WHCTIL - 64

Qin Tang opened the lids of the noodles and cold skin noodles. The noodles were all mushy, but the cold skin noodles, which were meant to be served cold, were still edible.

After finishing his phone call, Jiang Chuan walked over. Qin Tang pointed to the bowl of noodles, “Do you want to buy another bowl?”

Jiang Chuan sat down and pulled the bowl of noodles in front of him, “No need, this will do.”

Qin Tang frowned and grabbed the bowl, “I’ll heat it up for you.”

Jiang Chuan was surprised and smiled, “Let me do it.” He picked up the noodles and headed to the kitchen.

He took out a pot from the cabinet—it was brand new.

The kitchen was small. Qin Tang followed him in, and the two squeezed together.

Jiang Chuan looked back at her, “Go wait outside.”

Qin Tang didn’t move, pressing against his back and hugging his waist. Jiang Chuan’s hands stopped, and he smiled.

“Why don’t you live here?” She asked.

“It’s inconvenient to live here.”

At first, it was because he feared being investigated after Lin Hao’s death. Later, he got used to staying at Yizhan.

Qin Tang asked, “Because of Lin Hao?”

Jiang Chuan replied, “At first, yes. Later, I got used to Yizhan. For a man like me, it doesn’t matter where I live—it’s just a place to sleep.”

Qin Tang asked, “Is Lin Hao also a fake name?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Chuan tightened his lips and explained, “My name is real.”

“I know. Cao Sheng said your mother’s surname is Jiang.” Qin Tang pressed against his sturdy back and asked, “Do you have any siblings?”

Children from mountainous areas mostly have siblings. In some places, the poorer they are, the more children they have, and the more children they have, the poorer they become.

In the mountain gully where Jiang Chuan grew up, there must have been siblings.

“No.” Jiang Chuan said.

“Ah?” She was somewhat surprised.

Jiang Chuan poured the noodles into the pot and turned on the stove, “My mother had a difficult labor when she gave birth to me. Back then, our family was poor, and there were no proper medical facilities. After giving birth to me, her health remained poor. My father wanted another child but couldn’t have one. My mother passed away when I was ten.”

Qin Tang hugged him tightly, “What about your father?”

Jiang Chuan fell silent for a few seconds, “He’s in our hometown. After I was stripped of my police status, I never went back. Lü An is from the same hometown as me, and he often goes back to check on things for me.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go back—it was that he couldn’t.

A few times, when delivering supplies to the mountainous areas, he only watched from afar as he passed by.

The noodles were heated.

Jiang Chuan poured the noodles back into the bowl—they were completely mushy, but he didn’t mind. He asked, “What about you?”

Qin Tang smiled faintly, “I have a younger brother, four years younger than me. He’s studying abroad. His name is Qin Yue.”

Jiang Chuan said, “That’s nice.”

Jiang Chuan brought the noodles out. Qin Tang glanced at them, “They’re still mushy.”

“It’s fine.”

After finishing lunch, it was already afternoon.

Qin Tang curled up on the small sofa. Jiang Chuan turned on the TV for her, though she wasn’t particularly interested in what was playing. Jiang Chuan sat beside her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder, softly saying, “After the case is over, can you go back?”

Jiang Chuan looked down at her, “Mm.”

Qin Tang naturally said, “Then I’ll accompany you back.”

Jiang Chuan was taken aback. Qin Tang looked up at him and asked, “Don’t you want me to?”

How could he possibly not want her to?

Jiang Chuan cupped her chin and deeply kissed her lips, his voice muffled, “I’m so happy.”

Qin Tang wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head to meet his kiss.

After a while, Jiang Chuan picked her up and walked into the bedroom.

Qin Tang clung tightly to his neck.

Jiang Chuan lowered his head, his dark eyes intently fixed on her face.

For this lifetime...

All his passion wanted to be spent on her.

