The jade pendant, though not of the finest quality, was still quite valuable.
It didn’t seem like something a rural woman like the one before them could afford.
Instinctively, the officer glanced at Si Nian—after all, among those present, she was the only one who looked like she could own such an item and also knew Aunt Liu.
"Miss Si, could you take a look? Is this your jade pendant?"
Si Nian glanced at it and shook her head. "No, I don’t have a pendant like this."
She found it strange. Aunt Liu had just been released from detention—how did she end up with a jade pendant?
And clearly, she must have acquired it after her release, or the police would have confiscated it earlier.
"It’s not yours?" The officer thought he might have been mistaken.
But the next moment, a cool, low voice spoke up. "That’s Zhou Tingting’s pendant. My mother gave it to her before she passed away." It was Zhou Yueshen.
Si Nian turned to him in surprise.
Zhou Yueshen’s expression was calm, his tone indifferent, as if the unfolding events didn’t surprise him much.
"Uh…" The officer was stunned.
Just a few days ago, Zhou Tingting had bailed Aunt Liu out. And now, after barely two days, the woman had stolen from her again?
What kind of absurdity was this?
Moments ago, Aunt Liu had sworn she would never steal again. But people like her were habitual offenders—once a thief, always a thief.
If she were released and another household got robbed, the police would bear responsibility.
Now, Aunt Liu couldn’t clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.
"Comrade Zhou, should we hand it over to you?" the officer asked.
Zhou Yueshen’s voice was icy. "Let Zhou Tingting come and collect it herself."
The officer paused, then nodded and turned to notify Zhou Tingting.
Meanwhile, Zhou Tingting was frantically searching through her belongings under her mother-in-law’s mocking gaze, her heart pounding with anxiety.
She had no choice but to pretend to keep looking.
Just then, the phone rang, shattering the silence. She hurried over to answer it.
"Who is it?"
"Is this Miss Zhou Tingting? This is the police station."
Zhou Tingting glanced at her mother-in-law, confused. "Yes?"
"We found a jade pendant necklace in Liu Dongmei’s possession. Your brother confirmed it’s yours. You’re being asked to come and retrieve it."
"Wh-what?!"
Zhou Tingting’s mind went blank—
By the time Si Nian and Zhou Yueshen left the police station, it was already afternoon.
The weather had turned abruptly, dark clouds gathering overhead—a sure sign of rain.
Si Nian trailed behind Zhou Yueshen like a little shadow, curiosity getting the better of her. "I wonder what will happen to Aunt Liu now."
Zhou Yueshen, assuming she was worried Aunt Liu might come back to cause trouble, replied flatly, "She won’t be released so soon. Don’t worry."
Si Nian nodded, then noticed he wasn’t heading toward the bus stop. She quickened her pace to catch up. "Are we going somewhere else?"
"To get the bike," Zhou Yueshen said coolly, his tall figure striding ahead.
His steps were steady and swift.
Si Nian let out a small breath.
Just as she was about to keep up, Zhou Yueshen suddenly slowed his pace.
They walked in silence, winding through the streets, until the man stopped in front of a motorcycle repair shop.
Parked at the entrance was a sleek, well-maintained motorcycle, polished to a shine.
It was a second-generation Honda CB125T, a twin-cylinder model known for its durability. In this era, owning one was as impressive as driving a Passat in the future.
The mechanic, who had been meticulously wiping down a motorcycle, hurried over. "Boss, you're here!"
Zhou Yueshen gave a slight nod. "Is the modification done?"
"Of course! You can count on me!"
The mechanic was shirtless, wearing only an apron, his face smudged with grease. He was a chubby fellow but had a cheerful demeanor.
Si Nian watched him curiously.
"Eh, who's this?"
Spotting Si Nian peeking out from behind Zhou Yueshen, the chubby mechanic stared in surprise.
What had he missed? It had only been a month since he last saw the boss, and now he had a woman with him?
Wasn’t there talk before about a woman refusing to marry him? So who was this one?
Zhou Yueshen glanced back at Si Nian and answered succinctly, "Your sister-in-law."
The chubby guy: "? You got married?" His face was full of shock.
Zhou Yueshen: "Yes, but we haven’t registered yet. The wedding is on October 1st."
"Huh?" The guy looked dumbfounded. "For real?" He couldn’t quite believe it—such a beautiful woman actually willing to marry the boss!
Not that their boss was a bad guy, but his circumstances were complicated. Most women wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Especially someone as stunning as her—instinctively, one would suspect ulterior motives.
The chubby mechanic studied Si Nian, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.
He was afraid she might pull the same stunt as the last woman, doing something unforgivable.
That would be too cruel for the boss!
Zhou Yueshen gave him a cool sidelong glance. Normally, he wouldn’t bother explaining, but with Si Nian present, he patiently replied, "Yes."
After dropping this bombshell on the mechanic, Zhou Yueshen casually took the bike keys and grabbed a green helmet, handing it to Si Nian.
Si Nian held the helmet and said slowly, "You’re giving me a green hat?"
Zhou Yueshen: "..."
"It’s for safety," he finally said after a pause.
Though Si Nian wasn’t thrilled about the color, she put it on anyway.
She wasn’t familiar with the old-fashioned buckle and fumbled with it for a while without success. Just as she was about to ask for help, a tall figure loomed over her. A pair of large hands reached out, deftly fastening the strap. His rough fingertips accidentally brushed against her soft, fragrant chin, and he immediately withdrew them as if burned.
Before Si Nian could react, he had already swung a long leg over the bike, gripping the handlebars. His deep voice rumbled, "Get on."
The helmet wasn’t as advanced as modern ones, more like a simple safety cap. Si Nian stared at his broad, muscular back, wondering how it would feel to lean against it—undoubtedly safe and secure.
Carefully, she climbed onto the high rear seat, which brought them much closer than an electric scooter would. Their proximity made their breaths almost audible.
Too shy to hold onto him outright, she hesitated before finally grabbing the hem of his shirt. In a small voice, she reminded him, "Zhou Yueshen... drive slowly, be careful."
Zhou Yueshen raised an eyebrow, picking up on her concern.
Only after starting the engine did he reply, "Alright."
The chubby mechanic was still processing everything when the motorcycle pulled away—slow and steady.
Huh... he had never seen the boss ride this gently before.
The roads back then were rough and bumpy.
Si Nian instinctively leaned back from the jolts, her fingers clutching Zhou Yueshen’s shirt so tightly they turned red.
The man's voice carried over with the breeze, gentle yet firm: "Si Nian, hold on tight."
