Chapter 0029 Surveillance
The two met at a popular restaurant near Kyoto University, and the ambiance and food lived up to its reputation.
Since Ruyi was treating, she reserved a table and arrived ten minutes early. Unexpectedly, Li Jinghao arrived even earlier than her. From afar, she saw him sitting in a corner by the window. The shadows of the green plants and the soft light intertwined on his fair face, creating a jade-like translucent texture. His hairstyle was meticulously styled, and he wore a matching casual suit, making him look elegant and handsome. As Ruyi passed the counter, she heard two young female shop assistants whispering and couldn't hide her excitement as she pushed them to ask for Li Jinghao's WeChat.
She greeted Li Jinghao with a smile, "You're here so early?"
Li Jinghao stood up and pulled out a chair for her, displaying impeccable gentlemanly manners. Ruyi thanked him politely.
"Don't be so polite with me. The world is so big, it's a great coincidence to meet a former classmate in Jingzhou."
He asked Ruyi to order, and Ruyi said, "I'm treating today, so of course I'll order according to your taste."
After some initial hesitation, the two decided to each order two dishes, and add more if needed.
Because they had chatted for a while using a secondary account, Ruyi remembered that he had mentioned liking sweet and sour dishes, so she ordered sweet and sour pork ribs and scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Then she saw that Li Jinghao had actually ordered her favorite stuffed bitter melon and loofah, egg and mushroom soup. The two smiled knowingly.
The two chatted over their meal. Li Jinghao had come prepared, and he talked about topics that Ruyi was interested in: English competitions, the selection of outstanding student cadres at the city level, animal rescue, and postgraduate application. Ruyi couldn't help but marvel at how much he knew.
“Chen Yan should know more about these things than I do, right? Didn’t he tell you?” Li Jinghao asked casually.
How should Ruyi talk to him? Chen Yan knows very well that even if he didn't, he could simply wave his hand and someone would immediately prepare the relevant information and offer it to her. However, all his help was based on the premise that she would not have too much contact with potentially suspicious men. But you know, the world is full of men and women, how could that be possible? Ever since he ruined her plan to join the lab, she has never talked to Chen Yan about anything related to academic awards.
However, Ruyi couldn't bring herself to say these things to Li Jinghao, whose relationship with her was only slightly better than that of strangers.
She joked with Li Jinghao, "I'm a modern, independent woman, of course I have to rely on myself."
Li Jinghao immediately saw the helplessness behind her joke. After some hesitation, he finally asked, "Could it be that he's still as domineering and unreasonable as he was in high school?"
Not only are they incorrigible, they've become even worse.
However, no matter how outrageous Chen Yan's behavior was, it was a matter between the two of them, and Ruyi would not speak ill of him to a third party of the opposite sex.
She changed the subject, and Li Jinghao, seeing this, looked at the slightly worn cell phone next to Ruyi's hand.
"Chen Yan probably doesn't know about this phone, right? I'm guessing you didn't register this number with your own identity information, right?"
Ruyi was shocked by his keen insight, and then her expression became somewhat inexplicably awkward.
Li Jinghao offered timely comfort, speaking gently: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. This isn't your fault. Chen Yan is just a paranoid; no normal person could stand him."
"To be honest, I'm a little worried about you. There are some women in the news who, after living under the surveillance and control of criminals for a long time, have developed a kind of ambiguous attachment to them, which is often referred to as Stockholm syndrome."
"But I believe you won't fall for it, Ruyi. You're smarter than them."
“You must understand that Chen Yan’s feelings for you are only superficial. True love is not about conquering and controlling, but about mutual respect and mutual support.”
He listened earnestly and patiently, and Ruyi gave a bitter smile. How could she not understand these principles? Unfortunately, she had tried and found that she was just like Sun Wukong. No matter how capable she was, she could not escape the control of Chen Yan, the Buddha. At most, she could only stage a small-scale protest, which was neither effective nor harmful.
Unable to get a response from Ruyi, Li Jinghao couldn't help but place his hand on the girl's smooth hand. Ruyi realized what was happening and quickly pulled her hand away.
A hint of disappointment flashed across his face, but he quickly rallied and encouraged Ruyi: "Don't worry, I will always support you. If he dares to force you again, I will help you gather evidence and use the law to defend your legitimate rights."
"Isn't Hao Jing's father's company quite powerful? But as you've seen, it's not invincible as long as you find its weaknesses. Chen Yan is human, and humans have weaknesses..."
"Do you know why I studied the Fa? It's because I'm not reconciled! Back then, Chen Yan used money to quell the bullying against me. I don't believe there's no justice in the world. If those incompetent people don't help me, I'll study the Fa myself and seek justice for myself! I'll also seek justice for you and for many others like us who have been oppressed!"
These words moved Ruyi to tears and made her feel ashamed. Li Jinghao still wanted to resist, but she had already surrendered.
But she didn't know how much of her surrender was out of helplessness, and how much was out of reluctance to part with Chen Yan.
Could it be that she has developed Stockholm syndrome symptoms towards Chen Yan?
She paid the bill and said goodbye. Li Jinghao reflected on his behavior today, but he had kept those words in his heart for too long and he really had to get them out!
"I had a great time having dinner with you today, but I was so busy talking that I forgot to pay the bill. I'll definitely pay next time."
Ruyi smiled, politely declined his offer to take her home, and took a taxi by herself.
Li Jinghao was about to leave when he suddenly remembered that he had left his phone at the store, so he went back to get it.
He was in such a hurry that he didn't notice a plainly dressed man brushing past him. This man had been sitting diagonally behind him and had filmed his entire conversation with Ruyi with a miniature camera hidden in his sleeve. He had compiled the footage that very night and sent it to Chen Yan.
After watching the video sent by An Zai Ruyi's informant, Chen Yan was speechless for a moment. He was so angry that he had no thoughts in his mind. If he had to say something, it was that he was somewhat impressed by Li Jinghao's ignorance and fearlessness.
The person on the other end of the line listened to him remain silent for a long time and then asked him for instructions.
Chen Yan snapped out of his daze, gave a short laugh, and stared viciously at Li Jinghao's hypocritical face. This was the man who had repeatedly sown discord, as disgusting as a rat in a sewer or a cockroach in a crack in the wall.
He has plenty of ways to deal with ugly and disgusting pests like rats and cockroaches, making them realize their place and never dare to invade someone else's territory again.
"What are we going to do? Do I have to personally teach you how to deal with this kind of trash? Just do it quickly."
*
As night fell, on his way back to school from his tutor's home, Li Jinghao was knocked unconscious by someone with a sack over his head in a section of road without surveillance cameras. When he woke up again, it was already the afternoon of the next day, and the sky was bright. He lay on the cold ground, his whole body aching. He looked around blankly and vaguely realized that he was in an abandoned warehouse, but he didn't know where it was.
After regaining his ability to think, he sensed something was wrong. Looking down, he realized he was completely naked, emanating an indescribable stench from head to toe. His genitals, in particular, were swollen and red, covered in suspicious fluid.
He broke down instantly, managed to find some tattered burlap sacks to wrap himself up, and after leaving the factory, he wandered aimlessly along country roads for a long time before finally finding a house and begging them to help him call the police.
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