Chapter 67: Do You Think I Don’t Feel Pain?

After seeing someone off, Zhou Qing returned to the car. The partition in the back seat was already lowered. His gaze flickered inward, landing on Lu Huaiyan, who was resting against the car seat with his eyes closed. Lu looked exhausted, his breathing shallow, making it hard to tell if he was asleep or not. The words Zhou Qing meant to say caught in his throat, neither coming out nor fading away.

The man in the back seat suddenly spoke, his voice low: “She didn’t take a private jet back to Tongcheng, did she?”

Zhou Qing nodded. “Miss Jiang took a flight to Shanghai and will transfer to Tongcheng from there. It’s only about an hour later than the original flight.”

Lu Huaiyan let out a faint “Mm,” opened his eyes, and asked, “Did she say when she’s coming back?”

“Miss Jiang only said she’ll be back tomorrow, but she didn’t specify a time.”

Lu Huaiyan gave another soft “Mm” and fell silent.

Zhou Qing instinctively glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

Having been by Young Master Lu’s side for so long, Zhou Qing had never seen the expression on Lu’s face that afternoon when he received Miss Jiang’s WeChat message.

Zhou Qing didn’t know how to describe that feeling.

It was as if someone you thought was invincible suddenly revealed a vulnerability—a soft spot that, when struck, caused pain, panic, and unease.

He couldn’t help but recall a moment at Tongcheng Airport’s VIP lounge, when Young Master Lu had gently placed a sugar cube in Miss Jiang’s cup of black tea.

Zhou Qing had never seen such a tender side to Young Master Lu.

How could Miss Jiang bear to leave someone like him?

If Li Rui were here, he’d probably say something like “Respect.”

Zhou Qing cleared his throat and asked, “Young Master Lu, are we heading back to the hospital next?”

“Back to the old residence first,” Lu Huaiyan said, covering his eyes with the back of his hand. His voice was calm. “Find out what time her flight back from Tongcheng is tomorrow.”

Jiang Se hadn’t booked a return ticket yet. The situation with Zhang Yue was unclear, and she wouldn’t decide when to return until she saw her.

He Miao’s home was in the old Lian’an district, not far from the old apartment building where Zhang Yue lived.

Before picking up Zhang Yue, Jiang Se met with Fang Shang.

“This guy wasn’t just stalking Boss Zhang; he was also following several other women living alone. As the police suspected, he’s likely a repeat offender who targets solitary women,” Fang Shang said, showing Jiang Se a video clip from a dashcam. The man in the footage wore a mask and a baseball cap, his back hunched, moving stealthily behind a young woman.

This man… probably wasn’t one of Fu Yun’s people.

It really was just a coincidence.

“Can we find him?” Jiang Se asked. “After being scared off by Boss Zhang, he might target someone else or move to a different area. We need to catch him quickly. He’s skilled at avoiding surveillance, so he’s experienced and likely very familiar with this neighborhood. He could even be a local resident.”

Fang Shang smiled. “Our people are already looking. Once we find him, we’ll turn him over to the police. Scum like that—we wouldn’t stand by even if you hadn’t asked. As for Boss Zhang, I heard someone’s been digging into her background.”

Jiang Se’s eyes sharpened. “Digging into her background?”

“Yeah, mostly about her life before Tongcheng—where she worked, if she dated anyone, what kind of men she likes.” Fang Shang shrugged. “Sounds like a secret admirer doing their homework.”

An admirer?

Jiang Se frowned. “Can you find out who’s looking into her?”

Fang Shang nodded. “Just an ordinary real estate businessman. He seemed interested in old houses near Fuchun Street, checked out several apartment buildings, including the one you lived in. Later, it seems he gave up on buying property there, and it all fizzled out.”

Old houses near Fuchun Street.

Jiang Se blinked slowly. “Keep an eye on that businessman. Don’t let him find out about Boss Zhang’s past.”

Fang Shang grinned. “Got it. I’ll have someone throw him off with some misdirection.”

“Thanks. You can stop investigating the Rongcheng case. For the next few months, have some people keep an eye on Fuchun Street.” Jiang Se pulled a check from her bag and slid it over. “This is your payment.”

Fang Shang froze. “You don’t need to—Young Master Lu already—”

Jiang Se looked at him calmly. “Are you working for me or for him?”

Who was he working for?

Young Master Lu had made it clear long ago: from now on, Fang Shang worked for Miss Jiang.

Fang Shang took the check without a change in expression and smiled. “Naturally, for you.”

After the meeting with Fang Shang, Jiang Se went straight to He Miao’s place to pick up Zhang Yue.

In the car, Jiang Se started the engine, turned the steering wheel, and asked, “Do you need to go back and pack anything?”

“No, I brought everything when I went to Xiao Miao’s place,” Zhang Yue replied.

“Tonight, you’ll stay at my place. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Beicheng, where someone will arrange a safe place for you.”

“Okay.” Zhang Yue glanced at the dark night outside the window. “The person stalking me… are they connected to the person you’re looking for?”

