“Dating over lunch? Why don’t we all eat together?” Tu Li pulled out a chair and sat down uninvited. “The three of us really should have a meal together.”

Miao Jing silently put down her chopsticks.

This bizarre scene and atmosphere, Tu Li’s sharp voice just now, nearby diners constantly turning to look – two beautiful women and a handsome man, too eye-catching, looking every bit like catching someone in the act.

Miao Jing lowered her eyes, dabbing her lips with a napkin, interrupting their conversation to hand Chen Yi his clothes: “You two chat, I’m leaving. The dresses count as compensation for mine, we’re even now. Pay for your meal.”

She picked up her shopping bags, her gaze sweeping over Tu Li with perfect calm, walking away gracefully.

Watching her leave, Chen Yi turned back, his expression changing from his usual lazy arrogance. His chiseled features tensed into sharp blades, his eyes showing Tu Li unprecedented darkness and menace, suddenly revealing murderous intent: “Tu Li, you think I’m good-tempered? That I’m a pushover?”

Before, he just seemed rough, and a bit proud, but reasonable if handled properly. Seeing his expression directed at her, Tu Li felt both upset and bitter.

“I did nothing wrong!” Her throat caught, eyes reddening. “I did absolutely nothing wrong. You two hid it from me for months. I truly considered Miao Jing a friend, she called you brother, called me sister-in-law, how can I accept what you’ve done?”

“Stop bothering her. If you’re angry, come at me.”

His brows deeply furrowed: “I thought I made myself clear. Being with you was just because I was too lazy to change partners, and didn’t want to buy a house or move because I only planned to live alone. The money I spent on you each month was enough for your scheming. When you didn’t want to dance after leaving the bar, I found you a stable job. You have a son you’re raising as a brother, never dared to tell me, you knew yourself there was no hope of going anywhere with me. My dumping you wasn’t too harsh, was it?”

Tu Li’s face suddenly went white: “You… how did you know…”

“You think I’m an idiot? I’m always clear about what I’m doing.” His eyes were deeply shadowed. “I won’t spend money on your family, don’t want to raise someone else’s kid, couldn’t you tell? Your whole family has everything and doesn’t need to rely on a man. Wasn’t I decent enough?”

“As for Miao Jing, I’ve known her for over ten years, liked her since we were young, and had a crush on her. She’s a top student who wouldn’t look at me, fine. This time she came back, I didn’t mess around with her right under your nose – that should be enough! The breakup didn’t leave me owing you anything. You dare to make trouble about Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi several times, making pointed remarks. If there’s a next time, you’re fucking asking to die!”

Tu Li bit her lip silently, watching as he flipped a glass of lemonade on the table edge, trickling down. Before she could react, those fingers lightly squeezed the glass, instantly shattering it. Glass shards sprayed onto her, shocking Tu Li into a scream as she stumbled back.

Chen Yi’s lips curved in a cold smile, his expression violent and domineering: “What will break next time?”

He waved for the bill and strode out, making several calls along the way, telling Bo’er and the others, kicking Tu Li out of his social circle, and even getting her job terminated.

–

Miao Jing entered the company wearing her new seventeen-thousand-yuan dress from the mall. Every colleague’s gaze swept over her, complimenting how beautiful her clothes were. Miao Jing smiled and thanked them, returning to her desk where two days’ worth of work documents had accumulated. She buried herself in handling them one by one. By closing time, the office was empty, Lu Zhengsi wasn’t there, but after a while he hesitantly came back, putting a document on her desk.

He also seemed embarrassed and somehow dejected. Miao Jing glanced at him, asking softly: “Feeling down?”

Lu Zhengsi scratched his head: “Not really…”

“I’ve liked him for many years, but he doesn’t like me. Before when we lived together, we often fought and got angry, but then it was just the two of us. Coming back to Teng City this time, I found he had a girlfriend, so I thought I should have a boyfriend too, to make it fair.” Miao Jing kept her head down, busy with her work. “Things aren’t as complicated as you imagine, but I was indeed selfish, causing trouble for everyone.”

“I’m a rather cold person, without strong moral principles, pursuing utility in relationships. I’ve initiated all my previous breakups. Zhengsi, being with me would only hurt you. You deserve a truly gentle and lovely girl. I’m sorry…”

“Miss Miao.” Lu Zhengsi sighed. “I never really understood you.”

