After the rain, the wind stopped in front of the river. - Chapter 18

Lin Yuluo Got Injured

Lin Yuluo hated that feeling. She also hated Gu Junchuan. He had forcibly pushed her into becoming a “bad person” and had even tried to drive her crazy. She sat on the bus with her mind blank, constantly feeling as if Gu Junchuan’s tongue was still in her mouth, forcing her to suck along with him. No matter how much water she drank, that awful sensation lingered.

When Lin Yuluo arrived at the club, Kong Qingyang was unexpectedly there. He and Fang Liu were sitting in the lounge area, talking quietly. When they saw Lin Yuluo, they smiled and waved at her.

Fang Liu turned back to greet her before returning to his conversation with Kong Qingyang. “It’s rare to see you so warm toward someone,” he said.

“Coach Luoluo is really nice,” Kong Qingyang replied.

“In what way?”

“She’s not impatient for quick results, and she’s straightforward. That’s very good,” Kong Qingyang explained. Lin Yuluo had only attended two of his law classes, yet some young lawyers were already asking him about her.

Fang Liu smirked. “It’s because she’s beautiful, a kind of passcard,” he summarized.

“Not really. Mainly, attending her class is comfortable, and being with her is comfortable too,” Kong Qingyang said.

“So you’re clearly satisfied with Luoluo!” Fang Liu hinted. “Last time I tried to introduce you to a girlfriend, I didn’t see you giving such a high evaluation of anyone.”

“You don’t need to introduce me to a girlfriend. If you do, it’s hard for me to refuse. Meeting them would still require acting. I don’t want to get married,” Kong Qingyang said. “I am a clear-cut, thorough non-marriage advocate.”

“An elite non-marriage advocate,” Fang Liu teased.

Kong Qingyang packed Fang Liu’s documents into a folder and stood up. “I have to go. I have a meeting this morning. I’ll come to class after finishing my work in the afternoon.”

“I’ll see you off,” Fang Liu said.

While reversing his car, Kong Qingyang saw through the rearview mirror that Lin Yuluo had changed into her yoga outfit. She walked out, smiling as she collected the materials from the front desk and sat on the high stool by the window, flipping through them.

Thinking of how Fang Liu always tried to probe his feelings toward Lin Yuluo, he reflected on whether he treated her differently. Perhaps he did. Someone like Kong Qingyang had seen too many clever people, but encountering someone without scheming felt refreshing. He was also willing to help her.

He picked up the phone. “Sister Lan, I’m heading out. I’m bringing a mysterious guest to your house today,” he said.

“Welcome,” Lin Shuxue replied. “Just be careful with your words today. My son will also be there.”

“No problem,” Kong Qingyang said.

The mysterious guest Kong Qingyang referred to was a wealth planner. During previous discussions with Lin Shuxue, she had repeatedly asked about estate arrangements. Kong Qingyang thought it would be better to bring a friend who could explain things clearly.

This friend, named Mu Liyao, was extraordinary. Being a wealth planner was just a hobby he dabbled in—it couldn’t even be called a profession. He was a middle-aged adventurer, antique collector, and traveler, with taste and charisma.

When the aunt led in the two extremely charismatic men, even the usually arrogant and self-important Gu Junchuan gave them a serious look.

Mu Liyao’s British gentleman outfit contrasted sharply with Kong Qingyang’s high-end elite style. Coupled with the way his gaze lingered on Lin Shuxue for a moment, Gu Junchuan sensed yet another layer of intrigue. But Lin Shuxue clearly wanted to avoid him, guiding the guests toward the reception room and casually saying, “If you’re not going to the company today, keep an eye on lunch for me this afternoon. We’ll entertain at home at noon.”

Lin Shuxue closed the door to the reception room and began boiling water to prepare tea.

“Now the north and south are synchronized. In the past, business was mostly conducted over drinks in the north,” Mu Liyao said with a smile.

“I had a stomach bleed for one year. After that, I stopped doing business over drinks,” Lin Shuxue replied with a smile and asked, “What tea would you like?”

“Whatever the host prefers,” Kong Qingyang said, putting his briefcase aside. “Today we’ll just chat casually.”

“Alright,” Lin Shuxue said, looking at Mu Liyao. “I heard you’re preparing a camping base in Yunnan?”

“Yes. Just starting the planning. Interested?”

“Yes,” Lin Shuxue nodded. “Everyone is talking about wealth planning. I’ve been studying it a lot lately. So-called wealth planning is just various investments, and investments require spending money first. Am I right, Mu teacher?”