“The man you scared off isn’t, but someone else is investigating you. Don’t worry,” Jiang Se’s voice was steady, “this will be resolved soon. You won’t have to hide for long.”

Zhang Yue smiled, pulling a folding knife from her coat pocket. “I’m not worried. When I chased that guy off with this knife yesterday, I wasn’t scared at all.”

She’d already died once. When she gripped that knife to protect herself, she wasn’t afraid of death.

When you no longer fear death, there’s a strange sense of fearlessness.

She never imagined she could be so fierce.

Jiang Se glanced at the knife in her hand, her lips curving slightly. “Still too reckless. Next time, wait for the police before opening the door.”

“I was afraid he’d get away,” Zhang Yue said, folding the knife. “Besides, my neighbors are great. When they saw me installing a security camera outside my door, they told me to shout if anything happened. They said the old building’s walls are thin, so they’d hear me if I called out.”

She sighed with a hint of regret. “I haven’t had the chance to thank them.”

Jiang Se looked at her.

Zhang Yue had lived in that apartment for eight years, barely interacting with her neighbors. Now, she’d grown close to the ones on either side.

He Miao had mentioned that when Zhang Yue confronted the stalker last night, both neighbors rushed out to help. One auntie was even holding a frying pan.

“When this is over, you can come back and thank them.”

Zhang Yue gave a soft “Mm,” then fell silent for a moment before saying, “The person investigating me… were they sent by the one who gave Ah Cheng money and beer?”

Jiang Se nodded. “Most likely.”

“Miss Jiang, do you already know who this person is?” Zhang Yue swallowed hard and asked, “Are they looking into me because of Ah Cheng?”

Jiang Se licked her lips. “Yes. They don’t know about your connection to Zhao Zhicheng yet. If they find out, you’ll be in danger. That’s why I’m moving you.”

“I’m not afraid of danger.” Zhang Yue stared at the knife in her hand, her expression fearless. “If I can help catch them, I’m willing. I’ll be the bait.”

Jiang Se gazed at the asphalt road illuminated by the headlights. “No need. There’s a better bait.”

—

It was nearly 2 a.m. when they reached Xiangshu Lane.

Both were exhausted. After Zhang Yue settled into the guest bedroom, Jiang Se went to the bathroom to wash up. Spotting Lu Huaiyan’s familiar razor on the sink, she paused, then reached out to pick it up.

The sharp blade glided slowly over her fingertips.

She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the razor.

Time passed quietly. After a long moment, she opened her eyes and placed the razor back.

She’d returned to Tongcheng so discreetly that even Jiang Chuan and Yu Shiying didn’t know she was back.

The next day, she took Zhang Yue to Beicheng and handed her over to Zheng Huan.

Zheng Huan said, “I’m too lazy to find her a place, so she’ll stay with me. Here’s the info you asked me to look into. That Zhu family miss has a pretty regular routine and is obsessed with her face—she goes to a spa every other day for treatments.”

She tossed over a stack of documents. Jiang Se flipped through a couple of pages before stuffing them into her bag.

Zheng Huan glanced at the time, crossing her legs. “Not staying a bit longer? It’s not dark yet.”

“I’ve got things to handle.” Jiang Se turned to Zhang Yue. “Sister Zheng used to be a cop. With her watching you, you’ll be fine.”

Zhang Yue nodded. “Don’t worry about me, Miss Jiang. Will you be in danger?”

Jiang Se picked up her bag and smiled. “No.”

—

By the time she drove back to Xinhe Mansion, it was already dark.

Jiang Se took a quick shower and began packing Lu Huaiyan’s things. His presence was everywhere: clothes in the closet, glasses on the nightstand, even a fuzzy blanket he liked to drape over her on the living room sofa.

Halfway through packing, the door lock suddenly beeped.

Someone was entering the passcode.

Jiang Se looked up, watching as the doorknob turned and the door was pushed open from the outside.

The man stepped inside, glancing at her first, then at the suitcase by her feet, filled with the things he’d had the housekeeper deliver.

He closed the door softly, leaning against it, watching her in silence.

His gaze was deep and heavy.

Jiang Se looked away, walking to the counter to pour a glass of water. “Good timing. I’m almost done packing. Do you want to take it now, or should the housekeeper come for it tomorrow?”

Lu Huaiyan’s eyes stayed on her face. He removed his glasses, setting them aside, and walked toward her.

Each step was slow, his leather shoes tapping against the wooden floor, closing the distance.

When his tall frame blocked the overhead light, Jiang Se set the glass aside, looked up at him, and said, “The things I left at your place—”

Her voice cut off as her gaze shifted, noticing his hand brushing her cheek. She froze.

Before she could react, his lips were on hers.

Jiang Se tried to turn her head, but he gripped her jaw, leaving her no escape. His kiss was deep, forceful, claiming her lips and tongue.

When she felt his hand slip under her skirt, Jiang Se’s breath hitched, and she gasped, “Lu Huaiyan!”

Her voice was muffled against his lips, and soon her eyelashes began to tremble.

