Chapter 329: He’s My Partner

Chapter 329: He's My Boyfriend

Ren Shan walked in through the door, hunched slightly.

Lately, her chest had been aching and swollen, even the lightest touch hurt while bathing or when her clothes brushed against it.

Yesterday, while moving goods, a customer's crate hit her, and she nearly cried from the pain. Unable to bear it any longer, she told Sister An An in private.

Sister An An reassured her that it was normal and would pass with time, advising her to visit Chu Shuyu’s shop to get some training bras.

After entering, she saw Chu Shuyu talking to another customer and turned to wait nearby—only to bump right into Ai Xiaolan.

“Ah—” Ren Shan gasped softly and crouched down.

“S-sorry…” Ai Xiaolan apologized mechanically.

Ren Shan slowly straightened up. “It’s fine. I was the one who bumped into you.”

Ai Xiaolan looked at her, then hesitantly pointed at Ren Shan’s chest. “You need to wear a training bra.”

Remembering her own painful experience, she added, “Don’t be afraid. Every woman goes through this. The swelling and pain are normal. Avoid fried or greasy foods, get plenty of rest, and choose soft, breathable training bras.”

Ren Shan's guarded expression gradually softened. At first glance, she had thought this woman seemed dangerous, her eyes held something dark, almost world-destroying.

But hearing her words, Ren Shan sensed no malice. Her defensiveness softened, and she nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”

Ai Xiaolan shook her head. “No need. No one told me these things before, so I was scared too. I had to look it up in books to understand. If someone had explained it to me, I wouldn’t have been so afraid.”

By then, Chen Aru had already come out with new clothes. “Xiaolan, I’m done. Let’s go buy some sandals.”

Ai Xiaolan nodded blankly and followed her mother out.

Zuo Zuying emerged from behind a nearby rack, staring thoughtfully at the retreating figures of Ai Xiaolan and her mother.

What was wrong with Ai Xiaolan? Before, her derangement was outward, but now it had become inward.

Could this have something to do with Lu Jin’an?

He distinctly remembered her as a god-like character in the original story. Had his presence caused a butterfly effect, altering Ai Xiaolan’s path?

In the plot, Ai Xiaolan’s instability had driven several people to madness. Later, she spiraled into complete madness, was charged with homicide, and executed by firing squad at the northern execution site. Just before the gunshot, she seemed to regain clarity, kneeling toward home and letting out an anguished, despairing wail of “Mom!” that moved many readers.

The original story gave little detail about Ai Xiaolan’s background or why she became this way.

But Zuo Zuying couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her. Since Lu Jin’an was a scoundrel and his harem was full of vipers—and since neither Lu Jin’an nor Ai Xiaoqing liked Ai Xiaolan—she was naturally on his side. If she could help him take down Lu Jin’an, she’d be a valuable ally.

Chu Shuyu found two large-sized shirts and handed them to Gang Zi. “Comrade Zhao, these are in a bigger size. Try them on—they should fit.”

Once Zhao Gang entered the fitting room, she turned to Ren Shan. “Shanshan, you’re here? Where’s An An?”

She had learned last month, while having tea with Su An and He Manxia, that Ren Shan was female. Su An had explained vaguely, leading Chu Shuyu to assume Ren Shan had posed as a boy during their trip south.

“An An is at a study group,” Ren Shan replied, looking around furtively before lowering her voice. “She told me to come here for some training bras.”

Chu Shuyu noticed her slightly hunched back and immediately understood. “Come with me to the back room.”

"You don't need to be shy, Sister Shuyu has been through this too. All women go through this stage, just like menstruation. The tenderness means you're developing well, and in the future, you'll have a more graceful figure. Hahaha."

"Here, take these camisoles. They're cotton, absorbent, and breathable. You put them on from the top—see how it works? Got it?"

Ren Shan nodded, "Got it, Sister Shuyu. How much do I owe you?"

Chu Shuyu shook her head, "They're not worth much. Forget it, consider it a gift."

"By the way, tell An An to come visit me when she's free. The employee who used to watch my shop quit, so I've been manning the shop myself lately."

Ren Shan replied honestly, "Sister An An has been taking all sorts of training courses lately and rarely goes to the shop. Mostly, Sister Manxia and Sister Guojuan help out there now."

Chu Shuyu sighed, "Nothing beats working with people you trust. Tell An An if she finds someone reliable and suitable, recommend them to me. I need help in the shop too. I don’t want to be tied down here either—I haven’t been to school in a while."

"Alright, I’ll mention it to Sister An An." Ren Shan held up the camisoles, "Thank you. I’ll head back now."

After seeing Ren Shan off, Chu Shuyu walked over to Zuo Zuying and Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang stared at himself in the mirror, frowning at the loud floral shirt. "So bold... Is this really for men?"

Zuo Zuying glanced around, "Don’t be such a country bumpkin. All the young guys in the city dress like this now. What’s wrong with floral shirts? Some guys even wear pantyhose! Last time we went south, people dressed even bolder there. That faded undershirt of yours is for working the fields. Now that you’re working with me, you’ve got to put some effort into your look."

Chu Shuyu handed Zhao Gang a pair of bell-bottoms, "Comrade Zhao, change your pants too. That floral shirt really doesn’t match your athletic shorts."

When Zhao Gang came out of the changing room, Chu Shuyu nodded approvingly, "There, that looks much better."

She stepped forward to adjust his collar and then instructed him to tuck the shirt into the jeans.

Zhao Gang, standing so close to her, didn’t know where to look. Apart from Xiao Yu, he had never been this close to another woman. The sweet osmanthus hairspray from her curls kept drifting into his nose.

"Uh... I-I can do it myself," he stammered, taking a step back.

Chu Shuyu looked up and saw his neck and ears turning red, his expression flustered. Amusement flickered in her eyes—such a big man, yet getting all flustered like a schoolgirl.

Zhao Gang clumsily tucked his shirt into the jeans and glanced at the mirror. "Let’s go with this set. Xiao Zuo, ring us up."

Turning around, he accidentally met Chu Shuyu’s gaze and started. "Xiao Zuo, I’ll wait for you outside."

Zuo Zuying and Chu Shuyu watched Gang Zi beat a hasty retreat, sharing a baffled glance.

"Comrade Zuo, your friend is quite the blushing virgin. Seeing anyone?"

Zuo Zuying shook his head, "No."

Chu Shuyu’s eyes lit up, "Seeing anyone?"

Zuo Zuying broke into a shy smile, "He's with me."

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