Coming to Myself

You Mingxu took a few seconds before saying, "Are you dreaming?"

Luo Yu grabbed her shoulders and said, "Mingxu, I won't do anything to you. What could I possibly do to you? It's just a thought—I want to see you often, have meals with you occasionally, and talk. That's enough. Maybe after spending time together, your feelings will change?"

It sounded like a small sacrifice. You Mingxu smiled and said, "Aren't you afraid I'll take down Kaiyang along with you?"

He grinned and uttered two words: "Not afraid."

You Mingxu said, "Sit back, keep your distance."

Luo Yu complied readily, returning to his seat, still looking impeccably dressed. He said, "Take a day to think it over. If you're willing, we'll start tomorrow. Meet me at Fufeng Golf Course at 2 p.m. to play golf."

You Mingxu left the restaurant and got into the concealed command vehicle at the street corner. Jing Ping, Yin Feng, and Xu Mengshan were all inside.

All three of them looked at her.

You Mingxu recounted Luo Yu's words exactly as they were, omitting the line, "You sent me to prison, I'll take you to bed."

Among them, Xu Mengshan had been the earliest to interact with Luo Yu. He found it utterly unbelievable—what criminal would dare keep a police officer by their side? Either he was too arrogant, or he had ulterior motives. But what could Luo Yu possibly want from You Mingxu? Did he really just want her? Was he so infatuated? Had he lost his mind?

Then again, Xu Mengshan recalled Gu Tiancheng's impassioned confession to You Mingxu before his death and thought it was plausible to believe in her appeal to scumbags.

So, Xu the Fox remained silent, offering no opinion.

Jing Ping was also hesitant. Even with nearly a decade of experience in the narcotics division, he had never encountered a drug dealer making such a reckless, lust-driven demand. He felt a faint unease in his heart, but rationality prevailed. After weighing the pros, cons, and feasibility, he finally said to You Mingxu, "It's your decision."

All three instinctively looked at Yin Feng.

The man sat with his long legs crossed, exuding the air of a playboy, as if he hadn't heard a thing. His expression was indifferent, and he said nothing.

So, You Mingxu said, "I'll think about it."

In the afternoon, back at the bureau, You Mingxu sat in the large office for a while before grabbing her cigarette case and heading out. Less than a minute later, Yin Feng stood up and followed.

Jing Ping and Xu Mengshan remained seated.

Given the number of eyes and ears at the bureau, You Mingxu walked out the main gate and kept going until she reached the riverside. She found a patch of grass, sat down, and lit a cigarette. She had only taken two puffs when someone sat down beside her.

You Mingxu didn't flinch.

Yin Feng said, "You're not seriously considering agreeing to his deal, are you?"

You Mingxu replied, "I've thought it over. There shouldn't be any real danger. If Luo Yu wanted to do something to me, he would have done it that night. Since we suspect Luo Yu isn't fully loyal to Kaiyang, and he's thrown me such a flawed deal, I want to turn the tables and figure out what his real goal is."

He grabbed her hand holding the cigarette, took it from her, and stubbed it out under his foot. You Mingxu glared at him.

Yin Feng said, "You're not going."

You Mingxu retorted, "What gives you the right to stop me?"

He gave her a deep look and said, "A Xu, you know what kind of person I am. I don't want anyone laying a finger on you."

You Mingxu was taken aback, staring at his cold, handsome face. His hands rested on his knees as he looked up at her, his gaze icy.This version of Yin Feng was worlds apart from the sunny, cheerful You Yingjun. Yet why did the faint, slowly rising sense of pity in her heart feel exactly the same?

But she quickly composed herself—the investigation took priority.

"Whether you're willing or not, I have to go." You Mingxu stood up. "That's a lead to an entire drug trafficking route. The undercover agent Guo Xing just sacrificed his life for this. Compared to all that, Yin Feng, we are nothing."

"Am I nothing to you?" he said coldly.

You Mingxu didn't want to argue with him, but she disliked his domineering attitude, as if he were trying to claim ownership of her. She replied calmly, "Don't interfere with my investigation. You couldn't control me before, let alone now."

She walked back to the police station. When she reached the slope by the river, she glanced back and saw Yin Feng still standing there, his expression dark as he watched her.

As soon as You Mingxu returned to her office, she sent Luo Yu a reply: she agreed to his terms.

Yin Feng, however, never came back. Even after they got off work, he was nowhere to be seen.

—

Yin Feng went straight home.

Seeing his grim expression, Tuya remained silent the entire drive. Once home, Yin Feng headed directly to his study and shut the door.

Tuya had no choice but to summon Chen Feng.

Chen Feng didn't need to think hard to guess it was related to You Mingxu. He had heard from Tuya that the two were almost back together, so he didn't hesitate to text her: "What happened between you two? Teacher Yin came home looking utterly dejected."

In truth, Teacher Yin resembled a firecracker crackling with dark energy, but Chen Feng deliberately used the more ambiguous word "dejected."

A while later, You Mingxu replied: "Leave him be. Let him figure it out on his own."

Holding his phone, Chen Feng thought: Why does it feel like their dynamic and the way You Mingxu talks are shifting back to how they used to be? Is You Mingxu so formidable that she wants to mold a normal Teacher Yin into someone as obedient as You Yingjun? If that happens, he might truly devote himself to her as his new master.

Though he indulged in these internal gossipy thoughts, Chen Feng was genuinely concerned about Yin Feng. After a while, he brought some pastries and knocked on the study door. Tuya was also worried; he now saw himself as someone who had secretly contributed greatly to reconciling the two—how could he stand by and do nothing? So he quietly followed.

"Come in," Yin Feng's voice sounded, betraying no trace of temper.

The two entered to find Yin Feng sitting on the small balcony off the study, watching the sunset. A bottle of red wine and a glass sat on the side table beside him.

"Have a bite to eat first. Dinner will be ready soon," Chen Feng said.

They had hired a new chef—a genuine chef, the kind who would tremble at the sight of Tuya's muscular build.

Yin Feng said lightly, "No appetite. You two eat; don't wait for me."

Chen Feng pulled up a chair and sat beside him. Tuya looked around, found only a small stool, and dragged it over to squeeze onto.

Since they were here, Yin Feng reached to the nearby cabinet for two more glasses. The three clinked glasses. Chen Feng had intended to take only a small sip, but who knew that brute Tuya would down his in one gulp, grinning foolishly. Yin Feng, who had also planned to sip, suddenly smiled at the sight and threw his head back to finish his glass. His manner of drinking was far more elegant than Tuya's; traces of dark red wine lingered on his lips, which he wiped away with a light brush of his hand. Even Chen Feng and Tuya, both men, found it both sinister and dashing.Tuya quickly refilled all three cups and said, "Teacher Yin, may you soon achieve your heart's desire!"

The words were well-chosen and pleasant to hear. Though Yin Feng was currently filled with gloomy anger, he felt somewhat comforted. Tuya downed his drink in one gulp again, and Yin Feng, also wanting to vent his emotions, drained his cup in one go.