Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The late-night lobby was eerily quiet.

Though Mo Lingnan had left his post long ago, perhaps his former intimidating presence still lingered.

Or perhaps no one else had ever encountered someone as utterly fearless as Lu Tingchao.

In the profound silence, an indeterminate amount of time passed.

Mo Lingnan’s impassive, handsome face turned towards Lu Tingchao: "Oh? In what position?"

Everyone: "?"

Lu Tingchao: "???"

Mo Lingnan’s voice was as stern and cold as if he were about to apprehend a suspect: "Old man pushing a cart, old tree entwining roots, or—"

"Stop!!!"

In a single second.

Lu Tingchao’s face flushed a vivid crimson.

At that moment, his hand still rested on Mo Lingnan’s shoulder, his breath still warm against Mo Lingnan’s ear.

When that infuriating man had spoken, he could even feel the vibration of his vocal cords.

He had whispered it into Mo Lingnan’s ear.

But Mo Lingnan had uttered it aloud, for all present to hear.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

If there were a crack in the lobby floor he could vanish into, he would have done so without a second thought, bidding farewell to the mortifying situation.

A long, strong hand reached from the side, grasping Lu Tingchao’s somewhat slender wrist and gently lowering it from the man’s shoulder.

"Lu Tingchao, if you’re so easily embarrassed, then don’t talk such nonsense."

Mo Lingnan released his hand, his well-defined fingers tracing upwards.

Under Lu Tingchao’s unwavering gaze, he straightened his tie: "Let’s go."

Lu Tingchao: "? Go where?"

Mo Lingnan: "Weren’t you demanding an apology? I’m fulfilling my obligation by taking you home."

Lu Tingchao: "?"

Mo Lingnan took the coat handed to him by his subordinate: "Keep up. I have a meeting at the company in an hour."

Lu Tingchao: "Oh... alright. So you quit being a policeman to start a company?"

Mo Lingnan’s tall frame paused slightly, turning back: "Do you have an opinion?"

Lu Tingchao had no opinion.

He turned to Guo Guo and whispered conspiratorially: "Hey, wasn’t being a bureau chief pretty good? Why did he suddenly quit?"

Guo Guo: "..."

Guo Guo initially didn’t want to speak, but Lu Tingchao was determined to get the gossip.

So Guo Guo could only timidly murmur under Mo Lingnan’s expressionless, cold gaze: "It seems like a personal decision. The internal department actually disagreed at the time, but he was very firm..."

Mo Lingnan: "Still not leaving?"

Guo Guo instantly fell silent.

A free ride.

Lu Tingchao turned and quickly caught up to Mo Lingnan, instinctively reaching out to tug at the man’s sleeve, then tilting his head: "Guo Guo, coming?"

Guo Guo: "..."

No way he’d dare!

Guo Guo shook his head like a rattle-drum: "No, no! I suggest you better not... ah, forget it, you should go. I’ll head back with my colleagues later."

"Alright then."

Lu Tingchao strode off without a backward glance.

The sky was not yet fully bright.

But the breakfast stalls at the entrance were already set up, the vendors’ calls and the bustling honks of cars blending into a symphony, forming the essential vibrant atmosphere of the city.

Lu Tingchao hadn’t eaten well the night before, and after all that frustration, he felt even hungrier.

He scanned around, following the aroma, his gaze focusing: "Mr. Mo, can this victim’s reasonable request be granted?"

Mo Lingnan: "A request for jianbing guozi?"

Lu Tingchao: "Xiaolongbao works too."

Mo Lingnan said nothing, leading Lu Tingchao to a stop in front of a stall: "One jianbing—"

Lu Tingchao: "Two!"

Mo Lingnan: "?"

Lu Tingchao smiled brightly: "It’d be rude to eat alone. You have one too."

Mo Lingnan: "..."

Mo Lingnan took out his wallet: "Two."

Lu Tingchao peeked out from behind him: "Boss, add an extra sausage and some spicy strips to mine."

