's wrist.

Unexpectedly, the thief reacted quickly and suddenly dodged to the side. Gu Jingshen couldn't hold back his momentum and lunged forward, his elbow hitting Qin Xue, who was beside him.

The night market was packed, and Qin Xue wasn't standing steadily to begin with. Being hit by him, her body swayed instantly.

Gu Jingshen reached out subconsciously to steady her, but in the panic, he didn't get a firm grip. His fingertips hooked onto the inside of the collar of Qin Xue's loose hoodie, and he forcefully yanked on the shoulder strap of her inner bra—a soft "pop" was heard, and the thin strap snapped.

The loose hoodie didn't offer much support, and with the strap broken, the neckline instantly slid down, revealing the light-colored edge of her bra and even a small patch of fair shoulder.

Qin Xue was both ashamed and angry; her face turned red to her ears instantly. She subconsciously raised her hand to hold her collar, the anger in her eyes almost burning: "Gu Jingshen! What are you doing!"

Gu Jingshen was also stunned. Looking at his own hand that he hadn't withdrawn yet, and then at Qin Xue's embarrassed appearance, his mind went blank: "I... I didn't mean to, I wanted to help you..."

The thief had long since run off in the chaos. There were still people around looking curiously in this direction. Qin Xue was ashamed and angry, and subconsciously raised her hand to fight back.

She had practiced grappling at the police academy, and her movements were fast and ruthless. Before Gu Jingshen could react, he heard a crisp "crack," and Gu Jingshen held his arm and screamed: "Ah! My arm! It's broken!"

The sound was loud and miserable. People around immediately gathered, and Qin Xue panicked too. She quickly retracted her hand and, seeing Gu Jingshen grimacing in pain with cold sweat on his forehead, her tone softened: "Are... are you okay? I didn't mean it, I was just too anxious..."

"Still okay?" Gu Jingshen was in so much pain that tears were almost coming out. "I can't move my arm, it must be broken! Qin Xue, you were too ruthless!"

Zhang Fan and Zhou Yurou squeezed over after a long time. Seeing this chaotic scene, they were also dumbfounded.

"Get him to the hospital first." Zhang Fan supported Gu Jingshen and said to Qin Xue, "You come with us, and get a check-up while you're at it, to see if you hit anything else."

"No need, no need!" Gu Jingshen waved his hand, gasping in pain, but he didn't forget to play matchmaker. "You two go back first, I'll just go with Qin Xue, don't let us delay you..."

Before he finished speaking, he was glared at by Qin Xue: "Shut up! You're already broken and you're still talking nonsense! Let's go!"

Zhang Fan and Zhou Yurou looked at each other, both seeing Gu Jingshen's intentions.

Zhou Yurou spoke first: "Then take care, call us if you need anything."

The two left the night market side by side and walked back along the river. The evening breeze brushed across the river, carrying a cool moisture that scattered some of the depression in their hearts. After a long silence, Zhang Fan spoke first: "Lately... are you feeling very uncomfortable?"

Zhou Yurou paused her steps, looking down at the glimmer on the river, her voice very soft: "No, I just think... this is better for everyone."

"It's not better." Zhang Fan looked at her profile; the street lamp light fell on her face, reflecting a faint fatigue. "It's not good for me, not good for you, and even worse for the team. Sister Zhou, can we not be like this anymore?"

Zhou Yurou raised her head, her eyes full of complexity: "Zhang Fan, I didn't mean to distance myself from you. I just... I'm ten years older than you, divorced, and have a child. I'm afraid others will gossip about you, afraid you'll regret it later..."

"I won't regret it." Zhang Fan interrupted her, his tone firm. "I like you as a person, not your age, nor your past. I don't care what others say; I only care about what you think."

Zhou Yurou's tears suddenly fell. She turned her head, wanting to hide it, but was held by the shoulders by Zhang Fan: "Sister Zhou, look at me."

She was forced to turn her head and crash into Zhang Fan's serious gaze.

Zhang Fan's fingers gently wiped away her tears, his movements so gentle as if he were afraid of breaking her: "I know your concerns, but those are not problems. Love has no standard answer, only moving forward—we can face it together. Whether it's gossip from others or future difficulties, I want to carry it with you."

Zhou Yurou's tears flowed even more fiercely, and the emotions that had been suppressed for so long finally erupted: "I... I like you too, but... I've given my all before, and all I got was betrayal and indifference. I'm afraid... I'm afraid this time it will be the same result. Zhang Fan, will we really last?"

Zhou Yurou's tears gushed even more fiercely, as if the tide that had been held back for too long had finally burst the gates. She clutched Zhang Fan's clothes, her voice trembling with a sob: "I... I also really like you, but I've given my heart and soul before, but in the end, I didn't keep anything. Zhang Fan, I'm so scared... can we really keep going together?"

"We will, we definitely will." Zhang Fan immediately gripped her hand tightly, his voice full of unquestionable certainty. "You have to trust me."

Zhou Yurou sniffed, "Then... let's just get along well for a while first, like we used to, eating and walking together, taking it slow. Just, if one day you really don't like me anymore, can you... can you let me leave?"

"That day will never come." Zhang Fan pulled her gently into his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head, his tone as serious as if he were promising the whole world. "I want to marry you and have lots and lots of children."

Zhou Yurou couldn't help but raise her hand and punch his chest, with a bit of coquettishness as she wiped her tears: "Do you think I'm a sow? 'Lots and lots of children'."

Zhang Fan grabbed her hand, his eyes brimming with smiles: "Then are you willing? Willing to be with me and make 'lots and lots of children' come true?"

Zhou Yurou leaned in his arms and nodded, her tears soaking his shirt. The river breeze blew, carrying a faint floral scent, and the wall that had been deliberately built between the two finally collapsed completely at this moment.

Meanwhile, in the hospital, Gu Jingshen was grimacing in pain. Qin Xue sat on the side, holding the diagnosis sheet issued by the doctor—"Slight hairline fracture in the left arm, needs a plaster cast for a month."

She looked at Gu Jingshen's miserable state, feeling a bit guilty, but still stubborn: "Who told you to move around? This is a lesson for you, don't be reckless in the future."

Gu Jingshen looked up at her. Although it hurt a lot, he smiled: "Officer Qin, I got injured to help you catch a thief, shouldn't you be responsible to the end? For example... bring me food for a month?"

Qin Xue's face flushed, and she turned her head away: "In your dreams! I'm so busy at work, when would I have time to bring you food?"

But her fingertips quietly tightened on the diagnosis sheet, and she had already accepted this "trouble" in her heart.