Lin Shuxue was an extremely capable businesswoman, and Mu Liyao had seen the world. When their eyes met, he immediately understood her meaning, his eyes widening slightly in comprehension.

“Let’s have some Biluochun tea. It’s good for cooling down,” Lin Shuxue said. Her hands were graceful as she brewed the tea, her slightly raised, orchid-like fingers exuding elegance.

Mu Liyao and Kong Qingyang tapped the table twice with their knuckles to thank her and then sipped the tea calmly. Only after that did Mu Liyao speak. “There are many ways to spend money, risky and safe. It depends on how you want to spend it.”

“Spend freely,” Lin Shuxue said with a wink, playful but serious at the same time.

“Using my money?” Mu Liyao asked.

“Sure. Kong Lu’s friend is trustworthy, but I want to assess first. After all, it’s family wealth earned bit by bit. If you say spending it has no impact, I might as well donate it all,” she replied.

Mu Liyao laughed. “Got it. I’ll organize the materials for you later. I thought today would be just about knowledge sharing, but it turned into on-site investing. I’m not super rich, but I have enough to spend. If you really want to do something together, your decisions must also be careful.”

Mu Liyao was fifty-three this year. He had lived wildly in the first half of his life, and the second half showed no sign of slowing down. He spoke directly, with a sharp, clear gaze that betrayed no age—rather, a youthful ferocity radiated from his posture.

Kong Qingyang, in contrast, maintained a perfectly upright business posture. He had a bold, straightforward style, reminiscent of the older Beijing generation eating barbecue, they distinguished between literary and martial appreciation. Kong Qingyang was “literary”, Mu Liyao was “martial.”

After making eye contact a few times, Lin Shuxue felt that Mu Liyao was indeed extraordinary.

It seemed as though the three hadn’t discussed any real business, yet somehow had covered everything. As they walked toward the dining room, Lin Shuxue arranged with Mu Liyao, “I can visit your Yunnan camping base for an inspection next week.”

“Alright. How many people will be coming? I can make arrangements in advance,” he asked.

“Just me. No need to make special arrangements—let it happen naturally,” Lin Shuxue said. “It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Yunnan. Hearing that, I’m actually a little excited.”

“Then stay a few extra days and enjoy yourself,” Mu Liyao suggested.

“Okay,” she replied.

Kong Qingyang watched the two of them chatting and got the impression they had known each other for a long time. Mu Liyao had a rather unusual personality—although he liked making friends, he wasn’t overly talkative. Yet he and Lin Shuxue were getting along smoothly, going back and forth in conversation, lively and engaging.

Gu Junchuan noticed it too.

During the less-than-five-minute meal, Lin Shuxue had been asking about Mu Liyao’s camping base the entire time.

Gu Junchuan and Kong Qingyang listened quietly, occasionally exchanging meaningless glances. After the meal, the aunt saw the guests out. Gu Junchuan watched Lin Shuxue humming a song and asked, “Happy?”

“What?”

“Making a friend you can actually talk to,” he said.

“As long as I want, I can talk to anyone,” Lin Shuxue replied, sitting on the sofa. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Gu Junchuan shrugged and went back to his own room.

Because of his injured foot, all his social engagements had been canceled in recent days, and he suddenly felt bored.

Gao Peiwen seemed to sense his boredom and sent him a photo. “This one came in for an interview today. I think they’re relatively outstanding,” he wrote.

“Resume?” Gu Junchuan asked.

“The resume is quite impressive,” Gao Peiwen said, tossing it to him. “High appearance, top academic performance, broad interests. It’s the best resume we’ve had in recent interviews. Also, good manner of speaking.”

“I’ll schedule an interview at the company next week,” Gu Junchuan said.

“Alright,” Gao Peiwen replied.

Gu Junchuan carefully examined the resume. Gao Peiwen hadn’t lied—the resume was impressive, and the person seemed energetic.

Gao Peiwen asked about Gu Junchuan’s foot injury. He answered briefly, “Almost healed.” Then Gao Peiwen asked about his first day after marriage. Gu Junchuan shrugged it off. “It’s whatever,” he said, his attitude perfunctory. Gao Peiwen noticed and asked, “You okay?”

“My foot hurts,” Gu Junchuan said.

Alone in his room, he turned his thoughts to the words Lin Yuluo had thrown at him before leaving. She was unpredictable—she might suddenly ask him, “Sleep? Where’s the condom?” Gu Junchuan didn’t want to sleep with her anyway, but he couldn’t afford to lose this game. He casually arranged a runner, preparing to return the ball to Lin Yuluo.

