To be fair, it wasn’t surprising that Chi Yan was so excited. Having known Zhi Huai since childhood, no one understood his temperament better than he did.
Due to his family circumstances, this man was inherently cold and indifferent, showing little interest in anything.
He had never expressed a desire for anything—his background ensured that whatever he wanted could be obtained effortlessly.
When a person lacks desires, they naturally struggle to find meaning in life.
His eyes were always as calm as stagnant water, never rippling with emotion.
Such a person naturally had no weaknesses.
Although certain events had occurred along the way, causing Zhi Huai to leave Jiangcheng, their connection couldn’t be said to have been completely severed.
Chi Yan still remembered the madness and the overwhelming, destructive aura in Zhi Huai’s eyes back then.
Now, seeing a man who once seemed devoid of vitality suddenly brimming with life again, how could Chi Yan not seize this opportunity to dig deeper?
The private rooms in Kun Garden were quite far apart, and thick soundproofing materials were used throughout. Even adjacent rooms couldn’t overhear each other.
Chi Yan picked up a braised lion’s head meatball with his chopsticks and placed it in his bowl, then posed a question.
“I heard you and Ye Fei knew each other as children. Since you’ve met before, why doesn’t she seem particularly familiar with you?”
Zhi Huai held something resembling a button in his hand. He dropped it onto the table, then picked it up again.
“Zhi Yuan has always been the most obedient to the old master. Since your grandfather has ordered him to marry Ye Fei, whether she’s willing or not, he’ll definitely find a way to marry her. So…”
If you keep being so reserved and passive, who knows when Zhi Yuan might just succeed in winning her over.
Compared to your gloomy demeanor, a warm and gentle man like Zhi Yuan seems more appealing to women, doesn’t he?
Before Chi Yan could finish his sentence, the man opposite him had already stood up leisurely, tucking the button back into his palm.
Chi Yan slurped up a mouthful of greens, looking bewildered as he watched the other man walk out the door.
“He won’t cause any trouble, will he?” He showed no intention of chasing after him.
Although this guy was usually a bit unhinged, if he truly liked the girl, he’d surely exercise some restraint.
Otherwise, he might just scare her off.
In the private room, Ye Fei and Zhi Yuan had almost finished their meal.
Seeing her put down her chopsticks, Zhi Yuan politely pushed back his chair and stood up.
“I’ll go to the restroom. When I return, we can head to the concert.”
After he left the room, Jing Chu pushed the door open and entered.
“Boss.”
“Where is he?”
Jing Chu pointed to her left. “In the private room over there.”
Ye Fei understood clearly. Connecting all the information, some clues weren’t hard to decipher.
If Zhi Huai was the elusive Ker, it wasn’t difficult to explain why he had developed the system for the Jiangcheng Judicial Department.
Chi Yan was his friend, so inviting him wouldn’t be a problem.
“Boss, you’re not planning to ask him for help through his brother, are you?” Jing Chu asked uncertainly.
Otherwise, why would she have come for this meal?
“Their relationship doesn’t seem particularly close,” Ye Fei refuted.
If they were biological brothers, it might be different, but their personalities were worlds apart, and their relationship wasn’t that great either.
In fact, whenever Zhi Yuan mentioned him, there was a sense of avoidance, as if he didn’t want to talk about him.
Ye Fei subconsciously twirled the porcelain spoon beside her, spinning it twice on the table before hooking the handle with her fingertip to stop it.
She had a feeling that day at Nanhuang, Zhi Huai had intentionally let her see the tattoo behind his ear.
Regarding this childhood playmate she had gradually forgotten over the years, she always felt an elusive sense of incomprehension.
“Boss, are we still going to the concert?” Jing Chu asked.
If Zhi Yuan wasn’t useful, wouldn’t that just be a waste of time? The boss couldn’t possibly be serious about dating this guy.
“That’s enough for today,” Ye Fei said, pressing her temples.
Understanding her meaning, Jing Chu obediently withdrew from the private room, waiting for Zhi Yuan to return and bid her farewell.
…
In the washroom, the sound of flowing water echoed.
The person standing before the sink finished rinsing their hands, turned to leave, but spotted someone entering sideways at the doorway.
“A-Huai, what are you doing here?” Zhi Yuan quickly put on a proper smile.
Zhi Huai walked past him straight to the opposite sink. Water flowed from the faucet, and the atmosphere between the two grew quiet.
Seeing his silence, Zhi Yuan tactfully prepared to leave.
“Since you’re busy, I won’t disturb you.”
But in an instant, a powerful force struck. Before he could react, he was pressed against the wall from behind.
“What are you doing?!” Zhi Yuan exclaimed sharply, his face pressed against the wall.
The man behind him pressed an elbow against the back of his neck, posture casual yet with an unyielding force in his grip.
“Have I ever told you not to touch what’s mine?”
Zhi Yuan’s chin rested against the cold wall, his demeanor still composed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, A-Huai. Making a scene like this outside isn’t good. Let’s discuss this back at the old house.”
Every word was about upholding the Jing family’s reputation, presenting himself as reasonable and considerate.
The man behind him remained unmoved, gripping his wrist with one hand and twisting it sharply backward.
The pain of his bones twisting made sweat drip from his forehead, yet he uttered no plea for mercy.
“Which hand touched her?” His tone was calm, but Zhi Yuan sensed a bone-chilling coldness.
“What are you talking about?”
He struggled to break free but to no avail.
“This hand should have been broken the day before yesterday when you entered my courtyard.”
The placid tone sounded as if he were stating the most ordinary thing, but to Zhi Yuan, it was like a summoning chant from hell.
He hurriedly explained, “Grandfather sent me to find you! I didn’t touch anything!”
He wasn’t unaware of what this madman was capable of when truly enraged.
Recalling what he had seen in Zhi Huai’s courtyard, Zhi Yuan’s sweat fell faster.
“Grandfather told me to get close to Ye Fei. I couldn’t disobey his wishes,” he continued to explain.
Faintly, what seemed like a scream could be heard.
At the end of the corridor, Chi Yan peeked out from a private room and soon spotted someone leisurely emerging from the washroom.
As expected, he sighed and retreated.
“I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.”
When this ancestor truly lost his temper, it was a genuine cataclysm.
That girl Ye Fei didn’t seem like someone who could handle it.
Growing bored in the private room, Ye Fei couldn’t help but glance toward the door.
Given Zhi Yuan’s nature, he must have gone out deliberately to give her time to compose herself, considering her leg was inconvenient.
Such a polite person wouldn’t be gone for so long without returning.
Just as Ye Fei was about to ask Jing Chu to go look for him, before she could even dial the phone, the private room door was pulled open from both sides.
Someone walked up behind her and placed their hands on the wheelchair. A faint scent of sandalwood drifted into her nostrils.
“Looking for someone?”
Zhi Huai’s voice came from above. She couldn’t help but look up, even from such an unflattering angle.
This man’s jawline remained smooth and defined, exquisitely flawless from every perspective.
Seeing the visitor’s face clearly, she exclaimed in surprise.
“What are you doing here?”
Where’s Zhi Yuan? Where did Zhi Yuan go?
Jing Chu, who was about to enter through the doorway, was immediately pulled away by Chi Yan, who had rushed over.
“Weren’t we going to the concert? Let’s go.”
Zhi Huai spoke as if to himself, already stepping forward and pushing her out of the private room…
Kidnapping! Kidnapping!!