Chapter 18

He lowered his head, his warm breath sprayed across her ear, “Hmm?”

In response, Qin Tang stepped hard on his foot.

Jiang Chuan didn’t seem to feel the pain, and he lit up his phone screen again. It illuminated her flushed face, her dark eyes glowing, her bright teeth biting down on her red lips.

Jiang Chuan had originally wanted to tease her, but now he felt parched. Qin Tang was a beautiful woman—both her face and body could easily stir a man’s desires.

His dark eyes deepened as he looked down at her.

Qin Tang’s heart raced. She immediately struggled to break free, but her foot slipped, and she leaned backward.

Jiang Chuan quickly pulled her back, holding her firmly, and took a step back, saying, “Tsk, I was just teasing you. Why did you take it so seriously?”

Qin Tang had steadied herself, still showing a fierce expression. She twisted her wrist to struggle, but his grip was strong, and she couldn’t break free. She glared at him and said, “Let go!”

Jiang Chuan, fearing she might fall, pulled her forward two steps. “Stop making a fuss. You can’t go back on your own.”

She didn’t speak, stubbornly standing still.

The night consumed any sense of security. In truth, she had felt a little scared earlier—desolate mountain land, alone with a man, what if he actually...

Qin Tang bit her lip, her voice trembling as she said, “Jiang Chuan, don’t take advantage of me.”

Jiang Chuan realized he might have frightened her earlier. He smiled, raised his hand, and gently patted the back of her head. “Alright, I won’t take advantage of you.”

Qin Tang felt somewhat reassured, and Jiang Chuan pulled her forward again. “What would you do if I took advantage of you? Step on me a few times?”

He was referring to when she had stepped on the big man’s shoulder last time at the clinic.

Qin Tang followed behind him and said, “That would depend on what you do to me.”

In truth, Jiang Chuan was right. Deep down, she was a bit delicate. She had been raised in a wealthy family, but after the events that happened, her tolerance had improved a lot. However, she couldn’t stand others taking advantage of her physically, nor could she tolerate verbal teasing.

Jiang Chuan smiled silently as he looked ahead. “Would you slap me if I kissed you?”

Qin Tang almost answered without hesitation, “I’d slap you.”

Jiang Chuan was speechless.

After a brief silence, he smiled again.

She had really grown up. When she was a child, she would cry if someone kissed her. Now, she would slap them.

Qin Tang heard him laugh and seriously said, “I’m not joking.”

Jiang Chuan’s voice became hoarse as he chuckled, “Tsk, I was just teasing you. I’m not some kind of wolf, I’m not going to force you in the wilderness.”

Qin Tang was speechless, too angry to say anything.

Back at the dormitory, Jiang Chuan found the switch and flicked it. A dim yellow light bulb above them flickered on. The room was simple, with mud walls and a dirt floor. Two wooden beds were placed in the corner, and beside the door were two washbasins and a plastic bucket. In front of the small window was a simple desk.

The room was gloomy, with no sign of vitality. It felt desolate and rundown.

This room was probably the best accommodation in the village because the villagers and children feared that the teachers wouldn’t be able to handle the conditions and would leave after just a few days.

This room was the dormitory of two volunteer teachers who had left recently.

Qin Tang asked, “Are we staying in the same room?”

Jiang Chuan glanced at her. “The villagers probably think we’re a couple.”

Qin Tang looked at the two beds placed together but remained silent. Jiang Chuan poured water from the bucket into a basin and said, “Go wash your face and get some sleep.”

The girl didn’t move.

Jiang Chuan asked, “Is it too much of an inconvenience to share a room with me?”

Qin Tang turned around and took the basin to wash outside. She had brought her own toothbrush and towel, quickly freshening up. Then she used the remaining water to wash her feet, wearing slippers as she walked back inside, giving him no glance. She climbed onto the wooden bed near the corner and pulled the blanket up tightly to cover herself, turning her back to him. “I’m going to sleep now.”

Jiang Chuan looked at her back, his tongue pressed against his teeth, and chuckled.

There was a woman lying beside him. Any man would have certain thoughts, especially since he had felt some attraction to Qin Tang earlier.

Jiang Chuan smoked two cigarettes outside before turning back and gently closing the door behind him.

Turning off the lights, he made his way back to the bed in the dark.

Once quiet, the soft and steady sound of breathing came from the bed next to his. Qin Tang had already fallen asleep.

Jiang Chuan had thought she would be more cautious, but unexpectedly, she fell asleep so quickly.

...

They stayed at the sheep pen mountain for three days, spending two nights there.

During this time, Qin Tang had inquired with the village head and found out that there were five or six children in the village who couldn’t afford to go to high school. She wrote down their names in her phone memo. The communication in this area was poor, with no internet, and even the phone signal was unavailable, so she couldn’t call Old Yuan.

Yueyue’s mother brought over a bag of dried jujubes. Shyly, she said, “We don’t have anything special here, just jujubes. It’s a pity you came at the wrong time. The jujube trees are still blooming. If you came in October, you could have had fresh ones.”

Qin Tang took the bag and smiled, saying, “Thank you.”

Jiang Chuan stood in front, smoking and waiting for her.

“Let’s go,” Qin Tang said as she walked over to him.