Suddenly, Gu Junchuan felt childish.

The next time he saw Lin Yuluo, he circled around her, saying not a word. Lin Yuluo didn’t bother responding either, not even with her usual, “Mr. Gu.”

It had been a hard day for Lin Yuluo. Once home, she showered and fell asleep quickly. In her dream, she smelled a sharp, burning scent. She thought it was part of the dream, but the thick smoke that immediately followed jolted her upright, fully alert.

Through the door crack, she saw flames and heard someone shouting, “Fire! Explosion!”

Lin Yuluo paused for two seconds to confirm it wasn’t a hallucination. She grabbed her small bag containing important items, quickly wet a towel, pressed it to her mouth and nose, and rushed outside. The immense heat made her ears ring and her eyes blur, her skin burning from the advancing fire. People were all running out, panicked. She forced herself to keep breathing and ran with the crowd, finally reaching the open ground outside. She looked up in confusion as the fire raged even higher.

“Did you hear that?”

“What?”

“A scream,” someone said.

Lin Yuluo couldn’t hear anything clearly. She only saw people’s mouths moving, their expressions full of terror. She shook her head hard. Someone grabbed her and ran toward a safety zone. She looked up and saw the owner of the barbecue restaurant, Lu Mingyang. The two of them glanced back at the third floor, where the fire raged most fiercely. Lu Mingyang muttered, “Completely burned.”

Lin Yuluo’s eyes were nearly fused shut from the smoke. It took a long time before the sounds around her became clear again, and her arm throbbed with pain from the fire. She saw fire trucks arriving, and many people filming with their phones. She still didn’t fully understand what had happened.

The late summer night was chilly, and everyone standing on the open ground shivered. Lu Mingyang said, “Let’s go inside my stall. At least we won’t freeze, and there’s hot water.”

“But our things are still inside,” someone said.

“What things? As long as you got out alive, that’s enough,” Lu Mingyang said. “Come on.”

Lin Yuluo followed the crowd to Lu Mingyang’s stall. Somehow, he produced alcohol and cotton swabs and handed them to her. “Quick, clean it up,” he said.

“Thanks,” Lin Yuluo said, disinfecting her burned arm while thinking about her room. There wasn’t anything especially valuable, just some clothes. She felt a twinge of regret. She had saved up some money, and now her things were burned. She’d have to spend money to replace them.

“The screams from the third floor… They were terrible. I wonder how things are now. What exactly happened?” she asked.

“I saw the front desk say in the group chat—it was an electric bike that caught fire,” someone replied.

“Weren’t they supposed to be kept out?”

“The battery was brought inside.”

Gradually, her emotions settled. People made calls to friends and family and began leaving one by one.

Lin Yuluo didn’t want to call Lan Yuzhou; he would be terrified. His competition had reached the city semifinals, and he still aimed for the national finals. She didn’t want to disturb him at this time.

Dawn was approaching. After staying up most of the night, she was exhausted and fell asleep on the table. When she opened her eyes, a piece of clothing was draped over her, and everyone had left. A waiter was mopping the floor. Lu Mingyang, smoking and tapping on a calculator, looked up when she woke.

“Awake?” he asked.

“Mm. Thank you,” she murmured.

“No need to thank me. We’re all out here, looking out for each other! The landlord just said in the group chat that the self-built houses need renovation and fire safety inspections. People should find a place to stay first. Those who want to move out immediately can get a refund,” Lu Mingyang said, putting out his cigarette. “The landlord’s quite considerate.”

“Were there any casualties?” Lin Yuluo asked.

“Of course. Two dead, two injured,” he said.

Both of them fell silent, the mood suddenly heavy. Lin Yuluo realized that in the face of life and death, her clothes and belongings didn’t matter at all.

She sat there for a while. When her alarm went off, she remembered she had to go to work. She said goodbye to Lu Mingyang, grabbed her bag, and rushed to catch the bus. She wasn’t keen on riding the electric bike for now. After last night’s experience, she never wanted to ride one again.

When she arrived at the store, Fang Liu was already there. Seeing Lin Yuluo, he was surprised. “Weren’t you going to Sister Lan’s place first?” he asked. Then he noticed the burn on her arm and the dirt on her cheek. “What happened to you?”

“My rented self-built house caught fire. The social news will probably cover it soon,” she said, a bit embarrassed. “I want to take a shower first.”

