Shoutout to Alinaza for the commission!
After sending her off, Zhou Qing returned to the car. The divider behind the back seat was already lowered. He glanced inside and saw Lu Huaiyan leaning back against the seat with his eyes closed, looking exhausted, his breathing shallow. It was impossible to tell whether he was asleep. The words Zhou Qing wanted to say were stuck halfway in his throat.
At that moment, the man in the back spoke on his own: “She didn’t take the private jet back to Tongcheng, did she?”
Zhou Qing nodded. “Miss Jiang Se boarded a flight directly to Hucheng, then will transfer from Hucheng to Tongcheng. Counting it up, it’s only one hour later than the original flight.”
Lu Huaiyan made a low “mm”, opened his eyes, and said: “Did she say when she’ll be back?”
“Miss Jiang Se only said she’ll return tomorrow, but she didn’t say the exact time.”
Another faint “mm” from Lu Huaiyan, and then he fell silent.
Zhou Qing instinctively looked at him through the rearview mirror.
Having been by Young Master Lu’s side for so long, he had never seen the expression Young Master Lu wore this afternoon when he received Miss Jiang’s message.
Zhou Qing didn’t know how to describe it.
Like someone you always thought was unshakable suddenly revealing a vulnerable spot. If someone poked that spot hard, he would hurt, panic, and feel lost.
He inexplicably thought of that time in the VIP lounge at Tongcheng Airport, when Young Master Lu dropped a sugar cube into Miss Jiang’s cup of black tea.
Zhou Qing had never seen such a gentle side of Young Master Lu.
And Miss Jiang would actually be willing to leave a man like that.
If Li Rui were here, he’d probably say “respect”.
Zhou Qing cleared his throat and asked Lu Huaiyan: “Young Master Lu, are we going to the hospital first?”
“Back to the old residence first.” Lu Huaiyan lifted his hand and covered his eyes with the back of it, speaking calmly. “Find out what time her flight from Tongcheng lands tomorrow.”
Jiang Se hadn’t booked her return ticket yet. Zhang Yue’s situation was unclear. She needed to see Zhang Yue first before deciding when she could return.
He Miao’s home was in the old Lianan district, not far from the old apartment building where Zhang Yue lived.
Before going to He Miao’s place to pick someone up, Jiang Se met with Fang Shang.
“This man didn’t just stalk Boss Zhang. He also followed several girls living alone. It should be as the police suspected, he’s a habitual offender who targets girls living by themselves.”
Fang Shang showed Jiang Se a video, a dashcam clip. In it, the man wore a mask and a baseball cap, his back hunched, thin to the bone, sneaking behind a young girl.
This man… probably wasn’t one of Fu Yun’s people.
It really was just a coincidence.
“Can you find him?” Jiang Se said. “He was scared off by Boss Zhang. He might target someone else, or change locations. Better to find him quickly. Since he can avoid surveillance so easily, he’s definitely experienced and very familiar with this area. He might even live here.”
Fang Shang laughed. “Our people are searching. Once we catch him, we’ll haul him to the police station. Scum like this, even if you didn’t say anything, we wouldn’t just watch. As for Boss Zhang, I’ve heard someone is trying to dig into her past.”
Jiang Se’s gaze stirred. “Dig into her past?”
“Mm. Mainly her life before coming to Tongcheng, what cities she worked in, whether she ever dated, what type of man she likes.” Fang Shang lifted a shoulder. “Sounds like some secret admirer doing homework.”
Admirer?
Jiang Se frowned. “Can you find out who’s asking about Boss Zhang?”
Fang Shang nodded. “Just an ordinary real-estate investor. He seemed very interested in the old buildings around Fuchun Street. He visited several apartment blocks. One of them was the one you used to live in. Later, he probably decided not to invest there, so he dropped the matter.”
The old buildings near Fuchun Street.
Jiang Se blinked slowly. “Keep an eye on that real-estate investor. Don’t let him look into Boss Zhang’s past.”
Fang Shang smiled and said: “Alright. I’ll have someone throw out a few smoke bombs for him.”
