Falling After Marriage - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Figure Out a Way to Get Close to Lin Jin

The windowless rented room, even in the bright morning, could not admit a single ray of light.

In the pitch-black room, a muffled cry of pain suddenly erupted.

Cheng Sangluo’s biological clock was very accurate; she always woke up before her alarm.

She woke up rapidly and habitually sprang up like a carp, dressed, folded her quilt, and tidied her bed—a complete, military-style routine executed in one go.

However, today her attempt to move failed. She was currently gritting her teeth, clutching her sore back, enduring the intense pain that wracked her body.

She crawled inch by inch from the ground, even her hurried breaths seeming to be layered with sharp pain.

This dark, oppressive room had no bed, so when she initially rented it, she also rented the attic as her living space.

After quitting the attic yesterday, she used the cotton padding for a makeshift bed on the floor. However, the padding was too thin and provided no cushioning effect.

She hadn’t thought much of it; she was used to hardship, and managing life was still living. But she hadn’t anticipated the latent injuries from the brutal beating with sticks at Seventeen Port two days ago. She had spent the entire night lying on the hard floor, and her bones felt scattered, making even turning over difficult.

While Cheng Sangluo was still enduring the pain, her ringing phone suddenly rang, distracting her.

She reached for the phone, making a hissing sound. On the fragmented screen, a long-uncontacted name flashed.

When she saw the caller ID, she instantly snapped out of her discomfort, even her motion to swipe the screen appearing anxious.

Fortunately, the caller was patient enough not to hang up.

“Squad Leader?” Cheng Sangluo answered the call, instinctively straightening her back, adopting a parade rest posture. Her tone of doubt was filled with pleasant surprise.

“Ten a.m. at Xisen Park. Meet me. Don’t be late.”

The woman’s voice on the receiver was concise and devoid of warmth. After briefly stating the details, she hung up.

Cheng Sangluo seemed completely unfazed by the attitude. She grabbed her toiletries from the table and hurried out to the communal area to freshen up.

Presumably, the person she was meeting was quite important. Before leaving, she specifically chose the floral shirt Bai Mu had given her.

Although it was too casual to appear formal, it was the only presentable outfit she owned.

There were still over three hours before the scheduled meeting, but Cheng Sangluo left early.

She was in a good mood. She stopped by the convenience store to chat with the landlord for a while, then quickly jogged out of the narrow alley.

The old city renovation district was most bustling in the early morning.

People heading to nearby factories wore uniform work clothes, gathering in small groups. Bus stops were crowded with commuters and students. Therefore, the streets were lined with various small breakfast stalls.

Cheng Sangluo queued at the stall selling steamed buns and rolls. Watching the owner lift the steamer lid, the steam, carrying the fragrance of the buns, made her swallow hard.

She frequently bought the one-yuan laomian rolls here—large and substantial. Buying six at once could last her two days, costing only six yuan.

“Is it six rolls again today?” The proprietress recognized Cheng Sangluo and was about to open the steamer.

Cheng Sangluo grinned, shaking her head: “No, two baskets of buns today. One with savory meat, one with fresh meat.”

“Got it.” The proprietress skillfully grabbed the tongs: “Two baskets of buns, 16 yuan.”

Cheng Sangluo paid and took the piping hot buns. She held them to her nose, sighing, “They smell so good!”

Likely starving, she couldn’t resist grabbing one and eating it whole.

“Hot, hot, hot… hiss…” She breathed out with her mouth open. Tasting the juice of the savory meat bun, she giggled happily.

Happiness was sometimes simple: one bun was enough to satisfy this person leading a meager life.

Cheng Sangluo glanced at the crowded bus stop. She mentally calculated how many transfers it would take to get to Xisen Park. Tallying the cost, she decided to rent a shared bike.

She rode the yellow bike, joining the early rush, weaving through the non-motorized lane during rush hour, feeling as if she were commuting to work.

The still-mild sunlight was comfortable, and the cool morning breeze lifted her bangs.

She occasionally rang her bell and made turns where traffic was sparse, indulging in a rare sense of ease and relaxation along the way.

By the time she parked the shared bike at the park entrance, it was just past eight o’clock.

This was prime time for seniors to exercise. She searched until she finally found a relatively uncrowded resting bench.

While waiting for the person she was meeting, she divided the two bags of different-flavored buns, thinking she could offer the other person some food later.

