“Damn, that bitch was strong just now, almost tore my clothes!” The speaker cursed under his breath as he lit a cigarette, crouching by a hidden door along the roadside and puffing away.
The other man, still catching his breath from running, bent over with his hands on his knees, panting heavily. He complained, “Who told you to harass someone’s girlfriend for no reason?”
“That girl was pretty. A little touch wouldn’t cost her half a pound of flesh. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel like touching her too?” The brash young man flicked the ash off his cigarette, reminiscing about Leng Bingqin’s appearance. “Tsk, if it weren’t for that bitch causing trouble, I’d have definitely taken her home and had some real fun.”
“What kind of fun?”
“Of course, stripping her pants off and having fun, hahaha. Ugh!” The young man, who had been shamelessly fantasizing about vile acts just a second ago, suddenly found his head bleeding profusely. Blood streamed down his cheeks as he let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground, convulsing.
Under the dim light, Ji Nanchan’s face was hidden in the shadows, making her expression unreadable. The brick in her hand had cracked from the force of her strike, a testament to the sheer strength she had put into it.
She turned to the stunned man beside her and raised the brick in warning. “You didn’t lay a hand on anyone, so I won’t bother you. But if you don’t get lost now, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
With that threat, the man staggered backward and fled without a trace, revealing the pitiful fragility of their so-called brotherhood.
The brash young man clutched his bloody head, too dizzy and weak to put up any resistance.
Ji Nanchan crouched down and coldly demanded, “I’ll give you one last chance which hand did you use to touch her?” But then, realizing the question was pointless, she abandoned the line of inquiry. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter anymore.”
She recalled techniques she hadn’t used in years, the rules of punishment still fresh in her mind strike ruthlessly, employ vicious moves, inflict pain without causing death.
She twisted the young man’s right arm to the side, placed the brick squarely on his palm, and drove her knee down with a speed and force that perfectly adhered to the rules she remembered. With one stomp, the brick shattered into pieces.
As if unsatisfied, she ground the rough fragments repeatedly under the heavy sole of her Oxford shoe, maximizing the agony. The bones in his fingers were undoubtedly crushed to pulp.
“Ah!” A piercing, gut-wrenching scream was swallowed by the clamor of the night market. The brash young man was now utterly devoid of his earlier vigor.
Ji Nanchan yanked his hair, looming over him like a ferocious beast of the night, and threatened, “If you dare fantasize about her again, believe me, I’ll kick your crotch to pieces.”
.
Leng Bingqin stood at the entrance of the alley with Fugui, eagerly awaiting Ji Nanchan’s return. This was the only way home, but she had waited for what felt like ages without any sign of her.
Just as she was about to take Fugui for another stroll, the person she had been waiting for finally appeared, carrying a takeout box of lianggao (a chilled dessert).
“Little greedy cat, what are you doing here?”
“I was waiting for you to come home.”
Ji Nanchan waved the takeout bag. “I couldn’t resist buying you some lianggao. You can have it as a late-night snack after a warm bath.”
“You won me a doll when I wanted one, and you bought me lianggao when I craved it. Why are you so, so good to me?” Leng Bingqin clung to Ji Nanchan’s arm, cooing and acting adorable.
With Fugui on one side and Leng Bingqin hanging off the other, Ji Nanchan teased, “Because you’re the silly, clumsy-around-the-house, snack-obsessed Leng Bingqin~”
“Pfft, you’re not allowed to say I’m not good enough!”
The two strolled through the alley, occasionally hearing the sounds of TV dramas. The rhythm of their simple life was slow and gentle, with everything around them brimming with the essence of everyday living.
Passing by a pile of garbage in the dimly lit alley, Ji Nanchan’s eyes trembled slightly as she recalled carrying Leng Bingqin back from this very spot a few days ago. She also remembered the woman’s arrogant and aloof demeanor at the café.
What was her real name? How old was she? What did she do for a living? Ji Nanchan knew nothing about her. The thought felt rather ironic.
“Qinqin.”
“Hmm?”
“If one day we part ways, will you be sad?”
