It was another weekend.
Jiang Shuyin and Lin Feng had made plans to head into the city together.
As Lu Yan walked past Jiang Shuyin's dorm room, he saw her wearing a long black slip dress that exposed her slender, fair arms and delicate collarbones.
Her hair, which had grown quite a bit, draped over her shoulders, styled into temporary soft waves with a curling iron.
She wore exquisite makeup, giving her an elegant, vintage beauty.
But none of that mattered. The most crucial detail was a small, square object Lu Yan spotted on her vanity table.
Lu Yan's pupils shrank slightly.
Was that a condom?
Why would she bring something like that here?
Or rather, was she taking a condom on her date with Lin Feng?
Lu Yan's mind instantly descended into chaos.
He forced himself to look away and quickly returned to his own room.
He tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but his heart felt as though it had been stung by a bee.
An overwhelming wave of pain and bitterness spread through his veins, seeping into every bone in his body.
That damn woman, she had to be doing this on purpose!
In the ten or so days since she arrived at the small fishing village, he hadn't had a single good night's sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, he was tormented by images of her laughing and talking with Lin Feng.
When Lu Yan stepped out of the bathroom, he just happened to see Lin Feng pulling up in a car to pick Jiang Shuyin up.
Jiang Shuyin was dressed to the nines today, and Lin Feng couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.
After Jiang Shuyin got in, Lin Feng quickly drove away.
Lu Yan slammed his fist into the wall, his tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek as a low curse escaped his throat. Fuck!
...
Ultimately, Lu Yan couldn't hold back. He borrowed a car and tailed Lin Feng's vehicle into the city.
He watched as Jiang Shuyin and Lin Feng headed straight for a hotel in the downtown area.
Lu Yan's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a charred pot.
Were they really in such a hurry?
Lu Yan followed them inside.
Entering the hotel, he saw the two of them go into one of the rooms on the third floor.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yan walked up to the door of that room.
The hotel's soundproofing was rather poor. Pressing his ear against the doorframe, he could faintly hear the activity inside.
The woman's soft voice sounded out, This is your first time doing something like this, isn't it? It's okay, I won't blame you if it hurts.
Lu Yan's hands, hanging by his sides, suddenly clenched into tight fists.
What the hell was she talking about?
Why had she changed her heart so quickly?
Wasn't it just a little while ago that she confessed to him, saying she had fallen for him?
Soon, Lin Feng's somewhat tense voice replied, If it hurts, just tell me.
At that moment, Lu Yan could no longer control his raging emotions.
He was like a volcano on the verge of eruption. His lean, handsome features were taut to the extreme, his blood rushing to his head as every ounce of reason in his chest completely evaporated.
With a loud bang, he raised his long leg and kicked the door open with tremendous force.
The people inside were sitting on the sofa. Lin Feng was leaning over, his body hovering over Jiang Shuyin's slender frame.
Seeing this scene, Lu Yan lost his mind entirely.
He lunged forward in a few quick strides, his large hand balling into a fist ready to swing at Lin Feng's face, only to discover—
Lin Feng was holding a needle, trying to dig a small splinter out of Jiang Shuyin's index finger.
Lin Feng and Jiang Shuyin looked up simultaneously, staring at the man whose body was still radiating a violent, unretracted hostility.
Lu Yan's sharp features were dark to the extreme, his eyes completely bloodshot. His expression made him look like a fierce Asura straight out of hell.
Mr. Lu, why did you just barge in? Lin Feng asked, feigning confusion.
Lu Yan never could have imagined that despite Jiang Shuyin and Lin Feng's incredibly ambiguous conversation, all they were doing was removing a splinter.
As an IBI captain, once his reason returned, Lu Yan quickly realized they were putting on an act to bait him into a trap.
And he had indeed fallen for it, exactly as they had hoped!
A myriad of emotions flickered in Lu Yan's eyes. He stared fixedly at the two of them for a few seconds before turning on his heel and striding away.
Seeing Lu Yan leave without a word, Lin Feng rubbed his nose, a bit bewildered. Did we still not provoke him enough?
Jiang Shuyin pressed her lips tightly together, remaining silent.
Miss Jiang, maybe you should chase after him!
Jiang Shuyin shook her head. No need. He'll come back on his own very soon.
Sure enough, in less than a minute, the man who had just left turned around and came right back.
Mr. Lin, I'd like to speak with Jiang Shuyin alone. Please step out, Lu Yan said in a low voice.
Lin Feng hastily stood up and left.
Jiang Shuyin sat on the sofa, maintaining the exact same posture from beginning to end.
Ever since she came to the small fishing village and found him this time, she hadn't said a single word to him.
She was even more capable of enduring than he was.
Because she knew perfectly well that even if she took the initiative to speak to him and tried to persuade him, she would only be ruthlessly chased away.
Rather than that, it was better to break his defenses first.
Lu Yan sat down beside Jiang Shuyin and glanced at her finger. Did you get the splinter out?
Jiang Shuyin shook her head. No. Are you going to help me get it out?
Lu Yan picked up the needle from the box and held out his hand to her. Give me your hand.
Jiang Shuyin obediently placed her hand in his.
When her fingertips were enveloped in his rough, large palm, Jiang Shuyin's nose inexplicably stung with the urge to cry.
To be able to touch him again, to feel his warmth once more.
It really hadn't been easy.
As Lu Yan focused on removing the splinter for her, Jiang Shuyin stared at him without blinking.
Looking at him up close, she noticed even more how much weight he had lost. His eye sockets were sunken, and his eyes were heavily bloodshot, as if he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a very long time.
Jiang Shuyin's heart instantly ached terribly.
Seeing her eyes suddenly turn red, Lu Yan assumed his movements had hurt her. He furrowed his sharp brows slightly. It's almost out. I'll be gentler, just bear with it a little longer.
Soon, he managed to pull the splinter out of her finger.
Lu Yan set the needle down and looked at her with complex eyes. Baiting me into a trap?
Jiang Shuyin looked down at her finger, which still seemed to carry the lingering warmth of his grasp.
Qin Chuan told me everything. The lethal poison of the Five-Colored Flower in your body hasn't been cured. You think you're absolutely going to die, so you want to escape from everyone and everything on the outside!
But Lu Yan, acting like this will only make the people closest to you worry and suffer. I heard from Ah Cai that your parents haven't been able to contact you lately, and they've grown a lot more white hair.
You want to bear everything alone, but have you considered the feelings of those who worry about you? Lu Yan, you can't be so selfish. Even if your days are numbered, you have to let me and your family stay by your side!
After saying this, Jiang Shuyin suddenly rushed to the window and threw it open.
The hotel's facilities were rather basic, and the windows didn't have security bars installed.
With lightning speed, Jiang Shuyin climbed onto the window ledge. She looked back at the man, whose eyes now revealed tension and panic. Lu Yan, are you willing to come back with me? If you aren't, I'll jump from here right now!
