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Psst! We're moving!
Qin Tang wanted to find a mirror to tidy herself up but after looking around twice, realized there wasn’t even a small mirror in Jiang Chuan’s room. She gave up.
She planned to return to her room while everyone was eating.
Picking up the bowl of cold noodles, she quietly opened the door and peeked into the courtyard.
Seeing no one, she quickly closed the door behind her.
Just as she turned and took two steps, she suddenly froze.
Lu Sha had just entered the courtyard, looking up with her gaze directly meeting Qin Tang. Clearly, she had seen Qin Tang coming out of Jiang Chuan’s room.
Qin Tang gave her a brief glance, then looked away and continued walking.
She returned to her room, changed clothes, and grabbed her things to freshen up.
Downstairs—
Lu Sha, who hadn’t been seen for several days, was back. Aqi and the others knew she had been busy with work and greeted her warmly. Aqi stood up and smiled: “Sister Lu Sha, have you eaten yet?”
Lu Sha looked at them and shook her head with a smile: “Not yet.”
Aqi quickly said: “Then let me get you a bowl of rice. Sit down first.” She went to the kitchen to fetch utensils.
There was an empty seat next to Jiang Chuan, originally reserved for Qin Tang.
Lu Sha naturally took the seat. Her perfume was always strong and seductive.
Jiang Chuan wrinkled his nose slightly; now, he found this scent somewhat unpleasant.
Aqi placed the bowl in front of Lu Sha and sat back down. Xiaocheng said: “Sister Lu Sha, we just started eating. If you had come back any later, we’d have finished everything.”
Lu Sha smiled. “It’s fine.”
Lü An politely asked: “Finished with work?”
Lu Sha: “Mm, almost.”
Lü An: “Then are you heading back to Beijing soon?”
He hoped Lu Sha would leave soon. After all, with Qin Tang here, things were awkward between them. If someone had to leave, it would be better if it were Lu Sha.
Lu Sha: “Not necessarily. In our line of work, we go wherever there’s a job—across the country and even abroad.”
Lü An smiled and didn’t ask further.
Xiaocheng said: “Then, Sister Lu Sha, are you still staying here?”
Lu Sha glanced at Jiang Chuan out of the corner of her eye and said lightly: “Yes…”
Xiaocheng chuckled a few times. Aqi suddenly remembered something and said: “Ah, last night we had a barbecue in the courtyard. It was so lively! I forgot to tell you…”
Lu Sha raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yeah, Brother Lü treated us. We bought a lot of ingredients and ate everything.”
“Then next time, I’ll treat you all,” Lu Sha said, looking at Aqi. “Tonight seems good. Is everyone free?”
Everyone nodded excitedly. “Yes, yes!”
Jiang Chuan, still focused on his bowl, didn’t look up and said: “I’m busy.”
“Ah?” Xiaocheng said, “Brother Jiang, where are you going?”
“Something came up.”
No one asked further.
Lu Sha turned her head to look at him, her eyes gradually turning cold.
...
After finishing the cold noodles, Qin Tang began to feel drowsy again.
She leaned against the headboard, half-asleep.
She knew Lu Sha was back, but she didn’t want to see her. So she stayed in her room, waiting for Jiang Chuan.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, her phone rang.
[Grab your things and come downstairs.]
She looked at the time—it was almost 2 p.m.
Her things were already packed. She put her phone in her bag, slung the bag over her shoulder, picked up her camera, and headed out.
Jiang Chuan was leaning against the car, smoking. Despite not sleeping all night, he didn’t feel tired. A few puffs of the cigarette woke him up.
Qin Tang came downstairs wearing a white T-shirt, gray wide-leg pants, and flat shoes. She walked slower than usual.
She was beautiful, tall, and slim, and no matter what she wore, she carried her unique charm.
The people in the courtyard hadn’t seen her for a while and couldn’t help but glance over. Xiaobai asked: “Sister Qin Tang, are you going out?”
Qin Tang swallowed and said: “Mm, I have something to do.”
Aqi noticed her voice sounded a bit off. “Sister Qin Tang, are you catching a cold?”
Qin Tang cleared her throat. “No, my throat just feels a bit uncomfortable.”
Her expression remained unchanged as she picked up her bag and walked toward Jiang Chuan.
Aqi still worried behind her: “If your throat is uncomfortable, let Aunt Gui make you some pear water. We still have a few pears left from the other day.”
Qin Tang: “No need. You all eat them.”
She opened the car door and saw Lu Sha leaning by the entrance to the living room. Her face was expressionless as she smoked, the smoke curling around her.
Qin Tang glanced at Jiang Chuan.
Jiang Chuan glanced at her, smirked faintly, threw away his cigarette, crushed it with his foot, and got into the car.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the black Jeep drove out of the courtyard.
Midway, Jiang Chuan stopped in front of a bank. “Wait for me a moment.”
Qin Tang nodded: “Mm.”
She thought he was going to withdraw money.
A few minutes later, Jiang Chuan returned to the car.
He drove to the hotel where the auction had been held and picked up her bag. “Let’s go.”
Qin Tang followed him calmly into the hotel lobby, suddenly finding it amusing. Yesterday, he had mentioned they could rent a room here, and today, they were actually here.
Looking up, she saw Jiang Chuan watching her. “What are you smiling about?”
Qin Tang’s smile didn’t fade as she walked over and looped her arm through his. “Nothing, just happy.”
“So you’re not happy staying at Yi Station? Is it too shabby?”
“...”
He was deliberately misinterpreting her meaning.
