"Leaving with nothing is not enough? Does President Gu intend to offend my boss and have me fired as well? Does it bother you so much to see me doing well?"
Seeing the irritation in Qiao Ruoxing's eyes, the fire in Gu Jingyan’s heart was extinguished by more than half. He pursed his lips, looking at a loss, and whispered, "I didn't mean that..."
"President Gu." A delicate female voice came from not far away. Qiao Ruoxing raised her eyes coldly to see Miss Yao appear on the scene, wearing a long pink dress and draped in jewels.
She walked over with a smile. "President Song, you're here too." Her gaze swept lightly over Qiao Ruoxing, the corners of her lips curling upward. "Hello, Miss Qiao."
Gu Jingyan frowned. Why was she here?
Qiao Ruoxing remained calm, though her fingers were clenched tightly.
She naturally caught the emphasis in Miss Yao’s pronunciation and understood the gloating triumph hidden within that "Miss Qiao."
How could she not be triumphant? Gu Jingyan had finally divorced her, and she’d left with nothing. Miss Yao had endured this for years, and now that her resentment could finally be vented, how could she not show off in front of her?
"I heard your mother passed away recently, Miss Qiao. I wasn't in Jiangcheng at the time and couldn't pay my respects; I truly regret that. Looking at you today, you seem to have moved past the pain of losing your mother. Time is truly a great healer."
Qiao Ruoxing’s eyes darkened.
Her mother had been gone for barely a week. Talking about "moving past the pain" was nothing more than twisting a knife in her heart.
"Miss Yao, if you really feel regret, tomb number 174 at the North Suburban Cemetery is waiting. Kneeling there for a few hours would be a nice gesture. Don't just talk about it—take some action. Who knows, maybe if my mother is pleased, she might even visit you tonight to thank you."
Miss Yao’s mouth twitched.
How could she say such ominous things with such a straight face?
Even after the divorce, her tongue was still this sharp!
Had she started acting like this because she lost Gu Jingyan’s backing?
Miss Yao managed a stiff smile. "Miss Qiao really knows how to joke."
She immediately shifted the topic to Song Tianjun. "I heard you’ve only been back in Jiangcheng for a few months. Is this your first time at this restaurant? I’m a regular here. I’m quite familiar with their signature dishes and have a good relationship with the owner. If you don’t mind, President Song, we could share a table. I’d love to introduce you to the local specialties."
Song Tianjun gave Miss Yao a faint glance.
He wasn't close with Miss Yao, but he had been "running into" her quite frequently this past month.
Yashi Media had no business relationship with Miss Yao, yet she put a lot of effort into these "chance encounters."
Song Tianjun understood exactly what Miss Yao was after.
Her contract with Qingshan Entertainment was about to end, and she was looking for a new agency.
Miss Yao’s acting was mediocre, but her ambition was enormous.
Although Yashi Media was a newly registered company, it was backed by the Song family and possessed significant capital. They were currently recruiting talent. If she could sign with Yashi Media now, given her current reputation, the company would naturally prioritize her with their best resources. Her career advancement would be inevitable.
She staged these "encounters" simply to curry favor with him so that Yashi Media would offer her a contract.
Unfortunately, her calculations were wrong. Yashi Media’s first production was led by Li Yan, and Song Tianjun had no intention of having his artists follow the path of mere internet traffic stars. Naturally, he had no interest in signing someone like Miss Yao.
Furthermore, Qiao Ruoxing clearly disliked her.
Thinking of this, Song Tianjun said, "I appreciate the offer, Miss Yao, but I’m here today to introduce Miss Qiao to my family. I’d rather not have outsiders present. I see President Gu is quite free; perhaps you should share a table with him."
***
*Clang, clang, clang.*
With the jolting of the car, Su Momo’s face grew even more flushed.
Sitting on Lin Chudong’s lap, she felt a trace of ambiguity. If his arm hadn't been wrapped around her waist, she certainly would have been bounced right out of her seat.
