Chapter 35: Love Cannot Be Won by Passion Alone

"Hello, Lin Junsheng."

Lin Junsheng did not know what this reporter wanted, but out of politeness, he responded. He felt puzzled; why would a reporter want to interview him?

"Mr. Lin, I saw a bit of that scene from a distance, but the details are still unclear. Could you tell me what happened?"

Lin Junsheng paused, then gave a bitter smile, thinking to himself that this world is full of strange things.

"What happened? It was really just a minor disturbance," he said dismissively, though a flicker of imperceptible indignation flashed in his eyes. "Just now, a few ruffians wanted to get handsy with my two friends. Naturally, I couldn't just sit by and watch, so I stepped in to speak up for what's right. And guess what? Their uncle is the town mayor. I imagine they’ve already been 'given special treatment' and released."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuanwen’s brow furrowed, his eyes filled with shock and indignation.

"This... isn't this blatant hooliganism? How could they let them off so easily?" His tone was full of disbelief.

Lin Junsheng shook his head helplessly, his bitter smile deepening.

"In this world, things aren't always black and white. Power can sometimes turn black into white."

Wang Yuanwen’s sense of justice was thoroughly ignited. "Mr. Lin, I must report this! We cannot let such injustice continue."

Lin Junsheng looked at the young man, a surge of inexplicable comfort rising in his heart. In this era, such courage—the fearlessness of a newborn calf—was truly rare.

"Alright, Reporter Wang, I support you! But we need to find a more suitable place to talk in detail. After all, this matter involves quite a bit."

And so, the four of them walked through the bustling market to a small restaurant. It was just past breakfast time, and the place was empty. Lin Junsheng found a seat, with Liu Siyao and Liu Jingjing following close behind. Both women also wanted to see those ruffians brought to justice.

Wang Yuanwen took out a small notebook and began to record formally. "Mr. Lin, could you describe the situation in detail? Including their provocations and how they were fought off?"

Lin Junsheng pondered for a moment and began to narrate slowly. His language was plain, but as a writer, exaggerating facts and elevating issues to a higher level of moral discourse was second nature to him. Although Liu Siyao and Liu Jingjing knew he was exaggerating, they remained silent. After all, had it not been for Lin Junsheng’s intervention, they might well have been dragged into the woods near the market.

Wang Yuanwen’s pen moved rapidly across the paper, capturing every word. This report was not just to expose an incident, but to awaken the fire of justice in more people’s hearts. Lin Junsheng also encouraged Wang to sensationalize it as much as possible, insisting that the detail about them kicking the *Quotations from Chairman Mao* must be included. It could even serve as the headline! If this were the 21st century, the reporting on platforms like UC Browser would have to be shocking enough to grab attention, or you wouldn't even keep your job.

The interview concluded, and Wang Yuanwen said he would mail a copy of the newspaper to him once it was published. Lin Junsheng agreed. Helping the people eliminate evil—this was just a small matter to him.

After bidding farewell to Wang Yuanwen, the sun had quietly climbed to its zenith. The three of them found a small, rustic restaurant in town and enjoyed a simple yet warm lunch. At the table, they chatted and laughed, the air seemingly filled with the ease and reluctance of an impending departure.

After lunch, Lin Junsheng made an excuse to go out alone. He needed to go to the post office to mail an important manuscript, *The River Without Markers*, to *Harvest* magazine. The awards for *Shanghai Literature* had not yet begun, and he knew it would be a long wait, but that wait held infinite possibilities. As for the payment, he smiled to himself, thinking, "Next month, surely there will be good news."

Suddenly, a new idea flashed in his mind. Why not take this opportunity to write more miscellaneous poetry and submit them to niche but sentimental magazines? It would keep his creative passion alive and earn him some extra money. However, what troubled him most was the desire to write a full-length novel. For any writer, a novel is a huge challenge and an opportunity for self-transcendence. He just hadn't decided which one to write yet.

Returning to the meeting spot in front of the bookstore, Liu Siyao and Liu Jingjing were chatting animatedly, their laughter like a summer breeze brushing across Lin Junsheng’s heart. Tomorrow, Lin Junwan’s wedding would be the overture to their temporary separation; Liu Siyao would return to the county, and Liu Jingjing would also leave in a few months. Thinking of this, a sense of bitterness welled up in Lin Junsheng’s heart.

Every moment spent with Liu Jingjing seemed so precious; her smile and her conversation brought him a warmth he had never felt before. It seemed he really couldn't move his feet once he saw a beautiful woman. When he visited Liu Changgen’s house, he hadn't realized Liu Jingjing was so beautiful.

The moment of parting came too quickly. They said a lingering goodbye to Liu Jingjing. Watching her retreating figure, Lin Junsheng felt as if something had been stirred within him. He clenched his fists secretly, determined to heal his leg as soon as possible. This was not just to restore his physical health, but to stand before Liu Jingjing as a more complete, confident person. He wanted to tell her that he was not just an ordinary veterinarian, but a writer harboring literary dreams!

On the way home, it was already dusk. Liu Siyao suddenly broke the silence, asking with a teasing smile, "Are you in love with Jingjing?"

Lin Junsheng’s heart tightened, and he quickly denied it: "No, sis, don't guess wildly."

Liu Siyao persisted, joking, "Not yet? When you said goodbye to Jingjing, your eyes were practically glued to her, unable to pull away."

Lin Junsheng felt embarrassed, his cheeks flushing slightly as he defended himself: "Sis, you can eat anything, but you can't just say anything."

Liu Siyao chuckled, "Hey, shy now? You're a grown man, why are you afraid to admit your feelings?"

Lin Junsheng feigned composure and retorted, "Didn't you say I wasn't good enough for Liu Jingjing?"

Liu Siyao paused, then burst into laughter: "Haha, I caught you, didn't I? You do like her! But look at you now—she’s a university student and a teacher at the County First High School. Sigh, the gap is a bit wide!"

Lin Junsheng was stung, a spark of determination flashing in his eyes: "Just you wait, I will win Liu Jingjing over."

Liu Siyao shook her head, looking utterly unconvinced: "I don't believe it, not for a second. Stop dreaming, kid."

Lin Junsheng grew anxious and looked at Liu Siyao earnestly: "Can you stop crushing your brother's motivation? I have dreams and aspirations too!"

Seeing that he was genuinely upset, Liu Siyao softened her tone: "I'm not crushing you, just telling you not to wallow in these unrealistic fantasies. You have to understand that love isn't something you can get with just passion; it requires strength and compatibility. In your current state, how can you give her happiness?"

Lin Junsheng went silent. In his heart, he thought: "I just want to try. Even if I fail in the end, at least I tried, and I won't have any regrets."