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

Shen Yao was stunned: "Leave? Where to?"

"Let's go south. I have a friend in Guangzhou—he's self-employed—let's go see him—"

"What did you say?" Shen Yao frowned. "You're just making things up."

Zhao Jianhui's fingers, which were gripping her wrist, were trembling.

"Did you hear the explosion just now?" His voice was so low it was almost a whisper. "It was from Workshop Three..."

Shen Yao's pupils contracted slightly.

She certainly heard that loud noise, but now he's so panicked, and he even says he wants to go to Guangzhou—

Could it be...?

She knew what kind of "method" Zhao Jianhui had been dabbling in lately.

He had boasted to her, "Yaoyao, I'm different from my dad. He's rigid and inflexible, sticking to the factory; I'm flexible. I have connections, I can find cheaper sources of goods, and the price difference is my profit."

At that time, Shen Yao only thought that as long as he could make money, that was fine.

She didn't ask for details—nor did she want to know too much. As long as she had money to spend, she didn't care where it came from. That was a man's business.

But now—

exploded.

Workshop No. 3 exploded.

Is it because of those cheaper sources of goods?

Shen Yao's fingertips were icy cold.

"Is...is someone dead?" Her voice was strained.

Zhao Jianhui did not answer. But his expression said it all.

With such a huge commotion at this time, and with all the workers in the factory, deaths were inevitable.

Explosion—critical components—deaths—

Those "cheaper sources" must be problematic.

She followed Zhao Jianhui to department stores, restaurants, and to buy dresses—the money was the difference he saved by using those "cheap sources".

Such a big matter will definitely be investigated. If it is investigated—

Will she be implicated?

No.

Will not.

She didn't know what part it was, which workshop it was installed in, or that it would explode.

She only accepted the gift. Ignorance is no excuse; she'll be fine.

"Yaoyao—" Zhao Jianhui gripped her hand tightly, "Come with me. Before they trace it back to me—we'll leave tonight—"

Shen Yao looked at him.

The man before me had disheveled hair, a pale face, and was trembling all over, like a wild dog that had been chased to the brink of extinction.

Follow him?

Where to? To the south?

Fugitive? Exile? Wandering from place to place?

Why should Shen Yao suffer with a fugitive, living in constant fear and anxiety?

She was with Zhao Jianhui because she wanted the factory director's respectability, a life free from financial worries, and the chance to become the factory director's wife in the future.

Now?

The factory manager's wife's dream was shattered.

But she couldn't refuse outright.

What if Zhao Jianhui, cornered and desperate, turns on her? What if he feels that staying is a betrayal and reports that she also knew about it?

Shen Yao's mind raced.

Before she could speak, her eyes welled up with tears. "Brother Jianhui—"

Her voice trembled, her fingers gripping Zhao Jianhui's sleeve, "Don't panic... calm down..."

"I can't calm down!" Zhao Jianhui practically roared, "Someone's dead! Yao Yao! If this gets back to me, I'll be executed!"

"I know, I know—" Shen Yao said urgently, tears streaming down her cheeks, "but listen to me—walking together is too conspicuous. You, a grown man, won't stand out. But if I, a woman, follow you—people are watching at train and bus stations—what if we get noticed?"

Zhao Jianhui stopped moving.

"You go first." Shen Yao gripped his hand, her voice soft yet urgent. "Once you've settled in, write to me—didn't you say your friend is in Guangzhou? Go stay with him first. As for me—I'll come find you in a couple of days once I've made arrangements."

"But--"

"Trust me." Shen Yao looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "I won't abandon you. But it's really too dangerous for the two of us to walk together right now."

Zhao Jianhui hesitated.

But he was so panicked that he lost his judgment.

What Shen Yao said... seems to make sense.

Walking together as a couple certainly makes the destination bigger.

"So...you really will come?"

"I swear," Shen Yao said, grasping his hand and placing it against her heart. "Write to me when you arrive, and I'll come as soon as I've settled things at home. Jianhui-ge—you have to believe me."