She held her own bag, reluctant to eat quickly, savoring every slow chew. After all, converted back to rolls, this was worth eight of them.

Cheng Sangluo chewed with bulging cheeks, admiring the park’s greenery and pondering why her former leader would suddenly arrange a meeting with her, a retired soldier.

Waiting always felt long, easily making one restless.

Fortunately, Cheng Sangluo had military training. She could sit like a block of wood for hours, let alone a few.

She wasn’t bored; she constantly thought about many things: how to formulate her next plan, how to raise three million in one month, and how long her post-prison emergency fund, plus the money earned from Lin Jin, could sustain her.

“Cheng Sangluo.”

A powerful, ringing voice suddenly called her name from behind. Cheng Sangluo instinctively stood up, quickly responding: “Here!”

Moments later, a hand patted her shoulder: “It’s not roll call. Why are you so nervous?”

Wei Yun had a neat short haircut. Although not as tall as Cheng Sangluo, her height of 175 cm was quite impressive.

Cheng Sangluo turned around with a mix of nervousness and the joy of a long-awaited reunion, which soon gave way to emotional choking.

She wrapped her arms tightly around the woman in front of her, saying nothing, just burying her head deep, overwhelmed with grievances and helplessness.

Wei Yun was affected by Cheng Sangluo’s complex emotions. She frowned slightly, suppressing the difficulty in her throat: “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit you.”

“It’s okay… it’s okay…” Cheng Sangluo wiped her nose, sat back down, and offered the now-cool buns: “I didn’t know what to get you, so just have some buns.”

“Thank you.” Wei Yun smiled and took the buns, eating one after another directly.

She didn’t care about her crude eating manner; she just wanted the food to quickly fill the uncomfortable void in her heart.

This unpleasant feeling didn’t stem from the cool temperature making the taste bad, but from seeing the once most formidable female special forces soldier worn down by life, her sharpness gone.

Cheng Sangluo scrutinized Wei Yun’s clothing. She wasn’t in uniform, so she must have taken leave. She asked curiously: “How long are you back this time? Are the leaders doing well? Ah… I really miss the buns the mess hall steamed. Thin skin, big filling, and they tasted so good.”

“I have to rush back to the unit tomorrow. I knew you were out but couldn’t reach you. I went to the pris…” Wei Yun explained the reason, swallowing the word ‘prison.’ “Anyway, it took a lot of effort to finally get your phone number.”

Cheng Sangluo understood her caution and smiled with pursed lips: “What a shame. You have to leave right after we meet.”

“I’ve had quite a long leave this time. By the way, I have a gift for you.” With that, Wei Yun took a stack of documents from her crossbody bag and handed it to Cheng Sangluo, explaining: “I was in the gallery during the final verdict, but I didn’t dare meet you. Perhaps not meeting was the best respect for you. You are the best soldier I have ever led, the one I am most proud of. You won so many awards and brought so much honor to the unit. Others don’t know who you are, but I do. This file is the result of my covert investigation over these years. I can finally hand it over to you.”

Cheng Sangluo held the thick file. The inexpressible emotion turned into thin tears pooling in her eyes.

Her lips trembled, and she fell silent, only ceaselessly rubbing the edge of the file until a drop of moisture landed on the smooth paper, splashing into fine fragments, one drop after another.

This person, who had endured every kind of humiliation, had never cried until now. But in front of her former leader, she was heartbreakingly vulnerable.

Wei Yun reached out and vigorously hugged and shook her, commanding sharply: “Why are you crying? Have you forgotten the unit’s rules?”

Cheng Sangluo randomly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, swallowing past her tight throat, and replied: “Sweat and blood, no tears.”

“Your voice is too low. I can’t hear you.”

“Sweat and blood, no tears!”

“I can’t hear you.”

“Sweat and blood, no tears!”

“Say it again.”

Cheng Sangluo strained her neck, the veins bulging as she screamed the repetition: “SWEAT AND BLOOD, NO TEARS!”

“Good. I’m giving you thirty seconds to compose yourself.” Wei Yun nodded in satisfaction. Once Cheng Sangluo regained her composure, she formally introduced the topic of the meeting: “My capabilities are limited. I couldn’t investigate many things within the unit, nor was it convenient for me to be publicly involved. Over the past few years, I’ve used my leave time to gather information.

