Chapter 8. “Move back sooner.”

Lin Xingzi was exhausted, not wanting to lift a finger. Jiang Yan soaked a towel in warm water and used it to wipe her body. She lay on her side, the blush still on her skin, languid and half-asleep, at her most compliant state.

Jiang Yan found a clean T-shirt for her to wear and changed the sheets before going to shower.

He only took a quick rinse. When he entered the room shirtless, Lin Xingzi was staring blankly at the pillow, ignoring the pings from her phone. When their eyes met, she awkwardly rolled over.

Jiang Yan smiled, turned off the light, got into bed, and pulled her into his arms.

She was 1.68 meters tall, considered quite tall for a woman, yet she seemed petite nestled in his embrace, soft everywhere.

Even after just showering, his body temperature was still on the higher side. The air conditioner had been on for a while, and after the heat subsided, it felt a little cool. Putting aside their marriage of convenience, this man was, at best, a former student of her mother’s. Sleeping in an embrace seemed overly intimate, but Lin Xingzi thought about how she had just “used” him ten minutes ago, so she didn’t fuss too much about the hand resting on her chest, even though she was quite comfortable herself.

“It’s boiling,” she struggled slightly.

“Your hands are cold,” Jiang Yan had long understood her temperament. “Are you sleepy? Let’s talk, Jiangjiang. I’m very happy you came to see me.”

Their last meeting was three months ago when he returned to Haishi to find a witness. Time was tight, so he only managed to see her once, not even having a meal together.

Lin Xingzi didn’t know what this counted as for her.

She had traveled thousands of miles only to be thoroughly taken, inside and out.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I told you I came for work. If it weren’t for what happened, would I have the leisure to bother with you?” She was always sharp-tongued.

Jiang Yan kissed her hair. “Don’t be angry, I’ll try to get transferred back sooner.”

Lin Xingzi only half-listened to this, not taking it seriously. Her elderly father was the chief of the Haishi Public Security Bureau and also in this line of work. When he was young, due to work, he and her mother were in a long-distance relationship for five years. Once you put on that police uniform, you had to obey orders and follow commands; you weren’t your own person.

Besides, who knew if he wanted to transfer back to Haishi because of her, or if there was someone else he wanted to see.

Speaking of Ji Qiuchi, she was truly an extraordinary woman. Unable to marry the man she loved, she became the mistress of her beloved’s wife’s ex-boyfriend’s father.

Officer Jiang indeed needed to go back. Any later, and perhaps Ji Qiuchi would successfully become a wealthy socialite. However, going back probably wouldn’t help. Ji Qiuchi wanted things he didn’t possess—the family fortune built by generations of the Zhan family, something he couldn’t possibly catch up to.

“Whatever,” Lin Xingzi yawned in response, rolled over, and fell asleep.

Jiang Yan could tell she wasn’t in high spirits, but not unhappy either. A little while later, he heard soft breathing beside him.

She was much more obedient once she fell asleep, automatically snuggling into his embrace, seeking the warmth.

That night, Jiang Yan slept unusually deeply, not even knowing it had rained around four or five in the morning, sleeping soundly until daybreak.

She was still asleep, her long hair spread across the pillow, her small face buried in his chest, clean and fresh. He couldn’t bear to push her away, so he just lay there for another two hours.

Lin Xingzi was in a good mood when she woke up naturally. “Don’t cook. Don’t you only have half a day off? It’s almost noon anyway. Let’s just go find Sister for lunch later.”

Jiang Yan agreed but still prepared some simple food for her. There was milk in the fridge and a few apples. Lin Xingzi wasn’t particularly picky about food.

Around eleven, the assistant delivered Lin Xingzi’s suitcase, and she went inside to change clothes.

“Hello, I’m General Manager Lin’s assistant, Chen Cheng,” the assistant was young, in his early twenties, and quite good-looking.

Jiang Yan shook his hand. “Hello, please come in and sit.”

Lin Xingzi called him from inside, and he told Chen Cheng to make himself comfortable, put down his cup, and entered the room.

“My hair is stuck,” she didn’t have a mirror, making it difficult for her to fix it herself.

She was wearing a black, waist-cinching dress with a small square neckline and two thin straps. The hem of the skirt was just above her knees, revealing a large expanse of fair skin. Jiang Yan brushed her long hair to one side, gently pushing the zipper. His fingers occasionally brushed against her back, tickling her.

“The rain has brought the temperature down; it’ll be cold.”

“I only brought this one dress. The one I wore yesterday was washed and isn’t dry yet.”

“How about I find one of my shirts for you, a thin one, it won’t be hot,” Jiang Yan offered a flawless reason. “And it can cover the marks on your back.”

After a night, the marks had only lightened in color.

Lin Xingzi was a little annoyed while changing, seeing hickeys even on her wrists. She thought about it, then took the shirt Jiang Yan handed her and put it on, rolling up the sleeves a bit.

Her high heels were in the suitcase. Chen Cheng naturally walked over and helped her.

Jiang Yan came out holding Lin Xingzi’s phone, his gaze falling on their clasped hands.