"Sure thing, handsome!"

Most of the regular vendors near the police station knew Mo Lingnan.

The boss, with graying hair, cracked an egg as he chatted: "Haven’t seen Chief Mo in a long time. Did you get promoted or transfer? You two seem pretty close, handsome—he’s never brought anyone to buy breakfast before!"

Mo Lingnan wasn’t the chatty type.

But Lu Tingchao cheekily retorted: "Something like that. I’m a criminal he just arrested."

The sausage in the boss’s hand plopped onto the counter.

After a long pause, he finally said, “Well… you’re pretty free then. Not a serious… serious crime, huh?”

“Minor offense, minor offense.”

Lu Tingchao chuckled.

The boss: “This guy looks kinda familiar. What did he…”

Mo Lingnan glanced at Lu Tingchao: “Old tree…”

Lu Tingchao: “Ahhh!!!”

Lu Tingchao reached out and clapped a hand over Mo Lingnan’s mouth.

The boss: “!!!”

“I’ll report you to the authorities!!!”

Lu Tingchao was fuming. “Will you ever stop!! I’m reporting you to the authorities!!!”

The boss: “…”

Mo Lingnan, with a calm ease that suggested practice, grabbed Lu Tingchao’s hand, released it, then took some cash from his wallet and handed it over: “Don’t call me ‘sir’ anymore. I left the job a long time ago.”

Lu Tingchao: “…”

The boss was shocked: “Such a good job, Mr. Mo… you just quit?”

Mo Lingnan: “Yeah.”

He took the two jianbing and looked at Lu Tingchao: “Now, do you need me to drive you downtown?”

Lu Tingchao: “…”

World, just end already!

Lu Tingchao snatched the breakfast, slid into the passenger seat, slammed the door, and took an angry bite of Mo Lingnan’s jianbing.

With a raised eyebrow, he handed the bite-marked jianbing over, looking both cheeky and sly: “Here.”

Mo Lingnan: “…”

Lu Tingchao’s rebellion was short-lived.

Because Mo Lingnan took it without a word, buckled up, and started the car: “Seatbelt.”

Lu Tingchao took a bite of the jianbing and a sip of soy milk, eating messily, crumbs flying everywhere, almost spitefully: “Do you always use cash? Is paying digitally illegal?”

Mo Lingnan stopped at a traffic light: “Those vendors are older folks. Most use their children’s QR codes. The money doesn’t always reach them directly.”

Lu Tingchao: “.”

Lu Tingchao didn’t say anything. After a moment: “Wanna swap for that box of soup dumplings? I just took a bite of yours, my bad.”

“No need.”

Mo Lingnan said, “I don’t eat jianbing.”

Lu Tingchao: “…”

Then why buy it?! What a waste of money!

Lu Tingchao wolfed down the rest of the jianbing, crammed the greasy plastic bag into his pocket, and was about to find a place to throw it out when his phone suddenly rang.

He fumbled it out for a look.

Whoa.

Zhuang Ji.

Before Lu Tingchao could answer, the call from the other end dropped.

And within seconds, a second call came through.

Lu Tingchao: “…”

This time, he couldn’t possibly ignore it.

Lu Tingchao had no choice but to temporarily toss the trash bag onto Mo Lingnan’s seat and answer the call.

Zhuang Ji seemed to be on a filming break, with some noise in the background.

“You didn’t sleep at home last night?”

Lu Tingchao: “?”

Lu Tingchao: “How did you know?”

Zhuang Ji was silent for a moment: “…The property management just called Lin Cheng. They said they went to deliver a package early this morning, but no one was in the room.”

“Oh.”

Lu Tingchao didn’t overthink it. “Guo Guo asked me to hang out last night, so I went out.”

Zhuang Ji: “Where did you go?”

Lu Tingchao: “Just… went out to have fun.”

Zhuang Ji: “Who was there?”

Lu Tingchao pursed his lips: “Well… you wouldn’t know them.”

Zhuang Ji didn’t say anything.

