Chapter 74: Alley Encounter

"What's wrong with you?! I-I didn't say anything!" Che Xingde braced himself with one hand against the ground, using the other to forcefully wrench free from Sang Yan's iron grip. His words emerged slurred and defensive: "I just came here for a fricking drink! Who's causing trouble for who?!"

Sang Yan released his hold, studying him with an expression that revealed absolutely nothing.

"Is this how you treat customers?" Che Xingde struggled to haul himself upright, his hand moving to cradle his aching skull. "You just wait, you piece of shit…"

As though suddenly repulsed by proximity alone, Sang Yan said nothing and rose to his full height.

Che Xingde looked up at the figure looming above him, his forehead now smeared with dirt and decorated with fresh scrapes. He bared yellowed teeth in what he clearly thought was a knowing smile: "Oh, I get it. I touched your woman, and you're not happy about it, right?"

Hearing this particular phrasing, Sang Yan's eyelids lowered fractionally.

"Is it necessary? We're both men, you should understand, right?" Che Xingde continued with that same revolting smile plastered across his face, "Besides, it's just a woman. Shuangjiang's not much of a catch anyway—"

Before the complete thought could materialize, Sang Yan's foot drove into his stomach with devastating force.

Completely unprepared for the assault, Che Xingde's body flew backward, slamming against the wall with a sickening thud that seemed to echo through the alley. He crumpled immediately, both hands scrambling for purchase as his body involuntarily convulsed with dry heaves.

Sang Yan stared down at him with an expression of complete emptiness, his bangs falling across his forehead and casting shadows that obscured whatever emotion might have flickered in his eyes.

"You bastard…" Che Xingde's voice trembled with pain and discomfort, but his frantic scan of the deserted street seemed to inform his next decision. He didn't dare provoke further. "I'm gonna call the cops…"

Sang Yan crouched down again with predatory deliberation, his hand shooting out to viciously fist in Che Xingde's hair and yank his head upward.

"Call the cops for what?"

"…"

"Didn't you just get drunk and fall because you couldn't stand straight?" Sang Yan's lips curved into something that might technically be called a smile, though it held no warmth whatsoever. His tone was casual, almost conversational: "I was just trying to help you up. Why are you repaying kindness with enmity?"

Even as he spoke, Sang Yan straightened, effortlessly hauling Che Xingde's entire weight upward and slamming him against the wall once more.

Che Xingde's body connected with the unforgiving cement surface again, the impact reverberating through him until it felt as though his internal organs were being systematically crushed.

Sang Yan fixed him with an unwavering stare, making no attempt whatsoever to mask the murderous intent radiating from every pore. Watching Che Xingde's increasingly pathetic state, his expression remained utterly unchanged as he spoke in carefully measured tones: "How come you lost your balance again?"

"…"

"Che Xingde?" Sang Yan pulled the name from memory with deliberate slowness, as if extracting each syllable through gritted teeth, letting it hang in the air like a threat: "Do you need me to help you up again?"

Che Xingde couldn't force words past his constricted throat, could only wave his hand frantically and attempt to shift his body away from this demon.

At precisely that moment, Sang Yan felt his phone vibrate against his leg. His eyelashes flickered slightly as he paused mid-motion, casually extracting the device from his pocket to check the screen.

It was a message from Wei Yifan.

Wei Shuangjiang: [When are you coming home today?]

Wei Shuangjiang: [I'm already home. After the interview, my colleague dropped me off downstairs.]

Sang Yan stared at the words for several heartbeats before typing his response: [I'll be late today]

Sang Yan: [Go to sleep first]

After sending the messages, Sang Yan rotated his neck with casual deliberation, still playing with his phone. He made no additional moves, simply stood in place and looked down at Che Xingde with the detachment of someone observing an insect: "I hope this is the last time I see you."

Che Xingde was utterly terrified, every instinct screaming that the man before him was something demonic, something against which he possessed zero defense. He instinctively raised his arm, shielding his head in a primitive gesture of self-preservation.

"Otherwise," Sang Yan's voice emerged cold and hard as iron, delivered with the nonchalance of someone discussing the weather, "you'll suffer again."

…

After Sang Yan's departure, Che Xingde remained collapsed in that alley for an indeterminate stretch of time, waiting until his body reluctantly cooperated enough to stand. He used the wall for support as he slowly hauled himself upright, his expression twisted with impotent viciousness as he muttered curses under his breath. Eventually he limped from the alley and flagged down a taxi.

