No wonder Wen Shuangshuang is so sensitive; in her past life, Lin Qianqian later targeted Wen Shuangshuang just because Wen Shuangshuang had spoken with Qu Chengdong a few times. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

In this life, to avoid getting entangled with Lin Qianqian, Wen Shuangshuang kept her distance from Qu Chengdong right from the start, not even saying a word more than necessary, acting completely like a stranger, so Lin Qianqian hasn’t come running wanting to be her best friend.

Now that Lin Qianqian suddenly comes over, Wen Shuangshuang’s first reaction is to recall whether she has had any dealings with Qu Chengdong.

After thinking it over, Wen Shuangshuang remembers that since her rebirth, she’s been avoiding Qu Chengdong like the plague, so how could there have been any social interaction with him?

Wen Shuangshuang looks at Lin Qianqian irritably, deciding that if Lin Qianqian tries to plot against her again, she’ll have to teach Lin Qianqian a good lesson.

Although since her rebirth Wen Shuangshuang has been avoiding Lin Qianqian, it doesn’t mean she’s afraid of her; it’s just that Wen Shuangshuang doesn’t want unnecessary trouble.

Lin Qianqian doesn’t know how many thoughts went through Wen Shuangshuang’s mind in that instant; she smiles warmly and says, "Comrade Xiao Wen, it recently rained, and mushrooms and bamboo shoots have grown in the mountains. I was thinking, we should go up the mountain together and get some mushrooms and bamboo shoots to add as a dish at home. I wanted to ask if Comrade Xiao Wen would like to come along."

Wen Shuangshuang actually has some interest; she’s been thinking these past days that the mushrooms and bamboo shoots should be ready in the mountains.

As for whether Lin Qianqian has any ulterior motives, it’s uncertain right now. Lin Qianqian isn’t the type to use excessively harsh methods—she may just be scheming behind the scenes, but once those schemes are seen through, they pose no real threat.

With that in mind, Wen Shuangshuang nods and agrees to Lin Qianqian’s invitation. Lin Qianqian, seeing Wen Shuangshuang agree, tells her to prepare her things, meet at the foot of the mountain tomorrow morning, and then leaves.

Early the next morning, Wen Shuangshuang carries a basket on her back, with small shovels for digging mushrooms and bamboo shoots inside, and heads to the foot of the mountain to gather.

When Wen Shuangshuang arrives at the foot of the mountain, not many people have come yet, just four or five women. Among them is Fang Damei, the wife of the branch secretary Wang Baoguo.

Since Wen Shuangshuang saved Wang Baoguo’s life, Fang Damei often comes to chat with Wen Shuangshuang and frequently gives her good things, including food and useful items.

Seeing Wen Shuangshuang, Fang Damei is the first to greet her, pulls out a warm egg wrapped in a handkerchief from her chest, and hands it to Wen Shuangshuang.

"Sister Shuangshuang, come over here. You got up so early this morning; I don’t know if you’ve eaten yet. I brought you an egg; you should eat it."

Everyone knows Wen Shuangshuang is Wang Baoguo’s lifesaver, so no one finds Fang Damei’s special treatment towards Wen Shuangshuang strange. Treating a lifesaver with such enthusiasm is more than deserved.

Wen Shuangshuang doesn’t take Fang Damei’s egg for free; she takes out a paper bag containing two meat pies and gives them to Fang Damei. "I made these pies. You should taste them and see how my cooking is."

"Your culinary skills are top-notch; anything you touch turns into delicious food. I’m lucky today." Fang Damei accepts without hesitation; she and Wen Shuangshuang are already familiar with each other and exchanging food isn’t new.

The two chat while waiting for others, and soon several more people arrive. The last to come is Lin Qianqian, but she’s accompanied by Qu Chengdong and five or six men, including Sheng Zongze.

Lin Qianqian explains to everyone that she invited several men to avoid the women from being unable to carry too much when picking things on the mountain and letting the men help.

Entering the mountain, Wen Shuangshuang is paired with Fang Damei, and they chat while looking for spots with mushrooms, making the time fly by.

In a morning, Wen Shuangshuang and Fang Damei collect a good half-basket of mushrooms, which when dried, should weigh about three to four pounds.

At noon, everyone finds a relatively open spot to sit in small groups and eat their lunch.

Halfway through the meal, Lin Qianqian suddenly approaches Wen Shuangshuang, "Comrade Xiao Wen, could you come with me to find a place to relieve ourselves?"

Lin Qianqian’s request is quite abrupt, given the limited conversation between her and Wen Shuangshuang, making them familiar strangers, despite many there being more familiar with Lin Qianqian.

So it raises Wen Shuangshuang’s guard that Lin Qianqian would not seek out someone she’s closer to for this personal matter and approaches her instead.

No matter what Lin Qianqian’s intentions are, Wen Shuangshuang isn’t planning to follow her script, so she directly refuses: "No need, I don’t want to go. Comrade Xiao Lin, you should find someone else to go with you."

Lin Qianqian didn’t expect Wen Shuangshuang to refuse. Although today’s plan doesn’t require Wen Shuangshuang’s cooperation to succeed, Lin Qianqian just wanted to drag Wen Shuangshuang down too.

So Lin Qianqian doesn’t leave but persists, "Let’s take a walk. Maybe you’ll feel like going once we walk a bit. Shuangshuang, just consider it accompanying me and agree, okay."

Lin Qianqian’s determination to pull her along convinces Wen Shuangshuang even more that Lin Qianqian has ill intentions.

Glancing at Qu Chengdong sitting not far away, Wen Shuangshuang intentionally calls out loudly to Lin Qianqian, "Comrade Xiao Lin, stop pestering me. I’ve already said I don’t want to relieve myself. If you want to go, find someone else to accompany you, but stop focusing on me."

Wen Shuangshuang’s voice is loud enough for everyone around to hear, drawing many eyes in her direction.

Lin Qianqian suppresses her resentment, knowing that today’s plan to pull Wen Shuangshuang down won’t work, especially since Qu Chengdong heard and is already looking over with a puzzled expression.

To avoid arousing Qu Chengdong’s suspicion, Lin Qianqian can only reluctantly abandon the previous plan, turning to leave with another familiar woman.

Sure enough, not long after Lin Qianqian leaves, a sharp scream from a woman echoes, loud enough to be heard far in the mountains.

Hearing this sound, Qu Chengdong is the first to react, recognizing it immediately as Lin Qianqian’s voice. Lin Qianqian is his girlfriend, his soon-to-be fiancée, so Qu Chengdong would never mistake Lin Qianqian’s voice.

Qu Chengdong briskly makes his way towards the direction of Lin Qianqian’s scream, fearing she might be in danger from a snake or some beast.

Others quickly follow Qu Chengdong in a hurry, and when they reach the spot where Lin Qianqian screamed, they find Lin Qianqian unhurt but unexpectedly encountering Zhou Meijuan in a disheveled, nearly half-naked state.