“Go ahead. But your arm?”

“It’s okay,” she replied.

Under the shower, her eyes closed, and she saw the deep night firelight again. The screams she hadn’t heard last night now rang in her ears all at once. She thought she wasn’t scared, yet her body trembled.

“Luoluo,” Fang Liu knocked on the door. “I just realized—where will you stay tonight? Can you go back?”

Lin Yuluo wrapped herself in a towel. After finishing her shower, she remembered her arm was injured, and wet water would make it worse. She opened the door and said to Fang Liu, who was standing there, “I haven’t found a place yet. If I can’t, I’ll stay at a nearby small inn.”

“Come on, don’t bother,” Fang Liu said, pointing to the training room. “Stay here at the store for a few nights until you find a place. You usually finish Sister Lan’s class after nine; everyone will have left the store by then. Even if not, it doesn’t matter—everyone has their difficulties, right?”

“Thank you, Fang Jie,” Lin Yuluo said gratefully. She had thought about staying at the store but couldn’t bring herself to ask—it felt too imposing. The store was a business, not a charity.

“No problem. And your clothes? Did they burn too?” Fang Liu asked.

“I don’t know to what extent. When I left, I only took the valuable items. No time for clothes,” she replied.

Her so-called valuable items were just her household registration book, ID card, bank cards, and the marriage certificate she had recently obtained. She kept them in a small bag, carried it during the day, and placed it by her pillow at night. She had maintained this habit for years.

“I have two spare sets of clothes at the store. You can wear them first,” Fang Liu offered.

“No, Fang Jie, I’ll just go buy a couple of T-shirts and sweatpants nearby,” Lin Yuluo said.

“Wear this outfit to go shopping?” Fang Liu laughed. “You look too disheveled right now—people might think you were hurt or bullied. Listen to me: wear my clothes, go out confidently. It won’t count as skipping work.”

Lin Yuluo felt a bit embarrassed. Fang Liu’s clothes were expensive. She had overheard the staff at the store saying that Fang Jie once got a good deal on some discounted clothes for under twenty thousand yuan. Lin Yuluo roughly estimated that even at a discount, each piece would cost a few thousand.

Seeing her hesitation, Fang Liu said, “Just for one day. You can pay for dry cleaning afterward.” He went to his wardrobe and pulled out a long-sleeved dress for Lin Yuluo. “Wear this. The temperature’s just right, and it’ll cover the burn on your arm.”

“Thank you, Fang Jie,” she said.

Lin Yuluo felt healed by Fang Liu. After experiencing life and death the night before, her boss was now comforting her this morning.

She put on the black silk dress with a subtle floral pattern. It made her look tall and gentle. Fang Liu couldn’t help praising her. “Luoluo, you really are a clothes hanger. This dress looks dull on me, but on you, it makes you glow.” He also handed her a small scarf. “Tie this on to add a touch of color.”

Lin Yuluo usually wore T-shirts with jeans or shorts during summer for convenience. She rarely wore dresses and felt slightly awkward now. She asked Fang Liu, “Fang Jie, do I look strange?”

“Strange? Strange, beautiful!” Fang Liu laughed. “Put on some lipstick before you go, it’ll brighten your complexion.”

Lin Yuluo took a lipstick from her small bag, dabbed it lightly on her lips, pressed them together gently, and a faint red tint appeared. She didn’t go shopping yet; she went to give a class to Sister Lan first. She didn’t want to delay work.

When Sister Lan saw her, she was momentarily stunned, then called out toward Gu Junchuan’s bedroom, “Gu Junchuan, come out here!”

Her voice was more agitated than usual. Gu Junchuan thought something had happened and jumped out from the bedroom. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Look at your wife!” Lin Shuxue said.

“What about her?” Gu Junchuan glanced at Lin Yuluo and asked.

Lin Shuxue looked at him incredulously. “Are you blind?”

“?”

“Your wife looks so good today, and you didn’t notice?”

“Isn’t she like this every day?” Gu Junchuan retorted. He looked at Lin Yuluo again—her outfit was expensive, but her arm seemed stiff. He added, “If you’re not used to wearing dresses, don’t. Don’t make things difficult for yourself.”

Lin Shuxue frowned, displeased. “What kind of thing is that to say?”

“Who told you to call her ‘your wife’ all the time?” he snapped.

Lin Shuxue rolled her eyes and said to Lin Yuluo, “He’s sulking, in a bad mood.”