Lu Tingchao could clearly sense his displeasure.

If it were during their honeymoon phase, or the first few years of marriage, Lu Tingchao would have immediately tried to smooth things over—

But now, the feelings had faded.

No matter how much passion there once was.

Now, the spark was gone.

Lu Tingchao could only force a flat tone: “Aw, are you mad? Don’t be unhappy. Those people I was with Guo Guo—you never cared for them before, so it’s normal you don’t know them. Worn out from shooting? Do you want me to come by?”

Zhuang Ji: “Yeah.”

Lu Tingchao: "?"

"How can you be so rude!?"

Zhuang Ji couldn't hear Lu Tingchao's inner monologue.

He gestured to his manager, asking for five more minutes of break time: "Didn't you ask about next week's group variety show before? I saved you a ticket, the center seat in the front row. I'll have Lin Cheng pick you up tomorrow."

Lu Tingchao: "Ah..."

Zhuang Ji: "You don’t want to come?"

"No, no!"

Lu Tingchao said, "I’m just worried about interfering with your work. You said before that it would be troublesome if we were photographed, and you don’t like your private life being exposed to paparazzi cameras."

Zhuang Ji paused for a moment.

"It's fine,"

Zhuang Ji said, "If we’re photographed, so be it."

Lu Tingchao: "?"

Zhuang Ji: "If we’re really photographed, we’ll go public."

Lu Tingchao: "???"

Th-That really isn’t necessary, is it?

Lu Tingchao felt like he could barely keep up his stone-faced act—there was no need to make things harder for each other.

Just as he was about to speak to improve the situation, he heard someone calling for Zhuang Ji on the other end.

At the level of an A-list actor, naturally no one would dare rush him, but Zhuang Ji had been raised with strict and proper discipline. Throughout his career, his reputation had only grown better, with no incidents of unprofessionalism or diva behavior.

Lu Tingchao had no choice but to change the subject: "Is it time to start filming?"

Zhuang Ji: "Mhm."

Zhuang Ji seemed to hesitate for a moment but still spoke: "Baby, I miss you so much."

Lu Tingchao: "...Mhm."

"Lin Cheng will take you straight to the venue. After the show, go back with Lin Cheng."

Zhuang Ji said, "Wait for me in my room until I finish work. I’ll bring back your favorite food."

Lu Tingchao: "Mhm."

Lu Tingchao thought for a moment: "When we meet, I also have—"

The voice on the other end of the call was replaced by one that Lu Tingchao found vaguely familiar but couldn’t quite place.

Clear and bright, like the voice of a young teenager, even the trailing tone carried a carefree cheerfulness.

"You’re Chao Chao, right? I’m Jiang Rong."

The voice said, "The director has called him several times. Brother Ji went to shoot his scene. Should I have him call you back later?"

Lu Tingchao: [...]

"No need."

Lu Tingchao sighed, "I'll just tell him directly when we meet."

Jiang Rong's voice carried a smile: "That works too. Anyway, Brother Ji got you a ticket. By the way, Chao Chao, I heard your agent was asking about work for you yesterday. He might not have any particularly good projects lately, but I have a supporting male role here. Would you like to give it a try?"

Lu Tingchao shook his head: "Sorry, my schedule probably won't allow me to join a production. Sorry about that."

"Can't join a production?"

Jiang Rong said, "Then are you interested in a reality show? Passionfruit Entertainment has a new season of auditions. Even though you've debuted as an idol before, it should be fine."

Lu Tingchao said: "Thank you, but that probably won't work either. Mr. Jiang, I've got something to do here, so I'll hang up now. Goodbye."

"Ah? Okay, bye."

Lu Tingchao put down his phone.

He sat in the passenger seat, spaced out for a while, then picked up the plastic bag he had tossed aside earlier and fiddled with it for a good while before letting out a long sigh: "As expected, I still really dislike some 'white lotuses' (fake innocents) and 'green teas' (two-faced people)."

