Chapter 63

Chapter 63 Chapter Sixty-Three Embrace.

The investigation was blocked halfway.

According to the surveillance pulled by security, aside from the period of the power outage, only He Linfeng had gone to the seventh floor of the unit where Jian Qing lived.

“It’s actually just a bouquet,” glancing at the transparent bag placed by the table, the uniformed young man persuaded, “this gentleman is tall and handsome, he must have many pursuers.”

“Girls, you know, thin-skinned. Maybe she wanted to give you a surprise, and you just happened to be out.”

A seemingly reasonable explanation, yet it couldn’t withstand careful scrutiny.

He Linfeng shook his head: “When ordinary people give gifts, they at least want the other party to know who they are, otherwise how can they stand out among many pursuers?”

Moreover, Jian Qing attracted romance very easily. Once mistaken, the effort would be wasted. If one truly had upright intentions, who would foolishly make a wedding dress for a rival.

The security guard secretly curled his lips, clearly feeling the two were making a mountain out of a molehill.

Just a bouquet. There wasn’t a threatening letter inside, nor a bomb. It was cleanly and beautifully wrapped. If it were him, he’d be happy before anything else.

But Jian Qing was, after all, the homeowner. Afraid of being complained about, the guard held back his grumbling: “Or you can go ask the gate guard. He should have entry records there, handwritten.”

The power outage hadn’t affected that.

He Linfeng politely thanked him.

Near ten o’clock, the sky had completely darkened. A few dark clouds covered the moon, leaving only scattered stars like overturned dew, strewn about.

The cold wind made people shiver.

Jian Qing gradually stopped walking: “Forget it.”

He Linfeng turned back. For a moment, he felt the other was like a deep well that swallowed all ripples, calm to the point of eeriness.

Before he could say anything more, the young man had already reached out, grabbed the carefully preserved “evidence” from the transparent bag, and threw it into the trash with a thud.

Petals scattered.

Then hit the wall and fell back into the leftovers.

Just as the security guard had said, merely a “surprise.” This gift was too ordinary. Even if the serious crime unit were willing to give him face and test it, even if fingerprints were really detected on the wrapping paper, what were the chances of successfully matching someone?

Earlier, because his assumed “safe territory” had been violated, Jian Qing had lost control for a moment. Now that he came back to his senses, he only felt there was no need to let He Linfeng accompany him in “going crazy.”

The “mind-reading” yielded nothing. The other party most likely wasn’t continuing to stake out. Since they chose the blackout to place the flowers, the chance of leaving clues at the gate was also low.

Neighbor? Homeowner? Maintenance worker hired by property management? Or the security guard himself crying thief to catch thief?

Was the power outage an accident? Or a calculated coincidence?

The entire world felt like a huge scripted mystery game. Jian Qing held the script, yet its contents were obscured by clouds and fog, making the truth impossible to see.

Because he was not the murderer.

Just an unlucky person with flashy settings.

He had to equally suspect everyone except himself.

It didn’t matter. The pain of these years had at least accumulated wealth for him. He could move. He could casually choose among the most top-tier hotels in Bei River…

His thoughts halted.

Jian Qing was tightly embraced by two arms.

Also walking in the winter night, yet He Linfeng radiated warmth from inside out. His nose barely brushed the other’s shoulder. Jian Qing caught the familiar scent of shampoo. Between breaths, the lenses fogged with thin layers from their shared body heat, dreamlike, making the surroundings cold yet hazy.

The other probably hadn’t hugged people much; he held him so tightly it hurt a little, yet Jian Qing actually felt safety in this cramped space, just like the pounding heartbeat in his ear.

Fervent and impassioned.

“If surveillance fails, we can still conduct interviews.”

“Or stake out, waiting for the rabbit at the stump.”

With clear logic, He Linfeng listed them one by one, like fine rain, easily pressing down the anxiety: “The type of flower is also a clue.”

After a pause, he recalled: “Seems like there’s no camera installed at your door?”

The sudden question passively pulled Jian Qing out of those heavy, sticky emotions, like being soaked alone underwater yet suddenly yanked upward.

“Mm,” fresh air flooded his chest again, he answered, “it needs a separate wiring.” Hard for him to arrange himself.

He Linfeng smiled: “I’ll help you another day.”

He knew the other’s vigilance was extremely strong. No aunt was hired, and food delivery addresses were only allowed downstairs. Rather than letting strangers install surveillance, it was better to leave it empty.

Jian Qing didn’t respond.

Even through layers of thick clothing, he could still feel the slight vibration of He Linfeng’s body—soft yet firm, muscles well trained.

The crossing of boundaries happened so suddenly.

To struggle free? It would seem too heartless.

To continue? Were they supposed to hug until the end of time?

Fortunately, before Jian Qing became more embarrassed, He Linfeng took the initiative to release him.

…Then smoothly downward, he held the fingertips exposed from the edge of Jian Qing’s sleeve.

“Cold,” He Linfeng’s expression was normal. “Please bear with it.”

The excuse was somewhat exaggeratedly fake.

Jian Qing turned to look at the trash can.

“Don’t think about picking it back up,” striding forward, He Linfeng decisively pulled him along. “Don’t worry, I’ve memorized the details.”

—So nothing can force you to accept it.

Jian Qing understood that He Linfeng was actually comforting him. To find the person who sent the flowers, the flowers themselves were the most important and direct clue.

