Shoutout to Alinaza for the commission!
After the New Year passed, Yu Shiying and Jiang Chuan returned to their busy routine. It wasn’t until February 28 that they finally hung up a “closed for one day” sign and took Jiang Se to Hucheng to watch Jiang Ye’s competition.
Driving from Tongcheng to Hucheng was only about two hours. When the family of three arrived at the venue, they went to meet Jiang Tang. The entire season took more than a month to finish, and each of them was busy with their own things, so they’d agreed that they would all attend Jiang Ye’s first match; the rest would depend on fate.
As Jiang Chuan said, who knew how many rounds Little Ye could make it through, maybe they’d have to pack up and go home after the first one.
The Jiang family had a dedicated WeChat group called Courtyard 48, Liyuan Street.
Jiang Chuan had said that directly in the family group, which made Jiang Ye respond with a string of frantic voice messages.
Jiang Se didn’t understand the e-sports industry. Back in Beicheng’s circles, she had heard about a few rich heirs throwing money into forming clubs, raising several teams to compete.
Among them was that high school classmate from the Gu family who had said he used her as a sexual fantasy object.
Jiang Se looked around but didn’t see that person’s team, and guessed it must have already disbanded.
The Gu family, Zhang family, and Hu family had been having a terribly unlucky two months. Repeated scandals came out about data falsification and safety defects in their products. Banks that had previously agreed to loan them money all withdrew one after another. Once the cash flow broke, their stock prices began to plummet.
The options Jiang Se bought earlier were all sold last week, and the numbers in her stock account multiplied accordingly.
Guo Qian had said more than once on the phone that Gu Song and the others were all guessing who exactly these families had offended.
“My brother said that person must have prepared to take down these three families long in advance, otherwise there’s no way every timing was so precise, and the methods so ruthless, cutting off every escape route.”
Jiang Se not only knew who, she also knew the reason he had targeted those three families.
Her tone was faint: “Their products already had problems. In the biomedical field, every research data point must be guaranteed to be real. They falsified data to boost success rates and inflate stock prices. Since they chose to plant such a hidden danger, then they should obediently swallow the consequences that come with it.”
Guo Qian said: “My older brother said if this person could obtain solid proof that they falsified data, then he must also be someone in the biomedical field, just normal industry competition.”
Industry competition?
The Lu family indeed had several hospitals and affiliated research institutes focusing on difficult diseases, but those institutes were charity-based, and their research results were shared freely with the medical community. They couldn’t even be considered competitors.
However, it was thanks to the trap Lu Huaiyan set for them, otherwise who knows what disgusting people they would’ve run into today.
Jiang Se thought for a moment, then took out her phone and sent Lu Huaiyan a WeChat message: [Thank you.]
Their seats were specially reserved by Jiang Ye’s coach through the organizers, directly facing the stage, with a great view. After sending the message, she put her phone back in her pocket and carefully examined the competition stage below.
The little girls sitting in front of them were clearly e-sports fans, each holding small colorful flags, the logos on them exactly that of Jiang Ye’s team.
A girl with a high ponytail waved her little flag and said to the girl next to her: “Did you guys see Little Ye’s interview a few days ago?”
“I saw it, the reporter asked him what he wanted to do if he won the championship? He said he discussed it with his family and would first buy his older sister a luxury car.”
“I saw it too, why is Little Ye so sweet? I want to be his older sister!”
Jiang Ye was the ace of their team and always very popular, partly because of his skills, partly because of his face. A handsome, skilled, and extra warm-hearted young guy, it’s hard not to like him; he had especially many ‘older-sister fans.’
The interview they mentioned was one neither Jiang Se nor Jiang Tang had watched, but they both knew the sister Jiang Ye mentioned was Jiang Se. The person in the family who disliked Jiang Se’s little electric car the most was Jiang Ye.
After entering the venue, Jiang Tang had taken off her mask. Hearing the girls in front fighting over wanting to be Jiang Ye’s older sister, she let out a “pfft” laugh and said to Jiang Se: “Quite a lot of people envy us.”
Thinking of that youth who solemnly vowed he would earn big money for her, Jiang Se also lowered her brows and eyes, smiling: “Being Little Ye’s sister really is quite nice, can’t blame them for being envious.”
Just then her phone vibrated, and a WeChat voice message came in.
