Lin Qiao’er was sleeping soundly when a sudden, urgent kicking sensation came from her belly, as if something inside had done a somersault.
Her eyes snapped open, her back drenched in cold sweat.
“Mommy, don’t sleep… someone’s come in… it’s the big bad guy, the big bad guy wants to steal our money…”
Suisui’s voice was milky and urgent.
Hearing this, Lin Qiao’er widened her eyes in the darkness, not daring to move a muscle.
Her ears perked up, her heart pounding against her chest, thump, thump, thump.
She listened carefully—it seemed someone was turning the door lock.
Her breath hitched, and she slowly reached under her pillow.
The dagger was a gift from Da Niu. She had tucked it under her pillow before sleeping. Her fingertips touched the cold hilt, and she gripped it tightly, her palm slick with sweat.
The door opened, the dim hallway light seeping through the crack.
Soon, the door closed again.
Lin Qiao’er stared fixedly at the intruder’s silhouette.
The figure tiptoed over to rummage through the bundle Lin Qiao’er had left on the table. The rustling of the cloth being moved sounded like a mouse gnawing at something.
Clothes from the bundle were lifted one by one and tossed directly onto the floor. Finding nothing of value, the thief’s breathing grew heavy with frustration.
Lin Qiao’er had hidden all her money in her undergarments, so of course, the thief couldn’t find it.
The figure moved closer to the bed.
Lin Qiao’er tensed up, not daring to breathe, the string in her heart pulled taut.
She remained motionless, her breathing light and even, making the thief think she was still asleep.
The hand drew nearer, carrying the smell of tobacco and sweat, and actually reached for her pillow.
This was the moment.
Lin Qiao’er tightened her grip on the dagger, yanked it out from under the covers, and aimed it at the approaching hand, stabbing down hard.
A soft “thud” sounded as the blade pierced flesh, warm blood splattering onto the back of her hand.
The thief grunted, yanking his hand back, and cursed under his breath, “Damn woman!”
Lin Qiao’er ignored her fear and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Help! Thief! Catch the thief!”
The walls of the guesthouse were thin, with poor soundproofing. Even the sound of someone turning over in the next room could be heard, let alone her shouting.
There was movement next door, and voices echoed in the hallway.
With a loud crash, the door was kicked open.
A tall, imposing figure rushed in like a whirlwind.
Knowing things had gone wrong, the thief ignored the pain in his hand and turned to flee.
In the darkness, he tripped over a chair leg, crashing to the floor with a clatter. He scrambled up and lunged toward the window.
The window was open. He grabbed the windowsill, about to climb out.
Zhao Moting seized both his hands and yanked him back forcefully.
In the darkness, Lin Qiao’er heard grunts and the sound of fists meeting flesh.
That person was here to help her!
Lin Qiao’er immediately scrambled to the wall and pulled the light cord.
The light flickered on, and Lin Qiao’er saw that the person wrestling with the thief was none other than Zhao Moting.
The thief was practically being beaten down by Zhao Moting.
In no time, the thief’s face was bruised and swollen, blood streaming from his nose.
Zhao Moting’s face was half-lit, half-shadowed, his jawline sharp and his eyes cold and stern. He twisted the thief’s hands behind his back and turned to shout at the stunned Lin Qiao’er, “What are you waiting for? Untie the laces from his shoes.”
Lin Qiao’er snapped back to reality. “Okay.”
A liberated shoe was thrown over, its smell indescribable. Lin Qiao’er held her breath, deftly untied the shoelace from the shoe, walked over to hand it to Zhao Moting, accidentally tripped over the bed leg, and lunged toward him.
“Ah.”
This trick again?
Zhao Moting’s eyes showed disgust, instinctively wanting to dodge, but a glance at Lin Qiao’er’s flat belly stirred a flicker of pity.
She was pregnant. If she really fell, there might be bloodshed.
Zhao Moting reflexively stood up and steadied Lin Qiao’er.
Lin Qiao’er crashed into a warm, dry embrace, enveloped in the scent of sandalwood soap.
A cold, sharp voice came from above, making her hair stand on end. “Had enough hugging?”
Lin Qiao’er quickly pushed against Zhao Moting’s chest and straightened up.
In Zhao Moting’s eyes, it looked like this woman had sneakily touched his chest.
Zhao Moting’s thick brows furrowed into a tight knot, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Lin Qiao’er.