During the class, when Lin Yuluo’s arm brushed against Lin Shuxue’s back, the burn area hurt. Lin Yuluo frowned slightly, trying not to cry out. Sensitive as she was, Lin Shuxue noticed something was off in the body-mirror and slowly got off the Pilates bed. “What’s wrong with your arm?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Lin Yuluo replied.

“That’s not right. You weren’t doing the demo movements properly just now.” Lin Shuxue pulled up Lin Yuluo’s training sleeve and saw the messy burn. “How did this happen?”

“Really, it’s nothing,” Lin Yuluo said.

“I’m asking you. If someone bullied you, we can deal with them. After all, you’re officially my daughter-in-law now.”

Lin Yuluo couldn’t refuse and briefly explained the fire at Wang Liu Zhuang and how she had narrowly escaped with her life. She didn’t show much emotion and didn’t go into detail—she didn’t want to burden anyone with her thoughts.

“So, where are you staying today?” Lin Shuxue asked.

“Fang Jie suggested I stay at the studio for a few days,” Lin Yuluo replied. “The environment there is good. I can shower, charge my devices, and it’s safe. I’ll use these two days to find a place.”

“Your colleagues seeing this isn’t good,” Lin Shuxue thought for a moment. “Listen to me—stay at home.”

“Really? That’s inconvenient.”

“It’s not about convenience. It’s about Xiao Zhou. If he knows your place caught fire and you’re staying at the studio instead of home, what will he think? Your so-called love at first sight will be revealed,” Lin Shuxue said, patting her shoulder. “Skip training for now. Let Gu Junchuan help with your arm—he’s trained in first aid.”

Lin Shuxue grabbed Lin Yuluo by her uninjured arm and led her to Gu Junchuan’s bedroom door. She knocked. A low “Come in” came from inside, and she pushed the door open, guiding Lin Yuluo in.

Gu Junchuan, leaning against the headboard while on a conference call, pointed at his phone and then at the door, signaling them to leave.

Lin Shuxue didn’t say much. She gently pulled back the sleeve of Lin Yuluo’s training top and pointed at the burn. The area was already red and swollen; without treatment, it could get infected.

Gu Junchuan finally understood why her arm had looked unnatural when she had worn the dress earlier. He said into the phone, “Have the displays in those stores updated immediately. Don’t give too many excuses, it’s meaningless. I’m leaving the meeting now.”

After hanging up, he gestured to his bed, signaling Lin Yuluo to sit. She naturally resisted, but before she could voice refusal, Lin Shuxue pushed her, pressing her shoulder so she would sit down.

Lin Yuluo reluctantly sat. The bed sank slightly under her, and she quickly stood to avoid the awkwardness.

Gu Junchuan leaned back on the headboard, looking up at her. “From ancient times?”

“No, that’s not appropriate,” she replied.

“Don’t flatter yourself, alright?”

Seeing them about to argue, Lin Shuxue interjected, “I’ll get the first aid kit,” and quickly stepped aside.

“Sit down already,” Gu Junchuan said, his tone sharp. “Don’t act like this is some big deal, just be straightforward, okay?”

“Should we go to the living room? Or I can do it myself.”

“Are you thinking straight? My foot was nearly broken. You want me to jump to the living room?”

Lin Shuxue returned with the first aid kit. Seeing them standing and sitting, facing off, the scene was a bit awkward. She put down the kit and said, “This isn’t the time to be stubborn. Luoluo, look at your arm.”

“I don’t care about you. This first aid kit is expensive. Using it on you makes me feel bad,” Gu Junchuan said impatiently, pulling Lin Yuluo onto the bed. “Stretch out your hand.”

When the disinfectant alcohol touched her burn, Lin Yuluo hissed. Gu Junchuan seized the opportunity. “That dangerous place—you insisted on staying there, nearly lost your life, and you still argue with me? Now I’ll show you!” He suddenly applied more pressure. Lin Yuluo shivered from the pain, and tears immediately came.

“Why are you crying?” Gu Junchuan paused, preparing to bandage her. He noticed that his mother, who was usually tactful, had left and even closed the door behind her.

“It hurts,” Lin Yuluo sniffled.

“You deserved it,” Gu Junchuan said, tearing two pieces of tissue. “Wipe your cat pee.”

Lin Yuluo took the tissues, dabbing at her tears. “I didn’t want to fight with you today, but you call tears ‘cat pee’ in your family?”

“Why do you talk like.”

Before she could finish, Gu Junchuan pinched her mouth. “Don’t provoke me! I’ll, kill you.”