…

Qin Tang woke up in the evening to find Jiang Chuan gone.

Qin Tang climbed off the bed and walked to the living room, spotting a note on the table. He had gone out for something and told her to order takeout.

She returned to the room and took out her phone, thought for a moment, and decided against it.

Qin Tang ordered takeout.

While waiting for the food, her phone rang.

Glancing at it, surprisingly, it was Lu Sha.

Qin Tang frowned. Hadn’t she fled? Why would she call her?

Without hesitation, Qin Tang answered immediately, her tone calm, “Lu Sha.”

Lu Sha was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly sneered, “Qin Tang, aren’t you feeling quite pleased with yourself right now?”

“What am I pleased about?” Qin Tang asked indifferently.

“Pleased that I’m being chased by the police. I can tell you hate me, even look down on me.” Lu Sha said coldly, “But don’t get too smug. I won’t be caught so easily.”

Qin Tang calmly said, “I do dislike you, but I don’t look down on you. The path you chose is your own, and you’ll have to pay the price for it.”

Lu Sha laughed aloud, “You’re too naive.”

Qin Tang remained expressionless, “It’s you who’s too naive.”

Lu Sha sneered, “That man Jiang Chuan—you can’t have him even if you want him.”

With that, she hung up.

Qin Tang stared at her phone in a daze, then immediately dialed Jiang Chuan’s number. It was turned off.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly calmed herself and called Cao Sheng. This time, the call connected quickly. Qin Tang hurriedly asked, “Where’s Jiang Chuan?”

Cao Sheng replied, “He’s on a mission.”

Qin Tang panicked, “Where did he go?”

“I can’t say.”

“…Is he still in Xi’an?”

“Yes.”

Qin Tang bit her lip, “His phone isn’t reachable.”

Cao Sheng fell silent for a few seconds, then said, “We’ve made progress in the case. Don’t worry, he’ll be back tonight.”

Qin Tang relaxed her clenched teeth, her lips pale, “I understand.”

Qin Tang added, “Lu Sha called me. See if it helps you.”

After hearing her words, Cao Sheng immediately ordered someone to check Lu Sha’s call records.

Qin Tang hung up and sat at the dining table, lost in thought, tightly gripping her phone. She knew the case had reached its final stage. Jiang Chuan had once been an undercover agent close to Zhao Qianhe. If his identity were exposed, neither Zhao Qianhe nor Jiang Kun would let him live.

Jiang Chuan was now in the most dangerous situation.

A man like him wouldn’t retreat, even knowing the danger.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Qin Tang trembled slightly but quickly composed herself. She moved behind the door and asked, “Who is it?”

“Your takeout has arrived.”

Qin Tang peered through the peephole and confirmed it was indeed the delivery person. She opened the door and took the food.

Outside the door stood a policeman who had just finished work, dressed in uniform, upright and handsome.

Qin Tang was momentarily distracted. She had never seen Jiang Chuan in uniform—it must look good on him.

The policeman outside glanced over, somewhat surprised, “Hey, is someone living in this apartment now?”

Qin Tang nodded faintly and closed the door.

“This place has been empty for years. It’s the first time I’ve seen anyone living here, and it’s a woman. Is she...?”

“Didn’t this house get sold?”

“I don’t know. Haven’t seen it in years.”

…

Qin Tang suddenly felt sorrowful—for Jiang Chuan.

All these years, not returning home, not living in his own house.

All these years, had he felt lonely?

…

Jiang Chuan and another plainclothes policeman walked out of the newest property development of the Kunlun Group, a stack of documents stuffed into Jiang Chuan’s pocket.

There was backup waiting outside.

This operation went smoothly.

When he returned, he was very cautious, making sure no one was following before crossing the street and heading toward the entrance of the residential complex.

At the corner of the entrance, a suspicious black shadow suddenly darted into the wall.

Jiang Chuan’s gaze sharpened, and he quickly chased after it.