Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
After a few seconds, Jian Xi sent over an emoji.
It was a face charred black by lightning.
He Ran laughed and replied, “Sleep.”
Lin Jia, sitting beside him, was a bit confused. He blinked. “Ran Ge, is that Dr. Jian?”
“Mm.” He Ran placed his phone on the table. “Next time we meet her, call her ‘Sister-in-law.’”
“I won’t. I’ll just call her ‘Sister.’ She looks younger that way.” Lin Jia grinned. “When did this happen? I didn’t see any signs of it.”
“She’s liked me for a long time, but she only recently agreed after being stubborn about it.” He Ran exuded mysterious confidence as he pulled out a cigarette. Lin Jia quickly lit it for him. “Ran Ge, I think Dr. Jian is really great.”
“Of course! Otherwise, why would I cherish her so much?” He Ran flicked the ash off his cigarette and tightened the bandage on his hand. Suddenly, he said, “Once we finish this job, I’m planning to change careers and find a different way to make money.”
Lin Jia couldn’t believe it. “Ge, are you quitting debt collection?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” Lin Jia couldn’t understand. “You’ve built quite a reputation in the industry over the past two years. You wouldn’t lack work.”
He Ran didn’t respond.
“It’s tough, sure, but at least the money’s good. Plus, you’re experienced now, so it’s not too dangerous.”
“Not dangerous?” He Ran raised his eyes and glanced at his injured hand. “If I’d been even a second slower today, that knife would’ve gone right through you.”
This time, it was Lin Jia’s turn to fall silent. After a while, he asked, “Is it because of Dr. Jian?”
Smoke rose into the air, forming a thin haze that became the only movement in the room.
He Ran pinched the end of the cigarette between his fingers, twirled it twice, and finally admitted, “She has a respectable job and deals with people who are moving up in life. Even though debt collection can provide a decent living, it’s still something people look down on. I want to build a future with your sister-in-law. Making her feel embarrassed isn’t manly.”
Lin Jia lowered his head, his eyes starting to redden.
He Ran glanced at him, his voice soft. “Don’t overthink it. Life’s already a mess. Just surviving well is an achievement.”
Tears welled up in Lin Jia’s eyes. “I know. A lot of people look down on me. Sure, I’ve earned some money over the past two years risking my life, but in their eyes, I’m still just a thug.”
“So what if you’re a thug? You’re supporting your family. Is that something to be ashamed of?” He Ran patted his shoulder. “Man up! You cry more than a woman.”
“I don’t want to, but I have no choice.” Lin Jia wiped his face with the back of his hand, smearing snot and tears all over it. “My mom needs dialysis every month, costing six or seven thousand yuan, and my kid is due any day now.”
He had to earn money—and a lot of it.
He Ran understood clearly, but in the face of fate, words of comfort or advice were powerless.
He placed both hands firmly on Lin Jia’s shoulders, not letting go despite the pain from his wound.
“You remember this: providing for the family is a man’s responsibility. If destiny throws you a curveball, you can’t blame it.” He Ran’s voice was calm but firm. “If you ever need help, I’ll do my best. I promise.”
Lin Jia’s emotions stabilized. “Then, Ran Ge, what kind of job are you thinking of switching to?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” He Ran said, “I’m done with this line of work, but I’ll hand over all my resources to you. The referrals from Old Yao will also go to you. Listen to my advice: once you get through this, quit and find a proper job.”
Lin Jia nodded in agreement. “Ran Ge, rest up. I’ll take you to change your bandages tomorrow.”
“I’m going to take a shower.” After a chaotic day, his body felt sticky.
He kept his injured hand elevated and avoided getting it wet, giving himself a quick rinse. Back in the room, He Ran called Lu Hanxiao.
“I was just thinking about you, Ran Ran,” Lu Hanxiao slurred drunkenly, immediately perking up when the call connected. “Are you coming out to play?”
“Idiot.” He Ran moved the phone away slightly; the other side was partying hard. “Find me a quiet place to talk.”
A short while later, Lu Hanxiao’s voice returned to normal. “Go ahead.”
“What do you know about Jian Xi’s family?”
Lu Hanxiao immediately understood. “Her dad’s in charge, and her mom sells dishwashing liquid.”
He Ran wanted to punch him. “Be serious.”
“She runs a cleaning products company.”
