The decision was finalized before Lin Wei could react.Liu Fang, the quiet archivist from the siheyuan, was now officially his partner.
Liu Yan's face stiffened, the political officer scowled, and several senior engineers exchanged skeptical glances. But Director Li's ruling was absolute.
"Comrade Liu Fang," he said, "from now on, you will assist Lin Wei in all drafting, documentation, and site evaluations. Any sabotage concerns must be reported jointly."
Liu Fang nodded firmly."Yes, Director."
Lin Wei stared at her, stunned.
She met his gaze and gave a small, steady smile.
"We'll manage."
The Walk Back Through the Bureau
They left the workshop together. The hum of workers, the clang of tools, and the distant whistle of machinery filled the air.
For once, Lin Wei wasn't walking alone.
He glanced at her.
"Liu Fang… you didn't have to volunteer."
"Yes," she said simply, "I did."
"Why?"
She shrugged lightly.
"Because no one else in that room really wants to protect you."
He fell silent.
Liu Fang pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"And besides… you look like you haven't slept in days. If someone doesn't make sure you eat and rest, you'll collapse before the saboteur gets you."
Lin Wei almost laughed.Almost.
They turned a corner—and nearly collided with Liu Yan.
Her heels clicked sharply on the concrete floor as she blocked their path.
"So," she said, forcing a smile, "the little archivist thinks she can be a field assistant."
Liu Fang's expression stayed calm.
"It's not about thinking," she said coolly. "It's about being appointed."
Liu Yan's lips tightened.
Her gaze slid to Lin Wei.
"You trust her that much?"
Lin Wei answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
The hallway went still.
Liu Yan's eyes darkened with something sharp and dangerous—envy or fury or something in between. Then she turned on her heel and strode away, chin high.
Liu Fang exhaled.
"That won't be the last we hear from her."
"No," Lin Wei agreed softly, "it won't."
Back at the Siheyuan
The courtyard buzzed with evening activity. Children chased each other, laundry swayed in the cold breeze, and neighbors argued over dumpling fillings.
But the moment Liu Fang and Lin Wei entered together, all noise stopped.
Auntie Zhang froze mid-chop.Old Lady Sun leaned forward.Even Uncle Chen lowered his mahjong tile suspiciously.
Liu Fang cleared her throat.
"What… is everyone staring at?"
Auntie Zhang struck first.
"Xiao Fang! You walked home with him? Together?"
Old Lady Sun cackled, "I knew it! Our young ones finally—"
"No!" Liu Fang sputtered, face flushing. "We're working together now!"
"And coming home together from work!" Auntie Zhang teased. "Good! Good! Hardworking young couple!"
Lin Wei nearly dropped his briefcase.
"Auntie, that's not—!"
"Don't deny it!" Old Lady Sun wagged a finger. "Hard-working girl, hard-working boy, Heaven rewards diligence—why not reward you with a marriage?"
Liu Fang choked on air.
Lin Wei turned crimson.
Uncle Chen shouted from the mahjong table:
"If we get a wedding banquet, I want roasted duck!"
Laughter burst across the courtyard.
Liu Fang hid behind her scarf.Lin Wei desperately wished the ground would swallow him.
But despite the embarrassment…
There was warmth.Support.A sense of belonging he hadn't felt in years.
The courtyard wasn't just nosy.It was protective.
Late Evening — Liu Fang's Knock
After dinner, when the neighbors' teasing finally died down, Lin Wei sat at his desk reviewing the sabotage notes.
The symbol.The carved circle with two lines.
What did it mean?
A soft knock broke his focus.
"Lin Wei? It's me."
He opened the door.
Liu Fang stepped in holding two small bowls of sweet rice porridge.
"You didn't eat much," she said. "Finish this."
He accepted it with a weak smile.
"Thank you."
She glanced at the papers on his desk.
"That mark…" she whispered. "Do you recognize it?"
Lin Wei swallowed.
"Yes."
"How?"
"I saw it on a note left on my windowsill last night."
Liu Fang's breath hitched.
"You didn't tell me."
"I didn't want you involved."
"I'm already involved," she insisted, stepping closer. "You're not handling this alone."
The determination in her eyes stunned him.
He nodded slowly.
They examined the symbol together in silence.
"I think it's some kind of… identifier," Lin Wei murmured. "A group? A person? A warning?"
"Or a signature," Liu Fang added."Artists sign paintings. Saboteurs sign disasters."
He shivered.
She hesitated.
"Can you draw it for me?"
Lin Wei sketched it on a scrap of paper:
○╳(two crossing lines inside a circle)
Liu Fang frowned.
"That's… unsettling. It feels familiar."
She tapped the desk.
"If this saboteur wants you to notice it… then this won't be the last time we see it."
A cold knot formed in Lin Wei's stomach.
He suddenly realized the truth—
The sabotage wasn't random.It wasn't opportunistic.It wasn't political infighting.
It was personal.
Someone was testing him.Tracking him.Forcing him into the spotlight.
"Why me?" he whispered.
Liu Fang answered softly:
"Because you're talented."
He shook his head.
"No. Talent doesn't attract this."
Liu Fang thought for a moment.
Then she said something that made his blood run cold:
"Unless someone believes you're not talented… but unnatural."
Lin Wei's breath caught.
She held his gaze.
"Whoever is watching you… doesn't think you're gifted. They think you're dangerous."
Silence fell heavy and thick.
Outside, the wind hissed through the courtyard walls.
Liu Fang placed a warm hand over his.
"We'll get through this," she murmured. "Together."
He tightened his grip.
"Together."
But neither said what they feared most—
Talent wasn't the reason someone was hunting him.
The system was.
And the saboteur knew.