Yan Qing had not expected Shi Ting to come and meet her at the classroom door — and in full view of everyone, no less.

“Didn’t you say you would wait for me outside?” Yan Qing could clearly feel the burning gazes all around her, and the pressure weighed on her considerably.

“I wanted to see you at the earliest possible moment.” Shi Ting paid no mind to the constant stream of people passing by and naturally took hold of her hand. “How did the examination go?”

“Quite well.” Yan Qing’s hand stiffened slightly, and she instinctively looked around at her surroundings.

“To celebrate my Qing Qing’s smooth examination, allow me to treat you to a meal.” He held her hand and walked toward the main entrance, under the envious and jealous gazes of those around them.

Although Yan Qing felt a little self-conscious, she reminded herself that this was her husband — the person closest to her in the world. When she was with him, she had nothing to feel uneasy about. So she naturally drew herself a little closer to his side.

“What a perfect match — he’s handsome and she’s beautiful.”

“Those two walking together are such a sight to behold.”

Unlike the admiring female students around them, Yan Ling watched those two retreating figures with eyes brimming with fury and resentment.

“Hmph. That vixen — Seventh Brother must have been bewitched by her.” Shi Yutong walked over with two female classmates in tow. “Absolutely shameless, making a spectacle of herself in public like that.”

When Yan Ling saw her approach, she pressed her lips together with a look of aggrievement. “Yutong, I’m sorry — you were dragged into this because of me.”

“What does this have to do with you? It’s that woman who is so contemptible.”

Yan Ling said: “I just heard her telling Shi Ting about what you did — saying that you deliberately set her up during the examination. She also said… she also said that you and your mother are alike — that you’re women of ill repute who can’t be brought into respectable society.”

“She actually said that?” The flames in Shi Yutong’s eyes looked ready to burst forth. “That despicable woman — I will never let her off.”

“Yutong, don’t be angry. She’s in favor right now and doesn’t take anyone seriously. You were bitten by that beast, and didn’t Seventh Brother only take her side?”

Shi Yutong trembled with rage. “That vile woman — how dare she insult my mother. Even the Commander-in-Chief would never say such a thing about her. What right does she have to point fingers?”

Yan Ling offered a few words of apparent comfort, but while her words seemed meant to soothe, every sentence was in fact fanning the flames. She was confident that Yan Qing had truly managed to offend Shi Yutong this time. This pampered and willful young miss was capable of anything when she flew into a fury.

Yan Ling smiled coldly to herself. It seemed that what that person had said was quite right — to deal with someone, there was no need to dirty your own hands.

Over on her side, Shi Yutong was still fuming, while Yan Qing had already gotten into the car with Shi Ting and was on her way to the restaurant.

The Red Dress Western Restaurant, located in Huaxi Quarter, was one of the most expensive dining establishments in the area. Its baked escargot, steak, and cream of mushroom soup were each exceptional in their own right — and to enjoy these delicacies, reservations had to be made in advance.

Huaxi Quarter was one of Shun Cheng’s most bustling streets. In addition to its towering buildings, the entertainment industry here was also highly developed, and the most famous establishment of all was the E’Gede Dance Hall.

As their car passed a small building, Yan Qing noticed a familiar sign — though the sign had grown rather worn, a large padlock hung on the door, and a thick layer of dust had settled over the glass.

The plaque bearing the words “The World’s Greatest Detective Agency” hung crooked and looked ready to fall.

Long Yue!

A handsome face rose to the surface of Yan Qing’s mind — a white robe without a speck of dust, and that teasing, carefree voice saying to her: *I’ve opened a detective agency in Huaxi Quarter. I am a detective.*

A warmth spread across her hand — Shi Ting’s palm had wrapped around hers. He said nothing, but the knuckle of his finger gently grazed her palm.

The departed were gone, yet they left behind memories in the hearts of the living that could never be erased.

“Our reservation isn’t for a while yet. Shall we go take a look?” Shi Ting suggested.

The two of them got out of the car and made their way to the door of the detective agency. Yan Qing looked at the padlock — it was covered in cobwebs. Ever since Long Yue’s death, it had been locked shut, with no one ever going inside again.

Through the dust-covered glass, one could faintly make out that the interior looked no different from before — the walls still bore those abstract, inscrutable paintings.

Yan Qing suddenly had an illusion: if she were to raise her hand and knock on the door right now, would that white-robed young man come running over with a grin, calling out to her, “Miss Mingming”?

Although they had not shared a particularly deep friendship, Yan Qing had been present from the moment they met to the moment he departed. Thinking back on all the twists and turns of that journey, she could not help but feel a deep sense of melancholy.

A gentle breeze drifted past, causing the cobwebs to sway lightly.

“Let’s go.” Yan Qing made every effort to suppress the desolate feeling rising in her heart.

“All right.” Shi Ting took her hand and was just about to leave when his grip suddenly tightened, his body instinctively tensing. He turned around — and Long Yunxiao was standing right behind the two of them.

Long Yunxiao seemed somewhat surprised. “What brings you two here?”

“We were passing by,” Shi Ting said with composure. “We have something to attend to, so we won’t keep you.”

Long Yunxiao looked toward Yan Qing, then his gaze fell on their joined hands. No particular emotion could be discerned from his expression.

“I heard that Director Shi and Miss Yan have wed. I haven’t yet had the chance to offer my congratulations.”

“Mr. Long is too kind.”

“And where might the two of you be headed?” Long Yunxiao glanced outside. “At this hour, along this route — you must be going to the Red Dress Restaurant?”

He checked his watch. “As it happens, I was also headed to that restaurant. Shall we go together?”

Not until all three of them were seated at the restaurant did Yan Qing still feel that the atmosphere around them was somewhat peculiar.

Shi Ting and Long Yunxiao exchanged occasional idle pleasantries, while she sat cradling a cup, sipping her water in small mouthfuls.

“Allow me to treat for this meal,” Long Yunxiao insisted. “Consider it my belated wedding congratulations to you both.”

“There’s no need — I’ll handle it.” Shi Ting remained composed. “Mr. Long did not attend the wedding banquet. Think of this as making it up.”

“No, no — I insist on treating.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Yan Qing watched the two of them refuse to yield to each other, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. It was just a meal — was there really any need to be so stubborn about it?

“Stop arguing, both of you. I’ll treat.” She genuinely could not bear to watch any longer. They were making too much noise.

The two men looked over at her simultaneously and, for once, spoke in unison: “Absolutely not.”

Yan Qing: “……”

Fine. She would say nothing. Was playing dead not an option?

Once the dishes were brought to the table one by one, the two men finally stopped bickering over who would pay — or perhaps they had grown tired of it themselves.

Halfway through the meal, the restaurant manager suddenly walked over and murmured something in Shi Ting’s ear.

Shi Ting’s brow furrowed, and he rose from his seat. “I’ll step out for a moment.”

—