Half an hour had passed since the events of the night, and Yasushi lay in his shared bed with Jingliu. She was nestled close to him, her head resting on his chest. Her breathing was steady, and her eyes were closed, but she remained silent. Yasushi chose to wait, letting her initiate any conversation. He respected her need for space and wanted her to feel at ease before breaking the silence.
In the meantime, Yasushi kept his mind occupied with updates from Anfeng, Yinhaie, and Heinz regarding future plans and developments. Anfeng had sent regular reports, and Yinhaie had provided insights into what to expect. Heinz had offered his thoughts on the upcoming days. Yasushi also received a message from Cormac. The image showed Cormac looking well enough, though his eyes were slightly swollen. They would include this in the case against those responsible.
Everything seemed to be moving at its own pace, and Yasushi was content with the gradual progress. Yet, his thoughts were mostly with Jingliu. Her silence weighed on him, and he could only hope that, when she was ready, she would open up about what was troubling her. For now, he held her close, offering what comfort he could in the stillness of the night.
"I… didn't tell you everything about my former fiancé and grandparents," Jingliu said, her voice steady but tinged with a quiet intensity. "I made it seem less severe than it really was. Even though most of the scars have faded, I still feel the sting of them now and then."
She paused, her eyes meeting Yasushi's with a look that seemed to weigh heavily on her. "I mentioned that my former fiancé hinted at wanting to be intimate, didn't I?" she continued. Yasushi nodded, indicating that he remembered. "Well, he tried to force himself on me. At one point, he pushed me down. I was overcome with adrenaline and managed to push him away. I was so furious that I ended up beating him severely."
Jingliu's grip on Yasushi's arm tightened, her knuckles pressing into his skin as if grounding herself in the present. "After that, our 'relationship' deteriorated rapidly. He told his parents, who then informed his grandparents. They, in turn, relayed the story to my grandparents. He twisted the facts, making me out to be the villain. For an entire week, I was beaten and whipped by them."
Jingliu shook her head, letting out a sigh that seemed to carry a weight of its own. "I'm not as affected by it now. But when something triggers those memories, I sometimes find myself lost in them for a while. And just so you know, I've already sought therapy. This is something I have to learn to live with and avoid as much as possible," she said, her tone firm yet tinged with fatigue.
She pushed herself away from Yasushi, her expression changing to one of steely resolve. Then, unexpectedly, she broke into a smile. "I'm not weak, but I'm not invincible either. I know there will be moments when I'm struggling, just as there will be times when I'm strong. I know you'll face your own highs and lows too. So…"
Jingliu took Yasushi's hands in hers, holding them gently as she looked at them with earnest eyes. "So… when those moments come, let's support each other, okay?"
Yasushi was momentarily taken aback, but his face softened into a warm smile. "Of course. That's how mature relationships work. I'll be there for you, and I trust you'll be there for me too."
"Mmm… I will, thank you," Jingliu murmured as she settled back down against his chest, closing her eyes with a tired but contented sigh. "We'll face the future together, so don't keep things from me, okay?"
"Of course. But if it's about proposing to you, I might keep that under wraps," Yasushi replied with a chuckle. Jingliu didn't respond verbally, but Yasushi felt a slight squeeze from her, a subtle sign of her embarrassment.
As the evening wore on, the couple continued to talk, their conversation meandering through the events that had transpired. Their words, though light, seemed to lift the burden from their hearts, easing their minds as they prepared for sleep.
+-+
Several days had passed since their last conversation, and now an unexpected group had shown up to visit Jingliu and Yasushi.
"Duuuude!" Furuya exclaimed, throwing his hand up for a high-five with Yasushi. "China is incredible! The house is massive, and even though it's just for the staff, it's mind-blowing. And Jingliu's home? It's as big as Xinyi's place!"
Yasushi laughed at his friend's enthusiasm. "Yeah, I was taken aback when I first saw it too. How's everything over there?" he asked, gesturing for them to start walking through town.
