Volume One, Chapter Fifteen: The Moral Order Revealed, Retribution Unfailing

“I-I-I…” Images from those discs suddenly flooded my mind. My throat was dry, and I felt as if I couldn’t even speak clearly.

Sister Jing still smiled with interest. “You’re still a rookie, huh? How about I set you up with a few? Don’t worry, you won’t have to pay.”

Immediately, I recalled the small cards Sister Jing had given me earlier, featuring women dressed provocatively…

Now that I think about it, those women were probably no different from the streetwalkers in the market, earning money from ‘beasts’ who needed to vent.

“Sister Jing, don’t joke around…” I naturally refused, unwilling to become the kind of ‘beast’ Sister Yuzhu warned me about—someone who hurts others.

Surprise flickered across Sister Jing’s face.

I then left the restroom and returned to the workshop.

But on the way back to my workstation, I suddenly found Sister Jing’s behavior strange.

Why did she say those things so suddenly? And why insist she didn’t want my money?

Wasn’t this exactly what my father had warned me about—people being kind to me for no reason?

Could it be… Sister Jing was after something from me?

But what could I possibly have?

I was puzzled and simply returned to my workstation.

Sister Yuzhu was bent over, sewing scraps of cloth with intense focus.

“Sister Yuzhu, are you… alright?” I asked.

She looked up at me, biting her lip slightly. “I didn’t pass the assessment… I’ll have to wait for the next one… Xiaohui, am I really that stupid?”

Sister Yuzhu’s distress was understandable; she wanted to start working and earning money as soon as possible, so she could send her brother’s medical expenses home.

That made me feel a pang of sorrow. After reading the street vendor novel she gave me, I realized this feeling was actually called ‘heartache.’

“No, Sister Yuzhu, everything will be fine. Don’t worry,” I comforted her.

At that moment, Sister Jing returned to the workshop, her usual pride and coldness restored.

She came straight to my side and said that since I had passed the assessment, I could now go to the office to complete onboarding and start earning money.

“I know, Sister Jing. I’m not in a hurry—I'll go this afternoon,” I replied.

Sister Jing glanced at Sister Yuzhu at the workstation ahead; she seemed to realize something and looked at me with a nod and a slight smile.

I was indeed not in a rush.

There were only two possible outcomes regarding Team Leader Li.

The first: he would refuse, kicking me out of the factory. In that case, going to onboard now would be pointless.

The second: he would accept, and as I said, he would make Sister Yuzhu pass the assessment today, so I wouldn’t need to rush to onboard alone.

Fortunately, it seemed Team Leader Li had accepted.

Soon, the supervisor who had come before returned to the workshop.

He was still smiling and told Sister Jing he wanted to give Sister Yuzhu another chance at the assessment.

I watched and breathed a small sigh of relief.

Indeed, strength is the ultimate truth!

Without any surprise, this time Sister Yuzhu passed the assessment smoothly.

She was overjoyed and followed the supervisor to the office with me to complete the onboarding procedures.

After signing the contract and receiving our uniforms, Sister Yuzhu’s face blossomed with a smile. “Xiaohui, we’re lucky to have met this supervisor—he’s really a good person!”

“Yeah,” I smiled as well, hiding the injury on my finger behind my back so Sister Yuzhu wouldn’t see it…

No matter what, Sister Yuzhu and I had successfully become official employees of this garment factory.

At noon, when we went to the cafeteria, Sister Yuzhu and I told my older brother and Kang Youwei about passing the assessment.

Kang Youwei pounded his chest and stood up, saying since the earlier treat didn’t happen, we should celebrate passing the assessment tonight with a trip to the night market for some late-night snacks.

“Alright, you little rascal, tonight I’m really going to feast on you,” my brother said, then nudged Kang Youwei. “Hey, have you heard? Team Leader Li’s gone missing.”

“Heard what?” Kang Youwei asked.

“My brother rolled his eyes. “Team Leader Li fell down the stairs. He was covered in blood and went to the hospital. He’s taken a whole week off!”

“Is that true?” Kang Youwei raised his eyebrows and lowered his voice. “Honestly, Team Leader Li is a heartless beast! He used his connections at the factory to fool around with countless factory girls! Falling down the stairs? I think it’s just divine justice, karma paying back—he deserved it!”

“Oh? When did you become so knowledgeable, you little rascal?” my brother teased. “But yeah, justice will prevail…”

As they spoke, Sister Yuzhu nodded vigorously; after all, she had almost become one of Team Leader Li’s victims.

Although I agreed, I secretly sighed.

If there were truly justice, my finger wouldn’t hurt like this…

So… was I acting as an agent of justice?

Still, Team Leader Li’s injuries were minor; he shouldn’t need a whole week off.

Just some surface wounds—bandages would suffice, no need to miss work.

Could it be… he was genuinely scared of me?

I couldn’t be certain.

After working the formal afternoon shift and the evening shift with Sister Yuzhu, we headed to the factory gate together after work.

My brother and Kang Youwei were already waiting. We chatted as we left.

The sky had darkened. Along the dim path leading to the market, I steeled myself and tugged my brother’s hand, giving him a meaningful look.

He understood immediately, wrapping an arm around Kang Youwei’s shoulders. “You two go buy the horses first; Xiaohui and Sister Yuzhu will wait for you at the night market.”

Then he hastened their pace, disappearing into the faint end of the path.

That left just Sister Yuzhu and me alone on the quiet road.

I glanced at Sister Yuzhu.

She was still wearing the clothes she had on when I first saw her—the same knit sweater and denim jeans.

The sweater was still big and white, and the jeans still tight and full…

Sister Yuzhu seemed to realize why my brother had slipped away with Kang Youwei; she lowered her head slightly and fiddled with her fingers.

“Sister Yuzhu, I have something to give you,” I said at the right moment, extending my clenched fist.

She blinked at my hand. “What is it?”

“My treasure,” I said seriously. “Get ready—when I open my hand, you have to grab it quickly. Don’t let it escape.”

“Huh? It’s alive?” Sister Yuzhu looked a little frightened.

“Sister Yuzhu, don’t be scared. It won’t hurt you. Trust me,” I replied sincerely.

Perhaps seeing my earnestness, Sister Yuzhu nodded softly and held her slender hand over my fist.

“Ready?” I took a deep breath. “Three, two, one!”

I opened my palm.

Sister Yuzhu grabbed it quickly.

I lifted my hand, locking our fingers tightly together.

She was stunned, looking at me in confusion.

“Ta-da~ Sister Yuzhu, this is my treasure,” I said, holding up her hand.

Sister Yuzhu looked at our intertwined fingers and burst out laughing. “Xiaohui, did your brother teach you that again?”

“No, I saw it in the novel you gave me,” I scratched my head.

She seemed to understand suddenly and tried to pull her hand back, but I held it firmly.

Her face flushed bright red…

“Sister Yuzhu, I’ve been thinking these past few days…” I swallowed and gathered courage. “From the moment I first saw you, I wanted to treat you well, protect you, and see you smile.

Maybe… maybe this is what you call love?

Sister Yuzhu, I… I like you…”

After I spoke, my heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst through my chest.

Because I was afraid—afraid she would reject me.

This was the first time I had been so afraid of something since I learned how to defend myself.

But Sister Yuzhu… did not pull her hand away…