This was the kind of topic Leng Bingqin feared the most. She had nothing but Ji Nanchan. If they were to separate, how would she, with her seemingly useless self, face life?
“I don’t want to part with you! Are you tired of me? Do you not want me anymore?”
Tsk, she shouldn’t have asked. Now the chatterbox was starting up again.
“See! Your silence means you agree!” Leng Bingqin grew anxious, tugging at Ji Nanchan’s hand and refusing to take another step. “I’ll do the housework properly, take care of the eggs, walk Fugui on time, and collect more bottles. I’ll even learn to do laundry and cook in the future.”
Fearing that Ji Nanchan might truly abandon her, the pitiful girl made earnest promises, her voice growing softer and softer.
“If you’re hungry, I’ll buy you delicious food. If you’re sick, I’ll carry you to the clinic. If you’re bullied, I’ll stand up for you. Why are you always afraid I’ll leave you?”
“But I am afraid. I have nothing, only you.”
“Silly!” Seeing her on the verge of tears, Ji Nanchan scooped her up into her arms and hurried toward home. “The little greedy cat is about to cry again. Let’s hurry home and have some cake.”
“President Lu, Rongzhi Company insists on refusing to provide the auction records, but I’ve found a new lead.”
Lu Zhimo, wearing a bathrobe, leaned against the balcony railing while on the phone. Through the glass, she gazed at Bai Qingrang, who was still fast asleep, her eyes softening with a tenderness known only to herself.
“What new lead?”
“Miss Su’s sports car was towed by a trucking company to the vehicle management office. Since they couldn’t reach the owner, it’s remained unclaimed.”
“Did you see the car at the management office?”
“I’m on my way there now. It’s said to have been a single-vehicle accident where it crashed into a utility pole.”
“Single-vehicle accident?” Lu Zhimo rested her chin on her hand, thinking for a moment. “Go check the car’s condition first and confirm where the accident happened. Report back to me as soon as possible.”
After hanging up, Lu Zhimo returned to the bedside. Even with her gentle movements, she still caused the person in bed to furrow her brows uneasily.
A moment later, Bai Qingrang opened her eyes. Gazing drowsily at the person sitting by the bed, she broke into a comfortable smile. “Have you been awake for long? Why didn’t you wake me?”
Leaning in to embrace Bai Qingrang, Lu Zhimo shook her head gently. “Of course, I couldn’t bear to disturb you. You do have a bit of a temper when you wake up.”
“I do not!”
Lu Zhimo pressed her lips to Bai Qingrang’s ear and whispered, “Are you hungry?”
“You’re hungry?” Bai Qingrang wrapped her arms around her, adopting a big-sister tone as she patted her back. “You bought a bunch of food and said the restaurant was opening, but after all that time you spent tiring me out, it’s no wonder you’re hungry.”
“I’m not picky. A bowl of noodles from you would be enough to satisfy me.”
“My noodles are amazing. Just wait and taste them, you’ll see.” Bai Qingrang sat up proudly.
Lu Zhimo draped the robe over her shoulders and busied himself tying the sash, a sly grin playing on his lips. “It really was delicious, and after having it once, I can’t help but crave it again. It’s unforgettable.”
Bai Qingrang finally caught on, her cheeks flushing as she scolded him, “Can you stop being so cheeky?”
Lu Zhimo deliberately emphasized his words, “Did I say something wrong? When you cook noodles for me, I could eat them every meal without getting tired~”
“Don’t say the word ‘noodles’ again!”
“But you were the one who brought it up first.”
“If you say it again, you’ll go hungry.” As soon as Bai Qingrang finished speaking, Lu Zhimo nibbled on her ear and teased, “Then I won’t let you go hungry. I’ll cook noodles for you~”
Lu Zhimo sprawled on the bed, refusing to move. Seeing how he was acting up, Bai Qingrang couldn’t pull him up no matter how hard she tried. She pretended to be angry, “If you keep this up, I’m ignoring you.”
“Fine, I’ll go along with it.”
“You!”
