I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

News of Chen Dapeng being beaten spread quickly throughout the county.

A junior staff member from the Information Section of the government office was beaten up in Liuhe Town, requiring three stitches to his lip and suffering rib contusions—in a small county town, such news would spread from the county government compound to the streets and alleys within half a day.

However, it will take some time for the news to reach the provincial capital.

Chen Dapeng didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

In the afternoon, the phone rang; it was my sister calling.

He hesitated for a moment, then answered the call.

"Dapeng," Chen Yang's voice came from the other end of the phone, much more urgent than usual, "Are you injured?"

Chen Dapeng's heart sank.

"Sis, who told you that?"

"Never mind who told me. Just tell me—is it serious?"

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"It's not serious. Just a superficial injury."

"A superficial injury?" Chen Yang's voice rose several octaves. "Da Peng, tell me the truth. I've heard everything—three stitches to the corner of his mouth, a rib contusion. You call that a superficial injury?"

Chen Dapeng fell silent.

His sister's news came faster and more accurately than he had expected.

He originally intended to keep it a secret for a few days, until his injury had healed a bit, and then tell her in a more understated way so that she wouldn't worry too much.

It seems we can't hide it anymore.

"Sis, it's really nothing. No bones are broken, and the doctor said I just need a few days of rest."

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone.

"Who did it?"

"I don't know. The police are investigating."

"You don't know who it was, and the police haven't been able to find out yet, so you're just going to let it go like this?"

"sister……"

"I'll come tomorrow."

Chen Dapeng's fingers tightened slightly.

"Sis, you don't need to come. I'm fine here, you're busy with work—"

"I'm your sister," Chen Yang interrupted him. "You got beaten up, how can I not go?"

Chen Dapeng opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.

He knew his sister's personality—if she said she was coming, she would definitely come back.

He couldn't stop him.

The phone hangs up.

Chen Dapeng put down his phone, leaned against the pillow, and stared at the ceiling.

My sister is coming.

What would her reaction be if she saw the gauze on her mouth and the bruises on her face? He dared not think about it.

He knew from a young age that his older sister couldn't stand anyone bullying him.

When he was a child, he got into a fight with a classmate and got a bloody scratch on his face. After school, his older sister went straight to that classmate's classroom and scolded the boy until he cried in front of the whole class.

From then on, no one in the school dared to mess with him.

He's twenty-four now, and his sister is still the same sister.

Chen Dapeng closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

……

Meanwhile, in the provincial capital.

Chen Yang hung up the phone, still holding it, his anger still burning.

She was in a meeting when she heard the news that Dapeng had been beaten today.

She didn't show any abnormality at the time. She hung up the phone, continued the meeting, said what needed to be said, and took notes as required, without any change in expression.

But from that moment on, she was on edge.

After the meeting, she returned to her office, closed the door, and then made that call to Chen Dapeng.

She understands her younger brother.

If he says "it's not serious," then it must be quite serious.

He said "the police are investigating," which means they haven't found anything yet, and maybe they never will.

He said "you don't need to come" because he didn't want her to worry, but she became even more worried.

Chen Yang stood up and walked to the window.

Her gaze was fixed on the distance, but her mind was preoccupied with one thing—who hit Dapeng?

She knew that Dapeng was helping He Ying investigate things in Liuhe Town.

She knew that Fang Mingyuan had a lot of influence in the county.

She knew that someone in the provincial capital was inquiring about He Ying's background.

These pieces of information strung together in her mind, pointing to a possibility she didn't want to face—the people who attacked Dapeng were sent by Fang Mingyuan.

Chen Yang gripped his phone tightly.

She's not the kind of woman who just cries when things go wrong.

Having worked in state-owned enterprises for so many years, rising from an ordinary employee to a management position, she has seen and dealt with countless things.

She knows how to deal with people and how to find advantageous points in a complex network of relationships.

But this time, it was her younger brother who was beaten.

This isn't a work-related matter; it's a family matter.

Chen Yang turned around, picked up his phone, and scrolled to He Ying's WeChat.

She wanted to send a message to ask Dapeng how badly he was injured.

But after thinking about it, I didn't send it—it'll arrive tomorrow, I'll ask in person.

Some things are hard to explain over the phone, let alone on WeChat.

She opened the ticket booking app and booked the earliest high-speed rail ticket to Qingshun County for tomorrow.

Departure time: 7:12 AM.

Arrival time: 8:46 AM.

After booking the tickets, Chen Yang put down his phone and started packing his things.