Just like if he wanted to stay away from the transmigrator, he first had to approach the other.

Whether active or passive.

But only today—at least today—Jian Qing decided to temporarily abandon rationality, letting the unpleasant thing stay where it should stay.

Thus, anger and disgust faded. The mind occupied by another emotion finally made him belatedly notice the subtle itch brought by skin touching skin.

Previously he hadn’t noticed at all that, compared to himself, the calluses on He Linfeng’s joints and tiger’s mouth were so obvious. With his thoughts all on the “voice,” Jian Qing almost didn’t remember how he had gone downstairs.

His gaze shifted to the withered grass bent by snow at the roadside. He unconsciously thought, He Linfeng’s marksmanship must be very good.

A new thought followed closely:

He didn’t understand He Linfeng.

Why was the other’s title “consultant”? Where was his hometown? Which university and major had he studied? And why did he suddenly go against the original novel and transfer to Bei River?

His curiosity was inexplicably vigorous, like a cat.

Planned against unplanned, the flower sender was very cunning. As expected, the conversation with the gate guard also yielded little: during tonight’s power outage, no outside vehicles entered or left the community.

Nor did any people.

This indicated the other party had most likely already sneaked in and waited for an opportunity—perhaps in the morning, perhaps last night—or perhaps they lived here. Countless possibilities greatly increased the difficulty of screening.

Yet He Linfeng seriously photographed the registration sheet.

Jian Qing, meanwhile, hesitated whether to contact Bian Shao.

His fingertips curled into his sleeve. Before entering, he withdrew his hand, yet it seemed the annoying warmth still lingered on it.

Fairly speaking, in recent years Jian Qing had always been skeptical about hotel security. Even five-star hotels couldn’t stop him from one day entering his room and seeing a bulging outline under the blanket.

Drunk and climbing into the wrong bed—a very classic melodramatic trope in novels. The wine-red robe half covering, that patch of pale flesh left a quite deep impression on Jian Qing:

Because he locked the person inside on the spot and called the police.

In the end, the other was successfully taken away by the anti-prostitution squad.

He Linfeng had obviously also heard this “rich family anecdote”—used to count how many rotten romances of a certain president had left criminal records.

Yan Qiuyu’s original words were: there were even more that didn’t leave records.

“You want to go to Bian Shao’s place?” Accurately guessing the crux, He Linfeng reminded, “I think he usually lives outside.” For example, private rooms full of empty bottles.

Jian Qing: ……

Indeed. Not to mention Bian Shao was busy drifting now, the other had a girlfriend. Although he couldn’t remember which one, he remembered they hadn’t broken up yet. Going there himself would inevitably cause trouble.

“How about Magnolia Community, Building B, 502?” He Linfeng turned his shoulder. “Very quiet, very thick curtains, only one person and one cat.”

He gestured with his hand: “When stretched out, they’re thaaaat long.”

Magnolia Community, Building B, 502.

Jian Qing had gone there once in the rain, stepping through puddles, rescuing the crowded plants on the balcony and half a basin of wet cat litter.

“Rent-free, and you don’t need to pay utilities,” insisting on facing the tenant directly, He Linfeng slowly walked backward, “the most important point— the landlord is a police officer.”

Jian Qing raised his eyes and continued: “…named He Linfeng?”

The man nodded with a smile.

Then, like inviting someone to dance amid clinking goblets, he smoothed an imaginary suit, gentlemanly for a second: “Are you willing?”

“You must be willing,” after saying the four words, he immediately regretted it. Before Jian Qing could speak, he hurriedly answered for him, “Go upstairs and pack first.”

Jian Qing had very few things to bring.

After all, he only planned to stay at He Linfeng’s place for one night. After going to the company tomorrow, someone would naturally find him a safe and comfortable new house.

The bedroom had been turned a bit messy. He Linfeng was busy tidying the living room. After thinking, Jian Qing finally opened the most hidden drawer in the wardrobe and packed several boxes of medicine into the suitcase.

Far beyond the usual dosage.

When going to the balcony to take a tie, he also stuffed in a triangular-folded safety talisman.

Tomorrow there was a ribbon-cutting event backed by official endorsement. He had already matched the outfit in advance. After getting up, he only needed to iron it slightly and could depart directly from He Linfeng’s home.

The latter, however, packed big and small bags, sweeping all the fresh ingredients from the refrigerator.

Jian Qing: ……

“I’m only staying one night,” he emphasized. “Qiao Lan will find me a place.”

Qiao Lan was Jian Qing’s secretary, also called executive assistant within the group.

He Linfeng: “Oh.”

Yet his movements didn’t stop.

As a nocturnal cat, Mimi had long adapted to the two-legged creature’s habit of leaving early and returning late. When overlapping footsteps sounded in the hallway, it lightly jumped down from the sofa and tilted its head in confusion.

An unfamiliar rhythm.

Did the two-legged creature bring prey?

This led to He Linfeng meeting Mimi’s upright emerald pupils as soon as he opened the door, its body lowered forward, poised to spring.

Bending down to lift the back of its neck, he said softly: “Good kid.”

“Don’t block the way.”

In just a few words, the black-haired young man had already stood by the entryway mat. Keenly sensing the change in household status, Mimi leapt onto the top of the suitcase, actively leaned toward the other’s hand, offering fluffy fur from ears to head, rubbing ingratiatingly:

“Meow~”