"How can I allow that?" Lin Chuan hurriedly shook his head, then took another lunchbox, filled it halfway with rice, and handed it over to Tang Yumeng. He had already eaten, but under the circumstances of hunger, who would care about that? He had seen enough of both male and female soldiers from foreign countries sharing the same shower room on the battlefield.

"You..." Tang Yumeng looked at Lin Chuan in astonishment. This jerk was actually giving her the rice he had eaten? Hesitating for a moment, she still took it. She chewed slowly and thoroughly. Tang Yumeng felt shy inside; how could she know that Lin Chuan didn't think of it that way at all. Tang Yumeng, frowning, said, "Lin Chuan, the utensils you used are my personal ones."

"Ah?" Lin Chuan looked at the ceramic chopsticks in his hand, the small blue and white porcelain spoon, and the blue and white porcelain rice bowl that matched. Lin Chuan chuckled, "No problem, I'll just wash it later, then put it into the sterilizing cabinet to disinfect it."

"Alright." Apart from that, there was no other solution. Tang Yumeng could only nod in agreement.

Lin Chuan was a fast eater, finishing a bowl of rice in less than three minutes. Tang Yumeng's bowl, on the other hand, looked untouched. Watching Lin Chuan finish, Tang Yumeng smiled, "Let me give you some more."

"Okay." Lin Chuan spoke while chewing, "I don't feel full, mainly because I ate too little this morning."

Tang Yumeng gave Lin Chuan a third of her rice and asked curiously, "I've eaten from this, doesn't that bother you?"

"Weren't you also not bothered by the rice I had just eaten?" Lin Chuan grinned.

"You little rascal." Tang Yumeng immediately lowered her head, her face blushing red.

For the first time, she had such an ambiguous interaction with a man, using each other's utensils and eating the food that each other had touched. Tang Yumeng's heart raced, her mind wandering, wondering if this counted as a kind of indirect kiss?

Even with a very small bowl of rice, Tang Yumeng was still not as fast as Lin Chuan.

After Lin Chuan had finished eating and finally felt some fullness in his stomach, he smiled. Tang Yumeng's bowl still contained a small amount of rice. This was not the first time she had seen Lin Chuan eat at such a ferocious speed, so she was prepared, but she was still taken aback by how quick he was. His speed at finishing a meal was like a whirlwind sweeping away the fallen leaves.

"Lin Chuan, eating too fast is not good for your health," Tang Yumeng chuckled.

"What's the harm?" Lin Chuan laughed and said, "I'm used to it."

Tang Yumeng took a few more bites, only stopping when her bowl was clean. She gathered up her bowl and chopsticks and packed them away into the lunchbox. The maid would be responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the lunchbox when it was taken back. By the time they finished eating, it was already past three-thirty in the afternoon.

Today's main task at the City Committee was a review conference, so after the meeting, some leaders had already left the City Committee, either going out to eat or heading home early.

Lin Chuan stayed in Tang Yumeng's office for a while before deciding to leave.

"Wait." Tang Yumeng called to Lin Chuan.

"Sis, what else do you need me for?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.

"Sit down first." Tang Yumeng smiled.

Lin Chuan nodded and sat down opposite Tang Yumeng. She asked, "I have a question for you, but you better answer me honestly."

"What question?" Lin Chuan asked, puzzled. What could it be that made Tang Yumeng consult him?

"The injuries on Song Wen and Song Wu, was it you who did it?" Tang Yumeng frowned.

Lin Chuan was taken aback, his mind whirring. However, after hesitating for less than a second, Lin Chuan immediately shook his head: "No, not me. I know about the Song family brothers' situation, but I really didn't do it."

"Really?" Tang Yumeng looked at Lin Chuan doubtfully.

"Really." Lin Chuan nodded earnestly and said, "That... it wasn't me."

Tang Yumeng's lips curled into a smile, "Lin Chuan, there's no need to lie in front of me, it doesn't matter whether you did it or not, I won't tell Song Ming, let alone Song Wen and Song Wu."

Lin Chuan chuckled awkwardly, "Sis, you... you really know how to joke. How could I, such a kind-hearted person, possibly cut off someone's arm?"

Bang...

Tang Yumeng slammed her hand on the table and threw a stack of photos in front of Lin Chuan, "Then take a good look at these for yourself."

"Uh..." Lin Chuan was taken aback; the photos showed him and Zhou Kai's group wielding fire axes and machetes. Even though it was dark, the background could still be identified as the southern road of Huai Mountain. Lin Chuan was dumbfounded and had to admit facing the conclusive evidence: "Sis... how... how did you get this?"

"Are you still trying to deny it?" Tang Yumeng's mouth lifted slightly.

"I wouldn't dare." Lin Chuan quickly shook his head, "It was me. I led people to teach those two a lesson, mainly to avenge Luo Guoqing."