But the sensation of being held by a man made Su Momo feel intensely shy. Those few seconds felt as long as a century.
The car finally leveled out, blocking Chen Hu’s path.
Su Momo was overjoyed. Just as she moved to stand up, she felt something strange on her chest. Glancing down, she realized Lin Chudong’s large hand was resting where it shouldn't be.
"Where are you putting your dog paws!"
Lin Chudong quickly withdrew his hand and said, "It wasn't on purpose. I just grabbed the nearest thing I could find."
"You shameless..."
Su Momo had lived for over twenty years and had never been touched by a man. When did this bastard start grabbing her? She hadn't even noticed. Could it have been there since they walked down the stairs?
"Officer, if you don't go catch him, Chen Hu is going to run away."
Hearing this, Su Momo pushed off with both hands, threw open the car door, and charged out.
Judging by her movements, Chen Hu wouldn't be escaping. Lin Chudong lit a cigarette and didn't bother getting out to help. He had no desire to reveal his skills for a task that didn't require his intervention.
After a brief struggle, Chen Hu was handcuffed.
Seeing Lin Chudong sitting in the car, smoking to himself, Su Momo gritted her teeth in hatred. Could this man be any more cowardly? If he was scared of six people earlier, that was understandable, but there was only one man now, and he still didn't dare to get out of the car? It was baffling. She couldn't understand why Director Deng would stick his neck out for someone like him.
After getting back into the car, Su Momo said, "I have a case I need your help with. I’ll contact you later."
"Sure, understood."
After dropping Lin Chudong back at the company, Su Momo left with Chen Hu.
Lin Chudong looked down at his hand, savoring the lingering sensation. It was truly something else.
When quitting time arrived, Qin Wei finally came down on schedule. As she passed the security office, she glanced inside but didn't speak to Lin Chudong, walking straight ahead.
Lin Chudong understood immediately and hurried to follow his overbearing female boss.
They reached the parking lot, and Qin Wei got into her car. Lin Chudong pulled open the passenger door and sat down. As soon as he was inside, Qin Wei wrinkled her nose and sniffed.
"Why is there a smell of perfume?"
Qin Wei leaned toward Lin Chudong, sniffing his chest, and her expression immediately turned icy. "Which woman were you out messing around with?"
Lin Chudong said awkwardly, "Messing around? Where? Officer Su just came by to ask for my assistance with an investigation."
Qin Wei scoffed. "Officer Su? The busty one?"
"You men really are all the same, aren't you? Only interested in women with big chests?"
Lin Chudong sighed. "Weiwei, what are you thinking? I was just helping Officer Su catch a thief."
Qin Wei looked at him coldly. "Do you think I believe that?"
Qin Wei didn't know why she was so angry, but she couldn't control herself. She pointed outside the car. "Get out. I don't want to smell that scent on you!"
Lin Chudong looked helpless. "Weiwei, you’re really wronging me."
"Heh, whether I’m wronging you or not, you know the truth yourself!"
At that moment, *ding-dong*—Lin Chudong’s phone chimed. It was a message from Su Momo.
***
"Chen Hu has been detained. Thank you for your assistance. Would you like the department to issue you a 'Good Citizen' certificate?"
Lin Chudong handed the phone to Qin Wei to read. "See? I’m a helpful, good citizen!"
Qin Wei’s expression softened immediately. "You really were just helping her catch a thief?"
Lin Chudong said, "Would I lie? I should just get out anyway, so I don't get in your way. I can take the bus home."
As he moved to open the door, Qin Wei grabbed his hand. "Wait... hold on."
Lin Chudong was pulled back, still feigning anger. Qin Wei’s tone softened significantly, like a child who had done something wrong. She took a deep breath and said, "I wronged you. I'm sorry, okay?"
Lin Chudong could barely suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth; he had just been teasing her. He hadn't expected Qin Wei to actually apologize. It seemed she wasn't as cold as he thought.
