Chapter 155 The Thief

Chapter 155: The Thief

These two clueless lovebirds had no idea what couples were supposed to do, so they just copied what they’d heard from others or seen on TV—first strolling through the park, then wandering aimlessly around a nearby mall.

Shen Qingye rarely went shopping. Seasonal clothes and other necessities were usually bought for her by Shen Linyue, so she didn’t have to bother. On the rare occasions she did visit a mall, it was with a clear purpose—she’d head straight for what she needed and leave quickly.

But now, with Yue Lingchuan by her side, even aimless wandering felt unexpectedly enjoyable, and she didn’t find it boring at all.

She bought two outfits—one for herself and one for Shen Linyue. When Yue Lingchuan tried to pay, she refused. He paused but didn’t insist, thinking there was no rush—sooner or later, it wouldn’t matter.

However, when passing a men’s clothing store, Shen Qingye picked out two outfits for him—laidback, a departure from his usual style, but still strikingly handsome. She got an eyeful—and liked what she saw.

Yue Lingchuan chuckled and teased that he’d wear them to work from now on. Shen Qingye shot him a glance but said nothing, which amused him to no end.

As they continued walking, they noticed a newly opened bubble tea shop on the third floor, with a long line outside.

Having wandered for a while, Yue Lingchuan asked if she wanted some and went to buy it for her. Shen Qingye initially wanted to follow, but he gently pressed her onto a nearby chair, insisting she rest.

After a brief hesitation, she relented, tilting her head as she watched him stride away, her eyes twinkling with quiet amusement.

She waited idly, watching the line ahead of Yue Lingchuan shrink. Though she usually had little interest in such drinks, she couldn’t help but wonder what flavor he’d bring back.

Just then, a frantic, gasping shout cut through the air:

"Thief! Stop that thief!"

Shen Qingye’s pulse spiked. She turned sharply and saw a man in a baseball cap and black mask—about 1.7 meters tall—barreling down the escalator from the fourth floor, a gleaming knife in hand.

Most of the mall’s patrons were women, who recoiled in alarm at the commotion, clearing a path for the thief and making his escape easier.

"Stop him! Someone help—catch the thief!"

A young woman in a dress chased after him, panting and furious, but she was flagging from exhaustion.

Watching the distance between them grow, her eyes reddened with frustration. She hurled her bag at the thief, but he dodged nimbly and jumped onto the descending escalator.

Just as she seemed on the verge of tears, a figure darted forward—one hand gripping the escalator railing, vaulting down smoothly to the lower level. Before landing, a swift kick lashed out, nailing the thief square in the back of the neck.

The thief yelped in pain, stumbling uncontrollably before tumbling down the stairs.

Woozy but desperate, he tried to scramble up, knowing the consequences if he stayed down. But before he could, Shen Qingye was already on him—one knee pinning his back, her hands locking his wrists in a firm hold.

"Freeze! Police!"

Silence fell. The crowd gaped, stunned. The robbed woman stood frozen, staring at them.

Yue Lingchuan, noticing the disturbance from further away, arrived a step later, hurrying over, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

The thief writhed, but Shen Qingye swiftly yanked his belt free and bound his hands before glancing up at Yue Lingchuan with a small smile. "Just a petty thief. I’m fine."

Yue Lingchuan looked at the masked man, then back at her, letting out a sigh that was equal parts worry and pride.

By then, security had arrived. After getting the gist, they dragged the thief off. The young woman, now choking up, repeatedly thanked Shen Qingye—explaining that her stolen wallet held the last photo she had with her late grandmother.

Shen Qingye paused, patting her hand reassuringly and telling her it was nothing. The girl insisted on treating her to a meal, but after some back-and-forth, Shen Qingye finally managed to slip away, dragging Yue Lingchuan with her.

Only when they reached a quiet, secluded spot did she finally let out a breath, meeting Yue Lingchuan’s gaze before suddenly giggling and burying her face in his chest.

"What was that all about?"

Yue Lingchuan bonked his forehead against hers, his expression utterly exasperated.

What was supposed to be a nice date ended up like *this*.

Recalling the teasing remarks from Zhou Qiming and others before, Yue Lingchuan had never paid them much mind—whether people lived or died, was he really cursed or something? But now, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was something peculiar about him.

Shen Qingye looked up at him, smiling brightly. "Look on the bright side—at least no one died."

Yue Lingchuan leaned down and playfully bit her lip, murmuring, "I’m never taking you out again."

If it were just him, fine. But a perfectly good date suddenly turning into this—a total mood killer.

Shen Qingye’s face flushed, and she instinctively glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before relaxing slightly, drawling sarcastically, "Seems to me you’re pretty damn bold."

Yue Lingchuan snorted. "Not as bold as you."

I blinked, and you were already gone.

Yue Lingchuan had nearly lost it at the time. Even knowing how skilled she was, the thief had a knife—he couldn’t help but fear she might get hurt.

Hearing this, Shen Qingye winced slightly. "I knew what I was doing."

"Besides, did you see how desperate that girl looked?"

At first, it might have just been playing hero. But when she heard the girl say the stolen wallet contained the only remaining photo of her late grandmother, Shen Qingye's heart just *ached* for the girl.

Yue Lingchuan just exhaled hard, even more exasperated, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell her not to do it again. After a long silence, he could only say, "Just be more careful next time."

Shen Qingye grinned at him, drawling sarcastically. "Got it..."

Yue Lingchuan couldn’t resist messing up her hair.

Shen Qingye scowled, barely holding back from swatting him.

Amused, Yue Lingchuan went in for another hair ruffle. This time, Shen Qingye finally snapped and smacked his hand away. "Pushing your luck, aren’t you?"

Yue Lingchuan laughed.