At that very moment, the thief who had been pinned down by Zhao Moting seized the chance to jump out the window and escape.
Zhao Moting rushed to the window. The night was heavy, and the street was empty.
He rubbed his temples. The thief he had worked so hard to catch had just slipped away.
He stared at Lin Qiao’er, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Was this woman’s head just for decoration?
At such a critical moment, she was still scheming to seduce him.
Lin Qiao’er was also stunned. She really hadn’t meant it.
Zhao Moting’s aura was too overpowering. Afraid of causing trouble and being scolded, she had gotten a bit flustered.
In her haste, she hadn’t noticed the obstacle underfoot.
Ultimately, it was her fault that the thief had escaped.
She hung her head in shame. “I’m sorry.”
Zhao Moting lifted his eyelids and looked coldly at Lin Qiao’er. “Next time you try your tricks, pick a better moment. Because of you, the thief got away, and how many more people will suffer losses because of it?”
“I… I really didn’t mean to.” Lin Qiao’er kept her head low, her eyes slightly reddening. She had just been robbed and was still shaken. Now, being scolded by Zhao Moting, she couldn’t defend herself, and a wave of grievance washed over her.
Lin Qiao’er nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, like a bullied young wife obediently listening to her mother-in-law’s reprimands.
Zhao Moting was momentarily speechless. With her reddened eyes, she looked as if he had bullied her.
A country girl who had never seen the world—he couldn’t expect her to be sensible.
Ultimately, she was short-sighted.
Even if unintentional, panicking at the slightest trouble was too petty.
This woman really wasn’t worthy of Chu Feng.
He’d make things clear to her later.
Suppressing his irritation, Zhao Moting said, “Enough. There’s no use talking now. Hurry and find the police. The thief might not have gotten far yet.”
Lin Qiao’er held back the tears at the corner of her eyes and nodded blankly.
The two of them went downstairs together.
People were already peeking out into the hallway. The older sister from the next room, wrapped in a coat, stood at her door looking around. “Miss, what happened? I heard you shouting about catching a thief.”
“A thief broke into my room,” Lin Qiao’er replied vaguely.
She went downstairs to the front desk.
The front desk light was on, but no one was there.
She knocked on the counter and waited a moment. The woman with permed hair emerged from the back room, her hair disheveled as if just woken up, looking annoyed and muttering, “Which bastard is disturbing people’s dreams in the middle of the night?”
“A thief broke into my room. I need to call the police.”
The woman frowned, glanced at the phone in the corner, and replied lazily, “The phone’s broken. Can’t make calls.”
“Broken?” Lin Qiao’er stared at her, not shifting her gaze. “What a coincidence?”
The woman’s eyes flickered slightly as she turned her face away, raising her voice a notch. “What do you mean by that? Suspecting I stole your things? Take a look at yourself—dressed like a beggar. Your pockets are probably emptier than the floor.”
Lin Qiao’er’s face flushed red instantly.
She tightened her grip on the bundle strap, her knuckles turning white.
Zhao Moting picked up the phone directly, dialed a few numbers, and after two beeps, someone answered on the other end.
The front desk clerk lunged forward to snatch the phone, but Zhao Moting dodged her. He shot her a cold glare before calmly and steadily explaining the situation in a few words, then hung up.
The clerk glared fiercely at the two of them before strutting away with a sway of her hips.
Zhao Moting walked over to the lounge area in the hostel lobby and sat down. Lin Qiao’er hurriedly followed, choosing a seat as far away from him as possible.
Zhao Moting’s gaze swept over her. “Still don’t get it?”
Lin Qiao’er belatedly realized what he was referring to.
She had clearly closed the window before going to bed, and there were no signs of forced entry on the door lock. The thief could only have entered using a key.
Only the front desk clerk knew which rooms had new guests.
This woman was likely in cahoots with the thief, claiming the phone was broken to buy the thief more time.
Suddenly, Suisui’s voice echoed in her belly, sweet and childish. “Mommy, the thief is this old hag’s husband. He lost his job last year and started stealing from the hostel.”
Lin Qiao’er’s eyes sharpened, and she took a sharp breath before nodding.
Zhao Moting said, “You’re not completely foolish.”
Lin Qiao’er pursed her lips. That didn’t sound like a compliment at all.
Zhao Moting’s gaze slid from Lin Qiao’er’s lips to her face as he spoke gravely, “You and Chu Feng aren’t suited for each other, and our family would never accept you.”