Qin Tang ignored him, pulled her bag closer, and took out her ID card, handing it to him.
Jiang Chuan glanced at it, accepted it, and went to register.
Qin Tang stood in the luxurious lobby, turned halfway around, and looked around. Suddenly, she caught sight of a familiar face. The person quickly turned away, leaving only their back to her. Qin Tang frowned, trying to recall where she had seen them but couldn’t place it.
Jiang Chuan returned with the room key and noticed her furrowed brows. Leaning close to her ear, he asked softly: “Uncomfortable?”
He was referring to her physical condition.
Qin Tang’s ears reddened, realizing the teasing glint in his eyes. She pushed him away and walked ahead on her own.
The room was on the 18th floor.
After entering the room, Qin Tang said: “My grandmother is somewhat superstitious. She says you shouldn’t buy an apartment on the 18th floor, nor stay on the 18th floor in hotels. I’ve heard her say that since I was little, so I’m used to it.”
Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow: “Because of the 18 levels of hell?”
“Mm.”
“Is this your first time staying on the 18th floor?”
“Mm.”
He chuckled softly and went to the bathroom to draw her a bath.
He hadn’t forgotten—bringing her here was to fulfill her wish of soaking in a bathtub.
There wasn’t much else he could give her.
Qin Tang set her things down and walked to the bathroom door, watching him adjust the water temperature. She softly said: “Actually, the 18 levels of hell aren’t that scary.”
Jiang Chuan turned to look at her. “Come try it.”
Qin Tang stepped over, dipped her hand in, and said: “It’s hot.”
Jiang Chuan adjusted the water to be cooler. Qin Tang wiggled her fingers and said: “It’s fine now.”
Once the bath was ready, Jiang Chuan left.
Qin Tang submerged herself in the bathtub. The warm water eased the soreness and fatigue in her body, and she sighed contentedly.
Jiang Chuan leaned back on the couch, thinking about last night’s events and what Han Cheng had said this morning.
Was the person undercover near Jiang Kun the one he suspected?
If so, he’d need to adjust his plans.
Both missions were critical—he couldn’t afford any mistakes.
Lost in thought, his phone buzzed.
Jiang Chuan glanced at it—a text from Lu Sha.
[If there’s anything you want to know, you can ask me. I’ll tell you everything I know.] Jiang Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly but remained impassive.
A few minutes later, another message came in.
[Jiang Ge, I regret it.]
Regret what? Regret leaving him, or regret following Jiang Kun down a path with no return?
Jiang Chuan’s lips twitched faintly. Whether Lu Sha’s words were true or false no longer mattered. Perhaps they were sincere, perhaps they were a test.
If they were true, he still couldn’t help her. People had to pay for their mistakes.
If it was a test, then responding would only make things worse.
He set the phone down and glanced at the time—Qin Tang had been soaking for forty minutes already.
Did women always take this long to bathe?
He walked over and pushed open the door.
Qin Tang was lazily leaning back in the bathtub, her slender neck elegantly arched backward, her eyes closed, her lashes curled and thick. Her wet hair spilled over the edge of the white bathtub.
She had fallen asleep right there in the tub.
Jiang Chuan walked over, tested the water—it had cooled slightly.
He lifted her out, and Qin Tang woke up, her eyes moist and dazed. After a few seconds, she murmured: “I fell asleep?”
Jiang Chuan: “Mm.”
He grabbed a towel, wrapped her up, and carried her out. “Dry your hair before sleeping again.”
“You help me,” she mumbled, swinging her feet slightly, a hint of coquettishness in her tone.
“Alright.”
Qin Tang, wrapped in the towel, sat on his lap, lowering her head and leaning closer.
Jiang Chuan dried her hair, his fingers gently combing through her strands. Qin Tang rested against his chest, so comfortable she felt like falling asleep again. Remembering he had gone out early in the morning, she softly asked: “Are you tired?”
Jiang Chuan glanced at her. “Not really.”
Qin Tang: “Rest a bit later, okay?”
Jiang Chuan smiled faintly. “Alright.”
After drying her hair, Jiang Chuan went to take a shower.
When he came out, Qin Tang was already asleep.
He lay down beside her, his hand sliding over her slender waist, moving upward to gently squeeze her soft breast.
This time, they both slept soundly.
Jiang Chuan woke up at six.
He had only slept for two hours.
As soon as he got up, Qin Tang opened her eyes, glanced at him briefly, and turned over to close her eyes again.
“Hungry?” Jiang Chuan pinched her earlobe.
“Mm... a little...” She refused to get up.
Jiang Chuan leaned down to kiss her. Her bathrobe had loosened, and his hands easily roamed over her body. Qin Tang tensed, squirming. “What are you doing?”
“Do you want to get up?” He lightly nibbled her earlobe.
Qin Tang trembled slightly. “Let me get up.”
She truly didn’t want to do it right now.
Jiang Chuan propped himself up on one arm, looked down at her for a few seconds, and stopped teasing her.
He walked over to the couch, picked up her bag, and took out her clothes.
Qin Tang sat on the bed and started dressing.
Jiang Chuan pulled on his pants. Qin Tang noticed him adjusting himself before zipping up. She glanced at him twice—wasn’t it uncomfortable?
Jiang Chuan didn’t notice. He slipped on his T-shirt and felt the card in his pocket, pausing briefly.
Lü An had been quick; the money had already been transferred to his account that morning.
He took out the card and walked over to the bed, about to say something.
But Qin Tang’s phone rang.
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