Chapter 57
The sky outside the window struggled to peek through from a deathly deep black, revealing a hint of iron gray, like a dirty rag soaked in ink, barely making out the outline of the crooked tree below. Shi Ye leaned against the cold wall, feeling as if her spine was about to freeze into it. The screen of the phone she clutched in her hand flickered on and off, the battery bar dangerously low, but the "unusual sound" she had been waiting for half the night, possibly coming from the direction of Qi Jin's apartment, never came.
The only sounds were the muffled rumble of a sanitation truck passing by in the distance, the splashing of water from someone flushing their toilet upstairs, and the faint clicking of her own stiff joints from maintaining one position for too long.
Lin Xiaoyu was sprawled out on the sofa, the blanket kicked to the floor, mumbling in her sleep, "...Senior...give money...no, I mean...give them money..."
Shi Ye twitched the corner of his mouth, bent down to pick up the blanket and covered her up again. As he moved, the safety buckle and moon necklace around her neck gently collided, making a soft, crisp sound.
"Everything will return to normal."
Qi Jin's words still echoed in my ears, carrying with them the confidence of someone in control of the situation and the aroma of coffee.
However, the strange static on her phone, the words "target," "blind spot," and "early morning operation," lingered in her mind like a venomous snake, spitting out cold, sticky tongues.
Security has been upgraded. Qi Jin is on duty, and he's using coffee to stay awake.
Theoretically, there shouldn't be any problem.
But what if?
What if Qin Ming's men actually found some unexpected loophole? What if those security personnel also dozed off at times? What if...
Shi Ye stared at the increasingly clear iron-gray expanse outside the window, the "what if" feeling in her heart snowballing, making it hard for her to breathe. She could sit here, holding her phone, like a prisoner awaiting sentencing, praying for dawn, praying that nothing would happen.
But what if... something she can't bear happens while she's praying?
The thought was like a red-hot needle, piercing her numb nerves.
no.
She can't just wait around like this.
She had to do something. Even if it was just... getting closer to Qi Jin. Even if it was just standing downstairs at her house like a fool.
At least, if something really happens, what can she do? Call the police? Rush in? She seems unable to do anything.
But it's better than sitting here daydreaming and waiting to die.
The decision came abruptly and resolutely, giving her little time to weigh the pros and cons. She glanced at Lin Xiaoyu, who was fast asleep, and quickly wrote a note on the coffee table: "I'm going out for a bit, I'll be right back. Lock the door, don't let strangers in." Then, she quietly changed her shoes, grabbed her coat and phone (and a power bank), and slipped out the door like a thief.
The wind at dawn was colder than she had imagined, cutting like a knife against her face. Shi Ye wrapped her coat tighter and buried her face in her collar. The streetlights in the neighborhood were dim, and only her own shadow was stretched long and thin, moving alone on the deserted road.
She took a taxi to the villa area where Qi Jin lived. The driver was a silent middle-aged man who glanced at her several times in the rearview mirror. He probably thought it was a bit strange for a young woman to go to an upscale villa area alone at this time of year and dressed like this (light-colored loungewear with a coat over it, her hair casually tied up, and her face pale).
Shi Ye didn't have time to explain, and simply gave a directions to an intersection that was some distance from Qi Jin's house. She didn't want to drive directly to the gate; what if... what if she alerted someone, or was stopped by Qi Jin's security personnel as a suspicious person? That would be too embarrassing.
The car sped along the quiet streets. The city's neon lights cast blurry streaks of light on the car windows. As Shi Ye watched the scenery rushing past outside the window, the initial excitement in his heart slowly cooled, replaced by a deeper unease and...self-doubt.
What is she doing? Staying up all night, "keeping watch" downstairs at Qi Jin's house? Like a tragic and foolish heroine in one of those melodramatic soap operas? What will Qi Jin think if he finds out? Will he think she's crazy? Or... worse, that she's a burden?
The necklace and jade pendant around her neck swayed gently with the bumps of the car, touching her cool skin.
She remembered Qi Jin's calm profile as he served her food, her cool fingertips as she brushed away fallen leaves, and the glass of milk and the photo of the security control console that Qi Jin had sent her.
Qi Jin said she was safe.
Qi Jin told her not to overthink things.
Qi Jin told her to go to sleep early.
But... she still came.
Like a stubborn fool who won't listen to advice.
The car stopped at the designated intersection. Shi Ye paid the fare and got out. The early morning wind blew in unhindered, making her shiver. This was the outskirts of a villa area, with lush greenery, tall trees, and even fewer streetlights, creating a dim and quiet atmosphere. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves in the wind and her own slightly rapid breathing.