They climbed a rugged mountain path and finally reached the place where the motorcycles were parked. Jiang Chuan mounted one, his long legs pushing against the ground. Qin Tang held onto his shoulder as she climbed onto the back seat. Jiang Chuan said, “Hold on tight.”

As soon as Qin Tang grabbed his clothes, the motorcycle shot forward like an arrow.

The rough, bumpy dirt road continued to shake them.

Unable to bear it, Qin Tang said, “Let me drive.”

Jiang Chuan glanced back, “Save it.”

Qin Tang bit her lip, “Then you slow down.”

“Hold on tighter.”

“I said slow down,” Qin Tang insisted. “My butt hurts.”

“...”

Jiang Chuan chuckled, slowing the speed. “See? You are delicate and won’t admit it.”

Unable to resist, Qin Tang pinched him on the waist. It was stiff, and she wasn’t sure if it hurt.

Originally leaning forward, Jiang Chuan straightened up, coldly warning, “Move again and I’ll throw you off.”

...

They arrived in Jia County by evening, where Jiang Chuan booked two rooms at a hotel.

They hadn’t bathed in three days at the sheep pen mountain, so as soon as they entered, Qin Tang eagerly went to take a shower.

After a while, someone knocked on the door.

She was drying her hair and asked through the door, “Who is it?”

Jiang Chuan: “It’s me. Come downstairs for dinner.”

Qin Tang: “Wait a second.”

She changed into a new skirt, grabbed her bag and camera, and went to open the door with a neutral expression.

Jiang Chuan was leaning against the door, smoking, and glanced at her, “You sure took your time. Wasting water.”

Qin Tang couldn’t help but explain, “I shower every three days, that’s pretty economical.”

He didn’t respond, simply saying, “Let’s go.”

They walked down the streets of the county. There weren’t many good restaurants here. Jiang Chuan asked, “What do you want to eat?”

Qin Tang looked around and pointed to a small, clean, and bright stir-fry restaurant. “Let’s eat here. Just a few dishes.”

Jiang Chuan had no objection and walked in.

He glanced at the menu, “Do you want lamb?”

Qin Tang nodded, “Yes.”

He handed the menu to her, “Never mind, you choose. I’m going to buy a pack of cigarettes.”

...

Jiang Chuan went to a corner store to buy a pack of cigarettes. He saw a milk tea shop nearby and walked over, asking, “What do girls usually like to drink?”

The clerk hesitated for a moment before quickly recommending, “Our signature milk tea, lemon tea, and fruit juices are all good.”

Jiang Chuan glanced at the options and said, “I’ll have a lemon tea.”

After a while, the clerk handed him the lemon tea. “Here you go. Hope to see you again.”

Jiang Chuan put a cigarette in his mouth, carrying the lemon tea as he walked back.

His phone in his pocket rang, and he pulled it out to check. It was an unknown number.

Jiang Chuan threw away the cigarette butt and answered without saying anything.

The other party laughed, and Jiang Chuan immediately recognized the voice, “Zhao Qianhe.”

Zhao Qianhe laughed, “Jiang Chuan, you used to call me ‘bro,’ but now you’re saying my full name, Zhao Qianhe. How distant.”

Jiang Chuan replied calmly, “We’re not on the same path anymore.”

“Maybe not.”

Jiang Chuan’s brow furrowed sharply as he rushed back to the stir-fry restaurant.

The spot where Qin Tang had been sitting was now empty, with two plates of food on the table, untouched.

The owner was carrying a bowl of lamb soup when Jiang Chuan grabbed him by the collar. The owner, startled, dropped the bowl, and the hot soup splashed onto his legs. The owner cried out in pain.

Jiang Chuan’s face darkened in an instant as he asked, “Where did the girl go?”

The owner quickly responded, “I don’t know... I was busy cooking and didn’t notice...”

Jiang Chuan shoved him aside, pulling out his phone and dialing the number from earlier. “Zhao Qianhe, if you want to do something, come for me, but leave her alone.”

Zhao Qianhe sneered, “What makes you think you can make demands of me?”

Jiang Chuan replied, “Do you know the An Yi Foundation?”

The An Yi Foundation is a charity set up by the film queen Jing Xin and her husband Qin Sen in their daughter’s name, aimed at supporting education for children. A few years ago, Zhao Qianhe had set up his own charity foundation and was very familiar with such organizations, so of course, he knew about the An Yi Foundation.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Qin Tang is the daughter of Jing Xin and Qin Sen.”

The Qin family had kept their daughter well protected. Most of the photos of Qin Tang available online were from her childhood. As she grew older, she kept a low profile, but her name was well known in the photography and entertainment industries.

Photographer: Qin Tang.

These two words could be found everywhere.

Zhao Qianhe was silent for a few seconds before suddenly laughing, “Jiang Chuan, if you had said this a few years ago, I might have been afraid.”

Jiang Chuan’s heart sank, “What do you want to do?”

Zhao Qianhe laughed loudly, “Don’t worry, I won’t touch her.”

“Where?”

Zhao Qianhe paused for a moment, “My car is already on the way back to Yulin. Contact me once you’re in Yulin.”

The call ended, and Jiang Chuan clenched his phone tightly, almost crushing it.

He quickly turned around, and the boss shouted from behind, “Hey, you haven’t paid yet...”

Jiang Chuan pulled out two hundred-yuan bills and slammed them on the table before quickly walking out.

Under the night sky, the black jeep sped along the highway.