“Thanks. No need to investigate the Rongcheng case anymore. For the next few months, I’ll need you to arrange people to watch the Fuchun Street area.” Jiang Se took out a check and slid it over. “This is your payment.”
Fang Shang froze. “You don’t need to. Young Master Lu already—”
Jiang Se looked at him coolly. “Are you working for me or working for him?”
Who was he working for?
Young Master Lu had already said it. From now on, he worked for Miss Jiang.
With an expressionless face, Fang Shang accepted the check and said with a smile: “Naturally, I work for you.”
After meeting Fang Shang, Jiang Se headed straight to He Miao’s home to pick up Zhang Yue.
Once they got in the car, Jiang Se started the engine. While turning the steering wheel, she asked Zhang Yue: “Do you need to go back and pack anything?”
“No. When I went to Little Miao’s place, I already brought everything with me.”
“Then stay at my place for the night. Tomorrow I’ll take you to Beicheng. Once we arrive, someone will arrange a safe place for you to stay.”
“Alright.” Zhang Yue looked out at the vast night. “That man who followed me… is he related to the person you’re looking for?”
“Not the man you scared off, but someone else is checking into you. Don’t worry,” Jiang Se’s voice was very calm, “this will be resolved soon, you won’t have to hide for long.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yue smiled, took out the folding knife from her trench coat, and said: “I’m not worried. Yesterday, when I held this knife and drove that person off, I wasn’t scared at all.”
She was someone who had died once. When she picked up that knife to protect herself, she wasn’t afraid of death at all.
When a person isn’t even afraid of death, there is actually a feeling of fearlessness.
She never expected she would also have such a fierce and brave side.
Jiang Se glanced at the knife in her hand and curved her lips: “Still too reckless. Next time wait for the police to arrive before you open the door.”
“I was afraid he’d run.” Zhang Yue folded the knife up. “And my neighbors are all very kind. A few days ago when they saw me installing a camera outside my door, they reminded me that if anything ever happened, I should shout loudly. They said the old building has poor soundproofing, if I call out even once, they’ll hear it.”
Speaking of this, she was a little regretful. “I didn’t get the chance to thank them yet.”
Jiang Se looked at her.
Zhang Yue had lived in that apartment for eight years, barely interacted with neighbors, and now she had become quite familiar with the two neighbors on each side.
He Miao said that when she caught someone last night, the neighbors on both sides ran out to help, and one auntie even had a frying pan in her hand.
“When everything is over, you can come back and thank them.”
Zhang Yue made a soft “mm,” stayed quiet for two seconds, then suddenly said: “That person who’s looking into me, is he sent by the one who gave Ah Cheng money and beer?”
Jiang Se nodded: “Very likely sent by him.”
“Miss Jiang, do you already know who that person is?” Zhang Yue swallowed and asked, “Is he investigating me because of Ah Cheng?”
Jiang Se licked her lips and said: “Yes. He doesn’t know your relationship with Zhao Zhicheng yet. If he did, you would be in danger. That’s also why I need to move you somewhere else.”
“I’m not afraid of danger.” Zhang Yue lowered her eyes to the knife in her hand, her expression fearless. “If catching him through me is possible, I’m willing. I’m willing to be the bait.”
Jiang Se quietly stared at the asphalt road lit white by the headlights. “Not necessary. There’s a more suitable bait.”
When they reached Xiangshu Alley it was already close to two in the morning.
Both were exhausted. After Zhang Yue went to sleep in the guest room, Jiang Se went into the bathroom to wash up. Seeing the razor Lu Huaiyan always used sitting on the sink, she paused, then reached out and held the slim handle.
The sharp edge of the blade slowly traced across each fingertip.
She closed her eyes and felt the blade.
Time passed quietly. After a long while, she slowly lifted her eyelids and put the razor back.
Her return to Tongcheng this time had been silent. Even Jiang Chuan and Yu Shiying didn’t know she had come back.
The next day she brought Zhang Yue to Beicheng and handed her over to Zheng Huan.
