Chapter 40: Never Idle

“What’s wrong?” The girl’s softly uttered words felt like a bucket of cold water poured over Chu Yu’s head.

“N-nothing.” Chu Yu snapped back to his senses, and the hand he’d left hanging awkwardly in the air finally settled on Nie Huan’s shoulder.

“Sister Huan, whatever you do, I’ll support you.”

The young man stood beneath the streetlight, his clear eyes reflecting the girl’s silhouette perfectly.

Nie Huan felt a tremor deep in her heart. She seemed dazed for a moment and didn’t speak for a long while.

Between them, Nie Yu looked up, glancing from Chu Yu to Nie Huan, not daring to speak or move.

“It’s late. You should head home first. I’ll find a hotel for Nie Yu and me to stay in tonight.” Nie Huan glanced down at the hand still on her shoulder.

Chu Yu blushed and quickly withdrew it.

“I’m not in a hurry. I know a place that’s cheap. Let me take you there.”

“No need.” Nie Huan refused without hesitation.

Chu Yu froze, his heart sinking at once.

Nie Yu tugged gently at Nie Huan’s sleeve and whispered, “Sis, big brother’s here to protect us.”

She was still just a child, only eight years old, and Chu Yu had shielded them from their father. Because of this, she liked him immensely.

Chu Yu quickly picked up on her words. “That’s right, Sister Huan. I’ll protect you both.”

Because Nie Yu was fond of Chu Yu, Nie Huan had to nod in agreement.

Chu Yu grinned, took Nie Yu’s hand, and the three walked side by side.

Under the streetlights, their shadows stretched and shrank—long, then short—across the pavement.

**

Shen Qing had only just gotten into bed when she received a message from Xia Mang.

[Xia Mang: Darling, did you miss me at all while I was away?]

[Shen Qing: No.]

[Xia Mang: You’re heartless!]

[Shen Qing: If you have something to say, hurry up. I’m busy.]

All the way in Country M, Xia Mang clicked her tongue. Busy at this hour—probably playing games.

[Xia Mang: There’s an anonymous commission. They requested you by name. The target is the Gu family in the capital—Jiang Yu’s famous painting.]

[Shen Qing: Boring. I’m not interested.]

[Xia Mang: Didn’t you have a falling out with the Gu family? This is a perfect chance to get back at them.]

[Xia Mang: Or maybe, you’ve taken a liking to Young Master Gu and can’t bear to go through with it?]

Shen Qing rolled her eyes at the last message.

[Shen Qing: Hardly. Whoever wants the job can take it. Logging off now.]

Shen Qing shut off her phone, took a shower, and went straight to bed.

Suddenly, the computer on her nightstand lit up, and a chat window popped up on the screen. Shen Qing didn’t even glance at it—she just deleted the message and went to sleep.

The next morning, Shen Qing was awakened by the shrill ringing of her phone.

“What is it?” Her tone was thick with impatience.

On the other end, Lan Xinqiao paused in surprise. She glanced at the clock—it was half past eight. Surely not too early?

“Miss Shen, it’s me, Lan Xinqiao,” she said cautiously.

“Mm.”

“It’s about the D90 case from last time. We found out the D90 was smuggled in from Country M.” Hearing the impatience in Shen Qing’s voice, Lan Xinqiao hastened to get to the point. “A couple of days ago at Y City’s port, we seized an ocean freighter. Inside were large quantities of drugs and a crate of D90. The incident has alerted the authorities.”

Shen Qing rubbed her temples and, after a long pause, spoke slowly, “You want me to investigate Country M?”

Lan Xinqiao chuckled. “Miss Shen, you’re as sharp as ever!”

Country M had the largest territory in the world. Whether in terms of economy or military strength, it was unmatched internationally, but it was also notoriously chaotic. Even for a family as powerful as the Lans, one had to tread carefully there.

“All right. I’ll ask a friend to look into it for you.” By now, Shen Qing was mostly awake, and her tone had softened considerably.

Lan Xinqiao was overjoyed. “Great! I’ll let you get on with your day, then.”

She had absolute faith in Shen Qing’s friends’ abilities.

Shen Qing replied with a low hum and ended the call.

After a quick wash, she heard the doorbell ring.

Who could it be at this hour?

Barefoot, Shen Qing strolled lazily to the door and peeked through the peephole.

A man in casual clothes stood straight and tall outside. His handsome face bore a faint smile, and he glanced down from time to time, as if carrying something.

Shen Qing opened the door, leaned against the frame, and drawled, “Nothing better to do today?”

She glanced at the breakfast in his hand. So free that he’s delivering breakfast to me now?

Gu Tingshen looked at her for a long moment. The girl was in pajamas, loose and casual, the neckline low enough to reveal her delicate, snow-white collarbones.

He paused for two seconds, then quickly shifted his gaze elsewhere, lowering his voice deliberately. “Not exactly.”