“Damn…” He Ran couldn’t help but react. That company was incredibly famous.
“You wanna hit me? Damn, I’m your brother! How can you be so naughty?” Lu Hanxiao complained loudly. “Alright, alright, I’ll hook you up. Room 308, Little Lu Hostel is waiting for you.”
He Ran tossed his phone onto the bed, calculated the timing, waited until the other side finished venting, then picked it up again.
“What’s my future mother-in-law like?”
“Strong.”
“And my father-in-law?”
“Stubborn.”
“What about my Oscar-winning little brother?”
“Funny.”
“Do you think her family will approve?”
“I think you’re pretty shameless. What’s this about your mother-in-law and father-in-law? Has my sister even agreed yet?”
He Ran spoke arrogantly. “Stop wasting words. Help me or don’t.”
“How can I not help? You’re threatening to beat me up!” Lu Hanxiao laughed heartily. “Relax. It’s not that scary. Her family atmosphere is actually pretty good. When my mom isn’t busy, she likes to practice boxing. Don’t worry.”
He Ran wanted to jump into the screen and give him a double dose of love with nunchucks.
“Enough. I’m hanging up.”
“No, no, no, Ran Ran, come help me fend off drinks!” Lu Hanxiao shouted.
“Idiot, you’re already drunk out of your mind.” He Ran said, “I’ll come talk to you about serious matters another day.”
Lu Hanxiao’s brain was still processing slowly. Holding his phone, he thought, “Drunk out of your mind is just another way of calling someone an idiot. Insulting people twice over—this Ran Ran is still as wild as ever, never backing down.”
________________________________________
The countryside where Jian Xi was stationed was quite remote. This was the hospital’s final charitable activity before the Lunar New Year. The obstetrics department of City Hospital No. 1 was a provincial key department, and they always worked diligently without putting on a show.
The accommodations this time weren’t great. The window glass was cracked, and cold wind seeped in all night. Jian Xi shared a room with two young nurses who had just graduated. They were lively and full of energy.
“Dr. Jian, were you on the phone with your boyfriend earlier?”
Jian Xi was soaking her feet. “Yes, it was a video call, but the signal was bad.”
“Dr. Jian, is your boyfriend the one who picked you up from the hospital entrance last time?” The young nurse got excited and asked curiously.
“Which time?”
“The one driving a Cayenne.”
Everyone assumed it was Lu Pingnan. Jian Xi replied, “No, my boyfriend didn’t drive.”
Jian Xi treated everyone kindly and didn’t put on airs, so the young nurse grew bolder. “Dr. Jian, how did you and your boyfriend meet?”
Jian Xi smiled. “Are you interrogating me, young girl?”
The nurse, still young, suddenly became emotional. “I feel like after graduation, many things are beyond my control. Once I left school, my parents started treating me like an aging single woman, constantly pushing me to find a partner.”
Jian Xi listened quietly.
“I actually do want to find a boyfriend, but things are different in the provincial capital compared to our small town. There are plenty of rich and beautiful people here. I don’t have local residency, and I don’t have money. Those I like don’t look at me, and those who like me—if they’re too terrible, I doubt I’d have the courage to start from scratch with them.”
Jian Xi dried her feet, the sound of water sloshing softly. Her voice was gentle. “There’s no other reason—it’s just that you don’t like this person enough.”
The young nurse didn’t understand and blinked at her.
Jian Xi smiled. “The level of liking corresponds to the level of courage. When your feelings reach a certain intensity, willing companionship naturally follows. It doesn’t require deliberate effort or self-persuasion.”
The young nurse seemed to understand but wasn’t entirely sure. “Dr. Jian, you’re so wise.”
“I’ve learned from experience.” Jian Xi’s tone was light.
She had suffered a crush on Lu Pingnan during her student days—a fierce, passionate affection that slowly diminished over time without reciprocation.
Until she met He Ran. He pushed the equation forward, resetting the result and giving birth to new feelings.
Thinking about this, Jian Xi felt as if she had bitten into a juicy peach; sweetness surged through her body. She took out her phone and sent He Ran a “muah muah” emoji.
He Ran quickly replied, his tone still somewhat gruff:
[In the middle of jerking off, your text scared me limp. Stop causing trouble, or I’ll make you pay when I get back.]
Jian Xi laughed as she replied: [How exactly are you going to make me pay?]
