35: Notes of a Paranoid Educated Youth 4

The night Zhou Linchuan brought Wen Ci back to the youth-point, the entire Red Star Farm exploded with chatter.

"Did you hear? Captain Zhou carried that capitalist young lady away from the struggle session!"

"Is he crazy? Isn't he afraid of being labeled 'unstable in his stance'?"

"Tsk tsk, he's still young and hot-blooded, blinded by a vixen..."

Rumors spread like wildfire, but no one dared to say them to Zhou Linchuan's face; they still didn't want to offend him easily.

The older educated youths hid behind the warehouse, smoking, shaking their heads and sighing, "Little Zhou is going to stumble this time."

The female educated youths whispered, their faces flushed, "So Captain Zhou likes that type. But Wen Yan is indeed very pretty, it's just her temper is a bit fiery. Before, when I went to talk to her, she just cursed at me..."

"Exactly! She even cursed at Captain Zhou before, really nasty things. So, I don't know why Captain Zhou suddenly helped her."

"Captain Zhou isn't someone who acts on lust. Otherwise, why was his attitude towards Wen Ci so cold before? But now... sigh, I can't figure it out."

The people from the Revolutionary Committee secretly took note of Zhou Linchuan's actions, calculating how to use this incident later, but after much thought, they still didn't dare.

In short, everyone's thoughts and opinions were varied, but one thing they all couldn't figure out was why Zhou Linchuan would suddenly speak up for Wen Ci.

Lin Hongying was even more perplexed. As soon as she got home, she furiously smashed the enamel cup on the table to vent her anger.

Wen Ci, what right did she have?

Even if it was a man Lin Hongying no longer wanted, it would absolutely not be another woman's turn!

*

As Zhou Linchuan carried Wen Ci through the farm towards his home, gusts of cold wind stung his face.

The night was dark and heavy.

His arms were tensed tightly, knuckles white, as if he was terrified she would fall, yet also as if he wished he could throw her off immediately.

What was he doing?

How did he, against his better judgment, end up carrying her back?

Didn't he always detest this capitalist young lady the most? Why was he helping her now?

Wen Ci, nestled in Zhou Linchuan's arms, could clearly hear the rapid thumping of his heart in his chest.

She secretly glanced up, seeing his jawline extremely tight, his Adam's apple bobbing once, then again.

He was regretting.

He was struggling.

She couldn't help but shrug, deliberately rubbing against his chest.

Zhou Linchuan noticed her movement, paused his steps, and looked down, coldly sweeping his gaze over her, "Move again and get off."

Wen Ci immediately feigned obedience, shrinking her neck, but her fingers secretly clutched his collar.

Getting off was impossible.

Not only was it impossible to get off, she intended to cling to him.

She wouldn't give him a chance to regret.

All the way, Zhou Linchuan's mind was filled with complex thoughts. It wasn't until they entered the house that he suddenly realized the seriousness of the problem.

He had actually brought her back.

Into his own dormitory.

He froze in place, his arms still in the position of holding her, for a moment not knowing how to put her down.

Wen Ci noticed his stiffness, blinked, and quietly asked, "Captain Zhou... what's wrong?"

Zhou Linchuan snapped back to reality, immediately letting go.

"Ah!"

Wen Ci exclaimed, her body going limp, and she tumbled towards the ground.

Zhou Linchuan, quick-witted, grabbed her waist, pulling her back.

Their distance suddenly closed, their noses almost touching.

Wen Ci looked up, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, her breath gently brushing his chin.

Zhou Linchuan's breathing hitched.

Too close.

He abruptly let go, stepped back, and his voice was cold and hard, "What are you doing so close to me?"

Didn't he pull her closer?

Wen Ci furrowed her brows, pitifully steadying herself against the edge of the kang behind her, "Captain Zhou, I, I think I twisted my ankle..."

Zhou Linchuan frowned, "Weren't you fine just now?"

Wen Ci pouted in a wronged manner, "You suddenly let go, I didn't stand steady."

As she spoke, she tentatively took a step forward, then let out a soft "Hiss" and swayed.

And fell into his arms again.

Zhou Linchuan's body stiffened.

