Chapter 147 The Obsessive Male Lead of the Era 9 (2/2)

He pulled a file from the drawer with his other hand and threw it on the table.

The documents fell apart, revealing the approval documents and grain coupon samples stamped with red seals inside.

Li Xiaorou's gaze was fixed on the official seal of the county revolutionary committee, one of the pieces of evidence used to denounce her father back then.

But we can't fall out with Zhou Mingyuan yet.

"Cooperation continues."

"But if you dare touch me again..."

She shook off Zhou Mingyuan's hand, her voice as cold as ice.

"What's wrong? Were you feeling unwell yesterday?"

Zhou Mingyuan suddenly leaned closer, his tobacco smell mixed with the lingering smell of alcohol from last night spraying onto her face. He lifted his shirt to reveal his chest covered in finger marks.

Li Xiaorou suddenly pushed him away and rushed out of the room.

In the corridor, the waiter who emptied the spittoon early in the morning looked at her disheveled clothes with strange eyes.

She gripped her collar tightly until she stepped out of the guesthouse, when she noticed in the rising sunlight that a Shanghai brand watch had been slipped onto her wrist, with a note underneath the strap that read "deposit".

Three days later, in the back alley of the county supply and marketing cooperative.

The evening wind carried the chill of winter, swirling and rustling the snow on the ground.

Li Xiaorou stood deep in the alley, her hands in her trench coat pockets, her gaze coldly fixed on the alley entrance.

Zhou Mingyuan's figure quickly came into view. He was wearing that familiar gray-blue jacket and holding a bulging brown paper envelope in his hand.

He walked very lightly, as if afraid of disturbing something. After getting closer, he looked around before lowering his voice and saying, "Look, this batch of goods will arrive tomorrow. We'll split the profits as agreed."

Li Xiaorou didn't say anything, she just extended her hand.

Zhou Mingyuan handed her the envelope, his fingertips briefly touching her palm. She immediately glared at him and pulled her hand back as if she had been burned.

She didn't look at the money in the envelope, but stuffed it directly into her handbag.

Since that night, she has refused to make eye contact with Zhou Mingyuan, and she doesn't even want to say another word.

All the details of the transaction were conveyed through cold, hard slips of paper.

Zhou Mingyuan seemed to be used to her indifference, but today, he did not leave immediately.

"By the way, I have something to ask you. Do you remember the rumor in your village in your previous life that there was gold in the Ji family's old house? Is it true or not?"

He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly lowered his voice and asked.

I was drinking with some buddies recently when they brought this up in my mind.

Li Xiaorou's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the strap of her handbag.

Why would Zhou Mingyuan suddenly ask this?

"It was taken away by the person who seized it long ago; that's just a rumor."

"If I had one, wouldn't I, a villager, have already taken it? Why would I need to cooperate with you and do such dangerous things on the black market?"

She remained expressionless, merely glancing at him indifferently and letting out a cold laugh.

Zhou Mingyuan stared at her, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of her words.

His gaze was like a knife, sending a chill down Li Xiaorou's spine, but she didn't flinch, only coldly returning his gaze.

A few seconds later, Zhou Mingyuan thought to himself, it was indeed as Li Xiaorou said, if there really was gold, this woman would definitely not let it go.

She didn't reply and turned to leave.

"Same time tomorrow, don't be late."

Zhou Mingyuan's voice came from behind.

Li Xiaorou didn't stop walking; she simply raised her hand and waved to indicate that she had heard.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief when she walked out of the alley and turned into a deserted path, her fingers trembling slightly.

Something's not right. Why would Zhou Mingyuan suddenly remember the gold in the Ji family's old house?