He Ran: [By making you die of pleasure.]
“Old pervert,” Jian Xi muttered under her breath, but couldn’t stop herself from laughing out loud.
________________________________________
Two days later, the charity clinic ended on schedule. The director announced on the bus, “Thanks to everyone’s hard work, this event was successfully completed and highly praised by city leaders. Tonight, we’ll have a dinner gathering, followed by karaoke at the usual spot!”
His voice rose dramatically. “You can bring family members!”
Applause and cheers filled the bus.
Jian Xi took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to He Ran:
[We’re having a department activity tonight. Do you want to join me?]
He Ran didn’t reply via text but called directly.
“Where are you now?”
“We just set off.”
“What’s the plan?”
“Karaoke.” Jian Xi asked, “Do you want to come?”
“I want to see you.” He Ran said, “I have some things to take care of first, but I’ll come after I’m done.”
Jian Xi responded, “Okay, I’ll send you the address later.” Lowering her voice, she added, “See you tonight.”
He Ran chuckled softly. “Good girl.”
Jian Xi blushed at his laugh and softly replied, “Mm, bye.”
“Don’t say ‘mm’ over the phone.” He Ran’s voice suddenly turned sultry. “Tonight, you can ‘mm’ for me properly.”
After a while, the young nurse next to her finished chatting with a colleague and turned around, exclaiming, “Dr. Jian, are you feeling hot?”
Otherwise, why would she be fanning herself with a newspaper so enthusiastically?
________________________________________
“Ran Ge, here, drink some water.” Lin Jia handed He Ran a bottle after noticing he had finished his call. “If you have something to do, go ahead. I’ll be fine alone.”
He Ran unscrewed the cap. “I promised to stay and finish this job with you. Besides, this debtor is aggressive. You shouldn’t handle him alone.”
Lin Jia nodded. “Ran Ge, you take seventy percent of the commission.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He Ran frowned, biting on an unlit cigarette. “It’s all yours. Focus on the guy.”
Despite being injured by the debtor in the parking lot last time, they had to follow through with the task. After receiving information, the two staked out at the street corner for an entire afternoon, expecting the debtor to appear for an evening engagement.
Winter days darkened quickly by five o’clock, with a chilling mist in the air.
True to form, the debtor appeared, surrounded by a group of people. It wasn’t a good time to act.
He Ran said, “Follow him. We’ll find an opportunity.”
The two tailed him stealthily, noting the restaurant name and private room number before waiting in the lobby for the right moment.
An hour later, Lin Jia answered a call halfway through.
After finishing, he waved excitedly at He Ran. “Ran Ge, we can wrap it up! The money’s been deposited! The boss just confirmed!”
He Ran stood up. “Are you sure?”
“No problem. The boss personally called to confirm.” Lin Jia showed him the phone. “It’s a 158-number.”
He Ran checked it against his own phone. After verifying, he relaxed. “Let’s go.”
Lin Jia was in high spirits. “Ge, let’s go eat some skewers.”
“No.” He Ran shoved his hands into his pockets and quickened his pace. “I need to go kiss my wife.”
Just then, Lin Jia’s phone rang again. He Ran paused, listening closely.
“Boss, yes, it’s me. What? Damn! Okay, okay, we’re still here.” Lin Jia’s expression turned urgent. “Ran Ge, the guy’s playing dirty. He didn’t transfer the full amount!”
“Shit.” Anger flashed in He Ran’s eyes. “Let’s go block him!”
The two ran upstairs toward the banquet hall. “You guard the staircase. I’ll handle upstairs.”
Splitting up, they finally intercepted the debtor as the banquet dispersed.
He Ran radiated hostility, his lips tightly pressed. Grabbing a broomstick, he shouted, “You bastard, stop right there!”
He bent his knee and snapped the broomstick in half over it, throwing the sharp end against the wall. “Anyone who meddles better take care of their own life!”
The friends who had been eager to intervene hesitated. The debtor turned and fled downstairs.
He Ran missed grabbing him and yelled, “Lin Jia!”
“Here!” Lin Jia jumped out to block him.
But the debtor was strong, grabbing a potted plant from the railing and smashing it into Lin Jia’s face.
“Ouch!” Lin Jia cried out in pain, allowing the debtor to escape.
He Ran caught up from behind, furious. “Shit! Chase him!”
________________________________________
At seven o’clock, the department dinner was nearing its end.