Lin Chudong took the opportunity to hold her hand. "As compensation, you aren't allowed to let go until we get home."
"You..." Qin Wei bit her lip. This guy was really asking for too much. She had never held hands with a man before. Though they had been intimate once, that was under the influence of drugs. The second time, things had nearly heated up, but she had been tipsy and confused. This time, she was completely sober, and he was asking to hold hands—this was truly...
Forget it. Thinking about how harsh she had been earlier, Qin Wei relented. It was only a ten-minute drive anyway.
With her right hand held by Lin Chudong, Qin Wei drove with her left hand, quite skillfully. Throughout the journey, her cheeks were flushed, and her heart beat uncontrollably fast.
"Why did you help Officer Su catch a thief?"
"I have a favor to ask of her. My parents fell off a cliff five years ago..."
Lin Chudong explained the situation, and Qin Wei’s expression showed a trace of surprise. She hadn't expected his background to be like this. His parents were actually dead?
Qin Wei felt even more guilty now, and a sense of sympathy began to grow. Her hand instinctively tightened, clasping his back.
Though it was a subtle gesture, Lin Chudong caught it. He teased, "Weiwei, were you jealous just now?"
Qin Wei rolled her eyes. "Nonsense, who's jealous?"
"You acted like it. The moment you heard I was with an officer, you wanted to kick me out of the car. If that’s not jealousy, what is?"
Qin Wei yanked her hand back. "Enough talk. I said I wasn't."
"Besides, you're my contract boyfriend. Is it reasonable for you to be messing around with other women during our contract period?"
Lin Chudong looked at his empty hand. "We aren't home yet."
"We're almost there!"
This bastard—was he getting addicted to touching her hand? Would it ever end?
As they approached the house, Lin Chudong suddenly grabbed Qin Wei’s hand. "Stop the car!"
Qin Wei frowned and struggled. "Don't push your luck!"
Suddenly, Lin Chudong whispered, "I said, stop the car!"
Qin Wei froze. Lin Chudong had never spoken to her in such a fierce tone before, and it actually frightened her. She slammed on the brakes. Seeing his grave and serious expression, she asked in a low voice, "What’s wrong?"
Lin Chudong was now radiating a faint killing intent. He whispered, "There’s an assassin."
***
Qin Wei’s face turned pale. An assassin? That word had never appeared in her life before. But looking at Lin Chudong’s heavy expression, she knew he wasn't joking. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she instinctively gripped his hand tightly.
"What should I do?"
Lin Chudong said, "In a moment, walk home normally. Don't look like anything is wrong. Once you're inside, grab something for self-defense and hide under the bed or in a closet. Once it’s safe here, I’ll come find you."
Qin Wei squeezed his hand again.
Lin Chudong said lightly, "Don't be afraid. It’s no big deal. Get out of the car now."
He didn't know if they were here for him or for Qin Wei. If it were him, it wouldn't be a problem, but if they were after Qin Wei, things would be troublesome.
Qin Wei took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and walked away with feigned calm. She walked as steadily as usual, though her pace was instinctively a bit faster.
Lin Chudong’s gaze remained fixed on a man ahead. As soon as Qin Wei stepped out, the man moved to close in on her.
Lin Chudong’s brow furrowed. They were indeed after Qin Wei. She was just a businesswoman; was it really necessary to deploy professional assassins? Even commercial rivals shouldn't resort to this level.
Lin Chudong stepped out of the car and walked onto the road casually. A man in a peaked cap was about to collide with him. The assassin frowned and turned to leave.
"Buddy, got a light?" Lin Chudong called out to him.
The assassin in the cap furrowed his brow and said coldly, "No."
Lin Chudong approached and suddenly threw an arm around his shoulder. "Don't lie to me. I saw you smoking just now. How could you not have a light?"
The man in the cap was speechless. How did he run into someone so thick-skinned? He took a lighter from his pocket and was about to hand it over.
