You Mingxu was caught off guard by his sudden declaration.
He spoke evenly, his tone flat, completely devoid of his usual sleazy playfulness. His lean face and calm gaze made You Mingxu feel, inexplicably, that he wasn’t lying.
After a long silence, she finally replied, “We’ve only been seeing each other for two days. Isn’t it too early for this? Besides, if you’re willing to do all this for me… and give me certain things, you’ll need to show me your sincerity first.”
Luo Yu smiled somewhat dismissively, seemingly seeing through her perfunctory response, but he wasn’t angry. The server brought their food, and he resumed his role as the polished gentleman, introducing each signature dish and serving her soup and rice. You Mingxu accepted it all with composed grace.
As they finished dining, he lit another cigarette, apparently having lost interest in courting her, and gazed out the window. The setting sun cast long shadows as dusk approached, with the river flowing slowly below. You Mingxu put down her chopsticks and looked up to see Luo Yu’s contemplative profile.
When he wasn’t being provocative or malicious, his quiet demeanor appeared quite proper. Lean but solid, with sharp features, he carried himself with the characteristic intelligence and efficiency of a legal professional. His looks could be considered handsome, with dignified features and spirited eyes.
Watching him gazing quietly into the distance, so different from his usual antagonistic self, stirred something strange in You Mingxu’s heart.
Then suddenly, like a flash of lightning, a thought struck her.
“You’re not… an undercover agent, are you?” she blurted out.
Luo Yu’s expression froze before he frowned at her, and then laughed. “What are you saying?”
Judging by that reaction, he wasn’t.
You Mingxu quickly dismissed the possibility in her mind. Too many things didn’t add up.
If he were undercover, why had he pursued her so aggressively? He’d used every underhanded method possible. What undercover agent would waste time harassing a female police officer?
His treatment of A-Hua had been a criminal-on-criminal execution, shooting without hesitation. If he were a police informant, it would have made more sense to observe and gather evidence for bigger targets.
He had appeared at the scene of Guo Xing’s murder—if he were undercover, why wouldn’t he have helped? Or at least passed the information to the police.
And the crucial evidence missing from Guo Xing’s person still hadn’t been found. If he were undercover, it should have been returned by now. Yet their superiors were still worried about that evidence.
You Mingxu maintained her composure and smiled. “Just thinking out loud.”
Luo Yu sneered, “Don’t think the police are so noble. In this world, no one’s hands are clean.” His expression shifted to something more frivolous: “Of course, if you like that idea, I could always clean up my act and try becoming a judge. After all, prosecutors, police, and judges are all one family, right?”
You Mingxu ignored him.
Luo Yu was undoubtedly on the dark side. But exactly which faction he was secretly working for remained unclear. Whatever he was plotting against her since You Mingxu had accepted his challenge, she would meet each move as it came, advancing carefully, confident she could uncover his true purpose.
“Here’s to us.” Luo Yu raised his wine glass.
You Mingxu raised hers as well. They both wore faint smiles as they clinked glasses and drained them.
“I’ll take you home,” Luo Yu said.
You Mingxu didn’t refuse.
Luo Yu had one of his men drive while he sat in the back with You Mingxu. He seemed tired and closed his eyes to rest. You Mingxu welcomed the peace.
After driving for a while, Luo Yu’s phone rang. He opened his eyes, still slightly bloodshot, but his voice immediately became steady and respectful as he answered: “Boss.”
Xing Jifu asked, “Where are you?”
Luo Yu: “Taking Mingxu home.”
Xing Jifu made a sound of acknowledgment and said, “Come see me afterward. I have something to assign to you.”
Luo Yu glanced at You Mingxu and said, “Alright.”
Xing Jifu seemed to notice his hesitation and laughed, “What, unwilling? Choosing the beauty over the kingdom? It’s about the southern matter.”
Luo Yu immediately laughed and said, “Not at all! I know my priorities. I’ll come right after dropping her off.”
After hanging up, You Mingxu saw him deep in thought, his expression revealing nothing.
You Mingxu asked, “What is it?”
Luo Yu looked at her with an inscrutable gaze, glanced at the driver, then leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Xing Jifu just called, probably about giving me something. Want to guess what it is?”
You Mingxu moved away and asked, “What is it?”
Luo Yu suddenly smiled, looking pleased with himself, and said, “Want to know? I have a spare room at my place. Move in tomorrow, and I’ll tell you.”
—
After getting out of Luo Yu’s car, You Mingxu entered the residential complex and headed upstairs, still pondering Luo Yu’s earlier behavior and demeanor.
Luo Yu couldn’t search her every day, so she wore both a listening device and a tracker throughout the day. Therefore, Jing Ping and Xu Mengshan had heard everything clearly—all her conversations with Luo Yu and the others.
At that moment, Jing Ping was saying in their four-person WeChat group: “What Xing Jifu wants to give him might be related to the Yunnan matter.”
Xu Mengshan said: “This guy is crafty. Sister Yu, you’re not considering moving in with him, are you?”
You Mingxu felt a headache coming on: “Move in my foot!”
The fourth person in the group remained silent throughout.
As she turned the corner in the stairwell, she saw someone standing at her door.
Yin Feng had changed out of his golf attire and was back in his black fleece coat, looking handsome and fair-skinned as he stood there, who knew how long he’d been waiting. He held a black bag that was bulging with unknown contents.
You Mingxu walked over. He moved away from the door as she took out her keys to unlock it. When she tried to close it, his hand pressed against it, preventing her. She didn’t say anything as he followed her in and closed the door behind them.