The venue was far too noisy. Jiang Se glanced down, took out her earphones and put them on. Very soon, Lu Huaiyan’s deep magnetic voice sounded in her ears: “Thank me for what?”
He’d been quite busy these few days in Hong Kong, but he would call her at set times every day. If he had time, he’d talk for half an hour; if not, he’d often hang up after just a few minutes.
He was flying back to Beicheng today. Jiang Se checked the time.
He should still be on the plane right now.
While she was thinking, the venue lights dimmed, and a surge of passionate, fighting-spirited music suddenly blasted out as the players from the two teams entered one by one.
Jiang Se immediately spotted Jiang Ye, hurriedly pulled out her earphones, and put her phone back into her pocket again, ready to watch the match seriously.
The seat to her left was empty, but the one further left was occupied.
Her hand rested lightly on the armrest. She furrowed her brows at the big screen, listening carefully to the host explain the rules.
Just then, in the corner of her eye, the person sitting one seat away suddenly stood up.
Someone was coming.
With a “creak,” that person sat down in the empty seat beside her, and very naturally took her hand.
It was that familiar interlocked-fingers way of holding hands. When their hands clasped, he always liked to use his thumb to rub that soft patch of skin between her thumb and index finger.
Feeling the pad of his finger touch her skin, Jiang Se froze for a second.
She suddenly recalled an old Republican-era drama she watched as a child. On the couple’s wedding day, the bride was blindfolded and had to recognize her husband by holding hands.
After touching several unfamiliar hands, when the groom’s hand was placed before her, she recognized it the moment she grabbed it.
At this moment, in the dim audience, almost the instant Lu Huaiyan took her hand, she knew he was there without needing to turn her head.
She was familiar with the light calluses on his fingers.
Jiang Se turned her head to look at him.
He was also looking at her, still that deep-browed face, his cold, sharp aura softened slightly by the smile in his eyes and at the corners of his lips.
Jiang Se blinked, parted her lips wanting to ask why he was here?
But once the words reached her throat, she realized she didn’t need to ask.
He couldn’t possibly be here to watch Little Ye’s match, he could only be here because of her.
Last night during the call, she had casually mentioned she’d be coming to watch the match today.
The man squeezed her fingertips, the smile in his brows and eyes deepening, as if asking her: Are you stunned, miss?
Jiang Se calmly withdrew her gaze and turned back to watch the match.
Her hand, however, she let him hold.
This match went on for nearly an hour, and the two of them held hands for that entire hour. The venue was crowded and stuffy, and Jiang Se’s palm grew slightly damp and sticky.
Jiang Ye’s team won the match. The girls in front were so excited they waved their flags wildly, shouting “Little Ye!” over and over.
The atmosphere in the entire arena instantly boiled over.
Lu Huaiyan squeezed Jiang Se’s fingertip again; when she looked over, he leaned to her ear and whispered: “I’m heading to the airport.”
Jiang Se’s gaze paused.
There were direct flights from Hong Kong to Beicheng, he stopped in Hucheng for only two hours just to watch Little Ye’s match with her?
She let out a barely audible “mm.”
Maybe he really was in a hurry, Lu Huaiyan pressed a dragonfly-light kiss on the back of her hand, then released her hand and walked out through the narrow aisle.
The roomful of excitement reached its peak the moment his figure disappeared.
Jiang Se slowly pulled back her gaze; the spot where he had kissed her hand still carried a faint itch.
–
After the match ended, the five of them picked a restaurant in Hucheng and had a big meal.
After eating, Jiang Ye returned to the hotel to prepare for the next match, and Jiang Tang got in the assistant’s car to head back to Pingcheng.
Jiang Se returned to Tongcheng with Jiang Chuan and Yu Shiying.
It was almost March, and after a spell of spring chill, the city’s spring atmosphere began to revive, the weather growing warmer day by day.
That night, back at the apartment, Jiang Se received a call from Zheng Huan, saying she had found the owner of the brewery.
“A woman in her early fifties, named Tian Xiangyi, a widow. The brewery originally belonged to her husband, Shen Qiang, he was the one who bought it back then. Three years ago, after Shen Qiang died, Tian Xiangyi took over the brewery. The couple were both from out of town; they followed Shen Qiang’s older sister, Shen Su, to Bai County. The original brewery owner, Lian Shen, was Shen Su’s lover. People around there all said that when Shen Su was with Lian Shen, she always had a tuoyouping* with her.”