Zheng Huan said: “I’m too lazy to find her a place. She’ll stay at mine. Here, the thing you asked me to check last time. That young lady of the Zhu family has a pretty regular life. She treats that face of hers especially well, goes to the spa every two days for beauty treatments.”
She tossed over a stack of documents. Jiang Se flipped two pages, then stuffed the papers into her bag.
Zheng Huan checked the time, crossed her legs and asked: “Not staying a bit longer? It’s not even dark yet.”
“Need to go back and handle some things.” Jiang Se said, then looked toward Zhang Yue. “Sister Huan used to be a police officer. With her watching over you, you’ll be fine.”
Zhang Yue nodded: “Don’t worry about me. Miss Jiang, will you be in danger?”
Jiang Se picked up her handbag, smiled, and said: “No.”
—
When the car returned to Xinhe Residence, the sky had already darkened.
Jiang Se took a quick shower, then began packing Lu Huaiyan’s things. His presence lingered everywhere: clothes in the wardrobe, glasses on the nightstand, even the living room sofa still had the fleece blanket he liked to drape over her.
Halfway through packing, the door lock outside suddenly beeped.
Someone was entering the password.
Jiang Se lifted her eyes, quietly watching the handle turn left and the door push open from outside.
The man entered, looked at her first, then looked at the suitcase by her feet, filled with the things he had asked the butler to send earlier.
He closed the door gently, leaned back against it, and looked at her in silence.
His gaze was deep and heavy.
Jiang Se looked away, went to the counter and poured a glass of water, and said calmly: “You’re just in time. I’ve almost finished packing. Do you want to take this with you now, or have the butler come tomorrow?”
Lu Huaiyan’s eyes stayed fixed on her face. He took off his glasses and set them aside, then walked toward her.
Each step was slow. His leather shoes knocked against the wooden floor, each sound approaching her.
When his tall figure completely blocked the overhead light, Jiang Se set the water glass aside, lifted her eyes to him, and said: “The things I left at your place—”
Her voice stopped abruptly. Her gaze shifted to the hand touching her face, stunned for a moment.
Before she processed it, his lips had already come down.
Jiang Se tried to turn her head away, but her chin was held in his grasp. There was nowhere to hide. Her lips and tongue were instantly seized.
He kissed her deeply, with a lot of force.
Feeling his hand slip under her skirt, Jiang Se’s breath hitched and she called out: “Lu Huaiyan!”
Her voice was muffled in his mouth, indistinct, and soon her lashes began to tremble lightly.
He knew her body too well. Just a few unhurried caresses, and she softened.
Lu Huaiyan pecked her lips, then tilted his head to suck on her earlobe, and said slowly: “Can you feel how much your body likes me?”
Jiang Se turned her face away, her breath unsteady: “You want one last time before we break up? That’s not impossible.”
Lu Huaiyan gave a soft laugh beside her ear, withdrew his hand from under her skirt, braced both hands on either side of her, and looked at her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, saying: “Your eyes also clearly like me. Right here—”
He lifted his right hand, lightly closed it, feeling her heartbeat, and said word by word: “The cruelest.”
His brow and eye contours were very deep, born with an aggressiveness that pressed in. When he stared at someone with nothing held back, his gaze was like a knife.
Jiang Se didn’t see even the slightest lust in his eyes. He didn’t intend to want her at a time like this at all.
“Jiang Se, are you being cruel to me, or to yourself?”
Jiang Se lifted her face to look at him, stubborn, not saying a single word.
Lu Huaiyan released his hand, gently pried her jaw, looked at that wisdom tooth inside, and said: “A wisdom tooth that doesn’t even cause you pain, you won’t allow anyone to pull it out. Have I ever caused you pain? When you needed me, did I ever miss once? Am I not even as good as a wisdom tooth to you?”
The man slowly let out a stifling breath, lowered his head to level his eyes with hers, and smiled as he asked her: “You want to be the bad guy, I’ll be bad with you. You want to vent, I’ll give you the f*ck. What thing have you wanted that I have never given you? My heart is practically cut open to let you see it clearly. Even if you’re a white-eyed wolf, you should at least be half-fed by now.”
