Chapter 67: The Message on the Note

How could it be him?

Wasn’t he rescued? Why is he back again?

Could it be that she was mistaken earlier?

Was the family of three not rescued, but actually went out for some real business?

Although thoughts surged through her mind one after another, Shen Yi’an had no choice but to lift her head upon hearing the voice.

There was no other way—the speaker was standing right in front of her.

If she showed no reaction at all, it was likely they would think she was doing it on purpose.

If others thought that way, it wouldn’t matter much, but if the Female Boss thought so…

Tsk, tsk, it was possible that all her previous efforts at disguise would have been in vain.

With this realization, her lowered head slowly rose.

Their eyes met.

One looked astonished, while the other wore a smile.

“What, didn’t expect me to apologize to you?”

Meeting Shen Yi’an’s slightly surprised gaze, Song Chaoxu smiled and tossed a piece of White Rabbit Creamy Candy into her arms from a distance. “I was reckless to lose my temper at you earlier.”

“But there was no other way. My daughter wasn’t handling her first train ride well, and her condition had been poor the entire journey.”

“I’d spent the whole trip trying to soothe her, and my patience was wearing thin. You just happened to show up at that moment, so…”

He didn’t need to spell out the rest—anyone could understand he meant she had walked right into the line of fire.

Shen Yi’an had nothing to say about this explanation, as he had already made it very clear.

She could only smile helplessly. “Then I guess I was just unlucky.”

“I accept your apology, but you can take the candy back.”

Hearing this, Song Chaoxu decisively took two steps back to create some distance.

“If I gave it to you, it’s yours. If you don’t want it, just throw it on the ground.”

“I’ve never heard of an apology gift being taken back.”

After saying this, he turned to glance at the Female Boss.

“Comrade, don’t you think that’s reasonable?”

“We’re at least nodding acquaintances—you should speak up for fairness.”

Given the chance to converse with her desired prey, the Female Boss was not about to let it slip.

Sure enough, she immediately chimed in.

“I think this comrade makes a good point.”

“Who doesn’t have a mischievous child at home, right?”

“Since it’s an apology gift from the child’s parent, it’s fine for you to accept it. If you don’t, this comrade might overthink it.”

The two of them, singing in harmony, made Shen Yi’an feel that refusing would be her fault.

In the end, she had no choice but to gather the candy in her arms, using the action to show she had accepted the apology.

Seeing this, Song Chaoxu nodded in satisfaction and turned back to speak with the Female Boss.

“Girls these days are so particular.”

“It’s just a piece of candy, yet she acts like she’s received some grand gift.”

“If I had the means to give grand gifts, I’d have taken my wife and daughter to the sleeper car long ago, instead of squeezing in this hard-seat carriage.”

Hearing this, the Female Boss knew another opportunity to impress had arrived and immediately took over the conversation with a pleasant expression.

“That’s perfectly normal.”

“To a young girl, you’re just a stranger…”

While the two in front were “exchanging pleasantries” with their own agendas, Shen Yi’an, shielded behind Song Chaoxu, was holding one of the candies she had gathered, lost in thought.

How could this be?

Why does the texture feel different from the other candies?

And its shape is unusually slender?

Although it was wrapped in White Rabbit Creamy Candy’s wrapper, the feel was completely unlike the other candies.

Seizing the moment while someone blocked the view, she quickly turned aside and peeled open the wrapper.

Sure enough.

The wrapper didn’t contain milk candy, but a rolled-up note.

The reason she was so certain it was a note was because she’d experienced plenty of these during her school days.

Whenever exams came around, she’d always receive notes asking for answers, quite similar to the one she now held in her hand.

Considering the current situation wasn’t appropriate for reading the content, and not wanting to draw attention, she clenched the note in her palm while unwrapping an actual milk candy.

Just as she put it in her mouth and looked up, she met the Female Boss’s gaze.

Followed by a hearty laugh.