Mo Lingnan glanced over: "Where's the boldness you had in the reception area?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

He pursed his lips: "Scared I'd lose."

Mo Lingnan finally smiled.

"All bark and no bite."

Mo Lingnan spoke, pulling a wet wipe from the car and handing it to Lu Tingchao, "Wipe your hands."

Lu Tingchao wiped them obediently.

Mo Lingnan: "Throw it in the trash."

Lu Tingchao: "Oh."

Lu Tingchao rubbed his clean hands together and turned to face Mo Lingnan in the passenger seat. "Mo Lingnan, can I ask you something?"

Mo Lingnan didn't speak.

Lu Tingchao: "Since our units are upstairs and downstairs... about the kindergarten in our complex... could you..."

The grey Jeep Wrangler arrived at the entrance of the residential complex.

Mo Lingnan parked the car by the roadside, unbuckled his seatbelt, and looked at Lu Tingchao.

It was the peak of the morning rush. Outside the car window, the world was noisy and chaotic—the ringing of bicycles, the honking of mopeds, and the horns of cars filled the air.

Pedestrians hurried along the roadside in twos and threes.

But the person before him was the absolute standout against all this background.

He was strikingly handsome, with eyes that took up almost half his face. When he looked up, his curled lashes and utterly pure gaze held a kind of almost innocent seductiveness.

Even after so many minutes had passed, a faint flush still lingered on his face—perhaps from having just eaten something hot—making him appear even more radiant and alive.

The car window sealed off the outside world.

But if one looked carefully, you could still make out the inside of the vehicle.

Mo Lingnan said, "Your hukou isn't here. Since you mentioned it's a company school, it's naturally difficult to get in unless you're a legacy."

Lu Tingchao was a little disappointed.

"Or, do you want me to adopt your child as my ward?"

Lu Tingchao— "!"

Mo Lingnan— "What about you?"

Lu Tingchao— "..."

He could.

But it's illegal.

How many years is bigamy? QAQ

Lu Tingchao sulked for a few seconds, unable to figure it out— "Got it, I'll think of another way..."

He reached for the door handle to get out.

Mo Lingnan suddenly said, "Is this the property the Lu family left for you?"

Lu Tingchao froze, instinctively turning back.

Mo Lingnan said calmly, "The good properties the Lu family could leave would never have gone to you. This must have been set up for you quietly by your grandfather."

Lu Tingchao’s expression changed— "What?"

"I was in charge of the asset audit the year the Lu family went bankrupt. You were eighteen that year."

Mo Lingnan said, "It's all in the past. Move on."

Lu Tingchao— "..."

Beicheng mornings always breezy.

A slightly cool breeze tousled the hair of the person in front of him.

Lu Tingchao glared at Mo Lingnan— "I don't know what you're talking about."

He turned and walked away.

Seven years slipped by like a white colt flashing past a crevice.

Yet that person’s figure was almost exactly the same.

Still slender, slight, even the way his feet touched the ground hadn’t changed at all.

Mo Lingnan returned to the car.

He opened his phone; aside from a full list of work matters in his bookmarks, there was only one standalone entry.

Lu Tingchao.

Hukou: Beicheng.

Age: 25

Height: 178 cm

Current Address: Jincheng No. 1.

Household Owner: Zhuang Ji.

"Zhuang Ji..."

Mo Lingnan dropped his phone.

After a moment, his gaze fell on the bag of *jianbing guozi* that Lu Tingchao had casually left behind.

The plastic bag wasn't insulated; after the morning commute, it was stone cold.

Mo Lingnan picked up the bag.

At the opening, a shallow, neat little bite mark stood out clearly.

Brash, playful.

Just like that person’s nature.

Mo Lingnan bit into the same spot.

The cold *jianbing guozi* was still surprisingly good; it was still tasty, soft... and left you wanting more.

His phone buzzed with a work call— "Mr. Mo, meeting's on in half an hour!"

Mo Lingnan twisted the bag shut— "Got it, on my way."