The young nurse tugged at Jian Xi’s sleeve. “Our director’s gone crazy.”
Jian Xi whispered, “He gets like this when he drinks. Mark my words, when we go to the karaoke place, the director will perform square dancing.”
The young nurse covered her mouth, giggling.
“Is everyone full?” The director’s face was flushed with alcohol. “If you’re full, let’s move to the next battlefield: KTV!”
A group of ten or so people headed outside. Jian Xi put on her scarf, and the young nurse linked arms with her.
“Dr. Jian, this is a Burberry scarf!”
“Someone gave it to me.”
“Your boyfriend?”
“Tsk tsk tsk, you’re interrogating me again.”
They chatted and laughed as they walked. But just as they stepped out of the restaurant, they heard shouting from ahead.
“There’s a fight! There’s a fight!”
Whoever spread the word drew a crowd. The young nurse dragged Jian Xi forward. “Excuse me, excuse me.”
Jian Xi, caught between laughter and frustration, followed along. But when she looked up, it was like being struck by lightning.
Several meters away, a chaotic brawl unfolded. Limbs flew everywhere, and shouts filled the air.
A short, stout middle-aged man was pinned to the ground, with a fiery, arrogant man sitting on top of him.
He Ran grabbed the debtor’s hair, yanking it back forcefully. “You dare hit my brother? I’ll fucking destroy you!”
“Oh, that guy’s getting beaten up badly. His eye is already swollen.”
“They’re all thugs. Look at how ferocious they are.”
“Shh, keep your voice down. You don’t want to get beaten up—they’re volatile.”
“What’s there to fear? Call the police and lock them all up.”
Whispers and gossip swirled around, creating a clear boundary. People stood on the moral high ground, looking down on those they deemed scum.
The young nurse called out several times, “Dr. Jian, Dr. Jian?”
Jian Xi heard nothing. Her gaze was fixed on He Ran, who was fighting fiercely.
And when she heard the words “Dr. Jian,” the man mid-punch froze, turning his head in disbelief.
Their eyes met—fire and ice.
Jian Xi was the first to react. She took a step forward, resolutely walking toward He Ran.
He Ran cursed inwardly, “Fuck!” He quickly stood up. “Lin Jia, retreat!”
Without looking at Jian Xi, he grabbed his dusty jacket and ran in the opposite direction.
He Ran was injured, and the cut on his palm from yesterday had reopened, bleeding again.
He couldn’t turn back. He couldn’t acknowledge her. His mind was fixated on one thought: get as far away as possible. He absolutely could not let her endure malicious stares and the associated humiliation.
Absolutely not.
Jian Xi was caught off guard by his deliberate aloofness, standing there as if her soul had left her body.
He Ran and Lin Jia ran up the pedestrian bridge, sprinting desperately for over ten minutes before stopping. He Ran gasped for breath, leaning heavily on the bridge railing.
His phone kept ringing, over and over.
Lin Jia urged, “Ran Ge, answer it!”
He Ran’s heart twisted like a burning-hot potato. Finally, unable to bear it, he pressed the call button.
Before he could speak, Jian Xi’s tearful voice came through.
“He Ran, you bastard!”
He Ran opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word.
“Why are you avoiding me?” Jian Xi sounded utterly broken. “It’s useless to run. I’ve already told my colleagues that the thug fighting over there is my boyfriend!”
He Ran’s heart trembled, like an old machine covered in dust suddenly coming back to life—moving, alive, and warm.
“Jian Xi…”
“You remember my name now? Then turn around. Turn around.”
He Ran spun around quickly. At the other end of the bridge, Jian Xi, red-eyed and clad in a white down jacket, ran toward him, breathing heavily.
She climbed the last step, looking at He Ran with grievance.
“You’re so hard to chase. Not acknowledging me, not waiting for me. What, do you want to break up?”
He Ran gritted his teeth, his jaw tight. At first, he walked, but soon he broke into a run, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Jian Xi collided into him, her voice hoarse. “Run, why aren’t you running anymore? A good horse doesn’t eat grass it’s already passed. Why are you turning back?”
He Ran chuckled softly. “Because I want to eat you.”
Then he tightened his grip on her waist and leaned down to kiss her.
His tongue was slippery, his breath hot, and the woman in his arms—
was his.
Google Sites
Report abuse