Her soft body pressed against him, the faint, delicate fragrance from her hair lingering at his nostrils, making his temples throb.

He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth, "Wen Ci, are you doing this on purpose?"

Wen Ci looked up, her eyes innocent and wronged, "My foot really hurts..."

Zhou Linchuan stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly sneered, grabbing her wrist, "Alright, let me see."

With that, he directly picked her up horizontally, walked to the edge of the kang, and placed her onto it.

Wen Ci's backside hurt a little, and before she could react, he was already kneeling on one knee by the kang, holding her ankle, "Which foot?"

Wen Ci blinked, and whispered, "...Right foot."

Zhou Linchuan sneered, his fingers pressing onto her ankle, rubbing it with a moderate force, "Does it hurt?"

Wen Ci bit her lip, her eyes teary as she nodded.

He pressed again, "Now?"

Wen Ci's eyelashes trembled, but she still nodded.

Zhou Linchuan stared at her, then suddenly let go, straightened up, "You're quite good at pretending."

He scoffed lightly and turned to pour himself some water.

Wen Ci: "..."

Why was she found out?

Seeing that feigning pity was useless, Wen Ci simply changed her strategy.

She sat on the kang, looking up at him, her voice soft, "Captain Zhou, can I sleep with you tonight?"

Zhou Linchuan's hand, which was pouring water, suddenly paused.

He slowly turned, his eyes deep as he looked at her, "...What did you say?"

Wen Ci blinked, her face innocent, "The kang is so big, just share half with me. I promise I won't fight you for space."

She pointed to the thin bedding in the corner, "Besides, you only have one quilt, it will be cold at night. If the two of us sleep together, it will definitely be very warm."

She spoke with a serious expression, as if she had truly analyzed this to be a very good method.

Zhou Linchuan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

The smile was cold and dangerous, sending shivers down one's spine.

"Wen Ci."

He approached her step by step, leaning over and bracing himself beside her, his hot breath fanning her face, "Do you think I wouldn't dare touch you?"

Seeing Zhou Linchuan's eyes turn cold and deep, Wen Ci immediately shrank her neck, then lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes.

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, with a slight tremor, "I... I am all alone now, no one likes me, and no one cares if I live or die..."

She looked up, her eyelashes damp, like butterfly wings touched by morning dew, fragile and pitiful.

"Captain Zhou, I only have you left."

"You saved me."

She gently tugged his sleeve, her fingertips cold, her grip light, as if afraid of being shaken off, yet stubbornly refusing to let go.

"If even you don't want me..."

She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

She would die.

Zhou Linchuan's breathing hitched slightly.

He stared at the fingers clutching his sleeve—slender, pale, their tips faintly blue from the cold.

She was right.

Currently, she truly had no one to rely on.

Her identity as a capitalist young lady made her despised by everyone, and even basic survival became a problem.

And the weather... it was indeed getting colder and colder.

Winter would soon arrive, and her delicate body wouldn't be able to withstand it.

He recalled the scene he had seen during his night patrols before: the shed roof leaked, and cold wind, carrying dry leaves, blew in, making even the livestock shiver slightly.

Let alone a fragile young lady like her.

If he still sent her to sleep in the cowshed...

She would freeze to death.

This thought flashed through his mind, and Zhou Linchuan's brows furrowed deeply.

Why should he care whether she lived or died?

She was nothing but a liar full of falsehoods.

Her approaching him was merely for survival, it didn't mean she truly respected him in her heart.

Those mocking words from before were still vivid in his memory.

Had he forgotten so quickly?

Zhou Linchuan's eyes deepened, and his fists gradually tightened.

Yet, looking at her pitiful and dependent posture, his heart felt as if it had been fiercely clutched by something.

He actually... softened.

Why was she so dependent on him? Did he look like a good person?

Or was her acting just that convincing?

Wen Ci was a little uneasy, wondering if he would agree. If he stubbornly refused, what should she do?

She lowered her head, making herself appear even more pitiful, carefully surveying the room out of the corner of her eye.

Zhou Linchuan's dormitory was the single room at the easternmost end of the educated youth point. The ten-square-meter room had a dirt kang that occupied half of it, and a homemade bookshelf nailed to the wall, filled with red books and some dictionaries.

