Volume One, Chapter Three: Could You... Slow Down a Bit?

Shang Chen rode the bicycle with Song Yi sitting on the back seat.

It had been many years since she had ridden such a bicycle, and she wasn’t quite used to it. After hesitating for a long moment, she decided to rest her hand on Shang Chen’s shoulder.

Shang Chen pedaled with his long legs. “Where to?”

Song Yi jolted, her upper body crashing hard against Shang Chen’s back, and she couldn’t help but cry out in pain, “Can… you please go slower?”

Feeling Song Yi’s soft body pressed tightly against his back, as if she were two bundles of cotton, Shang Chen’s dark eyes instantly dimmed, and his voice turned huskier by a few degrees. “The road is uneven. Where are we going?”

Song Yi knew it wasn’t his fault and bit her lip shyly. “To the county.”

Shang Chen cycled toward the county town.

This kind of “two-eight” bicycle was hard to pedal, especially carrying an adult on the back, yet he did so effortlessly, barely changing his breathing.

Watching Shang Chen’s figure recede, Song Yi’s thoughts drifted away.

In her past life, feeling guilty toward Shang Chen, she hadn’t had the courage to face him personally to request a breakup and had sent her mother instead.

That night, she was awakened in the middle of the night by someone shaking her.

Opening her eyes, she saw Shang Chen standing by the bed, his dark eyes heavy with emotion as he looked at her.

She was terrified and almost cried out, but Shang Chen covered her mouth.

He asked if she really wanted to break off the engagement.

At that moment, she was both frightened and angry, tears threatening to spill as she nodded tearfully.

Shang Chen said nothing; after one last glance, he jumped out the window and left.

Looking back, she thought Shang Chen must have been a bit saddened by her fear of him.

But since he usually looked at her so fiercely and had climbed through the window in the middle of the night, how could she not be afraid?

Later, she heard from neighbors that he had joined the army and had died heroically during a pursuit mission.

That year, he was thirty.

She had been melancholy for a long time.

“Shang Chen, are you going to join the army?”

After hesitating for a long while, Song Yi finally asked.

Shang Chen looked back, his cold gaze sweeping over her face. “Who did you hear that from?”

Song Yi thought, oh no, she had forgotten that she and Shang Chen weren’t close, and he hadn’t told anyone about it. By all rights, she shouldn’t have known.

Her fingers clenched tighter on the edge of Shang Chen’s shirt, her eyes glistening as she blinked. “Many people from the village are going; that’s why I asked.”

Shang Chen remained silent.

Song Yi feared saying too much might cause trouble but still advised, “I think joining the army is good, but it’s dangerous. Maybe you should reconsider.”

In her previous life, she had wronged Shang Chen. This time, she wanted to help him avoid an untimely death.

Shang Chen glanced at her but gave no answer.

Half an hour later, they arrived at Juye County.

Looking at the low houses, unfamiliar streets, and crowds of people carrying loads back and forth, Song Yi was at a loss.

She couldn’t remember where her father worked.

Shang Chen locked the bicycle and asked a familiar supply store owner to keep an eye on it. Turning back, he saw Song Yi’s confused face and softened his gaze. “What’s wrong?”

Song Yi was anxious. “I want to find my father, but I don’t remember where he works.”

Shang Chen understood. “Follow me.”

Song Yi paused. “You know?”

Shang Chen said, “I’ve run into Uncle Song a few times in the county.”

Song Yi hurried forward. “Then take me there quickly. I’m afraid I’ll be late.”

Shang Chen’s gaze slid over her small hand gripping his, then he gently caught it. “Wrong way, this way.”

The man’s hand was twice the size of hers, knuckles defined, strong and firm, the palm calloused—a stark contrast to her softness.

Song Yi’s face flushed suddenly. She pulled her hand back and awkwardly rubbed it on her leg. “I… I’ll go by myself.”

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Shang Chen’s palm was very warm. When their hands had briefly touched, the heat seemed to have transferred from his palm to her heart, making her feel strangely unsettled.

Song Xingmin worked on West Street, about ten minutes’ walk from here.

Fearing she would be late, Song Yi hurried with long, quick steps.

Shang Chen noticed the worry on her face and furrowed his brow in slight confusion.

Rushing along, close to noon, Song Yi finally saw Song Xingmin unharmed.

A smile rose between her brows, and just as she was about to call out, she saw the wood leaning against the wall begin to fall, crashing down like a mountain on the man crouching nearby.

Her shout turned into a cry of alarm. The color drained from her face like a tide receding. Terrified, she thought she had shouted, but her voice was barely a whisper. “Dad… run…”

At that moment, a figure as agile as a leopard dashed forward. Just as the wood was about to strike Song Xingmin, he grabbed him and rolled to the side.

Bang—

The wood crashed down, hitting Shang Chen’s back heavily, while one piece landed squarely on Song Xingmin’s foot.

Both groaned simultaneously.

Shang Chen half-knelt on the ground, shielding Song Xingmin, his face contorted in pain.

Song Xingmin was better off but also clutching his ankle, his complexion pale.

Tears surged in Song Yi’s eyes, her legs weak as noodles. She stumbled over to them. “Dad, Shang Chen, are you okay?”

Song Xingmin pushed the wood off his leg, gasping, “I’m fine. Go check on Xiao Shang.”

He glanced warily at the fallen wood.

The timber weighed hundreds of pounds. Without Xiao Shang, he dared not imagine what might have happened.

Relieved, Song Yi helped Shang Chen up and rolled up his shirt.

Seeing the broad, almost palm-sized scar across his entire back, her brow twitched sharply.

She hadn’t expected Shang Chen to rush out to save her father, nor that he’d risk his life for him.

Shang Chen noticed the complex expression on Song Yi’s face and said calmly, “I’m fine. Let’s check on Uncle Song first. His foot is probably injured.”

Li Wang helped Song Xingmin to his feet. “Looks like a serious injury. He needs to go to the hospital. I have a cart here. Old Song, sit on it. Daughter, you help your friend.”

Song Yi saw that Shang Chen didn’t refuse and gently held onto his arm with her tender hand.

By now, a crowd had gathered, including Xie Yu, who had come to the county to buy books.

Seeing Song Yi supporting Shang Chen, who was nearly half leaning on her, Xie Yu’s brow furrowed tightly.

Xie Sisi shouted nearby, “Brother, didn’t Mom say she was going to ask Song Yi for a match today? Why is she in the county and so close to another man?”

Xie Yu shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Xie Sisi sneered, “That Song Yi—didn’t she always say she liked you best? Why is she messing around with another guy? I think she’s immoral, really slutty.”

She and Song Yi had been classmates. She wanted those boys who said Song Yi was prettier than her to see her like this—clinging to another man like that, so disgraceful.

Xie Yu said coldly, “Xie Sisi, watch your manners. Don’t talk like a village woman with those filthy words.”