The force came from a hard, blunt object, appearing without warning. If Lu Yan hadn’t turned in time, it would have pressed against her back.
The subway had arrived, and people surged forward. Trapped in the crowd, she not only couldn’t identify who had been behind her but could barely maintain her balance.
The danger remained present. Her heart raced with fear, wanting both to escape quickly and to understand what was happening.
Finally breaking free from the crowd, before she could look back, she was knocked down by several teenagers rushing to catch the subway.
The collision was severe. As Lu Yan fell, a sharp pain shot through her right wrist.
The next moment, the “doors closing” announcement sounded behind her. Knowing the subway would soon depart, she ignored her injury and turned to look at the train car.
The cold lighting cast a strange pallor over everyone’s faces in the car, making them all look unfamiliar and distant. To pass the time, most passengers had already taken out their phones, collectively falling into silence.
The teenagers, feeling guilty, remained standing by the door, calling out: “Sorry, miss!”
Lu Yan paused, her gaze moving from face to face.
Just as the doors were closing, she finally noticed a woman in the corner.
The woman wore a black hooded down jacket and white face mask, her features well concealed. When Lu Yan observed her, she kept her head down.
Lu Yan stared at the woman for several seconds. Remembering Jiang Chengyi’s warning on the phone, despite her confusion, she dared not linger and tried to stand up.
Just then, someone called from behind: “Lu Yan.”
Her heart jumped. As she turned, footsteps approached, and strong arms pulled her up.
It was Jiang Chengyi.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, his breathing rapid—clearly, he had hurried here.
When their eyes met, Lu Yan felt momentarily dazed. That night years ago, after she had decisively spoken those words, his smile had frozen instantly. His gaze then had been somewhat similar to now.
Her thoughts drifted far away as she quietly looked at him, softly saying: “Jiang Chengyi.”
But Jiang Chengyi’s gaze only lingered on her face briefly before moving away to scan the empty platform.
“Where are they?” His voice was slightly hoarser than usual but cold. “The person who was following you.”
Lu Yan shook her head. However it wasn’t too late, new passengers kept flooding the platform. She unconsciously looked around, trying to collect her thoughts: “They probably left on the subway. There were too many people earlier—I couldn’t be sure. I only know they pressed something against my back. If you hadn’t called to warn me, I wouldn’t have thought to avoid it. But I still don’t know what that object was.”
Jiang Chengyi continued scanning the crowd, saying coldly: “Probably something like a stun gun.”
“A stun gun?” Lu Yan froze.
Jiang Chengyi took out his phone and started dialing: “These types have a higher voltage than regular civilian stun batons or guns. They can instantly render someone unconscious and are typically restricted items.”
A chill ran down Lu Yan’s spine.
The call connected, and Jiang Chengyi glanced at Lu Yan’s injured hand. Confirming it was just superficial, he said matter-of-factly: “Let’s leave first, then talk.”
Leaving the subway station, they walked one after another toward a Range Rover parked nearby.
Someone was in the car. Seeing them approach, the person got out of the driver’s seat: “Captain.”
Then greeted Lu Yan: “Dr. Lu.”
Lu Yan recognized Old Qin and nodded to him: “Officer Qin.”
After they got in, Old Qin asked Jiang Chengyi: “Captain, what happened earlier?”
Jiang Chengyi started the engine: “Passing the intersection, I noticed someone following her. Since we’re high school classmates, I gave her a warning.”
Lu Yan lowered her eyes, slowly fastening her seatbelt.
Old Qin, too preoccupied to analyze Jiang Chengyi’s words, turned to Lu Yan in surprise: “Dr. Lu, did you notice someone following you?”
Lu Yan thought for a moment before saying: “While waiting for the green light at the intersection, I felt someone trying to get close behind me, but the light changed quickly. Then I entered the subway station. When I didn’t see anyone suspicious nearby, I didn’t think more of it.”
Old Qin cursed: “Damn, that bastard’s bold. Dr. Lu, think carefully—have you offended anyone recently?”
Lu Yan frowned: “I can’t think of anyone, but I’ve experienced several strange incidents lately. I don’t know if they’re connected to tonight.”
Old Qin’s expression turned serious: “Dr. Lu, you’re not as alert as those of us in a criminal investigation. Since we happened to meet tonight, why don’t you tell us about these recent incidents? Let the Captain and me analyze them. I mean no offense, but young women like yourself must be especially careful when leaving work late. There are many good people these days, but plenty of bad ones too. That case with your colleague Wang Qianqian is still under investigation—”
The car suddenly slowed, interrupting Old Qin. He turned to see they had arrived at “Yifeng Bay.” As they drove deeper into the complex, the striking landscaping and artfully designed lighting gradually unfolded like a scroll painting. He fell silent, admiring the view outside.
Lu Yan also realized they had reached Songshan Road and looked confused from the back seat.
Jiang Chengyi stared ahead, saying coolly: “Tonight, that person not only followed you but attacked you twice. Just moving from Nanshan Alley or staying in a hotel can’t guarantee your safety. Moreover, I suspect what’s happening to you might be connected to my case. Until we confirm that person’s identity, you’d better stay under police protection.”
Lu Yan was stunned.