He was also an intellectual.

This room was quite far from the surrounding neighbors. If she made some noise in the middle of the night, if she was quiet enough, she definitely wouldn't be discovered.

What a good place.

And usually, few people interacted with Zhou Linchuan.

Even more convenient.

Staying here was the most convenient way for her to approach him.

She absolutely could not be driven away.

Zhou Linchuan didn't know what Wen Ci was thinking. Seeing her pitiful appearance with her head lowered, he finally closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his eyes were still cold and deep, but his tone had softened a bit.

"Sleep on the kang."

He curtly dropped these three words, then turned to rummage through the cabinet for bedding.

Wen Ci's eyes lit up. She immediately got off the kang and followed him, her voice soft, "Captain Zhou, you're so kind. Then tonight, we..."

Zhou Linchuan didn't look back. Bending down, he searched for things while speaking in a detached voice, "Don't push your luck."

Wen Ci stood behind him, swallowing, her gaze falling on the man's lean waist outlined by his shirt, and those long legs, as well as his broad, reassuring back muscles.

Wonderful.

Her gaze slowly moved downwards, and just as she was about to observe his 'capital' up close, the man suddenly turned around and stared at her.

Wen Ci quickly lowered her eyelashes, looking utterly obedient.

Zhou Linchuan narrowed his eyes slightly, inexplicably feeling that something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

He spread the quilt on the kang. When he slept alone, one quilt was enough, but this delicate young lady clearly had poor physical health. If he didn't get two quilts, she would probably get sick and cling to him even more.

Such a hassle.

Wen Ci watched him skillfully make the bed, and five words involuntarily rose in her heart: a good family man.

"Captain Zhou, am I sleeping here tonight?"

"Mm." The man's voice was extremely cold, and his speed in making the bed didn't slow down at all.

"What about you?"

After making the bed, he turned and got another thin blanket, "Mind your own business."

With that, he was about to make do on the long bench by the door for the night.

But he couldn't always sleep on the bench. Tomorrow, he still had to find a way to send Wen Ci away.

If he spoke to the Revolutionary Committee, they would arrange accommodation for her.

Just as he was thinking, Wen Ci grabbed him, "Captain Zhou..."

She bit her lip, and whispered, "It's so cold tonight, you, you should sleep on the kang too."

Zhou Linchuan froze in place. Half a second later, he suddenly turned around, his gaze dangerous, "Wen Ci, do you know what you're saying?"

Wen Ci shrank her neck, but the hand clutching his sleeve didn't let go, "I, I'm afraid you'll get sick from the cold. You're my lifesaver now, how can I let you sleep on a bench?"

Her voice grew softer and softer, eventually becoming almost a whisper, "Besides, the kang is so big... it can fit two people."

"Then you sleep on the bench."

Wen Ci was stunned for a moment, looking up with a blank expression, "Huh?"

"If you can't, then don't pull me."

Wen Ci pursed her lips, finally let go of his hand, then silently picked up the thin blanket from his hand and walked towards the bench.

Zhou Linchuan, quick-witted, grabbed her, frowning fiercely, "What are you doing?"

Wen Ci looked up and smiled brightly at him, "I'm going to sleep on the bench, Captain Zhou. You sleep on the kang. My physical health is very good, I'm very durable."

The two words "very durable" made Zhou Linchuan's eyes darken slightly, wondering what he was thinking about.

At this moment, Wen Ci let out a small sneeze.

Zhou Linchuan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly sneered, pulling her towards the kang, "You sleep on the inside."

He strode back to the edge of the kang, unbuckled his military belt, and laid it across the middle of the kang, his voice cold and hard, "This is the boundary. Cross it at your own risk."

Wen Ci's expression went blank for a moment, and after a while, she nodded obediently, looking exceptionally submissive, and quietly said, "Thank you, Captain Zhou."

Zhou Linchuan tightened his jaw and didn't look at her again, turning to go out and wash up.

Once he was out, Wen Ci gently curved her lips.

At her own risk, huh?

That military belt would eventually fall off.