Miao Jing exhaled softly: “Maybe because I’m too unlikeable, I deliberately hide myself.”

Lu Zhengsi hung his head, sitting awkwardly for a while. Miao Jing had always taken good care of him, and her conduct was exemplary. As for the matter with Tu Li and Chen Yi, he had no right to comment much. Today Miao Jing had spoken so frankly – what could he say in response?

“Good colleague for meals, good partner for overtime?” Miao Jing smiled, handing him the documents. “Is that okay?”

“Sure.” Lu Zhengsi shrugged, nodding with forced casualness.

After this incident, everyone seemed upset, needing time to recover. Chen Yi spent each day listless at the pool hall, smoking and staring into space. Bo’er noticed his state and saw him staying late practicing, growing curious.

“Brother Yi, you’ve been going home late recently?”

“Mm.”

“Haven’t seen Miao Jing in a while either. You’re not picking her up from work?”

“She’s staying at the company.”

Just him alone at home, what difference did it make when he went back?

If Miao Jing left, what difference would it make?

Before Miao Jing contacted him, he unexpectedly received a call from Zhou Kang’an, saying someone reported him for gambling on pool games. Chen Yi boldly told the plainclothes police to investigate freely – his pool hall was next to a school, and he couldn’t control students privately betting ten or twenty yuan, but there were never open bets on the tables.

Zhou Kang’an changed topics, talking about Chen Yi playing at other clubs.

Betting in the pool has always been common, many professional players barely make a living from pool halls. Since the 90s, players relied on owners betting under the table to support their families. Some players used hanging cues to train mental fortitude, developing fierce attacking styles. These were all industry practices Zhou Kang’an knew about – he just wanted Chen Yi to be more discreet, that would be enough.

Chen Yi frowned and agreed. The police station sent people to check the pool hall, confirming no gambling activities, and Zhou Kang’an suppressed the matter.

A few days later, on the weekend, the pool hall had tournaments scheduled from 10 AM to 10 PM. Many people registered to compete or watch, plus many came just to join the crowd. With Weiwei and others there too, Chen Yi was busy from morning to night without a break.

Around three or four in the afternoon, when the pool hall was most crowded with people coming and going, Bo’er and others were busy opening tables, racking balls, and cutting fruit plates. Behind the pool hall was a storage room next to the fire exit, with two large garbage bins in the corner for customers’ drink cups and plastic bottles, waiting for the cleaning lady to collect them all at once. Someone stood in that corner for a while, finally dropping an unextinguished cigarette.

Miao Jing finally received a call from Cen Ye.

On the other end, Cen Ye seemed hesitant to speak. Miao Jing could hear uncertainty and strangeness in his tone.

She had imagined the worst outcome – that in those years Chen Yi had done something, certainly illegal or socially unacceptable, fleeing and hiding, or an undisclosed escape. He had roared at her not to interfere, now avoided mentioning it, even Bo’er didn’t know. After things settled, he quietly returned to Teng City to live a normal life.

What Cen Ye wanted to say… with his connections, he couldn’t find all of Zhai Fengmao’s information. Starting from that verdict document, investigating the traces between those imprisoned, most activities could be vaguely disclosed in business records. Looking into information from Hong Kong revealed Zhai Fengmao had over ten identities and names. This was beyond the scope of business and personal privacy, entering sensitive territory. Returning to Chen Yi, Cen Ye gave Miao Jing a name, suggesting she ask Chen Yi directly or try to find this person.

“I’ll send the information to your phone, take a look.”

“Thank you.”

Messages began flooding into her phone. Miao Jing heard nearby colleagues gossiping: “Look at this video, somewhere in the city is on fire, smoke billowing everywhere, so scary!”

“Where is this?”

“Seems near the vocational school in the East District, lots of ambulances, many people being helped out.”

Miao Jing glanced at her phone, first reading Cen Ye’s messages. That person might be Chen Yi’s guarantor, named Zhou Kang’an.

Zhou Kang’an?

Miao Jing frowned. Officer Zhou – she knew Officer Zhou.

Looking at the fire video and photos shared in the group chat, opening them, Miao Jing’s face suddenly went pale, eyes wide, fingers zooming in on the photo content. Through the billowing smoke, the words “Pool Hall” could faintly be seen.

She hurried out, trembling fingers dialing Chen Yi’s number – but it wouldn’t connect at all!