2. It’s Playfulness

After all the commotion, Lin Sang had lost her mood for entertainment. Ahead of her, Lin Xingzi walked out briskly without looking back, as if she’d been bitten by a dog. Faintly, they could still hear Jiang Yan talking to his colleagues. Lin Sang quickly called for a car on her phone.

“You go to Jiang Yan’s place; I’ll head back to the hotel. Don’t forget we have a flight tomorrow evening.”

Lin Xingzi’s tone was neither cold nor warm. “Who said I’d live with him?”

“Alright, alright,” Lin Sang knew her younger sister’s fiery temper all too well. While others might have sharp tongues, Lin Xingzi wielded hers like a 98k rifle. “You miss him when you don’t see him, and when you do, you act up. Didn’t you come here just to see him? Such chaos tonight, and there was even a death. Jiang Yan is a police officer. If those drug dealers find out you’re his wife, it won’t be good… Fine, fine, I’ll stop talking. This is your special kind of playfulness—I wouldn’t understand as an outsider…”

The car arrived quickly. After Lin Sang got in, she closed the door and told the driver to drive off, only rolling down the window to wave at Lin Xingzi, who hadn’t even managed to touch the car door after being pulled aside.

Under the bright streetlights outside the police station, mosquitoes swarmed. Lin Xingzi had been standing by the roadside for just a few minutes, yet her neck already bore several bites. After Jiang Yan finished speaking with his colleagues, he rushed out. Seeing her silhouette under the lamppost, he slowed his steps.

In the dappled light, she stood with her head slightly bowed, every strand of hair clearly outlined. Her hair, lifted by the wind, slid from her shoulders, the ends brushing against her fair neck, revealing a bit of reddened skin. Perhaps annoyed by the wait, she idly kicked small pebbles on the ground with the tip of her shoe.

They had been married for half a year, but the number of times they had seen each other could be counted on one hand.

Even before their marriage, they hadn’t been particularly close.

“Have you eaten?” Jiang Yan approached, his tall and upright figure blocking the light that fell on the woman. “There aren’t any good restaurants nearby. If you don’t want to walk far, we can go back and eat. There are still some dishes in the fridge.”

“Not hungry,” Lin Xingzi thought, anger filling her stomach instead.

“Then let’s go back first.”

Jiang Yan had been temporarily transferred here. For convenience, he rented a place in an old residential area near the police station and never moved out. The distance to the station was about a ten-minute walk.

No lights, no elevator, and the walls were plastered with random small ads. The ceilings were so low that if he wasn’t careful, he’d bump his head. Somewhere in the building, a couple was arguing loudly, their voices crystal clear, and the smell was indescribable. As Lin Xingzi climbed higher, her heart sank further.

He lived in such a place…

Lost in thought, Lin Xingzi suddenly missed a step. Jiang Yan reacted swiftly, steadying her and not letting go of her hand.

Amidst the sound of couples quarreling, they climbed the stairs. Lin Xingzi tried to shake off his grip twice but failed. Her palm grew sweaty. Though the woman’s yelling echoed in her ears, Lin Xingzi felt as if she could hear her own heartbeat, making her feel even hotter.

…Thankfully, there were no lights.

Jiang Yan fished out his keys and opened the door. Only a pair of slippers lay at the entrance.

“That room is the bathroom. Go wash up,” Jiang Yan handed her the slippers and placed her sneakers neatly aside. “I’ll turn on the air conditioner, and it’ll cool down soon.”

The living room was so small it could be surveyed in one glance. Although there wasn’t much to see, it was clean. Drenched in sweat and uncomfortable, Lin Xingzi didn’t fuss anymore.

Jiang Yan handed her a clean T-shirt, towel, toothbrush, and an unopened set containing a certain brand’s makeup remover and lotion. Lin Xingzi paused for a moment. “Where did these come from?”

On the way back, they passed a cosmetics store. While she bought a drink from the vending machine, Jiang Yan went inside and bought them. He didn’t know much about these things, but he remembered seeing them on her vanity six months ago.

“Just make do with these for now. Your assistant will bring your stuff over tomorrow morning. The lock is broken, and I haven’t had time to fix it.” Two minutes earlier, Lin Sang had sent Jiang Yan a WeChat message, saying she wouldn’t disturb their newlywed reunion tonight and would join them for dinner tomorrow.

A soft humph came from the woman, full of pride.

To avoid awkwardness, Jiang Yan didn’t linger by the bathroom door.

However, the apartment was so small that his efforts were futile. One by one, her clothes were tossed out of the bathroom, finally followed by two small pieces—her bra and panties, left in a pile on the floor.

From behind the half-closed door, the unmistakable sound of running water came through, almost drowning out the neighbors’ argument.

Jiang Yan gulped down half a glass of cold water and went over to pick up the pile on the floor. Knowing she took long showers and wouldn’t come out anytime soon, he went to the balcony to wash the clothes.

The call from the police station was expected. Jiang Yan wiped the foam off with one hand and pressed the answer button.

“Jiang Yan! What’s wrong with you? Who approved tonight’s operation? How many times have I told you not to act on your own! Not to act on your own! Where are you? Get over here right now!”

“Captain Zhou,” Jiang Yan turned off the tap. “Xingzi is here with me. I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone. I’ll write up a report and submit it to you tomorrow.”

“…Who?”

Jiang Yan realized only her family called her that. “It’s Xingzi.”

“Oh, Xingzi’s here,” the voice on the other end noticeably softened. “Alright, take half a day off.”

“Thank you, Captain Zhou.”

“Don’t thank me too early—you’re still suspended tomorrow!”