He was a disabled military officer who doted on his research work in the Northwest.

In the ward, after Shen Tang left, Mu Qinghan put down the soup bowl and continued flipping through the magazine as if nothing had happened.

But he kept glancing at Shen Tang's departing figure and expression out of the corner of his eye.

She walked faster than usual.

Mu Qinghan lowered her eyes, and her lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

She cared, because of the bright moon.

This discovery allowed a corner of his heart, which had always been tense, to relax a little.

Mu Chengyuan held the soup bowl, observing the subtle changes in his younger brother's expression. He slowly took a sip of the soup, already having formed his own judgment.

This trip to Northwest China has truly broadened my horizons.

……

That afternoon, Mu Chengyuan didn't mention the bracelet again. He accompanied Mu Qinghan for a physiotherapy session and then took a walk around the area around the hospital.

As evening approached, Shen Tang came to give Mu Qinghan her daily acupressure massage, as usual.

Mu Chengyuan and Su Mingyue were still in the hospital room.

"I'm here for a massage." Shen Tang walked in, paused slightly upon seeing the two extra people, then resumed her natural demeanor. "If Brother Mu and Comrade Su are not feeling well, you can—"

"It's alright, you do your thing." Mu Chengyuan waved his hand with a smile, "I also want to see what this 'miraculous massage technique' that Old Chen mentioned is all about."

Shen Tang glanced at Mu Qinghan, who nodded slightly.

She lifted the thin blanket as usual, revealing Mu Qinghan's calves.

Both Mu Chengyuan and Su Mingyue noticed that Mu Qinghan showed no resistance or discomfort when Shen Tang lifted the blanket. This man, who had been extremely averse to physical contact since childhood, was completely unfazed by a woman's approach.

Shen Tang's technique was as professional as ever—precisely locating acupoints with her fingertips, applying pressure with just the right amount of force, and rolling with a steady and rhythmic frequency. She was completely focused, her eyes lowered, exuding a calm and professional aura.

As Mu Chengyuan watched her movements, his initial certainty in taking the bracelet and settling the old agreement began to waver slightly.

Old Chen is right. This girl is indeed extraordinary.

This isn't some superficial skill learned in the countryside. This is a professional technique developed through systematic training and with a solid theoretical foundation.

Ten minutes later, Shen Tang stopped and got up to wash her hands.

Su Mingyue watched intently the whole time, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Shen Tang, your technique is amazing! Where did you learn it?"

"It was taught to me by an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the countryside," Shen Tang replied with a smile while wiping her hands, giving the exact same answer as she had given to Doctor Chen.

Su Mingyue said "Oh," and although she found it a bit mysterious, she didn't ask any further questions.

Mu Chengyuan silently noted down the answer.

……

That evening, Mu Chengyuan and Dr. Chen were having tea in the hospital's duty room.

Su Mingyue went to the compound and found a temporary guesthouse to stay in.

"Old Chen, how much do you know about the situation with the Shen family?" Mu Chengyuan asked casually, holding his enamel mug.

Doctor Chen shook his head: "Not much. All they know is that the Shen family owns a machinery factory in the city, and the father's name is Shen Guoping; he's a mid-level manager at the factory. When the engagement was arranged with the Mu family, the Shen family only knew you were 'from the military,' and had no idea what the Mu family's status was in Beijing."

"That's why they dared to so rashly send their own daughter to take the blame." Mu Chengyuan's tone remained gentle, but a barely perceptible chill flashed in his eyes. "If they knew the Mu family's true strength, they would never have done this."

"What are you planning to do?"

Mu Chengyuan put down his teacup and smiled. "I'll go to the city tomorrow. I won't reveal my identity; I'll just say an old comrade asked me to check things out near the Shen family's place."

Doctor Chen frowned: "You're going yourself?"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Mu Chengyuan stood up and patted his old friend on the shoulder. "I just want to find out one thing—who exactly is Shen Tang? What she said, what she did…" He paused, "whether it's true or false, we'll find out when we get there."

He walked to the door, then suddenly turned back, looking at Doctor Chen with a half-smile: "By the way, Old Chen, what do you think—what does Qinghan mean to that girl?"

The military doctor felt a chill run down his spine from that look, and gave a dry laugh: "Why are you asking me about something like this? Don't you have eyes?"

Mu Chengyuan smiled, didn't ask any more questions, and left.

Moonlight streamed through the corridor windows, casting a cool, clear glow on the floor.

Mu Chengyuan walked down the corridor with his hands behind his back, his pace neither hurried nor slow, a slight smile still lingering on his face, but his mind was already racing—

The Shen family's background, Shen Tang's origins, her younger brother's attitude, the fate of the bracelet, and the old lady's intentions...

He needs to see and weigh all the variables himself.

This is Mu Chengyuan—he never rushes to conclusions, but once he takes action, he is infallible.