After being forced to move out from Zhao Yuandong's place, Wen Liangxian's family had rented a cramped apartment in one of Nanwu's urban villages. The location offered the advantage of high foot traffic, but came with the significant drawback of virtually nonexistent security.

When he finally stumbled through the door, Che Yanqin opened it for him. Her frown materialized instantly upon seeing the fresh injuries marking his face: "What happened?"

Che Xingde immediately launched into his grievances: "It's all because of that ill-mannered bastard Shuangjiang found! I went to his bar for a drink and he dragged me out and beat me up! Sis! You have to help me—"

Wen Liangxian's voice erupted from the master bedroom, cutting through the complaint: "Can you stop making noise?!"

Che Xingde's mouth snapped shut immediately.

Che Yanqin's expression soured further as she fought to suppress her mounting anger: "Dezai! Did I not make myself clear before? Can you stop causing trouble everywhere? How long has it been since you got out? Your brother-in-law has already argued with me many times over this!"

Che Xingde muttered defensively: "I just can't swallow this anger."

"Let it be, don't go looking for them again," Che Yanqin said, clearly suffering her own consequences from Che Xingde's various misadventures and struggling to maintain peace at home. "Shuangjiang, that wild girl, has no conscience. She's an ungrateful wretch. What can we do about it?"

Che Xingde spat in agreement.

Che Yanqin twisted her mouth in bitter resignation, sarcasm dripping from her next words: "She's working at the TV station now, with so much power. We ordinary people can't fight against her."

"…"

The two of them eventually settled back onto the sofa.

Noticing the attractive woman occupying the other sofa, absorbed in watching television, Che Xingde felt his anger gradually dissipating. He forced what he hoped was a charming smile: "Xiaolin, you're back?"

A flash of pure disgust flickered through Zheng Lin's eyes, though she maintained her silence.

Just then, Wen Ming emerged from the bathroom. His expression radiated gentle concern as he crossed the room to sit beside the woman, draping his arm around her shoulder: "What happened to Uncle again?"

Zheng Lin released a disdainful snort: "Went to cause trouble for your cousin again."

"Uncle," Wen Ming's expression immediately soured, "Please stop doing these things."

Che Xingde had just withdrawn his attention, responding with clear irritation: "Why is everyone blaming me? What trouble did I cause? I'm the one with injuries on my face!"

Zheng Lin didn't waste additional words, simply looked at Wen Ming and rolled her eyes with theatrical exasperation.

–

On her journey home, Qian Weihua stopped the car beside a roadside fruit stand to purchase a watermelon. Observing this, Wei Yifan decided to buy one as well. After arriving home, she tucked the watermelon into the freezer and retreated to her room for a shower.

Emerging refreshed, Wei Yifan made her way back to the kitchen with plans to make watermelon juice.

She'd just extracted the chilled fruit from the freezer when sounds from the entrance announced someone's arrival.

Wei Yifan continued her preparations without interruption.

Moments later, Sang Yan materialized in the kitchen doorway, his gaze fixed on her movements: "What are you doing?"

Wei Yifan answered with complete honesty: "Making watermelon juice. Do you want some?"

Sang Yan's eyebrow lifted: "Yes."

"Then is half of this enough? This watermelon is a bit small." Wei Yifan rinsed the kitchen knife, gesturing as she spoke, "By the way, what did you do at 'overtime' today?"

Sang Yan's hand closed over the knife handle, smoothly removing it from her grip: "Met with Qian Fei."

Wei Yifan paused mid-motion: "Did he come out this time?"

"Mm."

Wei Yifan turned to face him directly: "Did you hit him?"

Surprised that this constituted her first reaction, Sang Yan found the assumption almost absurd: "Am I a violent maniac?"

"Sang Yan," Wei Yifan deliberately avoided commenting on that question, instead choosing her words with careful precision and speaking with utmost earnestness, "don't use violence to solve problems. We live in a society governed by law."

Hearing this particular lecture, Sang Yan's expression softened fractionally: "What if it's someone detestable?"

As though some specific memory had surfaced, Wei Yifan fell silent for several seconds before maintaining her position: "It's the same."

"…"

"Don't hit people anymore, it's not good." Wei Yifan watched him begin sectioning the watermelon, continuing her gentle admonishment, "Qian Fei and Duan Jiaxu didn't do anything too outrageous, and they're your friends—"

Sang Yan interrupted by stuffing a piece of cold watermelon into her mouth: "I know."