With a sudden tug of his arm, Lu Zhimo pulled Bai Qingrang into his embrace instead. Gently stroking her long hair, he lifted a strand to his nose and inhaled softly. “Actually, I wanted to tell you allow everything to happen, allow each other to step into one another’s worlds, to explore all the unknowns. How will you know if something is good or bad without trying?”
“Are you confessing to me?” Bai Qingrang kissed the corner of his eye but followed with a refusal, “No, I haven’t enjoyed the thrill of being pursued yet. I have my vanity too.”
Lu Zhimo propped his head up with one hand while the other twirled the hair by Bai Qingrang’s ear. He lazily asked, “How vain are you?”
“Well, you’ll have to try to find out.”
“I’m just afraid you won’t be able to handle it. Don’t blame me if I get too extravagant. Sister, I’m really hungry. Cook some noodles for me.”
Bai Qingrang pressed a finger to his lips, kissing him through her fingertip as her cheeks flushed crimson. She retorted, “Noodles, or something else?”
Scooping the questioning woman into his arms, Lu Zhimo chuckled as he carried her toward the door. “As long as it’s Qingrang’s, I’ll devour it all~”
In the midnight kitchen, a lively steam began to rise.
Bai Qingrang held a bowl as she prepared a secret sauce, while Lu Zhimo stood at the counter slicing luncheon meat. The pot of noodles on the stove bubbled vigorously as the two worked methodically on their late-night snack.
After preparing the side dishes, Lu Zhimo set down the kitchen knife and asked curiously, “So, why did you go on so many blind dates, only for them to fail every time?”
Bai Qingrang shrugged helplessly as she stirred the noodles. “Because each one was worse than the last. Sometimes I really don’t understand why my family arranges them like this, as if they’re just grabbing any man to set me up with.”
“The problem still lies with you,” Lu Zhimo offered his honest opinion but, worried she might take it the wrong way, quickly leaned in to kiss her forehead.
“Tell me, what’s wrong with me?”
“You don’t know how to refuse. After your second failed blind date, you should have learned to say no to your family. It’s also because you don’t know how to refuse that you ended up seeking Ji Nanchan’s help for every blind date.”
“That makes sense. But then the question is, why did I refuse you so decisively?”
Suddenly, it felt like a debate, though the atmosphere remained quite harmonious.
Lu Zhimo carried the bowls and chopsticks to the dining table, speaking with conviction, “Think about it from another angle. You couldn’t be bothered to refuse those people, but I’m different. Because you care, you gave it serious thought before refusing me.”
Across the dining table, Bai Qingrang leaned closer to Lu Zhimo and concluded, “Someone shouldn’t flatter themselves too much.”
“I think my logic is perfectly reasonable. Miss Bai should be applauding me instead, thanking all those misfits for not snatching away my dear, precious cabbage.”
“With that analogy, are you implying that you’re the pig?”
“Even if I am a pig, I’m the cream of the crop among pigs.” Pulling out a chair to sit down, Lu Zhimo mixed the noodles and placed them in front of Bai Qingrang.
Bai Qingrang didn’t pick up her chopsticks but rested her chin in her hands, eagerly awaiting her praise. “How does it taste?”
Lu Zhimo took her first slurp of noodles and didn’t stop until there were almost none left. Slapping the table, she exclaimed, “I love it, it tastes like home.”
At the mention of home, Bai Qingrang’s expression softened, and her eyes gradually filled with tenderness. She pushed her own bowl of noodles toward Lu Zhimo. “If it’s not enough, here’s more.”
“But you haven’t eaten yet.”
“It’s fine, I’ll cook some more later.”
“Then I’ll dig in.” Lu Zhimo picked up the bowl and started slurping again, clearly enjoying both the flavor and the feeling. “You’re not pitying me again just because I mentioned home, are you?”
“It’s not pity. I just feel a sense of accomplishment knowing I can give you that feeling. Actually,” Bai Qingrang hesitated, feeling her next question might be too intrusive.
“It’s fine, ask whatever you want. With you, I have no reservations.”
“Did you have a good life at the orphanage?”