Chapter 23

Gu Yan sat in Lu Haichuan’s hospital room, feeling as restless as if he were sitting on pins and needles; he even felt a sense of shame. Although he hadn’t interacted much with Zhou Mingzhu, he could tell she was a straightforward, blunt woman who lacked any duplicity or hidden agendas. That morning, he had been moved by her kindness, so how could he have suspected her of being an enemy agent disguised as a civilian by the afternoon? Even Lu Haichuan, who had no prior connection to her, wouldn’t resort to such malicious speculation. Gu Yan could only console himself by thinking that he prioritized the interests of the motherland above all else, and that his concern had simply clouded his judgment. Yet, a lingering sense of guilt welled up inside him like a tide, refusing to let his heart settle. Back at the police station, Zhou Mingzhu had just finished her statement, feeling so tense that her limbs were numb. When the officer asked how she had managed to dodge the attacker’s multiple strikes, she stared back with wide, cat-like eyes, looking utterly bewildered. "I don’t know. I was just terrified of dying, so I dodged."