Zhao Jianhui looked into her eyes—those eyes were brimming with tears, filled with reluctance and worry.

He believed it.

"Okay." He nodded emphatically. "I'll go first. Wait for my news. Remember, at Guangzhou Railway Station, look for Brother Zhou, he's in the clothing business."

Shen Yao nodded emphatically.

He glanced at her one last time, then turned and left.

Shen Yao stood at the door, watching his back disappear into the darkness.

The tears have dried.

The expression on his face was as if a mask had been removed.

She turned around, closed the door, and locked it.

Then I went back to bed and pulled the blanket over my head.

Close your eyes.

Starting tomorrow, Zhao Jianhui's matter will have nothing to do with her.

She knows nothing.

She was just an innocent girlfriend who was kept in the dark.

……

Over the past three days, the investigation team has conducted a comprehensive search of the machinery factory's residential compound.

Zhao Jianhui's spending records for the past three months were retrieved.

Department store: Sky blue dress, 42 pieces.

Supply and Marketing Cooperative: Frog-eye sunglasses, thirty-five yuan.

State-run restaurant: treated guests to meals, six times, totaling seventy-eight yuan.

Photo studio: Two photos, twelve yuan.

Shoe store: Women's leather shoes, 28 yuan.

Total: Nearly two hundred yuan.

A person who earns 32.5 yuan a month spent 200 yuan in three months.

It's obvious where the money came from.

The neighbors in the residential compound were also questioned one by one.

"Zhao Jianhui has been frequently seen taking Shen Yao out lately; we've all been watching."

"The two of them went to the department store every day, bringing back bags and packages."

"That girl was dressed so well—a dress, leather shoes, and sunglasses; she was even more fashionable than the girls in the provincial capital."

"I heard that Zhao Jianhui and she are dating and planning to get married."

"Also—on the day of the incident, Zhao Jianhui came to see her. I saw it—the two of them talked for quite a while at the door."

The investigation team's assistant wrote these words down in a notebook and reported them to Team Leader Lin.

Now I'm here on orders to ask her.

Shen Yao sat in the main room of the Shen family home, opposite two members of the investigation team.

She wasn't wearing the sky-blue dress, but a simple white shirt. Her hair was neatly tied in two braids, and she wore no makeup, looking quite proper.

"Comrade Shen Yao, what is your relationship with Zhao Jianhui?"

"Boyfriend and girlfriend." Shen Yao's voice was soft, sounding a little nervous. "We've been dating for over half a year."

Has he done anything unusual lately?

Shen Yao shook her head: "No...it's just a normal relationship. We occasionally go out for meals or go shopping."

What has he bought for you?

Shen Yao's eyelashes trembled.

"I bought...some clothes." She lowered her head, her voice even softer, "and shoes and stuff. I...I thought he was rich. He's from the factory manager's family..."

"Do you know where his money comes from?"

"I don't know." Shen Yao looked up, her eyes slightly red. "I really don't know... I thought his family was well-off... He said he'd buy it for me, so I accepted... I didn't think much of it."

Her voice choked up.

The staff member glanced at her; she seemed quite upset, but they'd seen plenty of people like her. Who among those arrested didn't weep and cry out their innocence? "Someone said he came to see you the day the incident happened. What did you talk about?"

Shen Yao's fingers clenched tightly around the knees of her pants.

"He...he was panicked." She lowered her head, her voice trembling. "He told me to go with him...to the south...I don't know why...I was scared...I didn't agree..."

"Where in the south did he say he was going?"

"He said... he said he had a friend in Guangzhou... but he didn't say anything specific..." Shen Yao's voice trailed off, "But I didn't agree... and then he left..."

The staff members exchanged glances.

"Okay." The staff member closed the notebook. "If you remember anything, please contact us anytime."

Shen Yao nodded and obediently saw them out.

But things didn't pass as peacefully as she had hoped.

The two members of the investigation team left the Shen family's house and met up with their colleagues who were lying in wait at the alley entrance.

"Keep a close eye on her," one of them said. "She knows more than she says."

"clear."