Chapter 45: I Will Suppress the Demons

Standing at the gates of Dafu Factory, watching the tide of workers streaming out, Wang Wenyu was pondering whom she might approach to inquire about Jiang Fan.

She noticed a man in a security uniform, his armband marked with "Captain," observing the departing crowd with intense focus.

As fate would have it, the man Wang Wenyu was eyeing was none other than Zhu Bing. Believing that factory management must know many people, she went up to him and said, “Hello, excuse me, may I ask you about someone?”

Wang Wenyu was dressed in a white blouse with a flowing ribbon, paired with black flared trousers and a cream-colored trench coat. Though her stylish attire did not particularly accentuate her graceful figure, it did highlight her delicate features.

Seeing such a beautiful woman approach with a question, Zhu Bing eagerly introduced himself, keen to show off his status at the factory, and asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Before Wang Wenyu could answer, someone gave Zhu Bing a shove from behind, causing him to stagger and nearly fall onto her.

It was Jiang Fan, who had been standing behind Zhu Bing. He grabbed Zhu Bing by the collar and yanked him aside, preventing the collision.

Wang Wenyu, seeing Jiang Fan with a grain of rice still stuck to the corner of his mouth, realized he had pushed Zhu Bing on purpose. She asked in puzzlement, “You mangy dog—Captain Zhu didn’t provoke you, so why are you pushing people around?”

Jiang Fan shot a sidelong glance at Zhu Bing, who was already preparing to slip away, and replied with a sneer, “This watchdog is full of bad vibes. Standing here, he blocks the factory’s good fortune. I’m ridding the place of pests.”

Wang Wenyu stepped closer, plucked the grain of rice from his mouth, and asked in mock seriousness, “Stop with the riddles. Tell me honestly, why are you causing trouble?”

Her affectionate gesture did not go unnoticed. Azhen, just out of the workshop, and Shen Tingting, emerging from the factory office, both witnessed it. Azhen had seen Wang Wenyu once before, but Shen Tingting was perplexed: Who is this beautiful woman? And why is she so close to Jiang Fan?

Both women feigned nonchalance as they edged closer, hoping to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Jiang Fan, pleased by Wang Wenyu’s intimacy, pursed his lips with excitement and signaled for her to observe the crowd leaving the factory.

Wang Wenyu watched for a while but saw nothing amiss. “They’re just leaving after work to get some rest. Nothing unusual about that!”

Jiang Fan glanced around; Zhu Bing had already vanished. He explained, “The day before yesterday, I gave that mongrel a beating, knocking him down a peg in the boss’s eyes. Since yesterday, he’s been standing here at quitting time like a watchdog, hoping to catch workers sneaking food out for friends and family, all to win back the boss’s trust. If I’m not here to keep this demon in check, he’ll be up to his tricks again tomorrow. If I don’t give him another beating, that would be the real surprise.”

After hearing his explanation, Wang Wenyu thought of Zhu Bing’s fearful gaze and how, just a moment ago, he’d slipped away so furtively. She replied with a smile, “The boss thinks you’re the troublemaker around here—so it’s all true, isn’t it?”

“How did you know the boss thinks that about me?”

“That’s a secret. How much longer are you going to stand here?” Wang Wenyu changed the subject.

“About twenty minutes. Once all the food-carriers are gone, my job here is done.”

Hearing there were still twenty minutes to go, Wang Wenyu relaxed at his side and asked with concern, “Does your hand still hurt?”

“So what if it does? Are you going to help me with the pain?”

Wang Wenyu pouted in mock annoyance. “You’re so ungrateful. Can’t I show a little concern?”

Seeing her act so coy, Jiang Fan shamelessly replied, “Alright, alright, show as much concern as you want. Why not kiss it better? Maybe it’ll heal faster.”

Wang Wenyu rolled her eyes at him, feigning disdain. “There are people everywhere. Mind your words.”

At her reminder, Jiang Fan glanced around again and noticed Azhen and Shen Tingting standing less than a meter behind, listening intently.

He suddenly turned around, catching them off guard, and both girls smiled awkwardly.

Jiang Fan and Shen Tingting had never spoken, but he knew she was one of the factory’s “Five Flowers.” He greeted Azhen first, joking, “What are you doing, eavesdropping behind me?”

Azhen, ever straightforward, looked at Wang Wenyu and blurted out, “Brother, this sister is really pretty. Is she your girlfriend?”

Jiang Fan patted her head affectionately and teased, “What nonsense. She’s my creditor, and also my classmate. She’s here to settle accounts with me.”

Then he turned to Shen Tingting. “Factory Flower Shen, aren’t you going to eat? Your lunch will be cold.”

Having learned to be tactful after several encounters at the factory, Shen Tingting replied with poise, “Food is important, but the scenery is even more so. It’s rare to see such a beautiful lady, so I wanted a closer look. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

She had wanted to ask Jiang Fan if he’d seen Hao Meng lately, but decided against it. Bringing up another woman in front of Wang Wenyu would only complicate matters.

Jiang Fan put on a virtuous face and joked, “What could possibly be going on with so many people around? You have a dirty mind.”

Catching Jiang Fan’s gentle gaze, Shen Tingting grew bolder and exposed what she’d just witnessed. “Is it my mind that’s dirty, or yours? You were practically ogling this lady just now, and you even tried to take advantage, asking her to kiss your wound. Aren’t you ashamed? And now you pretend to be all proper.”

Wang Wenyu stood obediently by Jiang Fan, seeing that both girls were friendly, she didn’t interrupt their banter.

With overtime ahead and only a short break after work, Azhen and Shen Tingting soon hurried off to the canteen for dinner.

Seeing how popular Jiang Fan was with women, Wang Wenyu surreptitiously pinched his right arm in mock anger.

“Ouch! You look so gentle, but who knew you’d be so violent.”

Wang Wenyu made a face at him. “You mangy dog, you shameless scoundrel, always flirting around—you deserve it.”

Jiang Fan was puzzled. This was only their second meeting, yet she acted so naturally around him.

Once he saw that no one else was sneaking food out, Jiang Fan tried to please her, “Beautiful Jiang, have you eaten yet?”

“You heartless thing—only now you think to ask? I’m so hungry my stomach is stuck to my back.”

“I knew you’d come to exploit a poor soul like me,” Jiang Fan grumbled inwardly, but said aloud, “Come on, I’ll treat you to some fried rice noodles.”

Every afternoon, as the factory closed, food vendors set up their stalls.

Jiang Fan led Wang Wenyu to a fried noodle stall at the night market, ordering two portions—one with meat and one plain, with extra noodles.

Wang Wenyu realized the meat was for her and asked, “You had rice stuck to your mouth earlier—didn’t you eat enough at the factory?”

“I barely managed a few bites before the shift ended. I had to keep the demons in check, so there was no time. Now that you’re here, I can’t go back to the canteen. Remember, I’m springing for dinner, so go easy on me, alright?” He even clasped his hands together in a plea.

“Calling a one-yuan bowl of noodles ‘springing for dinner’? You men are all so stingy.”

“You’re full and don’t know what hunger’s like. The money I’m treating you with is still what Hao Meng gave me—isn’t that generous enough?”

At the mention of Hao Meng, Wang Wenyu fell silent.

In just a few minutes, the noodles were ready.

Wang Wenyu, unaccustomed to street food, ate with elegant restraint. Though the rice noodles were bland, sitting outdoors with someone she cared about gave the meal a unique flavor.

Jiang Fan, with a hearty appetite, ate greedily, deliberately letting grains of rice cling to his lips, hoping Wang Wenyu would clean them off again.