She packed a few changes of clothes into her bag, along with a box of anti-inflammatory drugs and a box of painkillers—Dapeng might have these on hand, but she still brought them along.

Zip up the bag and put it by the door.

She mustn't cry when she sees Dapeng tomorrow.

She had to maintain her composure in front of her younger brother and not let him think of her as a sister who only knew how to cry.

But she knew in her heart that she might not be able to resist seeing him like that.

……

The next morning, Chen Dapeng stood at the exit and watched the high-speed train from the provincial capital slowly pull into the station.

The gauze at the corner of my mouth has been replaced with a new one, white, and it's on my left cheek; it's a size smaller than it was yesterday.

The bruises on my face changed from bluish-purple to bluish-yellow, and the doctor said that this was fading, which was a good thing.

It's not very noticeable unless you look closely, but if you look closely—everyone will look closely, especially the older sister.

Yesterday afternoon, he went to the hospital for a follow-up examination.

The doctor said the recovery is going well and I should come back in three days for a dressing change.

The carriage doors opened, and passengers began to emerge.

Chen Dapeng spotted Chen Yang in the crowd.

Their eyes met from dozens of meters apart.

Chen Dapeng noticed that his sister paused for a moment.

Then she quickened her pace and walked over.

Chen Yang stopped in front of him, put his travel bag on the ground, raised his hand, gently lifted his chin, and turned his face to the left and then to the right.

Her movements were very gentle, as if she were afraid of hurting him.

Chen Dapeng stood there, neither hiding nor speaking.

He could feel his sister's fingers trembling slightly.

"sister……"

Chen Yang didn't let him continue.

She let go, lowered her head, and picked up the travel bag from the ground.

"Let's go."

The voice was a little hoarse, but very steady.

Chen Dapeng reached out to take the bag from her hand: "I'll take it."

"No need." Chen Yang switched the bag to his other hand, avoiding his hand. "Your injury hasn't healed yet, don't move around."

Chen Dapeng didn't insist any further and followed her towards the parking lot.

He watched his sister's retreating figure, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Once in the car, Chen Yang sat in the passenger seat, placed his bag on his lap, looked straight ahead, and remained silent.

Chen Dapeng started the car, drove out of the parking lot, and onto the main road.

After driving for a while, Chen Yang suddenly spoke.

"Who hit him?"

"I don't know. The police are still investigating."

Chen Dapeng gripped the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Chen Yang stared at the scenery rushing past the window and remained silent for a while.

Do you believe it?

Chen Dapeng's fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

"What?"

"Do you believe the police can find out?"

Chen Dapeng did not answer.

He certainly didn't believe it—the chances of the police finding anything on that road without surveillance cameras, with the surveillance footage deliberately interrupted, and at a scene without any traces, were extremely slim.

But he couldn't tell her, because if he did, his sister would worry even more.

"Sis, you're in the provincial capital, how did you know I was beaten up?"

"I know someone in Qingshun County." Chen Yang leaned back in his seat. "That's how I found out. They called me and asked, 'Did your brother have an accident in Liuhe Town?'"

Chen Dapeng fell silent, unsure how to respond to his sister.

The car turned into the residential area and parked downstairs.

Chen Yang got out of the car, picked up his bag, and followed Chen Dapeng upstairs.

Chen Yang opened the door, walked in, and looked around.

There were unfinished medicines on the table, and the medical records brought back from the hospital were in a plastic bag.

Chen Yang put his bag on the sofa and went into the kitchen.

The tap was running, and she worked quickly and efficiently, cleaning the kitchen, washing the pots and pans, and wiping down the stove.

Chen Dapeng stood at the kitchen door, watching his sister bustling around.

"Sister, you don't need to..."

"I don't need anything?" Chen Yang didn't even turn his head, continuing to wipe the stove. "You got beaten up, and you can't even get a hot meal. How can I be at ease?"

Chen Dapeng opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Chen Yang put down the rag and turned to look at him.

"Dapeng, sit down."

Chen Dapeng sat down on the sofa.

Chen Yang sat down opposite him and looked at his face.

She stared at it for a long time, and her eyes slowly reddened.

"Dapeng," her voice was hoarse, "you're risking your life."

"Sister, some things just have to be done by someone."

"Why does it have to be you?"

Chen Dapeng fell silent.

He wanted to say, "Because County Magistrate He trusts me," "Because I found something that others couldn't," and "Because I wanted to help her, and what she did was right."

But he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Because all those reasons seemed pale in comparison to her sister's tears.

