Xianghu Bay Villas.
Jian Yan was rushing to finish making autumn clothes in the first-floor work area. She skillfully sewed the fabric onto the sewing machine. Then she held the pleated fabric in her hands and hand-sewed on the buttons.
This is a midi skirt that blends a preppy style with a casual feel. The wide boxer pleats elevate its overall look and soften its youthful appearance. The skirt is secured with buttons at the waist for easy wearing. It's also very forgiving on different body types; if you've gained weight, simply move the buttons to the side – very practical.
Jian Yan was very satisfied with the dress.
She stood up and put the one-piece pleated racerback skirt on the mannequin. She took a few steps back, rested her chin on her hand, and murmured to herself, "It's casual enough with a sweatshirt, and it can also be formal with a shirt. Perfect!"
A beeping sound came from the phone; Jian Yan picked up her phone from the workbench. It was almost midnight.
The text message was from Yuan Mu; it contained only five words: "Xiao Yan, are you asleep?"
Jian Yan smiled and dialed back immediately.
"Hehe, I'm still awake, making autumn clothes."
Yuan Mu's voice came from the other end of the phone, his tone gentle, "Don't stay up too late, a girl's beauty comes from sleep. Actually, I was just trying to send a message to ask."
Jian Yan obediently replied, glancing at the courtyard after the rain, "Okay, senior. By the way, how was today's team building activity? Did you get to know all your colleagues? Did you get caught in the rain on the way back?"
People in love can ask endless questions about even the smallest things, turning into a walking encyclopedia of whys.
"...It's all good. My colleagues are all nice. I even met the editor-in-chief, who is a very...kind person."
Jian Yan felt relieved. Thinking of Senior Yuan, she felt proud. "Yes, gold always shines, but you also need to maintain good relationships with your colleagues. I think you'll be fine."
A brief silence.
"Xiaoyan, I miss you."
Her heart pounded, and even after hearing just one sentence, Jian Yan's face flushed uncontrollably. "Senior, you know... where I live. I can... wait for you. Besides, Dai Dai... isn't home today."
The last sentence was spoken at a whisper, barely audible. As soon as she finished, she held the phone a great distance away, yearning for an answer, yet terrified of it.
While waiting, she seemed to hear a soft sigh, followed by, "Xiaoyan, thank you. It's getting late. Goodnight."
After hanging up the phone, Jian Yan felt empty and listless.
Even though we've only been in a relationship for two days, I clearly feel like I've been in a lonely relationship.
This night is so long and lonely!
*
Huo Yunchao sat up from the sofa, his expression grave. "Dai Dai, Yu Xue was in a car accident. The police have notified me to go to Chaoyang Hospital."
Xue Qiandai tugged at the bath towel, covering her snow-white skin, her eyes lowered, her eyelashes casting shadows like small fans. "Oh, is it to ask you to pay the medical bills?"
Huo Yunchao hummed in agreement. Was this the focus of his attention? "Aren't you jealous?"
Xue Qiandai raised her hand and rubbed her beauty's face haphazardly, then tugged at it lightly. "Jealous? A ton of vinegar is coming! Every cell and every pore from head to toe is so sour! So I've decided to go with you."
Huo Yunchao ran his fingers through her hair and gently kissed her forehead. "You stay home and catch up on your beauty sleep. I'll be right back, okay?"
Xue Qiandai looked up, as if to protest, "Beauty, do you think I can sleep?"
Unable to fall asleep, Huo Yunchao gave up and glanced at the evening towel on her body. "Then hurry up and change your clothes. We'll be leaving in a bit."
Xue Qiandai wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed into his ear, "I always get bothered by those who don't know what's going on. Next time you come back from the South, you have to make it up to me. You have to give me that kind of primordial power."
Huo Yunchao smiled, his dark eyes sparkling, and said, "Okay."
About forty minutes later, Huo Yunchao and Xue Qiandai appeared together in front of the ICU ward of Chaoyang Hospital. Zheng Fang was also there, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, but he wasn't smoking it, even in a public place.
Seeing the two of them arrive together, Zheng Fang's expression was quite interesting. He couldn't help but ask, "Did I disturb your good time?"
Xue Qiandai: "..." Captain Zheng, how indecent are you? You're just bored out of your mind.
Huo Yunchao completely ignored his question, but unfortunately the curtains in the ICU room were drawn, so he couldn't see anything. "How is she?"
"The situation is not optimistic; emergency rescue efforts are still underway."
Zheng Fang tugged at Huo Yunchao and walked towards the stairwell. When no one was around, he said, "This is a murder. The other party clearly wanted her dead."
What deep-seated hatred could lead to such a death? Was it a business conflict or a personal grudge? Given Yu Xue's position, it could be any of those.
"Were any clues left at the scene?" Huo Yunchao asked, his brows furrowed.
"The accident scene was at the entrance of the alley, about twenty meters from the security booth. However, the streetlights in that alley were broken, and there were no security cameras. But when we inquired, the community security guard said he heard a piercing car horn, and I'm having someone look for nearby security cameras. Yu Xue's community is at the intersection of three districts, a no-man's-land, with only empty planning." After thinking for a moment, Zheng Fang took a cigarette from his ear. "Want one?"
How could I possibly be in the mood to smoke?
That's all.
"Also, on the ground covered by Yu Xue's hand, we saw two crooked numbers, like 49. I think they're related to the license plate number. It's only thanks to the rain that these traces were left." Zheng Fang exhaled a smoke ring.
Huo Yunchao rubbed his temples. "You came to me about this because you suspect it's related to what happened with Dai Dai? We all suspected that someone else put hallucinogens in Dai Dai and Gao Qiang's tea and locked the door. Yu Xue was also at the club that day. Perhaps she witnessed what was going on behind the scenes, and to prevent things from being exposed, the mastermind struck first, just like the club waitress's fate."
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