Lin Chudong suddenly reached out and lightly tapped him on the chest.
Just that light tap caused the assassin’s expression to freeze. He felt as if his internal organs were about to be shattered. It was as if he’d been hit head-on by a truck and sent flying ten meters away; he couldn't even speak a word from the pain.
The assassin stared at Lin Chudong in terror. Who was this guy? A single light tap had caused internal damage!?
Lin Chudong smiled slightly, took the lighter, and lit a cigarette. He kept his arm around the assassin, making it look to onlookers like two friends chatting.
Lin Chudong whispered, "How many of you are there left? Two... three, right?"
The only reason he’d left the guy alive was to find out how many there were. These people posed a threat to Qin Wei, and he didn't want to let a single one escape. Protecting himself was easy, but wiping them all out required some strategy.
The assassin’s face revealed pure terror. How did this man know there were three others? There was clearly only one visible! Even the most perceptive professional bodyguards could at best sense one more in the hallway. This guy had just guessed two or three—was he bluffing?
From his expression, Lin Chudong had his answer. With a light twist of his left hand on the man’s neck, a *crack* sounded, and the assassin’s eyes closed as he drew his last breath.
"Black Hawk, Black Hawk, what are you doing?" The assassin's earpiece crackled with his teammate's call.
Lin Chudong kept his arm around the dead man’s shoulders and sat down on a roadside bench, appearing completely normal.
***
At that moment, a black shadow crept out from the hallway behind him, holding a pistol aimed directly at Lin Chudong’s head.
*Bang!*
Realizing the first assassin was dead, the one in the hallway fired. However, by a stroke of luck, Lin Chudong tilted his head slightly, and the bullet grazed his ear.
The man’s face changed dramatically; he looked at his pistol in disbelief. He had clearly fired—why was the target unharmed? Looking up, he saw Lin Chudong standing right in front of him with a smile.
"You..."
Before he could finish, Lin Chudong struck him on the forehead, killing him instantly.
Snatching the pistol, Lin Chudong walked out of the hallway like nothing had happened. Two left.
If things went as expected, one should be in the high-rise building across the street with a sniper rifle, and the last one should be nearby, disguised.
Lin Chudong walked toward a beggar on the side of the road. The beggar was lying in the sun, skinny as a rail, with disabled legs. No one would believe this person was an assassin.
Lin Chudong squatted down, cigarette in his mouth, eyes locked on the disabled assassin. He suddenly raised his hand as if to strike. The assassin’s mental fortitude was excellent; he didn't move a muscle.
But the sniper across the way lost his cool. In that split second, a beam of light flashed.
Lin Chudong knew that light all too well—it was the reflection from a sniper scope. The materials were unique, creating a distinct reflection.
Lin Chudong didn't hesitate and struck out. The beggar suddenly opened his eyes and threw a punch at Lin Chudong. Unfortunately, he was far too slow. The strike hit his neck, ending his life immediately.
*Thwip.*
Lin Chudong ducked sharply, once again dodging a bullet. Even with a silencer, the subtle sound was caught by Lin Chudong. He spun around, pulled out the pistol he’d taken from the hallway assassin, and fired a shot toward the source of the trajectory.
*Bang!*
After the shot, Lin Chudong ran toward the exit of the office building. In just a few seconds, he had resolved three of the assassins. He had absolute confidence that he only needed to keep one alive out of the four.
The building had two exits. If he were the assassin, he would certainly choose the one with the most traffic. Standing at the door, he watched a dozen people walk out of the revolving door.
Lin Chudong’s gaze locked onto a woman carrying a guitar. He stood in front of her and smiled faintly. "I didn't expect the sniper to be a woman?"
The woman froze. "What are you talking about? If you want to flirt, I’m sorry, I have a boyfriend."
Lin Chudong suddenly grabbed her left wrist. "Playing the guitar, yet no calluses on your fingers? And your thigh is bleeding."
The woman’s expression turned to one of panic.