He knew her body too well. A few deliberate touches, and she softened under him.

Lu Huaiyan pecked her lips, then moved to her earlobe, murmuring slowly, “Feel how much your body likes me?”

Jiang Se turned her face away, her breathing uneven. “Is this your way of getting one last time before we break up? I’m not opposed.”

Lu Huaiyan chuckled softly by her ear, withdrawing his hand from her skirt. He braced both hands on either side of her, staring into her almond-shaped eyes. “Your eyes clearly like me too. But here—” 

He lifted his right hand, resting it over her heart, feeling its beat, and said deliberately, “This is the cruelest.”

His features were sharp, naturally commanding, his gaze like a blade when he looked at someone unguarded.

Jiang Se saw no trace of desire in his eyes. He hadn’t come here to sleep with her.

“Jiang Se, are you being cruel to me or to yourself?”

She looked up at him, stubborn, not saying a word.

Lu Huaiyan let go, gently tilting her chin to inspect her wisdom tooth. “You won’t even let anyone pull a tooth that doesn’t hurt you. Have I ever caused you pain? When you needed me, have I ever been absent? Am I worth less than a damn tooth?”

He let out a slow, heavy breath, leveling his gaze with hers, a faint smile on his lips. “You want to play the villain? I’ll play along. You want to vent? I’ll let you use me. Everything you’ve ever wanted, have I not given you? I’ve laid my heart bare for you. Even a wolf would’ve warmed up by now.”

He understood her.

To enter her heart, he had to give her unwavering love and resolute choices. To stand behind her always, choosing her no matter if the path led to heaven or hell.

From the moment he knew he wanted her, he’d never wavered.

He always chose her.

And clearly, she’d already started to love him.

Lu Huaiyan watched her eyes without blinking.

Wasn’t it those eyes that first drew him in?

So stubborn, so ruthless.

Ruthless to everyone.

He tilted his chin, brushing her eyelashes with his warm lips, his voice coaxing, slow, and gentle. “Take it back. We’ll go back to how things were. Se Se, take it back.”

His breath warmed her eyelids.

It burned, making her eyes sting.

Jiang Se lowered her gaze. “Lu Huaiyan, have the housekeeper come tomorrow to pick up your things.”

The air stilled.

In her lowered view, his polished shoes took a step back.

The warmth that had enveloped her dissipated with him.

Lu Huaiyan let out a soft laugh and asked, “Do you think I don’t feel pain?”

Jiang Se didn’t respond.

He didn’t wait for one. Turning toward the door, he said calmly, “You can toss our relationship aside like it’s nothing. Why bother with my stuff? Throw it out.”

His voice was steady, his footsteps light as he left.

The door clicked shut.

The floor was made of white wooden planks, laid in a herringbone pattern.

Jiang Se stared at it, and for some reason, she suddenly remembered the pain of a fishbone stuck in her throat as a child.

Every swallow tore at the wound.

She reached for the glass on the counter, slowly drinking the remaining water, sip by sip.

—

His phone buzzed incessantly in his coat pocket.

Lu Huaiyan didn’t answer until the elevator reached the first floor. He glanced at the screen.

It was Han Yin.

He pressed accept, and for the first time, spoke before she could: “Sorry, Mother, I’m not in a position to talk right now.”

His voice sounded the same as always, but Han Yin still paused, startled.

“Ah Yan, what’s wrong?” she asked cautiously. “Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened. I’m fine.” Sensing her worry, Lu Huaiyan smiled. “Just a sore throat. Don’t feel like talking.”

Han Yin quietly sighed in relief. “Then I won’t keep you. Have the housekeeper make you some pear soup when you get back. If it’s really bad, see Doctor Zhao. Zhou Qing said you haven’t been sleeping well. Don’t stay up tonight—get some rest.”

Lu Huaiyan listened quietly, finally murmuring, “Alright. Don’t worry.”

His car was parked downstairs. Zhou Qing stood by the passenger door, smoking.

Seeing him approach, Zhou Qing quickly stubbed out his cigarette and opened the back door.

Lu Huaiyan ducked inside, and Zhou Qing slid into the front passenger seat, buckling his seatbelt. Then, from behind, came a faint voice: “Got any more cigarettes? Give me one.”

Zhou Qing froze.

Young Master Lu had quit smoking.

When he occasionally came back smelling of smoke from business meetings, he’d shower at the office before seeing Miss Jiang.

“I do,” Zhou Qing said, pulling a pack from his pocket and handing it back. “But it’s not the brand you used to smoke.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Lu Huaiyan opened the pack, took out a cigarette, and lit it, inhaling deeply as the flame caught.

Nicotine flooded his lungs. He lowered the window, staring through the curling white smoke at the glass door on the first floor.

Noticing Lu’s fixed gaze on the building he’d just left, Zhou Qing shot the driver a look, signaling him to stay quiet.

The ashtray slowly filled with gray-white ash.

It wasn’t until the last cigarette was extinguished that Zhou Qing heard a low voice from the back—

“Let’s go.”

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