Furuya shrugged, a grin still plastered on his face. "They gave me a quick tour, but as soon as Xinyi got the message from Jingliu that the haunted house issue was resolved, we headed over here. Right?" He turned his attention to Jingliu, Xinyi, Catherine, and Yunxue, who were chatting among themselves.
"Yeah, that's right. Jingliu briefed us a bit," Xinyi said, sipping on some orange juice. "It's good that those girls will finally get the justice they deserve. But… I'll admit Yueqin and Lingxi seemed more hesitant than the rest. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt."
Furuya nodded thoughtfully, a glimmer of anticipation lighting up his eyes as he asked with growing excitement, "So, where are we headed to?"
Yasushi's smile was subtle, almost teasing, as he responded in a matter-of-fact tone, "Farming."
"…What?" Furuya blinked, his earlier excitement replaced with utter confusion. "Farming!?"
Yasushi nodded, his expression calm and collected as he explained, "Yes, farming. We got the request earlier this morning. I found out that it's actually a local tradition, though it doesn't happen too often. The main family responsible for agriculture in this area is getting older, and every year they ask for help from the community."
"To add some context," Yunxue chimed in, "this tradition has been around for quite a while. It all started when some of the older men in town noticed that the couple managing the fields was struggling due to their declining health. They stepped in to help, and once the rest of the town found out, it turned into an annual event. Now, those who lend a hand get to take home some of the harvest as a reward."
Furuya's interest was instantly rekindled at the mention of a reward. "Wait, so we can get fresh fruit, vegetables, or even meat?" he asked, his enthusiasm now fully restored.
Yunxue nodded. "Yes, you can, but it all depends on what the older couple decides to give. You can make a request for something specific, but if they don't have it, you'll have to accept whatever they can offer you."
With a raised hand, Furuya declared, "Let's get started then! I want to help out the older folks!"
The group's reaction was mixed. Some of the people around glanced at him with a hint of surprise, others chuckled, and a few snickered. However, the older locals responded with warm smiles. They understood his enthusiasm, even if his grasp of the language wasn't perfect. He had been practicing with Xinyi and Catherine before his arrival, and it showed.
Fueled by this renewed energy, the group quickened their steps toward the farm. Yasushi and Furuya, particularly eager, led the way, both keen to discover what the local tradition was all about.
+-+
Furuya's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. "W-whoa, there are so many people here already!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise. Yasushi, standing beside him, nodded in agreement, silently taking in the sight of the large group of children, teenagers, and young adults bustling around the farm.
Among the crowd were adults from the older generation, though their roles were more supervisory. They moved among the workers with an air of ease, guiding and assisting where needed, but their presence seemed more about ensuring everything ran smoothly rather than actively participating. No one appeared to mind the arrangement.
"It makes sense when you think about it," Yunxue said, her voice cutting through the buzz of activity. "I should have mentioned earlier, but not everyone takes the free produce from the older couple. Some people come here just to help out, without expecting anything in return. It's up to you whether you want to receive something or not; personally, I don't plan on it."
Before Furuya could respond, an elderly man approached them. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he wore a welcoming smile. "Ah, if it isn't young Jingliu and Yunxue," he said, his voice warm with recognition. "I heard you returned for the summer and thought you might join us for this year's event. It's always a pleasure to see familiar faces around here."
"Zhou Laisheng," Yunxue began, "the husband and wife should be at the farm. The wife is named Zhou Meilan."
Zhou Laisheng, turning to see Xinyi and Catherine, acknowledged them with a nod. The two women responded with waves and polite bows.
"Ohoho," Zhou Laisheng chuckled, "it seems the heir to the Xinyi clan has arrived as well. I appreciate you making the trip and thank you in advance for your assistance." With a friendly wave, he motioned for them to follow. "Come along, I'll get you your packed lunch and drinks first."
He then turned and walked towards the designated area, the young group trailing behind him, eager to begin their tasks.