“See? I knew the young lady wouldn’t be able to resist the milk candy.”

“Look, she’s already tasting it.”

Hearing this, Song Chaoxu promptly turned around.

After a brief eye contact, he immediately responded.

“Good that you accepted the apology!”

“I was afraid you’d throw it on the ground.”

While the three were talking, the completely ignored Female Comrade from the neighboring seat could no longer pretend and stood up angrily.

“It’s the middle of the night! If you don’t want to sleep, others do!”

“If you have so much to talk about, why don’t I just give you my seat!”

“How annoying!”

After throwing out these words, she grabbed her bag strap and stormed out of the carriage.

Only her faint muttering could be heard, proving her terrible mood.

To ease the suddenly tense atmosphere, Song Chaoxu quickly moved to take the vacant seat.

“Good that she left, this seat’s just right for me.”

“Not bad, this spot is definitely more comfortable than mine.”

“Even though they’re back-to-back seats, there’s still a difference in comfort level.”

Feeling the seat beside her sink down, Shen Yi’an naturally picked up the conversation, “If you want to experience a more comfortable seat, comrade, you should try mine.”

“Not only is the air circulation better, but you can also enjoy the night view.”

After speaking, she stood up, “Seems I drank too much water earlier, I need to step out for a moment.”

“You can temporarily borrow this window seat to experience it, but remember to give it back when I return!”

Hearing this, Song Chaoxu immediately nodded cheerfully, “Sure, sure, I’ll return it when you come back!”

Having reached a pleasant agreement, Shen Yi’an headed toward the restroom.

Only after watching her close the door did the Female Boss drop her friendly expression, returning to her initial playful demeanor.

“You performed well just now. A man should know when to yield and when to stand firm.”

“If you can keep her pacified and help me get her off the train smoothly,”

“There will always be a place for you by my side in the future.”

Hearing this, Song Chaoxu immediately put on a sycophantic, ingratiating smile.

“Yes, yes, whatever you say, boss!”

“Just watch my performance from here on!”

While these two were whispering about how to lower her guard, Shen Yi’an in the restroom had already finished reading the note’s contents:

Song Chaoxu is one of us. Operation commences in half an hour.

One of us?

This information was truly startling.

How much time had passed?

From the family of three’s evacuation until now, it had been barely over half an hour.

Had they really convinced someone in such a short time?

Thinking of her future brother-in-law’s striking military uniform, Shen Yi’an found it somewhat reasonable.

The people’s respect and admiration for soldiers was practically ingrained in their bones.

If it was just assisting in an arrest operation without life-threatening risks, she’d be willing too if it were her.

Ahem, though she was already involved anyway.

Realizing there were only half an hour left before the operation began, Shen Yi’an immediately took out the pen from her satchel and wrote the information that needed to be passed along on the back of the note.

Aside from the carriage where the Female Boss was located, there were five people keeping watch in the carriages to the left and right.

If these people escaped, the subsequent trouble would be endless.

As for the specific locations, she didn’t mark them.

If the content she passed along was too detailed and specific, she would undoubtedly become the prime suspect.

It simply wasn’t worth exposing her own secrets for the sake of a few human traffickers.

To keep herself out of it, she had to maintain just the right amount of restraint.

After preparing the note, Shen Yi’an returned to her seat.

When she arrived, only Song Chaoxu was there; the Female Boss was absent.

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Song Chaoxu gestured with his gaze toward a spot not far away, “She went to arrange how to take you off the train together.”

Instantly understanding, Shen Yi’an said nothing. Instead, as she sat down, she tossed the note into his lap.

She whispered a couple of instructions along the way, “Find an excuse to pass this note along.”

“There are people stationed at both ends of the carriage. How many exactly, they’ll have to figure out themselves.”

Hearing this, Song Chaoxu’s pupils abruptly contracted.

But there was no time for hesitation. As he left, he could only urge Shen Yi’an to be careful.