Wei Yifan's remaining arguments consequently died on her tongue.

Seemingly unbothered by the entire conversation, Sang Yan spoke with characteristic laziness.

"I'm being careful."

–

Whether the effect could be attributed to calling the police or some other factor, for quite an extended period following that incident, Wei Yifan didn't encounter Che Yanqin or Che Xingde again. She wasn't certain if it was merely psychological, but after achieving complete clarity with Sang Yan, everything seemed to be realigning itself, falling back into its proper rhythm.

In late October, Wei Yifan received a WeChat message from their landlord.

The essence was straightforward: his daughter was preparing for marriage and they needed to reclaim this apartment as her marital home. He requested that Wei Yifan and Sang Yan vacate the premises by March of the following year, in accordance with the contract terms.

Reading this message triggered a sudden realization—she and Sang Yan had been living in this shared apartment for almost two years. She emerged from her momentary reverie and quickly typed her response: "Okay."

Su Tian, seated at the adjacent desk, wandered over for some casual conversation: "Yifan."

Wei Yifan looked up: "Hm?"

"I suddenly remembered something," Su Tian propped her chin on her hand, her tone curious, "Weren't you sharing an apartment with a guy before? Now that you're with King Duck Sang, doesn't he have any objections?"

Wei Yifan paused for a heartbeat, then admitted the truth directly: "He is my roommate."

"…"

After a considerable silence, Su Tian finally managed to curse: "Damn, where did you find such a roommate? I want one too."

Wei Yifan laughed: "Aren't you afraid Lin Sun will hear you?"

"He's used to it by now," Su Tian said with an unapologetic grin, "Hey, so you two are living together now, right?"

Wei Yifan considered the question thoughtfully: "Not really."

Su Tian's confusion was evident: "How is it not? Don't you sleep in the same room?"

"Mm." Wei Yifan responded with complete honesty, "We still sleep separately."

"…" Su Tian's shock was palpable, disbelief written across her features, "I remember you've been with him for quite a while now, right… Are you still at the Platonic stage?"

Wei Yifan didn't provide a direct answer: "We're just not living together."

Su Tian pressed: "Why?"

Wei Yifan replied with absolute conviction in her righteousness: "It's not legal."

"…"

Understanding dawned on Su Tian's face, and she found the situation genuinely amusing. She laughed to herself for several moments before asking: "So when are you planning to make it legal? Have you met his parents?"

Wei Yifan's response began automatically: "No—" But before the word fully formed, she suddenly corrected herself: "I've met his mother."

"Huh?"

Before Wei Yifan could elaborate further, her phone erupted with sound. Seeing "Qian Weihua" displayed on the screen, she quickly said to Su Tian, "Wait a moment," and answered.

Qian Weihua's voice came through clearly: "Are you at the office now?"

Wei Yifan: "Yes."

Qian Weihua: "Where's Dazhuang?"

Hearing this, Wei Yifan glanced sideways: "He's writing a script nearby."

Qian Weihua's tone was brisk and efficient: "Alright. Come downstairs and bring Dazhuang along. We're going on an assignment to Beiyu."

…

This wasn't their first or even second emergency call-out, so the two of them moved with practiced efficiency, gathering their equipment and heading downstairs.

Wei Yifan habitually claimed the front passenger seat and immediately asked about the situation: "Teacher, has something unexpected happened in Beiyu?"

Qian Weihua started the car and launched into his explanation: "We just received a tip, and the police haven't released any information yet. There was a case of a female college student who went missing in Beiyu four years ago. Recently, a woman brought an audio recording to the police station to report something related to this case."

Wei Yifan listened intently while opening her laptop and beginning to type notes.

"This female college student was raped and murdered at the time. They've found the body in the back hills of Beiyu's suburban area," Qian Weihua continued, his voice carrying the weight of the information. "Now they've formed a task force to solve the case and are currently pursuing the suspect."

As he delivered this information, Qian Weihua suddenly seemed to remember something crucial: "Oh right, Yifan, you should know this suspect."

Wei Yifan's hands stilled on the keyboard as she looked up: "Hm?"

"It's the one who kept causing trouble for you before," Qian Weihua glanced at her briefly, his words landing with the force of a physical blow, "Che Xingde."

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