He understood her.
To walk into her heart, he had to give her the clearest affection and the choice that never hesitated. Always stand behind her, choosing her firmly, no matter whether the road ahead was heaven or h*ll.
From the moment he was sure he wanted her, he had never hesitated even for a fraction.
It was always choosing her.
Clearly, she had already fallen for him.
Lu Huaiyan looked at her eyes without blinking.
Wasn’t it these eyes that first attracted him?
Stubborn and fierce.
Fierce to everyone.
The man lifted his chin a little, brushed her lashes with his warm lips, his voice with a bit of coaxing, slowly and gently saying: “Take those words back. We’ll be just like before. Sese, take the words back.”
His breath fell on her eyelids.
Hot enough to make her eyes sting.
Jiang Se lowered her lids and said: “Lu Huaiyan, tomorrow have the butler come take your things away.”
The air stilled.
In the lowered view, the man’s leather shoes stepped back a step.
And the warmth that had surrounded her because of him scattered with it.
Lu Huaiyan let out a very light laugh and asked her: “Did you think I couldn’t feel pain?”
Jiang Se didn’t speak.
He didn’t plan to wait for her answer either. After speaking, he turned and walked toward the entryway. When his hand twisted the doorknob, he tossed out a slow sentence: “You can toss our relationship away like worn shoes, throw it out just like that. Why are you worrying about my things? Throw them.”
His voice was very calm, even his departing footsteps were light.
The door clicked shut with a “ka-cha”.
The floor was made of long white wooden planks pieced together one by one along a herringbone pattern.
Jiang Se lowered her head to look at it. She didn’t know why, but she suddenly remembered the pain of a fishbone stuck in her childhood throat.
Every swallow tore the wound.
She reached for the water glass on the counter and slowly drank the remaining water, one sip at a time.
—
The phone inside his coat kept buzzing.
Lu Huaiyan didn’t answer. Not until the elevator reached the first floor did he pull out the phone to check.
It was Han Yin.
The man pressed the answer button. For the first time, before Han Yin could speak, he said: “Sorry, Mother, it’s not convenient to talk right now.”
His voice didn’t sound different from usual, but Han Yin was still startled hearing it.
“Ah Yan, what happened?” she asked cautiously. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened. I’m fine.” Hearing her worry, Lu Huaiyan gave a little laugh and said, “My throat just hurts a bit. I don’t feel like talking.”
Upon hearing that, Han Yin quietly breathed out in relief. “Then Mother won’t talk to you. Tell the butler to make you pear soup when you get back. If it hurts too much, have Professor Zhao take a look. Zhou Qing said you haven’t slept much these past few days. Don’t stay up tonight. Sleep well.”
Lu Huaiyan listened quietly. At the end he only gave an “Mm” and said: “Alright, don’t worry.”
His car was parked downstairs. Zhou Qing was standing outside the passenger door smoking.
Seeing him come over, he quickly put out the cigarette and opened the rear door for him.
Lu Huaiyan bent down to get in. Zhou Qing followed right after, getting into the front seat. He was lowering his head to fasten his seatbelt when he suddenly heard a faint voice behind him: “Do you still have cigarettes? Give me one.”
Zhou Qing froze.
Young Master Lu had quit smoking.
Sometimes, when he picked up a smoke smell from social events, he would even shower in the office before going to see Miss Jiang Se.
“Yes,” Zhou Qing took a pack from his pocket and passed it back, “but it’s not the brand you used to smoke.”
“No matter.”
Lu Huaiyan pushed open the box, took out a cigarette, held it between his lips, slid the lighter wheel, and drew hard as the flame caught the end.
Nicotine rushed into his lungs with his breath. He lowered the window and, through the drifting white smoke, stared at the glass door on the first floor.
Seeing him stare unblinking at the place he had just walked out from, Zhou Qing signaled the driver not to speak.
The ashtray slowly filled with layers of grey-white ash.
Not until who-knew-how-many cigarette butts were extinguished did Zhou Qing hear a low—
“Let’s go.”