I found out that the witness who recanted his testimony disappeared not long after the trial ended. He couldn’t be found anywhere, like he vanished into thin air.

If he’s still alive, he is a vital clue to overturning your case. If he’s dead, the chain of evidence is broken.

You need to investigate the Lin Group. Perhaps you can find more clues there. Lin Group’s current CEO, Lin Sheng, and Senyao Group’s boss, Lin Jin, are siblings, and their relationship has always been strained.

Although your case doesn’t directly point to Lin Sheng, Xu Songheng has a close connection with him; you could say he’s his lackey.

At that time, Xu Songheng wasn’t some company boss. Your case was difficult, so it must have been orchestrated by the person behind him. Think carefully again about everyone you encountered on the night of the incident. Don’t miss a single detail of what happened.

I’ve thought of many ways to uncover the truth, but I always feel a wall blocking me. Perhaps Lin Jin is one of your few breakthroughs. Figure out a way to get close to her. You might have unexpected gains. After all, the enemy of your enemy is your teammate.”

Cheng Sangluo listened to Wei Yun’s analysis, nodding with understanding. However, she didn’t tell her former leader that she had already established a connection with Lin Jin.

It was fortunate that another exceptionally capable soldier suggested the same strategy regarding the same matter. This convergence of judgment was enough to confirm that Cheng Sangluo’s direction of investigation was sound.

Cheng Sangluo held the file, lowering her head in deep sorrow: “Thank you for your dedication. So many years have passed. I never thought anyone would remember me or help me.

The label ‘convict’ is already permanently affixed to me. I can’t even remember what I looked like in my uniform.

The me in my memory wears a prison uniform; the person loudly calling ‘Cheng Sangluo’ in my memory is a correctional officer; the high wall in my memory is not a military camp but a cold, hard jail cell.

I tried to hypnotize myself that I could live well in prison, so I folded every inmate’s quilt into a perfect rectangle. I actively participated in labor reform performances, striving to be the best in everything I did.

The inmates laughed at me, saying I was crazy, delusional about being a soldier. But they didn’t know that’s how I used to be. I just changed location, but I still had to live this hard.

But the world is not forgiving. All those honors I fought for became a mockery. My family was ashamed of me for corrupting the family name. Society wouldn’t give me a place to stand. I couldn’t even find a decent job; I couldn’t solve my basic survival needs.

No one knows what an excellent soldier Cheng Sangluo once was. They only know she was convicted of intentional assault, an untouchable convict.”

Cheng Sangluo looked at Wei Yun. She had struggled immensely to restrain the urge to cry, resulting in a trembling, tearful voice by the end.

She had never vented the bitterness in her heart like this, always accustomed to suffering in silence.

But once the words were spoken, the true emotions buried deep within—grievance, resentment, and despair—spilled out uncontrollably.

Wei Yun’s nose twitched. She didn’t know what else she could do for Cheng Sangluo, so she just gave her a sincere hug.

She tightly embraced the person with her deeply hunched neck, gently stroking her slumped shoulders. She longed to help this dejected person regain her lost pride, even if only a small amount.

The atmosphere remained silent for a long, long time. Wei Yun took a deep breath, slowly exhaling her distress.

She took out a business card she had prepared from her pants pocket and handed it to Cheng Sangluo: “If you really can’t find a job, go to this auto repair shop. It’s owned by an old soldier from our unit. I spoke to him. You’re capable of everything, smart and eager to learn. Auto repair is hard work, but it pays well.”

Cheng Sangluo took the business card with both hands, her lips trembling slightly, unable to express her gratitude.

Wei Yun patted her on the back: “Straighten your back. You’ve conquered every hardship. You can certainly take down an enemy and overturn an unfair case.”

The sudden visit of her former company commander was like a spring breeze, sweeping away Cheng Sangluo’s accumulated gloom, and like a beam of light in the darkness, illuminating the difficult path ahead.

The two talked in the park for a long, long time until their separation in the afternoon.

Before leaving, Wei Yun suddenly called out to Cheng Sangluo, specifically advising: “The result is definitely important, but you cannot rush it. Steady progress is the only way to build up momentum. I await your good news.”

Cheng Sangluo looked back at her blankly, suddenly stopping and stamping her foot firmly on the ground.

She quickly adjusted her attire, straightened her chest, executed a perfect military salute, and responded with a firm voice: “Understood!”

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