“Lin Yunchu, the old commander wants to see you.”
Chen Qi, holding his work ID, finally found Lin Yunchu. His tone was not very friendly.
“Where is the old commander?” Lin Yunchu asked.
“Where do you want to meet him? What, you planning to go to the Si family?” Chen Qi shot back sarcastically.
“Are you f*cking insane?” Lin Yunchu immediately cursed. “If you don’t want to do this job, then don’t do it. If you don’t have professionalism, take off that uniform. With your attitude, you’re really embarrassing the police!”
In her mind, people like Chen Qi and Si Zheyan were cut from the same cloth—once they opened their mouths, they were asking to be scolded.
In the novel, Chen Qi never liked her and even added fuel to the fire when she and Si Zheyan eventually divorced.
In short, with someone unfriendly toward her, there was no need to be polite.
“…”
Chen Qi was so furious he almost spun in place. After a few seconds, he forced himself to calm down and gritted his teeth.
“The old commander is waiting for you at the tea restaurant next door!”
“Oh. Then lead the way.”
One moment she was cursing him to oblivion, the next she completely switched tone. Her emotional control made Chen Qi want to swear again—but he had to hold it in.
He was here to serve the people. He couldn’t lose composure.
Lin Yunchu didn’t care about his mood and followed him out of the hotel.
Now that the country was opening up, spring wind had swept across everything.
Influenced by Hong Kong and Taiwan culture, Yue City had also opened a Cantonese-style tea restaurant.
The place had a strong retro Hong Kong vibe. The plates and cups were delicate, and each table had a small flower basket, giving it an elegant feel.
In a semi-private booth in the corner, Old Master Si was already sitting and drinking tea.
“Grandpa Si.”
Lin Yunchu walked over and greeted him politely.
“Yunchu, have you eaten?” he asked kindly.
“I’ve eaten,” she nodded.
“This matter wasn’t arranged properly by Grandpa Si. I originally wanted to treat you to a meal but didn’t coordinate the time in advance. So we’ll just have tea. I heard young people nowadays like foreign-style food, so I chose this place. There’s steak, milk tea, and salad. Order whatever you like.”
Lin Yunchu smiled. “Then I’ll have a lemon juice. I just finished eating and I’m quite full.”
Although most of the food had been dumped onto Lin Keke, the portions had still been large enough to fill her up.
“Alright.” Old Master Si smiled warmly, then turned to Chen Qi. “Chen Qi, why don’t you sit and eat something too?”
“No need.” Chen Qi refused immediately. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go handle other matters.”
The more he looked at Lin Yunchu, the more he felt this woman was fake—completely different attitudes toward him and toward Old Master Si. Toward him she was sharp and rude; toward the old master she was obedient and gentle.
Too good at acting.
Because of his dissatisfaction, he didn’t even mention to Old Master Si that Lin Yunchu had been forced out of the Lin family.
After leaving the tea restaurant, Chen Qi went straight to the Si residence. He needed to find Si Zheyan immediately.
At that moment, Si Zheyan was in his room drawing.
The first sketch didn’t match the image in his mind.
So he drew a second. Not satisfied, he drew a third.
Finally, he completed one he liked.
He began coloring it: black hair, high ponytail, light green floral dress.
After the paint dried, he blew on it gently and finally felt satisfied.
The profile matched the girl in his memory perfectly.
Sharp nose, long eyelashes, slender brows, slightly upturned red lips, bright eyes, bold and lively expression—spirited and playful.
“Li Ma, I’ve finished the drawing. Grandpa has grounded me for three days. Take this picture and help me find her.”
He handed the portrait over.
“Alright!” Li Ma agreed immediately and took it.
But when she saw the face clearly, she smiled. “Miss Yunchu…”
“Li Ma, don’t provoke me. And don’t mention the name Lin Yunchu in front of me again!”
Si Zheyan interrupted sharply.
Li Ma froze.
He was clearly drawing someone resembling Lin Yunchu, yet refusing to hear her name?
What did that even mean?
“But Zheyan, this girl really looks like Miss Lin Yunchu…”
“She is not qualified to be compared to her.”
Li Ma: “…”
She suddenly felt her usually smart young master had become stubbornly foolish.
At that moment, Chen Qi stormed in.
“Si Zheyan!”
Si Zheyan turned to Li Ma. “Put the portrait away. Don’t let Grandpa see it.”
“Alright.”
“What happened? Who made you so angry? Didn’t they already find the person Grandpa was looking for?” Si Zheyan asked.
“Go to your room. We’ll talk there.”
Once inside, Chen Qi immediately recounted everything—how Lin Yunchu cursed him, threw things at Lin Keke, and called him a psychopath.
“…And she called you a psychopath too?” Si Zheyan suddenly felt a strange sense of relief.
“Grandpa has never invited anyone to the tea restaurant. She’s the first. I think you’re in trouble. You need to hold on. If you give in, you’ll regret it later.”
“If you really marry her, let’s just keep some distance. That kind of tiger woman—you better stay far away.”
“I’ve told you everything. Decide for yourself.”
“I’m not marrying her anyway,” Si Zheyan said again, his attitude firm and increasingly disgusted.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“What else can I do? We’ll see when we get there,” he said lightly, narrowing his eyes.
He hadn’t expected Lin Yunchu to be this scheming—claiming she didn’t want to marry him, yet still meeting his grandfather behind his back.
It seemed he had been too polite with her.
In the tea restaurant, Old Master Si looked at Lin Yunchu gently.
These past few days, he had only discussed work-related matters with her, nothing personal.
“Yunchu, a lot has happened recently. Grandpa Si hasn’t had the chance to talk to you properly.”
Lin Yunchu sipped her lemon juice and smiled. “Grandpa Si, it’s all fine.”
Everything happening now was just the appetizer before her real confrontation with the Lin family.
“Oh right, Grandpa Si… him—how is he doing?” she asked.
Only after speaking did she realize she didn’t even know his name.
It seemed he didn’t know hers either.
Old Master Si’s expression softened. “He is a hero. He has completed his mission. He is safe now.”
“And his injuries?” she asked.
The old man paused slightly, his expression turning serious.