"Sister," his voice was a little hoarse, "Don't worry. I'm fine."

"Nothing's wrong?" Chen Yang's voice rose a few octaves, then fell back down. "Three stitches in the corner of your mouth and you call that nothing's wrong? A rib contusion and you call that nothing's wrong? Then what does it mean to be in trouble?"

Chen Dapeng was speechless; he couldn't refute his sister.

Chen Yang took a deep breath and rubbed his temples.

"Where's He Ying? Does she know you were beaten?"

"Know."

"What was her reaction?"

She rushed over to see me that very night.

Chen Yang remained silent for a few seconds.

"What did she say?"

She said "I'm sorry".

Chen Yang leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes for a while.

"Dapeng".

"Um?"

Do you think she should apologize to you?

Chen Dapeng thought for a moment.

"It's not her fault."

Chen Yang looked at him, his eyes filled with heartache and helplessness.

"You're still so protective of her."

"I don't……"

"You have," Chen Yang interrupted him. "From childhood to adulthood, when have you ever protected anyone like this? Especially a girl?"

Chen Dapeng opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Chen Yang looked at him for a few seconds, shook his head, and stood up.

"Alright, that's enough."

She went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and glanced inside—it was empty, with only a few eggs and half a bag of noodles.

"What have you been eating these past few days?"

"takeout."

Chen Yang closed the refrigerator door and picked up the keys from the table.

"I'm going out to buy some groceries. Don't move around too much, stay home."

"Sis, I'll go with you."

"No need." Chen Yang walked to the door, put on his shoes, and said, "If you go out like this, people will think I hit you."

She opened the door and went out.

Chen Dapeng sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the closed door for a long while.

My sister is still the same sister.

She may be sharp-tongued, but she's soft-hearted than anyone else.

At noon, Chen Yang prepared a table full of dishes—braised pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, tomato and egg soup, and a bowl of millet porridge.

Chen Dapeng sat at the dining table, looking at the dishes on the table, and his nose felt a little sore.

He hadn't had a decent meal in days.

When we were in Liuhe Town, we ate in the canteen with the audit team. When we returned to the county town, we either ordered takeout or ate instant noodles.

"What are you standing there for? Eat!"

Chen Dapeng picked up a piece of pork rib and slowly gnawed on it.

Chen Yang sat opposite him, holding a bowl of porridge, watching him eat.

"Dapeng".

"Um."

"I spoke with He Ying last time."

Chen Dapeng paused for a moment.

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's talk about you. And about her."

He froze, then looked up at his sister.

Chen Yang put down his bowl of porridge and said in a very serious tone.

I asked her, "Are you serious about me?"

Chen Dapeng's heart skipped a beat.

"What did she say?"

She said "yes".

Chen Dapeng didn't speak, chewing on his ribs.

Chen Yang didn't urge him, and slowly drank the porridge.

"Sis, what else did you ask her?"

I asked her if she could protect you.

"What did she say?"

She said, "As long as I'm in Qingshun County, I won't let anything happen to Dapeng."

Chen Dapeng fell silent; this was He Ying's promise to her sister.

But she failed to protect him—he had already been beaten, had three stitches in his lip, and his ribs were still aching.

"Sis, were you serious when you said that?"

"I'm serious. I can tell."

Chen Dapeng lowered his head and stared at the porridge in the bowl.

"Then what will you say?"

"I said—if she's serious, I don't object. But she has to be able to protect you."

Chen Dapeng's fingers tightened slightly.

"sister……"

"Don't speak yet," Chen Yang put down his bowl of porridge. "Let me finish."

"you say."

"I'm not here to blame you, nor to blame He Ying," Chen Yang said, his voice softening. "I'm here to tell you—Da Peng, you're my brother, and I can't watch you get into trouble. No matter what your relationship with He Ying is, no matter what you're doing for her, remember—your safety is always the most important thing."

Chen Dapeng's nose felt a little sore.

"Okay, sis."

Chen Yang reached out and gently patted him on the head.

"Let's eat. The food's getting cold."

Chen Dapeng lowered his head, finished the last few mouthfuls of porridge in his bowl, and then picked up a piece of pork rib.

The ribs smelled delicious; it was the taste he had been used to eating since he was a child.

My sister's cooking skills have never changed.

But at this moment, he wasn't enjoying his meal as much; he was thinking about something else.

His affair with He Ying was no secret.

It was no longer a secret between him, He Ying, and his sister.

However, He Ying has not told him this directly to his face yet.

Just like that, hiding it...

"Perhaps she has her own difficulties?"