You Mingxu walked out of the villa, once again led by Lao Jiu’s hunched figure. By the time they reached the gate, Tuya was already waiting in the Bentley.
Without standing on ceremony, You Mingxu thanked them and got into the car.
By now, Tuya had grown somewhat familiar with her. Though he remained silent, the tension around him had noticeably eased.
You Mingxu gazed out the window for a while before saying, “Tuya, let’s spar sometime.”
Tuya remained quiet for a few seconds before replying, “No.”
“Why not?”
After another moment of silence, he answered, “If I hurt you, I won’t be able to explain it to Teacher Yin.”
You Mingxu was taken aback, then chuckled. “What’s there to explain? My affairs are none of his business. Let’s do it tomorrow.”
Tuya said nothing.
You Mingxu glanced at the tight muscles in his face, then turned back to the window and said lightly, “He and I aren’t like we used to be. Besides, do you really think you can hurt me? You seem about on par with Xu Mengshan, and he’s my defeated opponent.”
The car suddenly accelerated.
You Mingxu smiled.
“It’s settled then.”
He grunted a low “Mm.”
Rarely encountering a skilled opponent, You Mingxu’s mood lifted considerably. For some reason, watching the night scenery flash by outside, she realized she felt more relaxed than she had in days, with an inexplicable sense of comfort. Subconsciously, she didn’t want to dwell on the reason.
She recalled Yin Feng’s words—that surveillance footage, that image—and her heart sank. Some things were better left unexamined. If Yin Feng had been taken away back then, only to reappear months later in Tibet in a mentally impaired state, what had he endured during that time? Who had taken him? And for what purpose?
Why him, of all people? And why go to such lengths to cover their tracks?
They had chosen him.
Her mind echoed with the words Gu Tiancheng had deliberately revealed on the mountain that day:
Do you really think the person by your side is an angel, and not a demon like me?
Do you really believe that the meeting between Yin Feng, me, and you in Tibet was a coincidence?
…
Her mind conjured the image of the former You Yingjun, smiling with an innocence as pure as spring snow.
And then tonight’s Yin Feng, leaning back in a black leather chair, a pair of plain black-framed glasses resting on the desk, his emotions unreadable, his eyes dark and profound.
He was no longer her angel.
—
There were just over ten days left until the New Year.
For several days in a row, layers of dark clouds had gathered. That morning, heavy snow finally began to fall, blanketing Xiangcheng’s picturesque landscape of mountains and water in a vast expanse of white.
The snow obscured the sky, the temperature, and seemingly all traces on the ground. Luo Yu had been away on a business trip these past few days, handling a property demolition dispute for Kaiyang Group. Though she knew there might be some underhanded methods involved, given Luo Yu’s experience, he likely wouldn’t participate directly or would operate discreetly. He acted like a textbook wolf in sheep’s clothing—a refined scoundrel—showing no obvious signs of abnormality or suspicious behavior. The police officers on surveillance duty reported: All normal.
On her end, You Mingxu followed Yin Feng’s instructions and intensively screened the area around the old village house in Guizhou from last spring. However, the countryside had very few Sky Eye installations to begin with, and the group clearly possessed extremely high anti-surveillance skills. For now, not a single suspicious clue had been found.As the heavy snow melted away, a new face arrived at the police station.
Two days later.
In the morning, while You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan were buried in case files, Ding Xiongwei’s hearty laughter echoed from afar: "Hahaha… I’ll catch up with your Team Leader Liu for drinks later. Sending such a talent to my team—it truly makes my humble dwelling shine!"
You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan exchanged a glance. The old wolf was putting on such a warm and gentle front—clearly, the newcomer carried some weight.
Others in the office looked up as well, spotting Ding Xiongwei leading the way, followed by a tall, lean man. Everyone was taken aback.
Rumors had painted him as a decorated criminal investigator, even whispered to have navigated the treacherous narcotics enforcement line. Most had expected someone older or a stern, hardened figure. Instead, the man appeared to be just over thirty, with a buzz cut, fair skin, deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and full lips. He wasn’t strikingly handsome, but his features were clean and refined, carrying an air of gentility.
His gaze was mild and clear, tinged with a hint of a smile. Had they not known he was Ding Xiongwei’s prized recruit, they might have mistaken him for an administrative clerk.
Ding Xiongwei scanned the room, a faint smile playing on his lips, and announced, "This is Jing Ping, the transfer from Yunnan I mentioned. He’ll be joining our unit from now on. Get to know each other. We’ll have lunch together later. You Mingxu, Xu Mengshan, Jing Ping will be temporarily assigned to your group. Xiao Jing, take that seat. If you need anything, just let me know—or ask either of them."
After Ding Xiongwei left, several colleagues stood to greet Jing Ping. He responded with smiles, shaking hands, accepting a cigarette from one, chatting easily with everyone as if he could strike up a conversation with anyone.
Then he walked over and settled into the empty seat beside You Mingxu and Xu Mengshan, letting out a comfortable sigh as he regarded his two new partners.
Xu Mengshan offered him a cigarette. Jing Ping took it and tucked it behind his ear. His fair complexion, extending to his neck and the base of his ears, accentuated his delicate features. Both Xu Mengshan and You Mingxu were naturally younger than him. Xu Mengshan said, "Brother Jing, I’ve long heard of you. I’m Xu Mengshan. Getting used to Xiangcheng? The climate must be much worse than Yunnan’s, right?"
Jing Ping smiled slightly. "Absolutely! It’s freezing!"
Only then did they notice he was wearing a light jacket—proof of Yunnan’s mild winters. Xu Mengshan said, "Hey, I’ve got a padded coat in my locker. Let me grab it for you." Jing Ping declined, "No need. It’s plenty warm in the office. I’ll buy one after work."
His speech carried a distinct southwestern accent—light on the retroflex consonants, flat on the plain ones—lending a softness unlike the local Xiangcheng dialect.
You Mingxu extended her hand. "You Mingxu."
In the face of You Mingxu’s striking beauty, many couldn’t hide their astonishment at first sight. Even Ding Xiongwei had frowned during her interview, remarking, "Everything else is fine, but she’s just too pretty. What’s a police officer doing with such looks? It’ll hold her back."
You Mingxu: "…"
And when You Yingjun first met her, he’d blurted out, "Pretty sister!" Later, after Yin Feng woke up, though he treated her coolly, he didn’t conceal his appraising gaze as a man looking at a woman.
But Jing Ping’s eyes remained clear and calm, utterly unruffled. He smiled like warm winter sunlight, shook her hand with a dry, firm grip—callused slightly—and released it promptly.
"Hello, You Mingxu. I’ve long heard of you."You Mingxu suddenly felt a bit light-headed. If she had a tail, it would be gently raised right now. After all, the person before them had more experience and carried an air of unfathomable depth. Yet he had said "long time no see" to her, but not to Xu Mengshan or the others.
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