Qi Jin's villa was a bit further in. She dared not walk on the main road, fearing being caught on patrolling security guards or surveillance cameras, so she could only slowly and cautiously incline forward along the shadows of the trees beside the sidewalk. With each step, the sense of absurdity in her heart increased. What was she doing? Was she acting in a spy movie?
After walking for about ten minutes, the familiar outline of the Chinese-style villa finally came into view. It was pitch black, except for a light on in one of the rooms on the second floor, a warm yellow glow seeping through the gap in the curtains—perhaps Qi Jin's study or bedroom?
The area around the villa was quiet; there were no suspicious vehicles or furtive figures. Only the streetlights cast dim yellow circles on the ground and the soft rustling of the night wind through the bamboo grove in the courtyard.
It seems... everything is normal.
Shi Ye hid behind a thick camphor tree, gazing at the lit window in the distance. The tension in her heart eased slightly. Perhaps... she was just overthinking it? That strange message might just be a coincidence, or even just her hallucination?
She leaned against the rough tree trunk, the cold bark seeping through her thin coat. The chill of the early morning was penetrating, and she felt like an icicle about to freeze solid. To keep herself from falling asleep or freezing, she could only keep gently stamping her feet or breathing on her hands to warm them, careful not to make any noise.
Time ticked by. The sky gradually turned from iron gray to greyish-white, and a hint of dawn appeared on the distant horizon. A few early risers began to pass by the villa area, dressed in sportswear, their steps light, casting curious or wary glances at the young woman hiding behind the tree, her behavior suspicious.
Shi Ye lowered his face even further, feeling that his behavior was not only foolish, but was also on the verge of escalating into "social death".
Just as she was considering whether she should take advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention and quickly slink away in a taxi to go home, the window that was lit suddenly went dark.
Is Qi Jin... asleep? Or has he gone to rest?
Shi Ye's heart pounded again. Had the most dangerous moment passed? Or... was it about to begin?
She stared intently at the villa's entrances and shadowy corners, her ears perked up, catching any unusual sound.
Apart from the sound of the wind, birdsong, and the faint sound of cars in the distance, there was nothing else.
After an unknown amount of time, dawn broke completely. The morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns at her feet. The villa area came to life, bustling with people walking their dogs, jogging, delivering milk and newspapers…
Like a genuinely suspicious individual, Shi Ye squatted (or stood) behind that camphor tree for most of the night, his legs numb, his feet frozen, and his mind foggy from lack of sleep and tension. Apart from being stared at a few times by the elderly folks who were exercising early in the morning, as if they were looking at someone crazy, he gained nothing.
There were no suspicious persons, no unusual activity, and nothing... happened.
So, was she really overthinking it? Was the warning false? Or did Qin Ming's operation get canceled? Or was Qi Jin's security truly impeccable, leaving the other side with no way to attack?
In any case, dawn broke. Qi Jin's promise that "everything will return to normal" seemed to be coming true.
Shi Ye leaned against the tree trunk and struggled to her feet, feeling as if her legs were filled with lead, numb and painful. She stretched her stiff neck and shoulders, and took one last look at the villa that looked peaceful and serene in the morning light. The worry in her heart finally dissipated completely, replaced by a feeling of exhaustion as if she had survived a disaster, and a deep sense of self-mockery.
She's so... stupid.
Like a fool, I stayed here all night, fed mosquitoes for half the night (although there don't seem to be any this season), and was half-frozen. All I proved was that I'm a troublesome person who overthinks and doesn't listen to advice.
She took out her phone to check the time, only to find that it had automatically shut down due to the low temperature and the screen remaining on (she had been staring at Qi Jin's chat window and the monitoring software). Her power bank was also long dead.
Well, now even getting a taxi home is a problem.
Shi Ye sighed, resignedly dragging her heavy steps back the way she had come. The morning sunlight was a bit dazzling, making her dizzy. The aftereffects of a sleepless night and high stress were beginning to show; she felt her legs go weak and her vision blurred.
As she walked to the intersection where she had gotten off the bus the night before, she was about to look for a shared bicycle or a breakfast stall to borrow a charger when a familiar black sedan silently pulled up beside her.
The car window rolled down, revealing Qi Jin's expressionless face. She also seemed to have been awake all night, with faint dark circles under her eyes, but her eyes remained clear and sharp as she quietly watched her, her gaze sweeping over her reddened nose and slightly disheveled clothes.