* a child brought to second marriage from previous marriage
Jiang Se’s gaze moved: “A tuoyouping?”
“It’s Shen Su’s son, Shen Tuo. Old Uncle Yu took the photo you gave and asked the old residents near the brewery. Although they can’t be completely certain, the boy in the photo is very likely Shen Tuo. Thirteen years ago, after Shen Tuo was taken away, he never came back. He happened to be sixteen at that time, and his age and appearance both match. And in that same year, Shen Qiang suddenly took a sum of money and bought out the brewery.”
Old Uncle Yu was a retired criminal investigator with extremely rich case-handling experience. What he said was very likely, which basically meant it was close to the truth.
Jiang Se asked: “Has Old Uncle Yu investigated Lian Shen’s case?”
“He has,” Zheng Huan said. “Lian Shen’s alcoholism was very serious. When he didn’t drink, he was a normal person, but once he drank he became a beast. During those years Shen Su was with him, she would get beaten every now and then, and this wasn’t a secret locally. Lian Shen once almost fell into a pond and drowned while drunk. When the police received the report back then, they directly concluded the case as accidental drowning, leaving very few investigation files. Old Uncle Yu said it’s probably impossible to find anything, unless a witness is found who can prove it wasn’t accidental drowning.”
“Where is Shen Su now?”
“Dead. She got sick and died the year before Lian Shen’s accident.”
Jiang Se wasn’t surprised at the news of Shen Su’s death. “Then what about Zhao Zhi, is there any news of him?”
“This person is actually harder to investigate. He only worked at the brewery for a few months before leaving. In Bo County, there are many outsiders coming and going every year. Even if the old residents remember there was someone called Zhao Zhi, they don’t really remember what he looked like. Old Uncle Yu is currently looking for former employees who worked at the brewery fifteen years ago. As long as he finds someone who worked with him back then, we’ll know whether Zhao Zhi is Zhao Zhicheng.”
Zhao Zhicheng was different from Shen Su and the mother and son, Fu Yun.
For someone who could catch the eye of Old Master Fu, even if Jiang Se didn’t know what Shen Su looked like, she could guess she must have been a beauty. Fu Yun was also handsome; such a pair of mother and son would definitely be more noticeable.
Zhao Zhicheng, on the other hand, looked ordinary and was silent. If he really was Zhao Zhi, and only stayed at the brewery for a few months, it would indeed be hard for anyone to have an impression of him.
Jiang Se half-squinted her eyes: “Since Tian Xiangyi is Fu Yun’s aunt, can anything be found from her side?”
“Old Uncle Yu said Tian Xiangyi looks very honest, or rather, extremely timid. She and Shen Qiang have a daughter who is in high school. Her daily life revolves around her daughter. The brewery’s business isn’t great, but she doesn’t seem to lack money. I’m guessing that wealthy nephew of hers has been supporting them.” When Zheng Huan said this, he paused. “And because of this, we haven’t approached her. If Fu Yun really is that person, then even the slightest disturbance on Tian Xiangyi’s side might alert him that someone is investigating him.”
Jiang Se answered faintly.
Ten years ago, Fu Yun was nineteen, studying at a university in Beicheng, with the Fu family’s driver picking him up and dropping him off every day. With Old Master Fu’s character, it wouldn’t have been easy for Fu Yun to secretly leave Beicheng at that time. The matters in Rongcheng were very likely done by Shen Qiang on his behalf.
But Shen Qiang happened to be dead.
Zheng Huan had clearly thought of this as well: “That case from ten years ago, we never figured out who the mysterious client was behind that large order, right? Now there’s a new direction to check, Shen Qiang.”
Jiang Se hummed, licked the corner of her lips, and asked the final question of the night: “How did Shen Qiang die three years ago? Was it also an accident?”
Zheng Huan let out a strange laugh: “Just what you think it was, an accident.”
—
By the time Jiang Se finished the call with Zheng Huan, it was already past midnight, already March.
She couldn’t sleep. There were dozens of unread messages in the family group chat, most of them red envelopes sent by Jiang Chuan and Yu Shiying. They always said everyone had to grab them, but every time the number was set to three, and the three siblings always got one each.