The next morning, Mu Chengyuan changed into a low-key gray-blue work uniform and folded his military uniform under his pillow. He straightened his collar in front of the mirror and messed up his hair a little to make himself look less "official".

Su Mingyue was already waiting at the door. She had also changed into casual clothes—a navy blue polyester jacket, her braids tucked into an old military cap, making her look like a cadre's family member on a business trip to the countryside.

"What are you going there for?" Mu Chengyuan raised an eyebrow at her.

"We're just killing time anyway," Su Mingyue said matter-of-factly. "Besides, it's more natural for two people to gather information than one. It's like a married couple visiting relatives; no one will suspect anything."

Mu Chengyuan smiled and didn't refuse again. Although Su Mingyue was carefree, she grew up in a military compound and was quite adept at reading people. Having another person meant having another pair of eyes, which was good.

The two hitched a ride on a military truck that was delivering supplies to the city and got off at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative outside the factory's residential area.

……

The Northwest Machinery Factory was the largest state-owned enterprise in the city, supporting most of the urban population. The residential area was right next to the factory gate, with rows of drab, gray apartment buildings standing in neat rows. Clotheslines strung between the buildings were filled with clothes stiffened by the northwest wind.

Mu Chengyuan bought two jin of fruit candy and a pack of cigarettes at the supply and marketing cooperative, and chatted with the old lady behind the counter with a smile.

"Sister, I'm from the army. An old comrade asked me to visit his relative on my way here. His surname is Shen, I think his name is Shen Guoping. He works at our machinery factory? Do you know which building he lives in?"

Upon hearing this, the auntie from the supply and marketing cooperative immediately perked up: "Shen Guoping? I know him! Unit 2, Building 3! He's a celebrity in the factory—he was just promoted to deputy factory director a while ago!"

"Deputy factory director?" Mu Chengyuan smiled and placed another pack of cigarettes on the counter. "Looks like Old Shen's doing pretty well."

"That's right!" the middle-aged woman said in a low voice, her face full of gossipy excitement. "But this deputy factory director, well... everyone knows what's going on. His adopted daughter, Shen Yao, is dating Director Zhao's son, Zhao Jianhui! He got this deputy factory director position somewhat because of Director Zhao's connections."

Mu Chengyuan continued to guide the conversation calmly: "An adopted daughter? Doesn't he already have a biological daughter?"

"Her own daughter?" The woman exclaimed, her voice even lower. "You mean that abducted girl? She was rescued from the countryside by the police a while ago. But guess what? She was only back for a few days before Shen Guoping and his wife sent her away!"

The older woman wiped the counter with a rag, muttering to herself, "I heard she signed some kind of severance agreement, and they kicked her out without even paying her much money. Poor girl, she was kidnapped for over ten years, finally returned home, only to be kicked out and forced to marry a cripple without even a hot meal."

"Crippled..." Mu Chengyuan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. This was how the Shen family viewed Qinghan; otherwise, they wouldn't have sent the unfavored Shen Tang over.

"Who says otherwise!" The middle-aged woman slammed her hand on the counter indignantly. "Look how well they treat their adopted daughter—everything they provide, from food and clothes to other necessities, is tailored to Shen Yao! Their own daughter, on the other hand, is treated like a wild child, wanting to get married as soon as she gets back, so pitiful…tsk tsk…"

Mu Chengyuan chatted for a few more minutes and inadvertently learned more details—Shen Guoping was promoted to deputy factory director less than a week after Shen Tang was sent away. Factory Director Zhao was very fond of Shen Yao, his "future daughter-in-law," but recently he complained about her low education level and forced her to get a high school diploma.

After saying goodbye to the supply and marketing cooperative aunties, Mu Chengyuan and Su Mingyue slowly walked along the path in the residential area.

When they were almost at Building No. 3, Mu Chengyuan stopped.

At the entrance of Building 3, a young couple was walking out, chatting and laughing.

The man was in his early twenties, fair-skinned, wearing a fashionable polyester shirt, and sporting a neat side-parted hairstyle. He had one arm around the woman's waist, and in the other hand he carried a net bag of apples, his face radiating a sense of pampered superiority.

The woman was also in her early twenties, with delicate features. She was wearing a floral dress and holding the man's arm. Her walk had a deliberate coyness—as if she were imitating a female lead in a movie, but she didn't quite get it right, and there was always a hint of affected affectation.

"Brother Jianhui, are these apples for Uncle Zhao?" A woman's sweet voice drifted over.

"Yeah, my dad's been complaining about the fruit at the factory cafeteria lately, so I went to the supply and marketing cooperative to pick some out. Yao Yao, come with me, my dad'll be so happy to see you."

Brother Jianhui, Zhao Jianhui.

Yao Yao, Shen Yao.