Shi Ye froze on the spot, his mind going completely blank. How could she be here? When did she come out? Did she...see him? See him squatting downstairs at her house like a pervert all night?
It's over. A scene of social death.
Qi Jin looked at her for a few seconds, then opened the car door, got out, and walked up to her. She still carried the warmth of the room, mixed with a faint, familiar scent of cool cedar.
"Your phone is dead?" Qi Jin asked, his tone flat, revealing no emotion.
Shi Ye nodded stiffly, his throat dry, unable to utter a single word.
Qi Jin took out her phone from her pocket, made a call, and said a few words briefly, probably asking someone to send over a power bank. Then, she put her phone away and her gaze returned to Shi Ye's face.
"What would you like for breakfast?" she asked, her tone as natural as if she were asking "How's the weather today?"
Shi Ye: "...Huh?"
"Soy milk and fried dough sticks? Or wontons?" Qi Jin asked patiently again, his gaze lingering on her slightly shivering body. "Let's get in the car first, it's cold outside."
Like a puppet on a string, Shi Ye was half-supported (or rather, shoved into) the passenger seat by Qi Jin. The car door closed, shutting out the cold wind and the curious stares of passersby. The car's heater was on full blast, instantly enveloping her frozen body.
Qi Jin sat back in the driver's seat, but didn't start the car immediately. She turned to the side, took a thermos from the back seat, opened it, and inside were two cups of steaming soy milk and several crispy, golden-brown fried dough sticks wrapped in oil paper.
"Aunt Liu brought these over this morning." Qi Jin handed Shi Ye a cup of soy milk and a fried dough stick. "Eat some first to warm your stomach."
Shi Ye mechanically took the cup, the warm soy milk cup burning her palm. The warmth spread to her heart, but it made her feel even more... ashamed.
Qi Jin didn't ask anything.
I didn't ask her why she was here in the middle of the night.
I didn't ask her why her phone was dead; she looked like a homeless person.
I didn't ask her... anything.
I simply handed her a cup of hot soy milk and asked her what she wanted for breakfast.
This calm, almost indulgent composure made Shi Ye more flustered and ashamed than any questioning.
She lowered her head, sipping the soy milk slowly. The warm, sweet aroma filled her mouth, but she couldn't taste anything. The necklace and jade pendant around her neck swayed gently with her movements, as if silently reminding her of her current disheveled state and... Qi Jin's silent tolerance.
The car slowly started moving, leaving the intersection where she had been "keeping watch" and merging into the gradually bustling traffic of the early morning.
The carriage was quiet, with only the slight hiss of the heater and the soft sounds of Shi Ye sipping soy milk and biting into fried dough sticks.
Qi Jin focused on driving, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
A long time passed, and when Shi Ye had almost finished her soy milk and eaten most of her fried dough sticks, Qi Jin suddenly spoke. His voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet carriage, and also exceptionally… made her heart stop.
"Next time you're worried, you can just go upstairs."
Shi Ye choked violently, almost spitting out her soy milk. She covered her mouth, coughing until her face turned red.
Qi Jin held the steering wheel with one hand and handed her a tissue with the other, his tone still calm: "The study window faces that camphor tree."
Shi Ye took the tissue and wiped her mouth, feeling her cheeks burning hot, wishing she could disappear into the ground. So… Qi Jin already knew? From the time she hid behind the tree? Or even earlier? That light that stayed on all night and was the last to go out…
“I…” She wanted to explain, to apologize, to say “I was just worried,” but all the words stuck in her throat, turning into a more overwhelming sense of shame and… a strange bitterness that almost overwhelmed her.
Qi Jin turned his head and glanced at her. Morning light streamed through the car window, casting soft shadows on her face. Her eyes were deep, churning with emotions that Shi Ye couldn't understand, yet which inexplicably made his heart flutter.
"No need to explain." Qi Jin withdrew his gaze, looked ahead again, and said in a deep and clear voice, "I know."
I know.
These three simple words, like a key, gently turned open the tightly closed and chaotic door in Shi Ye's heart.
What does she know?
Do you know her worries? Do you know her fears? Do you know her unspoken, chaotic thoughts?
Shi Ye gripped the empty soy milk cup in his hand, the plastic cup making a slight "creaking" sound.
The lake in my heart, which had just calmed down, was once again hit by a huge rock, stirring up towering waves.
This time, however, the center of the giant wave was no longer filled with cold fear and chaos.
Instead, it was a burning, unfamiliar sensation that left her bewildered—
warm current.
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