Old Qin suddenly sat up straight: “Captain, I thought that surveillance footage you were watching today looked familiar—it was from the Nanshan Alley building entrance. We passed by there when we ate at that Chaozhou restaurant the day before. I didn’t know Dr. Lu lived there. Captain, when you said you suspected the Nanshan Alley burglary case was connected to our cases, were you referring to Dr. Lu’s situation?”
Surveillance? Burglary case? Lu Yan glanced at Jiang Chengyi’s profile but remained silent.
Jiang Chengyi remained impassive: “For now, it’s just suspicion. We’ll know more about any connections after we get the footage from tonight’s intersection and subway. Tomorrow morning our team will meet to review the Wang Qianqian case from start to finish.”
Just then, Tang Jie called. Lu Yan answered.
“Lu Yan, are you home yet?” Tang Jie’s voice was noticeably more buoyant than usual. “Why haven’t you called?”
Lu Yan hesitated before telling Tang Jie about tonight’s events.
Tang Jie was frightened: “Damn! Where are you now? Dazhong and I will come get you right away. This bastard, playing ghost all day long—from now on, Dazhong and I will stick with you. We’ll catch this creep!”
By now, Jiang Chengyi had parked in the garage. Lu Yan got out while saying softly: “I’m at Songshan Road now. When that person was following me, Jiang Chengyi happened to see it—he suspects they might be connected to his case, so he’s letting me stay tonight.”
The other end was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly erupted in strange laughter: “Hahahahahahahahaha!”
The laughter was so loud that not only Old Qin but even Jiang Chengyi turned to look.
Finally containing her laughter, Tang Jie said seriously: “You should stay for several days. That old apartment of yours—anyone can get in through that useless security door. Staying at Jiang Chengyi’s place, even if he’s at work, at least the community security is good. Besides, what could be safer than staying at a police officer’s home? Hehe, since Jiang Chengyi’s taking you in, Dazhong and I won’t come over. Call me if you need anything.”
She hung up immediately as if afraid Lu Yan might suggest something else.
Lu Yan: “…”
Seeing Jiang Chengyi and Old Qin walking ahead, she quietly followed.
The three entered the elevator. Jiang Chengyi took a card from his pocket and swiped it on the side screen. The elevator began moving smoothly.
When the doors opened again, they were directly in an indoor foyer. A plump woman in her fifties, looking like a housekeeper, came out to greet them.
Seeming surprised to see Jiang Chengyi bringing so many people home, she quickly broke into a warm smile: “Welcome, welcome! Please sit down.” She led Old Qin and Lu Yan to the living room.
On the sofa, Jiang Chengyi remained standing and said to Aunt Liu: “Aunt Liu, my colleague and I haven’t eaten. Don’t worry about anything else—please serve dinner first.”
Aunt Liu, who had just poured tea and was secretly observing Lu Yan with kind eyes, paused before quickly nodding: “Oh, yes, right away.” Jiang Chengyi had mentioned colleagues coming for dinner earlier, so the food was ready.
Old Qin quickly smiled: “Don’t go to too much trouble, Aunt Liu.”
Jiang Chengyi said to Old Qin: “Make yourself comfortable. I’m sweaty—I’ll change clothes in my room.”
Old Qin, unable to bear the silence, looked around and, seeing Lu Yan quietly drinking tea, engaged her: “Dr. Lu, did you see what your follower looked like tonight?”
“No,” Lu Yan shook her head, also reflecting on the night’s events. “I couldn’t even tell if they were male or female. Everything happened so suddenly, and there were so many people around. Honestly, everyone looked suspicious at that moment.”
Old Qin put down his teacup: “The Captain must have had some idea. We were heading to his place for dinner when we passed the intersection. He got out of the car to find you after seeing you were in danger. Of course, it’ll be easier if we can get the surveillance footage tomorrow.”
As they talked, dinner was ready.
Old Qin looked at the table full of delicacies and shook his head with a wry smile: “This is too much—I’ll be embarrassed to come again.”
Aunt Liu smiled: “Not at all, not at all.”
Just then, Jiang Chengyi came out in a fresh shirt. As he was about to sit down, his phone rang.
Seeing “Mom” on the screen, he gave Aunt Liu a cool look.
Aunt Liu ducked her head, laughed nervously while wiping her hands on her apron, and quickly disappeared.
“Old Qin, start eating. I need to take this call.”
He opened the floor-to-ceiling window and went to the balcony to answer.
“Mom, what is it?”
Mother Jiang’s voice couldn’t hide her joy: “Chengyi, Mom admits it—Aunt Liu called me. Mom’s admitting her mistake to you first, so now can you tell Mom who that girl is?”
Jiang Chengyi: “…”
Though her son remained silent, Mother Jiang’s enthusiasm didn’t diminish: “No need to say—just a regular friend, right? Or maybe a colleague? Aunt Liu says she’s both beautiful and graceful. Could she be a new female officer at your bureau?”
Jiang Chengyi looked through the glass in the room where Lu Yan sat at the dining table, laughing with Old Qin. As she smiled gently, dimples appeared on her cheeks.
“Chengyi, it’s fine, take it slow. Romantic relationships always develop step by step from ordinary friendship. Bring your ‘ordinary’ friend home for dinner more often when you’re free.”
Before she could continue, her son said coolly over the phone: “Oh, Mom, she’ll be staying here.”
“What?” Mother Jiang hadn’t quite processed this.
Jiang Chengyi cleared his throat: “She’s my girlfriend.”