Chapter Eighteen: The Clown

Qin Huairu was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing how to respond.

She sighed softly and spoke slowly, “Haitang, what you’ve heard is indeed true. He Yuzhu is a good man; seeing me a widow with orphans, he helps whenever he can. As for me, I don’t have much skill—just some needlework—and sometimes I help tidy up his place as a way to repay his kindness.”

Hearing this, Yu Haitang’s jealousy deepened, but she tried to restrain herself, keeping her tone calm. “Sister Qin, you know... I have feelings for He Yuzhu. Seeing you so close with him makes me feel very unsettled.”

“Master Qin, look at you—you’re the mother of three children already, how can you still be so careless?” another voice chimed in. “Do you even know what kind of relationship you have between you? There must be boundaries between men and women. What you’re doing isn’t appropriate!”

Qin Huairu’s expression darkened immediately at these words, her anger ignited by Yu Haitang’s remarks. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before speaking slowly, “Little Yu, today I’ll speak plainly with you. Life as a widow is hard. With my status, some things can’t be explained clearly or easily understood.”

“Let people outside say whatever they want; I won’t bother with it anymore. This is my unfortunate fate, destined to live under such a reputation.” Qin Huairu’s eyes welled with tears, her voice choked with emotion.

“Actually, it’s not entirely others' fault for gossiping behind my back. Maybe this is my destiny—to bear this kind of reputation. It’s my misfortune; I can’t blame anyone else.”

Her words were like sharp blades, piercing straight through Yu Haitang’s heart. She felt like a clown mocked by everyone, her dignity and pride shattered into pieces.

“Is there any relationship in this world that can’t be explained?” Yu Haitang murmured, her eyes filled with confusion and doubt. She began to suspect—could it be that He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu had already been secretly conspiring together, just like Xu Damao?

The thought tore Yu Haitang’s heart apart. Staggering away from the courtyard, she stumbled as if the whole world had lost its color.

Back home, she locked herself in her room and wept through the entire night. Tears soaked her pillow and her heart.

The next day, her eyes swollen like peaches, Yu Haitang forced herself to go to work.

At the Red Star Steel Mill, Qin Huairu’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind, each phrase like a poisoned thorn deeply embedded in her heart.

Finally, unable to endure the torment any longer, during work hours, she dashed out of the Propaganda Department and headed straight for the kitchen at the back of the canteen.

Standing at the door, she took a deep breath and shouted loudly, “He Yuzhu, come out here!”

Her cry was like thunder on a clear day, stunning everyone present.

Heads turned, eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.

Normally, Yu Haitang was gentle and soft-spoken, barely above a whisper. Now, shouting with anger, it was clear something serious had happened.

He Yuzhu’s heart pounded when he heard the call. He didn’t know why Yu Haitang had come looking for him or why she was so furious.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he nervously approached the door.

Yu Haitang, seeing him come out, slipped behind him and slammed the door shut.

Everyone froze, then crowded at the door, pressing their ears against it, desperate to hear the conversation inside.

But Yu Haitang and He Yuzhu were completely unaware of this.

They stood facing each other, eyes locked, tension thick enough to burst.

Finally, Yu Haitang broke the silence.

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. “He Yuzhu, I have questions for you. I hope you will answer honestly.”

He Yuzhu looked into her swollen, red eyes, feeling a pang of guilt.

He nodded and said, “Ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Yu Haitang clenched her teeth, as if steeling herself. “Yesterday, I went to see Qin Huairu to ask what kind of relationship you two really have.”

She paused, eyes full of hope and anxiety.

She wished for an answer that would satisfy her, but feared hearing something she didn’t want to accept.

He Yuzhu’s face showed confusion.

He scratched his head and said, “You asked Qin Huairu? What did she say? I don’t understand at all.”

Seeing his baffled expression, Yu Haitang wavered. Could she have misunderstood him?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “I don’t want to repeat what she said. I just want to know—do you have anything going on between you two?”

He Yuzhu immediately understood her doubts and shook his head helplessly. “Haitang, you’ve really misunderstood. Qin Huairu and I are just neighbors. I helped her out a few times before, maybe I wasn’t careful enough, and it caused misunderstandings.”

“But I assure you, there’s absolutely nothing improper between us.”

He paused, eyes firm. “I realize my mistake now. I’ll be more careful from now on and won’t let anyone get the wrong idea again.”

On the surface, He Yuzhu appeared calm, as if nothing had happened, but inside, a storm raged fiercely.

He felt like an unjustly accused Dou E, forced to bear blame for things he never did.

This helplessness and frustration filled him with anger and resentment.

Thinking of Qin Huairu, his fury deepened.

The woman’s image in his mind had plummeted.

She was selfish and self-centered, caring only about her own interests, utterly indifferent to others’ feelings or fate.

Moreover, lying seemed second nature to her, effortless and without hesitation.

He vowed silently to remember this debt.

He was no pushover, and for Qin Huairu’s shameless behavior, he would find a chance to teach her a lesson—to show her that the God of Horses has many eyes!

Yu Haitang’s mood blossomed like a flower in spring—bright and passionate—completely unaware of the storm raging inside He Yuzhu’s heart.