After Shi Ting left, Yan Qing continued to cut her steak carefully into small pieces. She had not eaten much Western food in the past — partly because her work kept her too busy, and quick meals were more common, and partly because of her profession, she did not particularly enjoy undercooked meat. Yet ordering a well-done steak at a Western restaurant was, evidently, considered rather unsophisticated.

“If you don’t enjoy it, don’t force yourself.” Long Yunxiao noticed her conflicted expression and spoke up. “Besides the steak, the fish fillet here is also quite good.”

Yan Qing had not been involved in ordering, so the two men had simply ordered one of everything the restaurant was known for.

“It’s fine, I can eat it.” Yan Qing smiled. “I’m not particularly picky.”

“You look like you’re having a hard time.” Long Yunxiao also smiled. “What are your plans for the future?”

“Plans?” Yan Qing was puzzled.

Long Yunxiao cut a piece of steak, his eyes lowered. “Will you continue working as a forensic examiner? Or will you stay home as the young mistress of the Shi family?”

“I’m not the type who can sit still. I wouldn’t be content staying home doing nothing — work makes me happy.”

Hearing the words “work makes me happy,” Long Yunxiao paused for a moment.

He had known many women, but they had all worked out of necessity. In this era, women preferred to depend on a man — if they could be housewives, they would never put themselves in the public eye.

Long Yunxiao looked up, and met her bright gaze. Within those dark pupils flickered a golden light, like glinting specks of gold.

Without realizing it, he found himself drawn in by her gaze and momentarily lost for words.

“I haven’t yet had the chance to thank Mr. Long in person for what happened last time.” Yan Qing’s words drew Long Yunxiao’s thoughts back.

He smiled lightly. “It was nothing. Besides, in the end it wasn’t me who found your cousin.”

“Thank you,” Yan Qing said, looking at him, the corners of her lips curving softly upward like a blossoming flower.

Long Yunxiao was momentarily startled, then quickly composed himself. “You’re welcome.”

“Do you usually wear a watch?” He looked toward her slender, fair wrist, where an imported timepiece was fastened.

“I like to keep track of the time.”

“May I borrow your watch for a moment?”

Yan Qing couldn’t quite tell what he intended — she assumed he simply wanted to look at the watch’s design, so without much thought, she unfastened it and handed it over.

“It’s a fine piece.” Long Yunxiao turned it over to examine it, then reached into his pocket and produced something. Before Yan Qing had even registered what had happened, the object had already been affixed to the underside of the watch face.

“There.” Long Yunxiao handed the watch back to Yan Qing. “I’m not sure how you see me, but in my eyes, you are my friend. When you were married, I did not send a gift. Consider this my wedding present to you.”

“What is this?” Yan Qing ran her fingers curiously over the object fixed beneath the watch face. It was slightly smaller than the watch itself — flat on the surface, but with a hidden inner layer. The pattern within that layer seemed to shimmer and shift, as if alive. It was truly remarkable.

“With this, you can exercise my authority within the Long Yun Society.”

Long Yunxiao said it as though it were nothing, but Yan Qing was utterly astonished. “Exercise your authority? Could I ask them to hand over all the Society’s funds as well?”

“Theoretically, yes.”

Yan Qing: “……”

She felt the gift was far too significant, and moved to detach the emblem from the watch. She found it would not budge — not even slightly. It was as though it had grown into the watch itself.

“You may also choose not to accept it. In that case, I’ll go back to the Society and issue a formal declaration telling them that whenever they see you, they are to treat you as they would me — whatever you need, they are to attend to immediately.”

Yan Qing immediately abandoned all thoughts of removing the emblem. Compared to Long Yunxiao making a public announcement to the entire organization, wearing the emblem was far more discreet.

“Thank you.” Yan Qing offered Long Yunxiao her heartfelt gratitude for his thoughtfulness.

“No need for such formalities between friends.” Long Yunxiao picked up his wine glass, gave it a gentle swirl, and tipped it back in one clean motion.

Yan Qing thought of his appearance today outside Long Yue’s detective agency. Though he had not gone inside, and had never arranged for anyone to maintain it, these quiet “visits” would likely accompany him for the rest of his life.

In the story shared by the three of them, who was right and who was wrong — the threads had grown so tangled they could no longer be sorted out.

Just then, Shi Ting came back in from outside, his manner hurried.

“Mr. Long, the bill has already been settled. Yan Qing and I have some pressing business to attend to — please forgive us for leaving first.”

Long Yunxiao gave a slight nod. “Of course.”

Shi Ting stepped forward and took Yan Qing’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Yan Qing said her goodbye to Long Yunxiao and followed Shi Ting out of the restaurant.

The three of them had been seated at a table by the window. From where Long Yunxiao sat, he had a clear view of Shi Ting’s car parked outside.

He stared fixedly at the car until it disappeared from his line of sight. Only then did he turn his gaze to the wine glass in his hand — it had long since been drained, and he was not sure what he had been looking at. It was only when the voice of Black Serpent came from beside him that he was pulled back to the present: “Mr. Long, shall we head back?”

Long Yunxiao set the glass down and suddenly uttered a sentence that left Black Serpent baffled.

He said: “Meeting her — I was a step too late after all.”

Black Serpent frowned. The “her” Mr. Long referred to — could it be Miss Yan?

Yan Qing extended her wrist toward Shi Ting. “Long Yunxiao gave this to me as a gift. He said this emblem can act on his behalf within the Long Yun Society. It’s just a small emblem — could it really hold that much power?”

Shi Ting looked at it, and his brow immediately furrowed. “He certainly knows how to ingratiate himself.”

It was a good thing he had moved first and brought Yan Qing home as his wife. Otherwise, Long Yunxiao would certainly not have given up so easily. As a man, he had long seen through Long Yunxiao’s intentions.

Seeing the cool look on his face, Yan Qing moved to unfasten the watch. “I’ll just stop wearing this watch altogether.”

Shi Ting quickly pressed her hand down. “This watch was a gift from your father. You’ve worn it all along — how can you just stop wearing it?”

“I’m worried a certain someone might get jealous.”

“Is that so?” Shi Ting maintained a perfectly straight face. “I’m not jealous at all.”

Yan Qing laughed. “If it bothers you, then have Father send me another watch.”

“Although Long Yunxiao had less than wholesome intentions in giving you this, it is genuinely a useful thing. Wearing it is like wearing a protective amulet — there may come a day when it proves invaluable.” Shi Ting took hold of her hand. “Your safety is what matters most.”

“So I’ll just keep wearing it?”

“Yes.”

Yan Qing turned her hand and held his in return. “Where are we going now? You stepped out a moment ago — did something happen?”

—