"You idiot, who told you to do such a thing!" Tang Yumeng glared at Lin Chuan, "This is a society governed by law, and you resorted to violence. You..."

"Sis, I know." Lin Chuan said awkwardly, "But Luo Guoqing was beaten so badly, it couldn't just go without retaliation, right?"

"So you led people to take revenge?" Tang Yumeng huffed, "If I hadn't arranged for someone to get the surveillance footage from that area in advance and have it deleted, you'd probably have no idea how you'd die."

Lin Chuan chuckled and said, "Sis, you are clever."

"You're really confused." Tang Yumeng glared at Lin Chuan.

"I'm not confused." Lin Chuan glanced at Tang Yumeng and said, "If this gets discovered, so be it. One person does the deed, one person takes the responsibility. I'll take all the blame upon myself. Alright?"

"You think you can take it?" Tang Yumeng laughed disdainfully, "All your friends and brothers will suffer, all facing legal judgment."

"What about the Song brothers? Why haven't they been judged?" Lin Chuan questioned, "Is the law only harsh on the honest people?"

Tang Yumeng did not answer but fell into silence.

After a while, Tang Yumeng replied: "Alright, you can go now."

"Sis, I..." Lin Chuan noticed that Tang Yumeng seemed downcast.

"Don't tell anyone about this," Tang Yumeng responded, "As long as you don't say anything, no one will know. I've already had the surveillance deleted. Don't do this again in the future, it will only give others leverage over you, understand?"

"Mhm." Lin Chuan nodded obediently.

Exiting the City Committee Secretary's office, Lin Chuan took a deep breath, grateful that Tang Yumeng was covering for him. Otherwise, this matter would have been difficult to handle. After all, it was indeed troublesome, and if Song Ming discovered it, he would definitely find a way to take Lin Chuan's life. Even if it wasn't life-threatening, he would find a way to throw him in jail.

It feels comfortable having someone else clean up your mess. Lin Chuan whistled, hands in his pockets, leisurely walking downstairs.

In the lounge, most people had left, but Luo Guoqing was still there, along with a few other drivers playing Fight the Landlord.

"Old Luo, you're not going home yet?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Where do I have your comfort?" Luo Guoqing, with a cigarette in his mouth, said, "Vice Minister Li is still in his office, how could I go home? Later, I'll have to drive him back."

"Okay," Lin Chuan nodded, "Then you stay, I've got to go."

"Oh right." Luo Guoqing suddenly spoke up.

"What is it?" Lin Chuan asked.

"That..." Luo Guoqing hesitated, then leaned into Lin Chuan's ear and said, "About that matter of yours, aside from us, no one else knows, right?"

"Nope." Lin Chuan shook his head.

"That's good. I always feel like the Song brothers were acting strange today, like they knew something," Luo Guoqing said, frowning.

"It's just your imagination," Lin Chuan laughed.

After leaving the City Committee building, Lin Chuan walked back to Changlin Community. Usually, it took him about forty minutes to walk home, but today, feeling good, he walked a bit faster. By the time he entered the community, the sun was nearly setting. In winter, the sun sets quickly. The sunset was fleeting, and it was soon getting dark.

Just reaching his doorstep, he heard his mother's voice from inside.

"Auntie, let me do these chores," Nuo Xiaoxi's voice came through.

"Xiao Xi, how can I let you do this?" Mrs. Lin said caringly, "We still have a long future ahead, I'll do it."

Lin Chuan listened at the door, utterly confused. How had this older and younger woman suddenly began to quarrel? Lin Chuan was puzzled and surprised. He quickly stepped in, shouting, "Mom, I'm back!"

The room was clean and tidy. Entering the kitchen, Lin Chuan saw Nuo Xiaoxi wearing an apron, helping with the cooking.

"What's happening?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Silly boy, you're back?" Mrs. Lin smiled, "Go sit outside first, dinner will be ready soon."

Nuo Xiaoxi looked up at Lin Chuan, her face immediately turned red. She hurriedly avoided Lin Chuan's gaze and bowed her head. Lin Chuan was baffled; it wasn't her first time seeing him, so why was she acting shy this time?

Tonight's dinner was unusually early. Lin Chuan had lunch at three in the afternoon, and now, before five-thirty, they were starting dinner.

It was the first time the three family members had dinner together, and Mrs. Lin was very happy. It was probably the first time in many years that she had two other people dining with her. Mrs. Lin, all smiles, gently stroked Nuo Xiaoxi's hair and said: "Come on, eat up, these are all your favorite dishes."

"Sure thing." Lin Chuan wouldn't be polite, as he was known for eating at an impressive speed.

Nuo Xiaoxi watched wide-eyed, while Mrs. Lin laughed and said, "Girl, eat quickly. He always eats like this; you'll get used to it after a while."

"Okay." Nuo Xiaoxi was very ladylike, nodding her head and eating quietly.

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