She opened them one by one, reading every message and tapping each red envelope sent by Jiang Chuan and Yu Shiying.
Exiting the WeChat group, she was about to open her chat with Lu Huaiyan. There was also one unread message there.
That was when the phone call came in.
Seeing the name on the screen, Jiang Se couldn’t help wondering if it was because she’d been ignoring him and he was deliberately calling to demand an explanation.
She didn’t even need to look at his unread message to know it must be him telling her that he had arrived in Beicheng.
Jiang Se picked up the phone. Before she could say anything, she heard him ask: “Won the match and got so excited you can’t sleep?”
He meant Jiang Ye’s competition.
Jiang Se answered noncommittally: “Why did you come to watch Little Ye’s match?”
“Yesterday when we were on the phone, you mentioned twice that you needed to go to Hucheng to watch his competition. You even sounded quite excited,” Lu Huaiyan said slowly. “So I thought I’d come join you.”
His voice carried a bit of hoarseness, low and deep, as if ground through gravel.
This man only had such a voice in two situations.
Jiang Se lowered her eyes slightly: “You drank?”
Lu Huaiyan let out a low laugh: “You can tell? Mm, coming back here, how could I not drink. But don’t worry, Miss, I’m not drunk.”
He wasn’t drunk, but he was slightly tipsy.
The man turned on the walk-in closet’s wall light and slowly walked inside, tugging at his tie to undo the buttons of his shirt.
Both ends of the phone were quiet. Aside from each other’s shallow breathing, there were only the faint rustling sounds he made.
Jiang Se heard the “click” of a belt buckle being undone and the sound of a zipper being pulled, then realized he was changing clothes.
These sounds were too familiar, she had personally undone them before.
She paused. “Lu Huaiyan, are you changing clothes?”
“Mm. Got some smell on me at the banquet I didn’t like.” Lu Huaiyan tossed aside the shirt that smelled of perfume and slowly pulled on a cashmere sweater. “I’ll let you hear something fun in a moment.”
“……”
Jiang Se was silent for a moment. “What do you want me to hear?”
Lu Huaiyan chuckled, like he was a worm in her stomach, and asked her: “Did you just think of something not suitable for children?”
Jiang Se didn’t speak.
Lu Huaiyan said again: “Did you think I drank and got in the mood, hiding here in the walk-in closet to have phone s*x with you?”
Jiang Se: “……”
“It’s not impossible. Does Miss want it or not?”
“Lu Huaiyan.”
Lu Huaiyan stopped teasing her. He pulled on a coat and left the room, leisurely walking out through the back door of the first floor toward the glass garden where Old Master Lu specially kept his birds.
The old man’s treasured purple-blue parrot had been almost asleep, but upon hearing the sound of someone coming in, it abruptly opened its eyes and stared sharply at the person entering.
The little animals the old man kept were all sharp as humans, none of them feared Lu Huaiyan.
Among parrots, the purple-blue macaw could be considered dignified and imposing. As soon as it smelled that familiar scent, it flapped its wings ingratiatingly.
Lu Huaiyan put the phone on speaker and said to Jiang Se: “Say ‘Fu Jingyao’.”
Fu Jingyao was Old Master Fu’s name. Before Jiang Se could even speak, the parrot had already burst out excitedly: “Shameless old man, hypocrite, stinky fart king!”
Jiang Se: “……”
He called her at this hour just to let her listen to a bird scolding Old Master Fu?
Jiang Se’s lips curved. She said: “Lu Huaiyan, are you bored?”
Her voice carried outward. The moment the words “Lu Huaiyan” came out, the purple-blue parrot started calling out again: “Wolf cub, infuriating wolf cub!”
Jiang Se lightly laughed: “Does Grandpa Lu’s parrot only know how to swear?”
Lu Huaiyan pulled open a rattan chair, sat down with his legs crossed, and said leisurely: “I was just about to teach it how to compliment people. In the future, when it hears your name, how do you want it to praise you?”
“Let me think,” he said lazily, leaning back into the chair, his gaze passing through the transparent glass roof as he quietly stared at the sickle-shaped moon in the night sky. Unhurriedly, he said, “Heartless Miss, White-eyed-wolf Miss, Bad-tempered Girl, Doesn’t-like-to-talk-to-people Bad-tempered Girl, which one do you like?”
